- Oct 25, 2016
- 6,055
- 35,327
- Funster No
- 73,061
- MH
- Bailey Autograph 79-
- Exp
- Lots but slow learner.
BMW R18
- Thread starter bobnick
- Start date
RowleyBirkinQC
LIFE MEMBER
No clue as not my thing. Wrong badge & cylinder configuration for that style of bike?
Looks like early r60 but uglier and the exhaust pinched of old velo .
Sapper520
Free Member
BMW’s are totally overrated and overpriced….. sorry BMW owners.
When I was looking around to replace my 2012 Honda CBF1000FAB I looked at BMW’s. Price’s were eye watering and research into reliability issues threw up lots of complaints. Running costs were unreal.
In the end I went for a Suzuki Vstrom 1050XT (never had a big twin before
). Kitted out to how I wanted it for my type of riding / touring and was still £5k plus cheaper than the basic BMW equivalent.
Only my opinion of course….. but the list of issues are well documented.
When I was looking around to replace my 2012 Honda CBF1000FAB I looked at BMW’s. Price’s were eye watering and research into reliability issues threw up lots of complaints. Running costs were unreal.
In the end I went for a Suzuki Vstrom 1050XT (never had a big twin before
). Kitted out to how I wanted it for my type of riding / touring and was still £5k plus cheaper than the basic BMW equivalent.Only my opinion of course….. but the list of issues are well documented.
OP
OP
- Oct 25, 2016
- 6,055
- 35,327
- Funster No
- 73,061
- MH
- Bailey Autograph 79-
- Exp
- Lots but slow learner.
I've had lot's of BMW bikes. Don't recall too many serious issues.BMW’s are totally overrated and overpriced….. sorry BMW owners.
When I was looking around to replace my 2012 Honda CBF1000FAB I looked at BMW’s. Price’s were eye watering and research into reliability issues threw up lots of complaints. Running costs were unreal.
In the end I went for a Suzuki Vstrom 1050XT (never had a big twin before
Only my opinion of course….. but the list of issues are well documented.
Mate has a Strom and loves it, and agree great value.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Probably the ugliest bike BM do i think.
But i was surprised how cheap they are for a 1 year old low mileage. AND there are 148 of the things for sale on Autotrader............wonder why.
I test rode one (out of curiosity) at the MCN Peterborough show; it is a lump of a thing!
Ian
RowleyBirkinQC
LIFE MEMBER
I had a couple of GSA 1200s a few years ago, fuel gauge, final drive and antenna ring failures, with some engine block corrosion comes to mind.
Almost forgot my RT and the mass recall due to potential rear shock failure, that was fun.
Almost forgot my RT and the mass recall due to potential rear shock failure, that was fun.
Last edited:
- Oct 21, 2017
- 611
- 1,802
- Funster No
- 51,039
Character v Blandness…………..just my opinionBMW’s are totally overrated and overpriced….. sorry BMW owners.
When I was looking around to replace my 2012 Honda CBF1000FAB I looked at BMW’s. Price’s were eye watering and research into reliability issues threw up lots of complaints. Running costs were unreal.
In the end I went for a Suzuki Vstrom 1050XT (never had a big twin before
Only my opinion of course….. but the list of issues are well documented.
Saw one in Tom Sykes garage, he had it given him. I was pulling his leg about the chicken strips on it and he said you can't get that thing over . It's not a bike you can have much fun on then, so maybe people buy them because they are a fashion accessory.. They want to be a hells angel or something 
no problem with that if that's their thing
. It's not a bike you can have much fun on then, so maybe people buy them because they are a fashion accessory.. They want to be a hells angel or something no problem with that if that's their thing 
Pal of mine took one out on a test ride. Couldn’t wait to get it back. He even offered to let me ride it. No way.
Massive torque reaction. Way too wide to filter through traffic. It was a hot day so I went ahead and waited!
No fuel gauge IIRC. Cylinder heads in the way of getting your feet down in a comfortable manner.
Not for me. That’s why they are cheap secondhand.
Massive torque reaction. Way too wide to filter through traffic. It was a hot day so I went ahead and waited!
No fuel gauge IIRC. Cylinder heads in the way of getting your feet down in a comfortable manner.
Not for me. That’s why they are cheap secondhand.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Probably because they are so blooming ugly. Apart from posing on what are they for ? I bet all those for sale are very low mileage.Probably the ugliest bike BM do i think.
But i was surprised how cheap they are for a 1 year old low mileage. AND there are 148 of the things for sale on Autotrader............wonder why
I’ve had many BMW loved them all done very high mileage only problem was my GS adventure surging at low speed 30 to 40 but otherwise very good I would buy another Alan Jethries were exelent good service nice people.
Probably the ugliest bike BM do i think.
But i was surprised how cheap they are for a 1 year old low mileage. AND there are 148 of the things for sale on Autotrader............wonder why
R18 designed for the American market great over there but like the Harley bit pointless here. In defence of the BMW I’ve had 2 and tried the Honda before buying last one which was great value but was limited on the advanced electronics. You pay your money and make your choiceProbably the ugliest bike BM do i think.
But i was surprised how cheap they are for a 1 year old low mileage. AND there are 148 of the things for sale on Autotrader............wonder why
Probably the ugliest bike BM do i think.
But i was surprised how cheap they are for a 1 year old low mileage. AND there are 148 of the things for sale on Autotrader............wonder why
OP
OP
- Oct 25, 2016
- 6,055
- 35,327
- Funster No
- 73,061
- MH
- Bailey Autograph 79-
- Exp
- Lots but slow learner.
