Dilemma

[Nutty]

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

You've hit the nail on the head there. Over 30,000 sold so far worldwide, and a handful of issues. The new wasserboxer is the best GS to date.

 

[Jumblemo]

No contest. The WC is the best bike I've owned or ridden in over 30 continuous years of bike ownership.

In Dyna you can ride it like a supermoto (though don't expect KTM1290-type lunacy)... And all the better it is for that. It's great for hooning or simply pressing on when you want to get to that hotel before nightfall.

Or if you want to eat miles comfortably put it in 'rain' mode and it tries it's best to simulate a wheezy old TC, and still feels miles better.

Or stick it in Enduro and get something in between.

And that is the great thing about this bike that has continued to wind up the TC owners for nearly a year solid, causing them to hang around this forum with envy till they have one by one finally saved up enough to join the fun. This bike doesn't lack character, but it does have several. It's a sports bike, a tourer and even makes a reasonable fist of it off-road (though to my mind a tad heavy for more challenging off road).

Buy one and ignore the TC crowd's bile, or buy a TC and keep longing for the bike you really want. The TC isn't a bad bike, it's just over-shadowed.

 

[Jumblemo]

My test ride was ruined by the throttle and anti wheelie bollox

How so? If you wanted to wheelie then you turn the anti-wheelie bollox off with one two second press of a button?

But I smell a rat.

On the one hand the bike is too fast for you, on the other you want to hoon around on one wheel?

The secret to not going too fast is to learn how to control the throttle.

 

[Flipfly]

How so? If you wanted to wheelie then you turn the anti-wheelie bollox off with one two second press of a button?

But I smell a rat.

On the one hand the bike is too fast for you, on the other you want to hoon around on one wheel?



The secret to not going too fast is to learn how to control the throttle.

It was obtrusive and cut in way too severely. It is something that bm seem to have addressed by the sounds of it, so maybe the bike is better now. It's not too fast as in it scares me, far from it, I just don't want the temptation, which is why I have ags and not something fast. I know that some don't have an issue with the throttle and electrics, but a few I have spoken to have had the same complaints as me, and the fact that bm have worked on improving suggests that there was enough complaints to justify them spending a few quid to rectify it.

There's no rat. You guys all think the new one is the best gs ever, I disagree. Is it the fastest? Yes. Is it the most technologically advanced? Yes. Is it the best handling? Yep. Does that make it the best gs yet? Well that's down to personal preference.
As I said, I'll ride a 2014 version and see if my dislikes have been addressed which in the main part a remap of the various systems probably would. The comfort aspect is addressed through aftermarket seats, bars and bar risers as per every bm prior to this one.

What is a laugh is the wheezy old model comments. When the 1200 came out it was the fastest and the old bike was wheezy, then with the 1200tc the 1200 was wheezy, now the toilet arrives and it's the same old gumpf. All the time a zx6r has kicked out more power than a bike with twice the capacity. In an age where sportsbikes kick out nearly 200bhp, I think calling a bike with 125 anything but wheezy is quite funny by todays standards. The multistrada and ktm have 150bhp and compare to the gs in the audience it is trying to attract.
It always comes down to how much faster the new one is over the old. If it was all about power you should have bought something a little less wheezy!

Anyway, your all happy with it so good for you finding a bike that you prefer, but please respect that there are many more happy owners of the older models. I rode an LC and didn't like it, maybe the 2014 will ride better and tickle where the version I rode didn't.

 

[Jumblemo]

Is it the fastest? Yes. Is it the most technologically advanced? Yes. Is it the best handling? Yep. Does that make it the best gs yet? Well that's down to personal preference.
As I said, I'll ride a 2014 version and see if my dislikes have been addressed which in the main part a remap of the various systems probably would. The comfort aspect is addressed through aftermarket seats, bars and bar risers as per every bm prior to this one.

Well we agree on two key aspects. Bar risers are a worthwhile improvement. And 'wheezy' is relative to what one is used to. The TC is nimble compared to the HD Street Glides and Road Kings I enjoy on my US jaunts, and the WC felt wheezy after a couple of hours on an S1000RR.

I'm happy to drive the fastest, best handling, most advanced GS so far produced. As certified by flipfly.

And I'd add it's probably the best wheelie'ing GS too!

 

[Flipfly]

Well we agree on two key aspects. Bar risers are a worthwhile improvement. And 'wheezy' is relative to what one is used to. The TC is nimble compared to the HD Street Glides and Road Kings I enjoy on my US jaunts, and the WC felt wheezy after a couple of hours on an S1000RR.

I'm happy to drive the fastest, best handling, most advanced GS so far produced. As certified by flipfly.

And I'd add it's probably the best wheelie'ing GS too!

Not sure I've ever argued otherwise tbh. When some said it was unstable I said that during my test ride I had pushed it hard and had no more than a slight wiggle which any bike would have done (hitting a hump whilst cranked over). The bike is the fastest gs and has more gizmos and gadgets than any other gs, never questioned it. But.....I have critisised bits of the bike I didn't like and I still question the 'best ever GS' as that is subjective. Proff would argue that the r80g/s was the best ever gs,.but he's a loony