Chris, what present are you going to get for the bike when it turns 100000mls? 
For all you 1200 bashers
- Thread starter Sgt Bilco
- Start date
You obviously aren't the only one with that opinion Chris.
On the second day In Dawson City (trip one for the non-trippers) I looked out of the hotel window and there were about 22 bikes outside. These ones:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831908038/" title="DSCF2040 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7831908038_a66a092d0b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2040"></a>
and these:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831911240/" title="DSCF2041 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7831911240_a71c487c3d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2041"></a>
and these:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831914792/" title="DSCF2042 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7831914792_47914fcb79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2042"></a>
Twentytwo bikes, including eighteen BMW's, what looks like three assorted KLR's, and a single Tiger 800.
So, which motorcyclists walk the walk instead of just talking the talk?
Ja. Es sollte offensichtlich sein. With thanks to Google translation
On the second day In Dawson City (trip one for the non-trippers) I looked out of the hotel window and there were about 22 bikes outside. These ones:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831908038/" title="DSCF2040 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7831908038_a66a092d0b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2040"></a>
and these:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831911240/" title="DSCF2041 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7831911240_a71c487c3d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2041"></a>
and these:-
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25883184@N06/7831914792/" title="DSCF2042 by PackerK, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7831914792_47914fcb79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="DSCF2042"></a>
Twentytwo bikes, including eighteen BMW's, what looks like three assorted KLR's, and a single Tiger 800.
So, which motorcyclists walk the walk instead of just talking the talk?
Ja. Es sollte offensichtlich sein. With thanks to Google translation
I remember being at a HU meeting in Ripley a few years ago, I was camped next to some guys with their 11**'s The look on their faces was priceless when I told them I would soon be taking my 12 to The Gambia, there were all the usual comments, which to be fair did worry me at the time, but guess what all the 1200's on the trip performed without fault, some 54000 miles later mine still purrs along nicely.
Really enjoyed the report Chris thanks for posting.
Really enjoyed the report Chris thanks for posting.
Chris, what present are you going to get for the bike when it turns 100000mls?
I'll probably treat her to a nice wash
Attachments
Nice post Sarg. I only have just under 30K on mine and don't get to ride it as much as I like, but I do ride all year round and hit the rev limiter on occasion. I agree that they need to be used regularly to keep everything well oiled. I have no plans to sell mine and there's nothing else that is floating my boat as a replacement. I don't take mine off road as I don't possess those skills (hope to get that sorted one day) and due to personal circumstances can't take the bike RTW. I bought it because it was all day comfy for a 6'3" Tosser and its so much fun to ride. It reminds me why I got the motorcycling bug 33 years ago. Its just a hoot to ride!
Mine's the one with the misting rear oil seal. Sorry to have been the one to let the side down. 
Mark
Mark
zool
Registered user
Good positive post there, Sgt Bilco
I’ve always thought the GS was an exceptional bike and, although reasonably new to the world of BMW's, have felt defensive as I’ve already racked up a fair few miles and it’s been faultless, trouble-free and thoroughly enjoyable.
As a tourer its 80% there (Only luggage capacity and protection from the element6s let it down)
As a Commuter its 80% there (Only its girth and weight let it down)
As a true Off-roader its 80% there (only weight and agility let it down)
As a ‘Bike for life’ its 80% there (why not, only cost of parts let it down in the long term)
As a high speed motorway bike its 80% there (only wind noise and aerodynamics let it down
As a two-up bike its 80% there (only lack of comfort and pillion provisions let it down)
As a viable ‘eco’ fuel efficient bike for tree huggers its 80% there (Only its weight & gearing stop it from being truly amazing at being frugal on fuel and still delivering 90+bhp
. . . . and even as a bloody track day bike, it’s also 80% there (Only ground clearance, tyre choice & being a seen as ‘bit-mad’ let it down)
Basically it does everything bloody well and excels at some, I mean :-
Take a ZX-10R
- AWESOME on the track, but totally sh*t at all of the others mentioned above.
Gold wing
– luxury tourer and famously the pillion’s fave – but can it go commuting or take you up a grassy incline?
A Husqvarna TE610
–can practically climb a vertical rock face, but try a high speed run to the coast or ‘popping’ to the shops for bread, meat‘n’tatty Pie and a six-pack, and your doomed.
A ‘hack’ like an XJ900 has the reliability – but does it have 80 years of evolution and development behind it and anyway how many do you see over 20 years old on the road still going
So I’m still in awe of the GS and fully agree with most others on this post!
It disappoints me when it appears flawed by constant criticisms.
