Help please - which one?

[stephenth]

I’d appreciate being able to tap into the experiences of people here to try and help me decide which GS to go for.

I’ve not had a GS (or BMW) before, but they do seem like my kind of bike. I appreciate their character and air of competence. I have ridden various BMW’s, and had a chat with a couple of people with GS’s.

I’m looking for a bike to -

• Keep for a fair length of time
• Maintain myself
• Use for day-to-day use, and touring – often two up, mostly non-motorway, some small roads and gravel tracks. Not much inner city stuff.

What is important to me in a bike –

• A reasonable / good level of reliability. I really don’t want to set off every time wondering what is going to break today, or have oil leaking all over the place.
• Real – world competence. Good handling on roads – usually sweeping A roads – rather than a racetrack. The power to overtake when needed. Two hour comfort from the seat and the ergonomics of the bike (I realise this is to some extent a personal thing). Reasonable fuel economy, coupled with a sensible tank range – 200 miles if possible.
• A non-frantic engine sound at sensible cruising speeds – say up to 85 mph.
• Ability to do the majority of servicing myself, coupled with commonsense engineering. I spanner my bikes myself for most things, and I get really annoyed by designers / engineers who have for instance buried spark plugs so deep in cylinder heads that you can’t see what gunge is waiting to fall in the cylinder when you remove the plug; or engine layout such that its almost impossible to properly adjust valve clearances. How easy to service / accessible / not requiring shed loads of specialised equipment is the bike? How well supported in terms of spares is the model?
• Character. No matter how competently the bike performs, I want it to make me feel good. A part of this is good build quality, including the ability to remain looking good without being polished every day.

What’s NOT important to me –

• The year of the registration plate.
• Playing top trumps with the numbers from the specifications.
• Shiny chrome (in fact, the less the better!).
• Image.

I’m thinking along the lines of an 1150 (but I don’t know which one – are there any years to go for / avoid?) at the moment. My logic for narrowing it down to this is –

• Older models – getting difficult to identify good examples now, and some concerns over spares availability into the future.
• 1200 – still too much of a depreciation hit on a bike I intend to keep, but more importantly, I have some concerns over build and finish quality, and the ability to home service these models.

But I really would appreciate your thoughts on this. Once you’ve given me your opinions, I’ll carefully collate them, produce a comparison chart, do what I want to do anyhow, and then spot something somewhere and make a spur of the moment decision which goes against all my planning. Just like everybody else!

Cheers.

 

[BeemerBaz]

Hi,

I am not going to be of any use to you as I dont collect my GS until next Friday.

I have never previously owned a BMW, always been Japanese and mostly Hondas.

I have just got back from The Pyrenees on my Blackbird and even with gel seat and bar risers etc I am suffering from the old back, neck & wrists aches.

Took a GS demonstrator out yesterday from Pidcocks in Long Eaton and was grinning from ear to ear for the hour I was out. I know I wont be disappointed and hope you wont be either. I did find the seat flipping hard tho after my gel seat and the grips on the bars seemed to have zero cushioning, but I will get used to it.

One thing I did get confidence from was the cornering, no idea why yet, but I felt more 'planted' and visible.

 

[Barfly]

Good morning Stephenth. You will see a number of posts here about the reliability issues of the 1200. There are many who don't post who have had NO reliability issues. Go to any website of owners of other makes and you will also find 'reliability issues'. The simple reason is that we write in when something concerns (hoping to get some collective wisdom, ideas etc) and don't bother when the bike's going fine. I would not, therefore, discount a 1200 which is a fine bike and you can buy good second models - especially from dealers who will normally offer as part of the package a one year BMW warranty.

I can only speak as I have found and I've only had my 1200 GS for two weeks - so can't tell you much about its relaibility - all I can say is I love it! But I did have an 1150 for three years. I bought it second hand. It was two years old and had done 18,000 miles. I don't think that low mileage examples are necessarily better. I tend to prefer to buy a bike that has been owned by someone who has really used it. Most of the gremlins will (hopefully) have been sorted out. The previous owners of both my 1150 and the 1200 both went on to buy new versions of the same - that is always a good indication and is the first question I ask of a dealer. I put on about 25,000 miles on my 1150. In the time I had it it required one ABS sensor only. The cost was minimal and it was done under warranty. I had no other problems. The finish remained excellent (and I don't spend much time cleaning mine) in spite of living by the sea and making a regular ferry crossing a couple of times a week.

