Maintenance Costs (BMW)

[Frank]

If you mean Marine, I could be wrong...
You heard the ol saying? "You can tell ah Marine... But ya can't tell Him much!"
<<<_+>>>

Hey...that's pretty good! Haven't heard that one before...

Being 100% honest, and I stated this in my build thread, the only reason I got my KTM is because I got a deal of a lifetime on it. I really had my mind more than half way set on an older GSA or a F800GS. The new F800GS seems to be a really nice bike! If someone stood in front of me with a GSA or a F800GS, I would be really tempted to jump ship. Something about a BMW is just very appealing. (I do love my KTM though!)

In my opinion, performing routine maintenance should be something no one with a little mechanical skill should be afraid to do. -5 years ago I probably wouldn't have said this. Today, with online communities such as forums, groups, and youtube videos, performing maintenance really shouldn't be something anyone with a bit of mechanical skill should be afraid of attempting.

 

[Garbinator]

Thx Frank!

I am really intriged with NEEDforSpeed's photos. I have riden in the snow before, but is was 250 yrs ago, or shall I use Julian Date? Naaah! Too hard-I'm and old Dog-face brown booter... I did try the Corps recruiting office, but the E-8 whom greeted me was a giant of a man, his cap 2 fingers above his nose, intimidating even scary to the point of PTSD, then commenced in asking me in his rough-gruffy voice? You join my Corps, you better be ready to come home in a body bag son. I was 17 at the time, decided to go next door and be all I can be... "The Army, its not just a job, Its an Adventure." And damned if it was.

Are the KTM 990's 1200 BMW's really that hard to get back up if dropped? I was taught to lift Goldwings a certain way using my back against the bike, using my knees, actually pushing against as if turning myself into a lever... But? I have never had to try this on slippery terrain.

"The great unknown"

As I described earlier, does it take some strength to manhandle these bikes up if I FAILS-OVER:bike_rider:

 

[Frank]

Another Veteran among the ranks! Awesome! ARMY = Arent Ready For Marines Yet :coffeedrink:

Riding in the snow goes a few different directions. I personally draw the line with snow because where there is snow, there is generally ice. NeedforSpeed also wears the title Marine so we are known to do crazy things. It just comes with the territory.

To answer your question, the new BMW GSA comes in at a hefty 560# and the 990 is about 100# lighter than that. Add gear and lets just say its heavy any way you slice it. -though the object is to keep the rubber side down, things happen. I've found that picking it up as you described is the best method. lol

 

[Garbinator]

Frank I followed your post URL to learn that you were forced to rebuild even modify some pretty serious gigs on your KTM. Are the new KTM's better today? Can the SMOG equipment be trusted? Here in California, we must endure these mandated regs as I am most sure very soon the state will require SMOG tests on small engines.

 

[Frank]

Both items I replaced as they are known issues with the 990/950 at around the 25k mile mark. Smog equipment was removed because its one more thing to go wrong. I do not know the failure rates of those items.

 

[Garbinator]

Thanks Much-Gary

 

[Longtallsally]

After looking closely at the various Bemmers, I spoke with the head BMW tech who told me these bikes are pretty pricey to maintain, as in thousands of dollars once higher milage is reached. Special tools parts, even BMW lubricants must be utilized. I am curious?

The head tech is an idiot.

1) It this why so many BMW riders seekout the older models?

I've never heard this. My experience is that many long term Beemer guys always want the new hotness.

2) These high cost of operation? Are they limited to the newage bikes due to their technology sophistication and so on?

The only high cost of operation is how much fuel you have to put in and how often you have to change tires. Well, the oil filters can get pricey.

I even discovered their new scooters are similarly expensive to maintain... in my eyes, this would cancel out any perceived economical savings to travel. :Wow1:


<<<*>>>

Um, sure.

Bottom line, I don't get it. I've only got 45k miles on my '07 GSA (which is very low since I just had back surgery and I didn't ride much while living in Europe), but it could not be more stone reliable. The only time it's seen a dealer is to have a recall done for the key. I did the first maintenance on it (the 600 mile one) and have been very religious about all other maintenance, with the exception of forgetting to change the alternator belt, which left me stranded coming home from the Carrizo Plain.

I will concede that OEM parts are a bit pricey. However, I just replaced the spark plugs for the first time, just did the alternator belt for the first time, and will be doing brake pads all around for the first time. I'm OK with paying exorbitant prices if they last that long. I even use the ultra high dollar BMW oils for the tranny and final drive and, but do those every 15k miles (I've only gone through 2 quart bottles for the tranny and one for the FB). So again, I guess I don't get it.

I've crashed and/or fallen down at least 2 dozen times resulting in minimal if any damage. The only major expense was to put on a set of Ohlins, and I just had a front wheel built by Woody's since they told me the OEM one I sent to be straightened was trashed. Once my damn back heals up, I plan on continuing to ride it as I have previously; in any weather, on any trail, any time of day.

Just to keep everyone happy with the pics:

1am on the way to Death Valley on 155

Mengel Pass

Lost somewhere in the Sierra

Oh whatever, just some more pics...

You get the idea...

 

[onetraveller]

I owned a 2003 R1150RT, no it wasn't a GS, but it's the same platform. Most maintenance can certainly be done by yourself. The latest and greatest however has a complication. BMW now requires you to plug your machine into their computer for a variety of service items. You can't do this at home and they don't sell their computer to anyone but BMW dealerships. Otherwise I didn't find my maintenance costs to be unreasonable and I did use the dealer for most things outside of the routine oil changes.

