I’m doing a 80,000 mile review on my 2010GS and clicked on your video to get some ideas. I bought my bike new and have never had an issue other then a plugged tank vent that I fixed myself. I live in the Columbia gorge. I was going to review the bike in the garage but I might try it outside like you did.
Drive shaft has ordinary spike bearings and lasts for about 100k km. You can replace those bearings with steering wheel bearing, I did replace and it rode about 20k km already
Mine dropped a valve a few months ago… managed to replace the piston, cylinder and head for a few hundred. Seems fine now but was terrifying and I was 8n the middle of know where.
My driveshaft pulled free from the rear hub when the tension strut above the driveshaft casing worked itself loose. The hub swiveled backwards and downwards, stripping the splines as it pulled apart. I was able to repair the splines with a Dremel tool. So I got lucky.
Great review, great bike. I have a 2006 GSA (K25) and chose this bike for a number of reasons. In no particular order: drive shaft instead of chain (on my previous Yamaha XSR-700), air-cooled instead of water cooled, ASC (automatic stability control) but an option to NOT have the ESA electronic suspension, since the GSA comes with the option to just have a mechanically actuated knob (OEM) to stiffen or loosen the rear spring, the 33 liter fuel tank giving a range of around 600 Km with good gas mileage while it purrs like a kitten and is relatively silent, the spoke wheels which are standard on the 'A' model and the ridiculous amount of groceries or gear you can stash in the panniers. The cherry on the cake is the fact that it is a big enough bike, and if need be loud enough to be noticed by even the most smartphone-cocooned SUV Karens in traffic so they don't accidentally run into you with their signature cheap excuse: 'I didn't see you', costing you more than a drive shaft replacement. A must do I would do as an upgrade should one of them fail, is the replacement of the plastic OEM fuel line quick disconnects with chrome plated brass ones. The issue is that BMW refuses to sell those as spares (probably 10 cents a piece) and requires you to change out the complete fuel pump assembly, which is worth around 400 Euros here in Europe. I got the brass replacements at beemerboneyard in the US. That is something I would leave up to a mechanic to do as the female inserts also need to be replaced in the fuel pump housing assembly. The second thing I would do myself if you have half an afternoon to spare is changing out the battery in the anti-theft device located under the rear passenger plastic contraption. It will show up as a 'DWA' error on your dash with an empty battery icon next to it: DWA = Diebstahl Warnungs Anlage - Theft Warning Device, it is unrelated to your main battery. This is something you can do yourself providing you have the torque bit sets available, if not, buy them.
The drive should should be services ervey 60000km to grease the drive shaft. I have 2 x R1200 GS'. I have serviced my 2009 GSA model drive shaft every 60000 km and had no problems. It has 135000km on the clock. My 2005 GS was not serviced and the draft shaft failed at 110000km. If you do a lot of water crossings, water can leak into the housing if the rubbers are perished so these need replacing at some point anyway.
New Subscriber. Lots of Great Information for someone new to Adventure Bikes. I’m going to be trading my Harley on a Even Swap for a 2008 R1200GS and I can’t wait. Just 3 Days until the trade. I have been watching every Video I can find on these Bikes. I’ve always wanted one, not sure why I bought the Harley? It’s a nice Harley but the forward controls kill my Back. I’m disabled with 4 Fusions in my Neck and 2 in my lower Bsck. The only position I can really get comfortable in is the same position as sitting on the BMW. I’m thinking of starting a Blog for disabled Riders. I really appreciate all the information you gave us with this Video.👍
Final drive issues and engine main seals have been the nemesis on the hexhead GS. Overall still a very reliable motorcycle and straightforward to maintain.
@@paul.vanhout57 Lucky you! The statistics of recorded final drive failures since the air cooled models are well known. Regular greasing and inspection is a must...
@@allbikestuffz3572 - Definitely staying on top of final drive maintenance. Note that none of the GS rides I with have experienced these issues. All relatively high mileage and ridden as a true adventure bike. I do recognize others have had these issues.
