second thoughts on the GS LC

[cookie]

spent 4 hours on a GS LC this morning. this is the second time i've ridden one, and the first time i didn't really gel with it. this time it was beautifully sunny, not that i mind riding in the wet but being in the sun's bound to help.

briefly, here's what i liked:

the power. i'll revise my opinion here and say there's not too much at all. pick up is astonishing, overtakes fly by and it catapults out of corners like a motherfucker

the brakes: awesome.

handling: sweeter than the twin cam, but not a huge amount in it.

modes: liked the ability to alter throttle response.

initially i liked the comfy saddle and the ESA.

what i didn't like:

busy instrument panel, with info that's too small for me to read. younger riders are probably ok with it though.

that fucking awful rattly noise at tickover and low revs. exhaust sounds fabulous when cracking on though

the positioning of the indicator switch is the work of satan. i should not have to take most of my hand off the bar to reach it. it's too far to the right and too high.

gearshift is very positive, but is notchy and takes too much force to shift. i could live with the clnging changes, but i don't really think i should have to.

after 60 miles or so, i realised the saddle was just as shit as GS saddles have always been.

once the novelty of switching suspension settings to suit the road wore off, it became apparent that the sachs units were not as good as i first thought, and that decent quality setup would be more compliant while holding the road better + i wouldn't have to keep pressing buttons when i should be looking where i'm going.

i think i'll try the GSA, but i'm thinking "basic" spec + ohlins and a quick shift is the way forward

 

[Engineer]

Wait until you have done 15,000 miles and you will like it even more but if you get one, forget all the extras, go for the most basic model you can buy and then change the suspension to suit your requirements.

 

[y2blade]

No pics?

 

[stick]

For my penny worth ., had the twin cam with full top spec Wilburs front and rear as good as they were nothing like the new bike.
The new LC Dynamic for me out performs the standard uprated bike.. Even if you need to change the settings its better than stopping twisting knobs and clickers.
The new bike performs as you ride altering all the aspect of the ride to fine tune it , bloody clever and it works , you can really push the LC and it keeps altering to adjust everything you throw at it .
IMHO

 

[cookie]

No pics?

nobody seems to list suspension units for the LC anyway. probably not much demand.

before i rode the LC i was thinking my wilbers were a bit harsh on my TC, one up. having ridden the LC, i came to the conclusion that it was more crashy over bumps with less control. not bad really, but not as good.

going back to get my TC from being serviced now. it'll be interesting to see how the old bus feels after a few hours on the new bike.

 

[Clifton]

initially i liked the comfy saddle and the ESA.

what i didn't like:

busy instrument panel, with info that's too small for me to read. younger riders are probably ok with it though.

that fucking awful rattly noise at tickover and low revs. exhaust sounds fabulous when cracking on though


gearshift is very positive, but is notchy and takes too much force to shift.

after 60 miles or so, i realised the saddle was just as shit as GS saddles have always been.

once the novelty of switching suspension settings to suit the road wore off, it became apparent that the sachs units were not as good as i first thought...

i think i'll try the GSA, but i'm thinking "basic" spec + ohlins and a quick shift is the way forward

The active suspension is one of the things I've really come to appreciate on my GSA, especially right after riding another bike w/o it. It gobbles up rough pavement yet still has damping for higher speed roads. I did find on a chatter board dirt road the damping was too hard but switching from Road to Enduro made even those bumps almost disappear. But there's something to be said for buying the base suspension and after it wears out in 40K or so replacing it with top shelf shocks.

I basically agree with everything else you mentioned. I know seats are personal but you may find an Adventure seat better than the one on a GS I know I did. In fact as one who almost always replaces the stock seat on a motorcycle I believe I'm going to leave the stock seat on this bike. I just rode down the Natchez Trace, over to Texas hill country and back, about 4,000 miles over 8 days. The only time I started squirming a little was toward the end of the day but heck that's the case with almost any seat. I'll say this, it's infinitely better than the stock seats on the 2009 GS and 2012 GSA I had prior.

I've become used to the sounds at idle but then I also have a Harley and it makes all kinds of sounds at idle. Actually I don't notice the shifting requiring a firmer stab at the lever anymore. Either I've gotten used to that too or maybe it's smoothed up with miles?

