Pan 1300 to 12GS

[Hew]

A friend of mine is thinking of changing his 1300 Pan for a 1200 GS.
Has anyone here done this change?
He does a fair amount of motorway and often finds that he is cruising far faster than he thought.
I am sure that other than on a motorway he would be very happy with a 12 in that it would be easier to manover around and probably be more nimble on normal roads.
Would his partner be as happy on the back?
Is the lack of wind protection a big difference?
Is the finish to a similar standard?
Are you happy that you have made the change?

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Well worth considering a 1200RT as a possibility as well as the GS unless he has off road plans.

Paul

 

[GrinningGSer]

The 1200GS aint a motorway bike by a long way. Can be made better with screen modifications, but I cannot see a motorway cruiser being happy with a 1200GS.

 

[chrisB]

Hew,

Whilst I have not ridden the Pan 1300 for any length of time, I did have the opportunity to ride the 1100 on a police advanced course for a month in January. I own a 12GS and there is a quite a difference between the bikes.

The best way to decide is for your friend to arrange a lengthy test ride on the BMW and make the comparison.

Whilst I got to like the Pan 1100 for what it was, if you take away the weather protection issue, I personally I find my GS superior in all areas, it is a far more capable all round bike.

Hope this helps
Chris

 

[Embee]

I had an 1150GS for 2 yrs and 14,000 miles until 2004 and decided I needed something smoother, faster and with more wind protection. I traded in the GS for a new ST1300 Pan. Whilst it was certainly all of those things, I found myself having to really push myself to go out and ride it just for fun. Besides a 1 week/2500 mile blast to the South of France where it excelled on tne autoroutes , I found the Pan staying in the garage on days when the 1150 would have been out razzing. One main problem that I hadn't anticipate was lack of ground clearance. Whilst I am far from being a fast rider, I was scraping the pegs on the Pan on every roundabout (and it nearly caused a couple of 'moments' when coming back up the Route Napolean where the bends come thick and fast)

After just 6 months I traded it in for a new 1150GSA in mid 2005, and haven't looked back since. The Pan is like a 2 wheeled car, very efficient and it does exactly what it says on the fairing - flies Pan European. However, if you want to ride a motorbike, the GS is tons better.

 

[redcastle]

I did exactly that.
If its mainly motorway stick with the pan,
The GS suits me better because im normall A B and C roads. Its good on the motorway but not as good as the pan

As for more nimble......no question the 1200 wins hands down, much much lighter in the town too.

My wife and kids surprisingly I thought preferred the comfort of the GS to the Pan, I think it may be the elevated seating allowing a nice view for the pillion.

The wind protection (legs included) is nowhere near the pan but you get used to it.

Personally im very happy I changed
If your chum wants to phone me for a chat pm his details and I'll give him a call

 

[VAL. H.]

I did exactly that.
If its mainly motorway stick with the pan,
The GS suits me better because im normall A B and C roads. Its good on the motorway but not as good as the pan

As for more nimble......no question the 1200 wins hands down, much much lighter in the town too.

My wife and kids surprisingly I thought preferred the comfort of the GS to the Pan, I think it may be the elevated seating allowing a nice view for the pillion.

The wind protection (legs included) is nowhere near the pan but you get used to it.

Personally im very happy I changed
If your chum wants to phone me for a chat pm his details and I'll give him a call

I'd go with Redcastle on this. I have a 12gs and use a 1300 Pan almost daily. The pan has better weather protection, but was absolute murder in the reacent heat wave.
You'll get wet legs on the Gs but theres not that much difference with the top half (though the electric screen is very usful).

The Gs is much lighter feeling even though theres only about 38 kilos difference, your higher and can see much more all around. The motorways are no problem on the GS (standerd screen and hand guards) but the Pan is better here.

The main difference between the two is that the GS is so much easier to ride at all speeds with it's lighter more nimble feel.

Paul Wakfield has a very valid point, If your friend wants the ligher more nimble type of bike he should take a very close look at the 12 RT, I'd say the RT is the best of both worlds

Val.

 

[Hew]

Thanks for the replies.
I will suggest that he takes a long test ride and does a lot of miles on the motorway so that he has a chance to see if the weather protection is an issue for him. For myself I am more than happy with the wind protection on my 1150, in that it takes the pressure off the chest allowing a decent pace, whilst still having the feel of a naked bike. It is also reassuring that you do not regret the change

 

[Les Wassall]

Joe, went form 1150 ADV, to a 1200GS, (which was not a good one) back to a 1150GS, and then for touring decided to go for a Pan 1300, had it for a few months, but after a trip to France decided it had to go, great power, but not the comfort (due to him being tall) and versatility to the GS. Don’t think I helped with small road gps navigation.

Pan now gone and he's on a nice new Varadero, down side is not a great PX value on the pan due to the article in MCN.

 

[Brynrevs]

CBR 1000 to 12GS

One hell of a difference !

The CBR was a low mileage J plate bike, I thought it was fast and comfy. My partner's view from the back was that it was a comfy bike, it sure felt quick comfortable and well suited to the superb motorcycling roads around here (NW Wales).

I wanted a GS so I got one after reading as many tests that I could lay my hands on.

The one I got was a very low miles 04 ABS model with alloys, heated grips in blue (don;t see so many of them)

Opinion so far.

It's big ! Despite my 5'10" and 33 inside leg, a bit of a strech especially on certain cambers, anyway I've got a low seat on order now !

The bike is absolutly superbly capable, fast, wieldy and with the presence of like nothing on earth.....(well bikewise) I've added a few bits lke a Vario TOpbox and Crash bars, just had a serivce on it as well in Bluebell in Crewe.

The CBR (which I ran for a couple of weeks alongside the GS) felt tiny, it felt as if I was wearing it, it felt well wooden, especially on the front end,where the steering was heavy amd had minimal feel.

The only thing I dislike about the bike are the daft indicators.........not much to moan about though. Partner isn't really keen on it and it feels like that when we're out.....wish I'd kept the CBR as well !