1200wc to 1200gsa wc

[Bigtrucknuts]

I wonder? Is there any down size to the heavier flywheel, does the engine feel less rapid on pick up, race engines normally tend to have lightened flywheel/cranks?

The current LC motor has quite a tuned engine feel, the way the revs pick up instantly between gear changes when you blip the throttle, and the way that the exhaust cracks out.

Essentially that's correct. I didn't like the larger flywheel of the previous model. It felt sluggish and the pick up was slow. Most of the reviews at the time said so. So they lightened the flywheel. The engine now picks up as it should and can be described as free revving.

That means it's quicker in the gear changes and accelerates faster. That's just a statement of the effects of a lighter flywheel. The merits of a lighter flywheel are a different question.

 

[Nutty]

It seems like BMW may be fitting the heavier flywheel on the regular GS, in preparation for the new S1000F.

 

[filbe]

I'm actually beginning to think the Explorer is possibly a better bike for me !!

Steve

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I'm actually beginning to think the Explorer is possibly a better bike for me !!

Steve

If it was me, I'd be looking at a CrossTourer to have a test ride on or a S10/Stelvio

People speak very highly of them and I doubt you'll be rushing 60-70 miles to the dealer with warranty work, time and again

I really think BMW have lost the plot, with all these niggles that spoil an otherwise great bike

 

[batman1]

I came across to the LC from an Explorer (10,000 miles) it's a brilliant bike........however IMHO the GS-LC is the better bike and has the bigger grin factor!
My Explorer mates and me are all riding LC's now.
They do have a great forum though
Try one and send in your report!

 

[Troppo]

Yes, I also came across to the LC from an Explorer. The GS is a much better bike... Much less top heavy, much better handling.

 

[Matty589]

The crosstourer and explorer are both very heavy bikes, giving away a lot to the GS, and IMHO as a result the suspension has too be too from or else they'd handle terribly. I rode both extensively (and the KTM) before choosing the GS. If nothing else the suspension feels like a magic carpet compared to either the Honda or the trumpet. A shame as the Explorer was a nice bike otherwise and the Honda had the usual big red build quality (the VFR1200 suffers with exactly the same issues) and the usual VFR fuel economy (although out on the open road the difference would be much smaller). I'm not going to tempt fate but the 3,000 miles I've done on my 14 plate GS have been trouble-free and the bike still looks like brand new with no corrosion or other nightmares...yet. As I got it in Marchwe'll have to see how it holds up over winter. I ride into the centre of London so the GSA is out as its just too bulky. I do wish they hadn't started offering a lowered suspension version (!) but as others have said, the cost to change now would be the equivalent of keeping the GS and buying an F700GS on top so not really sensible.

 

[Matty589]

I forgot to mention the S10. I have only test ridden one once but it had the heaviest clutch on any bike I've ever ridden and the motor had a horrible lack of punch in the low end and sounded like a sewing machine. It was a 2010 model so no idea if it's improved since then but (again IMHO) I hated it straight away. Very top heavy too. I briefly owned a Stelvio (4v, not 8v) and whilst it handled beautifully (fully adjustable suspension) it struggled to start in winter and (perhaps due to having just a single lambda probe) averaged 31mpg! Front end is very ugly and screen was useless, and spinning the engine above 4,000rpm made me think it was going to explode!
Not a big point as many GS riders don't go near cities but the clutch on the WC is so light it's brilliant for filtering in traffic.

 

[dave hendy]

So in other words, even with its faults the GS is the best bike out there especially if you get one without any problems

 

[Wrinkly]

If it was me, I'd be looking at a CrossTourer to have a test ride on or a S10/Stelvio

People speak very highly of them and I doubt you'll be rushing 60-70 miles to the dealer with warranty work, time and again

I really think BMW have lost the plot, with all these niggles that spoil an otherwise great bike

This week I've ridden the 1200gsa wc,the Explorer XC (twice), the Stelvio and had a look at the Crosstourer.

The looks of the Crosstourer left me cold and I didn't even take it out.

The Explorer was a very good bike and did lots of things well and the engine was sublime but didn't really suit my style of riding.

The new WC with the heavier flywheel was much better, and the gearbox, whilst much better than mine was still not as good as my 99 1100gs,plus the cost to change was just not justifiable.