Love them hate them you know from the bottom of your heart they are one solid bike. The only other bike that comes to mind with the same sort of following or should I say reliability and performance is the Honda V.F.R.750/800. So if you want a sports bike and a touring bike just get these two machines and you are made for life Both if well looked after will out live you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Wilbur! I will definitely make a review of the 500! Check out some of my other videos, I have a 25 hour review of the 500. Many more videos to come, thank you for watching, I’m learning about all this UA-cam stuff as I go. :-)
Ive been wanting one because most of my touring is highway and dirt roads with nothing too extreme. Looking to ride Key West to prudhoe bay and it clicks everything i need. Looking for adventure model though for range
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m doing a 80,000 mile review on my 2010GS and clicked on your video to get some ideas. I bought my bike new and have never had an issue other then a plugged tank vent that I fixed myself. I live in the Columbia gorge. I was going to review the bike in the garage but I might try it outside like you did.
Drive shaft has ordinary spike bearings and lasts for about 100k km. You can replace those bearings with steering wheel bearing, I did replace and it rode about 20k km already
Mine dropped a valve a few months ago… managed to replace the piston, cylinder and head for a few hundred. Seems fine now but was terrifying and I was 8n the middle of know where.
great video!! im on the fence between an older GS and a newer africa twin so reviews like these are still super important!!
Go for GS if you find clean one..
@@zzxx33mh I ended up pulling the trigger last week!! Got myself a 2016 r1200gs and couldn't be happier haha
@@GVMotoring congratulations..Unique Bike..,you feel your self that you are high-quality,respected..
My driveshaft pulled free from the rear hub when the tension strut above the driveshaft casing worked itself loose. The hub swiveled backwards and downwards, stripping the splines as it pulled apart. I was able to repair the splines with a Dremel tool. So I got lucky.
Great review, great bike. I have a 2006 GSA (K25) and chose this bike for a number of reasons. In no particular order: drive shaft instead of chain (on my previous Yamaha XSR-700), air-cooled instead of water cooled, ASC (automatic stability control) but an option to NOT have the ESA electronic suspension, since the GSA comes with the option to just have a mechanically actuated knob (OEM) to stiffen or loosen the rear spring, the 33 liter fuel tank giving a range of around 600 Km with good gas mileage while it purrs like a kitten and is relatively silent, the spoke wheels which are standard on the 'A' model and the ridiculous amount of groceries or gear you can stash in the panniers.
The cherry on the cake is the fact that it is a big enough bike, and if need be loud enough to be noticed by even the most smartphone-cocooned SUV Karens in traffic so they don't accidentally run into you with their signature cheap excuse: 'I didn't see you', costing you more than a drive shaft replacement.
A must do I would do as an upgrade should one of them fail, is the replacement of the plastic OEM fuel line quick disconnects with chrome plated brass ones. The issue is that BMW refuses to sell those as spares (probably 10 cents a piece) and requires you to change out the complete fuel pump assembly, which is worth around 400 Euros here in Europe. I got the brass replacements at beemerboneyard in the US. That is something I would leave up to a mechanic to do as the female inserts also need to be replaced in the fuel pump housing assembly.
The second thing I would do myself if you have half an afternoon to spare is changing out the battery in the anti-theft device located under the rear passenger plastic contraption. It will show up as a 'DWA' error on your dash with an empty battery icon next to it: DWA = Diebstahl Warnungs Anlage - Theft Warning Device, it is unrelated to your main battery. This is something you can do yourself providing you have the torque bit sets available, if not, buy them.
Great content , great story and great save on the rear lock up
I service my final drive every 12,000 miles without fail. 62,000 miles on my 07 R1200 G/S, runs like the day I bought it!
