Are you being Gatecrashed?

[Roberto]

Hello all,

I'm new to the site but have to say in the few posts I have made, I have found UKGS'er to be a potentially great resource. (I do intend to sponsor the site!).

I've owned many bikes over the years but for the last 4 have owned an R1100S, which for has been the best bike I have ever owned, sheer brilliance. For a number of reasons its time to change though, and on the eve of picking up my 1200GS I thought I'd post a thread to get some feedback in order to satisfy my own curiosity. The reason I put it in the 'To GS or not' topic is becuase I think it is relevant, so I hope the moderators agree!

To get to the point I wondered how you folks felt about the undoubted change in image undertook by BMW, which I think shown in bikes like the K1200S and that other bike, name escapes me, power cup thing, "Respect the power" (Are you sure? whatever it is. Does anyone feel like their secret is being discovered? Through looking at posts I have noticed a certain 'individuality' and immense pride about BMW ownership and being in the minority. I have to admit feeling great when I have chewed up far more powerful bikes whilst on the 'S'.

This whole BM thing, in my opinion, is something which a lot of existing owners seem to take a great deal of protective pride in. Maybe I have it wrong, but I've noticed this in a few postings, where non-BMW owners are fact finding and interested in a purchase, and are given comments such as 'BMW's are proper bikes' (whereas Honda's are not?). Maybe a trifle hostile?

I watched 'Top Gear' the other night (yes I know) and they gave a fact that I wasn't aware of; the fact that the 3 series BMW outsells the Ford Mondeo now (oops, I have a 3 series BMW so who am I to talk). I wondered again how you folks may think if the R1200GS becomes as common as a CBR600, or a Gilera Runner?

Does anyone fear the gatecrashers?

Anyway, its late, and I hope I did get the point across. It might be a bit confused but I'm excited about picking up the bike and have quaffed a couple of bottles of Leffe to calm me down. Comments very welcome, and I really hope I have not offended anyone because that isn't what has been intended.

With all best wishes,
Rob

 

[Droopy Dick]

A very sensible question.

I suspect that BMW's pricing policy will tend to keep their bikes relatively exclusive, although that might well change. After all, look at the F650 and new 800cc twin that's near ready for production.

Even if they go for a mass-market solution, it'll only work if they maintain their quality, something that I know many people feel is alwready in decline.

I always got a tad annoyed at the 'pipe and slippers' 'old fart's bike' retorts. I bought a new R90S in 1976 when I was 23. (According to my kids, this merely shows that I was an old fart when I was young).

I do find it interesting that many folk who are committed sports-bike riders will, after a lengthy test ride on a GS, begin to reconsider their options. Obviously, a GS can't keep up with even a modern 600cc bike in a straight line, but once you get on to real roads with bends and poor surfaces, GATSOs, laser vans and the like, suddenly the GS which is less of a licence-loser, and tall enough that you can sit upright, see over cars and hedges AND not end up needing to visit an osteopath after every trip, well suddenly the GS makes great sense. (And I guess the same could be said for the Tiger, VStrom, Varadero and TDM.

Of course, one downside of the aspirational apprach that BMW have successfully adopted with the cars is that chavs, drug dealers and other assorted low-life own/steal one.

It's interesting that the bike comics have already declared the K1200S a 'sports-tourer'. Oh yeah. I can how much fun it would be to ride 500 miles ina day ona bike that is short of leg-room and requires you to adopt the head down/ are up riding posiiton. It seesm that the journalists just can't overcome their prejudices and accept that the K1200S is a pretty capable sports bike. It was, what, less than 0.5 sec slower round the Nurburgring than an R1? Oh. Right. Must be a sports-tourer, then.

I had a K1200R out for a 2-hour ride last week. Wow! BMW are making some striking bikes. However, just why I'd need 160BHP on a naked bike wasn't made clear. At 100mph, it was starting to get very uncomfortable just hanging on.

Still, all power to BMW. Perhaps if they can bring some of the talent the car and F1 people have to bikes, we'll all ride better machine sin the future.

 

[G.C.]

Hi Rob, enjoy the GS, new bike in the morning !! Yea haaa.

The thing I get from this web site is that “folk like to ride their bikes” and then tell the rest of us how good its been.

