First 4 weeks with a GS...

[the_laughing_mole]

For anyone thinking about moving from a sportsbike to a GS - let me share my expectations and experience with you: I was a BAB, getting back on 2 wheels in 1999 with a new CBR600 - great bike and a revelation after my previous bike in 1984 (Suzuki GSX750). A couple of years on I was ready for more thrills and got a Blade - the 2nd year of the fuel injection model. Again an excellent bike (always beaten up in the reviews as not matching an R1 or GSX - but way fast enough for us mortals) which I had for 3 years in the end.

But I began to get bored. The short sweet adrenalin burn of a Sunday afternoon or snatched summer evening blast began to pale. The riding position meant that the front end feel was great - but the cost was in my wrists, neck and inability to see much more than the ribbon of tarmac on front of me. Rides around the country lanes where I live and indeed on most of the UK roads meant uneven surfaces, potholes etc - the Blade was not impressed and neither were my limbs. Anything under 70 mph was uncomfortable. I started to think about moving on out of the superbike tribe and into something where I could enjoy being on 2 wheels whatever the speed, whatever the road and where I could think about biking adventures beyond the quick blast.

So I started to think about something different. I was not ready for a tourer (too big) nor a cruiser (too slow and I'm not ready for black leather and tassels just yet). I did think about a sports-tourer and tested the new VFR - great bike, but not different enough. I wanted something quite different. So I started to think about a big traillie.

I read the reviews a narrowed it down to a Varadero, Tiger and GS. All the reviews rated the GS, but the price! I've always been a Honda fan, so ignored the crowd and took a look at the V. I tried to get my head to overrule my heart - better price than the GS, Honda reliability etc, but it left me cold (the finish on the used ones I looked at was not great) and it was ugly! I dismissed the Tiger on seat height, looks and reliability concerns and started to look at the GS seriously.

As I'm 5'9", I went for the GS rather than the Adventure. I looked at quite a few in SPC and was surprised at the state of some of them - corrosion! I know they get used, but some of them were shocking (BMW could learn a bit about finish quality from the big H). But after a test ride I was sold - it was different all right. Now I got a nice tidy 3 year old 15k 1150GS with ABS, h-grips, panniers and alarm.

So first impressions after 4 weeks:
1 - Handling is excellent - I reckon I can carve up these twisty A and B roads faster than my Blade and with so much better visibility.
2 - Comfort is great too - though not the 'glassy smooth ride' the bike journos go on about - but far better than a sports bike. Riding position is great.
3- The gearbox is more than OK! I'd heard all the stories about an agricultural gearbox, but mine slips in fine. So I never do clutchless changes - might be the reason.
4- Initial buffeting was terrible - after reading this site I fitted the Tobinators (still seeking the final sweetspot) and the difference is tremendous.
5-This bike pulls really well with all that torque on hand and the sound is good - I don't mind the vibes, it makes it feel more like a bike alive.
6-Yes it is heavy and you need to have respect when pushing it around - I have a gravel drive... - but once underway, you rarely need to put your feet down as the balance is so good
7 - It looks fantastic - that Panzer tank look gets me every time
8 - It's great being a part of such a passionate biking community!

Improvements? I'm thinking about the Y-piece, though would probably keep the BMW exhaust. Worth doing it and if so, do I need to make any adjustments in the fuelling and any recommendations on source for the Y-piece?

So I guess I'm just a sad man in love with his GS.....

 

[blackburnlee]

Good to see that you've taken the plunge and are enjoying it so much. I used to have a 748 a few years back and really loved it. I didn't however love the wrist pain, sore bum and rock-hard ride. Therefore I can sympathise with your sentiments exactly. My 1200 has been great fun. I got mine in Oct last year and have done almost 10k miles on it thus far. This has included a trip to Portugal at Easter (Through France and Spain) as well as numerous other tours/rides out and about.

The dealer service is great (Though I use CW rather than SPC whose service took a turn for the worse just as I got my 1200...) and reading/posting on the website makes you feel as though you are part of a cracking community.

See you around!

 

[Pukmeister]

Brilliant, another South Coast GS'er, welcome to the chapter mate !! You probably aren't too far from 'Muppet', he is a Romsey GS'er with an R1100GS.
A fantastic bike, its a bit like a shoe in that the more you ride a GS the better it seems to fit.

I know what you mean about corrosion, I saw a black GS at SPC advertised at a bargain price, which on closer inspection was 'rotten'. it had obviously been neglected by one seriously lazy (or rich) owner. No amount of TLC was going to reverse the bubbles and blisters on the engine, suspension and frame caused by road salt and dirt.

If you look after any bike it should last, I have had some corrosion on my R12GS front engine cover caused by steel bolts in an alloy cover, replaced under warranty of course. I've got cover number 2 being fitted this month as it is starting to corrode again. Its the only sore point of owning my bike, if it goes again I shall have yet another cover under warranty and change the OEM steel bolts for stainless or titanium.

Keep on top of things, wash regularly and use a quality preservative like ACF-50, WD40 or Scottoil FS365 and it should be pristine for years to come.

A mate got a Y-piece and Remus can for his 1150 Adventure from Hein-Gericke. Make sure they send a proper Y-piece and not a replacement collector box though, thats what they sent first time by mistake.