Dilemma

[Paul G (BHT)]

.... Anyone had both like to comment

.... The OP asked for the opinions of those who'd ridden both....

I think the OP was asking for opinions from those who had owned both..... but I may be wrong.

When I first picked up the LC I too had similar thoughts to those you have expressed. But, they soon disappeared once I became more familiar with the bike and appreciated its true capabilities.

Clearly you don't like it and, for whatever reason, it didn't suite you... that I can understand. But to keep dissing the bike, as you so often do, following such a brief encounter is churlish and obtuse.

 

[Giles]

Well I've owned both

And they are very different. Your personality plays a big part in how you ride, what sort of bike yer gonna choose, and the only way you're going to work out which bike is for you is by a lengthy (like at least a day) test ride on both.

Flip is half right P) that compared to the TC the WC is more highly strung. The TC has a steady feel about it, it's not what I'd call quick, and will never rip yer arms off, but it covers ground quickly with a smooth mile munching, relentless style. Yes it can surprise other bikes, but that's because it handles so well - it floats on the road nicely and carries it's speed well. That's why - not because it's quick.

The WC for me was a breath of fresh air. As nice as the TC was, I was always missing that little bit of hooligan that the TC didn't have. I was never left behind with mates on other bikes - You can only go so fast on most roads, (as Wapping on his HP4 V a WC two up will testify.. ) and I totally accept Flips point that it aint all about speed. And it's not But having a play, letting yer hair down, railing a really good road, doesn't neccessarily have to be about speed (or at least top speed) either. The fun factor can also be about errrrr, energy, va va voom, pick up, point squirt, feck me - about having FUN !!
And that's the bottom line - FUN! Put quite simply, I have more fun on the WC than I did on the TC.

Would I eventually get fecked off with the energy of the WC ?? Now I do completely understand that point. The last time I rode a 990 superduke, that was my overall feel of the bike - 'this bike would drive me nutts eventually' - not a bike that I could live with for a 'do it all' one bike. So this is where I don't agree with Flip. Yes the WC has more energy, yes it has a diferent personality that is a bit younger and wants to stay out later at night, but when I'm not in the mood for a serious hoon and want to bimble to the railway carriages at Rogart ..... will it will do it quite happily?? Yeah!!!! Of course it will! All this talk about a flighty snatchy throttle is crap Good throttle control is in yer wrist - open the fecking thing smoothly! I haven't come out of dynamic mode since I bought it. Wet, dry, two up, Alpine hairpins (in the wet). So I don't buy the 'enduro mode has the best throttle response ..' comment - It's how you use it.

So two very different bikes, both excellent in their own way and both with not so subtle charateristics, one of which will probably suit your style of riding (and your own character) more.

 

[alanbmwgs]

Hiya

New to this forum so I'll start my first post with a hello

I currently have a Triumph Tiger 1050, which is a great bike. But I've always wanted a BMW GS and so I've decided that come the new year it's got to happen.

I've been reading all the experiences on this site as have OCD when it comes to research

Now I was all for getting a used 2013 WC GS TE but the gearbox talk and other issues are putting me off a little. I also appreciate others have had no problems.

So I started to look at the 2013 GSA Triple black which you can get fully kitted out with Top box, panniers etc for around 12.5k. Good deals as the new one is coming 2014, but much lower price and more kit than a used WC GS TE

Saw a couple of GSA parked up in Spain when I was out there 2 up touring on the Tiger. It's a monster of a bike but looked awesome.

Do I go for the older GSA or the WC GS TE ?!

Anyone had both like to comment............................

Ric

Well I'll be buggered, one post and the handbags are flying..... Must be a record !!!! We'll done Ric.
I couldn't possibly comment on your quandary cos I've only got an eleven year old 1150, which I've had from new.

 

[Nutty]

Good write up Giles, you seem to have hit the nail on the head, again! And I agree about the snatchy throttle; it is all in the wrist, and anyone that complains about it may need to go on a refresher course.

 

[Flipfly]

I think the OP was asking for opinions from those who had owned both..... but I may be wrong.

When I first picked up the LC I too had similar thoughts to those you have expressed. But, they soon disappeared once I became more familiar with the bike and appreciated its true capabilities.

Clearly you don't like it and, for whatever reason, it didn't suite you... that I can understand. But to keep dissing the bike, as you so often do, following such a brief encounter is churlish and obtuse.

Fair point, much like all those who diss the older bikes.

 

[Giles]

Fair point, much like all those who diss the older bikes.

