New 1200GS Rallye LC

[Deleted account Aberdeen GS]

Until the paint falls off and it goes back for an engine change in 6 months



Spot on !!!

Very few people have the talent or wallet to exploit a Rallye off-road and if they did then they would probably buy a KTM1290R with 35 more bhp and even better off-road ability.

As you say,it'll,be used for parking outside of Costa,while the twat-suited owner sips a double mocha chino


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Dont be a twat, neither the KTM 1290 R or the BMW R1200GS are good off road choices. You certainly dont need 160 HP in the dirt !
They are however fine motorcycles with a wide-range of abilities. Thats why we buy them !

Why you angle the waitrose/Costa slur at a BM and not a KTM 1300cc is baffling!

PS its a good job "theop" (page1) isnt responsible for BMW product planning... we would have to wait years for a change of colours and spec improvements / enhancements would be prohibited !

 

[Arsey]

Dont be a twat, neither the KTM 1290 R or the BMW R1200GS are good off road choices. You certainly dont need 160 HP in the dirt !

If you read my post ,I never said they were !!!

Most KTM riders ride their bikes further than the local coffee shop,and don't feel,the need to trundle around with 3 metal boxes and 6000 watts of lighting. Blame Ewan and Charlie !!!

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PS

Who mentioned Waitrose ?

 

[Deleted account Aberdeen GS]

For those who can't read the review... (It is a good publication, but there are some odd sentences in the review that will have you mumbling, "that's not my experience")
I think he wrote it, to provoke, rather than inform ...a bit like 70% of this forum?



"something I've always disliked about the standard GS is the loose unstable front end "

WTF ? This IMHO, is the bikes best feature (along with shaft drive !), an unflappable front end that has no dive and delivers superb stability.




His other observations; " the first gear that stalls if you breathe too heavily........ and the twitchy power delivery"

As others have wisely commented; the LC GS isn't the worlds most exciting motorcycle, but to say "it stalls easily or has a twitchy power delivery" tells us a lot about the author of this piece! I can think of a hundred motorcycles that stall easily or have twitchy power delivery , but the GS isn't one of them FFS!

Anyway; that's typical of the author. If you cant access the test , you are not missing anything.
Its an American mag and many features are not always relevant to UK riders.

 

[Deleted account Aberdeen GS]

Not to brag but that's me on page 90.

Big tash !

Great article sir ! I enjoyed reading your story .

Once you twist the throttle and it "hooks up with the asphalt .." .( Scot invention Tarmacadam btw), motorcycling gets into your blood. It never leaves ......

 

[Skid06]

Never done any serious off roading until this week, we did the KTM Offroad Orange in Malaga and boy was it tough! the biggest thing i learned is that you would never do SERIOUS off roading on a GS or a big KTM unless you are a biker god, they are far to big and heavy... a bit of gravel or fire roads would be fine, both the instuctors used 250 KTMs while we used 350s i just hope those knobblies on the new rallye are tarmac friendly

 

[Arsey]

Never done any serious off roading until this week, we did the KTM Offroad Orange in Malaga and boy was it tough! the biggest thing i learned is that you would never do SERIOUS off roading on a GS or a big KTM unless you are a biker god, they are far to big and heavy... a bit of gravel or fire roads would be fine, both the instuctors used 250 KTMs while we used 350s i just hope those knobblies on the new rallye are tarmac friendly

In saying that,some of the slopes we rode up and down on using the Africa Twin on the Honda Adventure Centre course in Wales were too steep and slippery to walk up or down.

I would never have though possible what we did.In saying that,I wouldn't have dare do it on my own bike and I certainly wouldn't do it on a £14k 1290R !!


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[Dom.S]

Until the paint falls off and it goes back for an engine change in 6 months

Spot on !!!

Very few people have the talent or wallet to exploit a Rallye off-road and if they did then they would probably buy a KTM1290R with 35 more bhp and even better off-road ability.

As you say,it'll,be used for parking outside of Costa,while the twat-suited owner sips a double mocha chino


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Very few people have the talent to fully exploit any litre plus bikes, let alone the big adventure bikes. Who cares? Is everyone supposed to ride round on CG125s until we can beat Marquez around Jerez or Cyril Despres in the Dakar?

If I were buying a GS tomorrow I'd take the Rallye over the other dreary paint schemes any day. I doubt I'd do any serious off roading on it because it's too expensive to beat up, but the same is true of the big KTMs. My experience is that a bike's off road capabilities are directly proportional to how expensive it'll be to fix when I bin it.

 

[Arsey]

Very few people have the talent to fully exploit any litre plus bikes, let alone the big adventure bikes. Who cares? Is everyone supposed to ride round on CG125s until we can beat Marquez around Jerez or Cyril Despres in the Dakar?

