1200GS...please guys talk to me, I'm completely new to these

[y2blade]

right guys

I've been here since the year dot..generally taking the piss and being a nuisance.

BUT that has all changed
As some of you will know I took an 11plate 1200GS out for just over an hour on Friday and absolutely loved it.....comfy, great handling, nice gearbox, deceptively quick, good brakes, lovely Exhaust note etc. etc......yes I was as stunned as you are (btw my friends all thing I've lost the plot)

I am as certain as I'll ever be that the next bike I buy will be a one of these BUT I'm not willing to spend over £10k on a motorbike...please can you tell me about the earlier 12GS's? how different are they to the one I rode?


thank you in advance

 

[Deleted account W]

The new ones are better, why would people part-ex older ones for newer ones if they weren't. Wait and buy next years model if you can, it'll be better than this years, it wouldn't be worse would it?

Hope this helps

 

[sven]

The twin cam is an improvement, but not a massive one over the >2008mu model

 

[Schtum]

Not that much different. The handling got a bit sharper and the steering a bit quicker with the '08 model year and that also got a bit more power.

I'm on my third one at the moment - it's an '09 and I previously owned an '04 and an '07. They've got progressively more refined and better built with each iteration. Buy the latest bike you can afford and get a warranty with it.

It was inevitable that you'd see the light, eventually.....

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Not that much different. The handling got a bit sharper and the steering a bit quicker with the '08 model year and that also got a bit more power.

I'm on my third one at the moment - it's an '09 and I previously owned an '04 and an '07. They've got progressively more refined and better built with each iteration. Buy the latest bike you can afford and get a warranty with it.

It was inevitable that you'd see the light, eventually.....

What he said, apart from the last line as I'm not sure if you're winding us up

 

[y2blade]

What he said, apart from the last line as I'm not sure if you're winding us up

this is not a wind-up

I only mess about in Beakchat and bollocks


this was the bike I rode....I went with an open mind and loved it

 

[DING-DONG]

I came straight from the sports bike world into GS12 ownership the 1st GS bike i demo'd was in 09 i did not like it at all vibes thro the bars and felt as flat as a fart, so back to my plastic rocket, however i had a demo on the new twin cam last year and it blow me away gearbox smooth as silk, plenty of getup and go it felt much more responsive than the previous years bike, no vibes at all and that was enough for me to buy one.

Dave

 

[2 wheel humvee]

this is not a wind-up

I only mess about in Beakchat and bollocks


this was the bike I rode....I went with an open mind and loved it

Triple Black with Twin Cam motor-nice, my step father has one, happy hunting, buy on condition and service history, aftermarket options are not everyones cup of tea so value them accordingly, as Schtum pointed out the 06 and later bikes were a revised model, revised again in late 08 and 09 models, I've had both (06 and 09) and rate the 09 model over the earlier bike, the differences are not huge but they are noticeabley improved.

 

[y2blade]

Triple Black with Twin Cam motor-nice, my step father has one, happy hunting, buy on condition and service history, aftermarket options are not everyones cup of tea so value them accordingly, as Schtum pointed out the 06 and later bikes were a revised model, revised again in late 08 and 09 models, I've had both (06 and 09) and rate the 09 model over the earlier bike, the differences are not huge but they are noticeabley improved.

thank you Steve...all good info

hopefully see you soon

 

[Morticia]

Hiya,

I was paying homage to Pidcocks at Long Eaton the other week and they had quite a selection of new-second hand GS1200s in the showroom, may be worth giving them a call.

I picked up my 10 plate 1200GS from them and are totally in love with it.

Morticia

 

[MGJ]

the older ones do not have the nice low punch of the one your have ridden

 

[markymark]

y2blade, I take you have a blade just now ?
I'm trading my 06 blade in for a GS 1200 A today , never having ridden an adventure before I'll let you know how I get on

 

[Yonkyo]

Not that much different. The handling got a bit sharper and the steering a bit quicker with the '08 model year and that also got a bit more power.

I'm on my third one at the moment - it's an '09 and I previously owned an '04 and an '07. They've got progressively more refined and better built with each iteration. Buy the latest bike you can afford and get a warranty with it.

It was inevitable that you'd see the light, eventually.....

+1 again what he said.

Plus, with just a few mods (de-cat and Accelerator Mod), the 08 model can be just as good if not better than the new GS's.

 

[gsbiker]

+1 again what he said.

Plus, with just a few mods (de-cat and Accelerator Mod), the 08 model can be just as good if not better than the new GS's.

Yep, I've done almost everything you can to improve performance, Exhaust, K&N, now Power Commander. I need to buy some iridium plugs next and fuel additive (which seems to add alittle more in my other bikes). THEN, I may test ride the new 2010. BUT I wont be pleased if the 2010 is still better!!!

PS; I'm not trying to turn my GS into a blade, just want the best it can offer.

 

[Shep]

Come on, own up, who's pinched the boys log on details?

 

[swissrob]

after my 06 was stolen i started to have a look around, tried a new 2010/2011 BM and really liked it, was ready to put the cash down then a mate forced me to go for a test ride on a KTM 990 adv.
30 mins later i put the cash down on a 2011 model - in all honesty i doubt i will never look at a BM again.

yes there are also faults with the bike such as waterpump , clutch slave etc but no more than items on the BM.

go 4 a ride you might be surprised

 

[CuzGS]

Got an 04 and its ace, ridden all newer models and to be honest the differences are not staggering just mild refinement. I would personally get the newest budget allows, but I would also consider an older low mile bike lovingly looked after, either way they are great bikes period.

 

[y2blade]

fantastic info so far guys, thanks

How do i tell the differance between the early models and the 08?

Edit to add, The reason I ask is I'm looking at a "08" 1200
On bikemart, how do i tell if it is a 08 model, and not a 06 or early 07 that was late being registered.
If you see what I mean?

Thanks

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I think there was a difference in power of about 5bhp at the 08 stage. I rode an 08 and it didn't seem to have the low down grunt of my 56 plate. I was told that the 5bhp was at the top of the rev range which is not really where you need it on a GS.

Saying that, they are all good bikes and if you have it set up right, it will bring a smile to your face. If you ever get the chance, have a go on Jonno's (Rudiemoto's) 1200 as it's the best darned GS I've ever ridden. He's set everything up correctly and it's a stunning ride

Not knocking the dealers but like all things, they do just what they need to and don't go the extra mile to get the bike spot on.

My advice is get the latest you can afford, avoid the unnecessary trick bits like TPS and traction control, get it set up properly by an independant and ride it.

 

[snerkler]

I think there was a difference in power of about 5bhp at the 08 stage. I rode an 08 and it didn't seem to have the low down grunt of my 56 plate. I was told that the 5bhp was at the top of the rev range which is not really where you need it on a GS.

.

HP is increased right through the rev range if torque is increased (due to HP being a factor of torque and RPM) as shown by the graph below. I don't now about 06 vs 08 bikes, but there is certainly more low down and up top on 2010/11 GS's compared to 2008/09 GS's