Returning to a hexhead

[Jon P]

I’ve been away since 2016, which is when I bought a new GS1200LC, great bike but a year later I still hadn’t really gelled with it so exchanged it for a new Adventure, again, still a great bike but it just didn’t suit. I found so much tech, including the TFT display and sat nav were distracting and after owning GSs since 1992 I missed so many things. Anyway, a year after ownership, it was now late 2019, I got my statement from BMW (For the first time I bought my bike on a PCP rather than buying outright) and I still owed BMW 18k+. I thought I had got my head around buying on a PCP but it just felt like this wasn’t my bike - and of course it wasn’t! I was able to take it back to the dealer and walk away without owing anything. Feeling a bit sore I was now without a bike but a month later, walked into my local bike shop in Inverness and saw a late Triumph T120 which for three years was like an “anti-GS”. A lovely bike and enjoyable to own. That’s now for sale as after a year of looking I’ve just bought a 2010, mint condition, R1200GS 30th anniversary - it should arrive next week. I’ll post some pictures.

 

[team duvet]

Enjoy, 30th Anniversary one of the best ever, loved mine.

TD

 

[dicktheleg]

Exactly what I’ve done too, indeed a guy on the ferry a while back (on an LC) asked me if I’d like to sell mine, he wasn’t happy with his LC either.

I think the Twin Cam is just about perfect.

 

[TLSgazza]

That's why I'm still on my old 2006 GSA after 137.000 miles now. I'm just returning from the top of Estonia on it. 760 Kms today down to the south of Lithuania and it's a joy and a comfort to ride.
I had a few rides on WC's including 3.000 miles in Alaska on a 1250. Too complicated and I just couldn't gel with them.
Enjoy your new bike.

 

[Santa-2512]

+1 o had an 06 hexhead, and spent quite a bit of time effort & moaning on here, getting it up to a sorted condition ...

Stupidly i sold it , seduced by a 2016 factory low lC

Big mistake - 2 weeks of ownership and we enter lockdown

Then almost a year of trouble free ownership, it never turned a wheel lol, Then a year of normal ownership, in which i sort of gelled but not quite

and then it went wrong big time !

Warranty fault after warranty fault after warranty fault

enough was enough and i left the thing at the dealership for them to dispose of .... (its still there i think )

I picked up a 2011 TC from off here , low mileage ( 16K) - service history and very clean and tidy


Its not an LC it never will be, but i dont have the constant worry, what electronic part will fail next

only had it 4 months, but its been to France and back ,

 

[EVskiy]

…down to the south of Lithuania and it's a joy and a comfort to ride.

My neck of the woods (forest shall I say) . Druskininkai to be precisely.

Worth a visit. Old Train station, has since been turned into a campsite. Across the road is a wellness park, great for walks, running. A walk up the hill (turn left from the campsite) , will take you past the bus station and to the centre of the town, along the shore of the Druskonis lake. During Soviet times, it was packed full of USSR tourists, who wanted a wellness holiday.

Wife and I will be going back there next August. Hopefully.

 

[TLSgazza]

My neck of the woods (forest shall I say) . Druskininkai to be precisely.

Worth a visit. Old Train station, has since been turned into a campsite. Across the road is a wellness park, great for walks, running. A walk up the hill (turn left from the campsite) , will take you past the bus station and to the centre of the town, along the shore of the Druskonis lake. During Soviet times, it was packed full of USSR tourists, who wanted a wellness holiday.

Wife and I will be going back there next August. Hopefully.

Ain't that a weird one. Guess where I put the tent up last night.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

Right in the town near the lake. Didn't get a chance to look around and I wish I had now.

The town looked lovely on the way out this morning.


I'm now in southern Poland.

 

[EVskiy]

Ain't that a weird one. Guess where I put the tent up last night.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

Right in the town near the lake. Didn't get a chance to look around and I wish I had now.

The town looked lovely on the way out this morning.


I'm now in southern Poland.

Glad you've had a pleasant flying stay. Many fond memories….

 

[Slipperyeel]

I'm still on the 'it's the best bike I ever had' page.

Sadly heading back to blighty next week. A 3 day ride from down here. And it's going to be hot (in blighty too! ). But it has proved doggedly reliable and a joy to ride. I'm just not looking for another bike

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[botus]

that's two people in last few month that have said they bought a hex head and actually both bought a TC

I too bought a TC (in June this year with 9200 miles) the original hex head is more than twice the bike a TC is - the later one is busy, much slower and needs 40% more gear changes - I still have both

 

[seahorse]

 

[dicktheleg]

that's two people in last few month that have said they bought a hex head and actually both bought a TC

I too bought a TC (in June this year with 9200 miles) the original hex head is more than twice the bike a TC is - the later one is busy, much slower and needs 40% more gear changes - I still have both

So the TC Is lower geared then, less torque too?

Stats please!

 

[dicktheleg]

Care to comment BOTUS?

 

[MWH]

I can't comment as not had a TC. Two of my friends do and they don't leave me behind as such. One thing I do notice is they put less fuel in than I do on my 09 when we're on trips so they have better mpg. I have AF Xieds so maybe thats why I'm not a efficient but I'm willing to put up with it as it rides better.
Sometimes with overtakes I notice they seem more responsive and pull away very slightly on full throttle. I'm sure they'd let me have a go on theirs but I'd be worried about a)damaging it b)liking it so much I'd dislike mine after!!

 

[botus]

Care to comment BOTUS?

not worried about pretend pictures - the facts are - I've ridden two hex head bikes - a 2008 press demo (specially knobbled by the manu - that probably had the HP map) it was bonkers, mine which is very fast, and 5 TC bikes all of which have been really gutless and slow

the press bike would go up a certain big hill at 115, mine easily does 110 and all the TC ones struggle to do 100 even when you try much harder

 

[Slipperyeel]

I'm curious about your comments - partly because I'm not entirely sure you're right - but I am interested in what you think is the cause of this 'loss of performance' in the TC.

Until I wised up and started saving my pennies on the fuel (I now get to Genoa from London on 3 tanks, going via the Ardennes and Switzerland, so not the most direct route - I'm fairly impressed with this) I used to be cruising at a around 150-160 and there was enough left to do overtakes and yes, open it up some more when they inclination came. All this is with lots (too much!) luggage (it guzzles the fuel at these speeds btw!).

So I am intrigued. Would I notice the difference on the SC bikes?

What do you think? Or am I using the wrong metric?

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[Jon P]

Over 30 year’s experience with GSs , started with 1992 R80GS, 1993 R100GS PD, 1994 R1100GS, 1999 R1100GS, 2003 R1150GS, 2007 R1200GD, 2009 R1200GS, 2016 R1200GS, 2018 R1200GS. I’ve not owned a TC but have ridden quite a few and it’s definitely a better bike than the previous gen hexhead - a bit more power and smoother too.

 

[seahorse]

- the facts are - I've ridden two hex head bikes - a 2008 press demo (specially knobbled by the manu - that probably had the HP map) it was bonkers, mine which is very fast, and 5 TC bikes all of which have been really gutless and slow

You're doing it again - no facts here at all just your opinions. That said I do find your posts on the various threads here amusing.

 

[Buckingham]

I've had a R1200GS-LC and an R1250RS - now I'm back to a 2012 GS twin-cam. Never had any real issues with the LCs and the R1250 does definitely have the performance, I just wanted another twin-cam; it's lighter and I'm not going to ride it faster than I would an LC.

 

[Slipperyeel]

You're doing it again - no facts here at all just your opinions. That said I do find your posts on the various threads here amusing.

Hang on a moment. Where are your facts? Everything you've said is just your opinion also. No?

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