I’ve gone and Supermotarded my 1200GS

[2 wheel humvee]

As far away from the GS concept as you can get

Really? Why?

Do you not think that this bike could tour,commute,scratch,bimble down back roads as well as any other GS?
Or is it because the rufty tufty off road element has been reduced on this bike?
Lots of GS owners never take their bikes off road,some have 2 bikes,1 for everything else and 1 for off road,horses for courses eh Johnny

 

[Scottch]

The rear wheel is slightly off set, but I cant feel any difference on the bike… it handles brilliantly

It looks great buddy

I'm just trying to get my head around having an offset on the rear wheel.

Does that mean that the bike will drop into right handers easier than lefts?

And when riding along in a straightline, does the bike "crab" i.e. require a bit of left turn to ride in a straight line.

And if having an offset wheel made a great handling bike, wouldn't there be more manufacturers doing it and consequently a whole heap of race bikes with offset rear wheels?

Like I said, I think it looks great, but just struggling a bit to get my head around having an offset on the wheel.

 

[Big Lee]

To me my GS is a road bike, I`ve got road tyres on it, Pilot Road, and its never been off road down anywhere I couldn`t drive my car, a BMW 530i Sport. Apart from once & that was just a very bumpy track! I think this bike looks great, the colour scheme is truely excellent & I would love to put the RT wheels on mine & probably enjoy the handling of the 17" front even more

So a big to those who are making their GS more S than G

 

[Big Lee]

If anyone who`s done this wheel change to their bike is up in the sunny lake district at any time is their any chance of a go?

 

[Big Lee]

NO, you`ll just end up getting some . Mrs Big Lee

 

[WindyChuffer]

Personalising your motorbike is NEVER a pointless exercise! This bike looks cool and the thrust of the mod has been to negate the off-road ability of the bike, whioch most people never use. And you wonder what Rossi would think of it.... what's he got to do with anything?!?!

Patrick.

Well if you'd read my original post you'd know what meant by the reference to Rossi.

OK, so the wheels are smaller and lighter resulting in a reduced gyroscopic effect, and perhaps this is slightly offset slightly by bigger tyres that may be marginally heavier. However, the offset rear wheel concerns me somewhat, and the guy who stuck those sports wheels on claims there is no adverse handling difference which I find *very* difficult to believe. For a start, the balance of the bike has been changed, and this will be more apparent at speed and with the forces assoicated with cornering. You'll be able to lean more into the turn one way compared to the other, and the centre of gravity is now different according to which way your are cornering. Heaven forbid what the bike would handle like at the limits of tyre adhesion and handling (i.e. in the wet, step change in road surface) - it certainly has the potential to behave in a very strange if not dangerous manner...

Granted, this chap is an experienced rider who claims 640+ miles per week, but with respect, his view on a bike's handling and ability to pick up on the finer points of handling would be markedly different to that of a professional motorbike racer (or tester). And so my point is simple - I'd be very keen to understand what a professional motorbike racer would think of it...

I'm not really up on who's who in motorbike racing as I don't follow it - I just ride. And Rossi was the first name that came to my head...I've probably spelt his name incorrectly too.

Just think of it this way - if a manufacturer launched a production bike with offset wheels, they'd be the laughing stock...

If you really must put tiny wheels on your bike - find a way of lining them up !!!

 

[Yonkyo]

Ah to birds with one stone

I think it looks fine but I'd prefer to see a pic of the zx10 - THAT is cool

Here’s some pics of me on my old & newest ZX-10R’s

Well as you already have a sports bike, it kind of reinforces my view - a totally pointless exerise...and at £800 too !

Riding 640 miles a week + is a lot, granted; but in no way does this make you a professional rider. By professional rider I meant a professional racer - i.e. someone like Rossi.

I may not be a professional racer, but I do 6 to 8 track days per year at Donington, Cadwell etc. not mention my local track Castle Coomb, and though I say it myself, I’m pretty fast (always towards the front in the fast group). So I know how a bike handles at very high speeds.


Me on my old ZX at Cadwell

Me on my New ZX at Castle Coomb

 

[jeff garnett]

...
Just think of it this way - if a manufacturer launched a production bike with offset wheels, they'd be the laughing stock...QUOTE]

BMW All BMW R bikes have offset wheels

 

[GS TRV]

Sweet fotos

I like your exhaust choice - on an entirely different note - how d'ya compare the old with the new Kwacker?

I'm thinking of trading my Strom for one

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

As far away from the GS concept as you can get

Surely that started with the first Oil Heads

Andres

 

[marcus]

Yonko

What about wet weather handling? That fat back tyre handle it?

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Granted, this chap is an experienced rider who claims 640+ miles per week, but with respect, his view on a bike's handling and ability to pick up on the finer points of handling would be markedly different to that of a professional motorbike racer (or tester). And so my point is simple - I'd be very keen to understand what a professional motorbike racer would think of it...

