GS 1200 low speed control

samsgs

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Having now enjoyed the 1200GS the one concern I do have is low speed control and riding over uneven ground. In both cases I was very uncomfortable due tothe weight being higher up (compared to a blade). Is this something I can overcome or am I better off sticking to non-trailee bikes?

cheers

sam
 
It just feels different to sportsbike, you just need to get used to it. I'd much rather be on the GS on uneven ground thats for sure. I'd just advocate a bit more practice.
 
This has got to be a wind up?

do tell us more about riding a 'blade off-road. Did you take any photos?
 
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Keyframe said:
do tell us more about riding a 'blade off-road. Did you take any photos?
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Where did he mention doing that? :confused:

He merely said the weight was higher up than a blade.

Pull yer head out yer arse and you can see the world in a much brighter light. ;)
 
LOL - don't mince your words Abel. Spit it right out :D

A mate of mine after we convinced him that the trail would be fine for his hornet....

IMG_3554.JPG
 
When riding on uneven ground, try standing on the footpegs rather than sitting. Although your head is higher up, your body weight is tansferred down through the footpegs, lowering the c of g and making the bike more stable.

The throttle control on the GS is pretty slow acting, and the clutch biting point is almost with the clutch lever fully out so slow control is a little different to a sportsbike with their quick throttle response (especially in 1st gear). To keep the bike under slow control you should be gently 'riding' the back brake on either bike (no pun intended), though the GS rear brake pedal seems to have a lot of travel before anything happens especially compared to sportsbike brakes.

Like any style of riding, practice makes perfect. Why not try some off-road based training if you haven't tried any yet? The BWM off-road skills course is highly rated by those who have tried it, I hope to do it myself next year.
 
still confused

I just could not get comfortable with the bike at low speed, one of the reasons which could be the fact that I could not even get to the rear brake lever it being tucked out somewhere. I was also totally unable to filter in traffic due the the above which meant I sat like a lemon in the traffic!

sam
 
i haven't fitted one myself yet, but a mate has the rear brake pedal extender 'pad' fitted to his brake pedal and says it improves it immensely. Perhaps you would benefit from one of these.

For filtering, I tend to use very light finger pressure on the front brake rather than trailing the rear. Naughty I know but so long as I resist the urge to grab a handfull in an emergency, and keep my speed low, I don't envisage a problem. If I did grab a handfull, hopefully the ABS would help but I would rather not try it.

Due to linked brakes the front lever operates the rear so it seems to keep the bike stable enough when crawling through traffic. The other problem is the bikes width, I am still cautious due to having clipped a few wing mirrors with the handguards.
 
Pukmeister said:
Although your head is higher up, your body weight is tansferred down through the footpegs, lowering the c of g and making the bike more stable.
Click to expand...

Sorry to be pedantic, but that's not correct. If you stand up on the pegs, the centre of gravity of the bike+rider combination will be higher up - it doesn't matter how the two masses (you and the bike) are connected.

Although I suppose you could argue that the bike is moving independently of the rider (to a certain extent) in which case it would be partly accurate at least to say the CoG (of part of the combination) is lower.
 
lowering the c of g and making the bike more stable
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:D Here we go!

Standing on the footpegs doesn't lower C of G but it does change where the body weight acts. I always believed it lowered C of G and set out to prove it. Result - humble pie duly eaten. Overall CoG isn't so much the issue as opposed to the bikes CoG (which is low) and where the riders weight acts.

I find the 1200 excellent for feet up full lock turns, just needs a bit of practice.

Peter
 
The best thing would be to get yourself booked on the BMW Off road skills course. Its a fantastic way of learning how to ride the 1200GS in all sorts of conditions and best of all you get to play on their bikes, not your own. Sure its pricey but its worth it.
 
When filtering through traffic

When filtering through traffic and the gap is quite small, it is often easier to slow slightly just before you reach the gap and then accelerate through the gap, this makes holding a straight line much easier.
 
Standing on the pegs

The great advantage of standing on the pegs is the ease and speed with which you can transfer you weight either side of the central balance line of the bike/rider combination, hence helping balance....
 
Mouse said:
Sorry to be pedantic, but that's not correct. If you stand up on the pegs, the centre of gravity of the bike+rider combination will be higher up - it doesn't matter how the two masses (you and the bike) are connected.


Where IS the center of gravity? It doesn't really matter where you think it is. Standing up gives you more control at slow speed. Period. "Steer with your feet" is the first sentence you'll hear from any great off road teacher. (Start with Jimmy Lewis.)

A quote I heard second hand, "Your feet are much smarter than your arse."
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rray said:
Where IS the center of gravity? It doesn't really matter where you think it is. Standing up gives you more control at slow speed. Period. "Steer with your feet" is the first sentence you'll hear from any great off road teacher. (Start with Jimmy Lewis.)
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Not arguing with that at all, just pointing out the inaccurate interpretation of the physics involved :)
 
Piggers has hit it on the head, you can alter the CoG across the bike much easier when you're standing on the pegs... thus assisting with balance. Obviously the CoG is raised as you're standing up.

All this said, I don't fancy standing on the pegs to filter through traffic in London. Despite all the alternate methods suggested, the tried and tested is to drag the rear brake against the engine to achieve slow riding. I also agree with the slow down then gas it approach to keep stable.....however use this with caution as gaps can close as well as open :)
 
I am probably confusing the term C of G as you are correct Mouse , but regardless of what you call it, my point was that riding whilst standing on the pegs is a recognised off-roading technique for improved slow speed control. I agree that it wouldn't be much use whilst attempting filtering through traffic though (unless you wanted to look over the cars in front :D ).
 
I guess standing on the footpegs with arse off seat creates a pivot between you and the bike. The mass of the two is split up and you have more options when on the pegs. Just like our own bodies, we have joints which allow us to vary weight distribution and so allowing us to walk etc. Just try to walk without moving any joints, including the vertabrae in your back, you will hit the floor pretty quickly. I guess on the pegs our knees also act as shock absorbers and we are less likely to be thrown into the air on a bump when you can soak up the shock with your knees.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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