2006 BMW R1200GSA: 3 Most Common Issues (I have almost 2 of the 3)
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- I recently bought this 2006 BMW R1200GS Adventure sight unseen and rode it 2000km back home. I've read up a lot on these awesome machines and I've found three common issues with the pre-2007 BMW R1200GS's.
I was worried that this bike might suffer from some or all of these issues and I got lucky, sort of.
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My ‘05 is a full beast, and prior owner added Öhlins suspension. The motor just lugs and tugs up hills and trails so well, no comparison to anything else.
Hi from Texas. I also Ride a 2006 R1200GS. I Love the older GS,s. You don’t have all the Rider Modes and everything the newer Gs,s do, but it’s Fine. I just get on and go. It’s the most Comfortable Bike I have ever Ridden. I Traded a old Harley for mine and have never looked back. It had 32,000 Miles on it when I got it, and has 42,000 now. Best Bike I have ever Ridden. I would like to have a newer Version, but being a Disabled Veteran I can’t afford one. I can’t wait to see more Videos from you about the Bike. Congratulations on your Purchase, I think you will Love it.😁👍👍 by the way, I haven’t had any of the Three problems on mine yet, Fingers Crossed.
Thanks for watching these videos. I agree, the GSA is more comfortable than anything else I've ridden. I can't believe how well a 17 year old bike eats up 1200 miles in two days. And I also love the lack of fancy tech. I've done so many maintenance tasks already and it is so simple and easy to work on. Luckily, I only had the faulty fuel strip. But I still removed the ABS just in case.
Great video. Hello from India. I am in the market for a second hand R1200GS. We are a warm to hot country with temp often 98 to 105 F. How is the engine heat? I own a Triumph Tiger 800 and the heat is too much in bumper to bumper traffic. Many owners say that the boxer engine does not throw much hear as it protrudes out. What has been your experience? Enjoy your ride.
Hi from South Africa@@SumChatter We get 105-115F in summer, but we don't have traffic in my small town. I can't imagine that the engine would heat up your legs too much, but one thing is that the tall screen blocks all airflow to your body, so no wind cooling on hot days.
Ps. Hope you find a good one soon! Happy hunting@@SumChatter
Rider modes are decided by the right hand on the twist grip😏😏😉
Excellent; i have only just purchased an '06 GS 2 days ago; 30,000 Km's (18400Miles) and just had major service completed and 2 new tyres fitted; it's like a new bike, only 18 years young; i had an '04 GS that i regretted selling a few years ago so when i saw this one advertised, i jumped on it; at nearly 60, i was lined up to buy a new Cfmoto450 but the universe led to me one last search for a 'cheap' older GS with low use...and i found it after nearly 2 years of looking; i don't need or want all the latest gadgetry; throttle, clutch and brake is all the modes i need; i have subscribed to your channel as you have the exact same bike and you do your own maintenance too which i am a big fan of. thanks for the great content you provide.
I have a old gs with abs taken off and it rides great. The old ones had a recall for fuel pump and rear flange but the work is free and only takes a day.
Hello from England,enjoyed watching your ride home from collecting the bike,I have a 2008 R1200R so the engine is very similar if not the same,after running out of fuel twice i found the fuel strip to be the problem so i just use trip mileage to gauge fill ups This model also have problems with the abs but mine seems fine.looking forward to future videos sorting your bike.
Thanks John! These engines are just awesome. I particularly like the sound at 75mph. Sounds like an old airplane. Yeah, my fuel strip is also toast, so I just ride on the trip meter. I thought my ABS stopped working due to the rear break feeling very soft (apparently also a common problem) - but it actually wasn't faulty - just needed a bleed. But I ended up removing the whole ABS/Servo pump last weekend. It was easier than I thought and I am no mechanic. Now my bike is a normal non-ABS bike. My main reason for this was for riding in the dirt where you don't want ABS. My ABS-off button didn't work anymore.
Have an 07 RT and it has served me well. Looking forward to seeing your next videos.
Thanks for watching. I've made a few vids on the GS since. Awesome bike. This thing is sooo good on the open road, I can imagine the RT must be amazing!
What a beautiful bike. Thanks for the video. Will definitely be following your process with it.
Thanks for watching, Herman! Lots to do on this bike :)
Hi mate, suggestion on the headlight (just noticed you walking past it), it is not great in the dark. I crashed my bike into a tunnel wall, due to lack of light (not just the headlight, also my dark glasses and visor didn't help. Upgraded to a LED light and that is much stronger (and added additional spotlights anyway), so the tunnel is now nice and light :).
Thanks for sharing the info! I don't ride in the dark (too many animals on the road here), but you never know when you have to. I've heard that the LEDs make a huge difference. Cheers
I have the same issue with my 2008 GSA. I use the tripcounter as well. I can ride around 680 km on one tank. With my wife and luggage in the mountains I rode 600km on one tank. It took 34,4 liters afterwards. So it was resonably empty🙈
That ABS pump saved my life on the wet once, so i will try everything to repair it, besides abs, when you apply only the front or back brake, the pump brakes both wheels at once, it does miracles for panic braking
I totally hear you! I do think of that sometimes. But in the dirt it is the other way around where ABS has caused riders to ride off the side of a mountain. The newer ABS systems are just so much better.
