Going back to a 1200....

[Nutty]

Or perhaps you could think that I’m changing from a GS to a GSA, changing a bike with 5200 miles that needs a large service and new tyres to one with 1200 miles which doesn’t need anything, changing a bike which costs twice as much to insure than the other and changing one bike with poor quality paint, an engine issue and a loud clutch bearing that sounds like a shite Ducati to one with no engine issues, better quality paint and, let’s be honest in real world riding and the sort of riding 90% of us do all the time the difference in power is negligible... I’ve ridden them both back to back and IMHO the GSA I’m buying is far superior to the GS I currently own.....

Oh, and the suspension is the same on both bikes... It’s a 2018 model with all the same electrics, Dynamic suspension, TFT etc....
Again very little difference in real world riding terms.....

Hey, you leave Ducati out of this!

 

[Spareparts]

Before the 1250 I owned a 1200 GSA and my Urban GS and paid £300 for a dual bike policy. When I bought the 1250 (a year ago) my re-quote came in at over £1K... I shopped around for days, some wouldn’t even quote me. Ended up with a policy with Bemoto that still cost £590. Never had an accident, 48 yrs old, RoSPA gold rider, never claimed, Bike garaged with alarm, tracker, locks and living in a low crime area.....

I shop around every year, if I was just pootling around I’d buy a scooter. I go on a big (ish) trip every year. Have ridden m GSs all over Europe, took my 1150 GSA to Africa and regularly ride to Eastern Europe to visit family 2 up and the 1200 is just as capable as the 1250... IMHO the styling of the 1200 GSA is better than that of the 1250 GSA. The only difference is the engine, granted the 1250 is a better power plant - smoother and more economical but the build quality leaves a lot to be desired... Unless I just happen to get a Friday afternoon special...

Quite possible you had a Friday special. Have you tried other 1250s to see if it is just yours? My previous MY17 1200 Triple Black was great, but the 1250 moved the game on significantly in not just power/torque, but also suspension.

Unless racetrack, and amazing rider, 1200 is plenty for Europe, my money will go to Denzo here, when I have some, for better shocks, that is all needed.

Of course the 1200 is plenty, as it was for the years it was out. The suspension of a 1200 will be tired by now and need refresh if over 3years or 20k miles old.

 

[Winjar]

Quite possible you had a Friday special. Have you tried other 1250s to see if it is just yours? My previous MY17 1200 Triple Black was great, but the 1250 moved the game on significantly in not just power/torque, but also suspension.



Of course the 1200 is plenty, as it was for the years it was out. The suspension of a 1200 will be tired by now and need refresh if over 3years or 20k miles old.

Agree suspension could be better, but 1250 suspension is the same, no difference, maybe your old 1200 had suspension problem, Urban Rider can put Touratech on bike and be very happy.

 

[BDG]

A bold and brave move, good luck

 

[Spareparts]

Agree suspension could be better, but 1250 suspension is the same, no difference, maybe your old 1200 had suspension problem, Urban Rider can put Touratech on bike and be very happy.

The suspension between the 1200 and 1250 is different. My 1200 had no suspension issues, but towards 20k miles it was in clear need of a refresh. The 1250 suspension is one of the most significant upgrades imho - it keeps the chassis always in an optimal geometry to maintain consistency in handling under any load and different conditions. Yes Touratech suspension would be good on a 1200 - at a price.

 

[Neil W]

In real world riding terms, I think the 1250 is a significant step up over the 1200 (regardless of GS or GSA) - unless just pootling around.

Surprised that your insurance is twice the price. I'd shop around.

Bollocks in the real world with speed cameras , ever increasing numbers of lower than national speed limits and draconian speeding penalties there is no advantage having a more powerful bike
The 1200 vs the 1250 regarding ergonomics, suspension and brakes are identical , 1250 brakes have more initial bite but the 1200 ones do not leak
Yes the 1250 may accelerate a little faster but is no better equipped and sticking to limits the 1200 is just as good a bike and a lot cheaper

 

[leadfarmer]

The suspension of a 1200 will be tired by now and need refresh if over 3years or 20k miles old.

