Reliability?

[BawdyMonk]

I've still got my heart set on a Beemer, the GS is edging out the RT, about 5 weeks to "Smack the dosh down day" and I keep noticing little reliability niggles coming up, somebody in this forum said "whats the point of having a bike you can't moan about" now I am not interested at all in tinkering with any bikes, the dealer is an hours ride away, what am I letting myself in for? Please I really don't want another bland VFR !

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I've had no real problems with my 3 GS's in 70-80,000 miles. Just a couple of oil seals and this was all fixed at routine servicing,nothing to get in the way of enjoying this sublime bike.

 

[THE PICT]

The gs has always had problems,from airheads to oil heads.I myself have had a few with my 2002 1150 like the leaking fuel line and a jamming starter.Some of the other guys have had worse like rear subframe snapping(in extreme conditions) to the finish not being up to tho British winter.Surging seems to be the main "niggle" and there a quite a few things you can do to eliminate/reduce that.
It seems to be a bit of a hit or miss affair whether your bike has problems,some do and will the rest of their time on the road,some will never have problems of anykind.
Most of the problems are when there new and they usually show up during the first 6000 miles.Your dealer should be able to sort them under warrenty.
Over all they are reliable bikes but it is BMW were talking about and Ive come to expect quirkes from them even before i bought my gs.I do admit we shouldnt expect "niggles"have to considering the price but we do and go and buy the gs anyway.
Just go and get your gs and worry about the problems if they happen.You wont regret it.

 

[boxer]

BawdyMonk.

If you know of any production run, of any bike, that has never had any 'niggles' tell me about it then go buy one - good luck.

I've no data to back this up, but it's my feeling that at the VERY least BMWs are above average in the warranty work/niggle league.

FYI.
My 1100GS has broken in 35 000 miles:

1. oil pressure switch
2. Speedo cable
3. seat lock

Bottom line is if you're going to wait for the perfect machine [any machine] you'll wait along time. Pan Euros have an excellent reputation for reliability [least the old ones did] but you don't want a bland machine do you.

Buy the GS - you will not regret it.

BMWs reliability is a least as good as anyones and possibly better.

Russ

 

[Reets]

From my point of view they are pretty unreliable compared to jap bikes. We've had four BMs (two GS models) and have problems with all, except the F650 - that had the Rotax engine though! The faults are niggles usually rather than serious ones, but costly to fix unless you have a BMW warranty (and that costs 300+ pounds a year after the initial warranty period).

Dealers are generally helpful though.

 

[Timolgra]

Had my 1150 GS for 40 000Kms. touch wood, it's never missed a beat or gear change, no niggles, no breakages, serviced at home. Perfect after nearly 3 years.
Would never go back to a VFR or swap for a thousand Pans.
Tim

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Originally posted by timolgra
Would never go back to a VFR or swap for a thousand Pans.
Tim

Not another Pan thread, Tim.....................

 

[Vern]

Don't even get me started on BMW reliability. My 1100 is the most unreliable bike I've ever owned,in fact I'm on first name terms with the AA.BMW have done more for pan european sales than any advert honda could have dreamed up.If you want ultra reliable transport,buy a pan or VFR.If you want a bike to hoon around on,take off road and generally frighten people in cars,then buy a GS.Having said all that,there's nothing out there at the moment that I'd poke with a shitty stick.Just go and buy a GS and see how much fun they are.I must go and put my gearbox back in now!!!!!

 

[BawdyMonk]

I think I'll just do it and disregard you whiners...
Nobody's told me about being stuck away from home, broken down in the middle of nowhere due to an inbuilt problem.... OK I know somebody will now tell me the "worst story in the world" about being stuck on a BMW!

 

[lyjohn]

could the reason for these 'problems' and 'niggles' be related to the fact that GSers get used and not necassarilly pampered and that the propeller emblem on the tank means our expectations are higher. Italian fetishists call it character Harley riders would just buy another with their pensions and japenese kamikaze pilots would wait 3 months untill the next interballistic missille leaves the launch pad.
We bought our GS on more than reliability if it goes wrong I expect it fixed to my satisfaction as with everything I buy. Until it does the GS is as near perfect to my needs as I have tried in my 23 years, I bloody luvs it I does.
So find a dealer you feel confident with, buy a GS ride it and sort the crap out later.

 

[judge]

My Pan gets petrol, new tyres and routine dealer servicing and the VERY occasional wash - and it just gets on with it. The GS on the other hand embodies true motorcycle ownership - attachment and rapidly emptying wallets

[Posted mainly to upset Tim ]

 

[Spanish Bob]

. Italian fetishists call it character.....

???? More details please


Bugger, this thread is starting to sound like the last edition of Airmail (the US Airhead club magazine), all gloom and doom due to the terrible state of BMW bikes. They just seem to get better to me, anyway who buys a GS using rational criteria?

 

[Timolgra]

My Pan gets petrol, new tyres and routine dealer servicing and the VERY occasional wash - and it just gets on with it.

[Posted mainly to upset Tim ]

A bit like my ride on mowers then
Tim

 

[waterhouse]

Reliability issues

In the 1970's we used to laugh about the Italian bikes whose handling in the wet was unknown: they wouldn't start in the wet.

Now we expect any car - but perhaps particularly a BMW - to just bloody work. For God's sake even Skoda has built an image for quality based on proven reliability and design.

The bike sector is still stuck in the past. All most manufacturers do is to repaint their range every year (so that parts prices can remain ludicrous) rather than design and refine. Its why I won't touch a new Pan and why BMW ought to be it.

With so much right in their product perhaps they need some of the production engineers from the car range to look at the bikes.

 

[keavze]

i would...!

swap for a thousand Pans.
Tim

ya!!!
i would like to swap for a thousand Pans!!!

and... sell them all (maybe except one) & use the $$$ to buy
BMWs....

cheers,
kaz
p.s. generally speaking; jap bikes are slightly more reliable...