I'm Tempted.

[Deeso]

Hi all.

My name is Paul.

I've only held my licence since July '06 and my first bike was a GSX600F. Owned that for 8 months and got fed up with it and now own a CBR600F since Feb last year.

I haven't got a GS yet, but am very tempted. I first discovered the R1200GS sat outside my Doctor's (he owns it). When I first saw it I thought it was horrid. The next time I saw it, I was like, that's looks O.K actually. Now I think they look wicked.

I took one out for a day's test ride a few weeks ago and was really impressed. It was a crap day and I would never have took my CBR6F out in that lot. The GS never batted an eye lid. It took it all in it's stride and wanted more. Brilliant 2 up with the missus on the back. I had loads of fun on the GS. Probably more than my CBR, but in a different way if that makes sense

I don't know much about this bike, but have heard they suffered from a lot of problems up 'til about 2006. Is this right and have you got any info about things to keep an eye on? What would be the best year to look at in the used market?

 

[garfield]

welcome to the site, hope you enjoy it....as for the GS, go by it, you'll love owning one...good luck....

In fact, with membership I think you can scan the For Sale and Wanted sections, few bikes for sale kicking about in there....

 

[Jockser]

Welcome Deeso

The early ('04) ones had problems but they should all be sorted by now. And obviously all the Monday & Friday bikes are a potential problem

I'm on my second one & think they're brilliant bikes. I put about 20k miles a year on them & have had the gearbox oil seal go but bugger all else. And that was sorted under warranty Oh, had a rear disc problem on the GSA too but the less said about that the better

As Garfield says subscribe & then you can use the full search facility as well as For Sale & Wanted

 

[LivNorway]

You wrote:
''I haven't got a GS yet, but am very tempted. I first discovered the R1200GS sat outside my Doctor's (he owns it). When I first saw it I thought it was horrid. The next time I saw it, I was like, that's looks O.K actually. Now I think they look wicked.''

Your Doc is our special GS-Doc.
If you see him one more time he make you think it look just perfect - he is a shrink too!

Welcome!

Liv.

 

[Summer]

Its funny how a large percentage of new riders after having passed their test will go out and purchase a sports bike, I myself am guilty of it, I wonder why that is ??
Deeso, I am sure you will love the gs if and when you get one, I love mine, much more versatile than the sports bikes even if I do sometimes miss my beloved R6

 

[Duchess]

Hi all.

My name is Paul.

I've only held my licence since July '06 and my first bike was a GSX600F. Owned that for 8 months and got fed up with it and now own a CBR600F since Feb last year.

I haven't got a GS yet, but am very tempted. I first discovered the R1200GS sat outside my Doctor's (he owns it). When I first saw it I thought it was horrid. The next time I saw it, I was like, that's looks O.K actually. Now I think they look wicked.

I took one out for a day's test ride a few weeks ago and was really impressed. It was a crap day and I would never have took my CBR6F out in that lot. The GS never batted an eye lid. It took it all in it's stride and wanted more. Brilliant 2 up with the missus on the back. I had loads of fun on the GS. Probably more than my CBR, but in a different way if that makes sense

I don't know much about this bike, but have heard they suffered from a lot of problems up 'til about 2006. Is this right and have you got any info about things to keep an eye on? What would be the best year to look at in the used market?

Hello Paul, welcome to UKGSer.

I'm going to move your post over to another section of the forum for you where I think you'll get a better response to your questions about the GS.

Take a look around our fabulous 'For Sale & Wanted' section of the forum found further down. You never know the bike could be there waiting for you but you'll have to become a site sponsor to unlock the doors before you can post in there, plus you'll have the added advantage of our pm (private message) service to communicate with the seller behind the scenes.

I've post a quick link below should you wish to take advantage of the offer, its only £12 pa and well worth it IMO.

http://www.ukgser.com/subscriptions.htm

Enjoy your stay with us

 

[mystic]

Welcome Deeso. Trust to your instincts ...... hope you get that GS ...... you'll not look back! Don't bother with rip-off Astle's, as Garfield has said, this is the place to find one!

Safe riding.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Welcome to the site

The 1200 has had a mixed reputation for reliability and without wishing to start yet another thread on the subject it can be sumarised (IMHO) thus:

Earliest (04) bikes had the most problems. Some later production bikes continue to have problems but overall they are a very reliable bike (honest).

A hoooooge part of the bad pres they have had is because people mostly post 'problems' on sites such as this; it makes a very boring post to just say "hi, my bikes now done x,000 miles with no problems" so nobody does.

Also, the 1200 has been MBWs biggest selling bike EVER (AFAIK), having sold significantly more units than any other WBM (let alone GS) in the short time since it's introduction. I suspect that if you looked at % problems against numbers sold there would be little difference with other BWMs.

