Am I too confident?

[solarider]

I am considering a 1200 GS (not the Adventure) as a first 'big' bike.

Here's the background (not sure what if any is relevant):

I am 37 years old.
I am 6ft 2in and 100kgs.
I have ridden and raced road bikes (of the human powered variety) for 20 years and consider myself to have decent road sense and bike handling.
I have been driving a car for 20 years.
I have been riding a 125cc daily, rain and shine on a 30 mile commute for the past 6 months. I wanted to get used to life on engine powered 2 wheels, the risks, the speed, the power, the handling at slow speeds etc.
I am taking my Mod 2 next week.
I have completely outgrown the 125cc. It feels underpowered, undersized, undersuspended and I feel ready for the next step.
I need something physically big enough to suit my size, quite upright (I don't like the narrow, bum in the air sports bike position) and year-round capable, plus a bit of occasional light touring and weekends away..

So, you know what's coming next.......is a 1200GS too much bike for me?

Obviously until I take my test I can't take one out for a test, but I have sat on a few bikes and man handled them on and off the stands, and wheeled them around a bit to see just how heavy they are. The GS actually feels surprisingly manageable. I can sit on the GS with both feet flat on the floor, and I was surprised that it actually didn't feel that huge , or that I was a long way off the ground (I did on the Triumph Tiger and the Yamaha Tenere and Super Tenere).

All-in-all, the 1200 GS seems like a sensible choice in so many respects, but also a lot of bike for a first 'big' bike.

Various people have advised that the 1200 engine is no harder to control than a 600cc, and the power actually makes it smoother and easier in some respects. I don't have a particularly heavy right hand and am not a speed freak.

The dealer says that it would only take a few days to get used to (and I am going to take further lessons), and a number of dealers and friends have suggested that any bike will only take a few days of concerted effort to get used to (although of course a lifetime to master). But, I guess 'they would say that wouldn't they'!

So, is it too much of a bike? Am I mad to even consider it?

I am considering a new bike (or at the very least a nearly new main dealer bike) as I don't have the mechanical confidence to run the used gauntlet right now and value the reassurance even though I know I will pay a premium for it.

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site....

As long as you take time to get used to the bike and don't expect to master it straight the way you should be ok....

Treat all other road users as idiots as well

 

[elevensies]

ok

firstly, its a bigger bike than the 125 your playing with at the moment.
you have no big bike experience.
your daily commute is just that, you dont mention any other biking excursions

riding a road bike is nothing like riding a motorbike, not even close.



Various people have advised that the 1200 engine is no harder to control than a 600cc, and the power actually makes it smoother and easier in some respects. I don't have a particularly heavy right hand and am not a speed freak.


a gs is nothing remotely like a 600, the power is different, it comes in at a different place, and tails off in a different place, the gs is torquey, a 600 inline 4 has no where near the torque. so what ever mates told you this, they dont have a clue.

the r1200gs is a good bike, but look at the 1200 section before you make a decision.

you need roadcraft, roadsense, and training over buying a gs.

pass your test, get a smaller bike for a few years(f650 gs perhaps), learn how to ride, not just work and back, then go for something like a big gs.

up to you.

harry

 

[elevensies]

oh and no doubt there will be all the ''i passed my test and got a gs no problem'' brigade come on saying how great they are

just remember your in the ''accident category'' ones who are most at risk

forget what people brag on about, its your life, you learn.

take extra lessons, do extra courses, spend your money learning, then go for it.


again, up to you.

harry

 

[solarider]

Definitely more training required, good advice. Even a step up from a 125cc to a 650 will require some more training I guess.

Ignoring the weight (which isn't that different between the 1200GS and 650GS), is the power not just a case of how far you twist your right hand? Forgive my ignorance here, I'm not trying to be argumentative, or doubt the advice which seems sound, just genuinely interested.

 

[Loiq]

bikes only go as fast as you make'em go, set your limit to low and enjoy learning about the bike. They're very easy to ride which is probably a problem in it's own right, as you could be arriving at the scene of your accident faster than you planned. Training is always good... everyday's a school day in London.... and all the foreign drivers who have no idea make it twice as dangerous. 30 miles a day hmmmm I did a slightly longer commute and actually find the GSA abit too big for london during the rush hour, the Hornet was much easier to buzz up to town.... but....the GSA is a more deliberate machine and people if you ride responsibly will give you space, and equal number of wankers will also shut the door on you to see what you do next.

It's your money and your life, I would not bother lecturing you in statistics and the chances of you coming unstuck.

Be careful you should be alright...

atleast your feet will reach the ground...

 

[NeverRodeBefore]

I went in to look at the F650GS, and came out with an R1200GS.

From cbt to R1200GS was about 7 weeks for me. If you feel comfortable on it, and don't think you're going to topple over any second, then why not. I also got a quote for my insurance from BMW themselves, and that sealed the deal for me, it was roughly half what the normal companies wanted.

I really fancied a KTM 950, but the insurance was astronomical.

 

[elevensies]

Definitely more training required, good advice. Even a step up from a 125cc to a 650 will require some more training I guess.

