Newbie with daft questions

[harry the cat]

Greetings and felicitations,

Born again biker returned to 2 wheels after a 30 year lay off. Traded up recently from a little Harley (bought off a skint mate) which made a nice noise but was slow and gave me back ache.

Now the proud owner of an 05 R1200Gs in the apparently slower but now extinct blue.

After a couple of thousand miles I'm well happy with the bike but have a few niggles:
Firstly the back brake lever is a pain and applying any pressure seems to involve toeing in and forward which is not netural if brakes need applying quickly. I've read threads about extenders. Which is the best? Can you adjust the position of the lever? Is my foot on the wrong way?

Secondly I'm having occasional problems with gear selection. I had to stop quickly recently and try to change down whilst stationary (I know it's bad) the gear box laughed at me and the gear selector display went blank. It was solved by revs coupled with verbal and physical violence, but it has happened before. It can also be reluctant to into gear from neutral when stationary on occasion. Quirk of the bike or cause for concern?

Thirdly yesterday on a ride out I got a lighter warning and intermittent brake light failure which then disappeared on stop/start. Ghost in the machine or impending electrical doom?

Any comments, suggestions, sarcasm about length of thread welcome.

 

[Packer]

Greetings and felicitations,

Born again biker returned to 2 wheels after a 30 year lay off. Traded up recently from a little Harley (bought off a skint mate) which made a nice noise but was slow and gave me back ache.

Now the proud owner of an 05 R1200Gs in the apparently slower but now extinct blue.

After a couple of thousand miles I'm well happy with the bike but have a few niggles:
Firstly the back brake lever is a pain and applying any pressure seems to involve toeing in and forward which is not netural if brakes need applying quickly. I've read threads about extenders. Which is the best? Can you adjust the position of the lever? Is my foot on the wrong way?

Secondly I'm having occasional problems with gear selection. I had to stop quickly recently and try to change down whilst stationary (I know it's bad) the gear box laughed at me and the gear selector display went blank. It was solved by revs coupled with verbal and physical violence, but it has happened before. It can also be reluctant to into gear from neutral when stationary on occasion. Quirk of the bike or cause for concern?

Thirdly yesterday on a ride out I got a lighter warning and intermittent brake light failure which then disappeared on stop/start. Ghost in the machine or impending electrical doom?

Any comments, suggestions, sarcasm about length of thread welcome.

Hello and welcome to the home of sarcasm, wit and _hit.

Firstly you have linked brakes so you can safely use just the handlebar lever for the majority of your braking but will need to re-orientate your foot for that last coming to halt bit.

Secondly quirk of the bike. In an attempt to make a quiet shifting box they dont easily slot through when stationary. Let the clutch out just enough to cause a little drag and they will change easily.

Could be either or neither, wait and see. I've followed two different 1200's in the last 10 months that both had brake light faults (light staying on) which were sorted by wiggling the cable into the rear light housing. As it's canbus (electronic control) it will have glitches. Best sell it in exchange for the better 1150 version

 

[harry the cat]

ta

Many thanks Packer, that provides a degree of reassurance.

 

[Thunder]

Greetings and felicitations,

Firstly the back brake lever is a pain and applying any pressure seems to involve toeing in and forward which is not netural if brakes need applying quickly. I've read threads about extenders. Which is the best? Can you adjust the position of the lever? Is my foot on the wrong way?

Welcome to the collective Harry the Cat.

Very little adjustment available for the rear brake, but the addition of a brake lever extender does make a difference.

The one above is the Touratech version which I fitted although Wunderlich make one as well.

Happy trails

 

[mikepg]

Maybe your leg is around the wrong way and you are actually applying pressure to the pillion foot rest? (the extender might help - but do you ride with your feet resting on the balls of your feet or instep?)

As well as letting the clutch out a bit, you might try a small blip on the throttle. You will get the hang of it.

Oh - hello!

 

[Attleborough]

As well as letting the clutch out a bit, you might try a small blip on the throttle. You will get the hang of it.

+1 Agreed - letting the clutch out a bit to engage some cogs may well help the gearbox to find where it is!

I too find the back brake a bit weird after my last bike and raised this thread - any use?

PG

 

[harry the cat]

And another ta.

Thanks for you're collective advice. I happened to wander into Rainbow over at Rotherham today where a Wunderlich extender fell into my hands which I'll try for the brake issue.

I'll save the adjustment ploy as a last resort.

Once again many thanks.

 

[GSwadd]

Now the proud owner of an 05 R1200Gs in the apparently slower but now extinct blue.

They actually stopped making the much faster and more powerful 'blue' version after complaints of soiled undies from yellow and red GS owners and older 1100/1150 boat anchors. Keep it....you have the best of the breed.

 

[harry the cat]

Blue is best

Thank you. I knew was an inspired choice.