Hi friend, you make great informative videos! Thanks for sharing 😊 Considering replacing my old vfr.
Thanks, I appreciate it! There are so many great bikes out there to try. Enjoy the search!
Try zapping your fuelstrip with the igniter of an old braai/bbq lighter. Found this fix on some forum a year ago when I bought my 2008 GSA. So far I had to zap it 3 times in about 15 000kms. The first time was when I bought the bike. The last time was beginning of January when I filled up at the Shell in Bellfast (just off the N4). I normally fill up at Sasol or Caltex/Astron. The other time I had an issue was also after filling at an irregular filling station up on the West Coat / Namakwa land in September last year
BMW has released a new version of the fuel strip. They claim it has a new formula protective coating or some such thing. Google it to see how people are reviewing it as it has been on the market since early 2023...
Wow, I didn't know that! I will check it out. Thanks for letting me know.
check your front unijoint on your shaft....comon fault...fuel control valve oring top of your tank...these are great old bikes....
Thanks, Dave! I'll service the prop shaft properly at some point. Going through all the maintenance items one by one. Cheers
There is adjustment for the rear brake located behind the heal plate. 🙂
I saw that, but apparently you need to be careful not to overdo it.. otherwise the brakes will bind
My fuel gauge did the same until I added some Seafoam into the tank. I am sure a similar product may fix that for you as well. It may be worth a try.
Hi from Oregon USA, nice video. I got my 2005 in 2019 and it only had 1700 miles on it.
The fuel gage works, but is not accurate.
The breaks I have flushed every year to be on the safe side.
What I do not like is the LCD screen which is hard to see in sunlight. The push button on the display is not working so to set the clock I have to disconnect then reconnect the battery precisely at 12:00 noon
I like this bike a lot, it's simple and has lots of power, looks good and is comparatively light weight.
Beat
Thanks for sharing! Glad your bike is still serving you well. It really is great value for money. I agree on the LCD screen. Very funny how you have to set the clock. What a mission! Do you flush the brakes yourself? And do you remove the fuel tank each too to flush the ABS pump too? If so, I think it will last forever.
@@GreaseAndGravel I have the equipment to flush them myself but I chickened out and had a BMW independent shop do it. This year however I'm going to give it a go. I have detailed video instructions on all routine maintenance.
Best to you, again thank you
I know the feeling...@@Titan500J I often plan the job and then chicken out. This time, I decided I am going to just tackle them. Removing the ABS pump ended up being quite simple. And so was servicing the drive shaft. Awesome bikes to work on.
@@GreaseAndGravel yes I like working by on them too. The more I work on mine the more I appreciate its simplicity.
Pre 2007 BMW 1200 GS ...Rear Wheel flange were the rear brake disc attaches is prone to cracking....BMW replaced the faulty design with a redesigned and more robust casting from 2007 onwards
Thank you.
Fuel strip gets dislodged out of its position in the tank. I managed to place it back and had no problems since.
Thanks for sharing. Silly question, but where is the fuel strip located? Is it stuck to the inside of the tank (accessed via the fuel pump 'hole')?
@@GreaseAndGravel right hand side of the tank starts at the very top and runs down into a holding position at the bottom. My bike did the same when I purchased it I don’t trust it because it was floating around in the tank. I emptied the tank took it off and reached in the right hand side to fit back into correct location, never had a problem since. It’s a fuel strip not a float.
Right hand side access seal to tank not fuel pump side. Easy job to do.
Thank you,@@philphil6006 ! I will give it a go once the tank is empty. I appreciate the advice.
When I was in the market for a GS moving up from a 07' V-Strom dl650, I did my research well, the 05 and 06 should be avoided because of the servo ABS system, only buy it if it (ABS) have been properly deleted, and then also the overall price of the bike should drop, basically the main reason why I went for a 07, it has the iABS system in which basically a normal ABS system, and is interchangeable with Ford Fiesta or Focus pump
That’s what I also found out in my research. Would have loved a 2007, but got this one for a very good price. So I just deleted the whole ABS system myself. Now the brakes are independent and route directly to the callipers.
@@GreaseAndGravel thats the best decision, the BMW brakes are very good on it's own, and it teaches a person to ride more responsible rather than depend on ABS, my car has ABS and in the last 8 years of ownership I've basically never used the ABS or got in a situation of needing them
@@rustytanks 100%! Also, ABS only works if you slam on the brakes (which mmost people never practice). So if the muscle memory is not there, ABS is worthless. It might help on slippery surfaces or in the wet... but I'd rather train my brain to become the ABS (which I will start practicing now). Another reason I deleted the ABS is the ABS-off button didn't work anymore. So gravel roads felt super sketchy!
@@rustytanks Exactly! Same here. I feel the same about most electronics.
