1200GSA final drive problem

DirtYarpie · Post by **DirtYarpie** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 2:11 am

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?

spasm · Post by **spasm** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:51 am

i feel for you but you know wot im going to say

Rederic · Post by **Rederic** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:30 am

Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)

bond_yzf · Post by **bond_yzf** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:31 am

Rederic wrote:Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)

i bet the tow truck isn't too far behind

johnnyboxer · Post by **johnnyboxer** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:35 am

Rederic wrote:Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)

Aye if you can change gear or doesn't lurch forward at junctions or the switchgear stops working

The Multistrada & Explorer will leave it standing in power terms

Crossrutted · Post by **Crossrutted** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:47 am

bond_yzf wrote:
Rederic wrote:Get a test ride on the 1200 LC before you decide, everything else is way behind B)
i bet the tow truck isn't too far behind

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

mikeyboy · Post by **mikeyboy** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:00 am

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?

you didnt notice any problems and the bike was still rideable?,yet bmw suggest the f/d is scrap :whistle:
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)

-Ralph- · Post by **-Ralph-** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:12 am

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.

Brads · Post by **Brads** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:45 am

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

GB · Post by GB » Fri Mar 21, 2014 7:53 am

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.