Had a go on loads of other bikes, a few BWM’S inc and the bike I have now is the right bike for me, it’s a GS btw ( the wee one) if another manufacturer made (a better one) IMO I’d buy it.

How could you have offended this bunch of TOSSERS ?????

Enjoy the new bike.
G C

P. S. DD, the 800, I see it filling the gap between the 650 and the 1100 Look up not down

 

[Boz]

My 1200 is my first BMW, but I can understand the idea of the brand being 'Gatecrashed' by people who spent most of their biking life slagging off BMW.

I bought the bike because of that it can do, how it makes me feel and also because its built by a solid manufacture...I do have to admit I feel a little put out by more people joining the fold.

I guess I just like being in the minority, makes me feel individual....which riding a Honda CBR600 doesn't!

Cheers

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Congrats on you new bike - I'm sure you are going to enjoy it

I think, to an extent, you are quite right.

IMHO I think BMW are doing the right thing - at the end of the day they are a bussiness, pure and simple. They exist to make money and that's it, nothing more, nothing less.
Whilst BMW have always built good bikes they are doing what any sucsesful business should do and are responding to market forces.

They are building bikes that the wider majority of customers want not what BMW want to build.

There is of course still evidence of the 'old school' BMW attitude e.g their poxy switch gear

Re your ponit about the perception of the 'brand' being gatecrashed it reminds me very much of the Supermoto 'craze'.
A lot of us had been riding converted dirt bikes for years and then all of a sudden the press cotoned on to what a lugh these bikes were, sportbikes riders (whatever they are???) started buying them and before you knew it they were all over the place

The bizare thing was, lots of the people that had been evangelising about them within the Supermoto community then started to slag off the 'new' Supermoto owners and moan about how the scene was now no longer 'pure'

As far as I'm concerened the more people that discover what good bikes BMW's can be and discover a different type of riding pleasure the better - bring it on

Andres

 

[Steptoe]

Don't give a stuff, i own/ride my GS because I want to -

 

[Pukmeister]

I bought my second bike this year, a used BMW R1200GS ABS due to the need for a good 2-up tourer and having ridden an R1150GS Adventure for 5 minutes and also having read the write up on the 1200 by Damon I'Anson in Ride. He's about the only motorcycle journo I've ever agreed with 100%. I still have my old Yamaha YZF600R 'Thundercat' sportsbike and still enjoy riding it.

Does that make me a 'Gatecrasher' ? I don't know, all I do know is that I love both my bikes, and don't give a damn what other riders think.

Purists ?? Good luck to 'em, but they aren't the sort of folks I would normally choose to be friends with if you know where I'm coming from, I prefer the more 'laid back' riders who are just glad to meet their fellow riders out on the road.

The ones who really get up my nose are the BMW riders who don't nod back when I nod from the seat of my Yamaha rather than my GS, they just ignore me with an aloof determination like they are somehow superior, despite my enthusiastic nods and waves. True Tossers !!!

Why can't we all be respectful to each other as riders and just get along?

 

[North]

Hi Roberto,

I guess that I am one of those gate crashers. I never thought in a Million years that I would ever own a BMW. I was always turned off by the way that a boxer engine looked.

I first saw an 1150 AVD about 18 months ago. I had no idea that there were bikes like that.

The more I saw the AVD, the more I liked it.

Well I now own a 2005 1200GS and love it. I do like it that not everyone has one, and I now love the boxer design.

A week ago I meet some old fart-head who said after he saw my bike, that he had ridden them all, and that he did not care for BWM's. Well... I wanted to tell him to F...off, but his wife was there. Needless to say, the guy is a moron!!!

Most of the guys were I work have HD's, but they all think that my BMW is an engineering marvel and like the bike.

North

 

[Shaunie]

I read somewhere that the R1200GS is the 3rd best selling bike in the UK at the moment.

That's bloody good going for a 9 grand bike but the exclusivity has gone. Is the 12GS the new CBR600?

Personally, I don't care what people ride but there are too many dickheads riding sportsbikes for 2000 miles a year who sneer at you when you mention that you own a beemer. These people really piss me off and it's a shame that some of them are now buying GS's.

Nothing we can do about it though. BWM build a good bike and the press hype it up enough and all the sheep run out and buy it.

Comfort, handling and 100bhp. A winning combination it seems?

