newbie GS thoughts

[jwpzx9r]

Well I have had my GS for 4 months now and to be honest not managed many miles (about 1000), mostly because the weather has been very poor in April abd early May. I thought I would just give a resume of my thoughts and problems since I have had it.

I like the engine good torque and not too lumpy. I fitted an accelerator module which I think has helped the power delivery. It handles really nicely for a heavy bike which again I like. The things I don't like are the indicator switches surely they are a joke! three different switches for indication is madness end of no need. The ABS is pesh and gives nothing but problems! I have had the light come on about half a dozen times on my 350 km trip today and to solve the problem all I had to do was stop and restart.. electrical gremlins in there some where methinks. I will have to go to the dealer in town to get some idea of whats going on. Petrol consumption is not bad I managed about 46mpg two up today and I was not hanging about! Overall I like the bike but think I should probably have gone for an 800 GS its lighter and has about the same performance and probably without that crappy ABS system.

 

[Yellow Peril]

The things I don't like are the indicator switches surely they are a joke! three different switches for indication is madness end of no need. .

Nothing wrong with the indicator system it is more intuitive, easier to reach especially if you have small hands, far better than the jap system which unfortunately BMW seem to be adopting, as bike jurno's keep moaning about the BMW system (just because they are incapable of thinking things though and can't see beyond the sheep mentality)

 

[jwpzx9r]

Nothing wrong with the indicator system it is more intuitive, easier to reach especially if you have small hands, far better than the jap system which unfortunately BMW seem to be adopting, as bike jurno's keep moaning about the BMW system (just because they are incapable of thinking things though and can't see beyond the sheep mentality)

what a pile of doggie do! It is crap end of!

 

[Bigfags]

Stick with it!
I've had my '09 GSA for just short of 3 years having moved from a head down a**e up.
No problems with the bike and a great ride. Have used it as a daily commute in all weathers including the snow and have also been over to France, Andorra and Spain on it.
Just had the 18,000 mile service done and its' first MOT (again without any problems!).
A good buy by all accounts.
If and when I ever get the urge to change it, I'll definitely buy another.

 

[k1300sporscheeater]

Its luxuriously comfortable to use.End of.

 

[littleredrooster]

Indicators - push left to go left, push right to go right. What's not to like?

Cancel switch? They self-cancel, so no need to worry yourself there.

ABS light: if it is coming on for no reason, I suspect it's a slightly flat battery (to which they're sensitive). Of course, if it had been ridden more often...

 

[FENNER]

I've had mine for less than a month and done just under 1k of recreational riding and tbh I have got to agree with the positive comments. I find the engine quite harsh compared to my old VTR Honda but am getting used to it, I'm only 5 foot 7 and not having a problem with it's size or weight, as for the handling, I can't wait to tail a sports bike though the bendy bits I have a new Tourance on the back and went out this afternoon to "scrub" it in and was shocked to find that I'd had it within a couple of millimetres of the edge of the tread without even feeling like I had been pushing it ! I'm finding the gearbox a bit of a handful though, so kin agricultural

Stick with it and give it a chance.

P.S I went for a non ABS, took a bit of finding though

Tony

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I agree about the indicators. Why not make ONE switch for them??

 

[Format]

The 800? I bet you wish you know now you made the right choice, you like vibes or your missus?

Stupid indicator's....yep give you that hands down coming from Jap bikes, so much easier.

 

[Mr K]

Some valid points, but 1,000 miles is no mileage at all to evaluate a bike.

I love the combination of paralever, telelever and linked ABS. It makes it difficult even for an eejit like me to crash.

I thought I hated the indicator switches, but had a loan bike with a single switch... and fear I have been brain-washed...

 

[Wapping]

Switching between bikes with 'regular' indicator switches and 'BMW' 'indicator switches on a frequent basis, tells me that..... neither are that hard to master, if one is blessed with even the smallest amount of normal adult motor skills

 

[APE]

Overall I like the bike but think I should probably have gone for an 800 GS its lighter and has about the same performance and probably without that crappy ABS system.

Mate youre having a larf - have you ridden an 800 . There is no comparison with the 1200 - it's buzzy with no grunt at all.

 

[Mr K]

Switching between bikes with 'regular' indicator switches and 'BMW' 'indicator switches on a frequent basis, tells me that..... neither are that hard to master, if one is blessed with even the smallest amount of normal adult motor skills

Well that's me f*cked then.

 

[Wapping]

Well that's me f*cked then.

You can open bottles and cans. You are well on the way

 

[jwpzx9r]

Some valid points, but 1,000 miles is no mileage at all to evaluate a bike.

I love the combination of paralever, telelever and linked ABS. It makes it difficult even for an eejit like me to crash.

I thought I hated the indicator switches, but had a loan bike with a single switch... and fear I have been brain-washed...

Yes not so much an evaluation more my observations to date. I don't know that much about 800 its more the lighter weight I was thinking about. I defo don't want a vibie bike and to be honest I am surprised that the 800 is vibie its got a new fangled counter balance to help has it not? I would say to date the thing I find most annoying are the indicators they are just plain daft simple as that. The ABS situation is something electrical I think, but it may be the rear disc as it looks a bit worn and I agree I think the brakes are really great, just hate the flashing lights!. The bike had done 17k before I got it and I am sure someone on here said a worn rear disc can give an ABS fault. I will take it to the dealer and get an opinion. I have not slagged the bike off though have I its a great bike with hmm ... different bits.

 

[jwpzx9r]

Indicators - push left to go left, push right to go right. What's not to like?

Cancel switch? They self-cancel, so no need to worry yourself there.

ABS light: if it is coming on for no reason, I suspect it's a slightly flat battery (to which they're sensitive). Of course, if it had been ridden more often...

Self cancel hmm mine don't how do you make this happen? Not a battery problem had no trouble on the outward half of the trip (battery would have been lowest then) it was on the way back I had problems. I was wondering if it might be a temperature thing because it got pretty warm today and it has happened before when its been hot. But another thing that crossed my mind is it could be something to do with the satnav mount. Its a Touratech mount with a tomtom rider and I noticed that I lost the tomtom about the time the ABS started playing up so removed the tomtom and had no further problems but that might be a coincidence.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

The indicators are great, piece of piss and very intuitive.

not keen on the main beam flasher switch and horn position tho.

 

[zool]

The indicators are great, piece of piss and very intuitive.

not keen on the main beam flasher switch and horn position tho.

Agreed, theres been many a time a tin-top has deserved a full 10 second blast of 'satanic decibel hatred' from me . . . only to find that instead i've given them a full 6 seconds of left indicator followed by a 4 burst of headlight.
afetr that i'm so embarressed at my stupidity i have usually forgotten about the 'moment' and skulked on by with my head down.
BTW lancashire/ Manc drivers take the biscuit for the nations worst (Bolton in particular)

1,200 miles down and still got that loved-up GS feeling
Anyone at Hatside Cafe last sunday 20th May (it was practically a BMW day-out)

 

[zool]

The indicators are great, piece of piss and very intuitive.

not keen on the main beam flasher switch and horn position tho.

Indicators take a bit of getting used to - especially afetr 30 years of Jap spoirts bikes - but 1200 miles down i've found i'm looking at the cancel button less and its coming more natural !
Intuative - yep, spot on - just takes a bit of time !

 

[APE]

Give the indicators some time it becomes second nature. Trust me the 800 is a damp squib - whatever the spec sheet says - you've made the right choice of bike just give some more time