You’re kidding right?

 

[malcopopolo]

i have a 1200 LC and have no intention of swapping to a 1250.
Maybe a better bike but its not a game changer, Also the 9 to 10k cost difference!!! would rather have a 2nd bike.

It also depends on use/mileage etc, My Goldilocks will be 4 years old October and will have less than 11k miles on it. Given my usage i would be a fool with to much cash to change for a 1250.

But those that have - good luck and enjoy.

One final point

buying a new 1250 does not automatically mean you will have a trouble free relationship, yes some wont go wrong - however we know most of the faults of the 1200LC - i am on my 2nd

 

[Spareparts]

Bollocks in the real world with speed cameras , ever increasing numbers of lower than national speed limits and draconian speeding penalties there is no advantage having a more powerful bike
The 1200 vs the 1250 regarding ergonomics, suspension and brakes are identical , 1250 brakes have more initial bite but the 1200 ones do not leak
Yes the 1250 may accelerate a little faster but is no better equipped and sticking to limits the 1200 is just as good a bike and a lot cheaper

If we only ever chose a bike based on speed limits, we would only ever ride 125s and not need any large capacity bikes. Not the 310, and certainly not the 650/750/850. Not all Hayes calipers leak. And Hayes brakes are just as good as the Brembos imho on the GS/A.

You’re kidding right?

No. The difference between gradually worn out suspension vs fresh suspension can be very significant, whilst the rider may not notice it due to worn out suspension deteriorating so gradually.

i have a 1200 LC and have no intention of swapping to a 1250.
Maybe a better bike but its not a game changer, Also the 9 to 10k cost difference!!! would rather have a 2nd bike.

It also depends on use/mileage etc, My Goldilocks will be 4 years old October and will have less than 11k miles on it. Given my usage i would be a fool with to much cash to change for a 1250.

But those that have - good luck and enjoy.

Yes, cost to change is another and separate point. 10k is a lot of cash.

 

[zoltan]

Amazing how much you realise you’ve fitted to these bikes once you start removing it!!!

Are you selling the luggage frame?

 

[stanley]

No. The difference between gradually worn out suspension vs fresh suspension can be very significant, whilst the rider may not notice it due to worn out suspension deteriorating so gradually.

If the "Dynamic" suspension is so good, then why can't the system react to it gradually wearing out? A true dynamic system would measure movement v speed v etc, and adjust damping to keep movement within the design parameters. Thus, oil that gradually loses it's viscosity, etc would present no problems.

It's the noisy engine and deteriorating quality that puts me right off the new bikes.


Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

 

[Urban Rider]

The suspension between the 1200 and 1250 is different. My 1200 had no suspension issues, but towards 20k miles it was in clear need of a refresh. The 1250 suspension is one of the most significant upgrades imho - it keeps the chassis always in an optimal geometry to maintain consistency in handling under any load and different conditions. Yes Touratech suspension would be good on a 1200 - at a price.

The suspension on my new 1200 TB is the same as is on my 1250.... The later version 1200s had the dynamic suspension upgrade, the bike only has 1200 miles so your argument on suspension is of no relevance to my new bike.. Again, in real world riding conditions of the everyday rider there really is very little difference.

 

[Urban Rider]

Are you selling the luggage frame?

Quite possibly Zoltan, the new bike comes with full Adv luggage so i will have a full set of luggage, frames, rear rack for top box and footpeg hangers available at some point. I'm hoping to collect the bike on Wed but that may changes depending on a few varients.. Once i know what's what i'll get it all posted in the FS&W section. I'll also post on here so you are aware..

