Rattling engine and seizing exhaust flap.

Mark Hooton said:
Mmmm well if I didn’t need the latest model to make stuff for then I suspect I wouldn’t buy any new ones until all the problems had been ironed out, opting for good bargains with outgoing models! I’ve just topped 26k on my 1200GSA LC and I’m pleased I didn’t get rid of that )and it’s not as beautiful as my previous twin cam!


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True forgot that important part. ;)
 
Yeah, and when I think back to the build quality of my first 2006GS I wanna weep! But that’s for another thread/time. For sure, and I ain’t BMW bashing (just saying) they don’t seem to build them like they used to.

Let’s see what Monday brings.....


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Mark Hooton said:
Yeah, and when I think back to the build quality of my first 2006GS I wanna weep! But that’s for another thread/time. For sure, and I ain’t BMW bashing (just saying) they don’t seem to build them like they used to.

Let’s see what Monday brings.....


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If only it was just bikes Mark, thing it is general in anything they build now, except Cymarc parts........:friday
 
Mark Hooton said:
Yeah, and when I think back to the build quality of my first 2006GS I wanna weep! But that’s for another thread/time. For sure, and I ain’t BMW bashing (just saying) they don’t seem to build them like they used to.

Let’s see what Monday brings.....


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I think that the heyday for BMW was pre 1970's and then from late 1990's to late noughties.

I had several BMWs with the earliest being a late '70's R100RT to an early '80's R65. What was better then? Paint for starters was much better, and engines, obviously, were much simpler for the home mechanic. However much we moan about today's GS models, I used mine daily throughout the 1980's and early 1990's and it needed constant fettling with carbs going out of balance, the engine eating sparkplugs (carried spares with me), front wheel bearings needing regular replacement, at least on my R100RT, awful handling under acceleration or in corners with anything approaching enthusiastic pace, terrible tyre choice with more than one moment as the front Lazer tyre would do it's ice skating shoe impression in the wet, loads of rattles and several cam chain tensioner replacements and the famous cast alloy wheels cracking for a pastime. Things weren't quite a rosy as I suspect people would have many believe.

I relied on mine for an 82 mile commute each day, and you really did have to stay on top of maintenance for them to stay reliable. My mates all on Jap bikes thought I was crazy to bother with the RT, but they also had their fair share of issues, mainly top end issues on their Jap bikes. I eventually sold mine for an FJ1100 after it had covered 44K miles. The FJ promptly threw a valve and cost a lot to mend but once done, that was a more comfortable., more powerful and better handling bike than the RT and it then stayed reliable with less tinkering required until some berk in a volvo estate drove out in front of me and demolished it.

Buying a GS (or many BM's) today is a leap of faith and from what I've seem you are buying into a lottery. If it stays reliable, you'll love it because there's no denying how darned good they ride. If mine doesn't, I'll never touch another BM again....ever. I've been truly appalled by the sheer number of reported quality and reliability issues. For those with money, PCP and extended warranties offer a way around any problems but many of us don't what to be tied into PCPs and want to have ownership, warts and all.

I think when mine eventually goes, I'll head back to the Aprilia stable, where I enjoyed 10 years of mostly trouble free riding pleasure. I can hear the 1100 Tuono gently calling out to me....one day!
 
Good post fella, interesting to read your views and whatever you sling ya leg across I hope it’s pleasurable for you! I was at a bike night recently (signing tities - obvs) and a jap 4 struck up, it sounded like a sewing machine - I struck up mine and it sounded like a load of spanners on high spin! Felt duly gutted.......

Nevertheless I feel that I’ve been lucky so far...... or until I got my 1250.

Must go out and buy a lottery ticket!


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I ride with 2 other gs owners and the only one that has ever given us an issue was a 2010 adv which would go into limp mode in real hot weather ( Spain hot not uk hot). He now has a 1250 which is faultless so far. I do get the impression bmw do look after problems better than most and don’t see any less build quality compared to marques I e owned before

My warranty experience pre bmw was aprilia ( totally didn’t give a shite that bike failed with 70 miles on clock, waited 3 months for parts and no loaner) and Ducati who fixed things reluctantly and no good will when rad failed at mount point ( which was a known issue) 2 months out of warranty.

But to be honest I don’t buy bikes with my sensible head on. As long as it’s not a known bag of nails model. I’d have a 1250 in a heartbeat.
 
Delboy777 said:
Look it up in Real OEM £13.7k couldn’t believe it. £1700 for a gearbox and £1400 for a TFT Dash. Go figure that one out.


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Jeez, I can believe it tho - I run German industrial lasers and the prices for spares are mad mad mad - must be a German thing eh?


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spoonz said:
I ride with 2 other gs owners and the only one that has ever given us an issue was a 2010 adv which would go into limp mode in real hot weather ( Spain hot not uk hot). He now has a 1250 which is faultless so far. I do get the impression bmw do look after problems better than most and don’t see any less build quality compared to marques I e owned before

My warranty experience pre bmw was aprilia ( totally didn’t give a shite that bike failed with 70 miles on clock, waited 3 months for parts and no loaner) and Ducati who fixed things reluctantly and no good will when rad failed at mount point ( which was a known issue) 2 months out of warranty.

But to be honest I don’t buy bikes with my sensible head on. As long as it’s not a known bag of nails model. I’d have a 1250 in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...

Yes and that’s why they are still top of the adventure bike tables. But, to be fair, every marque has its horror stories as they do their good experiences but as someone said earlier, it can be a bit like a lottery!


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