My new 2009 1200 GSA has no power

Lebo

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I am new to the BMW and the Adventure bikes , I have a 1100 ZZR and a BigDog (Custom Chopper) that spoil me when it comes to power . I just got a brand new 1200 2009 GSA with the low first gear , I am not happy with the power.
I need more juice. I would like to change the Exhaust but 6 HP might not really make a difference.(what do you think)
I am so disappointed that I am thinking of either trading it in or just selling it. It has 300 mile on it.

My question is, ... is it a lion in sheep skin, I just need to look deeper(change exhaust, remove catalitic converter etc...) or this bike is designed to peacefully clock the miles?
 
Having come from a ZZr1100 via a fully tricked up K1200R Sport to a GSA recently I thought the same thing, but be patient!! The GS will never have the explosive top end of a big 4 but it does have other talents, as someone on this very board pointed out it's not slow.Give it another 500 miles, go and find your favourite A and B roads an give it a thrash, I promise you it will reveal talents neither of your other bikes ever dreamed of. You also have to remember that Boxer engines take A LOT of miles to fully bed in.

It's all in the way you use it, I do a 120 mile commute in comfort on the motorway at 'enthusiastic' speeds no problem ,and then fling the bike round the twisties when I come off the motorway.

Give it time!!:thumb
 
I went from a fjr to a gsa. Yes the gsa is slower but I knew that before I traded and I dont think I have ever mised the 40 odd missing ponies. If I ever go back to a fjr/gtr/gt it will be for other reasons.
 
Thanks to all, I really should have taken a test ride but the dealer did not have any bikes to test drive and I actually fell in love with the look.

Actually day by day I am liking it more and getting use to it.

Heard the 2010 models deliver a bigger punch, will try to trade in or change the exhaust , I guess this weekend is a trip to the dealer.

Thanks again to all
 
Lebo said:
Thanks to all, I really should have taken a test ride but the dealer did not have any bikes to test drive and I actually fell in love with the look.

Actually day by day I am liking it more and getting use to it.

Heard the 2010 models deliver a bigger punch, will try to trade in or change the exhaust , I guess this weekend is a trip to the dealer.

Thanks again to all
Click to expand...

I have a 2009 GSA fitted with a full Remus system (off my 2006 GS) which opens up the midrange but you won't see a big power increase. If I was you I'd just ride it and soon enough all will be revealed.

Dave
 
JJH said:
I went from a fjr to a gsa. Yes the gsa is slower but I knew that before I traded and I dont think I have ever mised the 40 odd missing ponies. If I ever go back to a fjr/gtr/gt it will be for other reasons.
Click to expand...

i still miss the power of a 4 cyl, but the pro,s outwiegh the cons (until i get a k1300:green gri)
 
Lebo said:
I am new to the BMW and the Adventure bikes , I have a 1100 ZZR and a BigDog (Custom Chopper) that spoil me when it comes to power . I just got a brand new 1200 2009 GSA with the low first gear , I am not happy with the power.
I need more juice. I would like to change the Exhaust but 6 HP might not really make a difference.(what do you think)
I am so disappointed that I am thinking of either trading it in or just selling it. It has 300 mile on it.

My question is, ... is it a lion in sheep skin, I just need to look deeper(change exhaust, remove catalitic converter etc...) or this bike is designed to peacefully clock the miles?
Click to expand...

I went from a ZX12R road bike and a GSXR1000 k3 track bike (I was running both at the same time), to my 08 GSA, which I bought new.
Its a different bike which requires, a different riding technique/ or frame of mind, (its not a sports bike full stop).
It will get a shift on if you really twist the throttle wide open though.
My previous bikes were quite tricked up, power commanders, Arkrapovic systems, I even had slipper clutch and quick shifter fitted on the track bike.
I bought my GSA to tour with gear, ride long distances in comfort, with the Mrs on the back, up to now I've not been disapointed at all. I love the ride, the look and the fact I can load it up with camping equipt and shoot off for the week end.
The fact that its not as fast as my previous bikes is no problem at all, especially in this day and age with all the speed cameras and hefty fines, I find I tend to keep to the speed limits or at least keep my speed very close to them. Up to now I've no regrets.
Congrats on you purchase now enjoy..................

Rgds GibGSA
 
If you look at performance figures, within legal zone, i.e. below 70mph, comparing any big engined bike, you will see that there really is bu**er all difference between any of them. That difference, which is often fractions of a second is also easily lost with rider inability.

Under 60, for example, in many national speed limit roads, the GS, with its torque and massive engine braking, can easily out perform much more powerful machines.

What sort of speeds , dare I ask, are you missing the power with ?
 
Bud, go out with your sports bike mounted mates, watch them disappear into the distance on the straights and then wait until you hit the twists and turns and you find yourself climbing all over them, then reconsider!
 
Just because it's not revving it's tits off doesn't mean it's not quick, granted on the straight you ain't gonna have the ZZR rush but then (being a previous ZZR1100, ZX10r owner) it's not going to handle barge like (thinking ZZR here, no ZZR will keep pace on a B road with a GS, and they generally don't stick scameras on B roads :D).
 
Dude, another little angle of dangle........ get on a ferry at Newcastle (or the like), over to Scandinavia. Ride across Sweden, in to Finland, around to St Petersberg, Russia, and down to Tallin, Estonia. Then into Poland, and drop in to Germany, crossing the border in to Switzerland to Italy, over to France and across to Spain. Back on the ferry to Plymouth, across to Fishguard, that's Wales by-the-way:D, another ferry to Rosslare, Ireland and up the West coast to Galway. Over to Belfast, NI, and across on another boat to Stranraer and hit the home run to your place......

Phew..... right, if you arrive home and say "I wish I had more power and was on my sportsbike", I'll be amased..... the GS is built for munching miles and keeping the pilot as comfortable as possible....... the miles don't have to be on sealed roads either......:P

Timpo.
 
You got to think differently about the GSA and its ilk. Think of a tractor capable of doing 200km/h and you are thinking in the right league. I just did a 300 km ride with my mate who rides a GSXR750 and I didn't feel under gunned at all.
 
I've had some big power bikes in the past and still miss them on occaision. You'll never get the big power from th GS no matter how much fettling you do. However it's got torque in all the right places, confidence inspiring handling and a ride-all-day riding position.

When I first started riding the GS, I was constantly banging it off the limiter looking for power which simply isn't there. You'll eventually adjust your style to make best use of the torque. It definately takes a few months to get used to the bike. My advice is to give it time, put a few thousand miles on it and see if that changes your mind.

Definately they're most at home on twisty B roads or touring fully loaded in Europe.
 
I was wondering why BMW does not put their foot down and put a descent engine to give you torque and speed.

Is it a religion to stick to the 180 boxer air cooled. It is really not a Harley to be persistent on the "Air cooled" feature and the noise it makes is not a sought after feature.

I understand it is a "Utility" bike as such and the engine is good for the purpose it was made for, but I still think BMW can do better.

At first I did not understand why people droped those bikes so often, now I know, if you are in the wrong gear, there is no mercy, the bike will kick and shut down.
 
no, they dont stick to a twin 180, theres singles, twins, triples,
you can always buy a k1300,
and, thank fek it aint like a harley in my opinion,
this kicking thing, when does it do that?do u mean if the revs are too low?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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