This was a surprise today

[GSADavidZH2]

Took delivery of a 2020 R1250 GSA just over 5 weeks ago. I decided to wash it today and I noticed that the push rod of the level sensor just lying there. It actually became detached from the swing arm within 500 yards on my first ride on the bike 4 weeks ago. It was reattached by the service manager at Sycamore Peterborough. So, now within 500 miles the level sensor arm has snapped. Such fun!! So, what is the effect of riding the bike without this sensor operating? When it became detached on my first ride on the bike it seemed ok, all I was aware of at the time was the dreaded ESA Fault warning on the display and the ride height stuck in the high position.

I am just waiting for a resolution from the Manchester based supplying dealer. The bike is covered by the BMW warrantee, but the warrantee book does not mention that the ESA is covered.

Does anyone have any idea as to why this would break? The bike has the Wunderlich infill panel fitted and the level sensor cover had been removed, I guess it stopped the panel being fitted.

Oh, I also found droplets of water inside the headlight.

Apart from that I am enjoying the bike. My last GSA was a 2013 TC.

 

[rovert57]

I think the suspension is covered up to 30000 miles ,weather this is just for the units themselves I don’t know maybe the actuator/s being electric might be covered .your warranty booklet should say .

 

[stever1]

The quality keeps dropping. You should have kept the 2013 model.

 

[Decompressing]

There's absolutely nothing to suggest that your ESA is fcked. You just need a replacement sensor (1). They're about £40-ish from a dealer. Why did it break? Well, the arm on it has snapped, so could be the thing has seized up inside or its had some physical knock that's weaker it. They don't generally tend to break, they fail after years of exposure to water and sh1t though. I'd strongly suggest that whoever pushed the connecting rod back onto it has broken that plastic arm in doing so.

 

[Traffic893]

A 2020 bike should have the 3 yr warranty I believe, so the ESA will be covered. Mind you, it’s only a bit of it not a full unit so you should be fine.

 

[longdog]

The quality keeps dropping. You should have kept the 2013 model.

There are plenty of GS’s for sale including the 1250 but very few of the last model of the 1200s, owners seem to be hanging on to their LCs, I wonder why?

 

[J biker]

There are plenty of GS’s for sale including the 1250 but very few of the last model of the 1200s, owners seem to be hanging on to their LCs, I wonder why?

Money.
Had two 1200lc models. The 1250 is streets ahead.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I have had a stream of GS's since 1999. My 1150 I kept for 14 years as it was an amazing bike and the new model had to be streets ahead for me to change it, Its wasnt, hence the 14 years , 90K ownership. Since, I've had three 1200GSA's, My last being the Last of the 1200's, Rallye GSA. Its an 18 plate, Why have I kept it ? Because the 1250 needed to be streets ahead of my 1200 Rallye. It isn't. An EU rule Camshift, and a beak sticker. with marginal more power, Hardley streets ahead, The new 1300 needs to be streets ahead too. But never anything to do with money. I can walk in and buy any bike I want, But none are "Streets ahead"

 

[stever1]

There are plenty of GS’s for sale including the 1250 but very few of the last model of the 1200s, owners seem to be hanging on to their LCs, I wonder why?

I think we both know the answer to that.

 

[stever1]

Money.
Had two 1200lc models. The 1250 is streets ahead.

But you’ve not had a real GS then, when they built them right.

 

[Santa-2512]

Thats not ESA it's a level sensor

ESA is just an acronym, the Shocks are covered for 30K only even if you have an extended warranty !

If the bike is under the factory warranty, you should be OK under the extended warranty .... who knows

 

[GSADavidZH2]

But you’ve not had a real GS then, when they built them right.

I guess you are talking about the 1150s then......

