Maybe back for another go....

[Rob_B]

I bought a 1200 GS somewhere around a year and a half ago.
I sold the bike on a short time afterwards because I found it too big for filtering on (I commute daily to / from Newcastle including bridge crossings in very tight lanes).
Being a short-arse, having to come to a dead stop, in between vehicles was a little nerve racking at times - it wasn't as if I could prepare myself to slide down on one side or t'other and weaving through the traffic seemed hard going.
The other thing was that the GS mirrors were at about the same height as transit vans and the like causing a lot of stop-starts on the way to / from work.

Having said the above, the bike was great in all other areas and so....having just sold my ST 1050....I'm considering another one.

Q :
Would anyone recommend the 1200 over the 1150 for commuting on?
I know I could go for an 800 or something smaller but once a year I go away for a week / fortnight on a tour and I'd prefer one of the above for the trip.

Thanks

Rob

 

[Loiq]

don't think it matters much the 1200 is abit lighter so it might be better, it's meant to be faster but... who really knows... try before you buy....

I was looking at an 800 they also look alright...

too much choice... you need a nice MZ....

 

[Giles]

you need a nice MZ....

+1 !!

I have a couple of work colleagues that commute in on a CG125 and a twenty year old 250 super dream.

If it were me I'd throw five or six hundred quid on a traily 250 and bolt a top box on to the back of it ..

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

If it was too feckin' big for you last time..it won't have shrunk any....it'll still be too feckin' big...unless you've grown?

 

[Giles]

LOL, don't mice yer words Ugleebugga ....

 

[Loiq]

if you eat loads of pies the bike will appear to get smaller after a while...

average sized GSer on a bike....

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nlCIAZ-mU5Q?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nlCIAZ-mU5Q?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

actually if you stood further away from the bike it looks smaller....I've attached a file to illustrate the magic property of near and far...

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZhEcRrMA-M?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iZhEcRrMA-M?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[Rob_B]

Well my growing days are over and as I don't have a penchant for platform boots height will still be an issue.
I was actually aware of this but thought I might look at different lower seat options or rather having a custom one made. I could get my toes down but would prefer to have had the balls of my feet down at least.

Regarding the MZ I've got a "rat" 300cc scooter which I use for commuting over winter.

And as for pie eating.....maybe I should try an emulate one of those fat twins who used to be in the Guinness BOWR

 

[Loiq]

why not stick with the scooter after all it's only work, plus you'd save yourself a load of money by not being arse raped by any of the accessories manufacturer's.... for over priced aluminium sandwich boxes....

caviat added
("appart from Vern's which are a work of art!"...)

 

[Rob_B]

Aye, this is an option I'd thought of. Only downside is that my main bike would only get used maybe 3 weeks a year in total if I did this.

Might be the answer though.

why not stick with the scooter after all it's only work, plus you'd save yourself a load of money by not being arse raped by any of the accessories manufacturer's.... for over priced aluminium sandwich boxes....

caviat added
("appart from Vern's which are a work of art!"...)

 

[Pip_UK]

Hey Rob, I love my GS on multiple levels, but I have to admit that it's not my favourite in traffic (even though quite a lot of cars move over when they see the beak in their mirror) It's easy enough to balance and trickle at low speed, it's just the width that's the problem really, and that's true of all GSs, and although the 800's bars aren't quite so orang-utan extreme, it's still wider than a 600cc Jap roadster.

If it came to it though, I'd sooner get the bus than sell my GS. Ideally I'd have a secondhand Honda Hornet or similar for slicing through traffic, and the GS for everything else.

If it's solo lads tours, then any bike would do. If it's two-up, then the GS roolz.

Hope it's not heresy to suggest, but maybe you could consider a BM 'R' series roadster - a lot of the GS's sweet qualities, but in a more compact package.

 

[Giles]

Aye, this is an option I'd thought of. Only downside is that my main bike would only get used maybe 3 weeks a year in total if I did this.

Might be the answer though.

Thats gotta be better than putting pointless miles on it hasn't it? I love mine, but I'll be buggered if I'm going wrack up the miles on it commuting.

 

[Giles]

Oh dear ......

Just fallen about laughing at the sesame street clip. Priceless!!


Very good!

 

[Loiq]

it's bloody magic....

 

[Rob_B]

Thanks, all good points.

I haven't definitely decided to buy another GS but having ridden/owned some 15 bikes, the GS was a firm favourite and a brilliant all-rounder (but for the commute).
Other bikes were good but I wouldn't buy another one.

Cheers

Rob

 

[eyregs]

I have an R1200r having had a GS 1100.

I mainly use it for commuting into London.

The R is a fantastic bike with 90% of the qualities of the GS but much better in tight traffic.

If i did not commute i may go back to the GS but i am not that sure now.

Get a test drive on one.. Most people are pleasantly surprised.

Regards

 

[Rasher]

I have a very nice ZZR1400 for sale, after riding the GS demo bike today it felt like an AR50.

Certainly narrow, low seat height and at 186mph will save loads of time on your commute It even has a top box.

 

[Rob_B]

I have a very nice ZZR1400 for sale, after riding the GS demo bike today it felt like an AR50.

Certainly narrow, low seat height and at 186mph will save loads of time on your commute It even has a top box.

Actually the GTR 1400 is on my list of alternatives to look at. I nearly bought a ZZR 1400 a few years ago. How much do you want for it? Is it cheap?

 

[Suffolkgsrider]

I bought a 1200 GS somewhere around a year and a half ago.
I sold the bike on a short time afterwards because I found it too big for filtering on (I commute daily to / from Newcastle including bridge crossings in very tight lanes).
Being a short-arse, having to come to a dead stop, in between vehicles was a little nerve racking at times - it wasn't as if I could prepare myself to slide down on one side or t'other and weaving through the traffic seemed hard going.
The other thing was that the GS mirrors were at about the same height as transit vans and the like causing a lot of stop-starts on the way to / from work.

Having said the above, the bike was great in all other areas and so....having just sold my ST 1050....I'm considering another one.

Q :
Would anyone recommend the 1200 over the 1150 for commuting on?
I know I could go for an 800 or something smaller but once a year I go away for a week / fortnight on a tour and I'd prefer one of the above for the trip.

Thanks

Rob

I have an one of the last 1150 GSAs and fitting a low seat made all the difference. It came with a high seat and my toes only just reached the deck. Now it's fine and very easy to balance at low speed using the fly wheel as a gyro and the back brake.

Filtering with only the top box on is helped by keeping all the lights on, wearing a Hein Gericke high vis jacket and a white helmet. Folks seem to move over! I am told the GS has "presence" in the rear view mirror.

Safe riding



The

 

[Richie N]

Hey Rob, I love my GS on multiple levels, but I have to admit that it's not my favourite in traffic (even though quite a lot of cars move over when they see the beak in their mirror) It's easy enough to balance and trickle at low speed, it's just the width that's the problem really, and that's true of all GSs, and although the 800's bars aren't quite so orang-utan extreme, it's still wider than a 600cc Jap roadster.

If it came to it though, I'd sooner get the bus than sell my GS. Ideally I'd have a secondhand Honda Hornet or similar for slicing through traffic, and the GS for everything else.

If it's solo lads tours, then any bike would do. If it's two-up, then the GS roolz.

Hope it's not heresy to suggest, but maybe you could consider a BM 'R' series roadster - a lot of the GS's sweet qualities, but in a more compact package.

The 1200 is actually shorter in length and wheelbase and narrower than the 800 - according to BMW http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/motorcycles/compare.html?model=bmw-r-1200-gs-adventure

Rich