westermant
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hi i just passed my test and i am after the new 1200gs is it to much for a new rider or will the electronic aids make it alright
new 1200gs as first bike
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There is no reason why not if your liscence allows it. Just a note of caution it's not a good idea to rely constantly on thiese electronics. They are there as a back up. Personally if I feel the abs cutting in I feel that I have done something wrong like miss reading the surface of the road or whatever. JJH
agent2494
Registered user
My 1st bike was a 1200gsa get and ride you will soon learn
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westermant
Registered user
im 29 and just passed the cat A test so i can legally ride it, i was wondering if it would be a good choice as a first bike or to much for a new rider i am not looking for speed just something comfortable to commute to work on for a few months then i am taking it to canada to tour around there for for 4 weeks
Try one and see...
My first was an F650GS which I soon traded up for a Multistrada (the ugly version) on passing my test.
After a few electrical gremlins and the wrong parts arriving from Italy, I swapped to a GS.
My first was an F650GS which I soon traded up for a Multistrada (the ugly version) on passing my test.
After a few electrical gremlins and the wrong parts arriving from Italy, I swapped to a GS.
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The bike is good for novice riders because it's very forgiving and easy to ride. Where it's not good is its size and weight making it very likely to be dropped when wheeling it around. I do think though that you are better off starting on a 600/650 bandit or something similar as they teach you to ride properly beemers with their funky suspension let you do things other bikes won't do and you won't necessarily realise this till you need to react in anger and the other bikes says no way hosey dropping you in the poopoo.
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westermant
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thanks for the advice i will be getting ordering my new bike next month i was thinking about the GSA but i sat on one today down in portslade and i am a bit short so its going to be the GS
islandbob
Registered user
The bike is not dangerous, its whats between the ears of the rider that can make it so!
1200 is a lot of power to control but theres no reason why it shouldnt make a good first bike.
Just remember the phrase, walk before you run!
Like all things practise is the best thing. Without knowing your height the GSA is OK but you may need the low seat, I can get by with the standard seat just at 5' 8 but the low seat is grand.
Happy days
1200 is a lot of power to control but theres no reason why it shouldnt make a good first bike.
Just remember the phrase, walk before you run!
Like all things practise is the best thing. Without knowing your height the GSA is OK but you may need the low seat, I can get by with the standard seat just at 5' 8 but the low seat is grand.
Happy days
Wish you luck wish I was just able to go to Canada just like dat JJH of course you will be able to manage it just take it easy JJH
Deleted account 251212001
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Maybe buy something cheap and cheerful for a few months....suzuki bandit 600 will be cheap or honda hornet. Buy right and sell it on for the same money and being a jap 4 smooth will be as silk whilst youre learning the finer details of riding.
It will be an expensive drop if you mess it up on a new gs, its not a fire breathing dragon though so use the throttle and brakes with care you should be ok. I wouldn't rely on the electronic aids, its more stuff like judging cornering technique that you need to be confident with, learning to keep the power on and avoid the brakes, where the electronics wont make a jot of difference.
Try a few different bikes first would be my advice.
It will be an expensive drop if you mess it up on a new gs, its not a fire breathing dragon though so use the throttle and brakes with care you should be ok. I wouldn't rely on the electronic aids, its more stuff like judging cornering technique that you need to be confident with, learning to keep the power on and avoid the brakes, where the electronics wont make a jot of difference.
Try a few different bikes first would be my advice.
From time to time this question comes up, and most peepes say yeah go for it ...
I never do
Sure, you'll get from A to B on it, you'll love your bike, you'll be very safe on it and yeah, you'll undoubtedly drop it in a car park trying to turn on a camber and all that, but there'll be minimal damage and it'll just be one of those things.
But ... there'll be so much you won't learn by jumping straight on a big bike. Honestly !! There are 101 ways to move a bike about on the road; pulling it into a corner, pushing it into a corner, weight inside the turn, super moto style push the bike down below you .. weighting pegs? inside peg? outside peg .... ?
Good control in traffic? (like really really good control) - lock to lock u turns? stationary full lock u-turns? Flik flak a bike on a wet greasy mini roundabout? filtering in heavy traffic? The list of what makes up the whole ball game of good bike control is endless.
And learning all that, and the thousand shades of grey that make up 'experience' is best done on a bike that is a bit lighter, a bit more manageable and in essence, something that you can get bored with and start mucking about with - become better than if you like.
