Decisions, decisions.........

[Colban]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has already been asked (I have searched some threads...couldn't find the info I'm after) - What is the best bike to get, the standard 1200GS or the Adventure?

There is so many conflicting thoughts on this - I've read on one forum that people buy the standard GS and then spend £1500 making it look like the adventure with the engine bars and larger tank - WHY?

I'm really taken with the 1200GSA (although at 5'10" I'm concerned I'm too short) and really keen to place an order but even the dealership was trying to push the standard model on me saying its lower, lighter etc. I couldn't sit on one to test as the dealership doesn't allow customers to sit on showroom bikes and the demonstrator was being serviced How tall do you really need to be to comfortably ride the adventure? (I saw in one thread 5'9" is possible).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jed.

Hi Jedmeister,with the coversion to Adventure spec,its mostly with the 1150,not the 1200 as i dont think there are enough donor 1200Adv around at the moment.At 5'10",you are not a shortar5e,so either 1200 should be OK.
Take a look at Shirley's (iluvmygs) avatar.She seems to do pretty well.
I dont know if cost is an issue for you at the moment,but dont forget,it's "out of season" for bike sales at the moment and dealers seem to be offering half decent deals on the std 1200.Theres a link here somewhere to all BWMs dealers websites.Take a look and see whats on offer.
As for your dealers attitude regarding sitting on a bike,even if it is a sold machine,i'm not impressed.The important thing is to get an extended test ride
on both bikes (couple of hours each) and then decide.The more you ride them,the better they get.
PS,dont write off the 1150.

 

[BTBR]

Ok, so what was the £70 for? Cost I'm buggered if I can understand why my estimate is £4,500... I'm just following expert advise and trying to maintain the warranty

Sorry, but I lost track of your tread in which you drowned your bike, but have a I read that correct £4500 to repair.......ah

What the feck is that for. What parts does the estimate detail?

 

[BTBR]

Or I could buy a pushbike and hang around secure in the knowledge that no-one will be able to comment on my riding skills because they ride past too quickly to notice me

Fair point....

 

[LiquidLAN]

Oil & filters. In my case I had no mechanical damage. I haven't been about much lately, so don't know the story, but what's the craic wi yours?

Long and tedious Its been in the garage for four weeks on Thursday and I'm still to find out exactly what the problem is, other than a knock on starting and apparently doesnt ideal properly. Work should start on the 1st December, so hopefully get a better idea then

BTBR - Initial quote was for a complete engine, they seem to have settled for a short block now/

 

[LiquidLAN]

PS,dont write off the 1150.

I tried the 1150 adv, but found that with the wider seat, the lack of leg length is much more of a problem, the 1200 seat is narrower and much easier to handle.

That said I've seen Charlie Borman in public a few times and he's a complete short arse and he managed it

 

[Jedmeister]

As for your dealers attitude regarding sitting on a bike,even if it is a sold machine,i'm not impressed.The important thing is to get an extended test ride
on both bikes (couple of hours each) and then decide.The more you ride them,the better they get.
PS,dont write off the 1150.

Hi Colban,

It was CW Motorcycles in Dorchester (Won dealer of the year award apparently) who wouldn't let me sit on the showroom bike. That said, they did say I could ride the demo model if I book (and when it's back on the road) - can't say fairer than that.

Thanks for the responses everyone

 

[AndyT]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has already been asked (I have searched some threads...couldn't find the info I'm after) - What is the best bike to get, the standard 1200GS or the Adventure?

There is so many conflicting thoughts on this - I've read on one forum that people buy the standard GS and then spend £1500 making it look like the adventure with the engine bars and larger tank - WHY?

I'm really taken with the 1200GSA (although at 5'10" I'm concerned I'm too short) and really keen to place an order but even the dealership was trying to push the standard model on me saying its lower, lighter etc. I couldn't sit on one to test as the dealership doesn't allow customers to sit on showroom bikes and the demonstrator was being serviced How tall do you really need to be to comfortably ride the adventure? (I saw in one thread 5'9" is possible).

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jed.

Thats an easy one - the GSA. The harder question is do you get a R1200GSA or a R1150GSA. I myself ould be tempted with a R1100 or R850 but the !200 GSA is a super looking bike.

AndyT

 

[Eastriding2002]

Interesting thread.

My question, as a new 1200GS owner is what are the benefits of the GSA over the standard GS?

I liked the flexibility which the larger tank offers you, but felt the extra weight would mean I wouldn't gain anything after changing from the Aprilia Caponord which weighted a similar amount. Also having stumpy legs the extra height would maybe not help either!

 

[Ash]

Some like it, some don't, again its all down to personal choice. If you are quite happy that, in any situation you can control the brakes suffice to avoid a wheel lock up, then don't have it.

BUT, bear in mind, that when shit happens, having ABS is one less thing that you have to think about.

So based on that, and as far as I am concerned, it only has to work once and if it saved your life then it was worth the expense.

Some people moan about the extra weight of the ABS unit, but have you seen the size of the average GS rider.

For off roading you also have the option to turn it off.

size makes no difference.
crikey