snerkler
Registered user
Hi,
I'm considering buying a R1200GS Adventure and want some advice please. If you bear with me I'll give you a bit of my background and my needs and so that you can give some good advice for me.
I'm 32 and I've been riding for only 4.5 years, although I've had numerous bikes. I initially had a Yamaha FZ6, but only kept it for 3 months (3500 miles) as I quickly found it underpowered. I then traded it in for a 1050 Sprint ST. As great as this bike was I found that on longer journeys it was a little too small for me and I got a lot of knee pain (I'm 6'4"and 'ahem' 18 stone). I had inspirations of doing a Ewan and Charlie and was very keen on getting a 1200 GSA. I took it for a test ride and have to say I was disappointed as found the suspension too wallowy, and felt a little like I was on a rocking horse under acceleration and braking. I then took out the GS and really liked it and so bought one. I have to say I did really like the bike but for one thing, I couldn't get comfy on it, which is strange considering they were built for comfort. I seemed to be sat over the pin that fastened the seat down, and gel inserts or extra padding didn't seem to help. It got to the stage where I would get a lot of pins and needles and pain so the bike had to go, begrudgingly I might add.
At this stage the Tiger 1050 was released, and it fit the bill brilliantly. It did everything the GS did, but was more comfortable and a bit more lively. I still have this bike, and am happy with it. I never thought about changing it until I spoke to a BMW salesman I know who told me about the ESA on the latest models of the GSA, and that you can set the suspension to stop it from wallowing. It then got the cogs working and I started thinking "could the bike I always wanted now be the bike for me?"
So the question is, does the ESA really make a lot of difference and stop the bike from wallowing if you set it up right (eg sport road setting), or is it still noticeable? And would I be wise in swapping from the Tiger 1050 to a new GSA with the DOHC and extra 10bhp? I know this is a GS forum so opinions may be slightly biased, and I know ultimately I'll have to try it out for myself, but if anyone would be willing to share their opinion in the meantime it would be greatly apprecaited.
Cheers.
P.S. If anyone can point me in the direction of some good photos of the new yellow GSA I'd really apprecite it. I've got a few of the grey one, but only the one of the yellow from the BMW website
I'm considering buying a R1200GS Adventure and want some advice please. If you bear with me I'll give you a bit of my background and my needs and so that you can give some good advice for me.
I'm 32 and I've been riding for only 4.5 years, although I've had numerous bikes. I initially had a Yamaha FZ6, but only kept it for 3 months (3500 miles) as I quickly found it underpowered. I then traded it in for a 1050 Sprint ST. As great as this bike was I found that on longer journeys it was a little too small for me and I got a lot of knee pain (I'm 6'4"and 'ahem' 18 stone). I had inspirations of doing a Ewan and Charlie and was very keen on getting a 1200 GSA. I took it for a test ride and have to say I was disappointed as found the suspension too wallowy, and felt a little like I was on a rocking horse under acceleration and braking. I then took out the GS and really liked it and so bought one. I have to say I did really like the bike but for one thing, I couldn't get comfy on it, which is strange considering they were built for comfort. I seemed to be sat over the pin that fastened the seat down, and gel inserts or extra padding didn't seem to help. It got to the stage where I would get a lot of pins and needles and pain so the bike had to go, begrudgingly I might add.
At this stage the Tiger 1050 was released, and it fit the bill brilliantly. It did everything the GS did, but was more comfortable and a bit more lively. I still have this bike, and am happy with it. I never thought about changing it until I spoke to a BMW salesman I know who told me about the ESA on the latest models of the GSA, and that you can set the suspension to stop it from wallowing. It then got the cogs working and I started thinking "could the bike I always wanted now be the bike for me?"
So the question is, does the ESA really make a lot of difference and stop the bike from wallowing if you set it up right (eg sport road setting), or is it still noticeable? And would I be wise in swapping from the Tiger 1050 to a new GSA with the DOHC and extra 10bhp? I know this is a GS forum so opinions may be slightly biased, and I know ultimately I'll have to try it out for myself, but if anyone would be willing to share their opinion in the meantime it would be greatly apprecaited.
Cheers.
P.S. If anyone can point me in the direction of some good photos of the new yellow GSA I'd really apprecite it. I've got a few of the grey one, but only the one of the yellow from the BMW website
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