GS trounced by KTM

  • Thread starter Thread starter Totoro
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Well I cant believe you rode it away from the showroom then
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So you would have left it there for a couple of weeks while they ordered a new rack ?

Actually I only noticed the rusty welds on the second day I had it,but I would still rather have it in the garage and able to ride and run in.
 
Totoro said:
BMW R1200GS came 61st :eek: (including 118th for gearbox, 121st for engine, 141st for reliability, 116th for running costs)

.
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The really strange thing is that the R1200RT came first AND it has virtually the same running gear as the 1200GS and running costs must be pretty similar.

But at the end of the day does it all really matter? I just buy what grabs my fancy and suits my purpose (NOT off road - too heavy and too expensive for me - I'll stick to my 80GS!!) and sod the Ride survey.
 
I have to admit to being a sucker for bike mags. I usaully get them all (apart from the sports bike mags). I read them because I genuinely like reading about other bikes and keeping up to date with all the latest models and advances in technology. Of them all i prefer RIDE, mainly for all the testing they do on new products.

I bought my last bike mainly on their report. This time round I spent more time checking bikes out. While I test rode the BMW, that didn't really sway me. Its only now after 3 weeks or so that I am getting used to it and its attributes.

I considered a number of bikes and it came down to these:

1: R1200GS
2: V Strom
3: CBF1000
4: Sprint ST
5: Fazer 1000
6: Guzi Griso



To be honest at the end of the day I bought the BMW bike for the following reasons and in this order:

1: It would depreciate the least if misfortune or need arose.
2: I was sick of chain transmission
3: The brand appealed to me
4: The bike mags reviews swayed me
5: I liked the look of it
6: Had a dealer with a good rep a minute away
6: The test ride was OK, didn't put me off

I did check out a number of the forums and read the good and the bad, and in my mind all the good comments outweighed the bad.

I never really considered the KTM. The look just didn't appeal to me. I can understand why people switch brands though. I've had 3 hondas and while they were all great bikes I felt they were built to budget. The engines were bulletproof...the finishes a little suspect. I almost went for the CBF1000 but thought the finish would be suspect and didn't like the ground clearance. I really loved the look of the Moto Guzzi Griso and thought it was a great price but wasn't keen on the dealer back up and how it would fare over the winter months.

As it is I am smitten with my 1200 and can't help checking it out all the time...I am even stroking it...help...have I got a problem :eek:
 
I find it hard to believe that these shitty bike mags sell, who the feck buys them? I've never read such childish, opinionated bullshit. The only bike mags I pick up nowadays in WHSmiths is BSH and Streetfighter....they always have some great tits on the centre pages. Great for going back to the office after lunch to 'crack one off' ;)

As for the KTM Vs BM thing, I've never seen a KTM with any miles on so it's difficult for me to pass comment, but they do appear well made and the owners I've spoken to love 'em. I wouldn't be adversed to trying one out like I did a beemer, although not the ugly 1980's lookin adv, 950 se please :thumb

The majority of owners on here appear happy with their GS's. The minority that have had failures have a very loud voice, and to be honest rightly so. If I had shelled out 10-12k on a bike that let me down miserably, then I would be jumping too (watch this space :D )

One day I will try a KTM, well, if I can find a decent dealer :nenau
 
I feel quite qualified to reply to this...

I rode a KTM 950 from here to Oz last year so am pretty well acquainted with the bike. Its a good bike but in terms of toughness most BMs will piss on it. The bike did get us to our destination but it fell apart on the way and when we got it back we got rid asap. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong and when it comes to fixing the thing it is pretty complex...

Day to day as long as you stay within the dealer network the KTM is good and I do think that technically its probably a better bike certainly than the 1200 GS. But its highly strung. We met a lot of other overlanders on the trip and most were on BMWs and were having no real probs. The thing with RIDE surveys is that most people who read that just ride for fun or do small miles so never really test the bike. Also, the KTM is trendy and there are a lot of people who buy it (and GS's), get all the gear to say 'look at me - I'm an adventurer' and then kit up and ride the the nearest bike meet in a car park 5 miles away. Those people are not going to slate the bike (trend) until the next one comes along!

I now ride a 100 GS and whilst its slower, heavier and older than the KTM if I was doing the trip again there is no way I'd do it on the KTM...
 
I thought i'd go and have a go on these new KTMs yesterday,to see what all the fuss was about.10 minutes in the shop,and I was on my way again,I didn't even ask for a test ride.I can't really believe that they were designed by anything other than students,with a very limited buget.

But I'm sure they'll sell well,because some magazine says they're great :rolleyes:
 
Vern said:
I thought i'd go and have a go on these new KTMs yesterday,to see what all the fuss was about.10 minutes in the shop,and I was on my way again,I didn't even ask for a test ride.I can't really believe that they were designed by anything other than students,with a very limited buget.

