going from a blade

[markymark]

Thinking about getting rid of my 06 blade for a new R1200GS,

Has anyone on here done it ? Regrets etc ?
Cheers, Mark

PS, It has been touring

 

[Bryn]

Welcome Mark

I did the same thing back in 2003- got rid of my 929 Fireblade and bought an 1150 GS.

No regrets whatsoever

 

[Mr K]

If you haven't already, please get yourself at least a few hours of test ride.

You're going from a turbine-smooth (albeit cramped) rocketship to a rumbling, gentlemans (adventure) touring barge.

Had a 1200GS for 6 years from new now.

 

[markymark]

If you haven't already, please get yourself at least a few hours of test ride.

You're going from a turbine-smooth (albeit cramped) rocketship to a rumbling, gentlemans (adventure) touring barge.

Had a 1200GS for 6 years from new now.

I intend to mr K, but the weather's sh**e now

 

[Rasher]

Swapped from a sorted (3.5k of extra's including Ohlins) ZZR1400 to a stock GS recently and it is the best thing I have ever done.

Much as I loved the rocketship speed and awesome handling it was a bit too fast for UK roads / Laws and even in Europe was a bit too quick, especially once in the Alps and rarely out of 1st gear.

The GS is great fun on any road, near me I rarely rode the ZZR even in summer, too few decent roads, too much traffic, fear of getting busted, stress after each ride in case ticket would appear etc.

Now I ride a lot more, been out every weekend since I got it four weeks ago, down country lanes and B-Roads, no longer does having a smooth road matter, I can enjoy riding on a road with damp patches, pot-holes, wet leaves, collapsed edges, gravel in centre etc.

Comfort is supurb as well, ZZR was a cramp even with risers, GS is so comfy, no more leg cramps every hour or so (seat ain't great, but probably light years ahead of Blade) I can also fit on the bike with several layers of clothes, so can now ride out in much colder weather so bike is now gonna get used for about 9 months a year instead of 6.

Handling is MUCH better than you would imagine, even on dual purpose tyres, I will probably fit Roadsmarts next year as off-roading not on my agenda, but I still find it pretty good on current tyres, the bike is also very light and dead easy to ride at any speed.

You will miss the smoothness and power of a large four, but overall the gains outweigh the losses considerably, I just cannot wait to get into spring so I can load it up and bugger off.

The ZZR got an annual Euro-Tour and not much else, with the fun being from 80 - 180 sooner or later your gonna get in big trouble, the GS is fun from 20 - 100mph and it seems pointless trying to go any faster, plus a natural cruising speed of 70-90 instead of 110-140 means your happy at 80 instead of bores and pissed off.

Try and get a long demo if you can, the bike is surprisingly quick, top gear roll ons are probably better than the Blade from 50-100 and when you do rev the thing it is pretty spritely, but needs a large handfull - odd after jap fours which seem almost as quick on half throttle as they are on the stop.

 

[Stretchamus]

Wow Mark, if you can get that much on a blade, looks like enough for a single persons world tour, just think what you'll be able to get on the GS

My reasons are pretty similar to our Rashers above + getting too long in the tooth traded my Hayabusa in for a 2010 fully loaded GSA, wife was scared silly thinking I'd gone off on a tangent and in five minutes would be pinning for my Busa nothing could be further than the truth, like I say to her if I took my bike back to the dealers and they offered me my Busa and money back in exchange for my GSA I would tell them to go away in short sharp jerkys

Welcome to the Forum and good luck with your search

Best regards Stretch

 

[markymark]

Wow Mark, if you can get that much on a blade, looks like enough for a single persons world tour, just think what you'll be able to get on the GS

My reasons are pretty similar to our Rashers above + getting too long in the tooth traded my Hayabusa in for a 2010 fully loaded GSA, wife was scared silly thinking I'd gone off on a tangent and in five minutes would be pinning for my Busa nothing could be further than the truth, like I say to her if I took my bike back to the dealers and they offered me my Busa and money back in exchange for my GSA I would tell them to go away in short sharp jerkys

Welcome to the Forum and good luck with your search

Best regards Stretch

Cheers Stretch, the Ventura gear is really good, 102L of luggage space on a sports bike is good Hopefully the weather will get dry so I can get out for a test ride,

 

[Pip_UK]

Hi Mark, and welcome!