 

[Motorcycle Michael]

I agree with the comments on the Sachs suspension.
My GS lc has ESA and I think it feels harsh,under developed and cheap compared to my other BMW's (past & present) with the WP units.
I'm having a nightmare with my bike as it will not soften off after a very fast ride,so much for active suspension! I'm tooing and froing with the dealer at the moment but if nothing is sorted soon,I'm rejecting the bike.
I feel that nearly 16k for a bike should buy me the best suspension & ride available and not the cheapest units that BMW's accounts dept could find!
The transmission also has some very annoying "harmonics" (BMW's term) I want that sorting too.

 

[cookie]

when i took the GS back i was offered a GSA for an hour before the shop closed, so i took it out over some of the same roads.

i've ridden past GS/GSAs back to back before, but i was very surprised to find how different a bike it was from the GS. it had a much smoother engine, and the gearbox was as good as my TC. it was noticeably slower and less nimble though. the suspension was better + it was more comfortable too. in fairness, the GS had 190 miles on it and the GSA had 1600, but i think there was more to it than that.

note for y2blade - i went to take another pic in the same place as the other ones. but after parking up, i found i'd left my phone at home

 

[pistole]

thanks for the review Cookie man !

.

 

[y2blade]

.

Cracking.
I knew you'd have taken nice pics hence I asked

 

[cookie]

...

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Fair words

 

[cookie]

my quick summary of the week then:

GSA TC: velvet glove.

GS WC: iron fist

GSA LC: iron fist in velvet glove

KTM 1190: iron fist, with big assed spikes sticking out!

 

[2 wheel humvee]

my quick summary of the week then:

GSA TC: velvet glove.

GS WC: iron fist

GSA LC: iron fist in velvet glove

KTM 1190: iron fist, with big assed spikes sticking out!

Fair summation, so what'll it be then, all change or the song remains the same?

 

[cookie]

That's the problem I have, First World though it may be

Won't be either of the BMWs. Though I have come to admit that they are better in almost every way than my TC, they are just the same thing really. I've had 2 in a row now and an 1150 before that. I reckon that's enough.

Very tempted to go mad and get the somewhat impractical KTM, but I'm having serious problems letting my twin cam go.

Dunno what to do now tbh

Still, I'm sure there's worse decisions to be stuck with

 

[cookie]

Ps. That 1190 is seriously rapid. In the first four gears at biggish throttle openings, it's only the electronics stopping it revolving around the back wheel!

I can't recall Angi having to dig in with her knees on pillion before but she certainly had to today

 

[Clifton]

In case you've not read it theres a nice comparison ride test of the KTM 1190, Triumph Explorer, 1200 GS, Multistrada, here. I like that it was done by riders on tour in the Alps as opposed to moto scribes. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/1013_ultimate_alps_adventure/ The KTM could be a nice alternative to a GS especially since you're looking for something different.

 

[tecman]

In case you've not read it theres a nice comparison ride test of the KTM 1190, Triumph Explorer, 1200 GS, Multistrada, here. I like that it was done by riders on tour in the Alps as opposed to moto scribes. http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/1013_ultimate_alps_adventure/ The KTM could be a nice alternative to a GS especially since you're looking for something different.

or cinematic version of this review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oIbu6q84D8

 

[APE]

That's the problem I have, First World though it may be

Won't be either of the BMWs. Though I have come to admit that they are better in almost every way than my TC, they are just the same thing really. I've had 2 in a row now and an 1150 before that. I reckon that's enough.

Very tempted to go mad and get the somewhat impractical KTM, but I'm having serious problems letting my twin cam go.

Dunno what to do now tbh

Still, I'm sure there's worse decisions to be stuck with

Stick with the TC. You'll get used to the performance of the KTM and then you'll regret the change. Sling a new set of tyres on your bike and spend the cash on holidays

Last of the air cooled GS... already a modern classic have you seen the prices of the last air cooled 911s ?

 

[telbenj]

For my penny worth ., had the twin cam with full top spec Wilburs front and rear as good as they were nothing like the new bike.
The new LC Dynamic for me out performs the standard uprated bike.. Even if you need to change the settings its better than stopping twisting knobs and clickers.
The new bike performs as you ride altering all the aspect of the ride to fine tune it , bloody clever and it works , you can really push the LC and it keeps altering to adjust everything you throw at it .
IMHO

Me too I had a standard suspended 2013 Enduro model and now have the GSA TE the suspension is fantastic totally different set up and we'll worth the extra to have it. Very easy on the fly set up I would have the ESA every time now on.

Terry