Blueranger says it's a good novice bike and is very forgiving. I don't agree! It's not an 'easy' bike to ride. An easy bike is a four cylinder 600 / 750. A Honda CB, a Fazer thousand ....
Your 1200 twin is lumpy, tall and heavy. Matching engine revs oh so sweetly on a twin is harder than on a silky smooth four, it's things like that that you need to really understand. Are you going to blip your down changes or set a constant throttle with set revs as you 4 ... 3 .... clutch out (revs matched perfectly) flick the bike on it's side and gas it out the roundabout ??
There is much to learn. Go get something like a GS 800, and learn to thrash the tits off it. learn every which way to steer it, get bored with it, do stuff to it / on it until you can ride it with your eyes shut. Then .... use those skills and take them with you to bigger and heavier and do it all over again.
If you do it this way, as frustrating as it may seem now ("but I want that bigger bike there .. ") you will reap the rewards further down the line.
I never do
Sure, you'll get from A to B on it, you'll love your bike, you'll be very safe on it and yeah, you'll undoubtedly drop it in a car park trying to turn on a camber and all that, but there'll be minimal damage and it'll just be one of those things.
But ... there'll be so much you won't learn by jumping straight on a big bike. Honestly !! There are 101 ways to move a bike about on the road; pulling it into a corner, pushing it into a corner, weight inside the turn, super moto style push the bike down below you .. weighting pegs? inside peg? outside peg .... ?
Good control in traffic? (like really really good control) - lock to lock u turns? stationary full lock u-turns? Flik flak a bike on a wet greasy mini roundabout? filtering in heavy traffic? The list of what makes up the whole ball game of good bike control is endless.
And learning all that, and the thousand shades of grey that make up 'experience' is best done on a bike that is a bit lighter, a bit more manageable and in essence, something that you can get bored with and start mucking about with - become better than if you like.
Blueranger says it's a good novice bike and is very forgiving. I don't agree! It's not an 'easy' bike to ride. An easy bike is a four cylinder 600 / 750. A Honda CB, a Fazer thousand ....
Your 1200 twin is lumpy, tall and heavy. Matching engine revs oh so sweetly on a twin is harder than on a silky smooth four, it's things like that that you need to really understand. Are you going to blip your down changes or set a constant throttle with set revs as you 4 ... 3 .... clutch out (revs matched perfectly) flick the bike on it's side and gas it out the roundabout ??
There is much to learn. Go get something like a GS 800, and learn to thrash the tits off it. learn every which way to steer it, get bored with it, do stuff to it / on it until you can ride it with your eyes shut. Then .... use those skills and take them with you to bigger and heavier and do it all over again.
If you do it this way, as frustrating as it may seem now ("but I want that bigger bike there .. "
) you will reap the rewards further down the line.From time to time this question comes up, and most peepes say yeah go for it ...
I never do
Sure, you'll get from A to B on it, you'll love your bike, you'll be very safe on it and yeah, you'll undoubtedly drop it in a car park trying to turn on a camber and all that, but there'll be minimal damage and it'll just be one of those things.
But ... there'll be so much you won't learn by jumping straight on a big bike. Honestly !! There are 101 ways to move a bike about on the road; pulling it into a corner, pushing it into a corner, weight inside the turn, super moto style push the bike down below you .. weighting pegs? inside peg? outside peg .... ?
Good control in traffic? (like really really good control) - lock to lock u turns? stationary full lock u-turns? Flik flak a bike on a wet greasy mini roundabout? filtering in heavy traffic? The list of what makes up the whole ball game of good bike control is endless.
And learning all that, and the thousand shades of grey that make up 'experience' is best done on a bike that is a bit lighter, a bit more manageable and in essence, something that you can get bored with and start mucking about with - become better than if you like.
Blueranger says it's a good novice bike and is very forgiving. I don't agree! It's not an 'easy' bike to ride. An easy bike is a four cylinder 600 / 750. A Honda CB, a Fazer thousand ....
Your 1200 twin is lumpy, tall and heavy. Matching engine revs oh so sweetly on a twin is harder than on a silky smooth four, it's things like that that you need to really understand. Are you going to blip your down changes or set a constant throttle with set revs as you 4 ... 3 .... clutch out (revs matched perfectly) flick the bike on it's side and gas it out the roundabout ??
