gcp
Guest
fatone said:
A liquid one ?
Bike Mag Test - I'll have to sell my GS now
- Thread starter Llama
- Start date
A liquid one ?
beemerman
Guest
its the old story, build em up then knock em down. Its interesting though that the thing that makes the KTM better is the comfort of the gel seat which has been available as an option for 2 years.
fatone said:
Hmmm...
It's a shame that you appear to have enough reserves of charmlessness to power a space shuttle, because you make a couple of valid points
A clunker delivered with such bewilderment that your amazed fatone knows where his keys are, let alone the secrets of satisfactory bike ownership..
If you can manage to stick around long enough on this site you may get the gist of it eventually - but only if you can reframe from posting mostly shite after to many shandy's on a Sunday lunchtime.
fatone
Guest
Of course. Sunday, innit?gcp said:A liquid one ?
Mutley
Registered user
Having just made the decision to buy a GS1150 ADV there were a number of factors that I took into account and the opinions of the Bike journalists weren't high on the list. 
Whilst the KTM may seem like a superior bike over a short term 'test' IMO the GS is superior for the whole ownership experience.
What is the depreciation like on a KTM?
What about the owner's community?
I have heard all sorts of reliability stories about them and spares availability issues.
I believe I've bought a classic and whilst I considered the KTM (and a multistrada / caponord / varadero) it wouldn't have really mattered to me that any of them were dynamically 'better' bikes as I had fallen in love with the GS years ago
Whilst the KTM may seem like a superior bike over a short term 'test' IMO the GS is superior for the whole ownership experience.
What is the depreciation like on a KTM?
What about the owner's community?
I have heard all sorts of reliability stories about them and spares availability issues.
I believe I've bought a classic and whilst I considered the KTM (and a multistrada / caponord / varadero) it wouldn't have really mattered to me that any of them were dynamically 'better' bikes as I had fallen in love with the GS years ago
I couldn't care less if the KTM is a better bike or not. I bought my GS12, I love riding it both on and off road, it can do more than I can ask of it and I really don't need anything else. I'm a happy, contented customer, which proabaly makes me the motoring journalists worst enemy seeing as they get their revenue from advertising and promotion. They can try as hard as they like to sell me my next bike, but I'm sticking with the one I've already got. 
JAY
Guest
"old" engines
I don't give a toss if the GS or the KTM come first - I know which one I prefer - but what really pisses me off time and time again are two things; continual reference to the indicators and always referring to the engine as being old, as though it has never been completely redesigned time and time again in BMWs history. If all they mean is that the layout is old, why not say it and also admit on the same basis that all V twins, singles and parallel twins are equally as old
I don't give a toss if the GS or the KTM come first - I know which one I prefer - but what really pisses me off time and time again are two things; continual reference to the indicators and always referring to the engine as being old, as though it has never been completely redesigned time and time again in BMWs history. If all they mean is that the layout is old, why not say it and also admit on the same basis that all V twins, singles and parallel twins are equally as old
JAY said:
BMW: Making Boxer Twins since 1932.........If it ain't broke, don't fix it...
And what about residuals i.e. how much will you have to find to change bikes when the time comes? Bet the stuffy ol' BWM wins hands down.
Kevmulcock
Guest
under powered???
Just read the write up and noticed that the GS only made 87BHP.
I have just had mine on the dyno (MCN Skegness) and it made 97BHP.(10K)completly standard engine.
Is it that mine has 'loosened up' or it theirs a dud???
Once again this could just be what they want to tell you. It does say that the KTM is 'king of the hill' the others are loosers!!
Just read the write up and noticed that the GS only made 87BHP.
I have just had mine on the dyno (MCN Skegness) and it made 97BHP.(10K)completly standard engine.
Is it that mine has 'loosened up' or it theirs a dud???
Once again this could just be what they want to tell you. It does say that the KTM is 'king of the hill' the others are loosers!!
SpyInTheCamp
Registered user
Before buying my 1200 GS, I tested both the KTM and the GS twice. Each test ride was fairly long. Not just a quick 30 minute lap around the dealer.
I found it a tough decision. In some ways, the heart said KTM and the head said BWM. But the heart also liked the GS! At the time, I'd have been happy with either bike.
My own assessment is that the KTM is more focussed and the GS more of a genyouwine all-rounder that is almost perfect for the roads and climate of the UK. If I was a more skilful rider then I might appreciate the KTM more. So the GS wins for me.
I reckon that the KTM's development should be interesting. Especially now that they have the SM and Super Duke out. In the next few years it'll probably get Fi, tubeless tyres and ABS etc. But what will the weight penalty be? Some dilemmas for them to resolve.