If I were buying a GS tomorrow I'd take the Rallye over the other dreary paint schemes any day. I doubt I'd do any serious off roading on it because it's too expensive to beat up, but the same is true of the big KTMs. My experience is that a bike's off road capabilities are directly proportional to how expensive it'll be to fix when I bin it.

Very true.

I agree the Rallye looks better than other GSs.
Let's hope the paint stays on more than a few months !


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[JerseyNeil]

Very true.

I agree the Rallye looks better than other GSs.
Let's hope the paint stays on more than a few months !

What do you care? you have never kept a bike for two whole months have you?

I have a gravel courtyard so I qualify for one (well thats what I'm going to tell SWMBO)

 

[EVskiy]

I test rode KTM 1290 Super Adventure T. It was a bit of a marmite to me, I liked some things and hated other. This afternoon I got in touch with same dealer and asked if they could inform me when I could test ride the new 1290 S & R models, The reply I got was, Sorry mate I thought you bough a GSA? I ansvered Yes I have and what does this have to do with me willing to try one of your bikes? Oh you'll slay them in same way you did SA T. My answer to that was, you asked me how it was and answered it exactly how I felt about it, hand grips are far to narrow for a size 12 hands (sore hands after two hour ride), Gear shift is so long that it felt like I was sending it in to space and expecting it to come back instantly, cruise control is diabolical & dangerous, rider aid controls and display is way to longwinded and paint choice is a bit like Model T Ford, you can have any colour you want Sir, as long as it is a pearl white ( WTF since when you only get one colour choice????). I said that and made clear that I was still interested to try other flavours of same model, because I know that switchgear will be different and so will be the display, Hand grips on the 1190 and 1090 are totally different to the 1290 SA T and I imagine same applies to the new models (R & S). So basically I will use different KTM dealer from now on to test ride the new bikes. Hey, if they want to throw their toys out the pram without even attempting to sell or at least tempt me in to buying one of their bikes, well they can fuck off as far as I am concerned.

Going to the BMW bikes.

Yes the paint, corrosion problems and electronic issues of past (fog, switchgear, and shift assist pro module) do worry me on a GSA TB but there is always a two year warranty to fall back on to. If I start experiencing problems with the bike in a first year, I shall definitely be looking in to other manufacturers. Having said that, KTM bikes aren't without their own problems and recalls. In the world of manufacturer the accountants running the business, there can not be perfection and a 100% quality. BMW GS/A is a best selling bike in the UK and worldwide in the adventure sector. The paint problems (as far as I can understand) is down to the high demand for these bikes and I can only believe that time spent in the prep department has been cut short since 2004, after Ewan and that other bloke made GSA a global success. The fog lamps are manufactured by OSRAM (probably in China) and they are at fault not BMW (KTM use same units), saying that it doesn't mean that BMW can't request a better product. Switchgear is probably manufactured by someone else too and not BMW as many other parts of the bike. I liked my GS and I am sure Ill like the new GSA once I pick it up from the dealers, but if shit hits the fan, Ill be looking elsewhere for a new bike, be it KTM or something else.

Africa Twin is of interest, but it isn't built with the aesthetics of a BMW, everything on it is like OAP's mobile phone, huge buttons and knobs and none of it seem logical. My last Honda was a 2015 NSS125 Forza, with Hondas new switchgear for the indicators that were the wrong way round, so I forever kept hooting at every junction or lane change. The idle stop switch has failed within 5 months and was replaced under warranty. After that, bike went in for a recall and an entire wiring loom was replaced as there was a problem with water ingress in to one of the main plugs. Bike was never same after that, as panels were ratling and squeaking, once these were removed and replaced by a bunch of HGB monkeys, consequently I did not enjoy riding the bike any longer and it was sat 3 months during winter under the cover only to be sold to a bloke from London and I replaced it with my first proper bike, an approved used GS, which I sold recently to replace it with GSA.

So there you go.......

 

[Arsey]

What do you care? you have never kept a bike for two whole months have you?

I have a gravel courtyard so I qualify for one (well thats what I'm going to tell SWMBO)

So how come I have a 9 year old bike sat in my garage that I've had from new ??


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[DING-DONG]

I got in touch with same dealer and asked if they could inform me when I could test ride the new 1290 S & R models, The reply I got was, Sorry mate I thought you bough a GSA? I ansvered Yes I have and what does this have to do with me willing to try one of your bikes?

So there you go.......

Obviously they thought you were a timewaister whom had just brought a new GSA instead of the SA, so why did you want to demo the new Ktm ?

 

[JerseyNeil]

So how come I have a 9 year old bike sat in my garage that I've had from new ??

Because it's concealed behind all your new ones and you forgot it was there?

 

[EVskiy]

Obviously they thought you were a timewaister whom had just brought a new GSA instead of the SA, so why did you want to demo the new Ktm ?