Having said that, if most of your riding will be pavement based and your off-roading is going to be limited to dirt roads, I'd strongly suggest you look at the 2013 Ducati Multistrada. This bike truly is a technological marvel and an amazing bike to ride. Ducati has stretched the major service interval out to 18,0000 miles on this new motor. They have also won the Pike's Peak hillclimb race the last 3 years in a row (2010-2012), hold the track record for motorcycles, and they were only a second off the overall record.

Mike

 

[805gregg]

You have to remember they have to pay the piano player in in showroom, yuppy bikes

 

[Longtallsally]

You have to remember they have to pay the piano player in in showroom, yuppy bikes

Says the guy riding a big wheeled moped. Go back to the cheap seats if you don't have anything productive to say.

 

[Ozrockrat]

I owned a 2003 R1150RT, no it wasn't a GS, but it's the same platform. Most maintenance can certainly be done by yourself. The latest and greatest however has a complication. BMW now requires you to plug your machine into their computer for a variety of service items. You can't do this at home and they don't sell their computer to anyone but BMW dealerships.

Mike

You can get a GS911 for reading/resetting codes and performing some testing ( http://www.gs911usa.com/ ). This is a portable unit that you can take on the road with you. Other than that I find the maintenance costs of my 4 BMW bikes very reasonable. But I do all my own work so I cannot comment on the dealer service costs.

 

[Garbinator]

The head tech is an idiot.



I've never heard this. My experience is that many long term Beemer guys always want the new hotness.



The only high cost of operation is how much fuel you have to put in and how often you have to change tires. Well, the oil filters can get pricey.



Um, sure.

Bottom line, I don't get it. I've only got 45k miles on my '07 GSA (which is very low since I just had back surgery and I didn't ride much while living in Europe), but it could not be more stone reliable. The only time it's seen a dealer is to have a recall done for the key. I did the first maintenance on it (the 600 mile one) and have been very religious about all other maintenance, with the exception of forgetting to change the alternator belt, which left me stranded coming home from the Carrizo Plain.

I will concede that OEM parts are a bit pricey. However, I just replaced the spark plugs for the first time, just did the alternator belt for the first time, and will be doing brake pads all around for the first time. I'm OK with paying exorbitant prices if they last that long. I even use the ultra high dollar BMW oils for the tranny and final drive and, but do those every 15k miles (I've only gone through 2 quart bottles for the tranny and one for the FB). So again, I guess I don't get it.

I've crashed and/or fallen down at least 2 dozen times resulting in minimal if any damage. The only major expense was to put on a set of Ohlins, and I just had a front wheel built by Woody's since they told me the OEM one I sent to be straightened was trashed. Once my damn back heals up, I plan on continuing to ride it as I have previously; in any weather, on any trail, any time of day.

Just to keep everyone happy with the pics:

1am on the way to Death Valley on 155

Mengel Pass

Lost somewhere in the Sierra

Oh whatever, just some more pics...

You get the idea...

These photos speak volumes to me... Having grown up in the 60's/70's had my but-ticus on many ah saddle, many lacking any sort of padding. Livestock ate em. Truly Adventured Biked around Alaska on a Honda 90 in 70, swore I was going back on a properly powered and equipped two wheeler someday. The lure is there, I visit my local dealership and gaze at in my mind at least, what could be, but suppose reliving those days once spent dodging ice heaves moose, bears, rain, hail, and just plain misery at times to be mostly filled these days with motorhomes and fifth-wheels vying their place on the nowadays well maintained Alcan. Back when, I rode for hours barely if-ever seeing one vehicle. Pre-pipeline days. I suppose I could write a story, a yarn or two. This kid from California, absconding from the law, thats how it was, nothing special, no farkals. None where to be bought, only experienced...

Having just experienced ExPo couple weeks back, I went there as an observer of sorts. A student of this thing folks call Overlanding. Rather by land-yacht, the decked-out JKU pulling off-road camp trailers, to modified vans etc etc. Watching the folks setup amazing high tech camp accommodations put me in the WoW thought pattern. Never in my life have I witnessed such a site. Oh I saw me ah Wally Worlder or two, rusted ol Toy P/U and such, but man, those having the big bucks made it very apparent. Interesting melding with the Rover crowd, such exclusivity.

This brings me to the minimalist! The adventure riders, the dudes and dudets that could care less about pulling some Willy Wonka bike trailer behind. I had me a few insightful thought provoking interludes with riders in the midst of their travels. They explained gear, what ah guy waste money on, only to toss it later or worse, lose it. Then theres this portal that allows me to gain insight, even understanding such magnificent machines can carry a modern day adventure rider. It didn't seem to matter if it was KTM, or BMW, those of you on two wheels delve into a whole bunch of other risks the others don't. I could come up with a rather lengthly one at that.

Afterall? How can I ever forget, alone, cold, hurting, the dead of night, 100 miles from Keni, and that lil 12 volt head-lamp lighting my way...

Age 16.

 

[BlackdogGS]

I have always done my own maintenance. The boxer engine is very simple and easy to work on. Oil, fluids can be purchased at any auto parts store. For me, the GS is cheap and easy to maintain.

 

[Cody1771]

i would hope that Beemer bikes are pretty good, watching all these guys put crazy miles on them would have me believe they are better than there Cars... Or SUV's for that matter... that being said, 2 years of riding and besides oil changes the first pennies i'm putting into my bike are break pads...

 

[Garbinator]

I apologize for not responding sooner, I wish to thank all of you for your kind responses to my inquiries.

Ride SAFE out there. "Stupid" rules out on the road.


<<