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Valve Adjustment and Maintenance on used 1200GS

vivekgr92

vivekgr92

New member
Joined
Apr 22, 2026
Moto(s)
KTM 890 Duke R
Hi All,


I’m new to this forum, so please excuse me if this isn’t the right place to post. I’m planning to buy a used BMW R1200GS (2017–2018 model), and most of the options I’m seeing have 70k+ miles on them. From what I understand, valve checks are typically required around every 12,000 miles as part of the major service interval , so I had a couple of concerns:
  1. Is it a good idea to buy a used R1200GS with 70k+ miles?
  2. How expensive are valve adjustments and general maintenance at this stage?
  3. Is it practical to do some of this maintenance (especially valve checks/adjustments) as a DIY?

I’d really appreciate any advice or insights from experienced riders here.

Thanks in advance!
 
being an expert with exactly 1 google search about this topic, and also knowing that the GS has the jugs out there in the wind making easy access to the valve adjusty bits.... i doubt it's really hard to check the valves yourself. actually adjusting them, being shim under bucket, might be harder. the good news is that the one google search indicates that they don't need actual adjusting all that often

my opinion is that some DIY maintenance is always possible. anything with a shaft drive the owner needs to learn how to at least get an eyeball on all the various drive splines periodically. oil changes, tire changes, brake system service (abs might make it a little harder if so equipped) are all DIY-able

is 70k too many miles? probably not. those things go for a looooong time
 
Thank you Mitch that is helpful. I do a lot of DIY but valve adjustment is something out of my scope. I am still amazed how many serious miles one can put on a 1200GS.
 
FWIW, I paid $1k for a 12k service on my 2019 R1250 GSA, minus the oil change and air filter service which I did myself. I also removed the skidplate and engine guards which saved me some money as well. The 12k service also gets you the free drive shaft inspection (BMW replaces the drive shaft under warranty every 36k miles). I wouldn't worry about 70k miles on a 2017 GS but I definitely would have a shop do the next big service. Any BMW dealer should be able to tell you the bike's service history (assuming it was done at a BMW dealer).
 
We used to run the Gases well up over 70k at the rental shop. Agree with Stratslinger, have the dealer perform the service this go a round. Does the seller have service records?
 
Seems like you should be able to find plenty of examples with way fewer miles. I’d search around on advrider to find out how that vintage does at higher mileage.
 
Good point, Tom! Find a dentist-owned low-mile example 🤣

Seems this is more commonly found in Harleys. GS riders tend to RIDE their bikes
 
A valve check on a GS is a 2 beer project. Adjusting the valves is not that difficult if you've ever done any Japanese shim in bucket valve adjust. It's actually easier due to the easy access to the cylinder heads. If you're going to do your own maintenance, then you'll need to invest in either a GS911 or the Motoscan app, a dongle and an android phone.
www.advrider.com

Motoscan VS GS911

Another post here has got me thinking about my first regular service coming up. Although I like and trust my closest BMW Motorrad Dealer, they are, in...
www.advrider.com www.advrider.com
 
dravnx said:
A valve check on a GS is a 2 beer project. Adjusting the valves is not that difficult if you've ever done any Japanese shim in bucket valve adjust. It's actually easier due to the easy access to the cylinder heads. If you're going to do your own maintenance, then you'll need to invest in either a GS911 or the Motoscan app, a dongle and an android phone.
www.advrider.com

Motoscan VS GS911

Another post here has got me thinking about my first regular service coming up. Although I like and trust my closest BMW Motorrad Dealer, they are, in...
www.advrider.com www.advrider.com
Click to expand...
That's helfpul. I usually do everything DIY.
 
ThinkFast said:
Seems like you should be able to find plenty of examples with way fewer miles. I’d search around on advrider to find out how that vintage does at higher mileage.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I will search their listing
 
stratslingr77 said:
FWIW, I paid $1k for a 12k service on my 2019 R1250 GSA, minus the oil change and air filter service which I did myself. I also removed the skidplate and engine guards which saved me some money as well. The 12k service also gets you the free drive shaft inspection (BMW replaces the drive shaft under warranty every 36k miles). I wouldn't worry about 70k miles on a 2017 GS but I definitely would have a shop do the next big service. Any BMW dealer should be able to tell you the bike's service history (assuming it was done at a BMW dealer).
Click to expand...
This is great info, it gives me a ballpark now. If I pull the trigger then depending upon the state of the 1200GS, I can negotiate to factor in the valve adjustment
 
ThumperX said:
We used to run the Gases well up over 70k at the rental shop. Agree with Stratslinger, have the dealer perform the service this go a round. Does the seller have service records?
Click to expand...
Thanks. I have asked the seller about the recrods, I found him on Fb market place.
 
You don’t need to buy one with that many miles. If you’re patient one will come up within your budget with 30-40k+ fewer miles and will be a better bike.
 
I put 95K miles on my 2014 1200GS and I think the valves needed adjustments 1 time and ran good as new when I sold it. I have 2015 1200GS now with 45K miles and the previous owner had the valves checked at 20K and I haven't touched the bike other than oil changes and upgraded shocks. If the bike looks good and has been taken care of, miles don't mean much. There so many deals out there for water boxers as the market is flooded with used ones!
 
bmwbob51 said:
If the bike looks good and has been taken care of, miles don't mean much.
Click to expand...
On the one hand I tend to agree with this statement. OTOH, I can say from my own experience that at some point the miles do affect how the bike rides and feels. I learned this just recently when a friend let me take his 2011 camhead out for a spin. It had about 30,000 miles on it. Compared to my 2012 camhead, which has 90,000 miles on it, it felt like a different bike. Much tighter, plusher suspension, overall just better. To the point where I’m seriously thinking about asking him if he’ll sell it to me. I wouldn’t have guessed that it would be that much different, but at least to me, it really was.

I’ve done all my own maintenance. Replaced the drive shaft last year, had rear shock rebuilt a few months ago, and recently did a throttle sync using GS-911. Regardless of all that, his bike, still running the stock ESA shock setup, just felt markedly better than mine. So I think it’s the mileage. Stuff just starts to get loose after so much use.
 
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