R1200GS Evaluation - The Road Test

[iangough]

I have just traded in my Honda CBR929RRY Fireblade for a nearly new R1200GS (700 Miles)
I go to France for a week, every year with 3 other fast sports bike riders. i.e. amatuer racers. They have 1 x CBR929RRY Fireblade, 1 x Honda SP1 and 1 x GSXR600

I have recently returned from France having riden the GS for just over 100 miles before departing on my trip. My new GS incidentally has the bmw alarm, heated grips, panniers, top box and Sat Nav fitted.
Observations of trip and bike. A real life comparison conducted over 2.6k miles:

1. The GS is more comfy than the blade (surprisingly)
2. The GS can cruise at higher speeds 120mph than any sports bikes.
3. Top speed is 134mph according to sat nav. 137 indicated (which is pretty acurate, loads more accurate than my car or any jap bike)
4. No sports bike can loose a GS around the bends (even without scrapping the centre stand)
5. You can use up 2.5 mm of trye tread in 650miles trying to keep up. 5.5mm used up in total. rear tyre will last approx 4.5k miles
6. You can always outbreak a sports bikes and scuff off speed if needed mid-corner if needed.
7. The front does not dive, giving you absolute control.
8. No chain to clean each evening after checking into a B&B
9. BMW's burn oil far too easily. 2 - strokes comes to mind!
10. Oil leaks out of air filter area if you thrash it too much
11.Sports bikes go alot slower around bumpy corners.
12. Going over bumpy roads, the gs is ok if both wheels leave the ground. Had to wait for my 3 mates for ages after about 5 miles !!
13. They all rode my bike and loved it.
14. They all thought it hillarious that they were occassionally being overtaken or being continuously persued by a bloke riding in the 'arm chair' position.
15. They were slightly jealous (but so was i, as i missed the absolute 140mph+ straight line speed)
16. Having an IAM test pass or a BMW does not slow you down.
17. Spinning up your rear tyre when exiting bends does not get a 1200GS out of your mirrors.
18. the gs suspension is too soft on anything other than hard setting.
19. you can ride almost as fast two-up, but things do tend to scrape.
20. the finish is excellent, but i miss a reasonable amount of underseat storage for things like disk locks and chains. This means you always needs a pannier or top box.
21. I will never go back to a sports bike. (Unless i test ride the new BMW !!)
22. It costs about 2.5 to 4 Euros less at each petrol stop, that any of the other jap bikes. The BM also remains the most economical when using 'all of the rev range'
23. Seat is uncomfortable after a while unless you wind the rear suspension up so the angle of the seat changes. You can spoof this by adjusting only one of the height adjusters under the seat, or by getting the other half to make a sausage type ridge going across the seat so my bum leans against it.

So, I have tried to be as concise as humanly possible without missing out any facts. A true life evaluation.

Would love to hear your comments as i have never ever posted anything on a forum before in my life !!

Ian.

 

[Frisky]

Welcome

Welcome Ian, glad you are enjoying the new bike and this forum
However you should read your posts over as some people on here may take the pee
Quote

"or by getting the other half to make a sausage type ridge going across the seat so my bum leans against it."
Oooerr Missus, I hope the other half is female
Any pics of your french trip?
Cheers Dave

 

[Big Lee]

For a first time report on a forum Ian that was excellent!

 

[cookie]

For a first time report on a forum Ian that was excellent!

and amusing

 

[iangough]

GS at the dealer

21. The buffetting is annoying, as exists no matter what angle you set the fairing at. The angle just changes the speed at which it starts.


Also, on my last day on the french trip, i had to take it to a BMW dealer as the bike made some real clonking noise for the first two seconds when being fired up from warm. The dealer said my cam chain was loose, and the tensioner was sticking. Well, that's at least what i thought he said/pointed to, as my school did not specialise in motor vehicle parts when i did my french o level !
Anyway, yesterday i dropped my new love into the uk dealership to just get it checked over. I will await a phone call on Monday to see what the conclusion is.

--------

On another note, thanks gentlemen for your feedback and advise.
I will try to maintain a subtle sense of humour and always all the door to be slightly ajar for the comic oportunist to vent their observations.

--------

Yes i do have pics of my trip, but do not have a website, so i cant post them. (or does someone know better)

 

[Fanum]

Yes i do have pics of my trip, but do not have a website, so i cant post them. (or does someone know better)

To attach a picture, you need to be a sponsor (see button at top of page)....however, it's much preferred if you can link to a picture already on the 'net so it doesn't take up server space...for that, you'd need to upload the pics to your own space usually provided as part of an ISP account.

Good post Ian..and welcome to the madness


Don't worry about no. 9 (oil consumption ) btw....it'll settle in and stop using oil at about 10k miles.....and it'll be more powerfull by then too


'they all do that sir'

 

[iangough]

R1200GS Oil and flat spot

I have just taken my R1200GS into my dealer for a check regarding cam chain tension. The bike has done 4k miles. It is ok btw.

Having had a conversation with a mechanic, he mentioned that the GS would burn less oil if i put 20-50 in there opposed to a semi synthetic oil. Asking if they sold said oil, they said they only put semi synth in all their bikes.

They also said they have had a new cd for the last 2 weeks with the lastest 'engine management mapping software ??' that they have downloaded on my bike which stops the lumpiness at tickover and gets rid of the flat spot mid-way through the rev range. I can confirm it does nothing for the tickover, but the flatspot has vanished, giving even smoother power delivery.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

nice ride report - sounds like my sort of trip

real world stuff and real results.

thrashing it from 'new' won't hurt it - helps it bed in quicker and it'll use less oil in the long run.