I haven't ridden the new wc adventure (obviously..!) but if I had a choice of bikes for a three month trip to Magadan on the road of bones, I'd probably take the steady eddie relentless mile munching TC adventure

 

[Titto]

Off topic but I said this on another thread...If you are still not happy with the throttle if its too snatchy or the traction control feels too intrusive etc ...get your bike plugged in at your nearest dealer and get it updated. It has transformed my bike from the original on/off throttle and horrendous traction control ...its now a totally different bike.

Re the comfort of the bike, having owned an older 1200gs I cant say this feels any different comfort wise and I dont get where the comments about it being so different are coming from? Are the bikes ergonomics totally different on the new gs vs the older 1200?

 

[Flipfly]

Guys, I'm sure the throttle is something you get used to, but it just didn't feel intuitive to me. I guess it's the fly by wire not having a natural feel (maybe I should say 'familiar' feel) of a cable connected to the throttle body/carb. Enduro mode seemed to slow the response a little and made it feel more familiar to me.
The electrics would drive me mad, but the bike is available without it, and that would be my choice.
Giles, you have hit it on the head for me. Great hoon bike, but it takes restraint to bimble (something I lack and would really struggle with on the LC due to it being that bit more strung).

 

[Giles]

 

[Flipfly]

Off topic but I said this on another thread...If you are still not happy with the throttle if its too snatchy or the traction control feels too intrusive etc ...get your bike plugged in at your nearest dealer and get it updated. It has transformed my bike from the original on/off throttle and horrendous traction control ...its now a totally different bike.

Re the comfort of the bike, having owned an older 1200gs I cant say this feels any different comfort wise and I dont get where the comments about it being so different are coming from? Are the bikes ergonomics totally different on the new gs vs the older 1200?

Ref the throttle, that's interesting, when was it updated? I rode one back in July, may be worth trying a new one?

Ergonomically, the bars are way too low for me and the seat was really bad. Both things that can be sorted with a different seat and some 35mm bar risers I'm sure.

 

[Ric]

Well I'll be buggered, one post and the handbags are flying..... Must be a record !!!! We'll done Ric.
I couldn't possibly comment on your quandary cos I've only got an eleven year old 1150, which I've had from new.

Not my intention trust me

Some very passionate people on here for both types of bike. Some very helpful comments also.

Going to be down to the test ride and what feels right

 

[oldnfat]

As the proud owner of a 2013 GSA TC i was keen to see what the new WC was like. A couple of weeks ago i had the chance when Mrs Oldnfat and i were touring the Garden route in South Africa (bloody fantastic and thoroughly recommended). The throttle is definitely more acute in its action BUT got used to it pretty quickly...about 2 days after which didn't give it another thought. I was absolutely blown away by the handling. After 35 years of riding I have ridden nothing that has come close to the confidence the semi active suspension inspires.....tracks like on rails on long bumpy sweeping corners....just awesome. Grunt is instant that makes overtaking two up with luggage rapid and safe. The bike just made me laugh out loud. We had some biggish mileage days (for us) at 350 miles...the stock seat and riding position is better for me than the GSA (before i put bar backs on).

on coming home I was thinking I had made a huge mistake going for a end of run TC and should have waited for the new GSA BUT....my wife prefers the GSA TC in that their is more room and the combined with a lazy throttle means less head banging. She also feels less cramped overall.

For my part....the GSA is more relaxing to ride and has much better wind protection but did feel a bit of a lump after the WC but not nearly as slow or lardy as I was expecting. The WC is an awesome bike.....but so is the GSA TC....they are very different bikes and it really depends on the type of person you are and what you want the bike for.....we do allot of touring two up and for me the GSA TC is better than the WC. The WC is definitely more fun....the GSA WC is going to be just out of this world (think is looks fugly though).

 

[Giles]

Not my intention trust me

Some very passionate people on here for both types of bike. Some very helpful comments also.

Going to be down to the test ride and what feels right

There's two sorts of love you should have for a motorcycle - opening the garage door and thinking .... 'phwoar .... look at that' and then riding it and thinking 'I just love riding this bike'.

And actually, that's not always an easy find! I've had sports bikes that I've sat and polished all day and that have given me that open the garage door feeling, and I've had some touring bikes that have been utterly brilliant at getting me all around europe, but I've ultimately ditched 'cos I found them so boring (no love ).

So try and let your dealer give you a demo bike for as long as you can get - days if you can get away with it. Flip and I are both right and choosing the 'wrong' bike for you would leave you really really frustrated! One could leave you wanting more, or one could be just that tad too Immature.

Think of them like women .....

 

[Flipfly]

There's two sorts of love you should have for a motorcycle - opening the garage door and thinking .... 'phwoar .... look at that' and then riding it and thinking 'I just love riding this bike'.

