Ride magazine

[BDG]

I don't post much nowadays as the forum has moved so far away from what it was originally.

Apart from a few of the "older hands", Wapping stands out, the forum has moved miles away from being the UKGSer that I originally joined, it more like a kiddies playground now :-(

The popularity of the GS with "boy racers" has taken it away from it's original purpose of being a "go anywhere" bike. They want to change it into something it was never intended to be. If you don't, or more likely can't, ride a GS off tarmac then you should be riding something else. A GS with more power and 17" wheels wouldn't be a GS, it would be the bastard lovechild of a GS and a boy racer fantasy.

As one of the new boys, I’ll put forward my point of view in the most inoffensive way possible as I have no wish to antagonise anyone. I’m pretty experienced having owned possibly 100 bikes over the last 44 years and covered over a million miles. I’ve enjoyed sports bikes, tourers, dirt bikes pretty much everything except Harley’s/cruisers. I’ve ridden on every continent, with lots of off road except South America and Antarctica. I’m not trying to boast, some people have done a lot more than me but I’m just trying to establish some credentials as I’m not one of the “old hands”

If I wanted a sports adventure bike I’d take a KTM 1290, if I wanted a “go anywhere bike” for relatively easy trails I’d take a KTM 790 Adventure for its capability or a Tenere 700 for added Japanese reliability. If I wanted a real “go anywhere bike” I’d take a 650/690 single along the lines of a KTM 690/X challenge/XR 650 because of their lighter weight than a GS. I wouldn’t want to do a Charlie and Ewan and put the bike in the back of a truck for the serious off road.

I see the GS as a serious mile muncher for the road and easy gravel tracks that you could drive a car down. Excellent for 2 up carrying the kitchen sink. I know people have done amazing rides on their GS’s but for crossing the Sahara or Siberian mud I’d take a light 650 single.

I stress I have no wish to offend the old names on here and not trying to be a troll, just putting my personal view forward. The good thing is we’re all individuals and one mans meat is another mans poison.

Bob, you Wapping, et al may have ridden your GS’s all over the world off tarmac, in which case I say respect and very well done.

 

[stick]

Spot on, Bob.

Who the fuck wants a GS with 170 bhp and 17” wheels apart from a misguided merkin and probably Nutty,cos he’s still in the power is everything faze.

I sold my KTM 1290R as I preferred my ATAS DCT.
The KTM, with 160 ish bhp left me cold whereas the ATAS, with only 100 ish bhp is much more involving and just a much nicer bike to ride.

Those chasing speed,such as Boxerlost will never understand.

Less is often more.

That's why the 134 of the 1250 is so good , agree with you. Its like the white van , always there no matter what .

 

[Boxerlust]

Calm down guys nobody wants to take anything away from you.We just want an additional GS version like the XR is to the S1000RR that has become more successful than the original...
Nothing wrong with 17" wheels especially if you stay 100% on firm tarmac.And more top end power is always fun !
The other version can stay like it is or maybe BMW can even add another version that is more off road oriented for the few who actually take the bike off road like the HP from 15 years ago ! After all the GS was Gelaende / Strasse but today it has become too big/heavy/expensive to be taken to the Gelaende anyways and where can you ride off road anyways today ? The GS has morphed into a practical road-bike for people who actually ride or who have come from sportsbikes and is great for that....But for Gelaende there is more the image left or maybe a few and far unpaved roads unlike the original that was more like a smoother and more powerful XT500 with shaftdrive....But that was 40 years ago and time has moved on and will move on even further looking at what Ducati will do with next years MS going close to 200 hp...

 

[Mr Bean]

As one of the new boys,

As am I, compared to the 'old timers' on here. Time and technology moves on, some embrace it, others hark back to days gone by.

I well recall when the 1200 hexheads were derided by oilhead owners in the same way LC's are by hexheads owners - no idea why? Apparently the TC's are now pretty much the finest GS in some peoples minds - why, no idea. The same probably occurred when the oilheads were released...

Yes, BMW have had quality issues, but no more than other bike manufacturers, as far as I can see.

 

[Mr Derek]

Wrong again, Boxerlust. It's not "we" that wants 17" wheels and lots more power. It's just you, singular. In fact, many of the members here are downsizing both weight (their bikes, not themselves ) and power, with 700 Teneres, 790 Dukes and other similar middleweights being chosen over a gs upgrade.

I'll keep my almost standard 2013 gs for long distance rides but my new 790 Duke will be my choice on a day to day basis. Less power, much less weight and much better suited to Dorset A and B roads than the gs. I could have traded up for a 1250, but the difference doesn't merit the £14,000 change over price. For just over half that, I get to keep the gs and have a new toy. Win, win.

 

[Boxerlust]

I even remember the times when the R1100GS came out and was desecrated as junk and being too modern by R80/100GS owners who thought they were the holy grail of motorcycling.... Don't get me wrong I had a R100GS myself but the R1100GS was 100% better and more reliable except for the few moments were you actually took the bike off road...
Same in 2004 when the much lighter,more powerful and smoother replaced the R1150GS that where slow & heavy compared to the then new hexheads...I was off the GS train then and rejoined in 2010 with the more torquey and throaty sounding camheads and now in love with the 1250 that only needs more top-end , a 17" XR version and 2 full size hardbags to be perfect... I don't ride off road and my GS buddies don't either.And if you are honest despite the Image it is probably 90% Strasse / 10% Gelaende if not 90/10.... Only at Starbucks it's the other way around...

