Pros and Cons of the g/s & GS???

[VAL. H.]

Over the time I've been lingering and otherwise on this here forum, there has always been (to me anyway) a question mark as to which is the better bike. The g/s or the GS (Para).

There are obvious differences between the 80g/s and the 80/100GS Paralever. But do these differences, (the Paralever swing arm, beefier forks and possibly bigger rear tyre), really make the GS that much better? Does it handle better for instance? I know the suspension is different, but the frames look to be exactly the same and I believe carry across to the 80RT mono? any others??

What changes where made to the g/s when it was upgraded to the GS? was it simply that they added better forks and a more complex (expensive to repair) swing arm, or is the Paralever that much better than the conventional rigid one on the g/s? If so why did it take nearly twenty years for the Japs to copy it (ZZR1400)?

What other upgrades where made between the g/s and GS? Did they upgrade the electrics? and what about the engine? was it solely the unleaded heads? or is there a bigger difference?

I've been looking at and riding these bikes for so many years now and still haven't really concluded which is better or why???

My next bike purchase is most likely to be and Airhead 'maybe a g/s-GS maybe not, but in time an Airhead. I ride Jill's 100GS now and then and have ridden several other BM's, but I don't think I've ever even sat on a g/s

I'm not ready to sell the 1200gs (far too nice-a bike), so whatever I end up with will be a bit of a project, and I'd like to have a little more knowledge in hand to help along the way.


Val.

 

[cookie]

i have owned a 92 R100GS PD, and currently own an 86 R80G/S.

the para was faster, with more grunt. had room for two people and luggage in relative comfort (not relative to my 12GSA though). handling was fine up to about 80 when a non threatening weave often became apparent in corners. it had no brakes to speak of. pretty much all the para GSs are pig ugly too except the Basic IMO. uninspired 80s styling did them no favours.
could potentially be used as an only bike.

the mono gets a bit twitchy over 70, feels very much smaller, lighter, nimbler and chuckable. the original brakes make the PD seem like it had servos.
the ride quality is not quite as good as the para, but is absolutely fine. much more fun to ride than the PD now i've put a bigger disc on the front. way prettier too.
would never dream of having one as an only bike, but love having it in addition to the 12, and ride it most of the time in preference

 

[England-Kev]

Now as you aint that far away, and although it aint a G/S or GS, you are more than welcome to have a go on the ST if you feel the need...

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

Brave thread this, Im sure there will be a lot of very firm opinions comming along soon.
Ive had various airheads and other Beemers going back about 30 years and I rode Job bikes before that so I sort of feel a bit qualified to throw my hat into the ring.
I've never been disappointed with any of the ones I've owned but they all have pro's and cons. For the last few years I've had a gs and a g/s.
The g/s was a gas. so light and flickable, smooth engine and really the difference in top speed is negible. These bikes were made before all this styling crap. Purpose was all that mattered, not like todays bikes with all the attached bits of plastic tat.I cant honesdtly say I have found the handling any better on one model over the other,
The 100gs has more grunt but a rougher engine. It is more comfortable on a long journey. Mine has an Ohlins shock and the handling is excellent and I have ridden with some fast sports bikes on twisty roads. I do like the para despite its shortcomings and lets face it the 1200 still has the same system so the principles arew right.
I recently decided that one had to go. I opted to sell the gs as the g/s was probably the better investment but after a longish ride I decided that I was happier on the gs on a distance ride so I sold the g/s.
My feelings are that if you have a 110/50/1200 already then get a g/s for fun
if you dont and want an only bike , get a GS.

 

[newguy]

If so why did it take nearly twenty years for the Japs to copy it (ZZR1400)?

Not exactly. I think the most obvious copy/experiment was the 1982/3 XLV750R that had a shafty following the success of the G/S in the Dakar. I think it's a real beautiful machine and would not mind owning one.

I have owned a 81 G/S and now own a 89 R100GS Basic. For the life of me I can't really figure out why the R100GS is heavier (there is not much extra, though I do find the seat very heavy and of course the huge battery).
I have only just acquired the R100 so will not comment on which (part) is best just yet. Though I am favoring the Para so far (also because I hope to fit a R1100 swingarm one day when I am big)

 

[Steptoe]

You can't say one is better than the other, it's whatever you prefer.

 

[VAL. H.]