There is much to learn. Go get something like a GS 800, and learn to thrash the tits off it. learn every which way to steer it, get bored with it, do stuff to it / on it until you can ride it with your eyes shut. Then .... use those skills and take them with you to bigger and heavier and do it all over again.
If you do it this way, as frustrating as it may seem now ("but I want that bigger bike there .. "
Wise words, as always.
Smart arse.
To the OP, Giles knows what he's talking about; take note, and don't rush into buying what could be an expensive mistake.
pjm-84
Registered user
I would say it depends on your background and thus ability. I was fortunate to ride a lot of off road and moto x in my youth so I had a reasonable starting background. Even so I went from a DT125 after passing my test to a KLE500 (for 6months) before joining the power rangers with a Fireblade in 1992 (stolen in 93 with 22000miles on the clock).
Apart from the size (I'm 6ft 4in) I find the GSA is a well rounded and one of the easiest bikes I've owned to ride. If I was to have a criticism it would be the trail tyres in the wet.
Apart from the size (I'm 6ft 4in) I find the GSA is a well rounded and one of the easiest bikes I've owned to ride. If I was to have a criticism it would be the trail tyres in the wet.
Or.......go ahead a buy it and get some training from a friendly bike cop
Go for it 
My first proper road bike was a 150mph VFR750, after passing my test 20 years ago (if you discount a RD250LC & various sub 250 strokers on L plates in the 1980's)
What can go wrong?
New bikes pilot themselves compared to old bike's
Throw caution to the wind
My first proper road bike was a 150mph VFR750, after passing my test 20 years ago (if you discount a RD250LC & various sub 250 strokers on L plates in the 1980's)
What can go wrong?
New bikes pilot themselves compared to old bike's
Throw caution to the wind
Or.......go ahead a buy it and get some training from a friendly bike cop
It's a short hop round the M25 to Kent ....
I passed my test 1st April and my first bike is a 1200GS although not a new one.
From my point of view the greatest issue I have is getting use to moving the bike around when its not running and nearly dropped it a few times already.
With respect to the speed you control the throttle so ride within your skills, I personally find the GS easier to ride than the 600 I learnt on.
On a final note don't underestimate how tiring it can be for a new rider, there are still lots of things to remember until it becomes second nature.
From my point of view the greatest issue I have is getting use to moving the bike around when its not running and nearly dropped it a few times already.
With respect to the speed you control the throttle so ride within your skills, I personally find the GS easier to ride than the 600 I learnt on.
On a final note don't underestimate how tiring it can be for a new rider, there are still lots of things to remember until it becomes second nature.
I did it and have no regrets. Just be careful! Particular care when accelerating hard in a low gear in the wet!! With hindsight Giles' advice is spot on though.
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Blueranger says it's a good novice bike and is very forgiving. I don't agree! It's not an 'easy' bike to ride. An easy bike is a four cylinder 600 / 750. A Honda CB, a Fazer thousand ....
Your 1200 twin is lumpy, tall and heavy. Matching engine revs oh so sweetly on a twin is harder than on a silky smooth four, it's things like that that you need to really understand. Are you going to blip your down changes or set a constant throttle with set revs as you 4 ... 3 .... clutch out (revs matched perfectly) flick the bike on it's side and gas it out the roundabout ??
As is often the case I write in haste and don't always convey my meaning as well as I could do.
I personally find boxers fairly easy to ride, easier to ride than my zzr6 I learnt on that's for sure.
I found my 11RT rather easy to ride even as a novice with only a few thousand miles experience under my belt.
Once they get moving I find the weight disappears quickly and the low down weight makes them easier than other comparable machines.
I would argue that a 12gs is more forgiving than a 600 supersports machine and more learner friendly (apart from the weight).
As I pointed out, I don't think its the best selection for a new bike, but as long as novice's respect the machine for what it is and what its capable of then they should be fine, but that goes for any bike, its all so a bike you can grow into and wont need to change unless your very heavily leant into one particular type of bike class i.e support sport or enduro.
I would argue the riding position is again good for novice riders, with the wide bars and upright riding position helping to give good machine control and view to encourage forward planning, though its not unique in this regard.
The softer side of the suspension and its compliance on our crappy roads are again good qualities that can cosset a novice.
I certainly agree there is a lot for novices to learn in terms of machine control and the 12gs in some regards is not the best machine to learn some things on.
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