In two weeks time I should be starting a 6-country, 8 000km trip through southern Africa, going as far north as Malawi. I had my 2010 model GSA last serviced in July (30,000km) and because it's on 34 000km at the moment, decided to send it in to BMW for a 'once over' check.
Yesterday I received a phone call from BMW with the bad news! The final drive bearing has failed and in the process, damaged the final drive casing which now requires a full replacement. I purchased the bike in 2012 with one year of warranty remaining for R140 000. The repair quote from BMW is R21 000 ... 15% of the original cost of the bike.
Now that I have Googled the problem I see that it is probably the 1200GS's Achilles heel ... something I was unaware of until now. I'd read about fuel pump problems and the like, but somehow this issue never caught my eye.
I'm considering trading it in on a new 1200GS ...but nothing has changed in the final drive department as far as I am aware. The KTM 1190 currently has dust ingress problems due to a very poorly designed air filtration system ... not something that augers well for South African dirt roads!
Any suggestions?
1200GSA final drive problem
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1200GSA final drive problem
Aye if you can change gear or doesn't lurch forward at junctions or the switchgear stops workingRederic wrote:Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)
The Multistrada & Explorer will leave it standing in power terms
We buy things we don't need
With money we don't have
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With money we don't have
To impress people we don't even like
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Re: 1200GSA final drive problem
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:bond_yzf wrote:i bet the tow truck isn't too far behindRederic wrote:Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)
Re: 1200GSA final drive problem
you didnt notice any problems and the bike was still rideable?,yet bmw suggest the f/d is scrap :whistle:DirtYarpie wrote:In two weeks time I should be starting a 6-country, 8 000km trip through southern Africa, going as far north as Malawi. I had my 2010 model GSA last serviced in July (30,000km) and because it's on 34 000km at the moment, decided to send it in to BMW for a 'once over' check.
Yesterday I received a phone call from BMW with the bad news! The final drive bearing has failed and in the process, damaged the final drive casing which now requires a full replacement. I purchased the bike in 2012 with one year of warranty remaining for R140 000. The repair quote from BMW is R21 000 ... 15% of the original cost of the bike.
Now that I have Googled the problem I see that it is probably the 1200GS's Achilles heel ... something I was unaware of until now. I'd read about fuel pump problems and the like, but somehow this issue never caught my eye.
I'm considering trading it in on a new 1200GS ...but nothing has changed in the final drive department as far as I am aware. The KTM 1190 currently has dust ingress problems due to a very poorly designed air filtration system ... not something that augers well for South African dirt roads!
Any suggestions?
i repair these final drives every day,and have never seen a damaged casing due to bearing failure,more likely the spanner monkeys have broken it attempting to strip it down.
and now want you to pay for their balls up.
my advice would be to buy a second hand one off ebay,then have it refurbished by someone who actually knows what they are doing (thumbs)
OVERLAND AND CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES
BMW 1200 final drive specialist
BMW transmission specialist
overland and trip preparation
servicing,repairs and tyres
1980's Japanese and European restorations
motorcycle engineering/fabricating
BMW 1200 final drive specialist
BMW transmission specialist
overland and trip preparation
servicing,repairs and tyres
1980's Japanese and European restorations
motorcycle engineering/fabricating
Re: 1200GSA final drive problem
Need more info about your trip before recommending a bike for it. How much off road, when off road what kind of terrain, etc.
My favourite large (1200cc ish) ADV bike from a desirability perspective is the Triumph Explorer 1200 and Triumph quality/reliability is good enough that I would buy one, but the Yamaha Super Tenere has proven itself to have fantastic reliability and build quality.
My favourite large (1200cc ish) ADV bike from a desirability perspective is the Triumph Explorer 1200 and Triumph quality/reliability is good enough that I would buy one, but the Yamaha Super Tenere has proven itself to have fantastic reliability and build quality.
"Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Re: 1200GSA final drive problem
My recommendation would be to fix the bike you have.
But I`d be pushing for further info on the "failure" and Id be questioning why it only appeared while they were working on it.
Your bike is the best bike for your trip
But I`d be pushing for further info on the "failure" and Id be questioning why it only appeared while they were working on it.
Your bike is the best bike for your trip
Round the world ???
Round the bend more like !
Round the bend more like !
Re: 1200GSA final drive problem
I have to agree with Mikeyboy, if the bearing had so much play it has damaged to casing you wouldn't have been riding it to the dealers without a change of underwear. My dealer has done my mine and my mates both for under £300 but we did bring them to them off the bike part stripped. Do what Mikey said they are straight forward to swap then get yours done properly, mine lasted over 70000miles.
Finally back on a GS