THE UNSTOPPABLE BMW R1200GS

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Just out of interest, do you get any warnings of an impending failure or does it just die one day?

I have a silver FPC on my '08 GSA (not the supposed black one which is the replacement) so when it does to the dealer for the final service before the warranty runs out I will ask them to confirm in writing that there are no recalls outstanding for my bike.

We'll see.

No warnings, the bike dies. It doesn't even cough and splutter like a deathbed emphysema patient.

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

They must have been all blue ones though?......

BMW Turkey don't recommend only blue ones, at least not for '05 models. BMW Turkey recommend screwing yourself and not asking for free stuff. I added 5 red and two green smarties. Yellow ones cause pinking.

 

[Shep]

One recovery driver I was talking to said the same thing "we pick up lots of BMW's nowadays" when questioned it became apparant that his employers recently signed the contract for BMW Moto recovery

 

[Martin S]

"One recovery driver I was talking to said the same thing "we pick up lots of BMW's nowadays" when questioned it became apparant that his employers recently signed the contract for BMW Moto recovery"

So what are you saying.....that they are reliable?

 

[Monsieur]

For a bike thats sold as one that can go round the world its a pretty poor state of affairs, is it not

Maybe what they meant was that the GS is a bike that can go round the world if you have a full recovery service vailable

 

[itchywheels]

Just like Ewan and Charlie

 

[D6]

they are reliable as any other make, i recon,
but considering the cost, they should be better

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Does it have to be Smarties? Are M&M's any good?

Andres

PS Mine's an 05 Model with silver side panels

 

[Monsieur]

they are reliable as any other make, i recon,
but considering the cost, they should be better

That may well be so - but surely a bike that is sold with the implied recognition that it is rugged enough to cope with any terrain should somehow be better than any other make??

Especailly when said bike sells for the price it does

 

[STUBBS]

should have got an 11**

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

That may well be so - but surely a bike that is sold with the implied recognition that it is rugged enough to cope with any terrain should somehow be better than any other make??

Especailly when said bike sells for the price it does

Why? The R1, GSXR and others are sold with the implied recognition that they are MotoGP type bikes, which they are clearly not.

Like any other mass produced vehicle, the GS is made to fit as wider number of potential buyers as possible. BMW know that many will be used for little more than commuting and road riding, while some will be used for more adventurous stuff. If they designed it purely for roundy the worldy stuff, it'll only ever have sold a few. Plenty of stuff is designed to look rugged, but as consumers we know it's not really. This isn't to say BMW shouldn't have sorted the few faults the bike obviously has, but to buy one based on it's ability to take someone round the world is very naive.

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Does it have to be Smarties? Are M&M's any good?

Andres

PS Mine's an 05 Model with silver side panels

No, no, no. The silver side panels cause M&M's to vibrate, you'll need black 'uns.

For sale: Black side panels.........................

 

[Martin S]

The fact is that over 300 bikes on here have failed due to FPC. I find it unbelievable that BMW seem to get away with it just because in most other respects the GS1200 is a great bike.

I would be surprised if +300 BMW cars in the UK broke down with the same single fault and it wasn't fixed pdq.

 

[Old Git Ray]

Why? The R1, GSXR and others are sold with the implied recognition that they are MotoGP type bikes, which they are clearly not........

So...are they advertised as "UNBEATABLE" in the same way BMWs are advertised as "UNSTOPPABLE" ???

Which they are also clearly not.

Just asking

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

So...are they advertised as "UNBEATABLE" in the same way BMWs are advertised as "UNSTOPPABLE" ???

Which they are also clearly not.

Just asking

I see, so you believe advertising slogans and the like? Come on, pinch of salt 'n all that.

 

[luckylucian]

For a bike thats sold as one that can go round the world its a pretty poor state of affairs, is it not

Maybe what they meant was that the GS is a bike that can go round the world if you have a full recovery service vailable

Thats a bit harsh, take a FPC, ring and spare FD and you'll be fine

 

[Monsieur]

I see, so you believe advertising slogans and the like? Come on, pinch of salt 'n all that.

Just slogans?
Thought they actual claims from BMW

 

[Shep]

"One recovery driver I was talking to said the same thing "we pick up lots of BMW's nowadays" when questioned it became apparant that his employers recently signed the contract for BMW Moto recovery"

So what are you saying.....that they are reliable?

I didn't say that at all

Although to be fair i've done 75000 miles on 1200's and although they've had issues, they've always got me home

 

[Old Git Ray]

I see, so you believe advertising slogans and the like? Come on, pinch of salt 'n all that.

Nah, I was being fecetious. But I can live in hope.

Incidentally. Does anyone know if the new black FPC and new Antenna ring (as fitted to my Jun 09 GSA) have proved to be reliable(ish) or are there still doubts/breakdowns ??

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Far as i'm aware the antennae ring prob was down to a bad batch and it's sorted now.
FPC - too early to call that one.