Prospective GSer

[Transglobalundies]

Hi all i'm new to the site.

I currently ride an FZS600 Fazer which i bought new in 2003 and is my first & only bike.

However i've been looking at the R1200GS Adventure for quite a long time and thought its about time i did something about it.

I also have 1 wife, 1 house, 1 mortgage, 1 car, 3 kids, 1 dog and nowhere near enough money.

Somethings gotta go and i cant decide which. The dog will stay as it never answers back.

thats me

 

[ghost]

hallo

 

[wishbone]

Hi all i'm new to the site.

I currently ride an FZS600 Fazer which i bought new in 2003 and is my first & only bike.

However i've been looking at the R1200GS Adventure for quite a long time and thought its about time i did something about it.

I also have 1 wife, 1 house, 1 mortgage, 1 car, 3 kids, 1 dog and nowhere near enough money.

Somethings gotta go and i cant decide which. The dog will stay as it never answers back.

thats me

have you had a test ride

 

[Mr K]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Davey B]

Good intro.
Sell a kidney and one of the kids.

 

[Transglobalundies]

Test riding an adventure tomorrow and the gs1200 next week.
I sat on an adventure today at the dealers with a low seat - its still tall for me, I'm 5'7"

so any advice about which low seat would be appreciated ( point me to a thread ).

I've read a few threads about low seats but it wasn't clear to me who, at what height, bought which manufacturers seat and is happy with the height and comfort.

as you can tell from my Fazer i'm not arse up shoulders down rider so i expect the GS to suit my style of riding so long as i can get comfy on it

cheers

 

[Bounce]

Greetings & salutations, welcome to the site...

Can't advise re: seat heights etc....but someone on here will have the answer...

 

[LittleJohn]

Hi, I'm 5'6" and bought a new 2011 1200GS with low seat and lowered suspension. Works for me

 

[JDB]

Been doing some research on the very same - from what I found:
stock: 33"/840mm
BMW Low seat: 31"/ 790
sargent (low): 32" / 812.8mm
TT xtra low: 30"/770mm
Wunderlich lowErgo: 31.8"/810mm
Riders Low Seat for the R1200GS & Adventure (All Years) Black seat, takes the height from 850mm(890mm On the Adventure) to 820mm. not adjustable. Original BMW Part

 

[Felters]

Test riding an adventure tomorrow and the gs1200 next week.
I sat on an adventure today at the dealers with a low seat - its still tall for me, I'm 5'7"

so any advice about which low seat would be appreciated ( point me to a thread ).

I've read a few threads about low seats but it wasn't clear to me who, at what height, bought which manufacturers seat and is happy with the height and comfort.

as you can tell from my Fazer i'm not arse up shoulders down rider so i expect the GS to suit my style of riding so long as i can get comfy on it

cheers

GS is a fair bit lower than the Adventure so will be a better starting point. Your other alternative would be to go for one of the vertical twins - F800GS. They're very economical as well - widely used by the round the world types.

Vstrom and the Varadero are worth a look. Both second hand bargains and well made, Good luck!

 

[Transglobalundies]

Its a 'No Go' on the Adventure

Went to a not so local dealer yesterday and could't get the Adventure stood up let alone off the stand. Disappointed is not the word - fairly gutted to be honest. I've been thinking about this bike for so long.

Anyway i'm not giving up. The dealer did have a factory lowered GS by luck and it felt just right. Only problem with it was it had practically no extras or toys.

I've been reading up on getting a GS lowered with Wilber shocks, i was thinking that way i could maybe get a better specced bike.

any thoughts on this, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

thanks for your responses and thanks Felters re the alternate bikes suggestion but at the mo my heart is set on the 1200 so i want to explore all avenues for this bike first.

 

[grin factor]

Does it matter that much having a few extras on? It always puts the price up too, so maybe its a better option for you. Just a thought.

 

[Felters]

Went to a not so local dealer yesterday and could't get the Adventure stood up let alone off the stand. Disappointed is not the word - fairly gutted to be honest. I've been thinking about this bike for so long.

Anyway i'm not giving up. The dealer did have a factory lowered GS by luck and it felt just right. Only problem with it was it had practically no extras or toys.

I've been reading up on getting a GS lowered with Wilber shocks, i was thinking that way i could maybe get a better specced bike.

any thoughts on this, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

thanks for your responses and thanks Felters re the alternate bikes suggestion but at the mo my heart is set on the 1200 so i want to explore all avenues for this bike first.

I'd go back and negotiate hard on the lowered GS. The extra's and toys are just, err..., extras and toys. If it feels right then start a conversation about what luggage options they will include. That's the stuff that really matters. If it's got ABS and heated grips then that will do.

 

[HogHog]

Went to a not so local dealer yesterday and could't get the Adventure stood up let alone off the stand. Disappointed is not the word - fairly gutted to be honest. I've been thinking about this bike for so long.

Anyway i'm not giving up. The dealer did have a factory lowered GS by luck and it felt just right. Only problem with it was it had practically no extras or toys.

I've been reading up on getting a GS lowered with Wilber shocks, i was thinking that way i could maybe get a better specced bike.

any thoughts on this, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

thanks for your responses and thanks Felters re the alternate bikes suggestion but at the mo my heart is set on the 1200 so i want to explore all avenues for this bike first.

They've got a nice second hand factory lowered GS with lots of extras in the Inverness BMW dealers - Calterdon - I'm 5'7" and it was fine for me - but before I got chance to take it for a test ride I bought an F650GS from someone on here - worth a telephone call or a look on the internet if you've got time - http://www.calterdonmc.co.uk/approved-used-bikes/vehicle-details.html?dolnDealerID=26039&currentCh=WB10303009ZU33732

 

[Goose]

Went to a not so local dealer yesterday and could't get the Adventure stood up let alone off the stand. Disappointed is not the word - fairly gutted to be honest. I've been thinking about this bike for so long.

Anyway i'm not giving up. The dealer did have a factory lowered GS by luck and it felt just right. Only problem with it was it had practically no extras or toys.

I've been reading up on getting a GS lowered with Wilber shocks, i was thinking that way i could maybe get a better specced bike.

any thoughts on this, positive or negative, would be appreciated.

thanks for your responses and thanks Felters re the alternate bikes suggestion but at the mo my heart is set on the 1200 so i want to explore all avenues for this bike first.

Looking at one of these ladies.... she's short and manages the big 1200...?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m-N79b5fqnA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[earthmover]

On the other hand, I'm 5' 7" and have the standard 1200 GS. Despite not looking quite as butch as the Adventure, it will, and has done everything that the big one will do, with the benefit of being able to touch the floor occasionally.
Mine has over 60,000 miles on it now, and is on its way back from one of Bilco's Alaska jaunts.
Try one.
Mark

 

[Transglobalundies]

Test Ride

As it happens i'm booked in for a test ride on a standard GS this coming Saturday. Looking forward to it as well.

Also in the pipe line a trip is pencilled in to take in the northern loop of the Bike8 route. ( thats the route the BIKE magazine test riders use when trying out new machinery ) which passes either through or very close to Inverness. i think i'll call and have a look at their bikes

cheers