2005 BMW R1200 GS

Note: check out the R1200GS FORUM at R1200GS.INFO

GS Farkles

My bike didn’t stay stock very long. I’m still buying things for the bike after its fifth birthday. It’s hard to keep track of the things I’ve added/changed on this bike, but it’s been more items than on any other three bikes I’ve owned, combined. The following list -- in more-or-less alphabetical order -- is what I’ve done to the bike that I can remember. Touratech and Wunderlich are well represented!


GS Maintenance

The bike was mostly maintained by the dealer the first three years of ownership. About the only thing I did was the servo brake bleed to save 3-4 hours of expensive dealer time. Once the warranty was up my last excuse for not doing the work myself disappeared. This is what I’ve been doing, so far, with a few non-maintenace items thrown in just for fun.


  • 2011-09-21 Zega Case Repair [link]
  • 2011-09-08 66,000 mile service [link]
  • 2011-08-08 Minor metal repair [link]
  • 2011-06-18 New Rear Tire, Rear TPM issues [link]
  • 2011-04-25 Crashbar repair [link]
  • 2011-04-21 Clutch switch adjustment [link]
  • 2011-01-22 60,000 mile service (includes brake bleed and front shock change) [link]
  • 2010-10-11 New tent (Not GS specific) [link]
  • 2010-09-04 New front tire [link]
  • 2010-09-01 New rear tire [link]
  • 2010-08-26 New battery [link]
  • 2010-05-04 54,000 mile service [link]
  • 2010-04-14 packing for a trip [link]
  • 2009-12-20 cheap Zega lid internal rack [link]
  • 2009-11-25 Replace rear brake rotor [link]
  • 2009-11-22 Rear shock rebuild [link]
  • 2009-11-14 New Front tire [link]
  • 2009-10-31 Center-stand pivot problem [link]
  • 2009-09-25 New rear brake rotor ordered [link]
  • 2009-09-02 48,000 mile service [link]
  • 2009-07-24 New Rear tire [link]
  • 2009-05-01 Condor Pit-stop [link]
  • 2009-01-22 Headlamp bail fix [link]
  • 2009-01-01 New Front TKC-80 [link]
  • 2008-08-21 Service Schedule (pdf) [link]
  • 2007-07-07 Brake bleed funnel pics [link]

My GS history... May 2005: Another bike diet

I test rode the R1200GS on May 31, 2005. It was about 120 pounds lighter than my then current ride, an R1150RT. The test bike was damn near K bike smooth when riding around town at 25-40 MPH. I just had to think about turning to have the bike follow my desire. After 50 miles of a combination of city streets, bay area twisties, and a few freeway miles I decided that I had to have one. An order was placed.

June 18, 2005: My new ride

I picked up the bike in the afternoon and put about 75 miles on the odometer getting it home. Very, very nice. It carries its specifications well. Now it’s time to accessorize and ride

When new in June 2005

When new in June 2005

When new in June 2005
f/4.5   1/125   0 ev   9.6mm
May 2006

May 2006

May 2006
ISO 400   f/13.0   1/250   0 ev   28.0mm
November 2008

November 2008

November 2008
ISO 200   f/5.6   1/500   0 ev   41.0mm
March 2010

March 2010

March 2010
ISO 200   f/3.2   1/500   0 ev   38.0mm

Why a GS?

Enough friends have asked "why a GS?" that I had to formulate an answer. It goes something like this:

Custom license plate

Custom license plate

Custom license plate
ISO 800   f/11.0   1/400   0 ev   85.0mm

Somewhere along the line I started believing the motorcycle industry marketing folks, always a dangerous thing to do. To those folks "touring" means riding a Wing, an LT, or a Harley dresser down the interstate. I don’t think so. My touring is done on back roads, sometimes going 100 miles out of my way to avoid 100 miles of freeway. I ride when it is wet and foolishly tackle mountain passes in the spring when the weather is iffy. For me, a touring bike is one that will take me on those roads, without having to worry about the cost of replacing plastic should I drop the bike when looking for a place to turn around in the snow. I think the GS is a perfect touring bike. It’s a great bike for Sunday morning rides, too.


EZ Touring Traveller A cover pics

packed cover

packed cover

packed cover
f/2.8   1/60   0 ev   7.8mm
Cover on bike, no sidecases

Cover on bike, no sidecases

Cover on bike, no sidecases
f/2.8   1/60   0 ev   7.8mm
Cover on bike w/sidecases

Cover on bike w/sidecases

Cover on bike w/sidecases
f/2.8   1/60   0 ev   7.8mm


validate