R1100GS common issues?

[Felters]

So I've had my 1100 for five months in which time it's done 10,000 miles in the UK and Europe. I love it to bits.

It's also had what I now know to be three common issues. Final drive bearing, brake hose from front master cylinder and now the clutch actuator arm.

In truth only the actuator has held me up at all - and being stuck in Millau for a few days at the AA's expense isn't a disaster. But my question is what else is likely to fail on an 1100 that I could deal with on a pro-active basis?

By the way it is one of the last 1100's made and has the updated gearbox etc.

Please don't turn this into a slagging session - it's a great bike.

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

You are one unlucky chap Mike

I too have one of the last 1100's that rolled off the production line in July 1999.

In 13 years I have done 65,000 (yes I know I should be ashamed). Other than routine maintenance I have only had to replaced the rear wheel bearing

Having said that, I will be replacing the front top flexi at the next service and carrying a spare clutch arm on any big'ish trips having now seen this failure too many times

 

[Cogs]

Please don't turn this into a slagging session - it's a great bike.

The original and best (Oilhead ) No debate necessary

 

[Vern]

Apart from early gearbox problems,I don't think there is any real problems with them.You'll get the odd one that has it's faults,but once you've had the problems you've had, you'll be unlucky to have them again.Wear and tear I think it's called.

Apart from that, they're really crap (they're not really, but I want another one, so just trying to get the price down a bit)

 

[ppgser]

98 1100 GS - 100 ++ K

Front brake hose under the fork bridge. Change it as mine wore through outer protective wrap and through the hose. Known fault.

Later gearbox but selectors needed replacing at 85k

Swing arm bearings every 35k but used heavily loaded and rough conditions.

Motor sweet as anything and no oil used between services. Routine servicing only. Oil changes always sooner than recommended and always 10/40 Halfords.

Best GS I ever owned. If I could buy a new one I would.

 

[MattW]

I've got one of the first 1100GS's which came into the UK (a '94 - started life as a demonstrator for Park Lane BMW). It's now on about 50k (about 20k in my ownership).

Apart from normal servicing, it's had a new gearbox output shaft bearing (not generally thought of as a weak point) and I've had the throttle bodies re-bushed (not an unusual problem, but not a show stopper). When I did the gearbox output bearing I changed the paralever bearings. I changed the hall sensor pre-emptively (a known weak point - I kept the old, still working one as a spare) and all the cables. I change all the fluids every 3k (oil filter every 6k) and the brake fluid every year. On long trips I carry a new large FD bearing and seal and a spare second hand clutch release arm.

As a pre '97 the gearbox is supposedly a weak point but if and when it karks, I'll get it rebuilt (however as one of the very early ones I like to think that it was built with exceptional care and love by a team of skilled German technicians).

I love it to bits and can't see me changing it any time soon.

 

[Gecko]

You've had the bad luck to have the actuator arm break on you. It's not common but it is fixable on the roadside if you happen to have a spare available read on here

 

[flytoolow]

..... I love it to bits....

...Yeah...thats a common issue..happens to the best of us...

 

[ronnie69]

low ignition wiring loom failed on me on way back to ferry in France. It got me to passport control then failed. You could not make it up. If I wasn't in a group I'd have had a real problem getting it up the ramp on to the ferry and would probably have missed the boat.

Patched up by the nice AA man when back in Blighty and replaced a few days later.

Great bikes though

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214151<br />

 

[Vern]

Look, just pretend they're crap alright,otherwise the prices are going to go up.

Now stop it

 

[STUBBS]

just carry on enjoying it

 

[motobiker]

Fifteen years - just one show stopping breakdown: hall sensor wiring being cooked due to a dumb previous owner who thought warming up a boxer was a good idea. Aside from that little faux pas - nothing of note. Few parts replaced before they failed completely. I call it preventative maintenance. See a potential problem looming - monitor it, if it deteriorates: fix it. Simple realy. Reading the manual helps. So does not thinking I'm cleverer than the guys that designed the bike or guys who fix them for a living. Or, indeed - the guys who do mega miles without obsessing about what oil they use.

As a consequence I go abroad each year taking nothing but a puncture kit. Which is a great way of never getting a puncture. And a rescue number which means I'll never need to be rescued. Sods law and all that.

You gotta love it.

 

[Pekkavee]

I have one Kalahari yellow produced in september 1998.

Clutch actuator arm failed some time ago.

Hall sensors failed at 75.000 Miles. Now 100.000 miles (160.000 km) in the
clock.
It has happened to some others too.

Pekka

 

[pedro]

I've got a bit of a problem with my one. I get on it and it seems to take me the long route to wherever I'm going. I also find myself riding it for any little excuse and indeed on several occasions, I have found myself riding it for no apparent reason at all.
Hopefully all your problems are now solved and future niggles will be few and far between.

 

[Felters]

I've got one of the first 1100GS's which came into the UK (a '94 - started life as a demonstrator for Park Lane BMW). It's now on about 50k (about 20k in my ownership).
.

That's funny - mine started life as a Park Lane demo as well. One of the other
Members on here then bought it from them for commuting. To Germany. I think it then had a quiet life with a couple of owners until I bought it in April with 50k miles. As I pulled into Rouen last night it had done nearly 61k - 500 of them yesterday. Another 300 or so today and I'll be home.

Thanks for all the advice. There is some insulating tape on the ignition lead so that has to be suspect. Hall sensor sounds like a distinct possibility as well. So in summary it looks like the total list of stuff for 850/1100's that is most likely to be a problem that could leave you stranded is

Hall sensor

Ignition loom from key switch (often blamed on tight cable ties)

Final drive bearing

Clutch actuator lever (BMW original is aluminium. Motorworks do a stainless steel replacement. Apparently they sell a lot of them so obviously a problem)

Front brake hoses (BMW apparently recommend changing rubber hoses every four years. Sounds like a good reason to fit Goodridge)

Mine uses no oil and runs sweetly - and doesn't lose any money. So finishing off the few items that I haven't replaced from this list is a bit of a bargain if it keeps the pair of us on the move for the next few years.

Cheers
Mike

 

[japper]

hi the only real problem i've had with my 97 r1100gs has been the prop-shaft UJ going and doing damage to my inner swing arm at the gearbox end at about 80k! she's my love and life and rider her every day 24/7 365 all weathers from the east coast to the west along the m62 ! and all i can say was a week or so before the big bang i started to feel vibrations on my foot pegs but thats it ! ok hope this helps jp

 

[Dragon Master]

I've got a bit of a problem with my one. I get on it and it seems to take me the long route to wherever I'm going. I also find myself riding it for any little excuse and indeed on several occasions, I have found myself riding it for no apparent reason at all.
Hopefully all your problems are now solved and future niggles will be few and far between.

I have that problem with mine; it once took me 135 miles around the Lakes to get to Morrison's from Asda, two miles across town...

 

[(RIP) drillam]

bought mine from Steptoe last year for 2K with 41k on the clock.
Took it down for my first trip to Morocco, done 4k miles, loved it, no problems.
cheers Steptoe