Not exactly. I think the most obvious copy/experiment was the 1982/3 XLV750R that had a shafty following the success of the G/S in the Dakar. I think it's a real beautiful machine and would not mind owning one.

quote]

You've picked up the wrong track here. I was referring to the Paralever swing arm with it's linked FD hub. Guzzi copied it in the nineties, and BM have redesigned it twice. But personally I can't see the point

I know they had issues with the back end rising under acceleration (though I never found this to be an issue on any I've ridden). Yamaha on the other hand have never used anything other than the conventional fixed/solid arm type and in 138'000 miles mine never felt odd or even wore out or broke down. I just think the para type is more a case of revenue building than enhanced performance.

You can't say one is better than the other, it's whatever you prefer.

Maybe I wrote that bit wrong I agree, course it's up to the individual which they prefer, but I'm not really asking that question.
My question is more to the point of; what is actually different between them, apart of course from the forks, swing arm, tank & seat? Oh and the bigger battery and unleaded heads. Or is that as simple as it is? It's just a redesign of the g/s (phase two) of the same bike?

Or is it that the GS is fitted with better/upgraded electrics, better engine internals, Is there any conceivable advantage of the GS over the g/s, other than the seat hight, passenger carrying ability or weather protection/styling? Or is it simply a visual thing, and deep down they are both the same bike with a ten year age gap?


Val.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

Yep!!

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Lots of g/s's came with unleaded heads,, just look for the blue mark on lower part of cyl head,

 

[Rob Farmer]

I had a g/s and a GS and an 1150 GSA all the same time. The Mono was a great bike for zipping about on but the ride quality of the GS gets my vote every time. I found I was riding the GS more than the other two so sold them both and kept the GS.

The mono was little more than a styling exercise. The forks were taken from the road bikes of the time, the frame from the 650. Even the swinging arm is little more than a twin shock item with the left hand tube left off but for all that it comes together and makes for a great bike. I just found them tedious for long distance riding and anything above 80 Mph but if you don't mind keeping the speed down a bit, or better still keeping to the A roads, you'll be hard pushed to find anything better in the airhead range. Most GS riders fancy one but they generally change hands on a regular basis which is a pretty good indication of what they're like. On the other hand Paralever owners tend to keep them for years.

A lot of the parts are interchangeable. Swinging arms are a different width. Electrics are essentially all the same. Very minor differences in engine components which are again virtually all interchangeable.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Most GS riders fancy one but they generally change hands on a regular basis which is a pretty good indication of what they're like. On the other hand Paralever owners tend to keep them for years.

Where as I keep my Monos and sell the paras
Gertie bought April 1994, still got her....

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

Now how did we know you were going to say that

You old ludite .

 

[Steptoe]

[


Maybe I wrote that bit wrong I agree, course it's up to the individual which they prefer, but I'm not really asking that question.
My question is more to the point of; what is actually different between them, apart of course from the forks, swing arm, tank & seat? Oh and the bigger battery and unleaded heads. Or is that as simple as it is? It's just a redesign of the g/s (phase two) of the same bike?

Or is it that the GS is fitted with better/upgraded electrics, better engine internals, Is there any conceivable advantage of the GS over the g/s, other than the seat hight, passenger carrying ability or weather protection/styling? Or is it simply a visual thing, and deep down they are both the same bike with a ten year age gap?


Val.

Any engine or electrical "improvements" would have been done at the same time to all the BMW range of twins, not just the GS. So it's just gradual change ( i wouldn't call it progression ).


Althought the GS's did avoid the awful air recirculation gubbins fitted to the airheads near the end of production.

 

[Beemerboff]

What is better about a RIOOGS - the answer is quite simple - everything that is different from the G/S.

Does that necessarily make it a better bike for you? - only you can answer that and probably only after you have ridden each for a month or so.

I have both , and I cant see where the weight difference is either , except for the forks , but if you have ridden both you would gladly accept the extra weight there - G/S forks are just not up to the job.

And even with a well set up after market shock on both the paralever rear end is miles in front of mono - there is some clever geometry in the paralever, it is more than just anti squat and it works very well.

For the roads and surfaces I ride on the superior suspension on the GS outweighs the lighter weight of the G/S , but that may not be the same for everyone.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Where as I keep my Monos and sell the paras
Gertie bought April 1994, still got her....

Like poking a bear with a stick Proff

 

[Mick13]

Lots of g/s's came with unleaded heads,, just look for the blue mark on lower part of cyl head,

Some R80 heads with ruber gomets between fins are unleaded