The Hall sensor is not just an issue on this bike, and it’s not really a significant problem overall. It happens occasionally, but only about once every 10 years or 50-100k km. The driveshaft is also quite reliable-much more so than the one on the 1200, which has far more frequent driveshaft issues. The ABS issue is 99 out of 100 times just a discharged battery. More modern BMWs with Integral ABS are actually more prone to serious ABS faults. The gearbox and clutch are also solid. I’ve repaired and serviced dozens of these bikes, and they’re among the least troublesome I’ve worked on. The issues you mentioned are not common-they’re basically the only potential problems, and they rarely occur. Also, a clutch that lasts 100k miles isn’t really a problem. If this were a KTM, you’d likely be replacing entire engines twice as often. I know someone who bought a 1998 R1100GS new, and after 10+ years and 120k+ miles, he only ever replaced service parts (fluids, filters, spark plugs, tires, and brake pads) and one bulb. I know this because he bought it from our shop, and no one else ever worked on that bike but us. Mechanically, these two models are very similar and they are sound. PS Thanks for the video!
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. It seems that the earlier models where more prone to these problems. I agree with you in the clutch, if it is relatively new, however buying it second hand and having to replace the clutch after, say 10k, can be a nasty surprise. I owned a 2003 850rt (with iABS) and reading up on that system... I'm glad I didn't have any problems with that.
I've got a 1995 with 130,000 km. I don't know why they would have done something worse in the 96 and 97, but the only one of those problems I've had is not the Hall sensor but the insulation on the wires to it disintegrated from the engine heat in 2021, causing shorting and intermittent engine cutting out. Clutch and gearbox and driveshaft are perfectly fine still. I had a little leaking from the front brake after the bike wasn't used for five years when I was overseas, I think from around the piston the lever operates, but after a couple of refills with about $1 of brake fluid each time the leak slowed down and seems to have stopped. It took 3 months to need a top up at the worst point anyway, which is NBD.The only other thing -- which was not mentioned -- is the ABS faulting due to momentary low battery voltage on cold starts.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge. It happens sometimes that the first years of a new model are somewhat less reliable on some parts. And yes, the ABS can be a pain too.
My R850RT is 26 years old, it has stock shaft drive, stock gearbox, stock clutch... I change the Hall sensor once, the front and rear shocks, the ignition coil, and final drive oil seal. That´s all. The clutch disc costs about 80 eur, so if you do it yourself, it´s dirty cheap. Could I split this old machine in half to replace it?. You can bet I will, if you pay someone to do it, it costs about 1.500 eur. It consumes A LOT of time, but not a lot of new costly parts. I advise to buy this old machines only to the kind of person that enjoy mechanics and do everything by himself, just for fun, just to learn, to spend time, to take a beer wathching the entire thing split into a thosand pieces on the floor, for the satisfaction to repair a bike and ride it later.. Are you one of them?. Well, just bought this thing. For the kind of people that has no mechanical habilities, no time, and only want to ride?. Avoid this old bikes and buy something newer.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The 850's also were considered to be more pleasant to drive. I also had a 2003 850 (yes, they do exist) lovely to ride but everything was broken. What is the mileage on your machine?
Many of these bikes pull to the right. I had a 99 R1100RT and put over 70K miles on it and had that problem. When I recently purchased a bike I wanted a wet clutch for ease of changing the clutch plates and a belt drive. So now I have a F800 GT.
@suzyamerica4679 they are great, but you have to know where to look, and what to check for. Anyhow, I would say that having a clear maintenance history is very important. Regular maintaince is rather affordable, so that is nice.
@@200K11OORT 1998 & 2000. Although I just looked today at a 2007 R1200RT-P in very nice condition. Got to ride it around for an hour and abuse it somewhat.
Hes bonkers. With that mileage there are bound to parts that wear out. €15,000 for a clutch. NO. I have a receipt for mine at a main dealer and its £1,275. A tenth of what he quoted. The clutch plate is about £80 and i would do it myself, time consuming but not difficult
The Hall sensor is not just an issue on this bike, and it’s not really a significant problem overall. It happens occasionally, but only about once every 10 years or 50-100k km. The driveshaft is also quite reliable-much more so than the one on the 1200, which has far more frequent driveshaft issues. The ABS issue is 99 out of 100 times just a discharged battery. More modern BMWs with Integral ABS are actually more prone to serious ABS faults. The gearbox and clutch are also solid. I’ve repaired and serviced dozens of these bikes, and they’re among the least troublesome I’ve worked on. The issues you mentioned are not common-they’re basically the only potential problems, and they rarely occur. Also, a clutch that lasts 100k miles isn’t really a problem. If this were a KTM, you’d likely be replacing entire engines twice as often.
