R1200GS Quality Control.

[Welshmagician]

I've not seen the following throttle cable issue crop up on the forum before, but its an issue for me.

Where the two throttle cables enter what i assume is the throttle body there's a nut at the bottom of the cable, my 3000 mile R1200 is showing signs of corrossion on both of these nuts, that is either side as the throttle cable enters the bike.

The bike hasn't done that many miles on salt covered roads and has been cleaned regularly and rinsed off after any winter trips prior to cleaning within 24 hours.

The dealer has told me the nuts are an integral part of the cable and they'll be replaced under warranty, but its an issue worth noting if you have not looked at just behind the cylinders.

The gear indicator switch is defective, WD40 doesnt cure the problem, another warranty replacement, as is the seat catch that has just snapped off with minimal wear and tear and also the bike requires fitting of a new seal to the fuel pump asembly on the side of the tank as mentioned in previous posts.

I love the bike but i'm beginning to question the build quality compared to previous beemers i've owned and i have to say i expect better when i pay serious money for a BMW product.

Sad to say i feel BMW are going down the road of trying to compete with the japs in terms of units sold etc and they are failing miserably in their build quality standards.

My experience of this bike means i will not be sticking with the BMW brand when making any future purchase, it'll mean breaking the habits of the past 24 years but i'm not prepared to pay a premium for mundane build quality and regular 400 mile round trips to my supplying dealer.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I've not seen the following throttle cable issue crop up on the forum before, but its an issue for me.

Where the two throttle cables enter what i assume is the throttle body there's a nut at the bottom of the cable, my 3000 mile R1200 is showing signs of corrossion on both of these nuts, that is either side as the throttle cable enters the bike.

The bike hasn't done that many miles on salt covered roads and has been cleaned regularly and rinsed off after any winter trips prior to cleaning within 24 hours.

The dealer has told me the nuts are an integral part of the cable and they'll be replaced under warranty, but its an issue worth noting if you have not looked at just behind the cylinders.

The gear indicator switch is defective, WD40 doesnt cure the problem, another warranty replacement, as is the seat catch that has just snapped off with minimal wear and tear and also the bike requires fitting of a new seal to the fuel pump asembly on the side of the tank as mentioned in previous posts.

I love the bike but i'm beginning to question the build quality compared to previous beemers i've owned and i have to say i expect better when i pay serious money for a BMW product.

Sad to say i feel BMW are going down the road of trying to compete with the japs in terms of units sold etc and they are failing miserably in their build quality standards.

My experience of this bike means i will not be sticking with the BMW brand when making any future purchase, it'll mean breaking the habits of the past 24 years but i'm not prepared to pay a premium for mundane build quality and regular 400 mile round trips to my supplying dealer.

Sell it and buy a GSA..............it maybe a better option than leaving the brand..........if you like them after 24 yrs

 

[Andy Michael]

Got exactly the same problem with my GS but only the rhs cable is corroding as is the fuel tank unit on the rhs other than that no problems mechanical or electrical bike used every week through winter with liberal coating of F365

 

[Jimb]

Any bike will corrode in hours when exposed to road salt, the only answer is don't take it out in salt, get yourself a trail bike that will stand the conditions. You can't guarantee to get it all off when washing 'cos they put additives in the salt now to make it stick, brake pads are also prone to sieze in the calipers.

I will using my 1150 this easter, its been hibernating since Nov last year.

 

[birdseye]

Seems to me to be a short list of mainly fairly trivial little problems. I dont know what you are going to buy that you are clearly expecting not to have a single problem ever. certainly nothing Jap if you're concerned about a small bit of rust, nor Italian if you're concerend about a switch stopping working.

Harley maybe?

 

[Welshmagician]

Seems to me to be a short list of mainly fairly trivial little problems. I dont know what you are going to buy that you are clearly expecting not to have a single problem ever. certainly nothing Jap if you're concerned about a small bit of rust, nor Italian if you're concerend about a switch stopping working.

Harley maybe?

If you read the original post fully and then engaged your brain you'd notice i said i wasnt prepared to pay a premium for mundane build quality, i can buy run of the mill engineering and cheap fittings for a lot less than BMW charges for the R1200, i don't remember saying i expected no problems, and as for a Harley, i could probably pick up an old Massey Ferguson for less money, with equivalent performance and far superior engineering.

 

[Ming]

Should of bought from Rydales ,just had new forks and telelever under warranty for corrosion just before its second birthday

right on my doorstep too

 

[Welshmagician]

Should of bought from Rydales ,just had new forks and telelever under warranty for corrosion just before its second birthday

right on my doorstep too

Ryedales would have got my custom if they'd been prepared to offer me a sensible p/x for my R1100RT, i got £750 more privately than they offered, also they could have shown a bit more enthusiasm for the business instead of assuming that because they are the only Wales dealer i had no other option other than to buy from them.

 

[GSmonkey]

Any bike will corrode in hours when exposed to road salt, the only answer is don't take it out in salt, get yourself a trail bike that will stand the conditions. You can't guarantee to get it all off when washing 'cos they put additives in the salt now to make it stick, brake pads are also prone to sieze in the calipers.

I will using my 1150 this easter, its been hibernating since Nov last year.

Just as I don't expect to own two cars, one for summer, one for winter, I don't expect to own two bikes either (well for that reason anyway).

I've had budget bikes (Fazer) which have withstood their winters better than the GS (I suspect not just the 1200, but the 1150, 1100 as well). I ride every day through winter, through the salt and crud. I wash the bike every weekend and since owning the GS I've even put that scottoiler stuff on twice a week. The paint is now bubbling off the engine.......it took four years to do that on the Fazer.

Why can't bike manufacturers give a 10yr anti-corrosion warrenty like on cars??? I'd pay £1k more for a bike that doesnt rot if that's what it takes. Why can't we have decent fasteners - materials technology is able to give you a bike that doesn't rot if you want it.

Bollox to leaving my bike in the garage from November to April......thats half the fekkin year!!!!