R1200GS - Trying to decide on the model - Help please

[Skippy]

I bought my R1200GS back in 2004 and sold it on here. I've been bikeless for a while now and therefore a bit behind on the "must have" and "don't touch this with a barge pole" models.

I've seen a 2017 R1200GS TE Exclusive that I like the look of. Can anyone tell me their warts and all thoughts on this particular model, please. Is it water cooled (can you tell from the model I have listed?), if so, is better to go for non-wc?

I can't afford and probably don't want, a 1250, definitely can't afford a 1300 either.

Don't want an Adventure.

I read a thread a while ago, suggesting the late 12's were probably the best to go for but can't remember why it was suggested.

Many Thanks.

​

 

[DJ123]

The GS from 2013 was watercooled, and the GSA from 2014.

Any Bike is only as good as A) it was built & B) how the previous owner(s) have looked after it, maintained it, repaired issues, carried out pro-active maintenance etc.

I have an early 2013 GS and bar the alternator needing to be replaced, it's been a faultless Bike with no issues.

 

[ATT]

I would be going for a twin cam...I have no idea what year they were finished, but that is what I would go for...My Scrambler was brilliant engine and box wise.

 

[Headtester]

The 2017 R1200GS TE Exclusive is water cooled I believe - the easy sign is the silencer being on the right on WC models (as well as the radiator).

I have a 2010 Hexhead (oil cooled) and it does everything I want it to do, it's also simpler than the later models.

Bennett's reviews are usually worth a read; click

 

[DJ123]

The 2017 R1200GS TE Exclusive is water cooled I believe - the easy sign is the silencer being on the right on WC models (as well as the radiator).

I have a 2010 Hexhead (oil cooled) and it does everything I want it to do, it's also simpler than the later models.

Bennett's reviews are usually worth a read; click

the easier sign is looking at the 2 radiators, 1 mounted each side!

 

[KMD]

Staying in Austria at the Hotel Enzian in Landeck, they have their own workshop, with a time served BMW bike tech who does their spannering. I asked him the last time we were there which was the best Gs. He didn’t hesitate to say the twin cam. In his opinion the best ever Gs. Of course that was before the launch of the 1300, but the 1250 was out.

 

[Skippy]

I realise I'm penning myself into the nouveau GS Soft Git sector and will probably be banished any moment now to the far reaches of this forum, never the less, I'll continue until that happens ...

Is water cooled OK, or is it to be avoided? I didn't know All GS's were wc after a certain date.

The one I am looking at is "Iced Chocolate" ooerr, looks stunning imo ! It's £9.5k and has approx 13k miles on it. FSH and from the photos on the advert, looks in excellent condition.

Anyone near Shrewsbury, who could cast an eye over it?

 

[Skippy]

the easier sign is looking at the 2 radiators, 1 mounted each side!

I zoomed in and yes, think I can see the rads but pics are not good enough to tell absolutely. This combined with "everything after 2013" is wc, confirms it is. I'm ok with that, unless anyone tells me otherwise.

 

[Skippy]

Staying in Austria at the Hotel Enzian in Landeck, they have their own workshop, with a time served BMW bike tech who does their spannering. I asked him the last time we were there which was the best Gs. He didn’t hesitate to say the twin cam. In his opinion the best ever Gs. Of course that was before the launch of the 1300, but the 1250 was out.

If this is a 2017 bike, that must mean it's a twin cam .... doesn't it?

 

[littleade]

If this is a 2017 bike, that must mean it's a twin cam .... doesn't it?

Nope, see post #2. The Exclusive is just the paint scheme, the TE is the bit that defines the spec (though the original owner may have added other things to it either at ghe bulld stage or after). Although they're referred to as LC it's only the heads that are watercooled. I've had 3 LCs (2 1200s and a 1250) and all have been reliable though on the flip side I didn't do loads of miles on them. Don't discount buying "approved" from a main dealer as those will come with a 2 year warranty.

 

[Skippy]

Nope, see post #2. The Exclusive is just the paint scheme, the TE is the bit that defines the spec (though the original owner may have added other things to it either at ghe bulld stage or after). Although they're referred to as LC it's only the heads that are watercooled. I've had 3 LCs (2 1200s and a 1250) and all have been reliable though on the flip side I didn't do loads of miles on them. Don't discount buying "approved" from a main dealer as those will come with a 2 year warranty.

Post 2 refers to it being LC/WC, rather than the Twin Cam engine. My guess is, all GS engines became Twin Cam.

 

[DING-DONG]

If this is a 2017 bike, that must mean it's a twin cam .... doesn't it?