I swapped out the 1200 TC as I had an itch to scratch, also when the wife saw the bike she said "Buy it" A 3 year old bike with less that 3K on the clock and had more farkles than I knew existed could not be ignored. Looking through the extended warrantee book I cannot find any mention of the suspension, the bike was registered in Dec 19 so it is now covered by the BMW used bike warrantee. Replacement sensors are £70.01, so I expect/hoping the supplying dealer to send me one, quite happy to fit it myself, easy enough job. I am also waiting for them to send me the Puig hugger they removed before releasing the bike, apparently BMW have sent out a directive to remove them.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[GSADavidZH2]

Just reread the warrantee book, and what are the exclusions are what I thought was covered. If I keep on like this I will be asking an oil question next

 

[GSADavidZH2]

I have done a work around, it survived a 60 mile ride today, without throwing up a fault. So hopefully it will survive until the sensor is replaced. Rechecked the headlight and saw some water that appeared inside, b on closer inspection it was just sitting on the back of the beak in the gap below the headlight. It was just the angle I was looking at it!.

 

[malcopopolo]

Money.
Had two 1200lc models. The 1250 is streets ahead.

It's not streets ahead. That's why people hold onto good 1200 lc.

 

[Mr Bean]

Money.
Had two 1200lc models. The 1250 is streets ahead.

Same here. The 1250 is also much better two up with the extra torque - not that the 1200 is lacking, just that the 1250 better.

It's the same old argument that has been put forward down the years. I recall when I got my first hexhead, the 1150 owners were saying the same, then when the LC's were released, the TC owners saying the same. Wait a few months and the 1300 is on sale, the same will be said by the 1250 owners. One of the usual comments will relate to not wanting to be beta tester.

Having said that, if the first LC hadn't been stolen and its replacement written-off I wouldn't have a 1250 today as both were great bikes.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

The 1300 is a new machine. The 1250 is a 1200 with new stickers.
Nothing "streets ahead"

 

[Morety]

Having owned an old air head 650, 1000, two 1200 LC's and thrown a leg over a mate's 1250, because I was curious, it felt little different to me than my 1200s. Yes, slightly more punch from lower revs, and a bit smoother as they seem to make them smoother each year, but largely the same machine with a few cosmetic changes. 5BHP more everywhere and 10 more peak. That doesn't make it streets ahead, just a little nippier unless the laws of physics changed. The one thing you do admittedly notice with the shiftcam is the 10bls-ft extra dollop of torque throughout the rev range but since the 1200 was definitely not lacking in that regard, it is not streets ahead and of little benefit unless regularly touring two up with lots of luggage.

The 1300 will have to be more than some fancy clothes different with a bit more power before it would tempt me. How about lighter weight and more refinement to gearbox, plus better protected or more reliable sensors, better paint quality and no openings in frames for water to gather so we don't have to buy farkles to bung up said holes. How about supplying the damned things with proper mudguards and shock protectors? That matters to me far more than any totally unnecessary hike in power. Speaking with a bmw employee, at least one of those things seems to be on the cards. The 1300 is rumoured to be "significantly" lighter than the outgoing 1250 due to changes in engine casings and frame. I do hope that doesn't mean thinner casings, more prone to damage and fatigue. I remember the race for light weight in the 1980's with (then) poorer casting techniques led to some awful F-ups and had two bikes go to the scrap heap as a result. Modern improvements to metallurgy and casting techniques allow for progress but I do hope it won't be a trade off with durability.

 

[J biker]

Same here. The 1250 is also much better two up with the extra torque - not that the 1200 is lacking, just that the 1250 better.

It's the same old argument that has been put forward down the years. I recall when I got my first hexhead, the 1150 owners were saying the same, then when the LC's were released, the TC owners saying the same. Wait a few months and the 1300 is on sale, the same will be said by the 1250 owners. One of the usual comments will relate to not wanting to be beta tester.

Having said that, if the first LC hadn't been stolen and its replacement written-off I wouldn't have a 1250 today as both were great bikes.

To be expected, a lot of people do not use the performance of the 1200lc anyway. Pointless then the increase in torque and power for them. If however you do use all the performance, if you appreciate the much improved flexibility, with better torque down low and extra power higher up…then that is a different matter.
By going in to the extra settings available for traction control, ABS intervention etc. that were not there before, you start to realise more benefits.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I have the very last of the 1200's. It's identical to the 1250 other than sticker on beak. Shift cam plastic over. Marginal extra power, different plastic air ducts.
Can you enlighten me on these extra settings you talk of ? I was unaware there were any, certainly not noticed on any of my friends 1250's ?