Open Letter:

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:50 pm

Those that know me, know of the extremely torrid relationship I've had with my K12GT.The sort of relationship you'd expect with some capricious Italian supercar.

It's the single most frustrating machine I have ever known, with an endless catalogue of component failures from new. It's driven me beyond the brink on many occasions.

However, in all fairness BMW UK have always been incredibly courteous and helpful.

My dealers, Williams Bikes, have too also been very courteous and helpful. Evidenced by me purchasing another bike from them recently, my F8GS.

So it is great humility that I hang my head and apologise unreservedly to both BMW and Williams for allowing my heart to rule my head recently and send an unnecessarily blunt and rude email to them.

Although it's not an excuse, that particular day was the 17th of June.

This was the anniversary of my Mums birthday, and as the bike was largely financed with money she'd left me there's a large emotional attachment to the machine. The net result is it tugs at my heart strings.

The recently failed rear ESA took considerable time to resolve, not aided by the first replacement fitted being duff straight from being delivered.

However, Jim Carrie, the service manager from Williams, delivered the bike back to me at 8 AM on a Sunday morning. This was very appreciated, more than can be expressed. Being honest I would have had no problem with having it delivered during a working time to be fair.

Riding it with its new front wheel bearings and new rear ESA means it's a transformed machine. I suspect the wheel bearings had been going for some time as they'd started to impact upon the front braking function and had me thinking the disks had a small warp in them.

It took a few miles to adjust to the K's 17" front wheel after the newly acquired F800GS's trail shod 21" wheel. However, after a few miles I was "making progress" as normal and re bonding with the K.

It's one hell of machine, smooth, comfortable, economical, stupendously fast, with the fairing and panniers disguising an incredible fine handling sports machine, which sadly makes the poor component reliability all the more irritating!

I simply cannot imagine what I'd replace it with. The K1600GT is way too big and porky, a product for the next level of luxo tourers than the sports tourer bracket the 12/13GT's are in. Whilst a fine handling machine it offers nothing the 12/13GT's offer except even more complication, and at an unreasonable cost to change. I'd be tempted by a K13GT but would fear going through all the teething problems I've gone through with the 12GT again. It maybe rose tinted, but I'm hoping that I've had resolved all of the K12GT's potential weakness's. The only known issues I've not had yet are radiator failure and duolever ball failure, both of which are stated as covered in the extended warranty.

I feel BMW should reinstate the K1300GT into the range as it offers a market competitor to the GTR14, FJR13 and ST13. The K16GT is more towards the K12LT/Gold Wing segment.

In closing I'd again like to apologise to all at Williams for going off on one, it was unconscionable of me and hope it's not soured our relationship. I'd also again like to thank BMW for their continued excellent customer service and the generous compensation offer they've made.

--
Steve Parry
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 2:57 pm

All I can say Steve, is that I really felt selling the GT would leave hole in my life. A giant 4 cylinder howl of a hole, devoid of comfort, handling, usability and silly speeds.

Turns out I didn't need all the pros the GT offered, not really, and I'm certainty happier knowing I'm not riding around on a very expensive time bomb....

Just my 2p though!

as you say, it's a great but very frustrating bike.

Sounds like Williams have gone the extra mile for you though, which is always welcome.

bikemad99 · Post by **bikemad99** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:17 pm

Steve I think you are in the running for most posts,but you have just won best short story,non fiction category.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:31 pm

bikemad99 wrote:Steve I think you are in the running for most posts,but you have just won best short story,non fiction category.

big rob · Post by **big rob** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:28 pm

I applaud you for your patience & tolerance Steve but surely the idea of owning a modern motorcycle is having the choice to ride it whenever it suits you, which hasn't always been the case as your 1200GT seems to have spent a lot of time at your preferred Dealer.

On Monday I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman who recently purchased the 2014 BMW R1200RT with Dynamic ESA only to be told by BMW UK soon after his purchase to stop using his £17K motorcycle with immediate effect

The gentleman was very complimentary about his Dealer (Motorrad Central in Dalkeith) who he said have been very helpful and have provided him with a F800 to use whilst BMW come-up with a solution for their problematic Dynamic ESA (which he was told might take until late August). He wasn't so complimentary about BMW UK's attitude and their measly offer of compensation which was a £500 voucher that could only be used in Motorrad shops.
The poor guy was absolutely gutted and will miss the whole of the summer season on his recent purchase, the F800 is a bike but not one which he chose.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:31 pm

Maybe your Mum wanted you to buy a new kitchen?

Al

el-nicko · Post by **el-nicko** » Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:57 pm

Hi Steve,
Is it just your bike or can other owners of your particular model quote a list of similar failures?

