Two minor failures in so many weeks

[igsy]

I agree they are minor issues but it doesn't make it acceptable on a brand new bike costing £13k !

Never had any issues with my good ole Honda's and they were bought from new and covered big miles too.

I was talking generally.

Your issuers are so minor I would not even bother starting a thread.

 

[good'oleboy]

I don't think anybody would dispute the fact that their quality control has slipped considerably, but don't let that ruin your enjoyment of what is a stunningly capable and fun bike. I have been riding BMW motorcycles every day since 1985 so I started riding them back in the over-engineered, incredible build quality and Old Faithful-like reliability days. I have had lots of them of all types and yet I have never had one that gives me such a blast to ride. The grin factor is simply second to none. Okay, so they are flawed, but so is Angelina Jolie and I'd still like to .............................

I agree totally with you warlock. regarding Miss Jolie I would like to as well.

 

[good'oleboy]

I agree they are minor issues but it doesn't make it acceptable on a brand new bike costing £13k !

Never had any issues with my good ole Honda's and they were bought from new and covered big miles too.

It seems to me that there are 1200's and 1200's. my mate has ridden his all over Europe, had the FPC pack up and the battery seal on the gearbox. If you look at it another way they don't fall apart after winter like some jap bikes do and don't lose a shed full of dosh, nothing in life is perfect. I do agree that the quality has slipped my old K100 is still reliably doing the rounds. goodness knows how many miles the ole gal has done built like a tank even British winters can't kill 'em.

 

[MartinL]

I don't think anybody would dispute the fact that their quality control has slipped considerably, but don't let that ruin your enjoyment of what is a stunningly capable and fun bike. I have been riding BMW motorcycles every day since 1985 so I started riding them back in the over-engineered, incredible build quality and Old Faithful-like reliability days. I have had lots of them of all types and yet I have never had one that gives me such a blast to ride. The grin factor is simply second to none. Okay, so they are flawed, but so is Angelina Jolie and I'd still like to .............................

Touch of the old rose tints there methinks. I've had some experience with older boxers too and whilst I love 'em realistically they weren't all they were (are?) cracked up to be. FD failures are certainly nothing new, neither are gearboxes that lunch themselves, self destructing drive shafts, under specced charging systems, cast wheels made of cream cheese... need I go on? Do agree with your other sentiments though

 

[GSband]

...

Spotlight relay failed. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Left indicator switch failed. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Instrument console failed. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Ignition switch (not ring sensor) failed. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Spotlight relay failed (again). Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Spotlight switch failed. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Chest plate corroded. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Fuel filler corroded. Replaced under warranty. Kept riding it.
Final drive failed catastrophically. Out of warranty (expensive ouch) Replaced with second-hand unit. Kept riding it.
Speedo and ABS stopped working. Sensor in final drive damaged due to failure. Replaced it. Kept riding it.
Headlight beam adjuster fell off. Fixed it (not pretty but works). Kept riding it.
Taillight stopped working due to poor design and corrosion. Replaced it. Kept riding it.
Tyres have worn out a number of times. Replaced them. Still riding it.
It uses lots of oil because I have to throw it away at each service. Refill it. Still riding it.

Get the picture? It's a machine. Sometimes they break. ...

If this is your definition of 'sometimes', I shudder to think what you'd call 'often' ...

I admire your cool, that I wouldn't have.

 

[TheWarlock]

Touch of the old rose tints there methinks. I've had some experience with older boxers too and whilst I love 'em realistically they weren't all they were (are?) cracked up to be. FD failures are certainly nothing new, neither are gearboxes that lunch themselves, self destructing drive shafts, under specced charging systems, cast wheels made of cream cheese... need I go on? Do agree with your other sentiments though

Hmmmm. Now that you mention it I had all of those on the R100s as well but thought that was part of the fun of motorcycle ownership. Stripping them, fixing them and rebuilding them. What am I like?

Note to self. Get a life.

 

[lillebror]

Jeezes, you guys scare the s... out of me. Only done about 5000 miles on my 06 bought recently. The scary thing is that NOTHING has gone wrong. I get this uncanny feeling of sitting on a time bomb....

 

[TheWarlock]

There, there, there. Hush now. It'll be alright



























(Until it's not )

 

[lillebror]

There's something wrong with me. I've had a K100RS, 2 1200 LTs, an 1150RT and now the 06 GS. I rode the RS 150000 miles and must admit to changing FD bearings at 130000, so I guess the FD-jinx got me to. Apart from that, nothing has gone wrong. True, I only did about 30 thou miles on each of the other bikes, but surely something should have broken? What on earth is wrong with me?

