BMW GS Update

[Goldwing]

So basically every 6500 miles oil change and every 12500 miles the valves are checked.

 

[Wallkeeper]

I think someone else mentioned that that is a problem with the written word. It's too easy to take it out of context. I used to type my reports in all caps, easier to type, and read. Some youngster asked me why I was screaming in my reports.

You're also correct about the pervasive polarization in the U.S. It's a shame. . . . don't know how to fix it. . . . can't blame just one person. . . . guilty of it myself.

Yup, written communications lack tone, body language and "pacing" that until the printing press were part of our interactions. So, choose and read the words with care.

I have no doubt the explosion of internet "word bites" on social media is a major contributor to the ongoing polarization.

" words once uttered and bullets once fired can never be recalled" I do not recall who said it, but it makes you think

Stay Safe

 

[Goldwing]

I started this tread to inform this community on the reliability and mechanical issues that I might have had with my 2019 R1250GS, just in case others may have been wanting to purchase a GS.

As I too had heard of drive shafts and engine issues with the GS, I had my reservations before making the purchase. All it took was a demo ride on the new GS and I was hooked as I think it is very far ahead of my previously owned 2014 S10 in every way! As I have mentioned, I do bring the bike into the Dealer for service (my choice) and the two maintenance services performed so far were $250 each. So here we are almost 2 years into ownership and 10,000 miles later. I can report no issues at all with the bike in any way; engine, brakes, drive-line, electronics, etc.

Stay tuned for more updates as I go through the GS ownership journey.................................

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Thanks for keeping us up to date on the reliability of your GS. My wife's little GS is hitting 11K with absoutely no issues. I'll take it to the BMW dealer for the 12K which includes a valve check. Somehow I doubt I'll get away with only $250 on that one.

 

[RonH]

I'm sure I paid more than $250 way back in 1990 on my first and last BMW service, but they did do the valve check. Took it in with no problems, took it out it wouldn't idle, clacked to beat heck from one cylinder, and they didn't tighten or probably even bother to thread in the final drive drain plug and it fell off on the road 50 miles down the road. So much for having the "experiece" for me.
Sorry to repeat ancient history, as that was long ago, and probably I've said it before too many times, but how in the heck a dealer can be that bad just grates on me for eternity.
Glad yours is good, the dealer is good, and hope things stay that way, as they are always a nice motorcycle.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

I was uber keen on getting a 1250GS, but I also am very careful. Just a few key strokes and I decided I wasn't in the market as a testing dummy.

Page 1 starts all high and mighty, but by page 7 the holier-than-thou attitude had become a litany of woe. https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/494602-Recalls-Problems-with-new-R1250GS-A

Shame, because since I went across the Pyrenees in 1984 on a Kawa Z750LTD with a friend on her Bimmer 80GS (which was faultless - she still has it), I aspired to have one.

Super Tenere all the way for me. I wanna ride...., not just to the dealership.

 

[Boris]

I was uber keen on getting a 1250GS, but I also am very careful. Just a few key strokes and I decided I wasn't in the market as a testing dummy.

Page 1 starts all high and mighty, but by page 7 the holier-than-thou attitude had become a litany of woe. https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/494602-Recalls-Problems-with-new-R1250GS-A

Shame, because since I went across the Pyrenees in 1984 on a Kawa Z750LTD with a friend on her Bimmer 80GS (which was faultless - she still has it), I aspired to have one.

Super Tenere all the way for me. I wanna ride...., not just to the dealership.

All high and mighty.........I think you added that bit to your post for dramatic effect. I didn’t see anything high and mighty.

 

[Goldwing]

Sounds like the bad experiences of older BMW (GS) ownership were not recent but I can tell you my 2019 has been flawless!

The Dealer I have been using is very good and that was another reason for buying the GS.

I will post my experience and cost of the 12,500 mile service. Yes, the 12,500 mile service will be more than $250, stay tuned................

 

[bmac]

I'm sure I paid more than $250 way back in 1990 on my first and last BMW service, but they did do the valve check. Took it in with no problems, took it out it wouldn't idle, clacked to beat heck from one cylinder, and they didn't tighten or probably even bother to thread in the final drive drain plug and it fell off on the road 50 miles down the road. So much for having the "experiece" for me.
Sorry to repeat ancient history, as that was long ago, and probably I've said it before too many times, but how in the heck a dealer can be that bad just grates on me for eternity.
Glad yours is good, the dealer is good, and hope things stay that way, as they are always a nice motorcycle.

