2009 BMW K1300GT

[bmwhd]

El Toro - I'm a long time BMW fan too. I've also lived the final drive failure issue in a number of ways including:

Personal - FD on my K1200LT go out at 48k miles (RELIGIOUS dealer service)

Professional - Having been in the room when a BMW Motorad regional representative revealed that warranty claims on K1200LT final drives were running at 4% (this in 2002),

Anecdotal - Being a moderator since year one on bmwlt.com

I also know that the group I ride with, consisting of 6 hard-core R12GS riders, has had 4 failures and keeps a spare drive in rotation for immediate shipment to whichever becomes stranded next. And don't even get that group started on fuel pump relays or fuel strips

The problem for me personally is not the fact that drives fail, nor even the rate at which they fail, it's the COMPLETE SILENCE from BMW for going on 10 years now.

And one final point - BMW has not universally covered all failures under warranty. They've gotten better, true, but there are legions on the LT list that have had to foot the bill themselves.

 

[RadioHowie]

So the unit is not physically that big and weighs about exactly the same as SkooterG's purse.

How do you guys read this thread and NOT comment on this quote from Fat Nazi?

That's the fookin' funniest thing I've read here in days!

BeemerDons, you rock!

:rofl:

 

[beemerdons]

RadioHowie: A matching handbag fashion accessory for SkooterG is so commonplace, that no one notices it much anymore!

Back on topic! As many know I picked up a new 2009 BMW F650GS Twin on November 21. I took it in for its 750 mile service last Friday and they gave me a K1200GT to use as a loaner for 48 hours. I absolutely loved it and its powerband.

I've always had jokes ready at the expense of K bike riders. Two of my classic lines are "Anyone that would ride a K bike couldn't have had much of a Mother" and the line I first used at the 1985 BMWMOA International Rally held in Missoula, Montana where I saw my first K bike is still a Beauty: "The K Bike is the finest BMW motorcycle that Japan has ever built!"

I just did not feel, as a BMW boxer twin fanatic for forty years, that the K's had anything that would move me off my twins!

Wowser, did this 2008 K1200GT demo/loaner ever change my mind! According to BMW of Scottsdale Lead Salesman Steve Bitter the 2009 BMW K1300GT is absolutely getting a completely newly redesigned final drive; not a hashed over old model.

I'm first on the list to try their 2009 BMW K1300GT and if I like it as much as the K1200GT, I am pulling the checkbook out!

I also would like to clear up a previously made comment by the illustrious and flamboyant (Boy George Style) SkooterG.

As a Full Director of BMWMOA Chartered Club #89 AZ, I have the current Excel Membership Roster and on line item #69 it clearly shows a certain Mr. Gregory Marbach as a full fledged dues paying member of AZ Beemers. The Rest of the Story!!!

 

[RadioHowie]

A matching handbag fashion accessory for SkooterG is so commonplace, that no one notices it much anymore!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....gasp.....choke.....cough....snerk!

Yer killin me!!!

 

[Taff]

I know the guy with the infamous flaming final drive. He regrets ever taking that picture.

He shouldn't.... this telling photo is likely responsible for keeping many riders from being stranded on the side of the road, looking at a similar picture.... in real life. :glare:

Personally, I never really took to beemers in the past, because they are just.... odd machines. But modern beemers - particularly single-sided swingarm shafties - are simply laughable with regard to drive-train reliability.

Still, the throngs of endurance riders that have had their rallys completely ruined, one-time Iron Butt Rally riders (who have spent *thousands* of $$$ in prepping for this event) who have been left stranded somewhere south of East Jesus, to these poor souls, this **** is no laughing matter whatsoever. The numbers of previously HARD-CORE kool-aid drinkers who have punted this marque to the curb in the past 5 years is simply staggering.

Moi being one of those to do the punting Dale!

 

[2WheelTiger]

I find it interesting that BMW is reportedly saying the sport-touring market is shrinking. Having worked for marketing departments in the past, I wonder if they're suggesting THEIR S/T market is shrinking, or the overall market is shrinking.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Back on topic! ...they gave me a K1200GT to use as a loaner for 48 hours. I absolutely loved it I just did not feel, as a BMW boxer twin fanatic for forty years, that the K's had anything that would move me off my twins!

Wowser, did this 2008 K1200GT demo/loaner ever change my mind! According to ...Salesman Steve... the 2009 BMW K1300GT is absolutely getting a completely newly redesigned final drive; not a hashed over old model.

I'm first on the list to try their 2009 BMW K1300GT and if I like it as much as the K1200GT, I am pulling the checkbook out!

