instructor Boy
Guest
Oh my god. spend in excess of 10k on a machine and its down to you to ensure it can brake properly. get your head out of where the sun doesn't shine and join the real world please.....
Oh my god. spend in excess of 10k on a machine and its down to you to ensure it can brake properly. get your head out of where the sun doesn't shine and join the real world please.....
It is up to the rider to ensure that their machine is fit to be used on the public roads - try taking your head out of your 4rse and reading the highway code.
instructor Boy
Guest
I can see bmw execs killing themselves laughing at blind loyalty posts like yours. Its painful but very funny at the same time.
2007 1200 ADV - ABS brakes - onboard computer - has been in the dealers for the last three weeks 
Initially to have ring annetenna replaced - failed and recovered to the dealers.
Also to have a wobble at the handle bars fixed. On the overrun from 60mph to 40mph handle bars shake. Head race bearings or uneven tyre wear mentioned.
In the meantime received a "recall" letter from BMW that the bike needs taken to a dealer, it didnt say what needed done but ringing dealer to find out when the bike is ready they say that the computer is playing up.
Get it back today and will be asking what the recall was for.
I still love the bike
Initially to have ring annetenna replaced - failed and recovered to the dealers.
Also to have a wobble at the handle bars fixed. On the overrun from 60mph to 40mph handle bars shake. Head race bearings or uneven tyre wear mentioned.
In the meantime received a "recall" letter from BMW that the bike needs taken to a dealer, it didnt say what needed done but ringing dealer to find out when the bike is ready they say that the computer is playing up.
Get it back today and will be asking what the recall was for.
I still love the bike
You can of course obviate yourself of any responsibility and expect others ensure your bike is safe. At least you'll be able to engrave "It was somebody else's fault" on your gravestone. Bit like "right of way" - not much use on a bike is it?
Engineer is correct - you need to do basic inspections of the bike yourself to make sure its safe, whether that be tyres, suspension, brakes. I believe its even covered in the manual
I'm certainly no fan of BMW (would rather have a jap badge on the GS), but people need to lower their expectations of these bikes. Just because you're paying car type money, you can't expect them to be 'maintenance free' for 20k service intervals like cars. They're still bikes and need to be tinkered with............all part of the fun in my book
nemezis
Guest
Full story and picture about the nanny stickers here:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/BMW-motorcycles/r-1200-gs-hand-guard-problem/
Also to have a wobble at the handle bars fixed. On the overrun from 60mph to 40mph handle bars shake. Head race bearings or uneven tyre wear mentioned.
I still love the bike
I had exactly that problem on my 1200GSA 06 when fitted with Dunlop Trailmax tyres....
There is a thread on it somewhere....
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119143&highlight=dunlop
See post #9 etc.
snoopy
Guest
If you think rotating hand-guards on the 1200 are bad try the 650. These things must have motors in them. Frequently fowl the levers.
The 1150 still had the best handguard design IMHO.
The 1150 still had the best handguard design IMHO.
swissrob
Registered user
i still dont really see what the problems is - my handguards were also a bit loose and could be moved up and down if u pulled a bit.... I just tightened up the bar end bolts and the hand guards are solid, no movement at all so i fail to see how if tightened that they can move whilst riding unless the bolts are loose.
If this part is true - "By the way: BMW stopped to distribute the hand guards. It's not possible to buy them, you don't even get parts of them if you need them!" - that could be a problem in the future. Do the new guards fit the old bars, or would you need a whole new set up - or ride withour handguards 
nemezis
Guest
If this part is true - "By the way: BMW stopped to distribute the hand guards. It's not possible to buy them, you don't even get parts of them if you need them!" - that could be a problem in the future. Do the new guards fit the old bars, or would you need a whole new set up - or ride withour handguards
Go to your local dealer and try to get ANY part for the flawed handguards. And please tell us here about your personal experience!
The new guards (October 2007-) do not fit on the old R12GS. Period.
But give ebay a try.
st247
Registered user
nemezis
Guest
Buy "the kit". And try to mount them. And tell us about your experience!
Now let's talk business. Stop the bullshit and give some real help to the riders out there and stop fooling customers with nanny stickers.
"Worse, after a little bump on the right side, the deflector can pivot
upward and keep the brake lever from extending out to its stop. At
best you end up with an ABS fault; worst case is that the power assist
is permanently activated and the wheel cylinders and rotors are toast
before you notice that the bike isn't going very fast."
http://www.gunsmoke.com/motorcycling/r1200gs/handguards/index.html
This is REAL help. Otherwise Barkbusters. It's all about lever clearance. BMW needed more than three years to recognize this. LOL!