Ron, that was one of your better posts on the subject, but, to be honest, your dismal dealership experience 30 years ago is hardly helpful or relevant to someone considering a BMW today. It does sound like your problem with BMW had more to do with the dealer rather than BMW.

It is clear that anytime someone mentions BMW the angst from your horrible experience long ago resurfaces. It is not doing you any good and is more likely causing you harm by even clicking on any thread that has BMW in the title. The question I have for you is; do you feel better after posting about your experience or does it just get your blood boiling again? If you don't feel better about it, perhaps it is time to ignore these discussions and partake in something that makes you feel good, like taking a ride on your bulletproof Super Tenere.

P.S. I stop watching the news because all they do is report the crap and I feel worse after watching it.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

All high and mighty.........I think you added that bit to your post for dramatic effect. I didn’t see anything high and mighty.

OP :
"...It is bound to happen sooner or later.
Don't panic!
Please report any problems or recalls related to this wonderful news edition of the large GS/A..."

FIRST RESPONSE TO OP:
"...what a stupid post. Grow up.
Alan R...."

I think Alan R may have nudged me in the general direction of "dramatic effect"

 

[PhilPhilippines]

Sounds like the bad experiences of older BMW (GS) ownership were not recent but I can tell you my 2019 has been flawless!

The Dealer I have been using is very good and that was another reason for buying the GS.

I will post my experience and cost of the 12,500 mile service. Yes, the 12,500 mile service will be more than $250, stay tuned................

The post was started in November 2018:

To quote the latest page, 2020:

"....
what a stupid post. Grow up.
Alan R

16 pages of posts later and some serious issues revealed.
A not so stupid post it seems in hindsight hey Alan......"

Don't shoot the messenger. I really like the bike, but there seems to be a lot of problems these days with BMW...something that I steer clear of., as headaches aren't my thing, riding is.

 

[twinrider]

From what I read and seen, how many problems a BMW gives seems to be luck of the draw. Some people have many issues, others don't. Even with the same model, as two of my friends found out. Perhaps it boils down to what day of the week it was built. Monday and Friday are bad, Tuesday through Thursday are good.

I owned a number of them but my last one was built in 2005. The R1100RT and GS were both disabled by broken Hall sensors, luckily when I wasn't too far from home. My F650GSD's fan seized one day, again luckily close enough to home to get back using my supply of spare fuses that kept blowing due to the fan issue.

I'm open to owning another one, but with two young kids my bike fund isn't plush enough currently to consider the cost of new ownership and upkeep so I'll stick with trouble-free Yamaha.

 

[Mak10]

I’d have no problem owning a BMW. My two biggest gripes are the closest dealer is 3 hours away.
The next biggest complaint is the chip that BMW owners have on their shoulders. The same phenomenon applies to Harley riders. Tunnel vision that BMW is “the” bike and all others are inferior. I have found that, that superior attitude quickly disappears when they ride/camp and truly see the capabilities of the Super Tenere. I was riding with a guy on a Ktm 690, that considered buying a new GS 1250, but at camp said I would be too big, heavy, where we were riding. Then in his ignorance he was told the Super Tenere was a 1200. His respect went way up.
Harley riders are the same. Tunnel vision. The only motorcycle is a Harley. The joys people miss out on.

 

[Goldwing]

I’d have no problem owning a BMW. My two biggest gripes are the closest dealer is 3 hours away.
The next biggest complaint is the chip that BMW owners have on their shoulders. The same phenomenon applies to Harley riders. Tunnel vision that BMW is “the” bike and all others are inferior. I have found that, that superior attitude quickly disappears when they ride/camp and truly see the capabilities of the Super Tenere. I was riding with a guy on a Ktm 690, that considered buying a new GS 1250, but at camp said I would be too big, heavy, where we were riding. Then in his ignorance he was told the Super Tenere was a 1200. His respect went way up.
Harley riders are the same. Tunnel vision. The only motorcycle is a Harley. The joys people miss out on.

I get it, the Dealership has and had for me, played a big part in the decision of buying a BMW. The Dealer I use is 2 hours away. There is another one about 45 mins away but has a bad reputation.

