See Norway on a 1200

[pedmo]

First 2 weeks on holiday for over a year, and the final drive failed on the first day in Kristiansand, 2 days after the warranty expired so I could not use BMW assist, and I had to get a new one sent from the UK, which took 10 very stressful days as FEDEX put it in the normal post as they 'don't have a van which goes out that way', and then lost it... So I got the part fitted just in time to catch the ferry home. Norway is not a cheap place to have a holiday.

The bike is 2 years old and I have done 42000 miles. Other issues I have had with it.

Clutch failed (on holiday in scotland) - cluth replaced - warranty.
Clutch failed again - master and slave cylinder replaced - warranty.
Front brake micro switch replaced - warranty.
left indicator switch ass'y replaced - warranty.
Right indicator switch ass'y replaced - warranty.
Front discs worn out - replaced.
Rear disc damaged by premature pad wear out - replaced warranty.
Rear subrame mount threads corroded so badly the subframe had to be replaced -warranty.
Engine front cover replaced - warranty.
Battery failed -replaced.
Numerous other corrosion problems, including wheel hubs - warranty claim rejected.
Rear tyre spray gaurd thing cracked.
Cylinder head boss cracked off by the aluminium head cover mounting when I dropped the bike while stationary.
Clutch shaft seal leak - replaced under warranty.
Rear light corroded failed and replaced.

BVM have been very good but any dealings I have had with BMW have not been.

I had a 1150 as a loan bike once, it broke down within 2 miles of the dealer.

 

[Bertie]

Norway Trip

Sorry to read of all your problems, especially as I went to Norway on my GS last year and had a faultless two week 2,250 miletour, and the same again this year through France, Italy & Switzerland. Wife and luggage on board both times, with temperatures all over the shop - bike never missed a beat, and certainly no corrosion problems - do you live near the coast?!

Sounds like you have been particularly unlucky - it happens to all makes. My commiserations, and I hope you get it all sorted

 

[bigchris]

3 words - buy a ktm!

Just out of interest, what mileage had you done before your brake discs were dead?

Im trying to get mine replaced on warranty

 

[GS TRV]

I had a 1150 as a loan bike once, it broke down within 2 miles of the dealer.

That IS shocking


The rest of the story sounds familiar

 

[Jon]

Looking at all the other issues you had, 2 days out of warranty or not, I'd have been demanding BMW do something about it

 

[GPLongford]

First 2 weeks on holiday for over a year, and the final drive failed on the first day in Kristiansand, 2 days after the warranty expired so I could not use BMW assist

Thats BAD service from BMW!

But I guess You know Kristiansand well now?

(I'm glad we have 3 years BMW warranty here in Norway and 2 more years due to ordinary customers rights!)

 

[rdover]

I think you had a lemon. I did 3350 miles in a week in June and the bike did not miss a beat.

I have issues with paint quality as do many others but overall nothing worse than I've had with every other bike (or car) manufacturer.

Still, my commiserations

 

[Greybeard]

I've had a few problems with my 2005 GS [front pads and discs replaced, front engine cover and filler cap replaced (corrosion) and battery replaced], but in general the bike has been great - 'touch wood' - as the bike is now out of warranty. Mind you, it's only done 7750 miles. I thik maybe you did get a Friday bike?

 

[snoopy]

What is it with people saying "oh you had a lemon"? I keep seeing this on 1200GS threads. Also, IMHO you should not comment on how reliable your bike is until you've rode the thing to 30,000 miles.

"Lemon" is not an excuse for piss poor R&D. It does seem BMW aborted R&D after the 1150, or probably before, given the 1150 was a tarted up 1100. Then there's the HP2 forks disaster...

 

[Steveremf]

Have to say I just covered 7100 miles on a trip to Eastern and Northern Europe, the bike broke down an hour from Calais on the way home but due to warranty I was fixed free and put up in a hotel for the night. My bike has had problems in the past but I don,t mind so much if the warranty covers you and you get a loan bike. The bike is out of warranty at the end of this month, it has done 37000 miles.
There is absolutely no way I can afford to keep hold of it, despite getting quite attached to it, after weighing up the pros and cons it will be cheaper in the long run to chop it in for a new one, I rely heavily on the bike throughout the year for work. A major factor is the expense is tax deductable and I can claim the Vat back.
I am hoping the new bike does have less problems than the current one, I am sticking with the GS1200 because it is a great bike to ride in and out of town and off-road, unfortunately my choice has rather less to do with reliability than I would have liked.

