So, the Adventure Variant?

[Wraithwrider]

Is the Adventure Variant of the 1150 or 1200 a serious development of the GS or a marketing ploy aimed at those who are drawn to Tonka toys and all things oversized?

Is it a case of 'Butch is best' or 'Svelte is superior'?

Are so many of us drawn into the Adventure thing in an unconscious effort to prove our manhood?

Or is the Adventure a real GS and all else a poor relation?

I know what I think, how about you?

Peter

 

[Gonzo]

Don't mind admitting my vote went here:

A bit of a marketing exercise

Yes I know that many current GSA riders use it as it was intended to be used, but with the same knobblies the vast majority of terrain tackled by the vast majority of owners could easily be done with a non-adventure 1150/1200. (BTW - I don't do/can't do/am scared of off-road so I bow to your experience here)

You could pop a bigger screen on a 12, likewise fit some ally panniers, opt for the spoked wheels and you'd have most of the 12GSA. Longer forks - how many 12GS owners complain about this after a good off-road session? I can't recall anything on the board about this. Bull bars? - no thanks, they got banned from 4x4s.

Which leaves the longer range tank. Very useful at 350 (it's a guess no science, before the tirade starts) useable miles but I'm not too worried with my 220 range now.

I'm a 12 owner and have come to terms with the fact that ..........deep breath..........its not as solid as the 1150GSA . So what will make the 12GSA as solid as the 1150 GSA? Will have the robustness that Ewan and Charley undoubtedly benefited from?

For me this comes back down to marketing. This model is here to do 2 things:

- try and prise you (quite correctly) sceptical 1150GSA owners from your solid steeds and throw some more cash at BWM. Based on my perception of relative quality, this would have to be a looks/fashion/got the latest shiny toy type of decision AKA marketing led.
- and get us 12GS owners to buy into the fact that the GSA is more rufty tufty, image enhancing, gives us more. IMHO, not enough of a jump over what I have now. Again, marketing/looks/fashion.

There said it!

I now need a

 

[Warthog]

I'll reserve judgement for when its seen some hardcore miles...

When it first came out, they said the 1150 was quirky, if not ugly. I used to say the same. I only started to think the 1150gs was nice when my perception of it changed. When I realised it was THE bike to match my plans, projects, riding style etc, I wanted one immediately and I thought is was a sexy beast from that point on.

Where's this going? Well, for now the 1200ADV looks a bit plasticky and gimmicky with bits here and there to give it a sense of purpose and it looks pretty cool and this is usually a turn off if I feel its all for show, but if it turns out that that package is actually really good at crossing swamps, tundra, or deserts as the ADV 1150 is, I may suddenly be in lust all over again...

 

[Wizard]

Gonzo, please rearrange these words into a popular saying:-

Nail hit you the on square the head

Not that I'm knocking the 12Adv as such, I just don't see much apart from the eingine bars (when re-designed with proper support) and tank/side panels. All in all, I'm not at all tempted to trade in my 12. And the 11 is just too darn big

 

[nadeem]

not convinced either...the higher seat height might rule it out for me (I'm 5ft 10") the only advantage over the normal 1200 at this point is the bigger fuel tank but then again with a 200 mile range just now; it's not a major problem...

 

[SQD8R]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, no, to answer your questions in order.

 

[Mr K]

Bought 1200 as 1150ADV was way too tall.

The 12ADV looks great/cool/expedition and my initial reaction is to sell my only remaining kidney...............but?

What does it offer that beats my 1200GS?

It's taller and heavier.
It has fuel range that even a modified seat cannot allow me to use.
The luggage appears to be non-quick-release, so I would need inner bags to carry spare pants up to my 2 star penthouse suite in Croatia/Glencoe/Hesket Newmarket.
I'd love more lights but find the stock lights fine when I (rarely) venture out at night.

When I come to buy a new steed in Spring 07 (if we're spared) I think I might try to make it a "normal" 1200GS with Adv accessories...

But it does look superb. BMW know how to sell a bike/dream/lifesyle...