1150 to 1200…

[Deleted account 240901001]

…a “leap of faith”. A few weeks ago, I dropped into Clarks to buy some new boot socks…odd things socks…the BMW branded bike socks are the longest lasting.. therefore best value bike socks that I have come across…anyway, I digress.
As usual I mooch around the ‘bikes until some salesman shows an interest and then we start this game….it happens every six months or so…I “spec up” a new bike that I want and he gives me the same answer to the same question every time and I go away, happy with my very personalised 1150…smug in the knowledge that I don’t need to blow a huge chunk of Bolivia’s GDP on a 1200…. The question is asked…”so, when can I have the new bike?”…the answer is always…after much teeth sucking…”well, Sir, that’ll be a factory order and it’ll be about eight to ten weeks..”….then in turn, I always respond… “If I can’t have it sooner than that, I’m not going to change”. Honour is satisfied and I go about my business….

So the usual game begins… I ask the dreaded question…salesman responds and I give my usual reply…..then the pattern is broken…”I’m sorry, Sir, you must have misheard me”…..”I can have one PDI’d for you by Friday”…….Oh Bugger!


So I’ve got a brand new 1200GSA….What do I think of it? To be honest, at first I thought I’d made a huge mistake…nearly as big as the time I got caught…..Oops…anyway…. It “feels” so different. The best analogy is like putting on a pair of new boots, having spent years breaking in the old pair till they were as comfortable and well fitting as a pair of slippers….that’s just what it feels like.

Bearing in mind that I’m running the bugger in, the engine doesn’t have the carefree “grunt” that the 1150 has. You do have to spin it up to make progress….and that means being a touch more thoughtful what gear you’re in before you manoeuvre…still it feels “sprightly” I’ll just have to adapt my lazy riding style…..It certainly inspire enough confidence to chuck it about a bit…

…one big thing, though!.. Panniers. Part of the deal was a pair of BMW panniers and I have to say…I wish I hadn’t had them. Yes they look “spangly” and yes they’re easily detachable ..but they’re no where near as robust nor, by the way BMW sell you waterproof inner-bags.. as well sealed…and they make the bike a full 3” wider than my old GS with a pair of Civil’s finest…so if you’re in the market..think about spending the money on Civil’s or Vern’s, offerings in lieu of the BMW stuff….


Most expensive pair of socks I ever bought……

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Well reasoned and echoed my sentiments about the 12GSA.................sadly my ownership was brief......................

I took the dust sheet off the 1150Adv languishing unloved in the back of the garage......................fired her up and went for a ride...................normal GS service was resumed

I prefer the lower down grunt of the 1150 and the 'planted' feel

Sadly the 12GSA was sold within days

Enjoy it

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Reminds me of when I went into Clarkes 3 and half years ago to get a new mirror for my 1150 ADV. Rob, on sales, always used to hassle me and because the spec I wanted was factory order I thought I was safe. Anyway, buy the mirror and wandered back through the sales department and the shout came "oh, we have a cancelled order to your spec". One coffee and I came out with a 1200 GSA which was pdi'd and delivered 3 days later.

Never looked back to be honest and yes, they are different and do take some getting used to.

I still hanker after the old 1150ADV on occasion but the 1200 has been a perfect bike for me and I think I've smiled for every one of the 52,000 miles I've done so far

 

[mr badger]

you'll get used to the engine quickly - I came from a big V Twin and the boxer felt a bit lacking low down. Don't think about it now and the low speede handling and running is very good.

Flog the luggage on here and buy some Vendors specials. bet you'l break even near enough.