I have never ridden a better bike....

[sven]

I love my GS LC and honestly believe it's the best all round bike I've ridden, but then I've never ridden a one litre sports bike (I was going to trade my K1200S in for one, but I split up with the ex and got a new wife who loves riding pillion instead )

- It's very quick, but not so stupidly fast that you're constantly hitting three figure speeds or unable to use full throttle on most roads a la K1200S

- The suspension allows a very comfortable but well damped ride on bumpy back roads, whereas my old GS MU wallowed on comfort setting

- The riding position makes back roads fun, unlike sportier stuff where my VFR's and sports 600's were tortuous

- The handling is fast and precise with plenty of feedback. Whilst I'm sure I'd be quicker on a sports bike down the Hawes - Ribblehead - Settle road, I don't think there'd be too much in it

- A pillion doesn't affect the handling much or dent the performance

It's probably a keeper, unlike my old GS which was too much of a compromise. I only ride on road, bar the odd gravel track, so love the overgrown super moto attitude

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

And I think you will find that you have misunderstood the GS concept. It is not a compromised design but one that has been very carefully tasked to suit the needs of a particular type of rider..................... . .

No, not at all, I 'get' the GS concept perfectly.

So, to make myself clear for the benefit of Peter Perfect and others;

The GS is a compromise, probably more so than any bike out there and that is why it is such a good bike.

It's a very good tourer but not as good as an RT for example.
It's capable off road but not as good as my 630 Husky.
It's a good commuter but not as good as say a CB500.
It handles well but is not as good as a CB600RR.
It's quick but not as quick as a KTMRC8.

All the above bikes are focused for a particular task and excel at it. There is not even the slightest nod to a RC8 being capable off road. Their particualr role/focus, and what people buy them for, has not been compromised.

The GS as a concept is totaly compromised and that is what makes the GS concept such a good one.

Andres

 

[y2blade]

No, not at all, I 'get' the GS concept perfectly.

So, to make myself clear for the benefit of Peter Perfect and others;

The GS is a compromise, probably more so than any bike out there and that is why it is such a good bike.

It's a very good tourer but not as good as an RT for example.
It's capable off road but not as good as my 630 Husky.
It's a good commuter but not as good as say a CB500.
It handles well but is not as good as a CB600RR.
It's quick but not as quick as a KTMRC8.

All the above bikes are focused for a particular task and excel at it. There is not even the slightest nod to a RC8 being capable off road. Their particualr role/focus, and what people buy them for, has not been compromised.

The GS as a concept is totaly compromised and that is what makes the GS concept such a good one.

Andres

Well said.

 

[Engineer]

No, not at all, I 'get' the GS concept perfectly.

So, to make myself clear for the benefit of Peter Perfect and others;

The GS is a compromise, probably more so than any bike out there and that is why it is such a good bike.

It's a very good tourer but not as good as an RT for example.
It's capable off road but not as good as my 630 Husky.
It's a good commuter but not as good as say a CB500.
It handles well but is not as good as a CB600RR.
It's quick but not as quick as a KTMRC8.

All the above bikes are focused for a particular task and excel at it. There is not even the slightest nod to a RC8 being capable off road. Their particualr role/focus, and what people buy them for, has not been compromised.

The GS as a concept is totaly compromised and that is what makes the GS concept such a good one.

Andres

Exactly - it does all of those things, whereas the others only do one of them really well, the GS gets the balance between all uses just about spot on, which is why it is such a brilliant bike.

Unfortunately it is not yet perfect but if BMW keep getting it this right then the next one will be that bit closer to perfection just like myself

 

[y2blade]

.......... if BMW keep getting it this right then the next one will be that bit closer to perfection just like myself

Will the next come with even more silly little niggles or "character" as you guys call it?

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

The GS is a compromise, probably more so than any bike out there and that is why it is such a good bike.

It's a very good tourer but not as good as an RT for example.
It's capable off road but not as good as my 630 Husky.
It's a good commuter but not as good as say a CB500.
It handles well but is not as good as a CB600RR.
It's quick but not as quick as a KTMRC8.

All the above bikes are focused for a particular task and excel at it. There is not even the slightest nod to a RC8 being capable off road. Their particualr role/focus, and what people buy them for, has not been compromised.

The GS as a concept is totally compromised and that is what makes the GS concept such a good one.

Absolutely spot on and not bad for first thing in the morning sir

If folks could afford the space and finances to have 5 bikes in the garage the above 5 (or very similar) would no doubt be in there.

But most can't afford the luxury of a brace of fine machines, so what better way than to compromise with THE best all rounder out there, the 1200 LC.... GSA of course

 

[krytengs]

No, not at all, I 'get' the GS concept perfectly.

The GS as a concept is totaly compromised and that is what makes the GS concept such a good one.

Andres

I have had my 2013 LC for a year now and after 14K of commuting , motorways, B roads, Sunday blasts and many trips away...I still love riding it at any given opportunity.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

Not sure about this compromise tag. Any bike could be viewed as a compromise in one way or another.

The GS is compromised in LESS areas than an R1 and other bikes. Certain areas of the other bikes have no compromises, (eg bhp/power, track handling ) but they are much more compromised than a gs in other areas (eg comfort, fuel range, storage capacity).

My take...

The gs mixes a wide ranging blend of abilities into an overall package that excels in many areas and compromises in few.

 

[Engineer]

Still the best selling adventure/sport motorcycle and best selling over 1000cc bike in the UK for April and May - think it has been top all year actually - source MCIA new reg stats.

So in spite of the few 'niggles' it still out sells the competition - what is wrong with The Triumph, KTM, Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, Capanord thingy etc?