So,as I sit here I'm on the verge of ordering a new Stelvio NTX. Having spent several hours and doing 270mls on it yesterday I really gelled with the bike.
Loved the engine and gearbox,personally I felt it handled slightly better than the GS,and was just as good an the gnarley stuff.
It's big down fall was on dual carriage ways the screen created a lots of buffeting,but I'm sure that can be addressed.
After I'd ridden the Stelvio in Thirsk I whent straight back to York and had another go on the Explorer,the fact that I was only out another 15mins to me says it all.

I'm slightly concerned that if there are any problems with Moto Guzzi that perhaps the manufacturer and dealer back up is not as established as BMW,having said that, I've now had a bike for 16mnts that I'm becoming deeply disenchanted with and BMW have not managed to sort it.

By this time tomorrow I'll know if after 25yrs of BMW ownership I'm to jump ship to MG....I'll let you know.

Steve

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

This week I've ridden the 1200gsa wc,the Explorer XC (twice), the Stelvio and had a look at the Crosstourer.

The looks of the Crosstourer left me cold and I didn't even take it out.

The Explorer was a very good bike and did lots of things well and the engine was sublime but didn't really suit my style of riding.

The new WC with the heavier flywheel was much better, and the gearbox, whilst much better than mine was still not as good as my 99 1100gs,plus the cost to change was just not justifiable.

So,as I sit here I'm on the verge of ordering a new Stelvio NTX. Having spent several hours and doing 270mls on it yesterday I really gelled with the bike.
Loved the engine and gearbox,personally I felt it handled slightly better than the GS,and was just as good an the gnarley stuff.
It's big down fall was on dual carriage ways the screen created a lots of buffeting,but I'm sure that can be addressed.
After I'd ridden the Stelvio in Thirsk I whent straight back to York and had another go on the Explorer,the fact that I was only out another 15mins to me says it all.

I'm slightly concerned that if there are any problems with Moto Guzzi that perhaps the manufacturer and dealer back up is not as established as BMW,having said that, I've now had a bike for 16mnts that I'm becoming deeply disenchanted with and BMW have not managed to sort it.

By this time tomorrow I'll know if after 25yrs of BMW ownership I'm to jump ship to MG....I'll let you know.

Steve

Good man, I do like the Stelvio every time I look at it in Teasdales @ Thirsk

Looks a great bike and it's unusual and quirky, like a 1100GS used to be and you hardly ever see another......................which hugely appeals

Everywhere you look, there's a 1200GS and that irks me somewhat

Let me know, next time you're in Thirsk and we could meet up

 

[yankeedoodledandy]

This week I've ridden the 1200gsa wc,the Explorer XC (twice), the Stelvio and had a look at the Crosstourer.
The new WC with the heavier flywheel was much better, and the gearbox, whilst much better than mine was still not as good as my 99 1100gs,plus the cost to change was just not justifiable.

So,as I sit here I'm on the verge of ordering a new Stelvio NTX. Having spent several hours and doing 270mls on it yesterday I really gelled with the bike.
Loved the engine and gearbox,personally I felt it handled slightly better than the GS,and was just as good an the gnarley stuff.
By this time tomorrow I'll know if after 25yrs of BMW ownership I'm to jump ship to MG....I'll let you know.
Steve

The NTX is pretty neat, if I were going to buy one of the heavier adv bikes that would probably be the one. I'm sure the Yamaha and Honda are uber-reliable and all, but neither one has much appeal otherwise. Good luck with it, may it give you years and years of fun.

IMHO, the light-flywheel version of the LC was targeted a bit too much at the getting-a-bit-old-for-sportbikes crowd, methinks, trying to draw guys like me into the brand (and I'm ecstatic with mine so far, especially with how fast it spools up). BMW seems to have readjusted their focus after feedback from the diehard GS crowd. The two flywheel weights should be another factory option to keep both sides happy. If my 2013 ever gets stolen, I'm not sure I'll want one of the new ones.

 

[Toddmeister]

IMHO, the light-flywheel version of the LC was targeted a bit too much at the getting-a-bit-old-for-sportbikes crowd.

Oh no! I think I may just have been put into a new marketing segment

I may even put my race leathers on (with worn knee sliders I hasten to add) and go for a test ride on one of them s1000r thingies just to prove the feckers wrong!

Wonder if Nutty will let me have a go on his when he gets it????