Change or Improve?

[Bones]

In all honesty I'm looking for reasons to keep it rather than change. Other than wanting a bit more oooomph and a bit better handling I'm perfectly happy with it.

Nitrous kit and sticky tyres then

 

[Slartibartfast]

I'm a GS newcomer but having visited Turkey a number of times and driven there I'd have thought the plusses you get with the GS outweigh the minuses.

It's the suspension and the soft but flexible power delivery which I would think should make it ideal for gravel / wet tar / mismatched roads. My other bike is a Falco which has such a fierce power delivery an pick-up in comparison I'd be really worried about it on crappy road surfaces. I'd go as far as to say it could be intimidating even using less than half revs and you are only using millimeters of throttle travel. I know ther are much bigger and badder bikes out there

What I would say is a more free breathing exhaust and a matching ECU chip makes a HUGE difference to the Falco. That isn't just a "it sounds louder so must be faster" effect. It gives a big jump in power and torque on the dyno and the way it reacts to the throttle is hugely different (OK probably more chip than pipe but you get where I'm coming from). I'd add I bought the bike with the fancy toys rather than spending my own hard-earned

If the GS ticks the boxes apart from mid range torque and pick-up I'd look at chip & pipe. I haven't ridden a K so it may be the biz (I quite fancy one myself ). Can you get an extended test ride ?. My money would be on you loosing more than you gained if you switch

 

[robp]

I've recently bought a K12R. Lovely bike from the point of view of performance, but even on some of the lanes here in Wales, you notice how much firmer and less compliant the suspension is than the 12GS. HWMBO was also complaining about it, and how much less comfortable the 12R is than the GS (especially as the GS has a top box to stop her from falling off!).
I have to say too though, that while the K12 has got an awesome engine, I have never found the GS to be lacking in either power or handling/performance.

 

[Pukmeister]

My eventual desired spec:

Wilbers shocks built to your spec: £750
K&N Filter £45
Remus Headers & Pipe £600
Wunderlich/Techlusion Power Controller £230

Prices approximate.

With the above spec I reckon you could keep up with most bikes up to a Ton through the twisties. It's only in the straights that you'll lose out.

The all round usefullness (and ease) of the big GS makes me want to hang on to mine, despite hankering after another Japanese crotch rocket. I'm heading for Western Australia soon so the GS will be needed for the many unmetalled roads there anyway. If Turkey is anything like WA, you'd be wise to keep your GS.

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

I've heard the same about the K1200R, apparently the seat is not the same as the R, which I've been told is wider. Whether the R Sport will be comfortable will depend on which seat is fitted, hopefully this will be from the R.

It would seem as though a decision has been made for me, BMW told me today that the R Sport will not be imported here, which is absolutely crap if true.

If it is true I guess I'll be shopping for go faster bits soon.

 

[sven]

The R handlebars fit on the S if you want the same riding position, and the S has a wider, comfier seat (certainly for the pillion) and more of a rush at the top end.

Whilst the S isn't quite as good as a GS on bumpy back roads, the Duolever front suspension makes it better than most bikes in my experience and once you're on fast, sweeping A/B-roads, the S will clear off into the distance once you start revving it beyond 7500rpm (Warpspeed, Mr. Sulu ).

Below 7500rpm it has loads of power and torque and the performance doesn't suffer much when you're carrying a lardy pillion and luggage.

I love the bike, but I still want an R1200GSA though - maybe next April when the warranty runs out on the S...

 

[claude ries]

120 hp

I run on 1100 gs for 220k miles from 1997 to last december , it was a realy sade moment to let it goooooo,but, I just got my new 1200 gs , is really a fun bike if I can add 10 to 20 hp I will giveup my other bike ( R 1 ) that I keep to burn rubber once a week
the new gs is great , what about power controler , KN filter . and a good Remus , can it work well together ???
I never change anything on my old 1100 , ( just ohlins ) any advise ????
thank
claude

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

what about power controler , KN filter . and a good Remus , can it work well together ???
I never change anything on my old 1100 , ( just ohlins ) any advise ????
thank
claude

Hi Claude, welcome to the site

Have a look here, there is some info on a very similar set up that you may find interesting.

