[coolrider]

If you are looking for the air cooled (K25), make sure you choose the year 2010-2012/13.
It is the last of its breed. Almost perfect. DOHC engine.
Older than that sometimes you can get ABS issue.
For the Liquid Cooled (K50 and K51), you better choose 2016 an above, either it is 1200 or 1250.
The 1250 K50 and 51 will also be the last of its breed in the next 1-2 years.

 

[robertspleski]

Hey,
I've owned many many bikes, from MT07 to Harley Davidson, and also a 750GS, which has been the best bike I've owned so far, it's like being on a 2 wheel train.
I currently own a Vulcan S which is amazing, buuuut I'm "homesick" for adventure bikes. 1250GS are out of my budget, I've tried one once for half an hour at a dealership, best ride ever. So I'm looking for the previous version, the 1200GS.

In my country there are 2009-2012 1200GS with 40-80k kms, well equiped, for 7/9k€.
I've been told that after that long, soft parts could deteriorate, and some years' bikes had some issues ( like any other vehicle ).
What years would you not buy and/or what would you absolutely check/want in a 2nd hand 1200GS ?

Also while I'm at it, how do the 1200GS ride compared to 1250GS ? I've never tried one yet, I just figure they behave as the 1250GS haha

Edit: There's a 2012 R1200GS Adventure Rally at 100k kms, for 7600€, new brakes, new tires, new battery, 100k maintenance done, what do you think ?

Thanks

I have a '14 1200GS (purchased new in May 2014) that recently cross the 100,000 miles and it's been a great bike. The 1200 and 1250 are the same except the engine valve timing (although my '14 has straight cut gears and is a bit clunky compared to the '16 and newer).

 

[Ed F.]

I prefer the 2005 - 2009 Hexheads for no other reason than they just fit me. I mean so much, so I recently bought my 13th....yes 13th

You've needed 13 GS's in 17 years? (MY2005 has only been around) Maybe more frequent oil changes??

 

[PerazziMx14]

You've needed 13 GS's in 17 years? (MY2005 has only been around) Maybe more frequent oil changes??

No, I bought them all since 2018

 

[Buzzard70]

I have several things to comment on. The 2005-2006 models had an awful ABS system, high maintenance, lots of failures. However, if you replace the brake lines with the lines from a non ABS model (as I have), you will have excellent dependable brakes. They have a "Lifetime" lubricated rear drive, which is not lifetime in any sense. It is a PITA to change the lube, but all of us do it. The suspension is trash at 20K miles, you need to be sure the previous owner has replaced it with Ohlins or other quality shocks. There have been recalls, primarily with the fuel tank and all of the connections, pumps, and lines. The US Dept of Transportation forced a recent recall, hoping to prevent riders from riding down the road with a crotch on fire. Parts are expensive (a drive shaft is around a grand, while a Honda Goldwing driveshaft costs around $150). Yes, I own a 2005, I have been through all that I have just commented upon. And what do I now have? It is a delightful bike, light, agile, quick, a joy to ride. I do find that this blind allegiance to BMW may be unearned by the folks at BMW. Then, to top things off, everyone want a low mileage bike, inferring that high mileage bikes may not be desirable. Just as I was thinking that the high prices of a BMW were partly due to the excellent engineering, partly due to the excellent quality of components, and partly due to longevity. I do know that a Harley, or a Honda, or even a Moto Guzzi, has no more problems than a BMW. But, as I have said, the BMW is a delight to ride.

 

[PerazziMx14]

I have several things to comment on. The 2005-2006 models had an awful ABS system, high maintenance, lots of failures. However, if you replace the brake lines with the lines from a non ABS model (as I have), you will have excellent dependable brakes. They have a "Lifetime" lubricated rear drive, which is not lifetime in any sense. It is a PITA to change the lube, but all of us do it. The suspension is trash at 20K miles, you need to be sure the previous owner has replaced it with Ohlins or other quality shocks. There have been recalls, primarily with the fuel tank and all of the connections, pumps, and lines. The US Dept of Transportation forced a recent recall, hoping to prevent riders from riding down the road with a crotch on fire. Parts are expensive (a drive shaft is around a grand, while a Honda Goldwing driveshaft costs around $150). Yes, I own a 2005, I have been through all that I have just commented upon. And what do I now have? It is a delightful bike, light, agile, quick, a joy to ride. I do find that this blind allegiance to BMW may be unearned by the folks at BMW. Then, to top things off, everyone want a low mileage bike, inferring that high mileage bikes may not be desirable. Just as I was thinking that the high prices of a BMW were partly due to the excellent engineering, partly due to the excellent quality of components, and partly due to longevity. I do know that a Harley, or a Honda, or even a Moto Guzzi, has no more problems than a BMW. But, as I have said, the BMW is a delight to ride.

While the 2004 - 2006 did have iABSii AKA servo brakes that were problematic they are excellent when they work, and the failure rate is probably not as bad as folks make it out to be. These systems are now 15 to 17 years old and there are plenty that still work just fine. As stated, if it does fail jumpers are easy to make and bypass the ABS and have excellent non-ABS brakes in short order. As for servicing the servo system it's not hard and once you do it once or twice it takes about an hour and that includes from the time you the tools out until you put the tools away. You will need a $30 funnel from BBY but that is the only specialty tool. I'm to the point now having done it several times I can do it in less than an hour and with a pint of brake fluid. I have a great step x step guide that makes it as easy and foolproof.