I know someone who bought a 1998 R1100GS new, and after 10+ years and 120k+ miles, he only ever replaced service parts (fluids, filters, spark plugs, tires, and brake pads) and one bulb. I know this because he bought it from our shop, and no one else ever worked on that bike but us. Mechanically, these two models are very similar and they are sound.
PS Thanks for the video!
Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. It seems that the earlier models where more prone to these problems. I agree with you in the clutch, if it is relatively new, however buying it second hand and having to replace the clutch after, say 10k, can be a nasty surprise.
I owned a 2003 850rt (with iABS) and reading up on that system... I'm glad I didn't have any problems with that.
I've got a 1995 with 130,000 km. I don't know why they would have done something worse in the 96 and 97, but the only one of those problems I've had is not the Hall sensor but the insulation on the wires to it disintegrated from the engine heat in 2021, causing shorting and intermittent engine cutting out. Clutch and gearbox and driveshaft are perfectly fine still. I had a little leaking from the front brake after the bike wasn't used for five years when I was overseas, I think from around the piston the lever operates, but after a couple of refills with about $1 of brake fluid each time the leak slowed down and seems to have stopped. It took 3 months to need a top up at the worst point anyway, which is NBD.The only other thing -- which was not mentioned -- is the ABS faulting due to momentary low battery voltage on cold starts.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge. It happens sometimes that the first years of a new model are somewhat less reliable on some parts. And yes, the ABS can be a pain too.
My R850RT is 26 years old, it has stock shaft drive, stock gearbox, stock clutch... I change the Hall sensor once, the front and rear shocks, the ignition coil, and final drive oil seal. That´s all.
The clutch disc costs about 80 eur, so if you do it yourself, it´s dirty cheap. Could I split this old machine in half to replace it?. You can bet I will, if you pay someone to do it, it costs about 1.500 eur. It consumes A LOT of time, but not a lot of new costly parts.
I advise to buy this old machines only to the kind of person that enjoy mechanics and do everything by himself, just for fun, just to learn, to spend time, to take a beer wathching the entire thing split into a thosand pieces on the floor, for the satisfaction to repair a bike and ride it later.. Are you one of them?. Well, just bought this thing.
For the kind of people that has no mechanical habilities, no time, and only want to ride?. Avoid this old bikes and buy something newer.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The 850's also were considered to be more pleasant to drive. I also had a 2003 850 (yes, they do exist) lovely to ride but everything was broken.
What is the mileage on your machine?
Many of these bikes pull to the right. I had a 99 R1100RT and put over 70K miles on it and had that problem. When I recently purchased a bike I wanted a wet clutch for ease of changing the clutch plates and a belt drive. So now I have a F800 GT.
Yeah, they do. Don't really find that to be an issue though. During normal usage I don't notice it.
How do you like the F800?
Thanks for the advice. Appreciated.
Thanks, and good luck if you are looking for a bike!
Perfect! I have been looking at different R1100RT's lately.
@suzyamerica4679 they are great, but you have to know where to look, and what to check for. Anyhow, I would say that having a clear maintenance history is very important.
Regular maintaince is rather affordable, so that is nice.
@@200K11OORT The one I'm looking at today has a full log of all the work for the last 36K miles. I asked.
@@suzyamerica4679 that is a good sign, which year?
@@200K11OORT 1998 & 2000. Although I just looked today at a 2007 R1200RT-P in very nice condition. Got to ride it around for an hour and abuse it somewhat.
@@suzyamerica4679 strong note on the 2007 model, make sure it has the 'new' Abs. Upon around 2007 they made a very dodgy one.
Hes bonkers. With that mileage there are bound to parts that wear out. €15,000 for a clutch. NO. I have a receipt for mine at a main dealer and its £1,275. A tenth of what he quoted. The clutch plate is about £80 and i would do it myself, time consuming but not difficult
Correct, I misspoke. Indeed around €1500, which I still find expensive compared to other types of bikes. Currently this is the third clutch I believe.
Scared me lol
@@tris10dmI am sorry 😅
I can hear you're not hindered by any knowledge about these bikes.
@hans-verhoeven Thanks, I try not to be. Please eleborate.
@@200K11OORT Nah thanks. Not going to do your homework. Cheers from down under.
@@hans-verhoevencool, no worries.
@@hans-verhoeven are you saying "ignorance is bliss" ?
@@MaynardFreekit is though, isn't it?
u spreekt in de video over de koppeling vervagen , 15 000 euro , dat is toch niet juist. dat is de prijs v de ganse motor
Nee, klopt inderdaad, ik bedoel €1500, -
How much for the clutch? 15k? nooo wayyyy
Ah, no... 1500 euro's. Thanks for noticing.