Commuting on a GS

[King Louie]

Hi All

Just recently signed up, although I am without a GS at this moment in time, hence my question.
I do approx 450 miles a week commuting into London and currently use my trusty VFR for this. I do however love the idea of a GS as my next bike, but before buying one I'd really appreciate some feedback from anybody that commutes on theirs. Does the size and width of the GS make life difficult etc etc.
I do also ride quite a lot at weekends, purely for plessure so the GS is a no brainer for that.

Anyway, all feedback greatly received

Cheers

 

[simonbarnes]

I've got the 1200 Adv. and it's great in traffic (albeit London being a bit more of a challenge than Nottingham or Derby). The width is perceved to be more than it actually is.

Good road presence and agile enough. Copes with crap road surfaces, see over most cars. Good turning circle compared to tourer/sports bikes. Also very comfy.

Easy on the wrists and torque available means you are not up and down the gearbox as much.

A smaller thumper would be better in the thick of it but you wouldn't want to do 400+ miles on it.

Me say yes to GS.

 

[walti]

The only negative I found in London, is the mirrors are the same height as a Transit, so you sometimes have to weave a bit to get through, otherwise it's better than a sports bike as you can see so much more!

 

[riderbob]

I commute from Maidenhead to Hammersmith every day and don't have a problem. There is the odd gap you can't fit through, but otherwise no problem.

 

[Bødkerman]

Commuting in London

Did it for 5 years all year round, bar Xmas 'cause of the drunks in cars.

From Surrey into the city and then all around visiting clients. Brilliant, more imposing than anything else, you can see further than on a VFR and therefore find position and route faster.

Use a top box and/or skinny panniers (city lids on an 1100). Vary rarely found I was held up by lack of space and even when I was it was hardly for more than a light change. Also easier to ride off road (pavements) when really pushed

 

[Bananaman]

Two chaps I ride with have VFR's and filtering through traffic we all go through toghether, despite who is leader.
(I am a fat bastard though so I breath in .)

 

[Jinxit]

I commute from Bedford area to Heathrow daily on mine so cover about 600 miles a week and find it a pleasure. Much better than the Honda dullville i had before. No problems through traffic most of the time.

 

[Magwych]

Hi,
I'm currently doing 550 miles a week into Canary wharf from Ashford in Kent. The GS is brilliant for this. The bars are wider than other bikes, but do pass over most car mirrors where others would not. The only problem I habe with close-quarters traffic is with Transits and SUVs, there the mirrors are hat much higher. The plus side to this is that you learn to think twice about diving for a marginal gap. The sheer size and bulk make an imposing sight from a driver's perspective, most will provide extra space that you don't need.
I am sure I piss a few riders off by not driving between lanes of traffic as fast as they want, or need, But hey, I did six dispatch-rider years, and don't need to push that envelope any more.

 

[GlenWatt]

I can concour with the other positive comments above.

Another couple of positives for commuting are the tyre life and 50 mpg thirst. Both have been better than most other bikes over 600 cc. (650 V-Strom Excluded)

 

[Matt Gibbs]

I agree with all the aforesaid comments but would just like to add that I always arrive with a smile on my face on the GS whatever the weather then spend the next 8 hours contemplating the ride home.
Matt

 

[King Louie]

Commuting on a GS - running costs

Thanks for all the feedback guys, couple more Q's on the subject.
How does the 1200 do on fuel? and what are the running costs like, servicing, tyres etc.

Thank you

Hi All

Just recently signed up, although I am without a GS at this moment in time, hence my question.
I do approx 450 miles a week commuting into London and currently use my trusty VFR for this. I do however love the idea of a GS as my next bike, but before buying one I'd really appreciate some feedback from anybody that commutes on theirs. Does the size and width of the GS make life difficult etc etc.
I do also ride quite a lot at weekends, purely for plessure so the GS is a no brainer for that.

Anyway, all feedback greatly received

Cheers

 

[Commuter]

Yep:

Hence my board name, before moving abroad, I commuted from Mid Bedfordshire to Hyde Park Corner for over 3 years, a round trip of 103 miles a day. The GS was the only bike that had me smiling all the way there and back. Plus the fact that you have a better view on the traffic ahead, plus the bike is bigger to be seen. This was on a 1150, I can imagine the 1200 being even better with it's lighter frame.

2 additions. Buy lots of Lights for the front of the bike, see one of lads on this site for one of the best set ups, buy a floro jacket and you will be golden. I know of one courier that still uses his GS once or twice a week to break up his week of boring riding.

One additional thing that you may or may not want to know is that GS's protect you in crashes. I still relate to how my first GS saved my life on the M1 at 06.00 in the morning when someone took me out.