And actually, that's not always an easy find! I've had sports bikes that I've sat and polished all day and that have given me that open the garage door feeling, and I've had some touring bikes that have been utterly brilliant at getting me all around europe, but I've ultimately ditched 'cos I found them so boring (no love ).

So try and let your dealer give you a demo bike for as long as you can get - days if you can get away with it. Flip and I are both right and choosing the 'wrong' bike for you would leave you really really frustrated! One could leave you wanting more, or one could be just that tad too Immature.

Think of them like women .....

Ever owned an rt Giles. Absolutely stunning bit of engineering. Handle better than a gs, better wind protection, effortless at covering miles, quicker than a gs, just an overall better bike than the gs.

Ooh, almost forgot, and stunningly boring

I admired the rt like it could save the world, but I never loved it.

My 1150 makes me smile. It a piece of shit really, but it goes better than it should, it's uglier than a wart on a supermodels face and it has character. I love that I can off road it where it shouldn't be off roaded, tour to Southern Spain with it covered in Derbyshire mud and fix it roadside with a couple of spanners and a beer in the other hand.

The fact that it costs me feck all is neither here nor there, it hits the right buttons. I keep looking at 1200adv for sale, but I'm not sure I'd love it the same even though it's technically loads better.
I have a drz400 since my berg got stolen. I loved the Berg, I will never love the drz no matter how good it is, it's a zero fizz machine no matter how good it is.

 

[Engineer]

I don't get all this talk of snatchy throttles - it just isn't, it is light and very responsive compared to the TC and earlier 1200s but you get used to it very quickly and is as smooth as the previous 1200s - well it is on my standard bike, I don't have modes so I don't know which of the 3 modes (if any) that it is set up the same as - maybe it has one all of its own????

 

[Giles]

Well my job bike is an RT, and you are quite right - it's a very, very understated bike and as you say, covers miles effortlesly and can really scratch! But No, I wouldn't buy one either. Maybe in 20 years time ...

You have to love opening that garage door ...

if it wasn't for my missus and regular pillions rides I'd be sorely tempted with the new 1190 ....

 

[Titto]

Giles: Updated twice since june both with new software each time altgough I couldn't get software revision numbers from the dealer to put on here.

It would be easier to compare specific issues with bikes if we all had the same software etc but we dont and believe me when I say that there has been drastic changes to my bike (luckily for the better) since I first had it.
The last update was this month and the throttle feels the same but the traction control feels less intrusive but also flashes less on the dash.
The anti wheelie effect you get with the traction control also feels less harsh so you can be more violent wiyh the throttle now. Awesome stuff.

 

[Giles]

Oooooooo! Well I'm dure a 6k service shortly .... !

 

[Flipfly]

Giles: Updated twice since june both with new software each time altgough I couldn't get software revision numbers from the dealer to put on here.

It would be easier to compare specific issues with bikes if we all had the same software etc but we dont and believe me when I say that there has been drastic changes to my bike (luckily for the better) since I first had it.
The last update was this month and the throttle feels the same but the traction control feels less intrusive but also flashes less on the dash.
The anti wheelie effect you get with the traction control also feels less harsh so you can be more violent wiyh the throttle now. Awesome stuff.

That sounds promising! My test ride was ruined by the throttle and anti wheelie bollox (personal feelings, don't get upset), sounds like these issues have been addressed by bmw (although why they would fix something that wasn't broke eludes me ).
Will book a ride on the 2014 next year to see if how much better it is (will wait for the better weather though ).
If the throttle is improved and the electronics are less severe, the bike will still be too fast for me, but I'll finally have nothing to moan about (apart from the 170 rear wheel size ).

 

[Jazbee]

I agree with a lot of what Giles talked about, but I get a little bored of defending the WC on this forum, I just stop contributing or commenting and I think that's maybe the case with most satisfied owners?

I've had a 2007 1200 hexhead, an 1100 and 1200 RT (the later a TC) and the new WC, all are top class machines. But the WC is without doubt the best boxer engined BMW I've owned or ridden (and I've ridden most of em).

I've never had a problem since I bought it (ok, only since June this year) my gearbox is fine, its not snatchy, I didn't need spacers for my panniers, my wheel thing works great with the satnav, the switchgear is very good, the seat is a big improvement, the lights are great, the exhaust looks good and has a fruity note so no Akro needed, it feels like my old GS in the respect of solidness, reliability, planted sort of way but goes like a K1300S at the same time, the modes are great, the new tyres developed for it are good and will only get better. I've always preferred the 'standard' GS but the GSA is also going to be a cracker of a bike ........

Now all we need is Mark Hooton to crack on with that hugger development