Colin O
Guest
Just picked up Ride magazine in ASDA while waiting for wife to do the shopping. I don't usually buy bike mags now but this one has the annual Rider Power results so I parted with £3.50.
Turning to the Top Trailies section fully expecting to see our pride and joy in top spot, as it turned out it's languishing in 6th place , behind
1st Honda Varadero (2003 on, the older version is in 10th)
2nd BMW R1100GS
3rd R1150GS Adventure
4th R1150GS
5th Suzuki V Strom
(No sign of the KTM 950 at all!)
Studying the ratings, the 1200GS apparently doesn't handle as well as the 1150GS or 1100GS and only the same as the Adventure. Perhaps I should have kept my old 1150GS? There again, having experience with both bikes I should know ....
It seems also that dependant on which BMW you have, you get different dealer back up, with 3 stars for the 1200GS, 5 for the 1150GS, 4 for the Adventure and 1 star for the 1100GS. Another BMW, the F650, gets 3 stars. Does this mean if you have an 1100GS the dealer doesn't want to know you, yet he will welcome 1150GS owners with open arms?
For equipment, the 1200GS gets 3 stars, less than the Honda's and V Strom's 4, neither of which even come with a centrestand as standard.
Overall, in all categories of bikes, the 1200GS comes 42nd with 85%. In comparison, Buell (S/X/M Models) come 11th with 89%.
Never mind, I'm just glad I haven't got an XJ600S Diversion, which comes 213th (bottom!).
Now, I wonder how much I will get for my bike against a new Fireblade (1st with 100%)?
Turning to the Top Trailies section fully expecting to see our pride and joy in top spot, as it turned out it's languishing in 6th place , behind
1st Honda Varadero (2003 on, the older version is in 10th)
2nd BMW R1100GS
3rd R1150GS Adventure
4th R1150GS
5th Suzuki V Strom
(No sign of the KTM 950 at all!)
Studying the ratings, the 1200GS apparently doesn't handle as well as the 1150GS or 1100GS and only the same as the Adventure. Perhaps I should have kept my old 1150GS? There again, having experience with both bikes I should know ....
It seems also that dependant on which BMW you have, you get different dealer back up, with 3 stars for the 1200GS, 5 for the 1150GS, 4 for the Adventure and 1 star for the 1100GS. Another BMW, the F650, gets 3 stars. Does this mean if you have an 1100GS the dealer doesn't want to know you, yet he will welcome 1150GS owners with open arms?
For equipment, the 1200GS gets 3 stars, less than the Honda's and V Strom's 4, neither of which even come with a centrestand as standard.
Overall, in all categories of bikes, the 1200GS comes 42nd with 85%. In comparison, Buell (S/X/M Models) come 11th with 89%.
Never mind, I'm just glad I haven't got an XJ600S Diversion, which comes 213th (bottom!).
Now, I wonder how much I will get for my bike against a new Fireblade (1st with 100%)?