Because it might not be to late to cancel the order..............

If I was to walk in to any dealership, be it bike, car, van, truck........ and requested to test ride/drive one of their vehicles, and upon return you were to ask me what I though, Id tell exactly what i though of the product. In this instance (being in the dealers boots) I'd suggest to try something different or wait till new stuff comes out in a month or so if I wasn't in a desperate rush to get the bike. If I was to leave at the time, empty handed and not get in touch with them again, (as a dealer) I would've picked up my phone and made curtesy call to the buyer with a simple question how I felt about their bikes and if I had a little think (none of that has happened in reality and a month gone by). And if as a dealer I was to sence that the buyer hasn't fully made up his mind I would suggest to come and see them again with potential test ride on their new bikes that are being delivered in a week or so. Naturally new models attracts the buyer and that is where as a dealer I would try to strike a deal with offering a discounted price or an accessory (like akra) free of charge , to make me as a buyer feel very tempted indeed.

PS: Of the grape vine they found out that I placed an order for a BMW. I haven't told them that. While I was test riding one of their bikes, they had two hours to inspect my GS and try to offer me a PX value on it, did they do that, yeah right they did. In my wildest dreams maybe. I mean were they bothered to sell the bike to me in the first place or not. By the look and feeling I got, it was a fat NO.

 

[Nutty]

Because it might not be to late to cancel the order..............

If I was to walk in to any dealership, be it bike, car, van, truck........ and requested to test ride/drive one of their vehicles, and upon return you were to ask me what I though, Id tell exactly what i though of the product. In this instance (being in the dealers boots) I'd suggest to try something different or wait till new stuff comes out in a month or so if I wasn't in a desperate rush to get the bike. If I was to leave at the time, empty handed and not get in touch with them again, (as a dealer) I would've picked up my phone and made curtesy call to the buyer with a simple question how I felt about their bikes and if I had a little think (none of that has happened in reality and a month gone by). And if as a dealer I was to sence that the buyer hasn't fully made up his mind I would suggest to come and see them again with potential test ride on their new bikes that are being delivered in a week or so. Naturally new models attracts the buyer and that is where as a dealer I would try to strike a deal with offering a discounted price or an accessory (like akra) free of charge , to make me as a buyer feel very tempted indeed.

PS: Of the grape vine they found out that I placed an order for a BMW. I haven't told them that. While I was test riding one of their bikes, they had two hours to inspect my GS and try to offer me a PX value on it, did they do that, yeah right they did. In my wildest dreams maybe. I mean were they bothered to sell the bike to me in the first place or not. By the look and feeling I got, it was a fat NO.

Are all KTM dealers that bad?

 

[EVskiy]

Are all KTM dealers that bad?

I doubt it, but they obviously know what public prefer and that does upset them.


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[DING-DONG]

Sorry EVskij I just don't get it, you demo'd there bike and on return kicked the arse out of it and expected them to call you later with the offer to come and try there other range, after these remarks they probably don't want your business ! and remarks like the cruise control is diabolical and dangerous ! I find puzzling because whilst it would be better on the left switch gear I don't find it a issue and it's certainly not dangerous, the display is fine once you set your favourites and easier to use than the GS. In all honesty it takes a little getting used to but once you do everything feels natural.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Sorry EVskij I just don't get it, you demo'd there bike and on return kicked the arse out of it and expected them to call you later with the offer to come and try there other range, after these remarks they probably don't want your business ! and remarks like the cruise control is diabolical and dangerous ! I find puzzling because whilst it would be better on the left switch gear I don't find it a issue and it's certainly not dangerous, the display is fine once you set your favourites and easier to use than the GS. In all honesty it takes a little getting used to but once you do everything feels natural.

Ineed

Anyway, it's no sweat really is it.

Nutty likes the corporate 'car' type buying experience and Evskji hasn't been riding bikes long so has yet to 'get it'. Me, I'm an old git and like dealing with straight talking down to each dealers such as Leisuretrail Horse for courses.

And........if I'm honest, part of the appeal of the big KTM's is that you DON'T see every man and his dog riding one like you do do with the ubiquitous GS, so, if what I consider to be complete non issues (and in some cases plus points) are putting others off that's all to the good. Their loss, our gain

Andres

 

[Deleted account Aberdeen GS]

EvSkij... a well written post. It doesn't surprise me that the loser from Nottingham disagrees!

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

EvSkij... a well written post. It doesn't surprise me that the loser from Nottingham disagrees!

Hey up Stuart Watson, how's it going? I see you're no longer a dashing airline pilot and have now retrained as a Pharmacist and moved to Aberdeen, a brave move but I admire the courage and strength of conviction to follow your dreams.

I was so sad to see you go, why don't you post on the site any more?

Take care now, big luv

Andres