First ride adventure 1200

[ynotbiker]

This might be to much information about me and bike choice but here i go anyway, ordered the 1200 adventure in november to pick up in june, was happy with my choice, then had change of mind and bought second hand r1200gs, which i only had since january, good bike, great fun! So on the launch at my local dealer i was booked in for a test ride. before i arrived at the dealer, i took my 1200 up my favourite twisty roads, timed my self it was 26mins approx. Road was just abit damp, so held bad just a touch.I when back to the dealer, road the 1200 adventure back to my favourite road, when i left the dealers there was no fuel in it, i put 6 quid in it, im a skint flint i know nar not really just wanted to see what it was like with hardly no fuel in (honest). Road off glancing down at the tank, thought dont like this, too big for me, the front felt very light and wobbly filtering was just the same as my 1200 just dont look at the tank its all in the mind got to my favourite road by now its dried up a lot. once got settled in the twisties it just went fantastic. i do ride quite hard in the twisty stuff, well it is where the fun is isnt it? coming out of the bends and hitting the throttle the front end wobbled quite a bit, this was due to the off road knobbly tyres fitted. also over a 100mph wobbled its head again due to tyres. does not pick up as fast as my 12 out of the bends but didnt bother me as im not into catching up on a sports bikes on the straights.really enjoyed the bike once got settled and used to the riding position. i did the route in 24mins but road was drier and confidence was up. both bikes really inspire confidence. riding back thought what should i do? both fun bikes. before i went on ride friends were saying its only for riding round the world and going off road, same people who have sports bikes and dont ride on tracks all weekend. in a way its like me and my family had a landrover discovery and opening a farmers gate and heading for the mountains, nah it was s and the school run!! well am i getting one? YES its just as good as my 12, might even be just as good with road tyres fitted. in the end it made me smile and it looks fantastic. its all about after a hard weeks work what suits you, this suits me as im an honest poser

 

[Micky]

Interesting read Ynotbiker

You have the advantage, because I'd only had half an hour on a 1200GS before. I find the 1200GS-A (now done 1,200 miles on mine) sweeter, smoother and better handling than my 1150GS-A and heaven knows... that was good! A full tank doesn't seem to make that much difference to the handling (unlike the 1150 version) and having ridden my 650 on the TKC's I think you'll like more road biased rubber much better.

I love the Metzeler Tourance, and when my 12GS-A was delivered with Michelin Anakee's I was quite prepared to hate them, but those 1,200 miles have been on some of the crappiest roads, in the crappist of conditions, imaginable, and to be honest I quite like them... they never put a foot wrong

So we have at least two members of the 'Honest Posers MCC' anyone else wanna join

Cheers

 

[wilbjr21]

I'll join. got my GSA 1200 on Friday and have now done 420 miles in aweful weather (cold and wet) on the TKCs that it came with. Handles just as well as my GS 1200 did - even with a full tank. Tyres don't have the grip of Tourances - but that is to be expected. Engine and gearbox, oh so smooth, but the suspension is a little harsh. This I hope will soften up with some miles. Saw the pictures of your's Mickey and mine is the same, except for the tyres. Looking forward to another good opwnership experience - just like the last one.

 

[Bod]

Quick question if you don't mind what is the real tank range on the 1200 adv ?

 

[IanC]

Interesting, some of the points here - as I commented in another post here (after test yesterday), the engine and box did seem a lot smoother than my May '04 1200, and also the turning seemed like I was on a completely different bike (I suppose I was!). But a little slower, especially on overtakes, but I seem to recall mine didn't really get going till after 6000 mile service.

 

[Paul S]

I got 300 miles out of mine when I had to fill up yesterday and managed to put 30 litres in it. That was with riding with full ali luguage fitted which probually did not help.

