Should I make the move

[Ming]

i have owned many bikes over the past few years mostly sports bikes including an rc45 and i can honestly say the only thing i missed to start with was the power last bike was a zx12r with 173 bhp. that was fun i have to say but the feeling of .....i wonder if i had my photo taken on that ride !!!! i dont miss at all
frankly a couple of months later 2 in fact i have done as a third of the miles i did on the zx in two years and sold my car . there not everyones cuppa so try one before you buy one
and the adventures look the best !!!! guess what i ride ??

on another note the wife thinks it is the most ugly looking bike ever .

but also thinks it is the most comfortable bike i have owned too.
guess she is gonna find out in june as we are doing the italian gp in five days then assen later on in the month about 4k ..

the quick answer is its your money so put your ass where your heart tells you !!!

 

[AndyB]

I'm in the same boat, getting ready to change to a GS. Had a test drive the other weekend and now can't sell the Bandit 1200 fast enough! Going upto the BMF this weekend to look at some more!

 

[jinjimbob]

I'm looking at getting an Adventure too, saw one for the first time last weekend. I've an '02 VFR800 right now, don't like the VTEC engine. Previous bike was a Daytona, loved it it for the road!

I was looking at the options available, don't fully understand them, but it looks like the UK model has a lot of options like ABS, heated grips, off road tyres and large fuel tank. Does the US model come standard with all of those? It looks like it does, but not sure.
My local BMW dealer isn't too smart you see.

I'll be using the bike for commuting on the freeways, a concern for me was the width of the engine, getting inbetween cars in traffic, do you think this will be a concern? My wife hated the look of the engine!

Have people been riding the bikes in hot weather, will they hold up ok in temperatures upto 48°C? I want to be able to goto places like this: http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/machine/models/r1150gs_adv_2004/gallery_photos/10.jpg this Summer (Death Valley near where I live). Seeing places like this http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/machine/models/r1150gs_adv_2004/gallery_photos/12.jpg is an experience, this is salt btw.

Thanks! (I'm from Sheffield, so be nice!)

 

[RussellAisbitt]

I've got an Aprilia RSV and GS Adventure. In areas such as handling and braking (at normal speeds) I find neither of them lacking. The GS is definetly more comfortable below 100 mph and the Aprilia more comfortable above 100 mph. The RSV has power, the GS is gutless. If the GS had another 30 hp I'd consider selling the RSV and just keeping the GS, but as it is I only ride the GS when I want to go longer distances and want the comfort or need the luggage capacity, for shorter trips I take the RSV.

 

[Jon]

jinjimbob said;
Have people been riding the bikes in hot weather, will they hold up ok in temperatures up to 48°C?

jinjimbob, have a look at the Morocco foties in the foto album............

 

[AndyB]

The Bandit has gone

Well I took the Bandit up to Balderston in Peterborough this morning. Had to trade it in as no one wanted to buy it

Never mind the new one has been built and is now waiting for September 6th

Heated grips, abs, hand guards, black, sports transmission etc.

Holiday for a couple of weeks then 3 weeks without a bike, still it will be worth the wait:dance

 

[JF32]

I moved from a Suzuki Hayabusa (175 hp) to an Adventure a month ago and I dont miss a thing.

At first I was frightened by the height of the bike (I felt like riding a horse) but after getting used to it is the safest machine I ever rode.

Go for it. You wont regret it.

 

[twinrider]

I owned a '99 VFR800 for 3 years. I had done up the suspension and did the proper exhaust mods. It was fast and rode beautiful on even the bumpiest tarmac. And it was dead reliable. But after a while my bad knees started to complain too much about the relatively high pegs and I got a bit tired of the clip-ons when I wasn't playing boy racer. Then I picked up a used GS. Sure, it was slower than the VFR and didn't have that awesome V-4 noise, but it was much more relaxing, could scratch just as well on B-roads, handled a passenger and a ton of luggage much better than the Honda, and was like a sofa. So after an 8-month trial period I sold the VFR. Sure I miss it when I'm riding through Tokyo traffic on the Bavarian behometh, and you can't beat the Honda for low -- make that zero -- maintenance but the GS is a much more capable allrounder.

 

[Tranman]

Had a Honda CD175, Harley Davidson 250, Honda GL1100, Honda VT1100 Shadow, BMW R100RT, R100RS, R80GS, Yamaha FZR 1000Exup, Kawasaki VN 1500 Classic, Yamaha Royal Star, Honda Valkyrie Interstate, BMW K100RT, Honda Pan ST1100, Pan STX 1300 A. Then got an R1100GS.

I have now got an R1150GS and the Pan STX. The Pan is up for sale!

The point being? Of all the bikes I have straddled the oilhead GS's have proved to be the most suitable allrounder and least intimidating. The Pans were ideal for long distance commuting and touring though characterless and less forgiving on dodgy terrain. The cruisers were OK for 50 miles or so then backache and the impending days washdown tarnished the enjoyment. The Yam, well it was either my licence or my life.

Flogged my R1100GS today and I am gutted. First bike to go that has had this effect. She was a good old girl with 65,000 on the clock but I'm sure she has gone to a good home.I am going to have a couple of to get over the experience.

I, for one (though this website may prove otherwise) am so far happy with the GS experience.

Dicky

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

go for it - you wont regret it.

You have to know what you want as well. If you like sportsbikes because they're - well - sportsbikes, thats fine - dont expect a GS to be a sportsbike.

Most of my friends ride sportsbikes and take the piss out of the GS as an 'old mans' bike. Trouble is I can get from A to B as fast or faster than them - if that counts for anything at all.

I've always had twins, something to do with the noise - third bike was a Bonnie at 18, 4th bike a guzzi, then another.Then an SV650. Last bike was a VTR. i used to love the VTR, fitted flat bars and loud cans - that thing would lift the front in second and third easily. However, it wasn't comfortable and couldn't carry luggage - same as most bikes .
it dawned on me that i wanted a bike to do everything on, not just go fast, i didn't want a full tourer. I like 'quirkiness' so picked a GS.

haven't looked back since. - i dont miss the extra power as long as it'll cruise at 90-100 easily then whats the point of more ?

Phil

 

[Ned Flanders]

Do it

Got my GS last Saturday.

Don't miss a thing compared to last bike, Yamaha.

As the guys here told me, just do it, you won't regret it.I did and I don't.

Best bike in the world.

Regards

Tim