Nick.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Jul 03, 2014 7:37 am

big rob wrote:I applaud you for your patience & tolerance Steve but surely the idea of owning a modern motorcycle is having the choice to ride it whenever it suits you, which hasn't always been the case as your 1200GT seems to have spent a lot of time at your preferred Dealer.

On Monday I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman who recently purchased the 2014 BMW R1200RT with Dynamic ESA only to be told by BMW UK soon after his purchase to stop using his £17K motorcycle with immediate effect
The gentleman was very complimentary about his Dealer (Motorrad Central in Dalkeith) who he said have been very helpful and have provided him with a F800 to use whilst BMW come-up with a solution for their problematic Dynamic ESA (which he was told might take until late August). He wasn't so complimentary about BMW UK's attitude and their measly offer of compensation which was a £500 voucher that could only be used in Motorrad shops.
The poor guy was absolutely gutted and will miss the whole of the summer season on his recent purchase, the F800 is a bike but not one which he chose.

Absolutely.

Had I bought a '14 12RT I'd be rejecting the bike and demanding my money back. How very 'nice' of BMW UK to offer a £500 voucher as well (which would cost them less than half that in real terms) for use in a Motorrad shop. Whether the dealers are helpful or not, the whole issue stinks and shouldn't have been allowed to happen in the first place. A recent report I've read is that if a BMW has to be recovered road-side, sub-contracted recovery services have to ensure that the bike is carried in a covered van/trailer.

RavensAteMyEyes · Post by **RavensAteMyEyes** » Thu Jul 03, 2014 2:41 pm

big rob wrote:I applaud you for your patience & tolerance Steve but surely the idea of owning a modern motorcycle is having the choice to ride it whenever it suits you, which hasn't always been the case as your 1200GT seems to have spent a lot of time at your preferred Dealer.

On Monday I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman who recently purchased the 2014 BMW R1200RT with Dynamic ESA only to be told by BMW UK soon after his purchase to stop using his £17K motorcycle with immediate effect
The gentleman was very complimentary about his Dealer (Motorrad Central in Dalkeith) who he said have been very helpful and have provided him with a F800 to use whilst BMW come-up with a solution for their problematic Dynamic ESA (which he was told might take until late August). He wasn't so complimentary about BMW UK's attitude and their measly offer of compensation which was a £500 voucher that could only be used in Motorrad shops.
The poor guy was absolutely gutted and will miss the whole of the summer season on his recent purchase, the F800 is a bike but not one which he chose.

Does anyone really think that Honda, Harley or Ducati would offer even this level of service and compensation, though?

JamesL · Post by **JamesL** » Fri Jul 04, 2014 12:39 pm

RavensAteMyEyes wrote:
big rob wrote:I applaud you for your patience & tolerance Steve but surely the idea of owning a modern motorcycle is having the choice to ride it whenever it suits you, which hasn't always been the case as your 1200GT seems to have spent a lot of time at your preferred Dealer.

On Monday I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman who recently purchased the 2014 BMW R1200RT with Dynamic ESA only to be told by BMW UK soon after his purchase to stop using his £17K motorcycle with immediate effect
The gentleman was very complimentary about his Dealer (Motorrad Central in Dalkeith) who he said have been very helpful and have provided him with a F800 to use whilst BMW come-up with a solution for their problematic Dynamic ESA (which he was told might take until late August). He wasn't so complimentary about BMW UK's attitude and their measly offer of compensation which was a £500 voucher that could only be used in Motorrad shops.
The poor guy was absolutely gutted and will miss the whole of the summer season on his recent purchase, the F800 is a bike but not one which he chose.
Does anyone really think that Honda, Harley or Ducati would offer even this level of service and compensation, though?

Fair point, but surely they shouldn't have to? Happy to discount my rose-tinted specs, but I put 125k on my red R100RS; absolutely stock bike and it never let me down. Moved to 1150s and the reliability falls off a cliff - hence the purchase of a second 100RS if I'm to stick with Beemers. By modern standards it's a dinosaur, but (touch wood) it goes when you want it to, each & every time, and maybe that's something BMW have lost...

PS, good on you for your OP Steve - venting frustration & spleen is never easy, particularly when the fault actually lies with "them" rather than with the guys at the coal face...

J

Al · Post by Al » Fri Jul 04, 2014 1:48 pm

A friend of mine is having serious issues with his new Triumph Tiger, again the dealers have been really good but Triumph have been awful, at least BM have done repairs etc under their warranty cover, even if you do have to pay for it, but fair play Steve I admire your patience I know you like the bike but I would not have just had the teddies out of the cot by now, some of them would have been rammed into BMW managers orrifices long ago!! And I would probably be riding anything else but a BMW.

Al.