R9T i bought and kept at our villa in Spain. Got nicked at 6 months old. Nice plaything.
RT new 2016 sold after 3 years with 8k miles on, no issues.
Had others but cant find picks.
R18 deffo a yank bike.
RT new 2016 sold after 3 years with 8k miles on, no issues.
Had others but cant find picks.
R18 deffo a yank bike.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Never had a Beemer, I’ve rode my mates bikes though. S1000r and 2 gens of the RR, quick , good brakes and seamless gearboxes but Boring. 
RowleyBirkinQC
LIFE MEMBER
Shame, just the 2 years too late to enjoy the rear shock recall.
- Jan 26, 2017
- 3,624
- 12,624
- Funster No
- 47,068
- MH
- Autosleeper Inca
- Exp
- Eight Years and 28,000 Miles.
Still have my 2001 R1150GS, bought new,
70,000 miles mainly touring Europe loaded with camping gear.
Absolutely faultless, can be serviced pretty much with the tool-kit supplied.
Absolutely faultless, can be serviced pretty much with the tool-kit supplied.
Sapper520
Free Member
They’re not calling it a recall, but are doing it for free to bikes up to 10 years old.
Doing my research I came across various issues with electronics, recalls for fuel systems and others. I’m sure owners love them…. I like riding any bike. But when it comes to where I spend my hard earned pennies…….
Driveshaft check and update for thousands of BMW GS models
It’s not a recall but your R 1200 GS or R1250 GS might get a revised shaft drive. Read the full story here.
www.bennetts.co.uk
Doing my research I came across various issues with electronics, recalls for fuel systems and others. I’m sure owners love them…. I like riding any bike. But when it comes to where I spend my hard earned pennies…….
Sapper520
Free Member
And a BMW in this family line up…..
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
OP
OP
- Oct 25, 2016
- 6,055
- 35,327
- Funster No
- 73,061
- MH
- Bailey Autograph 79-
- Exp
- Lots but slow learner.
Drive through Euro land and what bike does one see most of the time BMW GSs, zillions of em.
OP
OP
- Oct 25, 2016
- 6,055
- 35,327
- Funster No
- 73,061
- MH
- Bailey Autograph 79-
- Exp
- Lots but slow learner.
Air cussion eh. I had a Air Hawk for the RT. Didn't need for any other bike, says something i think.
- Sep 28, 2015
- 2,257
- 3,036
- Funster No
- 38,946
- MH
- Hymer B544
- Exp
- 2001 Caravans 2011 Motorhomes
I’ll be getting my 9th BMW bike since 1994 in March, (5th GS)
Prior to the BMW’s it was all Jap bikes and one Norton.
Total problems,
One antenna ring on a 2006 GS, covered under warranty and a sticking exhaust flap valve on a 2021 GS that was also under warranty and never actually caused the bike to breakdown in any way.
The trouble is people post about problems readily enough but rarely post about not having issues.
Prior to the BMW’s it was all Jap bikes and one Norton.
Total problems,
One antenna ring on a 2006 GS, covered under warranty and a sticking exhaust flap valve on a 2021 GS that was also under warranty and never actually caused the bike to breakdown in any way.
The trouble is people post about problems readily enough but rarely post about not having issues.
I was on the Stelvio when I had the call from BMW grounding the RT. To their credit a van arrived and I had a replacement GS within 3 hours, so continued the trip. Exchanged the GS at my dealer on return the UK and had a GSA for 3 months. BMW gave a voucher for £500 accessories in compensation. It could have been much worse and I was quite impressed with BMW’s response.
RowleyBirkinQC
LIFE MEMBER
Agreed, BMW and their dealers did handle that unfortunate situation really well.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
I had an ex police R80/7 with Avon fairing on which I did 90,000 miles with no issues other than routine servicing, tyres etc. I later had a K100RT that had a strange issue which it took a while to diagnose, the power to the fuel pump was shorting to earth inside a sealed resin block on the fuel guage sender unit a new sender unit fixed it, otherwise very reliable.
Me too. For my R1250RT. Saddle is hard and only lets me ride for about an hour before get off time.
The Coops
LIFE MEMBER
Not RT's but GT's and never again, 23 breakdowns on a GT1200 in two years and only 18 on the GT1300 that replaced it! BMW insurance next to useless, left us well out of pocket as I had managed to ride the bike to a dealer for repair ( on way to catch ferry) and refused to pay any reparation or hotels we had to use while being repaired! For the insurance under warranty to be valid we should have waited at the roadside for a mechanic to come out and say it was broken! Had R90, R80 RT 1150's before from 1979 onwards till 2009 and no great problems but after the GT experience would never touch another due to complete and utter lack of customer care. Replaced with a Honda Crosstourer and that broke down in France when the clutch basket let go, ( not just BM's!) both got a 400 euro taxi ride to destination and meal allowance, taxi and air fare paid for to get home as parts had to come from Japan so flown home all out of pocket expenses paid, asked if wanted bike delivered but I said I would ride home, paid for plane, train, fuel, hotels and ferry and got 5 free services and two sets of tyres by way of an apology Nothing off BMW not even a cup of coffee while waiting!
Had a 1200GT and 1300GT. Only issues were faulty switchgear. Then a K1600GTL. Slight water pump leak sorted under warranty.
Before that K75, K1100, R1050, R1100, R 1150. All faultless.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Join us or log in to post a reply.
To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun
Join MotorhomeFun
Join us, it quick and easy!
Log in
Already a member? Log in here.