You....you...'Quisling' -- you!

What happened to the defender/supporter/promoter of antiquated, anachronistic, old Bavarian ideas...??

Now, who's gonna buy and ride bikes with their finned cylinder heads stuck-out sideways into the air?

Who's gonna adjust those valves and attend to those little push-rods?

My faith in the BayEmVay 'faithful' is becoming shaken (not stirred).... :blink:

 

[beemerdons]

charismaticmegafauna: Not to worry, mein freund! I'll still have two Type 259's in the garage. And it looks like I'm going to get the chance to buy back my original 1974 R90S from the gentleman in California I sold it to in 1988. Ja, es sehr gut!

 

[El Toro]

I find it interesting that BMW is reportedly saying the sport-touring market is shrinking. Having worked for marketing departments in the past, I wonder if they're suggesting THEIR S/T market is shrinking, or the overall market is shrinking.

Probably both.

There are leftover ST type bikes at the end of every season, and some years there are still leftovers at the end of the second season. BMW, Honda, and Yamaha have all been plagued by this. I bought my leftover 06 FJR in June of 08. My friend bought his leftover 05 Kawi Concourse in April of 07 and then sold it and bought a leftover 06 ST1300 in April of 08. I could go find a leftover 07 FJR, ST1300, K1200LT, or Concourse with a little work in a day or two, and I could find an 08 of any of these brands without much trouble here as we move into 09.

If you go to any showroom in Tennessee, you will find a couple of sport bikes, maybe twice as many dirt bikes, twice as many again ATVs, and twice as many again V-Twin cruisers. If its a Honda dealer, there will be a Goldwing too. If you want an ST1300, you'll have to order it. If you go to a Yamaha dealer and want an FJR, you'll have to order it. If you go to a Kawasaki dealer, you may have to order a Connie depending on whether or not they sold the one they were forced to take with their floor plan order last year. BMW has been blowing out their leftover stuff in November the last few years. They've been focused on holding down carryover inventory with pretty significant incentive programs.

When I saw the BMW quote about the sport touring market in the magazine, it did not surprise me. BMW's inventory has been shifting toward the non ST segment for several years. The BMW Performance Center programs in South Carolina are primarily focused on off road riding. The big push this year for BMW is the K1300 platform (to appeal to the smooth/speed freaks among us), the S1000RR (for those who want to do track days) and their new 450 dirt bike (to appeal to serious off roaders). BMW is trying to reposition themselves as a major player in the adventure/dual purpose arena, and they are also trying to establish themselves as a clearly identifiable Euro-Alternative to the Japanese mid-market. If you go into a BMW dealership today, chances are you're going to see as many vertical twins, big singles, and in-line water cooled fours as you see boxers.... maybe more. And probably at least half of the bikes will not have shaft drives.

 

[RichardS]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.

Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

 

[str8]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.
Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

If I were you, I'd sell that piece of crap that you have as fast as you possibly can.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.
Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

If I were you, I'd sell that piece of crap that you have as fast as you possibly can.

No kidding...don't subject that FJR to someone who hates it.

 

[Spook]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.
Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

Last but not least why did you buy such a piece of crap bikes. I will give you 50 buck for it.

GEEEEZZZZZZZEEEEE what a whiner.

 

[Knifemaker]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.

Does BMW make a clutchless padle shifter? You should have bought that instead.

Oh, they don't make one?

How much did that autoclutch bike set you back? I'm sure if BMW had a clutchless GT it only set you back 6 grand more. Considering the price of a tube of loctite, the cost of merely unpluging a wire you still come out ahead with the FJR.

I had 25 lbs of crap in my tail case on a 5 state trip and nothing broke. Has yours broken? Or are you just bitching?

Yes ****, you sometimes do get what you pay for. A bike that costs 5 ot 8 grand more should be more refined, if that is what is important to you.

But as Yamaha does make the AE , you should be on your knees thanking them for having a bike you can still ride with that crippled hand of yours, rather than bitching about a few easy to fix glitches.

KM

 

[El Toro]

Well, it is kinda silly to whine about the FJR on the FJR forum. The FJR is a great bike, and like I said a million times, buying the FJR back in June totally killed my lust for a K1200GT in November. The paddle shifter is worth the price of admission when your hand or foot are out of commission. Never know when it could happen again, so my AE is in a safe harbor right now. I have no desire to trade it or sell it. I'm gonna "run the wheels off it" as recommended by SkooterG. Of course I'll probably do it at the rate of less than 12000 miles per year because I still love other bikes too, and they've all gotta get ridden, or they go sour.

