Is the R1200GS a 'Chelsea Tractor?'

[Mouse]

Re: What's that puddle????

Originally posted by Katiana
it's not a river crossing until you need a smorkel

I need to get myself a smorkel, it sounds great

 

[Wraithwrider]

it's not a river crossing until you need a snorkel

or maybe another new toy

 

[Mr K]

I like the colour.

Does it have alloy rowlocks?

CMK

 

[Wraithwrider]

Alloy rowlocks? you must be joking - titanium!

Carbon Fibre paddle (seriously)

Remus skeg

Corbin thigh braces

 

[Dahoum]

Alloy rowlocks? you must be joking - titanium!

Carbon Fibre paddle (seriously)

Remus skeg

Corbin thigh braces

These are sex toys right ?

 

[Wreford Miles]

I'll be the first to put my hand up and say it's about time we stopped having a jibe at the 1200GS... I know it's fun and makes easy bait and in reality I suppose only participated because 1100 riders use to take the piss out of 1150 riders.

But the rules have changed we know 1150 riders can take it

Now we should stop...Many 1200 riders are now having to face up to the reality that it will not make them more attractive to the ladies both in apperance and performance.

So let them be, what these guys need is a break not a beak

 

[Dahoum]

why are GSers drawn to water?

Cos its fekkin FUN

 

[Russ]

If the 1200 is a 'Chelsea tractor' then that must make the 1150GSA a Humvee H2

 

[birdseye]

If the 1200 is a 'Chelsea tractor' then that must make the 1150GSA a Humvee H2

No - I reckon the "Hollywood Humvee" is the US equivalent of Chelsea Tractor. The thing is, do you need it for the purpose it is designed for, or for an image it gives?

Had an accountant once, who drove a Chelsea tractor in a city up north. When he came home from work, he would go into his converted barn, take off his suit, put on his scruffy clothes and tie his old raincoat round his waist with some baling twine. He would then walk round his 10 acres looking at the handful of store cattle he had. Only just stopped short of the "Ooh arrrrh!)

Humvees were military vehicles designed to have the same wheel base width as tanks. Luxury versions are now driven by "starlets" on Sunset Bvard . Probably in fatigues.

 

[Russ]

No - I reckon the "Hollywood Humvee" is the US equivalent of Chelsea Tractor. The thing is, do you need it for the purpose it is designed for, or for an image it gives?

Had an accountant once, who drove a Chelsea tractor in a city up north. When he came home from work, he would go into his converted barn, take off his suit, put on his scruffy clothes and tie his old raincoat round his waist with some baling twine. He would then walk round his 10 acres looking at the handful of store cattle he had. Only just stopped short of the "Ooh arrrrh!)

Humvees were military vehicles designed to have the same wheel base width as tanks. Luxury versions are now driven by "starlets" on Sunset Bvard . Probably in fatigues.

This is just the same as taking a perfectly good 1150, and bolting on 30 kilos worth of off-road look a like goodies, then using it to commute every day. How many GSA are really used as they are intended?

Pot, Kettle, Black

 

[boundless]

One of the defining qualities of a "Chelsea Tractor" is its unwieldy design specification which in turn is a hopeless attempt to square the unencirclable.

Er:-

A. Minimal overhang front and rear for management of obstacles; you drive over them.

B. High ground clearance of the underparts to cope with traversing the obstacles you are in the process of driving over.

C. Humungously long travel suspension to cope with a wide range of sizes of obstacles and the speed range over which one might wish to traverse them.

D. A very large all up weight(A,B and C); which is mostly above the centre of gravity to allow for A and B.

E. A means of propulsion which in any normal car would be considered extreme or at least phenomenonly generous; but in this case just about barely adequate to keep up in normal traffic. Which in turn adds to D.

F. Very convoluted anti-roll geometry underneath to prevent the vehicle from capsizing when the 'Chelsea Tractor Driver' decides to swerve around an obstacle; instead of driving over it as the original design brief anticipated.

All in all then, a 'Chelsea Tractor' costs three to four times as much as a reasonably competant car (Skoda anybody?) and performs barely as well.

A 1200 GS costs about one and a half times as much as a reasonably competent bike (VFR anybody?) and performs ..... maybe quite a bit better.

Not a tractor then?

 

[Russ]

A 1200 GS costs about one and a half times as much as a reasonably competent bike (VFR anybody?) and performs ..... maybe quite a bit better.

As a former owner of 3 VFRs (1x Fi and 2x VTECs) with over 30,000 miles on them, I can honestly say that only after 5,000 miles on the 12GS, it IS better than the VFR in some respects, but the VFR is still a great machine, both machines tackle 'all-roundedness' from a very different angle.

The 12 engine, seat, comfort, brakes and handling are better than the VFR, the only 'advantage' the VFR has is that it is less inclined to 'weathercock' on windy days.

I never thought i would find any other bike that would do what i needed it to do (commute, scratch and tour) as well as the VFR, then i tried the 1150 which was great, but the 1200 came in red (to match my gear ) and was just a 'bit better'

 

[aspad]

good one re the humvee Russ - no bites yet...

 

[~Stef~]

Humvees were military vehicles designed to have the same wheel base width as tanks. Luxury versions are now driven by "starlets" on Sunset Bvard . Probably in fatigues.

And the luxury models are not real Humvees, thier based on a VAN rolling chassis.

 

[Schtum]

The 12 engine, seat, comfort, brakes and handling are better than the VFR, the only 'advantage' the VFR has is that it is less inclined to 'weathercock' on windy days.

I might give you the seat, but that's about it Russ. I had the opportunity to ride my VFR and my 1200 back to back a couple of weekends ago.

OK, so my VFR isn't standard with its Yoshi can, Power Commander, Ohlins suspension, braided hoses and Corbin seat. It's not possible to make direct comparisons about engine characteristics, but my VFR's brakes are better and the handling is different. It's probably better on smooth fast roads but the GS takes it on my favourite twisty, bumpy unclassifieds. Horses for courses....

 

[Mr K]

............Chelsea Tractor, Humvee? Who cares? I ride for me....and it is bloody marvelous[IMHO].

 

[timmy]

ARSE

Talk or walk?

 

[Steve Chip]

or maybe another new toy

What's that Pete?
A three hob canoe?

Or is it a floating drum machine?

Must be fast - it's yellow!
Steve

 

[marcus]

now I spend a lot of time pottering through SW London and chelsea tractors tend to be driven by wimmin,

GS's dont.

The motorbike keep-up-with-the-jones-poseurs of Chelsea tend to be shiney harley or Ducati Monsters compulsory illegal beanie-helmet and pack og Gitanes

 

[JohnP]

now I spend a lot of time pottering through SW London and chelsea tractors tend to be driven by wimmin,

I knows a wimmin who does and she rides off road too. She aint big and fat either!!