Riding around Essex today on this.

[Noddy]

First impression, wow different class.

Lighter, narrower, very free reving, comfortable, perfect handling.

Compared to my old 1100GS.

But over complex though.

Thanks to Cannons for the loan.

 

[Abelrider]

I reckon a nice blue and white 1150 would suit you better mate.

 

[Muppet]

First impression, wow different class.

Lighter, narrower, very free reving, comfortable, perfect handling.

Compared to my old 1100GS.

But over complex though.

Thanks to Cannons for the loan.

Noddy,

Bit more info needed please! I've got an 1100, and while I'm perfectly happy with it and can't afford to change at the moment anyway it'd be interesting to hear a direct comparison. I've not yet had a chance to get a ride on the new 12.

Obvioulsy it's the lighter faster bike, but what does it really feel like?

 

[Pressurized]

Cannon have a new demonstrator. The one that I rode was yellow and had wire wheels. I too have an R1100 GS but, shortly after riding Cannon's I ordered the R1200.

I agree that it is a better bike, probably much better and that it's very complex. I don't think it's much more powerful but its light weight and newer suspension make it handle much better. I generally see higher speeds on the new bike on my way to work than on the old one (bumpy B-road). So it is much faster as the old one's speedo over-reads by nearly 10% while the new one is blob on.

Among other things, it's also much better at carrying a pillion. People used to say that the old one was as good two-up as one-up. It wasn't, really, but the new one almost is.

The real test for me will be reliability. The R1100 has over 100k miles on it and is only just starting to suffer clutch slip, had (nearly) new shocks on it 5k miles ago and was pretty reliable. The new one has a lot of new stuff ranging from a new final drive to very advanced electrics. We shall see...

 

[Noddy]

Re: Re: Riding around Essex today on this.

Obvioulsy it's the lighter faster bike, but what does it really feel like? [/B][/QUOTE]

Hi Mup,

I think the answer is in the fact that its not as top heavy. And needs much less physical effort to move or ride.

The weight is way down low like the early GS's with a smaller tank. The hydraulic clutch is effortless, as are the other controls.

The engine is superb, much lighter flywheel/crank I suspect but it seemed to need the full use of the 6 gears to keep it buzzing.
This is not a critisism as the bike had only done 350 miles and I was trying not to labour it.

I was very impressed but, as I have already said, for me its overcomplicated.

HTH.

 

[Mouse]

As a 1200 owner I'd agree - it's a more complex bike than older models, and you have to make the descision whether that's right for you. Only way to do that is to take a test I suppose

You do get used to things that seem silly at first - like the start procedure to allow the braking system to initialise. It's second nature to me now. And I don't think this is even unique to the 1200? Older servo models probably did the same.