BIG gs surprise

[Richyboy]

Must say that ive often looked at the gs and thought "maybe when i'm an old codger ill think about it" , but after reading some other threads in this forum ,i thought i would see what all this bollox is about for meesen.
Booked a test ride at Rainbow and went for full days blast expecting to be disapointed but hoping not to be as i'd been looking forward to it......
Sales man said clear your head of any prconceptions and go with the flow...here we go.Me and a couple o mates with blades R1's etc went over the woodhead pass then back over the snake pass up into castleton round the hope vally then into Matlock for some jockeys whips an back to Rainbow in Rotherham.Did approx 200 miles and didint get used to the fecker till on the wood head,what a feckin laugh,despite bad buffeting ,clunky box i was havin a ball .I have hade top shelf sports tackle for seven years and have done many a track day ,but boy was i impressed with the handling (i run gixxer thou with ohlins) for std bike.Any how the lads COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!
Im now steppin outside the spotbike circle and am looking forward to buying probably an adventure ,abike i can USE,after all the only thing the gixxer can do is go faaasst and stop.Great lads at Rainbow in Rotherham ,took bike out at 10am got back with cheesy feckin grin at 5.00pm + free cuppa,now gunna cop in!

 

[Dahoum]

Ho Ho - another one bites the dust

have a word with y2blade will ya?

 

[Gas'd Off]

all this bollox i'm an old codger

 

[Den]

Richieboy. Please, please do not tell anyone else about this discovery.

 

[Tony allen]

Gs

And you can ride it in the dirt too...Gs the most versatile bike out there...

Tony Allen

 

[JohnC]

The clunky box is due to the GS box working at a diff speed to jap bikes, give it time and with a bit of technique getting clean shifts will become second nature. Welcome

 

[jimbo]

getting clean shifts will become second nature.

I'll second that, when I got the GS, I did struggle with the gears - I came to conclusion that a clucth was required for every change. I don't notice it any more, and up through the box is easy and natural without a clutch.

 

[Richyboy]

I know what you mean about the box,it takes time to get a feel for it ,the biggest thing to get used to for me is that the bends on the snake pass use 2nd an 3rd on the gixxer but the gs just used mainly 3rd and also the lack of dive under hard braking for most of em.Gonna sell the thou next weel an buy an adventure private when the right deal comes along,themn hopefully head to southern europe back end of summer for a few weeks.

 

[~Stef~]

Gonna sell the thou next weel an buy an adventure private when the right deal comes along,themn hopefully head to southern europe back end of summer for a few weeks.

dont forget your touratech catalouge

 

[RRacer]

I am in the same party, fella. After wasting years on R1, RRs, I made a test ride on 1200GS. God, I couldn't believe the handling and the torque which is available at every rpm and any gear. It was not like an enduro-touring big machine, just like a super moto. Almost in every turn, I have slided the back wheel. I rubbed my boots in almost every turn.

As a 600 SS rider, I am used to use gears heavily to get torque at any time at higher revs. On GS, it was just like automatic. Almost I forgot to use gears in twisty roads

It was flickering over 180 km/h (max 210 km/h I experienced). I could not reach 220 km/h, I still wonder the max speed.

Brakes are unbelievable. It works like SS' brakes. It is biting the asphalt under heavy braking.

I did not experience offroad performance. My comments are limited to street performance.

I loved it and urgently sold 05 SS and ordered a R1200GS Red Devil

 

[Pukmeister]

Welcome to the chapter mate, when you get your GS the more you ride it the more it will impress you. Good luck with the search for a nice GS, and don't be afraid of mileage, they are as tough as cast-iron and pretty reliable. In hindsight I would buy an older 1150GS and get the Touratech Revamp kit (with Ohlins shocks)so I owned something very capable and a little bit different looking.

I found that first gear on my GS was a surprise, very clunky and sometimes hard to find from neutral (trick is to slip a little clutch with the gear pedal held down and she snicks in).

As for the handling fun, you'll soon be scraping your pegs before long............

I still have my near worthless Japanese 'thrash metal' Yamaha YZF600R for mostly commuting and the odd scratch, with my shiny R1200GS for two-up touring and trail riding. Can't wait to do the BMW off-road skills course and hone my skills.

 

[Richyboy]

nice one......

It seems to me that many lads with a history of litre sports tackle are looking for more than the hyper speeds that thier bike are capable of and fed up with the frustration that winter brings(piss poor finish on jap ally).I think in some cases (as is my own) i just got bored of the same routine when going out with the lads ie balls out every where ,full on competition all after noon whilst knowing that as probability goes, my number may be next .

My mind set was that if my next bike aint more powerful than the last i dont wanna know...get the drift.My test ride - what a refreshing change.If any one out there is looking at a change to a gs and has a r1,blade etc,give it a go its a right old feckin laugh.

 

[Shurv]

I think you'd be surprised how many on this forum have had full on sports tackle ,but have seen the light and now only own a GS. Welcome aboard all of you to the madhouse.


Marcus.

 

[Howard Millichap]

Word of warning

Richyboy,
You didn't say which GS you tested. But if you tested a GS1200 you'll be very disappointed with a 1150 Adventure. They are miles apart in performance. Cheetah Vs Hippo. Both sort of OK off road though.

 

[(RIP) john plane]

The finish on bmws is not as good as it used to be. On par with the japs but the engines better.

 

[Steptoe]

You'll be looking here next

 

[Richyboy]

Re: Word of warning

Richyboy,
You didn't say which GS you tested. But if you tested a GS1200 you'll be very disappointed with a 1150 Adventure. They are miles apart in performance. Cheetah Vs Hippo. Both sort of OK off road though.

I tested std 1150gs matey.Dont think the management will let me have a 1200gs (cost etc..).I do like the look of the adv though and the big tank idea is a refreshing change also i like the sound of no economy gear aswell as the bike i took for a test ride had "E" instead of a true sixth gear which was a let down when your on a roll and cogging up the old box.I found a massive gap between 5 and six gears (E).Not tested the adv but will do so and hope this issue will be resolved.As for the 1200 gs ,well i wouldnt try if i werent gonna buy - too much lolly -nuff said.

 

[brickflicker]

r1200gs

yep same situation its like being on a big crosser without the narrow hard seat,stonking brakes,torque to pull a house down and handles like a rs250 on a track day. Dogs danglies i say GRIN FACTOR 10.