1200GS or CBF600? cmon surprise me

  • Thread starter Thread starter gsnoob
  • Start date Start date
The CBF has adjustable seat height,adjustable screen and adjustable handlebars as standard and is boringly bulletproof. On the other hand,there cannot be many 1200GS owners who have had NO warranty claims! You pay your money and take your choice.Everybody has different priorities.
 
Chalk vs. Cheese.

As a 1200GS owner, 5' 9", inside leg 29" .. I'd say get the 600 first to rack-up a few miles on for your confidence, do a few thousand miles of mixed riding....

...and then ascend to another level altogether.

:beerjug:
 
As much as your heart says 1200GS, I would get something which you can comfortably ride through traffic and get your feet onto the ground with, if you're just starting, otherwise I would imagine some embarrassing moments in traffic with a 1200GS until you are comfortable with it.

Get some test rides and get something you feel confident with in order to improve your riding and get used to two wheels in city traffic.

Good luck and let us know what you decide. :thumb
 
IF and ONLY IF you can afford to get the 1200 in a few months/a years time then get the CBF, otherwise get the one you want cos you will regret not getting it big style if you are stuck with something else.

If you take thing's careful then there is no reason why you should have any more of a problem than anyone.

My missus is 5'1" with a 26" inside leg and whilst the GS is clearly too big for her, ANY bike is at best a case of toes of one foot down. She manages fine. In 2 the two years since she passed her test she has dropped her bike once. Shit happens.
 
As a new rider I would go for the CBF all the time. As already stated, insurance, servicing costs, reliability etc. Honda wins for me, although I'd go for the faired version.
 
Same size and same age as you but no kids .. hence I have a 1200GSA :D

Only consideration is that as a beginner .. you are likely to drop your bike, especially in car parks :rolleyes: Which means feeling like a twat, dented pride and cosmetically adjusted bike (some people will call it character).

If you drop it .. the only real damage is financial. Either in repairing it or bigger depreciation when you come to sell it.
 
I think your all excited about the Bm thing, but...

Let me exsplain. I Personaly Teach very Advanced Rider Training. A Medic. So I do and care. It breaks my heart to see so many Re-entering Riders loose heart because they have such a Personal Non-suited Bike... than the one they need. Leaving Bikes behind cause its not for them? Hey nothing wrong with Gs, ok. But why not enjoy your Riding at a Relaxed non-stressed Pace than Handling 'anybike' your not at ease on?
I think of a friend of mine who Rides an Xt225 (?) on Rides Looks everybit an Adventurer Type. As the rest of us...why? Well she Rides it so nicely it looks like an Art form. Also only a while back couldn't even Ride a Push Bike and was made Nervous on a Bike from being a Terrified Pillion. End Result looks good. Gs and a Re-enter...its up to you?
I met a Couple she had an F650 him a Gs1100 she liked the low centre of wieght of the 11...interesting? Please be carefull do your Training. Find a Rider you enjoy getting out with and go for Rides At your Pace. Be careful you are at A Danger age the Stats are against your Rider Group. So Heed the caution! Practise, practise, practise... save Speed for the Track and Ride Days!
I wish you all the Best and hope you find A happiness on your Bike. Remember " Everydays a Lovely Day on a Motorcycle" ! Jim Tasmania.:rob?
 
Also - a CBF600 will accelerate as quick as most 750's and 1000's from the 70's and 80's.

Think about getting something a little more learner friendly.

Try the F650 single from BMW - much lighter and easier to ride through traffic then a CBF600 I would have thought. Also - they can be adjusted with lower seats and lower suspension such that you would have no trouble getting both feet down on the ground.

A secondhand F650 would be a much better option then the CBF600 IMHO. They are fairly rugged, and if/when you drop it, you aren't going to do much damage.
 
A couple of years ago I took a CBF600 out for a couple of hours whilst my VFR was being serviced. The dealer (a friend of mine) asked me to take it out to see what I thought of it. He praised it highly. He was not trying to get me to buy it - I had a VFR I'd bought from him. He also shuts down one day a week to do track days so he's no slouch. I thought it was a brilliant bike for a beginner. Smooth power delivery and great handling that inspires confidence. I had a great two hours of fun - real old fashioned 'scratching'. I've had all kinds of GSs: 1100, 1150 and (now) 1200. Love em - but I really think you would be better off with the CBF for the first year: build up your confidence and get to know what you're comfortable with achieving. The CBFs hold their value pretty well, too. Just don't want you to be put off biking at an early stage - build up slowly. And yeah, I agree about the 650 Strom and the 650GS too - brilliant bikes as well which would allow you to build your confidence. And I'm not suggesting those last two are just 'beginner bikes' - they're superb and would do for anyone who is experienced as well but I reckon they're just that bit easier to handle off the bike and on the bike for a bloke whose just starting.
 
Mrs A has a cbf 600 after passing her test this year. It is a great first proper bike, it does what you want it to do and has no quirks. Its quick enough, handles well, bullet proof engine, comfy, in fact it's difficult to say a word against it.
I would recommend getting one ( or similar ) getting some miles under your belt, trying lots of other bikes before you settle for a gs.

Mrs A has now decided she wants a 650/800 GS , I went to order one last week and bought a GSA for myself instead.:blast

(CBF might be up grabs ;) )
 
which bike?

Well I suppose I'm lucky in that I have a 1200GS and a CBF600. I bought the CBF as a second bike to teach CBT at weekends, as the 1200 GS is just too much to follow 50cc scooters around the town centre. I have to say I really like the CBF. Once it is relieved of its CBT duties it goes like a little rocket, handles well with no vices or surprises, keeps up with all but the keenest near-suicidal sportsbike riders and is just easy to live with. I like the riding position, comfort, response from the engine, and the predictable handling. I can't fault it, its just such a great bike and even more so when you see the prices that you can get them for, really good fun for your money. Although they are sometimes referred to a "good first bikes" , quite honestly I could live with a CBF for a long time and be happy with it. The CBF1000 might be a better choice for the longer distance trips, and I'd like to try one, but my CBF600 is great, and its not for sale!
 
Lots of peeps disagreeing with me about the CBF... Well I can only say one of the most important things when riding a bike is "character" and the CBF just does not have it. I still stick with what I said, what a bore....

I reckon middleweights like these are much more fun in twin form....
 
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