I just dont get it ???

[flytoolow]

OK, So Im reletively new to bikes and such and have been riding a K12RS for almost a year now (from a F650GS). Its a good bike - I like it for sure, and does everything I hoped it would - but recently Ive been looking more and more at the GS(A) side of the world. I figure a second day to day bike might be a possibility, Ive checked the reviews, this site especially - I kinda figured I was missing something (after reading about all the fun & frolicks) so I went to a dealer for a test ride on a 1150GS.
To be honest I was shocked the moment I straddled the bike, the seat felt very wrong (with the pillion seat rubbing the top of the !@#$ -, the engine didnt sound at all right - sewing machine ? For me the riding position was strange and I felt vulnerable to everything on the road - anything above about 120Kmh was almost uncomfortable - and I had a shock when I tried to overtake anything faster than a carthorse, constantly changing gears. I tried it for about 2 hours - took it on my favourite mountain roads - long gentle sweepers - no traffic, To me the front just didnt seem to be planted to the road. I was actually happy to return it at the end of the day. I couldnt see any difference in performance to my F650.

I honestly wanted to like it - but couldnt...??

So c'mon? Tell me what Im missing? A longer ride out ? Different roads? Slower roads? A GSA? I need help to figure what went wrong ?

 

[Arsey]

OK, So Im reletively new to bikes and such and have been riding a K12RS for almost a year now (from a F650GS). Its a good bike - I like it for sure, and does everything I hoped it would - but recently Ive been looking more and more at the GS(A) side of the world. I figure a second day to day bike might be a possibility, Ive checked the reviews, this site especially - I kinda figured I was missing something (after reading about all the fun & frolicks) so I went to a dealer for a test ride on a 1150GS.
To be honest I was shocked the moment I straddled the bike, the seat felt very wrong (with the pillion seat rubbing the top of the !@#$ -, the engine didnt sound at all right - sewing machine ? For me the riding position was strange and I felt vulnerable to everything on the road - anything above about 120Kmh was almost uncomfortable - and I had a shock when I tried to overtake anything faster than a carthorse, constantly changing gears. I tried it for about 2 hours - took it on my favourite mountain roads - long gentle sweepers - no traffic, To me the front just didnt seem to be planted to the road. I was actually happy to return it at the end of the day. I couldnt see any difference in performance to my F650.

I honestly wanted to like it - but couldnt...??

So c'mon? Tell me what Im missing? A longer ride out ? Different roads? Slower roads? A GSA? I need help to figure what went wrong ?

Are they still flogging 1150s in Switzerland ?


Try a GSA1200-a modern bike compared to that pile of old poo you got fobbed off with.

 

[Mr K]

If the 1150 performed no better than the 650, I'd say there was something seriously wrong with the 1150.

 

[richie]

If the 1150 performed no better than the 650, I'd say there was something seriously wrong with the 1150.

this is a wind up, over 120KMH in swizzerlund... Are you for real....

 

[mikepg]

OK, So Im reletively new to bikes and such and have been riding a K12RS for almost a year now (from a F650GS). Its a good bike - I like it for sure, and does everything I hoped it would - but recently Ive been looking more and more at the GS(A) side of the world. I figure a second day to day bike might be a possibility, Ive checked the reviews, this site especially - I kinda figured I was missing something (after reading about all the fun & frolicks) so I went to a dealer for a test ride on a 1150GS.
To be honest I was shocked the moment I straddled the bike, the seat felt very wrong (with the pillion seat rubbing the top of the !@#$ -, the engine didnt sound at all right - sewing machine ? For me the riding position was strange and I felt vulnerable to everything on the road - anything above about 120Kmh was almost uncomfortable - and I had a shock when I tried to overtake anything faster than a carthorse, constantly changing gears. I tried it for about 2 hours - took it on my favourite mountain roads - long gentle sweepers - no traffic, To me the front just didnt seem to be planted to the road. I was actually happy to return it at the end of the day. I couldnt see any difference in performance to my F650.

I honestly wanted to like it - but couldnt...??

So c'mon? Tell me what Im missing? A longer ride out ? Different roads? Slower roads? A GSA? I need help to figure what went wrong ?

Well - IMHO the bike you have is one of the best out there and in an ideal world, you would have both. The GS is a good bike, and allot of fun, but it simply does not compare to the K (apart from if you tried to take your bike up a muddy hill, then you would get the point).

 

[E. Buygum]

I suspect it might be witchcraft or something...I had my first BMW ride 3 months ago-a 1200GS- after some years of 4 cylinder Jap bikes (and a Triumph triple). I'm not sure I could have been any more shocked if it had been an 1150/1100. I could hardly get the bloody thing off the centre stand (parked on hill), the riding position felt all wrong, the vibration with the engine idling was startling and the instrument panel and screen apparently wanted to shake themselves free. When riding I had trouble finding the rear brake and (of course) indicators and horn; acceleration felt a good bit less than I was used to and the engine braking (i.e. poor throttle control) meant I was exiting all corners too slow. It took a while but I was genuinely intrigued by the whole experience and after a couple of hours, things had gone from "awful" to "a bit weird". Perhaps it's something they put in the coffee at Southport Superbikes but a further couple of hours later, I signed the deal, cancelling a planned Triumph Tiger test ride the next day.

5,000 miles later, I can't imagine riding a different bike. I had a couple of hours in North Wales today and loved every minute. As a fairly average rider, this bike flatters me. On twisty roads, I am faster everywhere than on, say, a VFR. On long trips I am better protected and more comfortable and have excellent luggage. The MPG and tank range are very good, the brakes easily the best I have ever had. But, yes, definitely different...you need to perservere a bit and they probably wouldn't suit everybody even then.

 

[flytoolow]

Well Ill take all this advice and try again I guess. Ive "taken a peak" at a 12GS ...but for me personally it doesnt seem to have the build quality of the 1150 - I couldnt warm to the plastic angular bits...OK so it may be the "better bike" and all, less weight, more power etc etc etc but I sorta felt that I was sat on something designed for the Yuppie no kahoonas?
...Yes 120 is certainly possible here...honest...no joke...for real. (I am just at the foot of the Jura Mtns between the lakes - for all you people that know the area)
Maybe the bike did have a problem ? I will try another and this time give it a little longer but the snow is on the way so it may be next year before I can find one in the region.

Thanks.

(Oh and I do think that the K really is a superb piece of equipment - maybe that is why Im having such difficulty finding the change )

 

[Bryn]

Did Italy in June.. on an 1150 GSA.... and SWMBO on the back. Through Switzerland to Lake Como... then down to Pisa, Rome, Rimini, Venice, Stelvio and on to Germany....

The bike didn't miss a beat, didn't need any more BHP, comfort superb... easlily maintained 100mph plus on the motorways

Can't see why you'd need any more than that in the real world

Persevere... try a few different ones... the one you tried could have been a bit of a donkey

 

[flytoolow]

Maybe this was the problem...

Persevere... try a few different ones... the one you tried could have been a bit of a donkey

Well I passed the dealer again this afternoon and I noticed the Bike still for sale. So I stopped and had another look. When the "Carte Gris" was produced I noticed that it was only 33KW - which is about 44Hp...

So Im off to keep lookin.....Watch this Space

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Well I passed the dealer again this afternoon and I noticed the Bike still for sale. So I stopped and had another look. When the "Carte Gris" was produced I noticed that it was only 33KW - which is about 44Hp...

So Im off to keep lookin.....Watch this Space

No wonder in was feckin slow

 

[elevensies]

restricted!!!!!!!!


no wonder