I've owned lots of BMs and lots of Jap bikes. The intersting thing is that I've always come back to BMs. Hope that helps and look forward to hearing what you go for.

 

[EggChaser]

Hi and Welcome

I also have only had a GS for a couple of days - but I am used to the boxer engine and the servo linked ABS brakes on my R1100S

With regards to info on 1150GS I'd suggest making sure you have twin spark and a model without the servo assisted brakes but with ABS.

Note I never had any issues with the servo assistence myself but they have been a cause for concern (and not just in the UK). the bike will stop without the servo assistence, but you might not realize it has failed until you grab a grab a finger-full and then need to grab a hand-full.

 

[mikepg]

Hello Stephen,

I think that your brief for your next bike is well written!

Barfly makes some very good points and I suspect that the most important thing is to check the bike over really well before you buy, and see if you can get one on offer on this site (you will have to subscribe first though). I too have had a few BMW's before my current R12GS and have had not a single breakdown, battery failure, oil leak, brake failure, any rusting, and so on......and ride all year around too.

Which model? - unless you go for one of the original 800 or 1000 model, they all have bits and bob's that will require a few tools other than a standard socket set - but these wont cost very much at all. I get mine dealer serviced - cos I'm lazy, but loads of folk here do their own servicing.

So - even with the newer models, you will be able to do most if not all of the servicing. I would not worry about the servo linked brakes either.

Parts are easy to get too from a variety of places other than BM dealers - eg Motorworks or Motobins.

They all have plenty of power and torque at the speeds and for the conditions you note.

Tank range is a given and two hour comfort is just scratching at the surface.

Its all about cash at the end of the day! - I think that the 1150 is the bes the best looking of them all eek - the 12 is lighter and should be faster and more nimble - but this depends on rider ability.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[barnabas]

Hi Stephenth - I was interested in your post as your list of requirements from a bike mirror my own almost exactly. I have owned and ridden dozens of bikes over the years and have yet to find the perfect one although I haven't had any that I regretted buying - each has it's own charm. However the 1150GS does tick most of the boxes. It has been around long enough for most of the wrinkles to have been sorted out and there are many available for very reasonable prices. Also they tend to have been owned by people who are pretty fastidious about maintenance - sometimes regardless of cost.
The power and handling are all you would wish for - 85mph cruising two up is very comfortable enhanced by the position of the bars and pegs. Personally I find the OE seat uncomfortable and have fitted a second hand Corbin seat (bought from this forum) and that is fantastic. Fuel economy is not bad for a big bike although the 1200 is, I understand, better. In normal use I get around 45mpg but my best ever was 57mpg on a very gentle run in between widely spaced fuel stops in the middle of the night.
I'm no great mechanic but routine servicing is very easy with everything, including plugs,tappets, filters, and alternator belt all very accessible. A service kit from Motobins is about £60. Other jobs like changing throttle cables (36k) require a bit more expertise but plenty of people on this forum do it themselves and can give advice. My bike is single plug with ABS (although I'd be happy without it) and no servo - just one more thing to go wrong although obviously nice when functioning correctly.
The lights on the 1150 GS are absolutely useless (disgracefully so) but most people fit auxillary lights - my bike has PIAAs ( I think that's how it's spelt) and they light up the road like day.
The bike has lots of character in my opinion and always feel nice to ride - it doesn't have quite the same predictability of an ultra reliable and consistent Japanese bike. Also it has a bit of roughness to the engine which many feel to be endearing rather than intrusive.
Prices of the 1150 are now very reasonable and most weeks there are superb bikes in the 'for sale and wanted' forum.
The only thing I would say about your requirements is that you want to use it for day to day use - no real problems here but it is a bit heavy just for popping down to the shops (a bike equivalent of the Chelsea Tractor) and I dont use mine for anything less than 50 miles or so. You can alway pick up a cheap CG125 as a second bike and what you spend will offset depreciation on the extra miles you would have put on the clock (I was told by a dealer that the trade in value of the 115 is reduced by £125 for every 1000 miles over 4000 miles per year). In any case I would prefer a slightly tatty high mileage bike that had been used for long distance touring rather than an immaculate one that had just been taken out for short runs when the sun shines.
Hope this is helpful and I look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