Twin cam was 2010-2012

 

[leadfarmer]

The first motor with 2 overhead camshafts became known as the twin cam, because that was the new feature

Then there was the liquid cooled motor starting in 2013, known as the WC or wet head, because that was the new feature

Then came the 1250 which got variable cam profiles, known as the shift cam, you’ve guessed it, because that was the new feature

Now we have the 1300 which has 2 cams, water cooling and shift cam technology, known as the wankpanzer, cos it gives Arsey an uncontrollable erection just thinking about it

Seriously, you need to go and research the lineage of the bikes and engines and make up your mind based on your own understanding, needs, wants and budget

You will get plenty of opinions on here but none of them will be your own

 

[Santa-2512]

Ive had all 3 early varients

2006 Hexhead dealer via ebay sas
Needed. Starter motor, battery, rear cardon drive rebuild
24k on the clock when bought 30k when sold

2016 hexhead dealer approved used full warranty
Needed / replaced
Throttle twistgrip, throttle twistgrip loom,
Rear shock absorber (not covered by warranty- 80% goodwill 1.1k cost to me)
Cam sensor (not warranty item)
Main ecu, fuel pressure regulator, rh throttle body

28k on the clock when bought, 41k when given away

2011 TC via forum
Needed / replaced
Set of tyres, screen, seat. Battery
Screen, seat & battery (personal choice)
16kon the clock when purchased
Just hit 20k

All have good and bad points

Hexhead & TC,
Lots of affordable sh parts,
Easy to home maintain, service
No cruise control

Lc
Factory low
Quick shift and cruise superb
Reliability & paint finish poor

Woud i have an LC again
Sadly no, to many electronics for its own good.

 

[botus]

the gruff nice engine lasted till late 2007
they then updated the styling into ugly, and fitted a box like honda - where the lever still moves when in top
then came the twin cam, a new engine that is far smoother and runs like a honda up to 4k RMP, its less flexible and less pleasant power to modulate round town.... but if you want to rip it they are meant to have more top end and the bevel got a drain plug and some improvements to last longer

all got the same designed to fail ABS module - rebuild is DIY, or pay for £300, but getting it off the bike is nasty
the bevels all wear out
the clutches should last till 60k bit if the rear main leaks it'll give up at half that (like mine has)
the heated grips die
the fuelling is agricultural - yes it runs, yes you can ride it - but they can be made far more fun and safer to ride by sorting it out

then came the LC from 2013 and I'll stop saying nice things - they do get a normal indicator switch and cruise control, which they all needed - but the forks also like to fall off - with 4 revisons to the undersized stantions - lots of people died but we pretend they didn't

the 1250 got funny variable valve timing and feels closer to the grunt at the bottom you find with the twin cam - I still prefer the grunt you find in the 2007 ones
the new 1300 gets real forks and wobbly bars to allow the telelever to do its bit!!!

 

[Skippy]

The first motor with 2 overhead camshafts became known as the twin cam, because that was the new feature

Then there was the liquid cooled motor starting in 2013, known as the WC or wet head, because that was the new feature

Then came the 1250 which got variable cam profiles, known as the shift cam, you’ve guessed it, because that was the new feature

Now we have the 1300 which has 2 cams, water cooling and shift cam technology, known as the wankpanzer, cos it gives Arsey an uncontrollable erection just thinking about it

Seriously, you need to go and research the lineage of the bikes and engines and make up your mind based on your own understanding, needs, wants and budget

You will get plenty of opinions on here but none of them will be your own

Probably the best advice so far! I have been researching but opinions make up a part of that.

I'm not keen on the look of the pre-2013 twin cam (the silver arrow thing on the fairing, I just don't like it) standard form, rather than the Adventure. This changed in the 2013 model (I think) and instead became a manta ray style scoop, but only for a year.

Then comes the better looking, but maybe not as reliable (initially) LC/WC. I like the look of this model and the 2017 version seems to be sorted technically, opposed to earlier production models which apparently, had a few problems. My mild reservation is based on sound bites from people on here and a couple of other media sources. Nothing major, just mentions.

This is the route that has taken me to the 2017 example I have in my sights.

Arsey and the Wankpanzer! Fcuking hilarious!

 

[Skippy]

The first motor with 2 overhead camshafts became known as the twin cam, because that was the new feature

Then there was the liquid cooled motor starting in 2013, known as the WC or wet head, because that was the new feature

Then came the 1250 which got variable cam profiles, known as the shift cam, you’ve guessed it, because that was the new feature

Now we have the 1300 which has 2 cams, water cooling and shift cam technology, known as the wankpanzer, cos it gives Arsey an uncontrollable erection just thinking about it

Seriously, you need to go and research the lineage of the bikes and engines and make up your mind based on your own understanding, needs, wants and budget

You will get plenty of opinions on here but none of them will be your own

Why was the twin cam dropped on the LC? Or am I being thick?

 

[leadfarmer]

Why was the twin cam dropped on the LC? Or am I being thick?

LC has twin cams but it’s no longer a defining feature, a bit like nobody puts “injection” on cars anymore because they’re all injected now

Here’s a 2016 1200 LC head, so 2 cam shafts but no shift cam technology, essentially the same as your 2017 model mechanically
Inlet cam at the top for the 2 inlet valves, exhaust cam at the bottom with a centrifugal decompressor at the front

You can also see a radiator at the front

 

[Skippy]

LC has twin cams but it’s no longer a defining feature, a bit like nobody puts “injection” on cars anymore because they’re all injected now

Here’s a 2016 1200 LC head, so 2 cam shafts but no shift cam technology, essentially the same as your 2017 model mechanically

You can also see a radiator at the front

View attachment 309586

I was correct then, post 2013 (i.e. LC's) were twin cam motors.

 

[Schtum]

I was correct then, post 2013 (i.e. LC's) were twin cam motors.

Yes but that term has never commonly been used to describe them. More to the point, having had three of the earlier 1200's, then a Twincam and now an LC, the LC is a much nicer ride.