 

[Whitesnake]

I don't think anybody would dispute the fact that their quality control has slipped considerably, but don't let that ruin your enjoyment of what is a stunningly capable and fun bike. I have been riding BMW motorcycles every day since 1985 so I started riding them back in the over-engineered, incredible build quality and Old Faithful-like reliability days. I have had lots of them of all types and yet I have never had one that gives me such a blast to ride. The grin factor is simply second to none. Okay, so they are flawed, but so is Angelina Jolie and I'd still like to .............................

I remember riding a mates 650 Boxer in the mid 80s - and my 400 Wet Dream felt like a missile afterwards!

You lose 30kg & add more power to a bike, the trade off has to be reliability!

If BMW were still making heavy gutless bikes in the 21st century, they would suffer the same fate as the British bike industry in the 20th.

People on this forum keep banging on about Honda build quality, and how when the new Honda "GS KILLER" comes out . . .
Well I wouldn't hold your breath - wasn't the Varadero the much anticipated successor the the Africa Twin - AWSOME!
I saw an 05 plate Varadero outside Sainsburys last week, neglected to say the least, but it was in a shocking state, and 4 winters had all but killed it.

Salt will get 'em every time, whatever the badge on the tank!

Do you think Jolie get's the Lara Croft outfit out when Brad's been a good boy?

 

[MartinL]

Salt will get 'em every time, whatever the badge on the tank!

Spot on. The biggest difference is that GSrs are more lokely to put on the miles and in all weathers. Check out the number of Yamacatihonkawasukis for sale with miniscule mileages.......

 

[igsy]

Spot on. The biggest difference is that GSrs are more lokely to put on the miles and in all weathers. Check out the number of Yamacatihonkawasukis for sale with miniscule mileages.......

Never had a problem with any bike as always kept them clean, yes after commuting a 220 mile round trip the last thing i used to feel like doing was washing the Blackbird down (and the bike...ha ha) to get the salt off. never suffered though and nor has the GS........so far. The point in many of these posts is that many people have suffered alot of failures, more than on an equivalent Jap bike but many people will not have a bad word said about the brand. It is a bike and should do what it is built for and not suffer numerous failures regardless of how "silly" or "minor" or trivial or whatever term people like to use. The build quality needs to improve !

 

[igsy]

On the way to garage this morning to get the other items already listed replaced under warranty the Right hot grip failed as well. Another one to add to the list!

 

[theop]

just back from the garage replacing my rear drive's final seal today on my 13k miler 05 12GS. Its 2009 garage hall of fame has included the usual gearbox seal leak (the one that requires half the bike to be dismantled) in March, the heated grip failing a week later, the rhs indicator switch the week after that and most bizarrely its lhs induction pipe (the one you touch with your knees) popping out the cylinder as the bike hickupped, backfired and died while revving briskly through 4k rpm in 3rd gear on Park lane....

But these are small things. No FD or gearbox deaths or even pistons lunching valves...yet.

Bottom line is those bikes are badly made from decent materials still. I think they do resist rust better than Japs (except most Hondas) they are ergonomically better than anything, they are a hoot to ride at 9/10ths, fact noone can do on a sportbike, and are as cool as cucumbers or Harleys.

BMW definitely need to raise the end game, that final bit that defines how a bike weathers and wears out. Its a difficult fit in an era of just in time productions, tight schedules and accounting rules. BUT: Ducati managed a similar feat over the last 3 years. Their bikes are still badly made from decent materials and even more badly assembled than BMW (and even KTM), but they have managed to iron out those continual niggling faults - faults that while not crippling the bike, they make it less than 100% fit.

So BMW:

1. stress test switcgear more. Electrics too. KISS principle.
2. No oil leaks allowed. EVER. Go buy better f***ing flanges, whatever... In 2009, on a £13k bike a £10 seal should not be allowed to leak and cause a 9hr repair bill. full stop.
3. Re engineer your final drives. Beef it up. OR don't f**ing call it cheaper than chains and maintenance free ever again. Because it isn't.

over and out

 

[igsy]

Left hot grip failed AGAIN on way home. So 3 hot grips failed so far in 18 months, not bad one every 6 months - PATHETIC!

 

[igsy]

So bike in for 24k service and warranty grip replacement. Dealer rings to say that gearbox oil seal and sump guard also broken so can't pick until tomorrow. All under warranty but yet more faults ! Bot good enough MR BMW

 

[EasySushi]

So bike in for 24k service and warranty grip replacement. Dealer rings to say that gearbox oil seal and sump guard also broken so can't pick until tomorrow. All under warranty but yet more faults ! Bot good enough MR BMW

I would write a letter to BMW explaining all the problems you have had and that you feel you have been let down by this product and the lack of support. Ask them to extend the warranty for a further 2 years, cc a copy of the letter to MCN, Bike, Times and any other publications out there and see if they are willing to accommodate you as a "GOOD WILL GESTURE". Because is that was my bike I would be totally pissed off and looking to throw the bike back at them.

All the best



Ty