General topics » Why so few mechanical problems?

Has anyone noticed that there are very few mechanical complaints about the RS posted on this forum? Other than leaking fork seals and a few other minor issues, it seems like the RS must be pretty solid. When you visit most other forums regarding just about any mechanical or electrical device there are a lot of complaints regarding problems that are being posted quite often in the hopes that solutions will be offered.

As an example: the forum that caters to Zero electric motorcycles gets a number of complaints every week about various disasters that can not be solved by the selling dealer and are ignored by the manufacturer. And then there is the Royal Enfield forum, which is filled with complaints and self-help repair suggestions regarding every year of that classic motorcycle.

But it seems to me that we see very few issues regarding the RS, most of which are relatively minor, and almost all are usually resolved by our BMW dealer without cost to the customer. I think that says a lot about BMW's engineering and quality control - even if I don't think much of the engineering that went into the design of the instrument display. At least it seems to work pretty well.

Zitat von Richard230 im Beitrag #1

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Has anyone noticed that there are very few mechanical complaints about the RS posted on this forum? Other than leaking fork seals and a few other minor issues, it seems like the RS must be pretty solid. When you visit most other forums regarding just about any mechanical or electrical device there are a lot of complaints regarding problems that are being posted quite often in the hopes that solutions will be offered.

As an example: the forum that caters to Zero electric motorcycles gets a number of complaints every week about various disasters that can not be solved by the selling dealer and are ignored by the manufacturer. And then there is the Royal Enfield forum, which is filled with complaints and self-help repair suggestions regarding every year of that classic motorcycle.

But it seems to me that we see very few issues regarding the RS, most of which are relatively minor, and almost all are usually resolved by our BMW dealer without cost to the customer. I think that says a lot about BMW's engineering and quality control - even if I don't think much of the engineering that went into the design of the instrument display. At least it seems to work pretty well.

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Zitat von boxter im Beitrag #3

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The instrument display was good when it was released,

Ged

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Zitat von Richard230 im Beitrag #1

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Has anyone noticed that there are very few mechanical complaints about the RS posted on this forum?

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My 2016 had recurring water pump leakage problems. Four pumps in 18 months and 28,000 miles and BMW bought it back from me.
I went back with exactly the same bike except it's a 2017. In 18 months and 18,000 miles I have had the Proshift box on the linkage replaced- that's it.
No other problems with either bike.
A riding buddy had his instrument cluster and Proshift box replaced under warranty. Another buddy has not had any problems with his. Both of these bikes have 40-50k miles on them.

Frank

Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #6

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My 2016 had recurring water pump leakage problems. Four pumps in 18 months and 28,000 miles and BMW bought it back from me.
I went back with exactly the same bike except it's a 2017. In 18 months and 18,000 miles I have had the Proshift box on the linkage replaced- that's it.
No other problems with either bike.
A riding buddy had his instrument cluster and Proshift box replaced under warranty. Another buddy has not had any problems with his. Both of these bikes have 40-50k miles on them.

Frank

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[quote=Richard230|Well, I give BMW credit for solving your issues to such an extent that you were willing to buy another RS. I bet you don't hear stories like that too often on other motorcycle forums.
[/quote]

It was close to a 6 month effort with my dealer. BMW warranty refused to replace the fourth water pump although I was willing to give it another try. I finally got involved with BMWNA directly and I believe that pushed the issue over the top. There was never a question in my mind that I would buy another RS. I loved that bike and except for the spitting of coolant would have kept it indefinitely. I have been riding BMW's for close to 35 years and the question in my mind when I wanted a new bike was not which bike to get but rather which BMW to get.

Frank

Since 1985 I have owned 3 BMW boxer bikes:

R100RS (‘81) - rear wheel bearings collapsed (at speed) in 1987, guess I was fortunate to bring that to a halt from motorway speed without a major incident as they welded themselves onto the wheel spindle and then unthreaded the axle!
Other than that I can really only recall a broken throttle cable and the snowflake casts wheels were replaced under a recall in its first year before I owned it. I still have the bike (love of my m/c life!) and finally replaced the front brake master cylinder last month.

R1150RT (‘03) - bought in 2006 whilst living in Singapore, I took it to the (only) dealer for a service who were delighted to hear from me as there was a soft recall to check the ABS a couple of years earlier, on inspection they declared that mine needed changing and BMW agreed to pay all hardware costs if I paid the labour - fantastic result considering it was well out of warranty. Just before I sold the bike in 2011 the starter motor packed up, I believe that was more to do with the tough climate (100 miles from equator) than anything else.

R1200RS (‘16) - pannier frames replaced due to internal corrosion and instrument panel replaced due to slight fogging, both under warranty, then a tyre pressure sensor failed just outside warranty.

So my experience since 1985 has been one of superb mechanical reliability giving me a high trust in the boxer engine, that said I accept that there have been reliability and quality issues with certain BMW models over the years and the whole “supply chain and outsourcing” ethos has certainly been a major factor and a steep learning curve for the auto / bike industry.

I know I have been fortunate and I hope that reliability continues to be as good for the next 30+ years and as such will most likely outlast my riding days .......and I hope that’s true for all of us. By then I guess the days of the internal combustion engine in any format will be long gone for new vehicles- at least here in Europe (we are still in Europe, right?)

Hi Boxerboy!

The rear wheel bearing collapse sounds exciting. A photo of the damage would be interesting, but then "back I the day" one had to keep the film fresh and all that other stuff, including remembering to pay the cost of developing it.

Otherwise, I have only had a couple of little faults, the most serious was within a month or two of getting it, an O ring failed on the left fuel injector and it pumped fuel out like a geyser. BMW service (with some persuasion) came to collect the bike, and BMW Doncaster fixed it immediately. The upside is the petrol helped clean off some oil stains on the driveway.

I really don't mind the periodic "fettling" that had to be done prior to electronic ignition and injection, or chassis maintenance and care for adjusting brakes, spokes, chains - but this 21st Century tech is pretty good, if boring.

Hi Aussie Import, Yeah you are right that bearing collapse happened way before mobile phones with cameras, so I never took any photos, a video of the bike weaving as I wrestled it to a halt would be nice to have !

I do agree that in many ways the modern bikes are almost boring from a home maintenance perspective - I guess that’s why a whole industry of parts for fettling has developed - now we just bolt on and wire up bits of largely unnecessary kit just to give us some valuable workshop time with our pride and joys!

I bought my grandson a knock off chinese 125 to learn on (it is called a Genetta but seems to owe much of its pedigree to a CG125) and do the servicing repairs on it. It is a carb. model and has proved remarkably reliable but I have throroughly enjoyed a spot of 'spannering' aftre many years of leaving it all to a BMW dealer. I feel a project coming on if I can find a suitable subject in need of a rebuild.

A bit of spannering is good for the soul.

Hopefully I will pulling my 75 Guzzi apart for restoration soon

That'll all change when the 1250 comes out...... All them lunched cam shafts and bent valves............. Did I really post this message?

Not sure this qualifies as a mechanical problem vs. a design issue:

The side stand is too freakin’ tall or the angle away from the bike is too small. Too many times I’ve had to look for other parking spots when the one that is most convenient is on a slight downslope to the right. Yes, putting on the center stand will work in a pinch, but dismounting on a nearly verticle bike is nerve wracking. Anyone else have similar experience or is it just me with my short legs?

I am going to look to see if repositioning the side stand so it leans out at a great angle is possible. I remember seeing somewhere on the old forum where someone had taken a grinder to the top of the side stand so that the stop is engaged a little further into the bike.