 

[zoltan]

Quite possibly Zoltan, the new bike comes with full Adv luggage so i will have a full set of luggage, frames, rear rack for top box and footpeg hangers available at some point. I'm hoping to collect the bike on Wed but that may changes depending on a few varients.. Once i know what's what i'll get it all posted in the FS&W section. I'll also post on here so you are aware..

Subject to price I am interested, can collect. Ta.

 

[Piggers]

i am trading

I am just about to trade my 2018 GS1200 RallyeTE in for a GS1250 Exclusive TE. Looking for a bit more power, (Yes you don't need it, but it feels great. (If i could have the power of a Superduke in a GS, I would be really happy, tried an SD GT but preferred the GS))
I only use my GS for road work, so no need for spoked wheels and keeping them clean is getting on my nerves !

No problems with my 1200 other than that.

I will let you know how I get on (due fro delivery next week) ..........

Cheers Piggers

 

[Morety]

Selling an adv bike and downgrading to the previous generation that is inferior in power, torque, suspension, and economy because of complaining of poor plastics paint and noise? LOL.

Who says lower power and less tech needs to be = "inferior"? Inferior in terms of top trumps and "my willy's bigger than your willy" perhaps.

If a bike performs well, is made well, handles well and does everything you want of it, then who is any other person to tell the OP or any of the rest of us "inferior machine" shod riders that we are somehow on "inferior" bikes? Arrogant, spareparts, arrogant.

You laugh all you want but having traded a much faster, smoother bike for my lumpy old 2016GSA a few years ago. I haven't ever looked back once with any regrets because it still has some of the charm and character which seems to have been all but ironed out of the 1250 in the same way they've made the S1000R undeniably top of it's class but oh so dull compared with Yamaha's Mt10SP o Aprilia's Tuono V4. It does everything I want of a bike and so competently, so reliably and so well, I, for one, couldn't give a monkeys if the new one is faster, smoother or any other "...er".

It's not the first time any of us have heard that 1250 shiftcams are noisier and these boxer lumps, when warm sound enough like a blacksmith's forge on overtime anyway. A mate of mine, a long time ADV bike man and very experienced off roader with many thousands of off road riding under his belt recently changed his bike after being invited to a bmw off road event in Spain last year as a guest of one of their test riders. He road the 1250 and the 1200 and whilst he loved the 1250's electronics off road and it's extra straight line haul on-road, he bought a 1200GSA when it came time to change his old ADV bike. He could easily have afforded the 1250GSA. By his reckoning, the 1200 was all the bike it needed to be or that he needed and he is a better rider than probably most people lining up with cash for a new 1250. To his mind, his last gen 1200 was so much better value, loaded up to the gills and in reality lost out nothing in smiles per miles, it wasn't worth the extra for the 1250. Maybe if I was buying a used one in a few years I could be tempted over, but having ridden the latest models from BMW, like him, I was definitively of the mind that the 1200 GSA is still a mind blowingly competent bike by any measure. It's a wonder I'm still here at all what with the soggy old rubbish suspension of my terrible 1200 not having spat me off on the last corner I tried navigating, not to mention struggling to overtake all those cars that are so much faster than my lardy old GSA lump!

For all that, I wish everyone going the 1250 route every pleasure in their ownership and would never presume to belittle them for their choices.

 

[stever1]

Not a Bahnstormer issue, more a BMW one...

Seems this is something you hear more often nowadays.

 

[Urban Rider]

Well that’s it, last ride on the 1250 as I dropped it off at Bahnstormers. Was there a feeling of regret, did I question my decision..... No not at all, took another long look at the triple black awaiting my collection and new I’d made the right choice for me..

Fingers crossed I’ll be collecting it next week...

 

[Arsey]

TB looks good .
Strange with GSs that the further back you go , the better the bike you get , at least in terms of quality of parts and paint finish.

 

[knutk]

TB looks good .
Strange with GSs that the further back you go , the better the bike you get , at least in terms of quality of parts and paint finish.

That is 100% opposite of my experience. Based on experience rather than reading forums...