Kai
I found it a tough decision. In some ways, the heart said KTM and the head said BWM. But the heart also liked the GS! At the time, I'd have been happy with either bike.
My own assessment is that the KTM is more focussed and the GS more of a genyouwine all-rounder that is almost perfect for the roads and climate of the UK. If I was a more skilful rider then I might appreciate the KTM more.
So the GS wins for me. I reckon that the KTM's development should be interesting. Especially now that they have the SM and Super Duke out. In the next few years it'll probably get Fi, tubeless tyres and ABS etc. But what will the weight penalty be? Some dilemmas for them to resolve.
Kai
Fanum
Toubab
Why on earth are you lot getting your panties in a twist??
Who cares??
Who cares??
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Personally, I was most impressed to read the impartial and unbiased account of the Daytona 675 in the previous issue. Clearly it was far removed in both design and performance from any of the other sportsbikes out there and well deserving of the thousands of pages of glowing bullshit dedicated to it.
Surprised they didn't vote it above the GS or KTM as the best adventure bike as well.......
LC
Surprised they didn't vote it above the GS or KTM as the best adventure bike as well.......
LC
Kevmulcock said:Just read the write up and noticed that the GS only made 87BHP.
I have just had mine on the dyno (MCN Skegness) and it made 97BHP.(10K)completly standard engine.
Is it that mine has 'loosened up' or it theirs a dud???
Once again this could just be what they want to tell you. It does say that the KTM is 'king of the hill' the others are loosers!!
I wouldn't believe a MCN dyno - they probably make it read high - just to keep their customers happy - they wouldn't want you going away disappointed, if you did you might not buy next weeks MCN.
dirtydog
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IMO all these bike mags are full of shite, I wouldn't waste niether my time or money on them
rdover
Registered user
According to the Bike440 test the KTM out performs the GS in every respect and is cheaper!
Good, let the fashion victims head off to KTM. I've ridden the KTM and the GS (and again tomorrow) and the GS is a lot easier to ride all round and the price difference is easily made up in lack of depreciation.
but will I buy one? .........
Good, let the fashion victims head off to KTM. I've ridden the KTM and the GS (and again tomorrow) and the GS is a lot easier to ride all round and the price difference is easily made up in lack of depreciation.
but will I buy one? .........
Kevmulcock
Guest
Engineer said:
To be fair, it wasn't an MCN Dyno. it was done by an independant dyno company VRS Performance centre. (dynojet WINPEP7)
they have nothing to gain buy lying/falsifying the truth. I also have the Dyno printout.....
Shaunie
Registered user
Wey hey. Wind them up and watch them go.
What's the matter guys? Some magazine says that there's another bike out there that they think is a little bit better than yours! Wow, bruised ego time.
I would hope that your opinion is more important than their's. You didn't all spend neck end of ten grand based solely on their reccommendation, did you?
The 12GS is a great bike. So is the KTM950. The Varadero and the Tiger aren't that bad either, really. You pay your money and you take your choice.
So gather up your teddies and put them back in the pram cos the biggest thing wrong with BWM's is the perceived snobbery and elitism from many owners.
What's the matter guys? Some magazine says that there's another bike out there that they think is a little bit better than yours! Wow, bruised ego time.
I would hope that your opinion is more important than their's. You didn't all spend neck end of ten grand based solely on their reccommendation, did you?
The 12GS is a great bike. So is the KTM950. The Varadero and the Tiger aren't that bad either, really. You pay your money and you take your choice.
So gather up your teddies and put them back in the pram cos the biggest thing wrong with BWM's is the perceived snobbery and elitism from many owners.
Llama
Registered user
Bloody hell!!
I only started this thread so that we could take the p*ss out of the journalists.
I didn't expect people to take it so seriously.
I must remember to write in a sacastic tone next time.
I only started this thread so that we could take the p*ss out of the journalists.
I didn't expect people to take it so seriously.
I must remember to write in a sacastic tone next time.
rightsideup
Guest
Given that the 1200GS is the fifth best-selling bike in the UK I think you've got this wrong way round!rdover said:
As others have said, why get so excited by what Bike says? I like GSs and I like KTMs (and Ducatis and MVs, etc... there's no obligation at all to only like one make of bike), I bought a KTM because it suited me better - that's all I need.
Incidentally, in reference to the fashion victim claim, I've only seen two other 950s in the 8,000 miles I've ridden the bike since March - I reckon I've seen a GS roughly every 20/25 miles!