I hate these marque battles. ALMOST every marque makes some good stuff. EVERY marque has its stinkers. If everyone liked or wanted the same thing, it would be really boring, and there wouldn't be so many neat choices.

 

[Ignacio]

If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

• Shouldn't have to....fixed in '04 or '05 and seemingly now an old thing that isn't valid anymore...was yours actually badly rusted?
• Personal preference. I'm glad it didn't cost $100 more for another switch to have the option.
• It's not 80 pounds....unless you verified with calibrated torque wrench? It's probably more like 40 pounds.
• Talk to your dealer about why they didn't loctite the screws....they're dealer assembled options.
• Ignition switches are a legit issue and pending a resolution...NHTSA is making Yamaha figure it out and a fix....if only BMW was forced by the government to fix their far less safe imploding FD issue.
• No idea on this one...mine are long enough...and haven't heard of others being too short to change via procedure in the service manual.
• Because people are putting FAR more than 7 pounds on them....often 30 plus pounds in configurations that have large moment arms. For those that want to carry larger loads there's a great option of about $80 to upgrade.
• Your perspective is a large part of your particular problem IMO.

These and anything remaining seems pretty niggly compared to a 1 in 6 chance of having an FD grenade on a machine costing thousands more.

 

[protondecay123]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.
Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

Last but not least why did you buy such a piece of crap bikes. I will give you 50 buck for it.

GEEEEZZZZZZZEEEEE what a whiner.

Richard. it sounds like you got suckered by some crafty Nippon marketing. I'll give you $100 for that bike.

 

[Spook]

I traded in an '04 BMW 1150 RT ONLY because I needed an auto shift/clutch for my crippled hand. Bought it new and traded 4 yrs later with less than 12,000 miles on it. No problems, not many miles! And the closest dealer is 115 miles away.
Japanese engineering and assembly has gone to pot in the last 10 years. If the FJR is such a good bike, why am I lubing the splines? Why am I defeating the windscreen down function wiring? Why is my oil drain plug torgued at 80 ft lbs.? Why are the side case bolts not locktighted (&/or torqued)? Why are ignition switches failing? Why are my rear light assembly wires too short to replace the 2 brake light bulbs? Why are rear tail sections breaking when the rack is loaded over 7 lbs.? Why are there 6-7 screws holding the side panels on (the 1150 only had 3) ? As far as I am concerned, all these problems shouldn't have happened in the first place. This bike has been in production for 5 years, WTF is the problem?? And I only have 270 miles on the FJR.

Last but not least why did you buy such a piece of crap bikes. I will give you 50 buck for it.

GEEEEZZZZZZZEEEEE what a whiner.

Richard. it sounds like you got suckered by some crafty Nippon marketing. I'll give you $100 for that bike.

Man ya had to start a bidding war. OK a 150 bucks but damn giving that much for such a piece of crap is pushing it. Please throw in some cheese with the whine for that much.

 

[El Toro]

You....you...'Quisling' -- you!What happened to the defender/supporter/promoter of antiquated, anachronistic, old Bavarian ideas...??

Hey, Quisling was a defender/supporter/promoter of old Bavarian ideas. That's why his name became synonymous with traiter.... he sold the Norwegians out to the Germans. :comando:

Don - I really like the K1200GT too. It takes things to another level, and the K1300GT will probably be even better.... however there's a limit to how many ST type bikes I'm willing to have in the garage, and the FJR AE is going to be hard to displace. Now the S1000RR is another matter. I'm hoping there'll be some leftovers at some point.

Guys in the bidding war - come on, at least offer him the trade in value of $8870. If you're serious about helping him out of the FJR, its the least you can do. :jerry:

 

[k7lvo]

You....you...'Quisling' -- you!What happened to the defender/supporter/promoter of antiquated, anachronistic, old Bavarian ideas...??

Hey, Quisling was a defender/supporter/promoter of old Bavarian ideas. That's why his name became synonymous with traiter.... he sold the Norwegians out to the Germans. :comando:

Don - I really like the K1200GT too. It takes things to another level, and the K1300GT will probably be even better.... however there's a limit to how many ST type bikes I'm willing to have in the garage, and the FJR AE is going to be hard to displace. Now the S1000RR is another matter. I'm hoping there'll be some leftovers at some point.

Guys in the bidding war - come on, at least offer him the trade in value of $8870. If you're serious about helping him out of the FJR, its the least you can do. :jerry:

Yeah... That'll make it easier for him to get a Gold Wing. (although he'll still have to get a shift kit for it) No, I'm not saying that the Gold Wing isn't a great bike; I'm saying that he'll blend right in on the GW boards/lists. :lol: