chad
Registered user
Thanks Chad, - I like it here, just need to find a reason now to start using the luggage
BEER
Do NOT test ride a GS
- Thread starter oldrascal
- Start date
BEERXBX
Registered user
Definitely familiar!!
Me, another (soon to be ex) Blackbird owner. Moaning to my wife about my knees and the compressed riding position becoming less comfortable as the years go by.....
Went to a BMW dealer, test rode a GSA. Felt comfortable, plenty fast enough, easy handling etc etc, found myself enjoying riding again. My wife sat on the pillion seat and pronounced it comfortable for her. SWMBO - Permission Granted!
Now looking to the delivery of my new (to me) GSA tomorrow ......
Bye Bye Blackbird as the song lyrics go .....
Me, another (soon to be ex) Blackbird owner. Moaning to my wife about my knees and the compressed riding position becoming less comfortable as the years go by.....
Went to a BMW dealer, test rode a GSA. Felt comfortable, plenty fast enough, easy handling etc etc, found myself enjoying riding again. My wife sat on the pillion seat and pronounced it comfortable for her. SWMBO - Permission Granted!
Now looking to the delivery of my new (to me) GSA tomorrow ......
Bye Bye Blackbird as the song lyrics go .....
Boer_seun*Skot
Registered user
G650GS or not????
I know this isn't really a reply but more asking a question. I've only just registered. I'm looking to buy a G650GS and I'm not sure if it would be the right thing to do. I've read on the internet about starting problems, rust, gearbox problem, ABS problems. To me , from what I've read it doesn't look to good at this point. A quick bit of history about myself. I grew up in South Africa and bought a Honda xt/xr 500 when I was 12 years old with money I saved up working on school holidays and weekends. It was a monster and use to ride it off-road all the time all day long. Since I left South Africa at the age of 18, I haven't been on a bike for 15 years. So I think for me buying a G650GS would be ideal to get back into riding again. Has anyone got any ideas or comments please?
I know this isn't really a reply but more asking a question. I've only just registered. I'm looking to buy a G650GS and I'm not sure if it would be the right thing to do. I've read on the internet about starting problems, rust, gearbox problem, ABS problems. To me , from what I've read it doesn't look to good at this point. A quick bit of history about myself. I grew up in South Africa and bought a Honda xt/xr 500 when I was 12 years old with money I saved up working on school holidays and weekends. It was a monster and use to ride it off-road all the time all day long. Since I left South Africa at the age of 18, I haven't been on a bike for 15 years. So I think for me buying a G650GS would be ideal to get back into riding again. Has anyone got any ideas or comments please?
Go to a dealer and try one out boetie...
davlyn
Registered user
highly recommended
Oldrascal, I took your advice, bought one without even trying it. The guy at the dealership thought I was bonkers but hay hoo. As you say these bikes just fill a certain criteria. I had been 6 yrs without a motorbike but had a hankering to get back on. I looked at superbikes first but couldn't seem to see the appeal of lying on the tank trying to kill myself again.
My 1200GSA is just brilliant, I have only had it 1 week but have managed to cram in nearly 300 miles of riding. The first few miles were a little wobbly but it soon came back to me and I just can't seem to leave the thing alone. I don't mind riding in the rain but these winds at the moment are holding me up from getting out again.
I can't rate these bike highly enough, if you want one go get one, there brilliant.
regards
Dave
Oldrascal, I took your advice, bought one without even trying it. The guy at the dealership thought I was bonkers but hay hoo. As you say these bikes just fill a certain criteria. I had been 6 yrs without a motorbike but had a hankering to get back on. I looked at superbikes first but couldn't seem to see the appeal of lying on the tank trying to kill myself again.
My 1200GSA is just brilliant, I have only had it 1 week but have managed to cram in nearly 300 miles of riding. The first few miles were a little wobbly but it soon came back to me and I just can't seem to leave the thing alone. I don't mind riding in the rain but these winds at the moment are holding me up from getting out again.
I can't rate these bike highly enough, if you want one go get one, there brilliant.
regards
Dave
WillsGSA
Registered user
G'day from Oz,
I've been a biker for over 35 years. I picked up my 2006 model R1150 GSA Adventure at a local dealership a month ago. My first BMW and although I test rode a very used 2002 1150 GS before I came across the '06 Adventure I was sold on the comfort and verstility alone. Even though my GSA has 72,000km on it's odometer it rides like a good 'un.
Wish I had discovered the bikes twenty years ago! I'm new here but being a BMW GS Newbie I after all the info I can get!
Cheers William.
I've been a biker for over 35 years. I picked up my 2006 model R1150 GSA Adventure at a local dealership a month ago. My first BMW and although I test rode a very used 2002 1150 GS before I came across the '06 Adventure I was sold on the comfort and verstility alone. Even though my GSA has 72,000km on it's odometer it rides like a good 'un.
Wish I had discovered the bikes twenty years ago!
I'm new here but being a BMW GS Newbie I after all the info I can get!Cheers William.
Totally agree with all the majority of the comments on here, i was the same had a VFR sore knees cramped riding had put on bar risers it felt not bad but the Beemer what a difference. Yes takes a bit of getting used to and my first jaunt had me straight onto a dual carriage way and it was windy, at first i was worried the amount the front end felt light but my pal said stick with it takes a bit of getting used to. Anyway yesterday took the long way home from Aberdeen to Inverness over the Lecht and flippen heck i cant belive the speed you can carry round the twisties it brilliant and thats on the second ride.
Got home and other half jumped straight on the back, she has never been near any of my preivious bikes Tuono / Fazer / VFR and not mentioning the sports bikes.
So totally agree take the plunge i may have been put off if i had gone for a test ride.
Got home and other half jumped straight on the back, she has never been near any of my preivious bikes Tuono / Fazer / VFR and not mentioning the sports bikes.
So totally agree take the plunge i may have been put off if i had gone for a test ride.
itspilsbury
Registered user
Same here. Had a R1150RT for 7 years from new, loved it but fancied a change. Had a test ride on the new twin cam GSA, liked it and bought one. For the first few weeks I couldn't believe what I had done, loved the RT did not like the GSA, too tall, hurt my arse, just everything wasn't me. Then, yes then, I went on it for a week around the Picos and it grew and grew on me, by the end of the week it had grown on me. Since that day forward I have loved it and have now almost covered 24 thousand miles with 10 thousand miles of trips planned for this year. Got to be one the greatest motorcycles out there, just buy and ride.
I keep straying, but keep coming back..... should have cut out the middle man and just stuck with GS's ... now had
1x650 GS
1x 100PD
2x 1100GS's
4 x 1150 GS's
3 1200 GS's
Of the other 80 or so bikes I've had
never repeated the same model twice...so that's saying something
1x650 GS
1x 100PD
2x 1100GS's
4 x 1150 GS's
3 1200 GS's
Of the other 80 or so bikes I've had
never repeated the same model twice...so that's saying something 
The only test ride I had on a GS was thrashing a 1200 around with the ORS in Wales....was hooked and the rest is history
Plumologist
Registered user
Couldn't agree more, I have often gone out for a short ride and on my way home I have decided to go the long way back. Around 120 miles.
Anaid
Registered user
But to be honest.. is here somebody who ever bought a bike without driving???
When i returned to biking after 10 years plus lay off (sports bikes) i Knew what i wanted which was a 1200GS so i popped into Rainbow and had a shufty then haggled and bought a brand new one from elswhere over the phone (rainbow wouldnt haggle as much) so the first time i actually rode a GS was the day i picked it up
Yup, first time i rode both my Harley and my GSA was when i picked em up from the dealer/seller. Never rode either model before...
