1200GSA Running in and a few photos

[Deleted account 251212001]

1 week in to the new bike and have 500 miles on her.

Initial obs are:

Big dollops of torque - running in is no hardship.
Economy averaging 49mpg
Oil window mid-way - hopefully it will stretch to the first service
Had 5 or six false neutrals in 5th and 6th - one to watch.
Goes round corners like it is on rails (last bike was a ducati 1098).
Still perfecting the cleaning technique - dug the jetwash out from the back of the garage.

Fitted ventureshield today to the tank - sides took 5 minutes a piece, centre piece about 50 minutes - not worth bothering but I had bought the kit in advance.

Have a hooton crudcatcher - might ask dealer to fit as I dont have a torque wrench.

Already finding new routes just for the hell of it, all in all a superb bike and Allan Jefferies were great on the test rides, sales and handover and IMO put other non BMW franchises to shame. a few picks taken today on the camera phone including devils bridge.

 

[Gundog]

Mine had its 600mile service last friday at Chester Motorrad.
Very happy so far..



Its now very dirty, cos of the shyte weather, but it'll prob stay that way.
Don't like cleaning .. it hurts ya fingers..

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Oil window mid-way - hopefully it will stretch to the first service
Had 5 or six false neutrals in 5th and 6th - one to watch.

Still perfecting the cleaning technique - dug the jetwash out from the back of the garage.

Have a hooton crudcatcher - might ask dealer to fit as I dont have a torque wrench.

Careful you don't overfill the oil. They don't use as much as people think. If there is oil in the glass all is good and if there isn't, wait a few minutes and it will turn up

Be positive with your gearchange.

Clean it twice a year whether it needs it or not

Save yourself a few quid and use the german tightening technique for the crud catcher....gudentight. You won't need a torque wrench

Enjoy the bike

 

[phillh]

Had mine for 4 weeks now and ridden a total of 1400ish miles. Bike is running in very nicely, engine very smooth, powerful and torquey. Gearbox light and precise, no false neatrals. Lighting very good (but I did have a Tiger 1050 before, fantastic bike let down by poor headlights) and the auxilliary lights are brilliant.

Oil consumption was noticable up to around 1000miles but seems to have stopped since then. Still check the level every time I park it. Very happy with bike.

 

[Reckless]

I picked my 2011 GS up on 5 July and have now done 1000 miles. First service was at 800 miles prior to which I had to put in about 2/3 litre of oil. Bit concerned at the use of fully synth at 800 miles but reassured by an email to BMW who said that it was policy and would not prejudice the ultimate performance of the bike. I have had no issues and find the gearbox a delight after my 1200S but find the brakes need more input (the 1200S had servos and stopped dead) - the back brake pedal movement is excessive I think but I do use the back brake - some dont!

I am 6' 2" and have been lucky to get the screen spot on immediately - I use Tobinators set about 2 inches up and a standard screen - feels great so far.

Otherwise - fitted a CRud Catcher and a Mudslinger - very ahppy with bike so far. Off to Morocco next week - will report on return.

 

[Dainese Brave]

Nice bike...in the best colour.

Be careful with the jet washer....its not recommended....although many do...including dealers.

 

[duckspeed]

Ohh you lucky people, very jealous !!

 

[Chrisj]

Awesome bikes, nice colour - need some bling now

Enjoy and safe riding.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Finding the brakes really good but the back pedal does have a bit of travel on it - useful in carparks and thats about it.

Am 6'2 myself and fairly happy with the screen, its better than anything I'm used to.

Did put the jetwash away on last few bikes as they are a menace on decals/stickers etc, prob just use it to give the underside/engine a quick blast.

thanks for replies and comments, also good to hear from fellow new purchasers, interesting to hear your views.

 

[Nico]

I've got the same bike (fastest colour btw ) , it's now 1yr old and I have done 8k trouble free miles on it. Awesome machine, 51.3 mpg average since new including a nice trip to the Alps

I've had false neutrals a few times as well between 4th/5th and 5th/6th. I think it's a matter of using the lever correctly or looking at the display to quickly check if the gear is in. It happended in my previous '06 GS as well but it should be nothing to be worried about.

Bling fitted; cross-bar + pad, rubber footrests, Twalcom radiator grid + tank side-protections, GS logo frame junction cover, MH Crud Catcher, BMW aluminium bash plate, Humvee Graphics stickers and more to come hopefully!

Enjoy!

 

[Shoestring]

Looks great.

I picked mine up last week. I had grown a bit weary of the wind blast and noise off the top of my '07 GS and wanted to see how much extra protection the GSA screen provided (you can see where this is going...). The answer I discovered after a test ride was "A lot".

Unfortunately I also discovered that I loved the new DOHC engine and gearbox; smoother, more responsive and with a more aggressive engine note.

So a bit of man-maths later and I'd agreed to buy a near-new ex-BMW management GSA, I collected it last week and did 400 miles in two days before I had to leave it in the garage in order to do some business travelling.

I can't wait to get back on.

SS7

 

[WindyChuffer]

Have a hooton crudcatcher - might ask dealer to fit as I dont have a torque wrench.
QUOTE]

Dont be silly... !

Draper torque wrench about £15 on Amazon. Get some torx bits as well as you'll need them for when you fit the invevitable other accessories.

Hooton crud catcher is a great piece of (functional) kit.

 

[snerkler]

. Lighting very good (but I did have a Tiger 1050 before, fantastic bike let down by poor headlights) and the auxilliary lights are brilliant.:

I agree,......... now that I've set the beam angle correctly. When I first got the bike it lit up the road about 2m infront of me and that was it, but since adjusting the tilt I think the lights are pretty good, and with the aux lights it's even better. I know a lot of people complain about the lights, but I think they're good now. Perhaps they haven't got them set right, or perhaps it's because I too came from a Tiger 1050


To the OP, Great choice of bike and colour

 

[casperfelix]

Had my latest GSA since late April. Done 6k miles - mainly in central Europe. Averages around 50 mpg; has used about 500 ml of oil, has started first time every time - better not go on as I may tempt providence!
Oh - it kept up with a KTM Adventure on a trip to the Czech Republic easily; both cornering and accelerating (we went via the Black Forest and some Alp passes). And I didn't need to keep oiling my chain.

 

[Bayman]

Great bike, hope you keep enjoying it, should of got the yellow tho if you wanted a real fast one

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

draper torque wrench duly ordered

not great photos as it was getting dark but pics of the venturshield to tank sides and tank pad piece on top. Followed the instructions word for word and came out perfect, the tank pad was about as bespoke as a shower cap at first but eventually fell perfectly in line on the curves and edges. Think its just the overhead light that makes it shine - or maybe I have created shine grey?!

 

[Big Si]

Save yourself a few quid and use the german tightening technique for the crud catcher....gudentight. You won't need a torque wrench

I saw the origonal thread and was waiting for you to say that!!

 

[Country Bumpkin]

Impressed

Nice looking bike, just a quick question, did you purchase the Klingon technology 'Cloaking Device' as an optional extra from BMW as it appears to have been engaged in photos 2 & 4.

CB

 

[North]

Sweet Bike.

 

[Yonkyo]

Nice bike SirRich

That ventureshield stuff is a bastard to apply on the tank. It took my missis about an hour to get it right.

BTW. If you'd have waited another month, you could have had the new Triple Black special edition GSA