Reliability

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:15 am

I'm wanting to get a R1200R or GS in the worst way....

All the bikers around me are saying that everything they find is BMW's have a lot of problems. Better pay less for something reliable. Better get the extended warranty, etc....

So lets find out....be honest here......

When you answer the poll, post a message that states the type BMW you have (GS R ST etc...) and how many miles you have on it.

I can only list so many option on the poll...

Yep...I forgot to list "No Problem" and it won't let me edit the poll options.

Post by **sjbmw** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:25 am

You forgot "None of the above". 15k miles, no problems.

Post by **wncbmw** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:52 am

What Herb said! No problems.

Sounds like a political 'push' poll, where you are trying to fix the outcome!

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:00 am

I got mine in 01...ride everyday...and other than a slight hassle with tight cable ties cutting into the loom it's been perfect..no problems..zip.

DJ

Post by **owldaddy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:00 am

Yep, you might wanna put a spot on that poll for those of us who haven't had a problem. 04 1150R, flawless performer.
Don

hirsty · Post by **hirsty** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:11 am

No problems with mine either, but only 8,000 miles in 15-months.

threebucks1996 · Post by **threebucks1996** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:31 am

Going on 20K and not a problem so far on a 2003 R1150R!

Post by **baltm604** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:57 am

burnt rear brake pads and rotor at 3k, from covering the brake pedal as trained in MRC

battery failed at 14k, 30 months, pretty normal.

clutch failed at 19k. expensive lesson in the perils of too much engine braking and also living in a busy city.

right control failure, 20k. lost the function of right turn signal and cancel button. result of overtightend zip ties on the wiring harness under the tank.

Otherwise it has been very reliable. I have always gotten home

Bill

Post by **TonyT607** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:19 am

sjbmw wrote:You forgot "None of the above". 15k miles, no problems.

Same here: 26k miles over 3.5 years on the new R1150R and 7K miles in 8 months on the new R1200ST.

Zero problems.

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:54 am

'02 R1150R with 42k miles on the odometer. Bought new.

A few minor issues but none that left me stranded.

1) I broke one of the plastic quick disconnect fuel line couplings during a tank removal/reattach process, so I replaced them with copper tubing.

2) Final drive seal weeping fluid - replaced under warranty during normal tuneup visit. Fluid level had not changed.

3) I replaced the crimp fuel line clamps with screw types to preemptively thwart any leaks that might have occured.

Bottom line: My BMW has been a robust bike. I've ridden in rain or shine, hailstorm, and even a little snow, 15 degrees to 101 degrees F., gravel roads, and through 16 states and through numerous cities including New York. Oh yeah, altitudes covered thus far ranges from sea level to 6700 feet near Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina.

Scratch that itch and buy the BMW of your choice!

Post by **duke** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:12 pm

Paint chipped from the left cylinder head - after I rammed a Landrover approximately 6 months ago. Poor Landrover needed repair, Rockster probably would need a touch-up paint job

Should be more careful while looking over my shoulder and not paying attention to what happens in front of me!

Sometimes while shifting from 1st to 2nd it goes into neutral, but hey - it is a BMW. If you want a slick gearbox - buy Japanese bike, but forget about shaft, Telelever and so forth ....

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 12:41 pm

I've had my RR for a little over a month so far. Only 2 real problems:
- throttle bodies needed to be synced
- low fuel sending unit may be bad

The TB sync was easy enough to perform and cheap too (made my own manometer for less than $5). This condition may be more noticible on BMWs <cough>surging<cough>, but they certainly aren't the only ones that it happens to.

IMHO, BMWs are just as reliable as any bike out there, even moreso given their popularity for touring and rough terrain. If they have a reputation for needing constant maintenance, it's most likely because BMW owners baby them on the saturday (so they can kick the sh*t out of them on sunday).

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:32 pm

Aside from normal maintenance (oil/filter changes, TB synch., tires, brakes, etc), the costs of my bike have been acceptable.

I'm not sure which category to select on the poll since I've had a few, but nothing major. It's never left me stranded on the road (well, once when I had battery issues but I blame that more on the situation, not the bike or brand).