Love this post and can truly identify with it, i'm about to take the plunge and buy a 2013 GSA (not WC) but I will ride it first as I know what to expect:
But then again I have owned:
1987 R80G/S
2006 R1200GS
2010 F800GS
And for the last three years I have been seduced by the Austrians with a 990 Adventure but have decided....
I want something that can go more than 140 miles on a tank
I want to adjust the valves setting myself without having to dismantle the entire bike
I want something that doesn't keep breaking annoying bits that really shouldn't break in the time they do! (yes I know GS's can be a pain too but my two "modern" ones ran faultlessly).
and
My new job means I won't tend to ride anywhere near the only KTM dealer around my neck of the woods but will now ride past a BMW dealer every day on the commute!
But then again I have owned:
1987 R80G/S
2006 R1200GS
2010 F800GS
And for the last three years I have been seduced by the Austrians with a 990 Adventure but have decided....
I want something that can go more than 140 miles on a tank
I want to adjust the valves setting myself without having to dismantle the entire bike
I want something that doesn't keep breaking annoying bits that really shouldn't break in the time they do! (yes I know GS's can be a pain too but my two "modern" ones ran faultlessly).
and
My new job means I won't tend to ride anywhere near the only KTM dealer around my neck of the woods but will now ride past a BMW dealer every day on the commute!
yep +1, ordered an 06 gsa in march 06, first ride was in june that year, was asked did I want a test ride, said couldn`t be arsed I`ll ride the one im payin for... oh still riding it now...
Bendy toy
Registered user
I bought my 08 R1200GSA unridden. I could reach the floor, service history all there and price was right. Deal done. Rode it home and loved it from the first few hundred yards. Of course it's not perfect but its a whole lot better than it has any right to be.
Lukep749
Registered user
Swapped my VFR 800 vtec for a GSA 1200, I sat on a Rallye in the showroom being 5 ft 9 with 30 inch inside leg it suited just fine but couldn't strike A deal with the shop owner for the Rallye, he had the GSA just in being prepped, had a quick look and bought it.
When I went to pick it up I couldn't put the side stand up or touch the floor, first stop was the petrol Station were I managed to prop myself up on the high pump island to fill it up and get the stand down, yes I brimmed it, full 33 litres the set off through Bradford City centre rush hour to get home !!!, what they call a baptist of fire, took it round to my mates house to have a good look at what I had done! Horrified.
My mate has a Valadero so was hoping for guidance; half an hour looking at it, on side stand, off side stand, on the centre stand, put in gear roll off, here we go, my mate couldn't even get his leg over it ! Oh my god it's going to have to go back.
Half an hour later, seat off, lowered, a few leg swings, and 400 mile later absolutely love it, cannot get enough of it and gave used it to commute to work for the last two weeks, if I would have test ride it I would have run a mile, more I ride it more I like it.
I would offer the exact same advise to all, don't test ride, you won't buy one, go for it you won't regret it.
PS looking for a lower seat, need about 2 inch to get both feet down.
When I went to pick it up I couldn't put the side stand up or touch the floor, first stop was the petrol Station were I managed to prop myself up on the high pump island to fill it up and get the stand down, yes I brimmed it, full 33 litres the set off through Bradford City centre rush hour to get home !!!, what they call a baptist of fire, took it round to my mates house to have a good look at what I had done! Horrified.
My mate has a Valadero so was hoping for guidance; half an hour looking at it, on side stand, off side stand, on the centre stand, put in gear roll off, here we go, my mate couldn't even get his leg over it ! Oh my god it's going to have to go back.
Half an hour later, seat off, lowered, a few leg swings, and 400 mile later absolutely love it, cannot get enough of it and gave used it to commute to work for the last two weeks, if I would have test ride it I would have run a mile, more I ride it more I like it.
I would offer the exact same advise to all, don't test ride, you won't buy one, go for it you won't regret it.
PS looking for a lower seat, need about 2 inch to get both feet down.
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