I've made a search on this section, but can't find any postings, so here goes:-

I want to buy a GS-911 Emergency diagnostic tool for my BMW, but the price differences range from £500 + (touratech) down to about £150 ( or equivalent) from what is obviously a far eastern source. I don't want to do anything fancy with it,( mainly service date adjustments) so an enthusiasts version with a USB connection will do, ( i don't need blue tooth).

Has anyone bought or had any experience of the cheaper far eastern versions of this useful looking product?? has anyone got one lurking in a cupboard they want to sell?

All useful info gratefully received.

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-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

contact Brendan::. UKGSer.com .:: here Pongo
good luck

Thanks for that Bertrand. I withdrew my membership from UKGSer nearly a year ago so the link doesn't work for me.

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

Paying some £15 sub to get a discounted gs911 seems cheap !
He is asking €260 euros plus postage
Is the usb bluetooth enthusiast model
Pongo I have just pm'ed you his email and email you too- I'd hurry, these second hand units are quite rare.

Thanks for that Bertrand. Have mailed him.

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

and the result is............................? do tell!

Somewhere on this forum is a comment by Grant Johnson where he strongly supports them. Grant and others are way ahead of me in regard to their knowledge of them. I am a real novice (emphasis on real) regarding my 2010 1200 GS. Is this tool able to help me and if so how? I can do an oil change but that's it so far. Thanks in anticipation.

It will read the diagnostics for the bike: via the CANbus system built into the machine.
They can also cancel fault signals kept in the "computer brain" of the bike.
Whether you value this, or not, is a value judgement to be made by you.
For instance:
BMW nowadays keep all of their service records on a centralised computer database (some say kept in Berlin).
Many car manufs are doing the same - you don't get a paper based service handbook with new vehicles, just a computer printout of the centralised records, if you ask for it.

Anyway, this may be a contributory reason why independent service centres for BMW bikes in particular have come into being here in the UK. There is virtually one per county/regional area in the UK nowadays to cater for those who don't feel the need to be on a central database (there again, perhaps the work carried out by the independents ends up on the BMW central records?).
A lot of the independents - perhaps all of them - have computer based diagnostics and there are adverts here in the UK for people who will read the diagnostics of a Beemer for the price of a few tokens.

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Dave

BMW Motorrad is based in Munich and not Berlin. Anyways, why does it matter where BMW keeps its service records? Things are indeed pretty tightly controlled by BMW Munich: but that's OK, it keeps the cowboys out.

What does happen is that the main electronic parts like the ECU's and the Instrument module are keyed to your serial number and you cannot swap parts from bike to bike yourself: you have to buy through the dealer/BMW. So that means if those fail it's a lot of $$$$. But that's the same for most modern cars now anyways. And you don't get these components failing very much, and if so, will likely fail whilst on warranty if it's on warranty if it's a manufacturing defect. If you have a big crash, then it's not that expensive to cover the bike with insurance.

But you can do about 99% of everything else yourself with a reasonable set of tools: and that includes a GS-911 and a multi-meter.

A GS-911 is not for just "resetting fault codes". You can read just about all the sensors on the bike, and record it real-time while the bike is running. So you can see if it's running OK. Do preventative maintenance. I have an HP2 Enduro, so my ABS faults are minimal (I don't have ABS...:-} but ABS is a very common issue on GS-s, and the GS-911 helps you trouble shoot these. Even if you don't pick up a wrench, you can see what's causing a problem and save the mechanic a few hours trying to find the issue (and save you $$$).

A BMW is a pretty simple bike: even the more recent ones. If you read the manual, have some tools and use common sense you can solve many issues yourself. The really complex stuff is too much hassle for the dealer to fix in any case: they'll just pull the part and put a new one in.

Yep, Munich Bavaria, but the 1200GS used to be put together, by gastarbeiten staff, in Berlin - I guess they are to this day (many an individual has made a visit to that factory, but not I as it happens).

No matter, the computer records will be backed up on servers all over the place in accord with the corporations' policies.