 

[Boxerlust]

Bristolsaint there is a whole cottage industry that makes money off 17" conversions and I have not converted mine for obvious reasons...And yes less weight is always good but so is more power And going from a 1250GS to a 700 Tenere or 790 KTM is for sure no "upgrade" but the opposite unless you actually ride off road but for this there are so many more suitable and better options than these 2...The GS is so much better than these 2 except for the few times you actually off road.Yes you will save some money but don't kidd yourself that these bikes are an upgrade with their weazy motors,bouncy suspension,slow steering 21" front wheels and chaindrive....Ride a new 1250 with otional sports-suspension and you know what I mean.Put a Akra EU-3 exhaust on it and take the db-killers out and you'll be happy...

 

[Arsey]

Bristolsaint there is a whole cottage industry that makes money off 17" conversions and I have not converted mine for obvious reasons...And yes less weight is always good but so is more power And going from a 1250GS to a 700 Tenere or 790 KTM is for sure no "upgrade" but the opposite unless you actually ride off road but for this there are so many more suitable and better options than these 2...The GS is so much better than these 2 except for the few times you actually off road.Yes you will save some money but don't kidd yourself that these bikes are an upgrade with their weazy motors,bouncy suspension,slow steering 21" front wheels and chaindrive....Ride a new 1250 with otional sports-suspension and you know what I mean.Put a Akra EU-3 exhaust on it and take the db-killers out and you'll be happy...

But what you will never grasp is many people don’t want a heavy bike festooned with shite such as an SOS button and radar guided cruise control etc.
That’s why there’s a move in the UK to smaller and more simple bikes like the 790 or Tenere .
People want to enjoy riding a BIKE, not a cock-waving mobile command platform !!!
But it’s different in the states.
Just witness the idiots sticking 20” apes and stupid shark fin exhausts on HDs !!

And if anything , BMW should be building a GS with 21/18 wheels, not 17/17.It’s supposed to be an adventure bike.

Good luck in your pointless quest. It’ll never happen.

 

[Nutty]

Spot on, Bob.

Who the fuck wants a GS with 170 bhp and 17” wheels apart from a misguided merkin and probably Nutty,cos he’s still in the power is everything faze.

I sold my KTM 1290R as I preferred my ATAS DCT.
The KTM, with 160 ish bhp left me cold whereas the ATAS, with only 100 ish bhp is much more involving and just a much nicer bike to ride.

Those chasing speed,such as Boxerlost will never understand.

Less is often more.

Don’t tar me with the same brush as Boxerlust. Or mention me in the same sentence as him.

 

[Arsey]

Don’t tar me with the same brush as Boxerlust. Or mention me in the same sentence as him.

Peas in a pod,separated by an ocean

 

[Nutty]

Peas in a pod,separated by an ocean

If you say so.

 

[Boxerlust]

Arsey I get what you say about the idiots riding Harleys...But even in the States Harley is feeling the pain not finding enough clowns and posers buying their overweigh / underpowered boat-anchors !
As for the GS I say make 3 versions...One hybrid as in Gelaende / Strasse as they have successfully so for the last 40 years but add a XR and one more dirt oriented version like they did 15 years ago and everyone will be happy... Especially BMW because they will sell even more bikes...Peace brother

 

[Arsey]

Arsey I get what you say about the idiots riding Harleys...But even in the States Harley is feeling the pain not finding enough clowns and posers buying their overweigh / underpowered boat-anchors !
As for the GS I say make 3 versions...One hybrid as in Gelaende / Strasse as they have successfully so for the last 40 years but add a XR and one more dirt oriented version like they did 15 years ago and everyone will be happy... Especially BMW because they will sell even more bikes...Peace brother

Did I tell you I bought a Harley ?

 

[Nutty]

Did I tell you I bought a Harley ?

Says it all really.

 

[Arsey]

Says it all really.

Like I said , peas in a pod . You’ll never ‘get it ‘ , even when you’ve been riding longer than a couple of years

 

[Boxerlust]

Arsey I feel sorry for you but at least Donald Trump will love you buying american iron even if it comes from Taiwan or the Philippines or is it Thailand where Triumphs are made now ?

 

[Nutty]

Like I said , peas in a pod . You’ll never ‘get it ‘ , even when you’ve been riding longer than a couple of years

I’ve only been riding for a year, so obviously have a lot to learn.

 

[Arsey]

Arsey I feel sorry for you but at least Donald Trump will love you buying american iron even if it comes from Taiwan or the Philippines or is it Thailand where Triumphs are made now ?

Donald does a great job cleaning my toilet

 

[stick]

Wrong again, Boxerlust. It's not "we" that wants 17" wheels and lots more power. It's just you, singular. In fact, many of the members here are downsizing both weight (their bikes, not themselves ) and power, with 700 Teneres, 790 Dukes and other similar middleweights being chosen over a gs upgrade.

I'll keep my almost standard 2013 gs for long distance rides but my new 790 Duke will be my choice on a day to day basis. Less power, much less weight and much better suited to Dorset A and B roads than the gs. I could have traded up for a 1250, but the difference doesn't merit the £14,000 change over price. For just over half that, I get to keep the gs and have a new toy. Win, win.

Maybe for you but the GS 1250 is a better bike on B roads than the smaller ones and its not about weight as the GS carries it so well and is poised in its ability to carve any road up. I feel your pain in struggling to ride as age creeps up , i ride with with 2 chaps , 60 and 63 , they have no issues with the GS and they can ride , ride ..... maybe its a mind thing.

 

[stick]

Donald does a great job cleaning my toilet

I thought that was duck ...