But I'm sure they'll sell well,because some magazine says they're great :rolleyes:
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What did you not like about the bike? I alternate between an 1150 Adventure and a 640 Adventure weekly so it is not a direct comparison but I find general KTM build quality very good.

Looking at the 990 - it seems well designed and very functional, as has been discussed before the 990 is more off road orientated than the 1200GS but build quality seems every bit as good and items such as suspension are of a far higher quality that of the BMW's

I have a new 990S on order so I am interested in any observations, and yes I will be keeping the GSA as the KTM is not a direct replacement. We have reasonable trips planned for both bikes next year, one to a hot destination and one to a cold destination both around 6500kms - it will be interesting to see how they compare.
 
If I took notice of Ride magazine I would have kept my 1200RT instead of trading it in on a 1200GS. Both are great bikes! :thumb
 
Vern said:
I can't really believe that they were designed by anything other than students,with a very limited buget.
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Hope not!!! :eek:

With you on the Mag .. Its :spam
 
Must admit I looked at the KTM before I got my GS. I am no expert on bikes but it did look good though. What made me go for the GS was the running costs. If I had bought the KTM new, I would have to have it serviced after 500 miles and was told that would cost anywhere between £200 to £400, check valves ect. A 6000 mile service around £180 to £200 a 12000 mile service around £400. Compared to the GS a tad pricey me thinks. I think that if you are going to be doing an average 4000 to 6000 a year the KTM would be worth considering but over 10,000 the GS.
 
Timpo said:
Bung!
KTM have given one to this publication recently.....
because the gooks how write the 5hite have had a weekend away with a few shandies supplied, Londoners you see, then an early Christmas stocking full of crap guarenteeing some top swag mention in the forthcoming edition.

Timpo out.
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Hold on.... Londoners??? First off aren't all those bike mags out of Peterborough?? and secondly what the feck's that got to do with it?
Fancy a pint(s) do you? London Pride???

PCH... London Born (very).
 
Nice 'n' Fat said:
People in the know make sure they get the first service thrown in FOC as part of the deal :D
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Maybe so but I do over 12000 mile a year on the GS and it works out a damn site cheaper than on a ktm, even if ktm were to give me the 6000 services for free as well.
 
fatty said:
Maybe so but I do over 12000 mile a year on the GS and it works out a damn site cheaper than on a ktm, even if ktm were to give me the 6000 services for free as well.
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Based on what.
How are you pricing that fatty?
 
12000 mile service cost me £234 from Ocean, Albion (Exeter KTM dealer) was quoting around £400 for a 12000 service on the KTM. Even adding on the cost of a 6000 mile service from Ocean it still cheaper than the KTM 12000 mile service.
Don't get me wrong the KTM is a good bike, all those people reveiwing the bike in the magazines cannot be wrong but I belive the GS is a cheaper bike to run. I know that does not make it a better bike I know it makes more sense for me with the miles I do.
 
fatty said:
12000 mile service cost me £234 from Ocean, Albion (Exeter KTM dealer) was quoting around £400 for a 12000 service on the KTM. Even adding on the cost of a 6000 mile service from Ocean it still cheaper than the KTM 12000 mile service.
Don't get me wrong the KTM is a good bike, all those people reveiwing the bike in the magazines cannot be wrong but I belive the GS is a cheaper bike to run. I know that does not make it a better bike I know it makes more sense for me with the miles I do.
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On average I find the 6k services to be £200 and the 12k services to be £400 on the BMW so no diference there.
I can see there will be a saving in chain and sprocket replacement with a BMW over a KTM. But with scot oiler and regular adjustment and cleaning (granted you don't have that on the BM) a C&S set should last you 25 -30k.

Paul :thumb
 
I had a long test ride on a KTM 990 Adventure earlier this year. Beforehand I was convinced I wanted to buy one, afterwards I decided to get a 1200GS!

I put the posting in the GS or not 2GS section, but am not sufficiently clued up to provide a link to it :confused:

If you search under KTM and my username you'll find it.
 
Now now

Lets all count to ten and relax, If I want a pint of guines I'll buy a pint of guiness, if I want a larger I'll buy one of those. No body else has to drink it nobody else should really give a toss its up to me. If you choose to listen to me saying how good or bad one is compared to the other you should go out more often and form your own opinion rather than listen to that of others.
If you like the GS, fine happy days and all that. If you prefer the KTM then good for you.
Im going to the pub with my bird and she's buying cause I took her out on my Harley this afternoon and she loves that!
Do have an awfully good week end :beer: :beer: :beer:

P.S stop popping at Londoners some of us do belong on this planet
 
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