Buy "the kit". And try to mount them. And tell us about your experience!
"Worse, after a little bump on the right side, the deflector can pivot
upward and keep the brake lever from extending out to its stop. At
best you end up with an ABS fault; worst case is that the power assist
is permanently activated and the wheel cylinders and rotors are toast
before you notice that the bike isn't going very fast."
FFS you are the most stupid arrogant twat I have ever come across.
IF YOU OR ANYONE ELSE CANNOT SENSE THAT THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON THEIR BIKE WHILST RIDING OR CANNOT FEEL THE DRAG THEN YOU OR THEY SIMPLY SHOULD NOT BE RIDING.
The short passage way from my property to the road is only about 5/16" or 8mm wider than my bars I regularly knock my hand guards and somtimes they move BUT I AM ABLE TO SEE AND I CHECK EM AND ADJUST IF NEEDED.
THICK TWAT
nemezis
Guest
Hey snoopy,
personally I don't give a .... about handguards. And I do believe that the handguards are not the problem but the power assistance on integral-brakes. All documented crashes have been reported with BMW R1200GS with power assisted integral-brakes. Did you know that?
Now guess what a permanently activated power assistence does, it's well known: At best you end up with an ABS fault; worst case is that the power assist is permanently activated and the wheel cylinders and rotors are toast before you notice that the bike isn't going very fast.
GSband
Registered user
I'm sorry, but the above mention of 'thick twat' is a bit over the top.
Before I bought a R12GS, I'd never ridden with handguards.
In 2005, the front wheel of my new heavily charged R12GS skidded on gravel, while braking. I'd never ridden with power assisted brakes before, and the bite of these brakes is something you have to get used to. I don't think anyone will argue this.
Anyway, the rightside handguard turned as it hit the ground, and the brakelever was forced back due to contact with the handguard.
When restarting, the ABS warninglight came on, and there was no way I could move the bike. I searched for quite a while to find the cause. I finally rang the dealer who told me WITHOUT THINKING TWICE that I should check the handguards. Problem solved.
Quite frankly, I think I was lucky that the brakes were jammed completely, preventing any riding. I dread to think what might have happened if the brakes were just 'slipping'. As a reminder : someone has died as a consequence of these handguards.
My personal opinion is that the R12GS is riddled with design- and engineering flaws (batteries, rear axes, gear boxes, brake disks, handguards, servopumps, ringantennae, pumpcontrollers, corrosion, gearindicators, fuellevel indicator, faulty software upgrades, loose topcases, and there's more), and that BMW takes forever to remedy. To my surprise the facelifted model is no improvement (brakes, pumpcontroller).
I have to add that it's a dream to ride.
Before I bought a R12GS, I'd never ridden with handguards.
In 2005, the front wheel of my new heavily charged R12GS skidded on gravel, while braking. I'd never ridden with power assisted brakes before, and the bite of these brakes is something you have to get used to. I don't think anyone will argue this.
Anyway, the rightside handguard turned as it hit the ground, and the brakelever was forced back due to contact with the handguard.
When restarting, the ABS warninglight came on, and there was no way I could move the bike. I searched for quite a while to find the cause. I finally rang the dealer who told me WITHOUT THINKING TWICE that I should check the handguards. Problem solved.
Quite frankly, I think I was lucky that the brakes were jammed completely, preventing any riding. I dread to think what might have happened if the brakes were just 'slipping'. As a reminder : someone has died as a consequence of these handguards.
My personal opinion is that the R12GS is riddled with design- and engineering flaws (batteries, rear axes, gear boxes, brake disks, handguards, servopumps, ringantennae, pumpcontrollers, corrosion, gearindicators, fuellevel indicator, faulty software upgrades, loose topcases, and there's more), and that BMW takes forever to remedy. To my surprise the facelifted model is no improvement (brakes, pumpcontroller).
I have to add that it's a dream to ride.
You are of course correct it was a bit SHARP!It's just that guy makes me so angry.
Surley tho' if ones brakes are jammed that hard by the hand guards one would hear the servo shouting and also see that the hand guards were way out of line?
As you state you dropped the bike which caused the guard to turn,a hell of a lot of inertia in a falling bike so the normal every day riding forces and people 'brushing' past them isnt going to move them that much
nemezis
Guest
Hey, no profuse apologies, please!
No harm taken! 
BTW: After the safety warning about the R1200GS (11th July) the next safety warning (18th July) about the F800GS was listed in the EU-RAPEX-System. There's an article in German language about this issue of frequent warnings about injuries.
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