Technical abilities of R1200 GS owners... How high is the bar?

MacMahon

Registered user
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Location
UK
Hi all,

Granted, manufacturers are edging us all out with the tech kits one daren't touch.. But in your opinions, is there a techinical level/ability that is preferred/required to successfully own a GS? As in, beyond changing a puncture.. Maybe quantified as elementary/intermediate to advanced skills?

Rating the two GS owners I know on their mechanical knowledge, the bike seems to lean toward riders more advanced in mechanics. Not in 'ride' skills, but in lower costs of running and braving ownership without extending warranty etc..

I've owned a range of bikes, mostly Japanese, and have rarely had to get down and dirty. Top end rebuilds with mates on our 125's as nippers.. But the current crop of bikes just leave potential buyers looking at warranty to sale or face the royal shake down from BMW. Is 2016 range any different? Cheers.

Concerns from a potential buyer..
 
I have lost all enthusiasm for skinning my knuckles wielding spanners on dark cold winter evenings these days - so I get my dealer to do it all for me, I can then spend my time riding it and having fun :) Doesn't really matter how complex the bike is, if you want to learn you will be motivated to do so.
 
General servicing is within the abilities of an average DIY mechanic - there's nothing that difficult that can't be done at home with a few additional tools and maybe a GS911 to help. Most people don't want to be bothered with that so send it into a dealer to pay the £200-£300 or whatever the cost is. Its a personal decision and depends whether you like getting your hands dirty or not. Either way its no different than making the same decision on any other make of bike out there, nothing special about a GS in that regard.
 
I ask because the GS appeal for me has always been the option to Mad Max it off into the sunset.. I don't want to be at the total mercy of roadside assistance though. My current workshop is.. well, bare. Which means light jobs are fine on the fly, but it's wallet work therteafter. Just had a look at the GS-911 in use alongside software. Good bit of kit! Suppose will keep on reading up and reaching out.. Cheers :)
 
I consider my technical abilities to be OK - stripped & re built several older boxers - easy meat! - HOWEVER my new LC is turning into a bit of a concern, had the engine / gearbox replaced at 5.5k as
issues with gearbox - mainly refusal to go into 3rd
corrosion on engine despite being mothered / garaged / not ridden in salt
sounded like a bag of spanners
47 miles into running in new engine - it died & dropped into limp mode - not impressed with this machine at all its dealer warranty or big learning curve looking at the way things are going?
 
I would hazard a guess that most GS owners buy the idea that they could ride to
Kazakhstan but actually Whitby for fish and chips is fine...and let that nice Mr Jeffries fix the noisy clunky thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Some 1200 owners have had their bikes from new in 2004 and have been to the supermarket in Romania, been turfed out of Belarus and clocked over 75,000 miles.
They have also changed brake discs a couple of times, that brake spider on the rear once at their own expense.....fitted new shocks.......are on their 4th FPC...

...and really couldn't give a rat's bottom about the stereotyping of owners because of the bikes they own.

:ChrisKelly
 
There are some tricky bits to the new ones, like heating the clutch basket nut to get it to come off or refilling the radiators when there is no air release valve on the left one, but honestly, once you've learned to do a valve adjustment and major service on a modern Ducati, these BMW boxers seem quite easy by comparison :)
 
All you need to do is pump the tyres, check the oil and fill it with petrol :aidan
 
Cook1e said:
Mad Max rode an 1150. Maybe an 1100 in the first movie :D
Click to expand...

Point noted :blast :)

The number of mechanics on Youtube with studs out for the Germans is interesting, and not a ball in sight! It's going to be time intensive and require a bit more than a key and petrol to push the Beemer badge. Still pretty much sold at this point. Will try to muck in with mates more on upcoming projects to update and brush up..

Cheers...
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top Bottom