Help me decide VFR800 or R1200GS

[BBB61]

There's nothing to stop a BMW owner from using your man who charges £20 an hour for services, which would totally negate your claim that BMW's cost twice as much to service as Jap bikes.
As I said before, you can't compare a franchised dealers costs with the costs of an independent. Compare like with like to make the comparison meaningful.

Bob

PS So a independent dealer who hasn't done any courses for years is ok to do the servicing to keep the warranty up to date? You might have a fight on your hands with the importer if you have to make a claim.

 

[BBB61]

As for my mileage, I have covered just under 30000 miles on my GS in the last 3 years. I also covered 26000 on my 1100GS in 2.5 years, so I think its fair to say I have a good understanding of the costs involved.

Incidentally, my last Japanese bike was a GPZ900R. Got that new in 1985, sold it with 75000 miles on the clock in 1993. At 60000 miles, the big end went and it needed a replacement crank, some valves and a new set of cams and lobes. That little lot cost £1000, and that was at an independent too. Not had to pay out that much on any of my BM's.

Bob

 

[robeekay67]

There's nothing to stop a BMW owner from using your man who charges £20 an hour for services

..he doesnt touch beemers, says they are too much of a pain in the arse when things go wrong......think clutch??????

 

[BBB61]

He can't be much of a mechanic if he can't work on a 1910 bike.

Bob

 

[pinkolive]

1910 bike

you would think bmw might have got it right by now.

think surging - 80+ year old engine and still not running right.

 

[Flaps]

The VFR is an excellent bike. I had one for over two years and loved it. I took it on track days, Scotland and the South of France. Yet I traded it in for an 1150GS. Why? Because it was the bike for me. It is like meeting the women you are going to marry and dumping your girlfriend to do so. She may have a large nose, googly eyes and is German, but I lost my heart. I used to change bikes (and girlfriends for that matter) every two years. Three and a half years on with the GS the though has not even crossed my mind. And like all long term partners she is demanding and just made me spend £955 on a new gearbox. Bitch!

Flaps

 

[banana]

Flaps,

Let me guess, you looked between your legs one day... and thought 'gotta' spend 900 quid...

Folks talk about the GS having 'character' and the VFR having none which I can agree with. Does the 'character' involve having to make good the 'original'?

I read someones opinion on the new 1200GS, which looks the biz. and had them describe the gearbox as a step backwards for BMW because it combines 'helical' gears with 'plain' bearings.

I can see what they mean, helical gears have a sideways force which a plain bearing doesn't like so it eventually fails.

Seeing as you have to spend on the current bike, does the thought of the new gearbox get thumbs 'up' or thumbs 'down'?

The same 'opinion' also didn't the lattice frame compared to a cast frame on the grounds that anything with welds was 'bad' news.

Ever looked inside the VFR's gearbox?

Kind regards,
Banana

 

[pinkolive]

at what mileage would you expect a GS gearbox to fail?

 

[red rocket]

Funny never heard of a vfr gearbox failure but seems to be expected on bmw not just the gs I might add .
Keep thinking about making the change but being in the bmw club having owned an 81 R100RS before goping to vfr I do worry about how often you here of them failing on the GS.

 

[BBB61]

My first GS (1100) had 12000 on the clock when I bought it and 38000 when I sold it 2.5 years later. No gearbox or clutch problems.

Current 1150 had 9000 on the clock when I got it and has now done 37000. Again, no problems with either the clutch or gearbox.

Bob

 

[strangly marmalade]

I have had years of sports bikes including VFR,s I always changed my bike every 1 or 2 years max either through trying to find something I liked better or just through sheer boredom. I bought a R1100GS new in Jan 1999, I have had it 5 years, been everywhere had fun at track days too. I am now getting a new R1200GS in April so that shoul tell you something. Buy it you will love it especially when you stuff sports bikes 2 up with luggage.

 

[banana]

Getting ready for my 1200GS ‘test’ ride on Saturday. Part of the ‘process’ involves quelling my fears on 'reliability'.

I was beginning to think the ‘helical’ gears and ‘plain’ bearings in the gearbox might be a problem waiting to surface. However I re-read the press release and I now see that the gears are supported on ‘needle’ bearings with only the shafts on ‘plain’ bearings.

Anyone know if this is a 'good' thing?

Problems so far on my VFR have been limited to a puncture! So I don’t want to trade ‘reliability’ for ‘character’.

Kind regards,
banana

 

[Eunuch]

Hey Nana.

Whole bunch of guys here gone from VFR's to GS's. I did so 6 weeks ago after 2 VFR's (which were great BTW). I can't vouch for reliability, but I haven't grinned so much since I first fell off a DT175. Ace-1-bannana so to speak.

 

[MikeO]

Nah - get the VFR - WAY more luggage space...

Mike

ps Banana - are you going for the 'most' sets of 'quotes' in a 'post' award?

 

[twinrider]

Nice trailer. How much does it hold, and does it affect the bike's handling?