 

[bsogri]

rear drive

First 2 weeks on holiday for over a year, and the final drive failed on the first day in Kristiansand, 2 days after the warranty expired so I could not use BMW assist, and I had to get a new one sent from the UK, which took 10 very stressful days as FEDEX put it in the normal post as they 'don't have a van which goes out that way', and then lost it... So I got the part fitted just in time to catch the ferry home. Norway is not a cheap place to have a holiday.

The bike is 2 years old and I have done 42000 miles. Other issues I have had with it.

Clutch failed (on holiday in scotland) - cluth replaced - warranty.
Clutch failed again - master and slave cylinder replaced - warranty.
Front brake micro switch replaced - warranty.
left indicator switch ass'y replaced - warranty.
Right indicator switch ass'y replaced - warranty.
Front discs worn out - replaced.
Rear disc damaged by premature pad wear out - replaced warranty.
Rear subrame mount threads corroded so badly the subframe had to be replaced -warranty.
Engine front cover replaced - warranty.
Battery failed -replaced.
Numerous other corrosion problems, including wheel hubs - warranty claim rejected.
Rear tyre spray gaurd thing cracked.
Cylinder head boss cracked off by the aluminium head cover mounting when I dropped the bike while stationary.
Clutch shaft seal leak - replaced under warranty.
Rear light corroded failed and replaced.

BVM have been very good but any dealings I have had with BMW have not been.

I had a 1150 as a loan bike once, it broke down within 2 miles of the dealer.

my 2005 has had three diffs now due to oil leaks , last one 4 weeks out of warranty which was refused, i pointed out the previous one was only nine months old and they fixed it free,, good service or bad design

 

[Captain GSA]

my 2005 has had three diffs now due to oil leaks , last one 4 weeks out of warranty which was refused, i pointed out the previous one was only nine months old and they fixed it free,, good service or bad design

bsogri, this thread amongst others that you have replied to have been around for months! Last posted on in 2007.........

It's nice to see you are keen to bring them from the dark depths of this forum back to life again.........

 

[minkyhead]

thats tough and doesnt please me to read it [i was that soldier and all that ]
if it was a dog u would have shot it by now
perhaps the guys with the older bikes could [maby have ]considered insurance through carol nash their european recovery works pretty well

by strange coincidence iwas in norway last summer and grahams appilia mille broke down
..it could not be repaired [what can in norway ??]
but his bike was transported to the ferry and onto home the other side
not ideal but better than apoke in the eye ...some peace of mind at least ...nice to see they do what they say they will .....
stunning place though



on the other hand just buy a jap bike and enjoy your hols .....

 

[kiwiAdventure]

my 2005 has had three diffs now due to oil leaks , last one 4 weeks out of warranty which was refused, i pointed out the previous one was only nine months old and they fixed it free,, good service or bad design

There must be more to this, as BMW will warranty there work for another 12 months on replacement items. You could easy win a legal case against them for faulty work or parts.

 

[pedmo]

3 weeks after I originally posted this, I crashed the unreliable pile of crap and spent 3 weeks in Intensive care, 5 weeks in hospital and 4 months off work.

On the bright side I wrote the corroding unreliable crap heap off .

With part of the generous insurance payout I brought a japanese manufactured sofa which has not let me down so far.

I'm seriously considering getting an 800GS now, so either I must have banged my head in the accident or I have turned into a girl.

 

[Captain GSA]

3 weeks after I originally posted this, I crashed the unreliable pile of crap and spent 3 weeks in Intensive care, 5 weeks in hospital and 4 months of work.

On the bright side I wrote the corroding unreliable crap heap off .

With part of the generous insurance payout I brought a japanese manufactured sofa which has not let me down so far.

I'm seriously considering getting an 800GS now, so either I must have banged my head in the accident or I have turned into a girl.

Glad you are ok now

I don't think the 800GS is a girls bike though......this is a lighter, much cheaper alternative to the big twins and what with the new TT bigger tank option on it's way......

 

[bsogri]

dark depths

this was only 2 months ago, i have only got 60000 miles on it for g... sake

 

[D6]

What is it with people saying "oh you had a lemon"? I keep seeing this on 1200GS threads. Also, IMHO you should not comment on how reliable your bike is until you've rode the thing to 30,000 miles.

"Lemon" is not an excuse for piss poor R&D. It does seem BMW aborted R&D after the 1150, or probably before, given the 1150 was a tarted up 1100. Then there's the HP2 forks disaster...

i thought the 1150 was good r an d ?it took a very good bike, rectified a few faults and put it on the market, back to back wi uggs 1100,my 1150 is the same but wi less niggles,(some,no doubht ,will disagree)....
the 12, however seems a lot poorer?its like going back to 1970,s hondas,but at least they got re- called people shudnt be getting this amount of failures on new bikes,,,