'05 to '07 - How different

[jnrobert]

I recently sold my '05 1200 (and I can't remember why ).

Anyhoo, I've been looking at the '07's and apart from no servo's (woo hoo! - the only thing I disliked about my '05) is there much difference?

What I'm wondering is if anyone on the board has gone from an '04/'05 to an '07 and noticed a qualitative difference (power, handling, comfort)?

 

[Devon]

I am changing my march 06 for the 07 model next month (august). I hope to hang on to the new bike for a few years and I figure that after 4 years of production BMW has ironed out all the gremlins on the 1200 (here's hoping anyway). I am not really expecting the new bike to feel very different to the old one.
I have specced the new bike with wire wheels (so I can do rougher off road: the alloys aren't up to the rough stuff) Heated Grips, ABS and traction control. I also like the fact the 07 doesn't have the pointless servo brake system. I tested the GSA but it felt like riding a hippo compared to the standard GS.
I also figured that putting another 15k miles on the present 15k miles over the next 12 months would make my 06 harder to sell: anyone know what a 2 1/2 year old 1200GS with 30k miles is worth out of curiosity? I thought the £7k BMW gave me in part exchange to get the 07 bike was fair.

 

[Mad Tenor]

Have just exchanged my Nov.04 12GS for a new one. The first bike was fine until the dreaded gearbox output shaft oil leak and the bike never seemed the same again after it was put back together; no logical reason for that as there was no such problem with my previous R1100S which needed the same fix. However the new bike feels an improvement on the original.This could just be the variations one inevitably gets between different samples, but although the character is exactly the same, it does seem to have benefited from being in production for over three years. The new servo-less brakes are definitely an improvement with the added bonus of not having to wait until the system has booted up -a huge advantage when starting up on an upwardly steep alpine road!!!!! Other small things like the screen not needing an anti-rattle fix, better main and side stands etc. all contribute. I have done 1600 miles in 4 days (first service done in Germany on the way to Alpine holiday!) and after two days of alpine riding (Stelvio, Timmelsjoch, Jaufenpass etc.) feels smooth and incredibly has not needed an oil top up. It could just be psychological or as already mentioned the variations between samples; but this is a bike I feel I want to keep for a very long time, something I did not feel with my first 12GS for the last year. Oh, and of course it´s the colour all motorcycles should be: BLACK.

 

[Marty Hill]

I've enjoyed an '05/'06 and now an '07. Love the non servo brakes and the relocated centerstand is easier to deploy. Did not order with computer and asc. Other than the above, they are the same moto.

If your near Marin BMW say hello to Cary and Kris for me.

 

[Wizard]

There seems to be an improvement in the gearbox and engine response, but overall the same wagon............... just a bit sweeter to ride.

 

[NakedRider]

My '07 seems to have much better fueling and a smoother gearbox for sure than my '05. The change to the ABS is nice as well. Very little differences but the seat seems to go on easier and the centerstand is much easier.

 

[marcus]

Sidestand mechanism is different (bent leg)
Mainstand is in a slightly different place
Rear suspension adjustment lever is different
Some of the nuts and bolts are different - less prone to rust
Fuel display guage has a couple more notches
Metal plate on end of exhaust in place of plastic
Crapy toolkit replaced with even worse toolkit
Gearboxes no longer need replacing every 50 miles

Personally I like the servo brakes!