 

[Boozyrider]

Nice report mate, my dealer reckons they have been advised to run 20-50 throughout the life of the engine. I have opted for the scream the knackers out of it 'running in' method, and have used 200mls in 1050miles. I'll let you know if I blow it all to hell

 

[cliff]

running in upto 4k revs

Nice report mate, my dealer reckons they have been advised to run 20-50 throughout the life of the engine. I have opted for the scream the knackers out of it 'running in' method, and have used 200mls in 1050miles. I'll let you know if I blow it all to hell

i have just covered 1100 miles since the 600 mile service 1700 in total and have put 100mls of castrol which the level is now at the top of the glass and did not need to put any oil in during the run in period

cliff

 

[cliff]

I have just traded in my Honda CBR929RRY Fireblade for a nearly new R1200GS (700 Miles)
I go to France for a week, every year with 3 other fast sports bike riders. i.e. amatuer racers. They have 1 x CBR929RRY Fireblade, 1 x Honda SP1 and 1 x GSXR600

I have recently returned from France having riden the GS for just over 100 miles before departing on my trip. My new GS incidentally has the bmw alarm, heated grips, panniers, top box and Sat Nav fitted.
Observations of trip and bike. A real life comparison conducted over 2.6k miles:

1. The GS is more comfy than the blade (surprisingly)
2. The GS can cruise at higher speeds 120mph than any sports bikes.
3. Top speed is 134mph according to sat nav. 137 indicated (which is pretty acurate, loads more accurate than my car or any jap bike)
4. No sports bike can loose a GS around the bends (even without scrapping the centre stand)
5. You can use up 2.5 mm of trye tread in 650miles trying to keep up. 5.5mm used up in total. rear tyre will last approx 4.5k miles
6. You can always outbreak a sports bikes and scuff off speed if needed mid-corner if needed.
7. The front does not dive, giving you absolute control.
8. No chain to clean each evening after checking into a B&B
9. BMW's burn oil far too easily. 2 - strokes comes to mind!
10. Oil leaks out of air filter area if you thrash it too much
11.Sports bikes go alot slower around bumpy corners.
12. Going over bumpy roads, the gs is ok if both wheels leave the ground. Had to wait for my 3 mates for ages after about 5 miles !!
13. They all rode my bike and loved it.
14. They all thought it hillarious that they were occassionally being overtaken or being continuously persued by a bloke riding in the 'arm chair' position.
15. They were slightly jealous (but so was i, as i missed the absolute 140mph+ straight line speed)
16. Having an IAM test pass or a BMW does not slow you down.
17. Spinning up your rear tyre when exiting bends does not get a 1200GS out of your mirrors.
18. the gs suspension is too soft on anything other than hard setting.
19. you can ride almost as fast two-up, but things do tend to scrape.
20. the finish is excellent, but i miss a reasonable amount of underseat storage for things like disk locks and chains. This means you always needs a pannier or top box.
21. I will never go back to a sports bike. (Unless i test ride the new BMW !!)
22. It costs about 2.5 to 4 Euros less at each petrol stop, that any of the other jap bikes. The BM also remains the most economical when using 'all of the rev range'
23. Seat is uncomfortable after a while unless you wind the rear suspension up so the angle of the seat changes. You can spoof this by adjusting only one of the height adjusters under the seat, or by getting the other half to make a sausage type ridge going across the seat so my bum leans against it.

So, I have tried to be as concise as humanly possible without missing out any facts. A true life evaluation.

Would love to hear your comments as i have never ever posted anything on a forum before in my life !!

Ian.

great report ian
i am curious to know if your bike was an ex-demonstrator when you purchased it

cliff

 

[John Armstrong]

Questions, questions

Cliff, why did you feel it necessary to copy all of the report? Don't you think we might have read it as it was the first post?

 

[iangough]

No, i did buy the bike 2nd hand with only 780 miles on the clock.
I have done 3.2k miles so far and am loving it. Never ever going back to a sports bike. Boy, does it take a long time to clean after you ride it in the wet.

 

[cliff]

Re: Questions, questions

Cliff, why did you feel it necessary to copy all of the report? Don't you think we might have read it as it was the first post?

calm down

im new to this site so im entitled to make the odd error

 

[Joyseeker]

it was good to read your comments, ian, about hard riding. clear you are much more agressive on the roads then me but then i am a baby biker in my mid 40s. the 1200 is my 3rd bike in 1st 18 months of riding. a monster 620 and a multi strada before. its been a learning curve as i had only ridden harleys to get the test and the riding stlye is so different.

i didn't get on with the monster as i'm too big but the strada was a real joy...... went to land end's end and johnno on it ....... the strada still does 2 things better in my mind...... it is easier to change your line in a fast lean and i do miss the harsher/cruder thump of response in mid range.

but the 1200 is better all round and as you say much easier to live with (so easy to clean and no chain). also i am inclined to travel and the 1200 pannier system is just great, as you know, getting into BandBs and you get your bike back naked when you are setteled in.

the 1200 is also a dangerious bike. it gives you the comfidence to do things like fall off with a pillion on tight slow 'c' truns or go on beachs to come off again

another realization was the week before xmas. went to lands end again but this time with a fat boy. the 1200 carried all his stuff for the 3 nites easy. but it was the windy week...... the fat boy was unaffected and still enjoyed the last approaches to the point. i had 2 days of 'hell riding' being blown all over the place. the riding position does leave one exposed. the strada had more weight on the wrists and was less affected.

the joy this winter is not cleaning the bike in the cold since vines waxed it