2016 Bmw R1200 GS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2016 Bmw R1200 GS has 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is suspension problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: the left stanchion has come loose from the crimped connection at the top of the upper tube. i have seen many other problems with this design on other bikes on the social media forum i track. gs giants on facebook, and also on advrider.com. i took it to the bmw shop today in tulsa ok. i had to show t.

2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SUSPENSION

5 complaints

33%

• THE LEFT STANCHION HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE CRIMPED CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE UPPER TUBE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ON OTHER BIKES ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORUM I TRACK. GS GIANTS ON FACEBOOK, AND ALSO ON ADVRIDER.COM. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW SHOP TODAY IN TULSA OK. I HAD TO SHOW T
• POTENTIAL CRITICAL FAILURE IN UPPER FORK TUBE STANCHIONS.
• I WAS TRAVELING IN ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND AND NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE HANDLEBAR ON MY MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY JERKED TO THE LEFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS WAS NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE LEFT STANCHION HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE CRIMPED CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE UPPER TUBE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ON OTHER BIKES ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORUM I TRACK. GS GIANTS ON FACEBOOK, AND ALSO ON ADVRIDER.COM. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW SHOP TODAY IN TULSA OK. I HAD TO SHOW T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

20%

• CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "
• ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON 6 INCIDENCES. 2 INCIDENTS - IN MOTION ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT - IN MOTION TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' IN MOTION VA-55
• WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A FAULTED STATE SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO WARNING PRIOR, THE ECU IS FAULTING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE INTO "LIMP MODE" WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT OF COMPLETELY KILLING THE ENGINE THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DONE, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AP
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE HORN OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

13%

• THE REAR BRAKE BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT AIR INVADES THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. BLEEDING THE OLD BRAKE FLUID AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THE BLEEDING MUST BE DONE AGAIN. FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AT ALL TIME
• Rear brake on motorcycle does not stop the motorcycle. After three BMW dealer visits and rear brakes having been bled, the rear brake pedal becomes soft and does not stop the motorcycle. The same problem occurred each time within 2-3 months of the repair. The only way to stop the motorcycle is to

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR BRAKE BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT AIR INVADES THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. BLEEDING THE OLD BRAKE FLUID AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THE BLEEDING MUST BE DONE AGAIN. FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AT ALL TIME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

1 complaints

• I WAS TRAVELING IN ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND AND NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE HANDLEBAR ON MY MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY JERKED TO THE LEFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS WAS NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS TRAVELING IN ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND AND NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE HANDLEBAR ON MY MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY JERKED TO THE LEFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS WAS NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 15 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SUSPENSION: THE LEFT STANCHION HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE CRIMPED CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE UPPER TUBE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ON OTHER BIKES ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORUM I TRACK. GS GIANTS ON FACEBOOK, AND ALSO ON ADVRIDER.COM. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW SHOP TODAY IN TULSA OK. I HAD TO SHOW T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE AP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: THE REAR BRAKE BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT AIR INVADES THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. BLEEDING THE OLD BRAKE FLUID AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THE BLEEDING MUST BE DONE AGAIN. FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AT ALL TIME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)