Paul S

 

[Schwarz Baron]

22 days and 11hrs, that's how long I have 2 wait, and it's killing me, 5 months without a bike for the first time in 24years. Never thought I'd miss a luxury item so much.....All these ride reports are making the anxiety worse. I think when she arrives, I'll be like a never ending woundup elastic band. The wife and kids aren't gonna see me for weeks.... So stop writin about the damn thing, yas are torturin me, the Baron can't take it anymore

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Why wait Schwarz, Paul S walked in and got his this week and only thought about it at the launch last weekend

Can't see what all this waiting list/deposit malarkey is all about,there has always been some UK dealers with spare stock at every new BMW bike launch over the years

If I wanted one that bad, I'd have sold my old bike privately in advance and then shopped about nearer the laumch date.........

But having said that I've never bought a newly launched model, until at least a year after..........so hopefully all the teething troubles have been ironed out

 

[Schwarz Baron]

Why wait Schwarz, Paul S walked in and got his this week and only thought about it at the launch last weekend

Can't see what all this waiting list/deposit malarkey is all about,there has always been some UK dealers with spare stock at every new BMW bike launch over the years

If I wanted one that bad, I'd have sold my old bike privately in advance and then shopped about nearer the laumch date.........

But having said that I've never bought a newly launched model, until at least a year after..........so hopefully all the teething troubles have been ironed out

Cause it's very hard to get the spec you want, as I found when I bought my last ADVand that was 2 years after its launch, my dealer had to shop around. I'm a difficult customer and refuse to pay £750 extra for ABs a general safety item these days, and unfortunately or not, I do not believe it is of any great benefit.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cause it's very hard to get the spec you want, as I found when I bought my last ADVand that was 2 years after its launch, my dealer had to shop around. I'm a difficult customer and refuse to pay £750 extra for ABs a general safety item these days, and unfortunately or not, I do not believe it is of any great benefit.

Ok Schwarz............I understand..............non ABS 1200 Adv's all seem to be being shipped to USA at present and remain unsold, because not many want them there

Guess you can't win

 

[Schwarz Baron]

Nope, so I just have to injure a form of Jap water torture, I can look, but can't touch, although I have been at the dealers twice, since the launch to give the demonstrator a hug cause it's the same colour as my order. mostly Black, with just a hint of white

 

[Micky]

But having said that I've never bought a newly launched model, until at least a year after..........so hopefully all the teething troubles have been ironed out

Hi JB... nearly all my Bm's have been newly launched models, R1100RS in '93, R1100S in '98, R1150GS in '99 and now the 1200GS-A and never had a problem. I have a letter from BMW in 1993 that says... "It's not until the product (in this case a motorcycle) is in the hands of the consumer that final development takes place....."

How true... so I work on the assumption that if there are any problems 'the firm' will be more interested in sorting them

Seems to have worked for me OK over the last 13 years and 250,000 miles

Once the 'teething problems' are sorted I reckon they're less inclined to be helpful


Bod... never tried the tank range to the ultimate, but about 300 miles the lights flash to tell me I've got 50 miles left in the tank, and I'm able to put 26L in ... by this time I'm ready for a pee and a coffee anyway

Schwarz... it's lovely, it's lovely, it's bloody bloody lovely, nah nah,he he, how time goes slowly

Oh dear... just realized, mine will be old hat, mucky and second hand, when you get your nice new shiny one Enjoy the wait, it will be so much nicerererer when it comes

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Hi JB... nearly all my Bm's have been newly launched models, R1100RS in '93, R1100S in '98, R1150GS in '99 and now the 1200GS-A and never had a problem. I have a letter from BMW in 1993 that says... "It's not until the product (in this case a motorcycle) is in the hands of the consumer that final development takes place....."

How true... so I work on the assumption that if there are any problems 'the firm' will be more interested in sorting them

Seems to have worked for me OK over the last 13 years and 250,000 miles

Once the 'teething problems' are sorted I reckon they're less inclined to be helpful

Different strokes for different folks, Micky...............

I know you've always had launch models and it works for you, but I prefer to wait and see.............we're just different and there's alwats arguments for and against