Remember, they are out to get you. Get a GS and you will love it.

Ride safe.

Nick

 

[GrinningGSer]

Commuting and filtering is a joy on a GS. Maybe strange, but I enjoy town riding because it gives me a sort of smug feeling

Weight is low down and very chuckable.

Width is no problem at all bacause the GS feels wider than it is... and your legs are protected.

Mirrors are wider than the engine and wider than non expanded vario boxes. Beware the expanded boxes though

Mirrors are above cars but as mentioned previously clash with transit type height vehicles. can't have it both ways I'm afraid.

Commute with pleasure

 

[Sea Lion]

I used to think my GS1100 was crap for commuting.

The transmission snatch made slow manoevering difficult. Surging a pain. Also it was too wide. At 900mm wide at the cylinders, they were just something else to get in the way. Yes I know the handlebars are the same width, but with a wiggle you can squeeze through. Cant wiggle the pots though.

My advice is get somthing smaller, thinner and more reliable??!

 

[Garryc]

...I converted from a VFR as well after 2yrs & 50K or so,

> You simple cant squeeze into the same gaps and the mirror height was a pain, initially

> The height and weight takes some time to get used to, especially if your a short ass (..like me)

> Lights are pish in comparison to Honda

> I think Honda ahead in terms of quality and reliablity

> I preferred filtering on 11GSA over both VFR and 12GS, better geared

> Tank range on both were better than I could ever squeeze on my VFR. As I hate filling up every other day.

 

[Butler]

Did it for 5 years all year round, bar Xmas 'cause of the drunks in cars.

From Surrey into the city and then all around visiting clients. Brilliant, more imposing than anything else, you can see further than on a VFR and therefore find position and route faster.

Use a top box and/or skinny panniers (city lids on an 1100). Vary rarely found I was held up by lack of space and even when I was it was hardly for more than a light change. Also easier to ride off road (pavements) when really pushed

City lids? Any pics? May get some.

 

[Keithp]

Will let you know tomorow , first trip into london with the new 1200 gsa.

Keith

 

[Jhenshall]

For my 1150 commuting, with a Givi large top box:

Got the lights sorted out - I use a pair of Micro DS run through a nippy norman switch (I have them on most of the time) so most (!) see me coming. I also have a pair of F150 spots wired into the main so when I flash lights its rather obvious. (All BTR supplied / fitted).

I have added a 1" riser to the bars which helped with mirror / bar interaction (still have to watch taxis, vans and people carriers). 1" doesn't need any re-routing of cables, etc.

Then fitted an extended front mudguard to keep the road crap off the front engine plate.

I think the 12 needs the lights and the mudguard treatment also. Not sure about the bars.

The large tank means 4+ days commuting for me before visiting the petrol station. Good seat hight, visibility, road presence and all that with comfort. Best bike I have commuted on ever, and still works for the 4-day touring trip of W Scotland.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Did about 220 miles per week's 5 workdays communiting when i was in South Estonia, from my village to the town where i scared mums in their cages with me horrific looking dirty-muddy bike in the city traffic . Had 3 choices of roads, 1 gravel road which i preferred. Fully bomb proof for 3 years of doing so. Any VFR would probably collapse into 2 or 3 pieces doing those deep potholed gravel roads as i do here in Estonia with speed. Not counting the weekend rides, then i do much longer rides over gravel and dirt. Look my avatar for typical riding here.

My road to school, then work and back:

And typical dirt road around 80-100mph where the GS is exceptionally stable (symbiosis of horizontally mounted engine and the telelever suspension me thinks) if you just can hold the grips while standing up :

What i like about the GS aside the shaft and telelever is the surprising comfort for a trailie bike and 50/50 balanced low centre of weight design (the boxer engine mainly) that goes through corners like a lightweight bicycle, handles better on tar than my Suzuki GSX I4 sportsbike did IMHO:

(oh... forgot to say we have a right hand traffic here)


GS is certanly one of the most cost effective communiting bike you can find having owned sportsbike previously. It absolutely doesn't need any special high-revving/wet-clutched motorcycle oils - put cheap regular car motor oils and transmission oils. Dry clutch (most of other have it soaking in the same oil emitting sheet into it), separate gearbox oil (most of other bikes have it soaking in the same oil creating metal shiite debris), low revving and robust air/oil cooled boxer twin engined bike that has very few needs compared most of other jap high-revving 3+ cylinder chain-driven screamers that natively require a lot more attention.

 

[Yoda]

I know there is the usual humour on here about which colour is faster. Joking aside, I've found that a yellow GS, a yellow jacket and some extra lights gets the cages moving out of the way when filtering/passing.