[Big Nick]

I think the point made about owners who have had no problems not posting on forums like this is a valid point.
I've just had 4 years of trouble free ownership of my last bike and haven't posted anything praising its reliability whereas if I'd had problems I'd be straight on forums like this whinging and trying to find out the extent of the problem.
Every bike has its faults and you always run the risk of getting a 'Friday afternoon' bike when you buy one. I've just ordered a new GSA after a 2 day test ride and absolutely loved the bike. It comes with a 2 year warranty and roadside assistance so if the worst happens I'll just have to deal with it but at least it will be recovered and repaired free!
A lot of the time it seems luck plays a major part e.g. I recently sold my Audi car to my brother after 3 years trouble free, 1 week after he got it the cetral locking failed costing him £600 to fix

 

[luckylucian]

Having owned two F650GS (single), a 1150 and now a 1200, I would suggest the 650 would meet your spec quite nicely, if you are under 16 stone and dont tour two up with luggage, otherwise go for the 1200, you will not be disappointed.

 

[STUBBS]

thats what i was looking for a few years ago and ended up with the 850gs

 

[Our Gee]

Hi Stephenth,
reading your Requirements just one thing rings the Alarm Bells and that is the 85 MPH cruising. The Bike will do that all day but wether or not you yourself will be able to stand the Battering from the wind is another. There are currently a couple of ongoing Threads on this Forum regarding this problem. People, myself included, have spent small fortunes on after market Screens, Winglets, Mini Screens on Screens and all sorts of other Gizzmo,s in an attempt to turn the GS into an RT(comfort wise) which in IMHO you can,t. Seems like the Wind problem has been "designed in" by BMW. As a Commuter, Back Road Scratcher, and General Fun Bike the GS is Great. As a serious Tourer I have my doubts due to the above problem. We have a 3 week tour commencing in two weeks time to Spain and France which will be the Test and if it fails in that respect it will be going. Best of Luck.

 

[WunTom]

Test Ride

Hi Stephenth,

I've had my R1150GS for 18 months now - 12k miles of mixed riding - mostly commuting. My thoughts are:

- BMWs are no better engineered than any Jap bike. I've got two bits falling off mine at the moment that need attention.
- Although I'm a big strong guy I find the bike the bike v. heavy to manhandle and have dropped it several times. Have got well used to mail-ordering new indicators.
- They DRINK oil. And my bike lives on the road outside my house which is not level, and you can only check the oil warm and level and even then you have to wait ten minutes after switching off, which is a major pain because that's longer than my attention span, so I always forget to check. I think this is an appalling piece of design and laziness on BMW's part. Maybe the 1200 is different. Wouldn't matter but you do have to check oil all the time.
- People only think the GS has good acceleration if they have migrated from a moped. Compared to a "normal" bike they suck. These days I am always last away from the lights.
- 85 is my own preferred m'way speed, but it is breezy and it does make your shoulders ache hanging on against the blast.
- One of my own criteria in choosing the GS involved fantasies of off-road journeys. So far I've only done 2 miles off road, and I've faced up to reality and now put the EXP slicker version of the Tourance tyre on (though the normal Tourance seems to work fine).
- If you really need to get through traffic the GS is a pretty wide bike, and as I said before, it's heavy once you get below about 5mph. On the other hand, it has a fantastically small turning circle, which is essential if you want to weave between lanes in grid-locked traffic.
- On the plus side - you can carry a lot of stuff on it. It is a shaftie. I get 48mpg long distance and 35mpg about town.
- I tried the Adventure model and hated it.

The GS is a good bike, but I don't love it like I have many of my previous bikes (which include a K75).

Did you love it when you test-rode one? If no test-ride why not? make a list of bikes, find dealers and test ride them all. Thought about an FJ1300? My mate has just moved from a lifetime of boxers to the Yam and says it's the best bike he's ever had. Personally I'm haunted by images of the Triumph Sprint ST1050. In black. Will probably test ride one soon and I suspect I will be happier on one.

If your heart is set on a GS I suspect your thinking in terms of which one to go for is right. pre-owned R1150 has to be best value. Mine had 6k on the clock which is about how I always like to buy my bikes (10 so far).

Good luck.

Wuntom.