BMW - When to replace your bike ..how many kms?

[Coffeechaser]

Hi members

Can anyone tell me how many kilometers can you do on a BMW 1200GS or the 800 GS before its time to replace it. I want to go through Africa, Europe, Australia, UK and the Americas...

[Fern]

Are you serious? Throwaway society. Just replace what breaks or is wearing out?

It's a good job not all BMW owners have abandoned their classic airheads.

[docsherlock]

Originally Posted by Coffeechaser

Hi members

Can anyone tell me how many kilometers can you do on a BMW 1200GS or the 800 GS before its time to replace it. I want to go through Africa, Europe, Australia, UK and the Americas...

Most seem to be good for 30-50000 miles if serviced if the literature is to be believed.

The problem is failures of components before those mileages due to various known issues - a search of forums here and on ADVrider will give more info.

[Coffeechaser]

Loved your reply ... It's just that I want to buy a bike for a RTW trip from Aussie and want to keep it for a while .. I had a quick look at your blog .. Where are you now ?

[Mr brown2]

i just returned back from egypt on my 1200 GSA 20088. and some one who just returned back from africa to europe on an old gs adv and his bike did so far just over 150.000 km yes believe it

[Coffeechaser]

Hi docs ... 50000 miles ??? Is that all .. Surely you can get more out of a BMW ???

[Coffeechaser]

Now you are talking.. That's what I want to hear .. I'm hoping to spend at least 2 years on the road

[reggie3cl]

I rented an 1150GS once that had 110000 km on the clock and it went beautifully. It's still used as a sweeper bike for the rental co when they do tours. 30 to 50000 miles my arse. No complicated machine is maintenance free, unless you think that replacing a bearing means the whole bike should be thrown away.

[MikeS]

Sold my R1150GS last year with 107,000 miles on it, was still running great. It had done two RTW trips over 3 years, one of which was two up (previous owners). All I ever was regular, standard maintenance such as oil/filter changes, throttle body synch and valve adjustments as per the schedule. It barely blew a bulb on my year long trip on it. Would have happily done another big trip on it but only sold it as I was moving to Malaysia.

[Moto Phoenix]

With proper maintenance, almost any modern bike should be capable of high milage. The problem is, that when they go wrong they can be more complicated and are generally not as repairer friendly as older machines. On the other hand older machines can be less durable because the materials and engineering design is generally less well developed. So they need more frequent attention.

Personally I prefer older bikes because they are easier to fix on the road. If you choose carefully and maintain them properly they will give good service.
My old airhead GS PD has over 350000 miles on the clock (335000 miles were put on by me). Still on the original bottom end. Simple layout and easy to fix.

[docsherlock]

Originally Posted by reggie3cl

I rented an 1150GS once that had 110000 km on the clock and it went beautifully. It's still used as a sweeper bike for the rental co when they do tours. 30 to 50000 miles my arse. No complicated machine is maintenance free, unless you think that replacing a bearing means the whole bike should be thrown away.

I read a post on an internet forum once posted by some pissed up Scottish twat who couldn't read...... does that mean I should generalize about the Scots?

Later model BMW bikes have a very poor reputation for reliability with a warranty work rate of about 30%; F800GS camchains seem to give up about 50,000 miles and it is not a trivial job (engine has to come out). And that's before we start on the final drive, fuel pump controller and AWS issues of the GSA.

You pays your money, you takes your choice; no sense being rude to someone whose opinion you disagree with.

[MountainMan]

I personally endeavor to make docsherlock tow me and my shitty bikes out of the bush at least a few times this summer

As mentioneded by others, long answer, but many modern bikes (and vehicles) can go a long way these days.

At low miles, the list of parts that need to be replaced as part of regular maintenance is fairly short. As it ages, this list gets longer and then when you hit very high miles you end up looking at large capital items that may need to be replaced. They can keep going, but at some point the question is whether the additonal yearly investment is worth it. Most vehicles don't get to their theoretical maximum useful life, and instead are scrapped when the running costs exceed that of a newer vehicle, they degrade due to lack of use, or they are deemed unsuitable to current tastes.

On the vehicle side, I've got over 350,000 km on my 1999 Toyota 4Runner. It's getting close to end of life.

On the bike side, I've got about 40,000 km on my F800GS which is not much at all. I bought a 1200GSA that has 192,000 km, runs fine. Conversely, I have a KLR650 with about 60,000 km, which feels like it is starting to get up there but who knows, might go another 40,000 which is pretty good for a single cylinder at that price point.

Basic point is that if you are looking to get a lot of miles out of your bike, IMHO there are quite a few options. A modern bike that is commonly used for overland travel that is well maintained and ridden well will get you around the world and back again. When you get home, the miles will be high, and it'll take a fair bit of TLC whatever the make, but the memories associated with it will make it the best bike in the world, for you.

[reggie3cl]

I read a post on an internet forum once posted by some pissed up Scottish twat who couldn't read...... does that mean I should generalize about the Scots?

You can do what you want, I ain't Scottish.

My point is, these are complicated bikes which need to be serviced correctly but generally are reliable and last a long time, and a new camchain as per your example at 50,000 miles (around twice the circumference of the earth) isn't that big a deal.

[Chrispy]

My '06 my 1200GS now has 120,000km on it.

The first trip was from Singapore to the UK, the second from TDF to Pruhoe Bay then across the US.

One puncture and two drive housing seals are the only problems. Serviced pretty much on time, sometimes by the dealers sometimes by me.

There's no way I'm ready to get rid of or trade this BMW yet. I'd have no hesitation in starting another RTW trip on the same bike.

My mate who came with me on the first trip has 110,000 on his now and is keeping it as well.

Go for it and enjoy!!

[docsherlock]

Hi Tom,

Thought that (TIC) post might bring you out of your torpor.

I'll happily tow the KLR and F800 but the 1200 might give the wee strom a hernia..... esp over the Crow's Nest.

Originally Posted by MountainMan

I personally endeavor to make docsherlock tow me and my shitty bikes out of the bush at least a few times this summer

As mentioneded by others, long answer, but many modern bikes (and vehicles) can go a long way these days.

At low miles, the list of parts that need to be replaced as part of regular maintenance is fairly short. As it ages, this list gets longer and then when you hit very high miles you end up looking at large capital items that may need to be replaced. They can keep going, but at some point the question is whether the additonal yearly investment is worth it. Most vehicles don't get to their theoretical maximum useful life, and instead are scrapped when the running costs exceed that of a newer vehicle, they degrade due to lack of use, or they are deemed unsuitable to current tastes.

On the vehicle side, I've got over 350,000 km on my 1999 Toyota 4Runner. It's getting close to end of life.

On the bike side, I've got about 40,000 km on my F800GS which is not much at all. I bought a 1200GSA that has 192,000 km, runs fine. Conversely, I have a KLR650 with about 60,000 km, which feels like it is starting to get up there but who knows, might go another 40,000 which is pretty good for a single cylinder at that price point.

Basic point is that if you are looking to get a lot of miles out of your bike, IMHO there are quite a few options. A modern bike that is commonly used for overland travel that is well maintained and ridden well will get you around the world and back again. When you get home, the miles will be high, and it'll take a fair bit of TLC whatever the make, but the memories associated with it will make it the best bike in the world, for you.