AI Damage2009 BMW F 800 GS US reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2009 BMW F 800 GS US filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about wheels and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Wheels 42% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- Wheels: 5 complaints (42% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Failure of chain and rear wheel bearing at 7139 miles on a 8 month old bmw f800gs. Bike was taken into bmw dealer for new chain as old chain was losing 'o' rings rear wheel was removed and at my request bearings checked as I had heard of failures on from the internet.
Fuel tank on new (600 miles) bmw f800gs motorcycle has developed a six (6") crack. Separation is approx 1/16". Returned motorcycle to dealer where purchased and issue has not been rectified.
Noticed a crack on the side of the gas tank. The gas tank is split open. This seems to greatly increase the risk of explosion due to gas fumes if any heat source/spark made gets close.
Rear wheel bearing failed at 6000 miles. This could have led to catastrophic injury had I not found the problem during routine maintenance. Checking the wheel bearing is not routine at 6000 miles.
After reading about several failures of rear wheel bearings on f800gs motorcycles I chose to inspect the rear wheel bearings on my 2009 bmw f800gs motorcycle. I discovered them to be worn and rough feeling with evidence of serious brinneling. The motorcycle has 8800 miles.
I have a 2009 bmw f800gs. I read about catastrophic bearing failures happening on other f800gs rear wheels and checked my bearing by hand when I had the rear wheel off at 8000 miles for tire replacement.
No specific identifiable event(s) leading to this failure. It may be related to defective part, manufacturing or improper factory installation. The left rear wheel bearing on my 2009 bmw f800gs motorcycle failed and was discovered at approximately 8800 miles.
Rear wheel bearings failing with only 7600 miles. Bearings were checked due to multiple incidents and concerns on an internet forum. Wheel was taken to a wheel specialist who confirmed the worn bearings and had to rework the hub to allow the bearings to function properly so as not to wear out prematurely.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,162 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW F 800 GS US?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: wheels, fuel system, suspension. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 BMW F 800 GS US?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 BMW F 800 GS US from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.