A bit disappointed with R1200gsa LC front shock design

Two days ago I head a chance to repair both shocks on 2014 GSA

First, it's impossible to take the shocks out without taking the whole bike apart!
The second big surprise was no dust seal!
Yes! They made the front shock absorber without a dust seal!!! No wonder they fail so quick...
Or maybe an adventure bike is kept in a dust free environment?
40K miles always serviced at the dealers.
The bike was on the extended warranty and serviced every year so the dealer's goodwill was covering the cost of half of the shocks
Plus fitting and vat price was still touching 3K with 2 weeks waiting.
So the future plan is to add the custom dust seal and modify this mistake and the shock should last. The repair was successful, the bike is going on the 4K trip today.
there was not enough time to add the scraper seal but at least I can get some parts made and be prepared.
Some pictures for the entertainment
No more complains about LC


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Nice one Luke, video below has a few good tips to save some time.

And the front one.

Smogbob said:

And the front one.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Took me half of that time and I didn't remove the airbox completely ... however it's still a massive amount of work just to get to one stud at the top !must be about 30 screws. I guess just need to go with the flow... they are designed that way so normal 9 -5 guys will not attempt this kind of work.
Time to time it's nice to take apart something more challenging. I'm sure spring upgrade on 2018RT will be a lot of fun...

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Denz0 said:

Thanks! Took me half of that time and I didn't remove the airbox completely ... however it's still a massive amount of work just to get to one stud at the top !must be about 30 screws. I guess just need to go with the flow... they are designed that way so normal 9 -5 guys will not attempt this kind of work.
Time to time it's nice to take apart something more challenging. I'm sure spring upgrade on 2018RT will be a lot of fun...

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Click to expand...

Looking forward to doing mine in the winter................

Interesting post but also interesting, to me, is seeing an old triple headed Jun-Air compressor.
I usually see them in dental surgeries powering their equipment when i go to service or repair them

It is quite unforgivable that a motorcycle touching £18,000 new uses shocks that whilst reasonably well made and generally reliable, fail prematurely due to the lack of a 10 pence component...a scraper/dust seal. One simple mod might simply be to fit some sort of shroud over the shock to prevent dust ingress, but having to make mods like this is just not acceptable in a premium bike. Nor is the cost of the repair. I rode a Yamaha MT10 at almost half the price not that long ago which as standard came with much better suspension, better made and more reliable by all accounts. Come on BMW....get your act together or this will be one (of many thousands I suspect) first time GS owner who will never buy another. It's a shame as I love the bike, love the handling and the engine. I cannot abide the penny pinching cheap and nasty corner cutting from flaking paint to failing suspension and Fisher-Price switch clusters! If the 1250 is the same. I won't be going there. I have no loyalty to any brand that rips its customers off in this way.

Can you repair this front shock from 1200 LC ?

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Berg said:

Can you repair this front shock from 1200 LC ?

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Click to expand...

Yes!
It will be better than new as they come without a dust seal as standard...

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