Soft rims

[tc9988]

Sounds like you should have stuck with the GS.

I still have it. ;D

 

[pluric]

When I bought my 2001 BMW R1150GS it had 14000 miles on it. I checked the spokes when I got it and haven't checked them since. The bike has gone 65000 miles now without a single problem. Its been up the Dempster, up the Dalton, down Copper Canyon and on countless rocky fire roads and technical trails. I've hit large potholes at speed that I was sure had bent the rims. Nothing happened. I never worried about wheels but always carried a replacement rear drive big bearing and constantly checked the rear wheel for signs of a paralever bearing and/or big bearing failures. That regular checking and constant worry got to be a real pain in the ass after a while.

I recently did 3000 miles in Africa with a 2010 R1200GS on lots of nasty washboard roads at a brisk pace. No wheel issues. The bike had just gone 3000 miles on the same roads when I picked it up. So 6000 hard miles without spoke problems.

I don't expect to have to check the spokes any more frequently than the recommended maintenance intervals. If I do and start to find loose and or broken spokes I will not be a happy owner.

You have great taste in rides! ::008::

One of my riding friends has just under 80,000 on his 1150GS with only normal fluid changes and valve adjustments.
Pretty much a stock bike. He's not into farkles or mods. Usually rides with cowhide gloves and levis. Excellent rider.

 

[Tremor38]

I still have it. ;D

Now that's what I'm talkin about! Seems like the reports from most GS owners are either all bad or all good when it comes to reliablity. If you have one of the good ones, I'd be real hesistant to let it go.

 

[Rasher]

Now that's what I'm talkin about! Seems like the reports from most GS owners are either all bad or all good when it comes to reliablity. If you have one of the good ones, I'd be real hesistant to let it go.

I think to a large degree good = 1100 / 1150

Bad = 1200

The early 1200's were a disaster with Final Drives letting go regualrly, various electrical component failures leaving the bikes littering the roadsides of Europe, even after all the recalls & part updates Final Drives can still fail at under 5k on almost new bikes, the "modified" FPC's still blow up regularly, fork seals constantly leak and even the latest model has had problems with cam position sensors (recall done) and fuel gauges (another modified component required) I think the design is probably sound but BMW have let the bean counters take control and reduce the production costs by buying components from the cheapest supplier with absolutely no concern about reliability.

At the same time some bikes will clock up hge mileages, but generally it is a lottery with so many sub standard components.

At least the Yamaha looks to have no major flaws so far (and by the time the 1200 GS was this old they had numerous recalls) and they seem to be trying to put quality before cost.

 

[Tremor38]

I think to a large degree good = 1100 / 1150

Bad = 1200

The early 1200's were a disaster with Final Drives letting go regualrly, various electrical component failures leaving the bikes littering the roadsides of Europe, even after all the recalls & part updates Final Drives can still fail at under 5k on almost new bikes, the "modified" FPC's still blow up regularly, fork seals constantly leak and even the latest model has had problems with cam position sensors (recall done) and fuel gauges (another modified component required) I think the design is probably sound but BMW have let the bean counters take control and reduce the production costs by buying components from the cheapest supplier with absolutely no concern about reliability.

At the same time some bikes will clock up hge mileages, but generally it is a lottery with so many sub standard components.

At least the Yamaha looks to have no major flaws so far (and by the time the 1200 GS was this old they had numerous recalls) and they seem to be trying to put quality before cost.

Yes, to be a fly on the wall when it comes to their QC practices would be quite interesting. Even the Japanese outsource and have manufacturing overseas to keep costs down, but somehow they've managed to keep their QC well in hand. I'm thinking the Japanese QC is a lot more hands- on..probably with full time, embeded reps sent from Japan. BMW charges too damn much not to have something similar, but I guess, as you say, bean counting has become the new mindset in Bavaria.

 

[pluric]

What happened to the cow? Looks like you might have knocked the clapper right out of her bell. 8) Time to start hanging strobe lights around their necks

That's exactly what my dad asked me. Didn't give a care about me, the bike or what happened,
just what about the poor cow? :

I'd stopped at his house on the way home. I decided the bike could be ridden (mistake) and the wheel was holding air.
I've got blood on my face, from what turned out to be a minor cut, bikes got plastic dangling all over and Mr. animal rights
wants to go find the cow.

Anyway, the thread hijack is on so.....

Early spring ride is going well. Higher up on the trail I've made it through some left over snow pack.
My luck ran out trying to get through this snow pile.

It's stuck good. An ATV guy came along and gave it pull out. I figured time to turn around
and head home for Sunday dinner. I get out of the hills and out on flat ranch road.
Got a good clip going when I see the cow coming off a slight hill to cross the road.
I thought he would stop so I went to the left thinking I could squeeze by. The cow
didn't even slow down. Walked right into my path that I was very commited to.

I remember his eyes just before impact. They looked like the cartoon big eye look.
I'm sure mine did too. The impact of my privates to the tank was the worst part.
I couldn't get my breath as I tried to recover from the worst "two burner" I'd ever had.

I'm bent over, I see and feel blood, cow shit everywhere and I mean everywhere!
After a few moments another rider coming from the other direction pulls up and
exclaims "Dude, you hit a F@#cking cow!". Like I needed a reminder right then.

I called my wife to bring a trailer. While talking to her I did the time math in my head
and just said "never mind I think I can ride it home" Kinda dumb. Bikes messed up and
I don't feel that great either. Guardian angel time. I'm maybe 100 miles of slab away.
Some twisties and and all highway speeds. I'm doing okay and enjoying the sweepers.

I pull in my drive way and the steering locks up. A piece of fairing got jammed between the
fork tube and steering head. ??? If that had happend in the turns at speed my wife would
have been holding a garage sale.

Long story to answer that the cow was gone by the time I got my wind back. I hope he
enjoyed the V Strom enema.