steve'o
Registered user
A mate of mine is looking to buy a secondhand 1200GS, so what are the must check things to look for?
What to check?
- Thread starter steve'o
- Start date
Lights.
Lights are good.
Lights are good.
the director
Registered user
Stop looking and just buy.
a warranty for when it inevitably breaks down.
a visa card
and possibly a spare kidney
a visa card
and possibly a spare kidney
couldent agree more. Just use comon sence. JJH
As long as it's got a warranty, life will be good
No warranty = potential mega stress to your life and your wallet
No warranty = potential mega stress to your life and your wallet
TeaPig
Registered user
Other than the obvious stuff (crash damage, service history, overall condition and milage) the expensive weakness is the final drive but it's a lottery as to how long they last, some will do close to 100k, some give up at less than 10k. Given the limited inspection available to you, if you feel any play in the rear wheel bearings the safe option is to walk away. Other than that make sure all the brake warning lights go out when the bike sets off else there may be a v. expensive fault with the ABS. There are a few other common issues such as failure of the fuel pump controller but the bike simply won't start if that is knackered.
If you read these forums you'll get a good idea of common issues but people normally write to complain about something going wrong rather than telling us how long the bike has been good for. I've done around 100k miles on a few GS's with very few problems.
If you read these forums you'll get a good idea of common issues but people normally write to complain about something going wrong rather than telling us how long the bike has been good for. I've done around 100k miles on a few GS's with very few problems.
Any that have a E. McGregor or C. Boorman as the previous keeper.
Funny how most people think it is entirely different buying a BMW to any other bike (I did).
Normal stuff:
Looks cared for
Service History
No expensive Services due soon
Best example you can afford
The well publicised common faults scared me a bit, so went with approved BMW bike with 12 month warranty.
And make sure any recalls have been done, but with franchised FSH I assume they would have been, worth checking though.
Funny how most people think it is entirely different buying a BMW to any other bike (I did).
Normal stuff:
Looks cared for
Service History
No expensive Services due soon
Best example you can afford
The well publicised common faults scared me a bit, so went with approved BMW bike with 12 month warranty.
And make sure any recalls have been done, but with franchised FSH I assume they would have been, worth checking though.
The 16,000 mile service can be expensive.
Check everything like you would on any bike (tyres, bearings, corrosion, crash damage). Make sure both heated grips work, although they are an optional extra, most bikes have them
Any extras that you get are likely to be sensible extras, rather than anodised, coloured tat
If you've not ridden a GS before, some say they can feel weird on the test ride. I didn't notice any "weirdness" when I test rode mine, but I did expect it to be different.
Mind your shins when you stop.
Check everything like you would on any bike (tyres, bearings, corrosion, crash damage). Make sure both heated grips work, although they are an optional extra, most bikes have them
Any extras that you get are likely to be sensible extras, rather than anodised, coloured tat
If you've not ridden a GS before, some say they can feel weird on the test ride. I didn't notice any "weirdness" when I test rode mine, but I did expect it to be different.
Mind your shins when you stop.
steve'o
Registered user
How did I not foresee the sarcasm coming???. Thanks for the advice though. I will be looking at it for my mate so wanted to find out the particular weaknesses to check for. It's a low mileage 05 plate, and I don't think it's got any warranty. Is it really that important for these?
. Thanks for the advice though. I will be looking at it for my mate so wanted to find out the particular weaknesses to check for. It's a low mileage 05 plate, and I don't think it's got any warranty. Is it really that important for these?
I would reckon that would be an essential part of any buying decision, if it were me
Just a bit. I know from experience. Gearbox oil seals, FD and a failed ABS unit all within 3 months.
How I wish I had a warranty.
How I wish I had a warranty.
Last edited:
This is getting a little tedious
. You'll only get a warranty with a dealer supplied bike. Don't worry if it hasn't got a warranty in a private sale. The majority of bikes will have had all the recall work done as long as it has FSH.
There have been some FD and other issues but they aren't as common as you think by reading this forum.
I was happy to pay dealer price and get warranty, but same bike private would have been around £600 cheaper, just a real tidy one came up at fair price with warranty.
I was told you can add warranty yourself as long as bike has proper history and is "checked" first, so you may be able to save some cah buying private and then add the BMW warranty yourself, probably best to discuss with local dealer to get all the facts.
As for test ride, I found first ride very weird, mainly because the way the power is produced, all my jap bikes have delivered more power as revs rise in a fairly linear fashion, even on part throttle and I am in the habbit of only using about 50% throttle.
With the GS if you do not use larger throttle openings at higher revs it feels like it stops producing any more power after about 5k, once I realised this on second test ride it suddenly became alive and far quicker than I had hoped for.
I was told you can add warranty yourself as long as bike has proper history and is "checked" first, so you may be able to save some cah buying private and then add the BMW warranty yourself, probably best to discuss with local dealer to get all the facts.
As for test ride, I found first ride very weird, mainly because the way the power is produced, all my jap bikes have delivered more power as revs rise in a fairly linear fashion, even on part throttle and I am in the habbit of only using about 50% throttle.
With the GS if you do not use larger throttle openings at higher revs it feels like it stops producing any more power after about 5k, once I realised this on second test ride it suddenly became alive and far quicker than I had hoped for.
This is getting a little tedious
Don't worry if it hasn't got a warranty in a private sale. The majority of bikes will have had all the recall work done as long as it has FSH.
There have been some FD and other issues but they aren't as common as you think by reading this forum.
Why, Chris?
If I was buying one, I'd want a warranty, either BMW or something like Warranty Direct and I'd pay a premium for a private sale secondhand bike with a warranty
Others may not
I have a lot of friends in the bike trade and the BMW 1200 is not their fav used bike to retail, as some have been caught, having to repair them at their cost and out of their sales margin.
Many BMW dealers won't sell a 1200 without a warranty, where they will happily retail a similar age 1150 without a warranty, if the customer so wishes to buy it like that.........................speaks volumes to me
Main essential, make sure it says 1150 on the side.
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Deleted account 190920001
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Why not buy any bike you fancy and just put a warranty on it yourself? Any bike you buy with a warranty you are paying for the warranty anyway. Most private sellers cant supply a warranty for you so just get it yourself if its important to you.
R17GSR
Registered user
I have warrenty Direct for mine 07 plate 40k miles and I pay £220 a year,
That covers everything, Fd, engine, gearbox, electrics, had the warrenty running now 10 months and they just paid out £784 for new final drive shaft, fitting and recovery. Only stipulation is you have the bike serviced by a VAT registered business, at the correct intervals. I print out the BM service sheets for my mechanic to follow.
Ride free
Gary
That covers everything, Fd, engine, gearbox, electrics, had the warrenty running now 10 months and they just paid out £784 for new final drive shaft, fitting and recovery. Only stipulation is you have the bike serviced by a VAT registered business, at the correct intervals. I print out the BM service sheets for my mechanic to follow.
Ride free
Gary
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