Beware: F800gs Rims Are Junk!

[Dirsuper]

So, I take my BRAND NEW (5 days old) F800GS "Dual Sport" bike on a ride down dirt roads. My buddy who was with me on his 1200GS had his daughter on the back, we WERE NOT doing anything hardcore. It was a leisurely ride enjoying the scenery of SoCal post-rain. Really taking it easy. Of course we hit some ridges and such, but we were not going fast. When I got home, I noticed that my front rim was bent away from the tire bead area about an inch. WTF! I could not believe it (still cannot). I called the dealership, "Not covered by warranty, you were off road" To which I replied, "But you market it as an off road capable bike." So, I call the actual BMW corporation (US) and get told the same thing. Huh? So a bike that is supposed to be capable of going anywhere comes with rims that cannot handle mild dirt roads?

After reading some great info here, I call Woody's. They were very nice, helpful, knowlegeable, etc, and told me that this is common on the F800GS. So, when I got home from work last night I inspected the rear rim....same issue! WTF!!!

Because the bike is absolutely USELESS to me if I cannot ride off road, I am having Woody do the Superlace/Excel rim upgrade. I can't say enough about how great Jill at Woody's has been at explaining everything to me, etc. However, I am still absolutely STUNNED that BMW can get away with this.

When I get home tonight I will post some pics (shot of bike showing it is in fact, brand new; shot of paper license plate; shot of odometer reading 500 miles; and shot of each shoddy/substandard/POS rim).

I cannot believe there has not yet been a class-action lawsuit.

[upweekis]

"I cannot believe there has not yet been a class-action lawsuit"



When are YOU going to file it?

[johngil]

Buchanan's does nice work as well.
I would recommend you change your rim widths while you're at it.
I'm very happy I did this mod.

[FatBuoy]

Hey while we're on the subject of wheels and replacing them, anyone have any guidance on where I could pick up a pair of tubeless super-moto wheels as a second set?

[gregneedham]

Originally Posted by Dirsuper

"...comes with rims that cannot handle mild dirt roads?

I don't own one, but I have watched another inmate ride his F800 off ridges, up embankments, jumped off fairly good size jumps which bottomed out the suspension...AND ride 2500 hard miles on the Transamerica Trail with the stock rims and none of that has damaged them.

I have to think something else is up with yours.

[Dirsuper]

Originally Posted by upweekis

"I cannot believe there has not yet been a class-action lawsuit"



When are YOU going to file it?

You know.....I am just some dude in the military (and yes, I will be WIDELY spreading this issue), but I do have access to a legal service office. I am going to look into this.....what the hell!! The more I think about what I paid for the bike and how easily the wheels were damaged, the more pissed off I get.

[Dirsuper]

Originally Posted by gregneedham

I don't own one, but I have watched another inmate ride his F800 off ridges, up embankments, jumped off fairly good size jumps which bottomed out the suspension...AND ride 2500 hard miles on the Transamerica Trail with the stock rims and none of that has damaged them.

I have to think something else is up with yours.

That is good info, do you know what year that bike is?

[johngil]

Originally Posted by gregneedham

I don't own one, but I have watched another inmate ride his F800 off ridges, up embankments, jumped off fairly good size jumps which bottomed out the suspension...AND ride 2500 hard miles on the Transamerica Trail with the stock rims and none of that has damaged them.

I have to think something else is up with yours.

I put close to 7000 miles on my stock rims. They are beat up, but still very straight. About half of the miles were off road.

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by Dirsuper

The more I think about what I paid for the bike and how easily the wheels were damaged, the more pissed off I get.

Out of curiosity, what tire pressures were you running?

--mark

[HWSNBN]

Its not just the rims, they don't stop there. The entire bike is a substandard piece of utter crap too. Wait, you'll see.

[YetiGS]

I've got about 8k on mine with a lot of off road on rocky trails around the area here. No flat spots or dents in the rim. I have heard the rims are soft and there are others who have had the same problem, so you're not alone, I'm just not one of them.


I have not heard of anyone with problems with their rear rim though.


If you do get Woody's wheels, he's probably already told you to go narrower.

[Bayner]

I bent mine almost immediately as well. I was initially very surprised. I had an easier time believing it once I put the bike across a scale, and a few more miles on the suspension to realize that this is a capable bike, but it's no dirtbike, and you have to keep that in mind when riding it. (Woody is doing my wheels as we speak...)

edit: 2 dents front rim, one in rear. After that I changed my riding habits...

[YetiGS]

Originally Posted by HWSNBN

Its not just the rims, they don't stop there. The entire bike is a substandard piece of utter crap too. Wait, you'll see.

Thanks for the informative and intelligently made post there.


There isn't a bike made that doesn't have some issues. I'm curious why you would post shit like that?

[sct ptersns twn]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[craftycoder]

Originally Posted by HWSNBN

Its not just the rims, they don't stop there. The entire bike is a substandard piece of utter crap too. Wait, you'll see.

He/she/it is just flaming the thread. Does that make the person a flamer?