For instance, I have a 2007 Navara D40 pick up and the Navara Forums are bursting with unhappy buyers who complain about, reliability, breakdowns, quality, dealers, details, parts prices, availability of parts etc, to read them you would expect a lemon of a car . . . . but I’m about to clock over 96K in 65 months of ownership and ONLY 2 HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BLOWN IN ALL THOSE MILES! & less than £10 spent in non-service /consumables costs.
Hell, it’s even on the same clutch & only had 1 all-round tyre change.
Not a single drop of oil on the drive, nor a fail to start has occurred.
Sometimes I think the way they, bikes or cars, are driven (or have been by previous ‘unknown’ owners) count for a lot.
The GS is a solid legend and is the only true ‘ultimate all-rounder’ what’s not to love about em?
My 2 pennies worth
I’ve always thought the GS was an exceptional bike and, although reasonably new to the world of BMW's, have felt defensive as I’ve already racked up a fair few miles and it’s been faultless, trouble-free and thoroughly enjoyable.
As a tourer its 80% there (Only luggage capacity and protection from the element6s let it down)
As a Commuter its 80% there (Only its girth and weight let it down)
As a true Off-roader its 80% there (only weight and agility let it down)
As a ‘Bike for life’ its 80% there (why not, only cost of parts let it down in the long term)
As a high speed motorway bike its 80% there (only wind noise and aerodynamics let it down
As a two-up bike its 80% there (only lack of comfort and pillion provisions let it down)
As a viable ‘eco’ fuel efficient bike for tree huggers its 80% there (Only its weight & gearing stop it from being truly amazing at being frugal on fuel and still delivering 90+bhp
. . . . and even as a bloody track day bike, it’s also 80% there (Only ground clearance, tyre choice & being a seen as ‘bit-mad’ let it down)
Basically it does everything bloody well and excels at some, I mean :-
Take a ZX-10R
- AWESOME on the track, but totally sh*t at all of the others mentioned above.Gold wing
– luxury tourer and famously the pillion’s fave – but can it go commuting or take you up a grassy incline?A Husqvarna TE610
–can practically climb a vertical rock face, but try a high speed run to the coast or ‘popping’ to the shops for bread, meat‘n’tatty Pie and a six-pack, and your doomed.A ‘hack’ like an XJ900 has the reliability
– but does it have 80 years of evolution and development behind it and anyway how many do you see over 20 years old on the road still goingSo I’m still in awe of the GS and fully agree with most others on this post!
It disappoints me when it appears flawed by constant criticisms.
For instance, I have a 2007 Navara D40 pick up and the Navara Forums are bursting with unhappy buyers who complain about, reliability, breakdowns, quality, dealers, details, parts prices, availability of parts etc, to read them you would expect a lemon of a car . . . . but I’m about to clock over 96K in 65 months of ownership and ONLY 2 HEADLIGHT BULBS HAVE BLOWN IN ALL THOSE MILES! & less than £10 spent in non-service /consumables costs.
Hell, it’s even on the same clutch & only had 1 all-round tyre change.
Not a single drop of oil on the drive, nor a fail to start has occurred.
Sometimes I think the way they, bikes or cars, are driven (or have been by previous ‘unknown’ owners) count for a lot.
The GS is a solid legend and is the only true ‘ultimate all-rounder’ what’s not to love about em?
My 2 pennies worth
..............what’s not to love about em?
My 2 pennies worth
Well Chris did fail to mention that before we got underway on the trip proper one of the 1200's had an LED indicator fail. This entailed stripping the entire back end of the bike down to the frame. So luggage off seat off, rear rack off.......................................
The pictures are on the first trip thread.It was the indicator itself, $65.00 US but it was in stock. That looks a bit steep compared with an ordinary lamp, even one with orange paint on the glass.
The canbus means that it isn't as easy to add electrical devices and may well make wilderness repairs more difficult at best or impossible at worst. Having said that the actual canbus systems do seem to be reliable.
It's not just GS's .......
I can say exactly the same thing about all BMW's since 1980. In fact any make of bike, as they haven't all been BMW's.
Never had a single show stopper on any group trip abroad - had two big crashes in the groups i've rode with where the bikes have had to be brought back home on a breakdown truck, an R100RS and kawasaki gpz 750.
The common link between all the bikes is that they were all used and not polished.
Oops, i tell a lie - there was one horror of a bike. A Suzuki GT550, a two stroke triple. It got left in Le Puy in 1981 and the owner flew back home.
I can say exactly the same thing about all BMW's since 1980. In fact any make of bike, as they haven't all been BMW's.
Never had a single show stopper on any group trip abroad - had two big crashes in the groups i've rode with where the bikes have had to be brought back home on a breakdown truck, an R100RS and kawasaki gpz 750.
The common link between all the bikes is that they were all used and not polished.
Oops, i tell a lie - there was one horror of a bike. A Suzuki GT550, a two stroke triple. It got left in Le Puy in 1981 and the owner flew back home.
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