Really can't understand why you are getting so 'hot under the collar' about this one

The guy says it handles fine, end of story i.e. it works for him, who gives a sh!t what anybody else would think of the handling. Typical bleedin' BWM Pipe and Slippers academic argument with no relevance to the real world

Oh, and whilst I would never class myself as a 'professional motorbike racer' I have raced Supermoto and Hillclimb.

Now, as I'm sure you know, SM's are dirt bike conversions - how are they converted?

You take a skinny rear rim off and fit the fattest rim to take the fattest tyre you can find. You should see the amount of offset we were running on some bikes in order for the tyre to clear the chain - even then we would often take the sholuder of the tyre off with a Stanley knife to give extra clearance (quick, call the safety police ).

Can't say I ever had a problem with handling on any of my SM's

Andres

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Oh, BTW Yonko, think the bike looks brilliant

If only I had some spare cash.....................................

Andres


PS Remove the rear rack, screen and leave it single seat - will look even better then (IMHO of course!)

 

[earthmover]

Well, I have to say that I don't like the look of it.
If I were you, I wouldn't give a sh*t about that though!
It's your bike, do what you like, if others wish to follow this route, then your experience will be of help to them.
Mark
(Don't want to sell your old wheels cheap do you?)

 

[Shurv]

I think it looks gr8.Who cares about the offset,if it works,then why should we worry.I think windychuffer needs to get out more,folk have been modifying their bikes ever since bikes were invented and will continue to do so.I am glad that we feel free to show off our modded bikes on the forum ,it gives us all ideas and pleasure chatting about it.A smaller front mudguard and some carbon would IMO look fab.Keep on with it mate,and post the pics.Good on yer.

 

[Jim-Adv]

Yonkyo - nice bike

Outtomunch - wise words

 

[whitegloss]

Err excuse me for raining on your parade, but this seems totally and utterly pointless. Offset rear wheel meaning front and rear wheels are no longer aligned....I mean...how dumb is that? I find it very hard to believe that this doesn't adversely affect the handling and would love to know what a professional rider thinks of this arrangemet.

Why not just go buy a sports bike instead of turning the 12GS into something it simply 'ain't meant to be...

Oi windy f@cker
you sound like your the GS rule making biking oracle-NOT!!!!

"Raining on my parade" WTF does that mean-get your head out of your arse and take a chill pill :cool dance pize

 

[Yonkyo]

Sweet fotos

I like your exhaust choice - on an entirely different note - how d'ya compare the old with the new Kwacker?

I'm thinking of trading my Strom for one

Thanks Trev

Comparing old and new?

Old ZX
Has three distinct powerbands (big leaps in power) which would catch me out sometimes exiting corners – 152 RWBHP tested (standard)
New ZX
A bit flat below 4800rpm, then BANG arm wrenching power right to the red-line – 169.8 RWBHP tested (standard)

Old ZX
Hard suspension, very bumpy ride, but a sweet steering, very flickable handling, though very wheelie prone in the first four gears.

New ZX
Much softer well damped suspension, a very smooth ride, slower steering, not as willing to change direction as the old ZX – so I dropped the front forks by 10mm in the yokes, which helped, less wheelie prone too.

As for which one is best? That’s down to the individual. If you like an aggressive hard ride, go for old ZX. Or if you like a more refined, road friendly (but still totally bonkers) ride. Then go for new ZX.

i still like the style of my old ZX though...

Hope this helps

 

[Yonkyo]

Yonko

What about wet weather handling? That fat back tyre handle it?

I did another 160 miles on the GS today, and I’m absolutely loving my new bike!!

It was very wet this morning, and the Pirelli Super Corsa tyres coped well with the conditions. Maybe not as sure-footed as Bridgestone 014’s, but they were ok.

As the roads dried out, I started to push the GS harder around the fast twisty Chepstow to Usk road. The new set-up handled this road much better than standard (Tourances / Battlewings).

Ground clearance was not an issue however, as this pictures illustrates.

Never quite got the edge of the tyre, but nothing touched down (just the toe of my boot)

 

[Yonkyo]

Oh, BTW Yonko, think the bike looks brilliant

If only I had some spare cash.....................................

Andres


PS Remove the rear rack, screen and leave it single seat - will look even better then (IMHO of course!)

Cheers

Yes, this is work in progress. All the scaffolding on the bike is there because I use the GS for work everyday and carry all my gear in the panniers and top-box.

So the next step is some carbon bits. I’ve ordered a fat carbon Hugger (that fat rear tyre really chucks loads of road crud up the backs of my legs) and a lowered carbon front mudguard.

Well, I have to say that I don't like the look of it.
If I were you, I wouldn't give a sh*t about that though!
It's your bike, do what you like, if others wish to follow this route, then your experience will be of help to them.
Mark
(Don't want to sell your old wheels cheap do you?)

Thanks for the offer to buy my standard wire wheels. But I’m gonna keep them, as I do occasionally take the GS off road i.e. Salisbury, Quantocks, Beckons etc. and it only takes 30 mins to swap them.

Yonkyo - nice bike

Outtomunch - wise words

Thanks for that