Pretty Damn Good

[B4ndit]

Just posting this as a matter of appreciation to BMW.

My GSA which was first registered end of 2011 and I purchased last year with 1800 miles on the clock has now got 15000 miles on it a year later.

Yes it has had some minor warranty issues (I could have fixed most of them myself, but let the warranty do it becuase its free).

In June I did over 4000 miles on it. Blew a headlight bulb but other than that its just like new. No odd rattles. And the only thing I have to report that in 4000 miles it used less than 100 ml of oil.

What I will say is I serviced it myself prior to doing the 4000 miles and spent quite a bit of time sorting the TBs (OCD kicking in). I think that helped.

Overall I have managed 47 mpg in those 4K.

Only annoying thing is having no baffle in the Akropovic exhaust at long high speeds.

Now very happy with the bike. But its taken a long time to get their due to all the adverse comments on this and other web sites. (It doesnt take long for this sort of thing to have an effect).

Now I am looking forward to running this bike up to 50K plus. Although I do feel a lot of cleaning will be required to fight the usual awful corrosion on engine parts.

Also out with a new 1200 GSA last weekend and due to massive wrist action I was able to keep up with him. How much difference does 124 HP make over 110 HP. Although I am saving up for a new GSA at the moment. Is it such a big improvement!

 

[mpgscott]

Good to read positive speak about the beemers, mine is the same age and i too am clocking the miles so far 2500 miles in a couple of months and so far so good. No oil usage and nothing thats really annoying. Glad i opted for the non abs model given the stories you read on newer bikes with ABS. Keep enjoying the bike...

 

[Sgt Bilco]

It's like all forum's, they only concentrate on the bad bits.

They are excellent bikes and just keep on going if you look after them. A lot of people fall in to the trap of believing the hype and marketing from BMW saying they are unstoppable and just expect them to be perfect all the time. I'm constantly amazed by the posts from people who instead of fettling and working on their own bikes and keeping on top of maintainence, they just whinge and whine about how shit they are because there is a bit of rust on the centre stand or the headlamp has blown......again!

Part of motorcycle ownership is those hours spend tweaking something or just checking things and making your own adjustments and long may that continue.

I'm up at 105,000 miles and it's going to do another 105,000 whilst I have it.

 

[Pukmeister]

Part of motorcycle ownership is those hours spend tweaking something or just checking things and making your own adjustments and long may that continue.

I'm up at 105,000 miles and it's going to do another 105,000 whilst I have it.

At last.........a proper motorcyclist!

 

[oddshapedballs]

I did a smidgen over 94k on my SC before I traded it in for a TC, and there was no reason why it wouldn't have done another 94k without issue. Always home serviced apart from throttle body balance. I used to look forward to servicing the bike, get all the bits together during the week and spend a whole day working on the bike (with many cups of tea and bacon sandwiches in between) ending with a 'big wash'.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Mine is a 2012 GSA now done just over 15k used 2 headlight bulbs 2 sets of tires will need a third soon never needed to top up the oil between services and now home serviced as its the only way to know your bike.

The servicing is easy enough I just spend a full day going through the REPROM list then do a few extras strip clean brakes and remove all panels and give it a good clean etc I have bought a GS911 and Twinmax so there should be no need for any dealer visits

Just had the letter for the extended warranty but dont think I will go for it as the servicing and the cost of the warranty savings will go a long way towards any repairs.

Its a great bike its taken me all over Europe and hopefully will do for many years to come.

 

[DervMan]

Hey Steve K, have you tried the twinmax yet? I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it?

Mine is a 2012 GSA now done just over 15k used 2 headlight bulbs 2 sets of tires will need a third soon never needed to top up the oil between services and now home serviced as its the only way to know your bike.

The servicing is easy enough I just spend a full day going through the REPROM list then do a few extras strip clean brakes and remove all panels and give it a good clean etc I have bought a GS911 and Twinmax so there should be no need for any dealer visits

Just had the letter for the extended warranty but dont think I will go for it as the servicing and the cost of the warranty savings will go a long way towards any repairs.

Its a great bike its taken me all over Europe and hopefully will do for many years to come.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Hey Steve K, have you tried the twinmax yet? I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it?

Hi yes you need to read the instructions but once you workout how it works it does the job fine you

There is a step by step here

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/R1200_TB_Sync.html

 

[(RIP) Miff]

My 2005 Vanilla GS has done 40k now. It had done 32k when I bought it 2 years ago. It has been serviced either by main dealer or by local indy.

The only problems that I know of before I bought it was the gear position indicator/sensor went doolally. The previous owner cleaned it up and it was fine.

Since I bought it, the gear position sensor has played up in the wet, but I removed it, dried it on the radiator and then filled it with Fospro (like WD40 but better).

Recently an indicator microswitch went US. I replaced the microswitch.

No other problems.

 

[mpgscott]

Hi yes you need to read the instructions but once you workout how it works it does the job fine you

There is a step by step here

http://www.jimvonbaden.com/R1200_TB_Sync.html

Great link that Steve "jimvonbaden" looks like all service must do's are covered. Thanks...

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Great link that Steve "jimvonbaden" looks like all service must do's are covered. Thanks...

Yes he does some step by step DVDs I have not seen them but heard they are very good

 

[mpgscott]

Yep was just looking at that $36 delivered seems decent. Wich i had got that over the haynes manual....

 

[B4ndit]

I use the Twin Max. Works well and allows you to find your own sweet spot for cruising. Mine seems to be around the 5250 RPM mark which matches European motorway max speeds.

Also I think the brakes (ABS) are out of this world. Best I have ever had on the bike. Very tactile and stop on a six pence even with just one finger. I must add that I recently bled them and used the GS 911 to flush the ABS.

 

[Roymondo]

Just a quick query on the Twinmax (with apologies for thread hijack). I appreciate it's probably easier/less fiddly to use, but does it do anything that a traditional manometer (i.e. U-shaped bit of tubing with liquid in it) doesn't do?

 

[B4ndit]

Only ever used a Twin Max. Although from what I have read about manometers they basically do the same job in similar ways. And I guess the manometer is always going to be correct. Whereas as with any electronic instrument they can go out of sync.