Failures:
Hall sensor (warranty)
Battery (apparently a bad batch and was replaced under warranty)
Leaking fuel line clamps (warranty)(they all do that)
Slow leak on the final drive seal (warranty)
fuel line quick-disconnect broke (out of warranty)
Ignition coil (out of warranty)

Actually, I have a log of all money I've had to put into the bike since the day I bought it. When I get home I'll dig it up and post it here.

I have just over 46,000 miles on it and plan on putting at least that many more on it.

Post by **CycleRob** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:57 pm

The end of this July will be 6 years and 54,000 miles (86,905km) and I had one failure . . . . the licence plate illumination bulb.

Worth noting is that it's still on the fat part of it's 1st set of replacement rear brake pads. My bike also goes the full 6,000 miles between oil changes because it's costly full synthetic oil supply isn't shared with a dirty wet clutch and oil shearing high load transmission gears. Plus, once you own a bike this do-it-all wonderful, a short trip isn't possible.

MartyWadd · Post by **MartyWadd** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:01 pm

3 years, 30,000 miles
It's been a solid performer. The only thing I can think of is the right oil cooler cover has some of the paint bubbling up on it. No big deal. I'll remove 'em, sand 'em, and paint 'em black when (if) I ever get around to it.

Post by **mcollect** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:01 pm

2002 r1150r, I have had to adjust the TBs as they couldn't get it right at the dealer,adjust the valves and change the battery,the bulb did blow on the liscense plate illumination. 26,000 and no proplems, I hope to get 100,000 before doing any real work on it.

riders · Post by **riders** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:08 pm

I have an 04 R1150R which I purchased new. It has 65,000 miles on it. I had a rear seal leak which was replaced under warranty; also a rear brake pad came apart and it and the rotor were replaced under warranty. When it was 3 years old and 47,000 miles I had a new battery, alternator belt and fuel filter installed. Otherwise it has just been tires and oil changes and valve checks. I am getting the itch for a new bike but am not thrilled with what it would cost to trade so I don't know what I will do.

NCPadgett · Post by **NCPadgett** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:23 pm

Bought my 04 in July with 22,000. Put 3,000 + on it and have had leaking fuel clamps (under warranty and a recall had been issued) and like Rob had to replace the license plate bulb. Its my first bike and the only regret I have is I didnt buy one sooner. Be safe.

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:00 pm

December 01 model. Purchased second had a couple of years ago with 19,000 kilometres on the clock. Up to 88,000 kilometres now. Did a round Aus trip last year that was 16,000 kilometres in 21 days (22 days away). Three 'problems' in its life so far.

1. She was a surger but that was fixed by a non-BMW dealer tune-up.
2. Noisy cam chain anti-slap tensioner fixed with the newer model bits.
3. Intermittent LH blinker indicator on the dash - Probably a bad earth or chafed wire, but has only been intermittent a few times for a few miles.

Gets a regular 10,000 kilometer interval service. Nothing else. Been on synthetic oil since 30,000 kilometres. Mostly sits in the garage for a week or or two at a time then goes out for a thousand kilometre ride or a few thousand over a long weekend.

You will hear a lot about the few bad ones, and bugger-all about the hundreds of good ones.

Mtnbiker1966 · Post by **Mtnbiker1966** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:33 pm

Problems? Well I guess you gotta define what "problems" mean, because with a lady this sweet it'd take a lot to say I've had any problems. Oh yeah, I had to get ride of those dadgum quick disonnects and replace with a solid hose, then I had to have a cylinder cover replaced (covered under warranty) and...and...oh the battery too.

That's about it. I figure for having 49500 miles under her belt and having little to nothing to gripe about then I ain't got nothing to complain about. She's been there for me every twist and every turn in more ways than one. I ride her every day and for an '02 she still is as sexy as the day I bought her. I love that bike. She is my girl.

Like y'all those new GS's, ST's, and K1millionHPS's all look mighty fetchin', but admit it--when you got a good woman, you just don't let her go.

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Reliability

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Reliability

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