BMW R1200GS Review

Overall Rating

Great on a long run - one memorable one to Sicily and back. Once the weight and balance has been mastered the bike is very easy to handle. When it is running it is great fun and I forget the bad bits. But....

Reliability! The standard r1200gs bike has been awful (2005 - 18,000 miles). 2 new batteries - despite buying the BMW overpriced charger. Once left stranded by the side of the road. Gear indicator replaced due to wet getting into unit. Clutch plate soaked in oil and replaced after failure of an oil seal at the back of the engine - new clutch required and a wait of 2 months required for parts - pathetic. Corroded and corroding bolts all over the bike - despite regular cleaning. The latest is a siezed alternator, due to a split alternator housing, preventing the engine from turning over. The likelihood is that water got past the front engine casing (No there was no river crossing just normal use) and then froze during a long period of non-use though kept under a blanket and good tied tarpaulin with the battery charger on the auxiliary socket (how clever is that putting a key electrical component, the alternator, just above the front wheel in a non-waterproof zone) . Now past warranty and again this kept me off the road for 2 1/2 weeks while the bike was towed away and fixed - not at BMW this time - I wasn't going to give them anymore business for this machine. Totally fed up with it, but I've spent so much on it I am not going to ditch it now. I'll never get the money back.

Why don't BMW replace all its torx screws with stainless steel Allen bolts (or Torx) that won't corrode? At these prices it's a dissappointment. Especially as they are billed as the go anywhere do anything machine. The inevitable chips on the bike frame from standard road use are already rusting - now trying to fend it off with ACF-50 product and grease on all bolts. Too little too late.
In my view too much was taken off the bike to achieve the initial weight saving of 30 odd kilograms. What was needed was a complete re-think to save weight rather than the evolutionary approach. Perhaps the new F series and Rotrax motor is following that line of thinking, Shame about the lack of shaft drive on the new machine.
I have put on the bike (some of which should have been included/never taken off)
Fat foot - stock side stand foot was useless for a go-anywhere machine.
Cover cap for key frame juntion point. Why was it left off?
New horn - original was useless.
Front Yoke protector fitted.
Oil cooler protector fitted after stones took a dint out of the cooler fins.
Two front lights (one Xenon) because the standards aren't up to the job, and dim when braking due to the power taken for the brake servo! Why a non-standard alternator underpowered for the standard r1200gs at 600 W, which is a one off that costs the earth? More profiteering?
Support required for original windscreen and replaced plastic original windscreen bolts with aluminium.
Little windshield fitted on top of original to keep wind from buffeting head region. Crap standard windshield.
Extended original mudguard because water going up the non-waterproof black plastic engine casing continually on a run (behind which lies the alternator!)
Plate fitted to open back of battery compartment. Very poor design when the machine is useless without its battery - as I have found.
Throttle screw lock fitted - should be standard on any bike required for touring.
Lift bar fitted since the bike is back heavy when trying to lift onto centre stand - design oversight no lift point supplied.
Bash plates and crash bars fitted - which should come as standard even on the standard GS. Added protectors around brake switch and engine components which should have been standard.
Fastway footpads fitted - since the stock ones are just too uncomfortable to stand on for any length of time.
Touratech have made a mint out of this machine and Wunderlich / Nippy Norman must be rubbing their hands for a few more good years. Why don't BMW just finish the job properly first time around when they leave the factory gates? Do upper management have shares in Touratech?
Overall I am not happy. The Long Way Round might have been good viewing and did BMW sales figures a power of good (I bought mine before this film) but there must have been a warehouse load of spares on the support trucks to keep those bikes on the road. Oh I forgot those were the earlier R1150gs weren't they - which were obviously too heavy so hence this new machine rushed in.
In short would I recommend this machine? Not unless you have very deep pockets indeed - and a lot of patience. These bikes are definitely not bullet proof and require an awful lot of babying. Yes they are fine when running but....