GS obviously has less power, but accessible torque gives it a very pointy-squirty feel, and the handling is ridiculously agile, whilst being reassuringly steady.

Straight lines are a bit dull, but on twisty roads, it's a lot more fun than my old Speed Triple, because I can give it a good ragging, which is much more satisfying than constantly trying to haul down from ballistic speeds, when the red mist comes down.

It's a fun bike to ride, because you can use all the performance and get on the edges of the tyres without feeling like you've just goosed the grim reaper. Although for some people, that might be the buzz of biking in the first place

It's a brilliant tourer too - practical, and yet enjoyable to ride. On long riding days or in crap weather, I appreciate how easy it is to use, even when fully loaded.

After electric motor-smooth Japanese fours, or even British triples, it feels a bit agricultural, but the engine seems to really suit it, and it doesn't take long to get dialled in.

Enjoy your research - keep us posted on how you get on!
-Pip

 

[mr badger]

I intend to mr K, but the weather's sh**e now

Now that's something that will change. Poor weather no obstacle to a GS (usually).

 

[markymark]

Now that's something that will change. Poor weather no obstacle to a GS (usually).

I know what you're saying, but a strange bike in wet / greasy roads would spoil the test ride. I'm lucky to have done 400 miles this year on the blade, 06 & only done 6100 miles

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

went from a VTR1000 to a GS

Great move, but I want a B-King as well now...
missing the light bike feeling

 

[GS TRV]

you will def miss the power but will ride more miles at a slower pace. better value for money

best solution is to get superbike as a 2nd bike then you cant lose if you can afford it of course.

 

[Snowman]

yep did the same myself
now on 3rd 1200 Adventure
no regrets - enjoy riding bikes again
Could have easily given up after the blade and walked away
But the test ride on the GS & GSA made me know I'd regret it

Snowman

 

[oyster]

You'll buy one !

Hi Mark, Had 2008 Blade lovely bike,done everything for me so easily, done 6500 miles in 18 months on it. However,,, always had bikes with character, Guzzis in the 1980s(five)Triumph 2000s now after a test ride on some lovely twisty roads, i'm the proud owner of the Beast(ugly)2010.
The only thing i miss is that far to quick overtake, where nobody sees you coming!Fantastic bike for the british roads of today.

 

[vanny]

In a similar situation meself. Got a 2002 Blade which I have had from new. Lovely bike but feel the need to chill out a bit, trouble is I am struggling to come to terms with parting!!

Keep looking at a 2007 gsa which is in a BMW dealers. I think I need a test ride to help me get my head around "converting". Be interested to see where you get to with this and how the conversion feels?!

 

[Gipsy]

Elvie has both. A 54 plate Blade, and one of the new 650Gs's. The BMW is so good for touring, but with her Ventura luggage the Blade also does a good job. You pays your money and takes your choice, but nothing can replace the high you can get from the massive kick in the pants you can get on a full on sports bike.

 

[Rasher]

but nothing can replace the high you can get from the massive kick in the pants you can get on a full on sports bike.

Spot on, however the kick in the nuts from the magistrates can be even bigger.

Although the one thing the nanny state and talivan have done for me is introduced me to a bike that is fun far more often than a sportsbike, the ZZR had a narrow operating range, both weather and roads.

Without fear of the trouble the Z could get me into I would never have even looked away from a sportsbike, going out again tomorrow, I never rode the ZZR on cold November days, yet cannot wait to hop on the GS and blast around for an hour or two.

In a way I wish I could afford both, but on the flip side I feel far safer (from the law) without a fast bike, I am surpsrised how well I am coping without that speed buzz, many others appear to have made the switch and stuck with it, reckon I will too.

 

[Bigyin]

As the others have said its a common thing to move from sports bike to GS and i am another who needed to get a slower bike due to fear of imprisonment from ever increasing stupid speeds being ridden on my ZX 636

I had tried a GS a few years back and liked the roll off/roll on power but at that time liked the 165 mph buzz of sports bikes ........... after nearly being pinched twice in as many weeks i decided i didnt like it THAT much

Had the GS for about 18 months now and love it to bits once you get used to its quirks .......... surprisingly easy to hustle along twisty roads too and on poorer surfaces will be all over Blades/R1's etc

I went to the 1150 though instead of the 1200 you are looking at

My old one went touring too