Andres

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

After a good deal of brain wracking and visiting of BMW dealers when last in the UK, I have decided to keep the GS and make it better for the roads here.

Shopping list:

New tyres, road only.
New end can or full system, depending on whether it's worth the extra expense.
Power commander.
K&N air filter.
Perhaps, and this is if the wife doesn't notice the big hole in the bank account, new suspension.
Maybe an all black paint job.

Thanks to all who gave advice.

 

[Flipfly]

After a good deal of brain wracking and visiting of BMW dealers when last in the UK, I have decided to keep the GS and make it better for the roads here.

Shopping list:

New tyres, road only.
New end can or full system, depending on whether it's worth the extra expense.
Power commander.
K&N air filter.
Perhaps, and this is if the wife doesn't notice the big hole in the bank account, new suspension.
Maybe an all black paint job.

Thanks to all who gave advice.

How the Feck is an all black paint job gonna get you noticed by all those bad drivers????? Have to say this, and sorry if it offends, but you sir are a plonker!!!
Get a feckin big set of additional lights and 2 feckin ship horns strapped to the side of ya bike. It'll negate the need for more speed as you burn/blow the opposition off the road.
How can you complain that people don't notice you or don't care etc, then paint your bike black. Are you trying to scare them into thinking your a roughty toughty biker that'll hurt them if they get in your way????
Be seen is the first rule of safety (if you exclude riding with your eyes open!!!).
If you need more power on a GS, you ride without enough thought and forward planning. Sounds like you should go and buy a car!!!!

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Ummmm, well. Here in the lovely city of Istanbul, it would matter not a jot if the bike was bright yellow, had a 747 landing light and a ships horn. You see, it's not so much a matter of not being seen or heard, but of being ignored. Driving / riding here is nothing like anywhere else in Europe, there seems to be a firm belief that Allah will protect, and anyway, there will be a good number of virgins for those who pass on to the next world, so why wait? Drivers here EXPECT to have accidents, it's the normal run of things and when they do they just shrug their shoulders in the manner of "it's God's will". A brightly coloured bike will not change that. I always ride with the expectation that no-one has seen me, this is far better than anything else, and makes me concentrate that bit harder.

Thought and forward planning are in plentiful supply, I spent several years earning beer vouchers as a despatch rider in London, where these qualities are essential for making a good living (for the local landlord). The fact is that it makes no difference what plans are made as I ride, when other drivers do their very best to ruin them.

Bear in mind that riding a GS in the UK is not the same as riding one elsewhere. Every country has different roads and riding conditions and no one bike is perfect for them all. Also, no one person rides the same as all others, so each needs, or wants, a bike that suits them.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Ummmm, well. Here in the lovely city of Istanbul, it would matter not a jot if the bike was bright yellow, had a 747 landing light and a ships horn. You see, it's not so much a matter of not being seen or heard, but of being ignored. Driving / riding here is nothing like anywhere else in Europe, .....................................

I'll defo concur with that

Having been in Istanbul in torrential rain on my GS I can honestly say it was a unique experiance - one which was both terrifying at times but also, in a perverse way, quite fun once you got into the 'groove'.

Also did my time earning beer vouchers in central London on a bike and Istanbul gave a very similar buzz

Andres

 

[kerrystewart]

Change or Improve

Hi David
I have a GS here in Australia and fitted the Wunderlich cams as well as
The full Remus system, and the power controller I also fitted a Unfilter air
filter similiar to the K&N. It made a huge difference to the bottom end and
mid range power
The last time I told someone about these mods I got into a huge
debate over the Pros & Cons of dyno tuning. I didn't do these mods to
the bike to right a book about it I did it for my own satifaction, the bike
has improved heaps and I don't need a dyno to tell.

Regards Kerry

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

Cheers Kerry, I considered the Wunderlich cams too but decided to wait and see if the other mods made enough of a difference first.

Otto - Let me know if you come this way again, I'll get the beers ready.

 

[yamonda1]

[QUOTE=You really need to ride here for a couple of weeks to know how bad it gets, London and other european cities just don't have the same maniacs driving around with blindfolds. The worst, believe it or not, are the school bus drivers. I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly been killed by them.

You are a brave guy to do it

(multiply that craziness by ten and welcome to 'Incredible India' )