Which brings me to the only caveat to owning what I reckon to be the best bike I have owned in (too) many years of riding bikes:
It is NOT a jap bike, you can not just ride it, put it away and forget it. It will require a modicum of TLC, understanding and ocasional fettling, not much, but more than a Jap bike needs. However, it is this aspect that allows you to build a rewarding relationship with the bike and adds so much more to owning a GS than just about any modern bike I can think of.

Bit of a ramble there sorry, just get one, you won't regret it

Andres

 

[gavin@iow]

Welcome Deeso

The early ('04) ones had problems but they should all be sorted by now. And obviously all the Monday & Friday bikes are a potential problem

Not all of the '04s had problems

 

[Bryn]

Welcome to the site

The 1200 has had a mixed reputation for reliability and without wishing to start yet another thread on the subject it can be sumarised (IMHO) thus:

Earliest (04) bikes had the most problems. Some later production bikes continue to have problems but overall they are a very reliable bike (honest).

A hoooooge part of the bad pres they have had is because people mostly post 'problems' on sites such as this; it makes a very boring post to just say "hi, my bikes now done x,000 miles with no problems" so nobody does.

Also, the 1200 has been MBWs biggest selling bike EVER (AFAIK), having sold significantly more units than any other WBM (let alone GS) in the short time since it's introduction. I suspect that if you looked at % problems against numbers sold there would be little difference with other BWMs.

Which brings me to the only caveat to owning what I reckon to be the best bike I have owned in (too) many years of riding bikes:
It is NOT a jap bike, you can not just ride it, put it away and forget it. It will require a modicum of TLC, understanding and ocasional fettling, not much, but more than a Jap bike needs. However, it is this aspect that allows you to build a rewarding relationship with the bike and adds so much more to owning a GS than just about any modern bike I can think of.

Bit of a ramble there sorry, just get one, you won't regret it

Andres

Nicely summarised Andres

 

[will27]

tempted

Hi i was in the same situation while ago had africa twin and wanted something bigger ,tried all sorts of bikes but in the end bought gs 1150 its brill bit akward at first but stick with it

 

[GSmonkey]

The first generation of the bike (2004) was the most unreliable. Unfortunately they still carry expensive time bombs like the final drive, gearbox, etc. They also corrode like a bastard in places e.g. front engine cover.

Fortunately they make up for it all by being an utterly fantastic bike to ride.

If you've got the cash get a late 06 or 07 model which will be on the market in the next few weeks as owners 'trade up' to the Rev 2 model.

 

[Alex B]

Start with an 1150 (if you can find a good one).

Don't buy a 1200 unless you can afford one of the new 2008 models.

Don't say you weren't warned.

PS: 1200 is now the Ford Focus of modern biking.

 

[GSmonkey]

PS: 1200 is now the Ford Focus of modern biking.

...thus making the 1150 the Ford Escort

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

...thus making the 1150 the Ford Escort

Andres

 

[Alex B]

No, not really.

Quoting a comment made in the esteemed motorcycle press (is that a contradiction ?) some while ago. It isn't a criticism of the machine, merely an observation. And what BMW intended it to be.

And the new 1200 will probably be a great bike; it's what I'd go for. Vorsprung durch technik ?

 

[Hawk]

Hi all.
My name is Paul.
What would be the best year to look at in the used market?

Depends on what money you've got to spend and how 'new' a bike you want. For me, I wanted the lighter, more powerful 1200 compared to earlier versions. I also wanted as new as possible. Couldn't get one at the right price so ended up buying new. I would have to disagree with an earlier comment about getting an 08 model though. Why pay a premium for 5bhp more? I suspect there will be plenty of 07's about secondhand as BMWUK sold a boat load of them last year. The only difference between the 04-06 and 07 is the ABS isn't servo assisted now.
IMO get as new as you can.

 

[sven]

Depends on what money you've got to spend and how 'new' a bike you want. For me, I wanted the lighter, more powerful 1200 compared to earlier versions. I also wanted as new as possible. Couldn't get one at the right price so ended up buying new. I would have to disagree with an earlier comment about getting an 08 model though. Why pay a premium for 5bhp more? I suspect there will be plenty of 07's about secondhand as BMWUK sold a boat load of them last year. The only difference between the 04-06 and 07 is the ABS isn't servo assisted now.
IMO get as new as you can.

The 2008 model is officially launched next week (26th Jan - there were loads lined up with covers on at Allan Jefferies yesterday), so why not test ride both?

The press launch tests suggest that the new engine is much better than a mere 5bhp suggests, so I for one will probably buy one as I felt the older bike lacked grunt for quick overtakes when riding two-up; there again most bikes lack the overtaking ability of a K1200S two-up, which is why I want a GS to slow me down but still be fun to ride