@@GreaseAndGravel can you make a Video showing how you deleted the ABS Servo? I would Greatly Appreciate it. I want to do it to mine, even though it’s working fine. I just don’t want a problem on the Road. Thanks
Hi, great video will be following your channel. Maybe just an air oil cooled BMW GSA thing mines 2012
Hi. Thanks for watching. I've always wanted one. These are amazing machines. I've got a lot of content planned :) Ride safe!
My 06 K1200GT had the servo replaced and the fuel strip has been broken for 10 years lol
Thanks for sharing. Seems like they are real issues :)
Fuel gage is rubbish but I don’t care about that. I just set the trip counter and go off that
How about main drive failure because of rusty splines, just about 1 out of 3 have this problem that BMW does not own up yo?
I am very interested in your side box rack. May I ask two questions
1. What is the diameter of the pipe here
2. What is the size of this cushion block
These are the standard racks that came from the factory. I can measure for you if you like. Are you referring the to the rear seat (cushion)?
I have always ridden sport bikes I just bought one of these for 3k and it is in fantastic shape but I know nothing about them? Has 17k miles
What kind of clutch handle did you get there?
I got these Desert Fox ones: flyingbrick.co.za/product/desert-fox-2-finger-levers-length-reach-adjustable/ I will try to fit them tomorrow and make a video
Hi my 2014 has developed a bouncing front wheel . From 100kmph to 140kmph . Any advice?
Hi Louise, maybe a tire balance problem? Can you describe the 'bounce' in a bit more detail.. I am trying to imagine it at that speed.
The earlier GSA's are described by many as clunky and agricultural, that's fine with me
My thoughts exactly!
I have an 04 GS. Hate it. The switchgear. Is. Annoying.
It’s slow, the front end is disconnected. The ABS removal improved the bike dramatically, but it’s still heavy, vague, illogical. I use it to commute on, because I’d rather keep my sports bikes safe from damage and theft in town.
Clutch levers must be used with four fingers. Always.
Why? I rarely use more than one or two fingers
You have forgotten to mention the fuel pump speed control module which fails regularly I have had two fail on my 2006 and 2007. When it fails the engine will not run. The other issue that I have seen twice now a small town is a dropped exhaust valve rh cylinder leading to a holed piston bent con rod, trashed head and cylinder. Not reliable bikes, fun to ride but do not go far from home.
Interesting. I've not heard of too many fuel pumps failing. Is the exhaust valve issue related to the cam chain tensioner issue?
I know 3 people who have this bike and each have over 70,000 pretty trouble free miles.
@@mrb9642 They will last forever
Did the delete on my 2006 GS.
I also did it as soon as I got home.
Do you not fasten you helmet when you ride it might save you life sometime
Pete
I do! Always. Did I forgot in this video? 😲
I guys , can I ask about the mineral oil with the clutch, it's a 2011 1200, level can drop , some times I have to top up, is it true this can be due warm days and hot engine causing evaporation..... cheer noel.
Check the slave module…
Thank you....
I’m about to take the ABS off from mine. 😮
I did it too, was not that tricky. I feel it is much better now. Good luck with the job!
A good reason to buy a Yamaha
LOL yes
How much did you buy it for?
R45000
i'd rather buy an old VStrom for less and have zero problems 😁
The VStroms are awesome. Just a pity they didn’t have spoked wheels😬
@@GreaseAndGravelcast wheels should be fine for the type of "allroad" use that people buy these motorcycles for 👍
@@kloppskalli In some cases cast wheels are better (less maintenance for sure)
V strom or honda varadero i like the gs they just are to expansive to buy and the reliability is under the japanase bikes
Ex-V strom owner here, they are great bikes, but have their issues, fuel filter inside fuel pump, maintenance cost almost the same as the GS, headlight globes blow for no reason at all, poor stator for accessories, not the best bike for offroad riding, it's OK for small to medium touring, but heavy long trips the bike can tire you out, most V-Strom's have high mileage on them already, most owners don't have proper service records or history whatsoever, if you find one with a good service record you pay way more for the bike, my 07' GS has none of the above problems, the recalls were just for the fuel pump and was done a year after production
You:
3 biggest problems.
B
M
W.
I bought an old 2006 GS. I can’t deactivate The ABS for off-road riding. Not sure if it’s the button not working or something else. How do I manually deactivate the ABS?
Hi Ryan. Mine also would not deactivate (scary on dirt roads), so I just removed the whole ABS pump (not too difficult). Now the brakes are independent and connected straight to the callipers. I am not sure how to disconnect it electronically. Let me know if you find out.
@@GreaseAndGravel thanks for the prompt response. I’ll google removing the ABS pump. Thx for the heads up. Just confirming that removing the pump deactivates the traction control as well. Very disconcerting not being able to power out of trouble
Good question@@ryanpatriot2645 Mine didn't have TC. Didn't know they had that on the 2006 models. Is yours not a 2007 perhaps? I've heard that the 2006 and older had a different ABS pump and Servo motor setup that was terrible. From 2007 on it was much better (and I wouldn't remove that one - so just make sure). If it is a old Servo style, you'll find lots of info online on how to remove it yourself. Let me know if you have any questions along the way. As for the TC, no idea!