NEW GS1200 today!

[gavin@iow]

Maybe I am spoiled by radial brembos, but the abs felt horrid!

ABS is used to stop the rider locking the wheels during emergency situations, for the majority of road riders it is a godsend and a potential life saver, i don't understand your comment 'the abs felt horrid', locking the wheels and crashing would be more 'horrid' in my opinion.

 

[Pondboy]

On Friday, I tested a 1200Adv with low mileage (<500) and it felt slightly breathless. Took their demo 1200GS (which had more miles on it) out immediately after and it felt like totally different engine. Both were bloody good fun. PB

 

[Emoto]

Picking up my new GS today - I have been riding for 6 years - all on one bike (2000 R1) which is a very different machine. GS seems like a giant when i sit on it in the showroom - hope it is as good as they say in the reviews (never saw anything but glowing reviews). I think i know what to expect, but wonder about running in procedures ... all this talk of oil consumption? The R1 never used a drop in 55,000. Also, surely synthetic oil is superior, no matter what type of engine, yet people are talking about mineral oil ??

Many thanks

GArry

Your first bike was an R!?????

Ride your new GS and enjoy it. Remember that statisically, the first 6 months of ownership of a new vehicle are the most likely to have a crash, so just ride it, enjoy it, and take your time getting used to it, as it is quite different from an inline screamer like the R1.

You will find that the loping feel of the big boxer is more relaxing than the frenzied whine of the 4, and that the speed is deceptive. Take your time and get to know her, and you will be rewarded with a riding experience that few other biikes can offer. In time, you will find that the GS offers so much more than a focussed sportbike that you will be having more fun more of the time when riding. I had a series of GSXR1100s from when they first came out, and though I loved them dearly, once there was a BMW in the garage, I found that the Suzukis began to gather dust while the BMW gathered miles.

 

[steveh]

I'm loving it

the more i ride the bike the more I love it. I too came from sports bikes, in fact my last was puerly a trackday bike. When I realised that I wasn't invincible and bought a safe trackday car I bought the GS. The only down side is pegs grounding out. After a sports bike I'm very supprised how easy the pegs touch down an even moderate lean angles...the bike feels it can go far harder and the clearance is a bit limiting....does make you feel like a hero though

 

[simch]

feel of brakes abs

I was assuming that the ABS system affected the feel of the brakes as it is a servoed system, rather than the more direct feel I get with the more traditional brembos. I was assuming the non ABS version of the GS has unservoed brakes, but that is an assumption. And the actual feel of the ABS kicking in was very odd, (I did try it!) I have to say the telelever front end always feels so solid, I would probably go without the ABS if I order a GS, (especially as there are occasional yet scary problems with it!)

I did not like the braking feel of the GSA I rode at all, felt pretty dead and not the beautiful "one finger and head through the screen if you like!" that I get on the Mille. MInd you I accept the Mille brakes are pretty special, so not too fair to compare.

I feel pretty sure that many of you are right that this GSA may have felt a bit flat as it was tight or just not a good one. It was the demo at North Oxon BMW BTW. Certainly did not feel like near 100hp and was nowhere near as quick as the R1100s I rode a couple of months ago. I only got it to go just over to 110mph, even well tucked in and that was speedo which felt like it was overreading (those ex Mille boys will know how incredibly accurate the speedos on them are!) Dealer bod said it should be good for 130+, so I really reckon there was something awry wiht it.

BUT I will be back to have a go on their GS1200. Lighter, more road focussed and hopefully a bit peppier. The GSA I rode only had 2k miles on it.

Are the non ABS versions still servoed?

 

[simch]

ABS is used to stop the rider locking the wheels during emergency situations, for the majority of road riders it is a godsend and a potential life saver, i don't understand your comment 'the abs felt horrid', locking the wheels and crashing would be more 'horrid' in my opinion.

See my post above Gavin, I take your point, although in 33 years of off roaders, I am used to a few front wheel lock ups, and the ABS suddenly turning the brakes off at a momnentary lock up on a bit a gravel in the road, felt very weird indeed!!! I worry that if I were to get used to it, it would reduce the feel and touch you have when riding a bike without it?
But I suppose the day you really really need it its a case of !