NOw I need a 1200..

[Dabba]

Dammit - I only went in to take a look at the GSA and actually thought I could live without it. I was on my way out when a salesman got me. I've deliberately never ridden the 1200 as I didn't want to put myself off my 1150 but I thought Oh well I'll never know unless I try it.
Now I need one and I can't imagine that the GSA is anything other than worse on the road. (apart from motorways perhaps) anyway will reserve judgement until I've ridden one.
In the meantime anybody tried spoked as well as cast wheels? - are cast actually better for the road?

I also had a look at an abused 1200 in for a service, seems forkbraces and legs corrosion aren't an issue on the 12 - whilst every bolt was corroded and there was some serious paintbubbling on the engine block.

I really was surprised at just how much better the new bike is. Needs some tweaking before I'll like the looks though.

 

[SpyInTheCamp]

In the meantime anybody tried spoked as well as cast wheels? - are cast actually better for the road?

Yes and yes-ish. That said, I have spoked wheels on mine!

Kai

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Spokes or alloy

Over the years I had spokes on 3 BM's and alloys on the other 5. Latterly, spokes on the 1150GS and alloys on the 1200GS. I would like to meet someone who could ride a bike and tell if it had spokes or alloys. (My first car,a 1935 model, had spokes. Thus I have always since considered them old fashioned or should I say 'retro'. However I am told that spokes will absorb serious shocks better - but I prefer not to stray from tarmac now.)

 

[Dabba]

I'm assuming cast will stay in better nick too

 

[snoopy]

If you hit a pot hole at speed the aluminimum casts can be dinted - its not as hard to do as you might think, I was looking at an R1 that went to Morocco and the owner had to ride it half the way at 40mph.

 

[Emoto]

To be precise, the spoked wheels can be dented too. It is just that the spoked wheels can be repaired more easily/safely with a hammer.

For what it's worth, I have about 29,000 miles on my 2005 R1200GS, and New England roads being as awful as they are, I have hit some really bad potholes and bumps, such that I expected my wheels to be dented. They were not, so I have to think that the 1200 series cast wheels are stronger than past generation cast wheels.

 

[Mouse]

Got to agree with Emoto about the cast wheels - I did several trail riding sessions on mine before I bought a set of spoked wheels, no damage at all.

In theory if you dent the spoked wheels badly, you could have a new rim put onto the old hub, but I dread to think of the price of a new rim (exclusive to BMW remember) and second hand ones were in very short supply when I was shopping around.

 

[Slippy]

I must say that, it would be nice to get it in the cast model here in South Africa because if you dont keep the spokes clean from the start it is an endless task to do it later. As soon as the grit get inbetween the rim and the spoke hole.......... man it take about a year to clean it out.

Gun

 

[Dabba]

Seems I'm pursuaded by the cast wheels then, thanks, thats a couple of hundred quid saved.
I once cracked a wheel on an RSV Mille and it cost £500 to replace (not even lightweight either) so I was wary.