I don't know enough about logging parts to specific bikes but there are certainly a boat load of individuals in the UK offering BMW servicing, often as ex-technicians of the main dealers from the days when they were "released" (to employ a euphemism) and replaced with youths straight out of school at a quarter of the hourly pay rate - a sensible business decision for any main dealer accountant.

As for the GS-911 capability, I readily agree that I gave up typing far too early with my earlier description if only on the basis that there are earlier posts in here which extol the virtues.
Your last sentence is of passing interest: it is why I went to night school years ago to learn the innards of computer hardware - from there I learnt to build my own desktops which is, nowadays, a declining knowledge and interest with the rise and rise of tablets, mobile phones etc etc. That was in the days when there were computer "fairs" all over the country for purchasing components and a decent specification desktop cost north of 1000 UK pounds.
"chuck it and buy another, why bother repairing" is the mantra now with labour rates at around 50/hour.

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Dave

It's an EXCELLENT tool for your tool box if you want to move away from virtual complete dependency on a mechanic. And is useful even if you are (initially) a novice but want to learn.

I've got an HP2 Enduro and I do all my own maintenance: complete to strip down to engine to re-coat frame when I changed clutch.

So maybe I'm at the extreme end, but if you have at least a critical set of tools, and can read, you can do a lot of your own preventative maintenance. BMW has a very good CD-based maintenance manual for all the later model GS's. It's based on what the dealer uses. You can use common senses and tools like the GS-911 to trouble shoot issues and decide if you feel comfortable fixing them, or need more expert help.

If your bike is off the warranty, there's no real down side to doing your own services, as long as you use your head to read what's in the manual and take your time.

Don't buy a GS-911 from the Far-East: it's going to be a clone. The real benefit of the GS-911 is the support you get from the developers and the very active forum they run. It doesn't make sense to have a bike that's worth more than some people's houses, and try to save £100-£200 on a really useful tool with good support.

How much does your helmet cost? Or your sunglasses? Do you buy brand name oil, or the cheapest that you can get on eBay?

I was having a problem on a trip, and in the middle of Kenya a guy in Argentina on the GS-911 forum told me he thought the reason my bike was sounding like a Harley with a stutter was because one of my throttle cables was caught up. He said he'd had same issue, and found a pebble stuck in the linkage.... hmmmm I thought. Well let me try....pink!!!! Dang. Problem solved.

Buy it. And remember, if all else fails RTFM (Read The %u%%ing Manual). But seriously RTFM.

I am quite a newbie and about to embark on a 25,000km journey on my BMW Dakar 650 (2007). I have heard that these have water pump problems and am wondering if it is worth me carrying a spare with me. And if i do so how difficult is it to change them?
Any comments gratefully accepted...

100% yes. Along with a spare regulator/rectifier.

BMW sell the kit.

It's not the hardest DIY job but may challenge a complete DIY novice.

There are YouTube videos how to do it. Also there is a step by step with pictures on f650.com.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

My walk in the desert due to this awful bit of Austrian cheese-metal was 15 years ago. My advice:

1. Set fire to the bike, claim on the insurance and buy a Yamaha and a few cush drive rubbers.

2. If 1 doesn't work for you buy 2 kits and some instant gasket. Fit the first kit and get 500 miles in before your trip.

3. Pack the second kit, new instant gasket and a tool suitable for preparing a sealing surface that has porosity and has been warped by heat due to being cheap and nasty.

When you fit the kit at home pay real attention to detail, it took me days to stop in leaking.

On the road, as soon as the oil turns chocolate brown, stop and fit the kit. I had the walk in the desert, recovery from Spain after BMW Malaga kept losing the bike and having a general manyana attitude, days trying to get the kits to seal and then found running with oil and water mixing wrecked the head. I scrapped the bike.

Andy

Hi Ted,

Happen to know if the regulator/rectifier is known for failing on an XChallenge? I've not heard of failures of this component on the X series.

Thanks,

Ian.