Bmw R1150GS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
31,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 29 complaints (20.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 44.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Power Train: 4; Power Train:Driveline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2002: 13; 2003: 6; 2004: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2012: 4; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10446389 · 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012)
WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE TRIP. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO HAVE A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM THE REAR. I STOPPED TO FIND OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED BECAUSE THE GEAR OIL SATURATED THE BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS. I ALMOST CRASHED THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE OF THE OIL ON THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED PER BMW SPECIFICATIONS OF GEAR OILTYPE AND WEIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THERE WERE NO INDICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006561 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456593 · 2012-04-26 (April 26, 2012)
MY 2002 BMW 1150GS MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY JUST OVER 41K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC AS ABLE TO DRIVE FOREVER ACROSS CONTINENTS, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT LOST SOME INTERNAL GEARS LAST WEEKEND AND SOMETHING LET GO IN THE GEARBOX WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. METAL FRAGMENTS CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRAINED OF FLUID. THIS IS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WI…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,034 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767083 · 2002-09-12 (September 12, 2002)
AS SOON AS I STARTED MY BIKE, I SMELLED RAW GASOLINE. I LOOKED DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BIKE AND SAW A FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS IT RAN OFF MY TRANSMISSION. I SHUT DOWN THE MOTORCYLE TO INVESTIGATE. I STARTED IT THREE MORE TIMES. TWO OF THOSE STARTS PRODUCED A FUEL LEAK. THE LEAK ORIGINATED ON ONE OF THE FUEL LINES, ADJACENT TO THE RIGHT THROTTLE BODY. THE CRIMP-TYPE CLAMPS WERE LOOSE WHEN I TRIED MOVING THEM. ON THE THIRD START, THE FUEL LEAK STOPPED. I TOOK THE BIKE TO ALAMO BMW WHERE A TECHNICIAN RECRIMPED THE TWO LOWER CLAM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327171 · 2020-06-03 (June 3, 2020)
SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL FIRE LED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 22,419 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327171 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 0