Ignoring the weight (which isn't that different between the 1200GS and 650GS), is the power not just a case of how far you twist your right hand? Forgive my ignorance here, I'm not trying to be argumentative, or doubt the advice which seems sound, just genuinely interested.

right, its not ''power'' its the torque that will be miles different for you. (although all of it will daunt you to start with)
weight difference is huge between the 1200 and 650, the way they ride on the road too, the 650 is nimble, and light, the 1200 is more surefooted, planted to the road.

the 1200 gs ''power'' is between 3-6 ish thousand revs, where it dies off at 7-8 thou, a 600 inline 4 the ''power is just starting to come on at that, building to max of about 12-13 thousand''
but the gs makes ''torque from right down, up to 5 1/2 ythousand ish, giving it more off the line go, a inline 4 600, makes its torque from 5 1/2 thou to about 8 thou and dies off, so you need plenty of right hand to make a quick get away on a 600, but not much on a gs, and thats all R series GS's

hope this helps.

 

[Selous]

Would of thought it would of been better for you to of done the DAS, (Direct Access Test), then you would of been n a bigger bike with the power as well.

As your a lanky guy I would suggest you would probably be ok but you might also want to try a Triumph Tiger? or even a yam Tenery? all 3 are tall.

but I think you will be back though.

 

[solarider]

I am doing the DAS. So, fingers crossed, after next weekend I should be legal on the 1200GS.

Opinion seems pretty divided here. Guess I'll just have to take one for a spin and see.

 

[elevensies]

hardly divided?

nearly everyone mentions you learn more.

 

[solarider]

No question about the training, absolutely a good idea. Just varying advice about the ability to get on a 1200 from the start.

As you mentioned earlier, some didn't seem to find it a problem, but there is equal advice to start smaller and build up.

 

[elevensies]

good luck with the das

whatever you do, i hope the few wise words from folk on here will stick

its after passing you start to learn,

and then some

i have been riding motorbikes best part of 24 years, and i still learn, every day.

some on here much much longer, and they say the same thing.

you read in the papers about the ones who dont take the snippets of advice

harry

 

[ahutcheon]

I'd guess you'd be fine, assuming you've got enough sense to know the throttle works both ways.

I also suspect you won't really appreciate what the 1200 does (or really learn to use it) if you get onto one straight from a 125. Although that probably goes for most modern middleweight sports bikes and upwards.

It's a long while since I regularly rode a bike that I could approach the limits of, rather than one which is more capable than I am. I'm glad I served my time on 50-something bhp, ton and a bit mph UJMs with OK brakes and OK suspension when tyres were OK. I learned a lot, got close to some limits at speeds that weren't too scary.

Maybe the 650GS is the same sort of bike, with brakes and handling for the modern world? Oh dear, I've turned into an old fart. But I seem to remember that smooth is fast, and you don't learn that if you rely on handfuls of throttle and brake to get you between bends.

Observations, not advice.

 

[MorayGSer]

Get a 1200 GS and you seem prepared to take more training I think it'll be an ideal bike for you. Good luck with DAS.

 

[raginmund]

I'm suprised no-one has mentioned the 800; same bhp as the older 1150, lower running costs, easier to handle, less 'quirky'.

I'm just wondering if the OP is being directed to the 1200 by a salesman, as much as anything else.

No?

 

[GSmonkey]

My first big bike was a 600 Bandit. Most end up going with something like this.

You're more likely to drop a GS in the first few months of riding a big bike compared with a physically smaller commuter. I'd say you're equaly likely to be killed on either.

Engine characteristics are not that important. An inline 4 600cc and a GS are both fast enough to get you into trouble. Big twins are not the easiest around town and require some practice to ride smooth.

So if your wallet can take it, go for the GS, as the way you're talking you will get one eventually.

 

[solarider]

I tried the 800GS, but wow that seat it hard!

I actually tried a Ducati Hypermotard today which may be better for what I want in terms of commuting and manouverability. The Multistrada is just too expensive, and at that price you'd have a 1200 GS every day of the week.

Just not sure about how vicious the Hypermotard would be though. I am still leaning towards the GS. Guess I need to wait to pass that test and go ride them and see!

 

[Pukmeister]

Having ridden both 600cc sports bikes and big twins, I'd say the throttle and clutch sensitivity of a 600cc inline 4 cyl is best avoided as a new rider, better to cut your teeth on a big torquey twin with the same peak BHP as the sportsbike but with a much more progressive means of delivering it, plus twice the torque to get you out of trouble when you find yourself offline/in the wrong gear/out of shape mid-corner on the one bend that tightens more than you thought (which you inevitably will at some point, we all have).

IMO the big GS has a less focussed and more forgiving nature than any sports bike.

Good luck with the test.

 

[elevensies]

I tried the 800GS, but wow that seat it hard!

I actually tried a Ducati Hypermotard today which may be better for what I want in terms of commuting and manouverability. The Multistrada is just too expensive, and at that price you'd have a 1200 GS every day of the week.

Just not sure about how vicious the Hypermotard would be though. I am still leaning towards the GS. Guess I need to wait to pass that test and go ride them and see!

no no no

not the bike you need, far to focused, superb engine, gorgeous looks, but you wont be able to keep the front down

f650gs dakar is what you want, forget service, there are good independents, or dealers who will service for you.