The rear drive is easy to change the fluid and when it's hinged down it's also a great time to check, clean and lube the rear drive line splines. The early Hexheads do not have a drainplug, so you have to hinge the drive down to drain. At 1st I thought this was crazy but more than once it's saved my rear brake rotor. As I had to remove the caliper to hing it down and saw the brake pads were worn. If it had a drain plug, I'd have just undone it then refilled it and never checked the brake pads.

The recall is not the fuel cell and everything in it, it's the fuel pump assembly that is a complete unit that is very east to replace once the fuel level is below the fuel pump opening.

Most stock suspensions are not that great but it all how the bike was used. I've had GS's with stock suspension with more than 20K and the stock suspension was fine. While it's certainly not custom Ohlins built to my specs it decent enough for everyday riding.

I'm a DIY type and like working on my own stuff. I also do not mind these older servos braked bikes because most potential buyers have been so scared off by the servo brakes it drives the price down and I can get a great bike for not a lot of money.

Cheers,

P-14

 

[Buzzard70]

While the 2004 - 2006 did have iABSii AKA servo brakes that were problematic they are excellent when they work, and the failure rate is probably not as bad as folks make it out to be. These systems are now 15 to 17 years old and there are plenty that still work just fine. As stated, if it does fail jumpers are easy to make and bypass the ABS and have excellent non-ABS brakes in short order. As for servicing the servo system it's not hard and once you do it once or twice it takes about an hour and that includes from the time you the tools out until you put the tools away. You will need a $30 funnel from BBY but that is the only specialty tool. I'm to the point now having done it several times I can do it in less than an hour and with a pint of brake fluid. I have a great step x step guide that makes it as easy and foolproof.

The rear drive is easy to change the fluid and when it's hinged down it's also a great time to check, clean and lube the rear drive line splines. The early Hexheads do not have a drainplug, so you have to hinge the drive down to drain. At 1st I thought this was crazy but more than once it's saved my rear brake rotor. As I had to remove the caliper to hing it down and saw the brake pads were worn. If it had a drain plug, I'd have just undone it then refilled it and never checked the brake pads.

The recall is not the fuel cell and everything in it, it's the fuel pump assembly that is a complete unit that is very east to replace once the fuel level is below the fuel pump opening.

Most stock suspensions are not that great but it all how the bike was used. I've had GS's with stock suspension with more than 20K and the stock suspension was fine. While it's certainly not custom Ohlins built to my specs it decent enough for everyday riding.

I'm a DIY type and like working on my own stuff. I also do not mind these older servos braked bikes because most potential buyers have been so scared off by the servo brakes it drives the price down and I can get a great bike for not a lot of money.

Cheers,

P-14

Well, no, the stock ABS is not that good. It is touchy, a little too powerful at onset at times for when on the dirt. Few who have these bikes get by without annual brake bleeding, a chore by the owner, or an expense at the dealer. The rear drive drain requires rear wheel removal, rear caliper removal, partially taking the rear swingarm apart to tilt down the drive end, and a fussy time to get the correct amount of fluid into it. Then it is not vented, which causes pressure to build up in it. Ideal? I would say not. I had the recall done on my bike last summer. The BMW shop replaced both pumps, all of the fittings and lines. Then they replaced the connectors with the same plastic ones that fail in a few years(note that the same company that makes these connectors makes them in steel as well, a popular upgrade at the owners expense, hoping to avoid the connector failure). I am a DIY type also, I have done, and will continue to do, the things that are needed. To give you an idea of where I am coming from, I have owned a 2005 Gold Wing. The ABS was flawless, brake pads and fluid change were all that was ever needed. Fuel system was as faultless. The rear drive took ten minutes to change fluid, the drive unit was vented, just a non issue. I just expected better from BMW. I like my bike, I have made everything work, and as I said, it is a joy to ride.

 

[PerazziMx14]

All but the latest whiz bang ABS was never good offroad. The good thing is BMW gave the option of turning the ABS on/off with the push of a button on the left handlebar. Still many manufacturers do not have a ABS on/off button. If you encounter offroad to need to pull a fuse.

BMW does push the tech envelope and sometimes they get winners and other time not so much. But if you never try you never grow. It's both a blessing and a curse that they do. One instance is BMW was the 1st to install ABS on motorcycles then the tech was adopted by other manufacturers.

Cheers,

P-14

 

[On2wheels]

Hey,
I've owned many many bikes, from MT07 to Harley Davidson, and also a 750GS, which has been the best bike I've owned so far, it's like being on a 2 wheel train.
I currently own a Vulcan S which is amazing, buuuut I'm "homesick" for adventure bikes. 1250GS are out of my budget, I've tried one once for half an hour at a dealership, best ride ever. So I'm looking for the previous version, the 1200GS.

In my country there are 2009-2012 1200GS with 40-80k kms, well equiped, for 7/9k€.
I've been told that after that long, soft parts could deteriorate, and some years' bikes had some issues ( like any other vehicle ).
What years would you not buy and/or what would you absolutely check/want in a 2nd hand 1200GS ?

Also while I'm at it, how do the 1200GS ride compared to 1250GS ? I've never tried one yet, I just figure they behave as the 1250GS haha

Edit: There's a 2012 R1200GS Adventure Rally at 100k kms, for 7600€, new brakes, new tires, new battery, 100k maintenance done, what do you think ?

Thanks

I sold my 2013 R 1200GS to a coworker/riding Buddy with 86,000mi on it. Replaced front and rear rotors as the largest maintenance items. He’s since put on 14,000hard mi ( he rides very aggressively on and off road). He blew the front shock seal but otherwise no issues. I have a 2021 GSA and the couple times we semi drag raced, I beat him but not by much.