 

[Gavin4333]

It's fantastic that all these '2000-miles-a-year' sports bike riders are buying 1200 GS's, in a couple of years when I need to replace my 1150 (at maybe only 75,000 miles might still not bother) there will be loads of good, low mileage ones about.

As for being exclusive - they're a BMW for christsake, a mass produced vehicle made for profit.

I ride one because it does what I need and I like it, it most definately is not the 'best' bike in the world - just the one I want at the moment!!!!

 

[Pukmeister]

Not all sportsbike riders do 2000 miles a year. I did 14000 miles last year on my Thundercat in all weathers, riding almost every day despite owning a very fast and comfortable sporting saloon car. Thats not an attempt at boasting, just stating my point. Not all sportsbike riders are dickheads, and I've met nothing but friendly interest and curiosity at every bike stop I've been to on the GS, not one hostile remark has been made by other riders.

So far this year I've done a mere 5000 miles on the Cat since January and 2300 miles on the GS since buying it in April (most of these touring Ireland). I took the GS offroad 2 days after collecting it, and yes I dropped it (H-B engine bars work well)

Sorry to be a GS convert and piss people off, many apologies guys, blame Charley and Ewan, BMW and Damon I'Anson as it was they who influenced me. Hope I don't ruin the snob value of your most treasured toys.

If you want 'exclusivity, buy an MV Agusta. Better still, get it gold-plated with custom paintwork.

If you want a great all rounder, go ride your GS and stop worrying about how 'popular' it is.

Apologies for ranting, I'm a nice guy really

 

[Big Lee]

The ones who really get up my nose are the BMW riders who don't nod back when I nod from the seat of my Yamaha rather than my GS, they just ignore me with an aloof determination like they are somehow superior, despite my enthusiastic nods and waves. True Tossers !!!

I found up to a point the opposite, the sportsbike guys not nodding when I`m on my 12GS. I nod to all bikes but give GS riders a wave

Anyway, exclusive or not it`s bound to make it better for us all as the aftermarket manufacturers will produce more stuff & BM will see it`s worth making changes quicker to the bikes as then even more people will buy them.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The 1200GS

It seems to be generally agreed by the press that the 1200GS is the best all round bike that one can buy. I have had one since last September and I really cannot fault it. It is high, it is a bit difficult for the pillion rider to climb onto and the centre stand, at first, is not so easy as on the 1150 -( but it doesn't roll off so easily on a slope either.) I thought the 1150 was fantastic but the 1200 is MUCH better ! It is my eigth BM in 30 years and by far the best - but what about that K1200R ? I must say it looks much better 'in the flesh' than the photos - but here in France it is restricted to 100 hp so won't really outperform the GS. Brian

 

[Pukmeister]

Have you tried putting a fully laden 1150 Adv on the centrestand Brian? The secret is in the leg power, I think the 1200 is the easier of the two machines to get onto the stand, at least thats how mine seems, especially when laden. I was invited to try and put a friends fully laden Adventure on the centrestand, it took me about 4 attempts !!

If your fellow countrymen like the K1200R, why not try another EU country such as England and buy one with the unrestricted 160BHP, it is a common european marketplace after all. I see no reason why bikes differ between EU nations other than 'nanny state' regulations over power outputs.

As for the K1200R beating the GS, it very much depends on the type of road surface and the ability of the rider (and how much courage he has).

 

[ChasF]

BM's are getting more like Japanese bikes with each model that arrives. The 1200 GS is an excellent bike but has no character and therefore appeals to a much wider market. The Japs spotted that the majority wanted sanitised, switch on and go machines years ago but BMW have only just noticed.

It amuses me that a Fireblade rider (in another post somewhere) thinks that the 1200Gs runs out of revs. much to soon whereas an old git like myself, whose last Jap bike was a Z1, thinks that the 1200 is a horrible revvy thing - but at least it's not as fat and overweight as the 1150.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I must be idiosyncratic.

i like to have a bike that has some weird foibles - maybe something that takes a bit of getting used to, maybe something that some people don't 'get'.

i could never,ever,ever in a million years own a CBR600 - far too easy.

i've had among others - an SR500, an XS750, moto-guzzi's etc.

Bikes that other people think are strange -
i may get a 1200 though