As you can see from my signature block, I have owned many bikes over the years. The GS is far better at just about everything than anything I own or have owned. I find that most people that put BMW down have never ridden one. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, all it took for me was a demo ride and I was hooked.

 

[Sierra1]

At one time there were only seven BMW motorcycle dealerships in the entire state of Texas. Only two of which were in north Texas. One of which was straight up crappy, now out of business, the other was 1.5 hours away. Both had the "chips on the shoulder" that Mak mentioned. I think at the same time there were six Honda motorcycle dealerships in the same area.

I'll also agree with Goldwing on the demo ride causing instant infatuation. I felt the same way. And, that feeling lasted for a couple of years. . . . but it did fade away. I don't talk good/bad about any body/thing that I don't have personal experience with. I can tell somebody that they would be safe, and happy to buy a Yamaha. I couldn't do the same with BMW. 'Cuz, twinrider is correct also. Luck of the draw. Two of the three RTs that I had experience with, had broken drive shafts; one of them, twice. The third. . . . not one issue ever.

So, does Beemer make great bikes? Absolutely. . . . just not every one of them.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

At one time there were only seven BMW motorcycle dealerships in the entire state of Texas. Only two of which were in north Texas. One of which was straight up crappy, now out of business, the other was 1.5 hours away. Both had the "chips on the shoulder" that Mak mentioned. I think at the same time there were six Honda motorcycle dealerships in the same area.

I'll also agree with Goldwing on the demo ride causing instant infatuation. I felt the same way. And, that feeling lasted for a couple of years. . . . but it did fade away. I don't talk good/bad about any body/thing that I don't have personal experience with. I can tell somebody that they would be safe, and happy to buy a Yamaha. I couldn't do the same with BMW. 'Cuz, twinrider is correct also. Luck of the draw. Two of the three RTs that I had experience with, had broken drive shafts; one of them, twice. The third. . . . not one issue ever.

So, does Beemer make great bikes? Absolutely. . . . just not every one of them.

I came to the same conclusion without the experience part. I don't need that experience and it seems that the quality control is erratic. The ST10 seems to be pretty much bulletproof overall and that has sucked me in.

I currently ride a Husky TR650 Terra and although I love the thumper to bits (it is the BMW 650 rotax with a few more horses), I always have the nagging doubt in the back of my mind that it may not make it through the next trip.

The engine is lovely now, but after purchase I joined the queue, with the majority, that have the dangerous low speed stumble and overheating probs. I have done the EVAP canisterectomy, decat and debaffle, replaced the thermostat and increased the bikes value with the 1 peso thermostat fix. I also opted for a 10% increase in fuelling and replaced the fuel injector with a Ferrari Dino unit (that got Philippines Customs rubbing their hands lol) and sent the ECU to Italy for a brain transplant. I can accept the aforementioned (just about) as it is not an expensive, premium bike. It isn't what it isn't.

The filthy amounts of lucre that BMW demand for a 1250GS demands a more consistent product, disappointingly.

 

[Goldwing]

Hi all,

Another update on my experience with the BMW GS, just turned 11,000 miles and still no problems or issues. For me the front caliper recall is a no issue as I have no leaking calipers, they work great.

The 12,500 mile service coming up so will return to yet you all know how much it will cost.

 

[MIKE R]

Three years ago I owned 1200GSA (now traded for a 1250GSA) and a Super Ten with electronic suspension (still have it....lucky man!)

A friend of mine was looking for a second bike and asked me what was the advantages of the BM over the Yam

I told him the BM had:-

Keyless Ignition
Dynamic Suspension (it adjusts itself...no need for comfort/standard/hard)
Hill Start Assist
Quickshifter
Sat Nav control from the handlebar if you buy a BMW Sat Nav
Cornering ABS
TFT Screen
etc

He then asked what were the advantages of the S10 over the GSA,

Simple I said, it has none of those!

He bought the >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>?

Both are great bikes but have different strengths and weakness

Live and Let Live

Mike

 

[RonH]

Greg Rice, the iron butt king, just got his second 1250gsa, after the first one was totalled in a 20mph lowside getoff. Somehow, someway, someone was able to get access to his security parking garage in Ft Lauderdale, somehow start the 2 week old GSA, and ride away. Greg has the keys and fobs, but no bike. He's pretty pissed off. Security cameras show the bike riding away. Looks like keyless may not be much advantage.

 

[Sierra1]

So, the second one was stolen, or was the totaled one stolen first?