Reliability

[bad n ruin]

Bought my '02 in late '01.
1) Heated grip failure due to cable ties pinched too tight on the wire harness as attached to the main frame (snapped the conductor inside the wire jacket).
2) Leaking fuel lines due to shiddy stock crimp connectors. Replaced with FI-type connectors.
No other problems - pretty good I'd say.

[Biff's R]

2004 R1150R W/ 17700 MILES IN 2+ years.

2 leaky final drive seals replaced under warranty, and one leaky tranny output shaft seal leak replaced under warranty.

2003 R1150R w/ 17600 miles in 2.5 years.

1 final drive leak fixed under warranty at about 10k. 1 bad ignition coil replaced under warranty at 115 miles.

The only concern that I have is getting a flat. None of the leaky seals were bad, they were just a minor annoyance.

[OU812]

I Had a 02 I bought new, sold with 14k. Only problem ever was throttle side heated grip went out. Got my used 04 with 2400 miles on it, and within 2 weeks battery and starter went out! ouch.

[Ian]

what about no issues

[GJBushman]

These damn bikes are pieces of crap. Every one I have owned is just the same, nothing but trouble. I just keep buying them and they just keep causing problems. The three I have in the garage are the worst, 1150R, K100RT and K1200RS. Everytime I go into the garage there they are, just causing problems. Damn unreliable pieces of crap!

[fnfalman]

The biggest problem for me was that the ABS pump went down. The dealership had to replace the unit.

The shaft drive's seal also leaked a bit and it was fixed quickly by the dealership too.

But I've been having problem with starting when the bike is cold or sitting around for a couple of days. I know that the damn thing is suppose to be cold blooded, but when you crank, and crank, and crank, and crannk, and crank in order to get it started, something is wrong.

None of the dealerships have figured out why yet. One of them even "fixed" the problem by screwing up my throttlebody synch and jacked my idling way the hell up. My personal Guru had found that the ignition timing was off. He fixed it but it still has the same problem. It's a challenge for him now, so when he has the chance, he'll see if he can fix the situation.

[SmokinMos]

I've got over 46,000...the bike runs great, but the front brakes (no ABS) squeek as I come to a stop. I've had them adjusted/checked, but soon after they start making noise again. Dealer/mechanics say it's normal. I don't agree. Anyone else with this problem?

[NHighCotton]

only issues I've had has been oil leaks from cam covers, sight glass(replaced recently) and valve cover gaskets and donuts.

cleaned'em, dried'em, replaced them still issues on occasions.

replaced the valve cover gaskets and donuts about a 1K miles ago and still dry, did the same to the cam covers and the right side started seeping the other day, re-cleaned it and so far and 250 miles later it's still dry.....for now.

I've got to be doing something wrong but it beats me to what it is or my surfaces are not exactly square.

Maybe there is a engine breather vent or hose that I need to check?

[JCsman]

Hmmm. Mine's an '04. The battery failed, twice, when some dumbazz parked it and left the lights on, twice.

These incidents occurred early in my ownership. She became reluctant to start on a couple of cold mornings recently, so I've purchased a replacement battery.

Plus I've had to have the oil changed again and again! And about every 140 miles I have to buy more gas or it won't even run!

Man, watta dog!

[ranmar850]

Hmmm. Mine's an '04. The battery failed, twice, when some dumbazz parked it and left the lights on, twice.

These incidents occurred early in my ownership. She became reluctant to start on a couple of cold mornings recently, so I've purchased a replacement battery.

Plus I've had to have the oil changed again and again! And about every 140 miles I have to buy more gas or it won't even run!

Man, watta dog!

Sounds like someone used the killswitch to turn the motor off , at least twice
Over the last few years, I've been following this forum, I have seen NO real problem, of a common and recurring nature--non-BMW owners talk about the "Final Drive Problems". a few leaky seals? What a load of BS. Try lurking on the Triumph RAT forum for a while, you'll see a LOT of problems,. and worse, too often very poor response to warranty claims. They mostly love their bikes, but the number of issues which were about put me off. That, and the depreciation, which really negates the cheaper purchase price PDQ.The few issues that crop up here, often on very high mileage bikes, are testament to the durability of this marque. Repeat after me----NOTHING IS PERFECT!
I started a thread about be seduced away a while back, but that's dead-I'd rather borrow the money to buy a s/h R1200ST then pay the cash balance for a Sprint ST new.Or just get a s'h set of System cases and an Airhawk for the Rockster if I want to do the really big miles.

Cheers
Ralph
owner of the only BMW model that really depreciates

[bransan]

30k mi. no problems. I'm anal about servicing My bike.

[Brooksie]

40k+ kms and only the license plate bulb failed ('02 model)

[JCsman]

[
Sounds like someone used the killswitch to turn the motor off , at least twice

Worse, sidestand down to kill the engine, got distracted, left the key in!!!!!!!!!

Told you, it was a dumbazz that did it.