Should I buy another 1200GS?

[Cornwallis]

During a night down the pub the conversation turned to bikes as it always does. My mate has a nine year old Kawasaki 1200ZRX with 52K miles on the clock that has never had any problems. I’ve ridden it. It’s a great bike although now out of production. I have five year old 1200GS with 22K miles that has had the following failures:

- Battery at 18 months (requiring recovery)
- Corroded alternator cover at 20 months
- Fuel control module at 30 months (requiring recovery)
- Ring antenna at 48 months (requiring recovery)
- ABS pump at 59 months

Having been delighted that BMW picked up the bill for the ABS pump part at around £1300 (but not the labour), he started to grin when I told him that, less than a week after the repair, I have the red “brake failure” light flashing on the clocks and no servo assist. I’m taking the bike in next week to be looked at.

“If you want reliability, get a Jap bike” and “you’re riding the badge” was the tone of the conversation and, in many respects, he had a good point. He was taking the p**s out of my beloved Beemer and, if I’m being honest, when compared to his Kawasaki, it deserved it.

I had an 1150GS before the 1200 and had no problems with it. I love the 1200GS, but I’m now thinking about what to get when I look at replacing it in around 6 months time? I’d like to think that BMW have learnt from their mistakes and that the latest 1200GS is sorted but I’m not sure. I know that there’s been much discussion on the forum about quality but, before even contemplating the 1200 Tenere, I have 2 question that I'd like ot ask members:

- If I purchased a 1 to 2 year old 1200GS, are the problems pretty much sorted?

- Does the current 1200GS now have the reliability of its 1150 predecessor?

Thanks

 

[Paul Wakefield]

FWIW - FPC and Ring antenna appear sorted on the new ones.

Finish still iffy (though I am told 2010 onward are better). Mind you, though my 1200 finish is not good, it is better than my 1150 was - however I do appear to have been unlucky and most people have found the 1150 and earlier finish better.

Weak point is final drive (but the 1150 also used to have that reputation - I don't know which is better as a %) but still relatively rare. There are one or two other things that can strike but they seem few and far between.

Later ones do not have the servo. ABS could still go of course but that would be unlucky.

Can't answer for battery - I've seen reports but I've never had one give up on me in 14 years (famous last words) despite complete lack of TLC.

 

[Rasher]

The japenese stuff is pretty awesome, I have probably done over 200,000 miles on Jap bikes and never had a major failure (except exploding 2 strokes)

I have had many friends with jap bikes and cannot remember any of them ever having a £1500+ fault (If you exclude the guy who wheelied everywhere at 130mph and eventually cracked his frame)

I know of many ZZR's and VFR's that have sailed past 100k with no major problems as well.

If your asking are BMW's as reliable as Jap bikes I am sure the answer is not any more, your own BMW has had quite a few issues, I am sure some are resolved, but we are already seeing that most 2010's have dodgy fuel gauges, so perhaps for each thing they improve they cut a corner elsewhere

The total cost of ownership is bound to be less with a Jap bike, they are cheaper to buy, and a lot cheaper to maintain, I think the real question is do they make a bike you wanna buy?

If the Tenere had not got universally slated by the press as being slower and not so good handling as the GS that would have been my choice, but a dog is a dog regardless of how reliable it is, the GS is a gem of a bike despite being less reliable than it should be, although much argued over the % of failures it is bllindingly obvious the 1200 has a shit load of "common" faults, most of which are also expensive.

Why not go and test ride a load of bikes, that is by far the cheapest biking

 

[Paul Wakefield]

but we are already seeing that most 2010's have dodgy fuel gauges

Cobblers - All of the 1200s have had dodgy fuel gauges.

 

[mrpc]

My 2010 had front shock replaced under warranty about 5000k, got 35000k on it now zero problems, not even fuel gauge. Might be one of the lucky ones?

 

[Dellis]

Make your own mind up, if you can't make your mind up about another 1200 try something else. I'm on my second, 75,000 miles between the two in just under 5 years. Had two 1150's before the 1200's too. Fuel gauge works fine on my current '09 model and worked fine on its predecessor an '06 model.

Dave

 

[MacFarlane]

No Non Nein

 

[MacFarlane]

Yes Oui Ja

 

[fayeslane]

Had an 07 1200 sold it and went back to an R100GSPD and now am looking for a more contemporary ride. Looking for one bike that will do most things well.

Criteria are: Upright seating position, excellent handling (twisty roads), versatile (able to handle dirt), safe, reliable, dealer support.
Shortlist was: R1200GS, Multistrada 1100S, Suzuki 1000 V-Strom, Triumph Tiger 1050, Yamaha Tenere 1200.

After much reading of road tests etc I can't go past another 1200GS probably an 08 onwards model (because of the upgrades). The 1200GS is the most forgiving bike I have owned. The only downside of the 1200 is that they are overpriced but do hold their value I suppose.

I ruled the others out because:

Multistrada -no dealer within 300kms. Limited dirt capability.
V-Strom - handling, looks, don't hold their value
Tiger - Limited dirt capability, don't hold their value.
Tenere - road tests not convincing, not much cheaper than a GS.

Hope this is of use in your decision making

 

[itchywheels]

"Should I buy another 1200GS?" The way BMW are treating there customers definaley not.

 

[52blackshadow]

My 04 1200GS.................................

My 1200GS is one of the early ones. I bought it at 20k miles and having had gearbox rebuilt, new clutch and bevel box rebuilt.

Since then I've put another 55k miles on it and have had:

Bevel Box oilseal (minor job) x 2
Second replacement clutch
second gearbox rebuild
ABS failure (sorted at minimal cost by the dealer)
Camchains rattly since about 60k Miles
general corrosion issues
current problem - Fault in the fuelling which means the tickover rises and won't drop - switching off then restarting brings it down.

I'm currently considering junking the FI and fitting Carbs, junking the servo ABS and just having normal hydraulic brakes then running it until it won't run no more!

Would I buy another? Probably not at the moment - I have 10 BMWs, have ridden them for my main transport since around 1990 and my experience with the 1200GS has finally cured me of the urge to buy another.

Ride safe,

Shad.

 

[Big Nick]

The fact that you're asking the question probably means your love affair with the GS is over

There's lots of similar styled bikes out there now so get test riding!

Alternatively, depending on your needs have a look at bikes like the K1600GT which seems to be wowing the biking journos

 

[xjrjason]

Wait till the end of this year/begining of next ......... Honda's version (of a GSA?)

Regarding my GSA

In 22 years of riding, I've never come across a bike that you need such deep pockets to keep it on the road.

Even the two Harleys I've had broke down less!

Having said that I still love my GSA, even though mine is an '08.

 

[(RIP) Johno23]

Wait till the end of this year/begining of next ......... Honda's version (of a GSA?)

Regarding my GSA

In 22 years of riding, I've never come across a bike that you need such deep pockets to keep it on the road.

Even the two Harleys I've had broke down less!

Having said that I still love my GSA, even though mine is an '08.

That looks nice. What engine are they putting in it.

 

[xjrjason]

I think it was going to have the VFR1200 lump, V4

 

[xjrjason]

Yup, and the option of there funny auto box!

crosstourer.htmhttp://www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk/NewBikes/honda-crosstourer.htm

 

[Stretchamus]

Yup, and the option of there funny auto box!

crosstourer.htmhttp://www.huntsmotorcycles.co.uk/NewBikes/honda-crosstourer.htm

Wonder if it will have F/D problems

 

[thosoneill]

Wait till the end of this year/begining of next ......... Honda's version (of a GSA?)
Regarding my GSA
In 22 years of riding, I've never come across a bike that you need such deep pockets to keep it on the road.
Even the two Harleys I've had broke down less!
Having said that I still love my GSA, even though mine is an '08.

hey man - i have owned four boxer bmws - r850r/r1150gs adv/ r1200gs x 2 / and not one of those bikes have ever let me down / seems that there are a lot of unlucky souls out there - or perhaps they don't treat them properly hope i am not tempting fate here

 

[cocokid]

Bonkers

If I said I was contemplating changing my 2010 gsa (3rd GS 1200) for an F800 GS -WITHOUT abs final drive esa etc would you say I was bonkers?

 

[cocokid]

If I said I was contemplating changing my 2010 gsa (3rd GS 1200) for an F800 GS -WITHOUT abs final drive esa etc would you say I was bonkers?

Forgot to ask, the 1150 would be another option especially for diy servicing, anyone had experience of diy servicing the F800GS?