First try of a GS.

[UKBasque]

Righto - BAB, living nr. Biarritz, SW France - get the abuse in early - I deserve it

Had a test of a GS yesterday as well as a Tiger as reference.

A few points:-

1. GS completely blows the Tiger away on looks - no competition there.
2. Much less vibration than expected on the GS. It only had 800km on the clock, a bit of vibration on start up, but nothing very noticeable after that.
3. On the center stand the bike is bloody enormous - I'm 6'7" and I could just about roll it off the stand!
4.Took me a while to get used to the indicators - does it make much difference in the end?
5. Bashed my shins twice when coming to a halt on the cylinder heads! Like I said, I'm a big lad and tend to fold my legs out when stopping - not used to having the motor right in the way? Anyone else had that problem? Got used to it?
6.Had a bit of a problem with the gearbox - mainly finding first and neutral. Don't know if the bike needs a few more k's? Or I was being crap?
7.I found the GS much more stable in low speed corners - felt like the weight was much lower than the Tiger.
8. Took a huge buffeting for the quick trip on the motorway - I've seen the threads on changing the screen and the other options - I don't intend to do much motorway riding, but I'd definitely want to change the screen.
9. The price difference is pretty large here as in the Uk I suppose - £10,000 for the GS with ABS and other options compared to £7,100 for the Tiger. I know you are getting more for your money, but do the second hand values reflect that?

Can get a GS in a month from the local dealer, so just have to sort these things out in my mind before the chequebook comes out!

 

[the_laughing_mole]

I've had my GS for a month now and I also looked around at others before going for the GS on looks and reputation. It is different and the weight is there when you're pushing it around on camber or gravel. I find it OK getting on/off the centre stand (so long as you're not on a hill) and I'm only 5'9"... couple more weetabix at breckie maybe??

Screen turbulence is not acceptable as you found - fit the tobinator and this goes away. Handling is great and it's such a different experience from other bikes: fantastic. And just look at the thing - 2 wheeled panzer tank isn't it, road presence or what?

You just have to swallow the price difference - it is big v a Tiger or Varadero - but you'll forget the price with time but remember the bike.
Go for it!

 

[steveh]

jealous!!!

Righto - BAB, living nr. Biarritz, SW France - get the abuse in early - I deserve it

Had a test of a GS yesterday as well as a Tiger as reference.

A few points:-

1. GS completely blows the Tiger away on looks - no competition there.
2. Much less vibration than expected on the GS. It only had 800km on the clock, a bit of vibration on start up, but nothing very noticeable after that.
3. On the center stand the bike is bloody enormous - I'm 6'7" and I could just about roll it off the stand!
4.Took me a while to get used to the indicators - does it make much difference in the end?
5. Bashed my shins twice when coming to a halt on the cylinder heads! Like I said, I'm a big lad and tend to fold my legs out when stopping - not used to having the motor right in the way? Anyone else had that problem? Got used to it?
6.Had a bit of a problem with the gearbox - mainly finding first and neutral. Don't know if the bike needs a few more k's? Or I was being crap?
7.I found the GS much more stable in low speed corners - felt like the weight was much lower than the Tiger.
8. Took a huge buffeting for the quick trip on the motorway - I've seen the threads on changing the screen and the other options - I don't intend to do much motorway riding, but I'd definitely want to change the screen.
9. The price difference is pretty large here as in the Uk I suppose - £10,000 for the GS with ABS and other options compared to £7,100 for the Tiger. I know you are getting more for your money, but do the second hand values reflect that?

Can get a GS in a month from the local dealer, so just have to sort these things out in my mind before the chequebook comes out!

I wish I lived near biaritz!!! beautiful part of the world and top surfing to boot

 

[blackburnlee]

Mmmm what a choice to have to make! A friend of mine has got a Tiger and apart from the possible exception of the motor I'd say that the GS has it licked. The price difference becomes less and less of an issue the longer you plan on keeping the bike. In my opinion it's worth it but only just and that's with me looking to keep the bike at least 3 years, probably longer.

 

[araspitfire]

Greeings UKGS'ers

I too went for a ride on a GS earlier this week in The Netherlands.

It's been over 10 years since I've ridden at all (except push bikes). I took an R100S out for an hour, didn't really like it much, then went on a GS.

My last bike was a Honda XL350R, and the one before that was an old Honda 450 twin, street pig.

I was amazed at how easy it was to ride the GS. I'm nominal height (5'10") with longer legs (31" inseem). After a bit of small road riding, I went into a parking lot and puttered around at very slow speed using the clutch, and perhaps it just my fading memory, but I found it just as easy to ride as my little 350 enduro 10 years ago... It sure made me fell like you never forget how to ride a bike anyways.. I was much rougher on the S earlier, but that may have been me working out the kinks.

I stuck it up onto the center stand at one point to see how hard it would be. (both ways) and found that it took a bit of a forward body slam to get it off the stand, but otherwise all in control... and it was much easier to get it onto the stand than I thought it would be after reading here.

I noticed the motorway turbulance too, though if I squoched down a tiny bit I could get below it. Not very comfortable though and I expect that I'll be going the torbinator route shortly after I buy.

The power was exciting, but not nearly as scarey as I thought it would be.

I suspect that it's going to be an expensive spring for me...

Al...

 

[Gas'd Off]

3. On the center stand the bike is bloody enormous - I'm 6'7" and I could just about roll it off the stand!

You can just drive it off the centre stand with your feet up!

6.Had a bit of a problem with the gearbox - mainly finding first and neutral. Don't know if the bike needs a few more k's? Or I was being crap?

It will loosen up a bit with miles and you will get the hang of but it is mainly you being crap.

8. Took a huge buffeting for the quick trip on the motorway - I've seen the threads on changing the screen and the other options - I don't intend to do much motorway riding, but I'd definitely want to change the screen.

I think it is different for everyone depending on their hight. I am under 6ft and have a Wunderlische touring screen on the lowest setting which does not buffet.

9. The price difference is pretty large here as in the Uk I suppose - £10,000 for the GS with ABS and other options compared to £7,100 for the Tiger. I know you are getting more for your money, but do the second hand values reflect that?

YES

 

[Brian ROSEN]

I don't think that it is desirable, nor is it necessary to ride the GS of its centre stand. It does take a bit of a shove if you are astride the machine but my technique, as advised by the dealer, is to put down the side stand and give the bike a firm shove standing beside it , then lower onto the side stand, leap on etc. It requires very little effort to put the bike on or off the centre stand but it involves a little techinique which becomes easier.
As far as high speed bufetting is concerned this is something that I seem to avoid - as I did on my previous 1150GS. Up to around 100 mph I feel very little disturbance - after that I am reminded that I am going too fast anyway. I am just over 6' tall.
I will have had my 1200GS for a year in a few weeks time and have ridden it through all the seasons. The only regret I have is that I did not specify heated grips - otherwise I really cannot find much fault with it (my eigth BMW) nor it seems can most other experuenced riders. Ride it through the winter - Brian in France