The drive should should be services ervey 60000km to grease the drive shaft. I have 2 x R1200 GS'. I have serviced my 2009 GSA model drive shaft every 60000 km and had no problems. It has 135000km on the clock. My 2005 GS was not serviced and the draft shaft failed at 110000km. If you do a lot of water crossings, water can leak into the housing if the rubbers are perished so these need replacing at some point anyway.
how many miles on that failed driveshaft and was it maintained properly?
New Subscriber. Lots of Great Information for someone new to Adventure Bikes. I’m going to be trading my Harley on a Even Swap for a 2008 R1200GS and I can’t wait. Just 3 Days until the trade. I have been watching every Video I can find on these Bikes. I’ve always wanted one, not sure why I bought the Harley? It’s a nice Harley but the forward controls kill my Back. I’m disabled with 4 Fusions in my Neck and 2 in my lower Bsck. The only position I can really get comfortable in is the same position as sitting on the BMW. I’m thinking of starting a Blog for disabled Riders. I really appreciate all the information you gave us with this Video.👍
Enjoy your new bike! They are awesome rigs. :-)
Hey Joey,
Have you enjoyed the new bike to you?
What's the good and not so good about it?
Final drive issues and engine main seals have been the nemesis on the hexhead GS. Overall still a very reliable motorcycle and straightforward to maintain.
They are great bikes!
How you all define a bike with known and possible FATAL final drive failures on the highway is considered overall very reliable is baffling.
@@allbikestuffz3572 - 52K miles on my 2012 and no hint of final drive failure so far - fingers crossed.
@@paul.vanhout57 Lucky you! The statistics of recorded final drive failures since the air cooled models are well known. Regular greasing and inspection is a must...
@@allbikestuffz3572 - Definitely staying on top of final drive maintenance. Note that none of the GS rides I with have experienced these issues. All relatively high mileage and ridden as a true adventure bike. I do recognize others have had these issues.
So if that’s a GS rather than a GSA, have you swapped the wheels for spoked, or were spoked wheels standard? My 2005 has cast wheels.
@@theskiband-ur3tw the spoke wheels were an option.
@@PNW.Voyagerthanks, I’ve been wondering about this. I’d like to find some one day.
@@theskiband-ur3tw eBay is a good place to find them!
Hey! Thanks for the review!
What tires are those?
Shinko big blocks I believe
Thank you for the video.at what mileage did your final drive fail? What could done to prevent it from happening. Thanks David
It was at about 60k miles. The final drive was properly maintained with new fluid etc so I’m not sure. It was just a freak thing.
@@PNW.Voyager thanks
@@PNW.Voyager not freak hear of many failures
Buy a Honda
Pretty cool bike
Love them hate them you know from the bottom of your heart they are one solid bike. The only other bike that comes to mind with the same sort of following or should I say reliability and performance is the Honda V.F.R.750/800. So if you want a sports bike and a touring bike just get these two machines and you are made for life Both if well looked after will out live you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love them, I have two.
Great review thank you. You are calling it a "final drive shaft". Was it the final drive or the drive shaft ?
Final drive sorry about that
@@PNW.Voyager No problem, thats what I figured, great simple review anyway.
Should I get 2018 bmw r1200gs ralley for 18.5k it only has 2k miles. That is lot of money
I think that is way over priced. The ralley bikes are really cool, but I wouldn’t spend over 14K
Do you lube in spline of drives .
You have to perform services for the final drive, it’s an easy fluid change.
You should while you're at it.
Can we get a KTM 500 review 👀
Hey Wilbur! I will definitely make a review of the 500! Check out some of my other videos, I have a 25 hour review of the 500. Many more videos to come, thank you for watching, I’m learning about all this UA-cam stuff as I go. :-)
240km of range, 3k drive repair and people generally consider this the best adv bike?
Sounds kinda like bad joke tbh
Kardan failure ua-cam.com/video/qnsUxfT7SJI/v-deo.html
Ive been wanting one because most of my touring is highway and dirt roads with nothing too extreme. Looking to ride Key West to prudhoe bay and it clicks everything i need. Looking for adventure model though for range
The driveshaft case looks cracked.