Test riding the 2015 1200GS tomorrow

rdover

rdover

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After 5 years of not having a GS (4 without a bike at all) I've decided time is right to get back in the saddle.

I've decided against another Adventure because it's the big tank will encourage me to ride too far/long without a break and it's pot ugly (yeah, yeah, I know so am I but I don't have to look at me!) and the lower weight of the GS should offset the extra weight I carry naturally!

I'm looking at the TE spec, not convinced about the gearshift thing or the 'keyless start' but the free GPS and the local dealer offering free luggage and 2.9% APR makes it too good and opportunity to pass up. Of course I'm testing the S1000XR for elimination purposes :augie

Is there anything I should be looking out for in the new ones - my last GS was a 2009 GSA that suffered the frame/engine rot problems.

Oh yes - not just the cost of a new bike but paying for insurance as a 'new' rider ... pricey! Luckily BMW are offering a half decent price!


Note to self: must subscribe :thumb
 
Depends on you want really, but the TE spec without the gear change thingy and keyless ignition is a good choice - it's what I have had since April. It is essential that you wash after every ride on salty roads and advisable to use a protective product like FS365 or ACF50, neglect it and you will get corrosion just like most bikes.

I wouldn't bother with the XR thing as it was only voted 5th best bike of 2015 in Bike Magazine :) I am sure it is fast and fun but in reality it is just a sports bike on stilts for old tossers :)
 
Hello Richard. Most of the issues of the older bikes and some new ones which BM seem to be sorting. Still rot, some folk say worse than the oilhead 12's.

Look forward to seeing your test ride report:thumb
 
I had the TE for a few hours when they did my rear flange on my 07gs.. I was all set for a deal for a new one. I was so underwhelmed by the new Gs I brought it back early. Glunky gear box when engaging first gear was was embarrassing felt like the ABS was kicking in every time I used a bit of back break.

I was gutted as I really wanted one but wouldn't justify another 8k on top of my Gs for something that in my opinion felt worse than what I had. It's just my experience I look forward to reading your findings.
 
Right, just back in the office after riding both the S1000XR and the 1200GS TE.

Weather conditions: ~15c, damp to dry and back again, no wind to speak of, overcast.

S1000XR
I'll keep this short and sweet - I didn't like it. Sure, it handles a dream, is fast as fuck and has good ergonomics but for me it has all the power where I'll never use it. It's plenty fast even if I never took it over 6,000rpm but that is hardly the point :nenau. Also the shifter was too variable; it was ideal on the way up as long as you were 'on it' but for lazy gear changes it was pants. The clutch lever is non adjustable and was way too big for me so I couldn't comfortably use it for normal changes. On the down shift it was good but there was a difference in feel between changing down while braking (harder/firmer press required) than when on open or trailing throttle. When I tried to downshift as I would normally it didn't like it, again possibly down to the lever span.

The final nail in the coffin was comfort; the seat gave me pain at the top of my left leg (what caused bursitis on my old bike with the worn sargent seat) within 15 minutes. After 40 minutes I was very glad to get off it. Also the wind noise was dreadful over 60mph and on a bike that wants to do 90 everywhere that is not good.

Bear in mind that the 'deal' on offer is 5.9% apr on a pcp no freebies it really was not on the cards anyway.

R1200GS TE
In short: it was like meeting up with an old friend who is leaner, fitter, faster, quieter and basically better all round than 6 years ago. Lovely.
In long: Everything about this bike is better than my 09 12GSA. The engine is smoother, makes more power and torque right through the range. It is more rideable in all circumstances and the seat was instantly comfortable and the screen is just fine. No scrub that, the screen is just right - no buffetting at any speed although I'll still need earplugs for comfort.

The ESA is great and you can feel the difference in the various settings but the real revelation was the ECU maps. Quite frankly they should be called normal mode and attack mode. I could ride the bike so much more smoothly and nicely (ie make much better progress) in rain mode that I'd use that as default and keep 'road' for when I want to terrorise other road users. I imagine 'rain' would return better fuel consumption as well.

Niggles (nothing is perfect):
ergonomics - the mode button is on the right and the ESA button on the left but on the screen they are displayed the other way round - this offends my OCD. I prefer the old 2 button indicators as the new switch is just a tad too far to reach. The heated grip switch is in an odd position but that will almost always be in position 1 anyway so no biggie and the GPS mount obscures the top of the rev counter.

Gearshift pro ...... I got back to Parks and said I wanted a GS TE without keyless entry (nice but not necessary) or gearshift pro because I hated it. The deal that was on offer was only on new bikes on the floor and they all had both gearshift and keyless except for one in the girly light blue colour which alos had wire wheels which I also didn't want as I spend enough time polishing the brass on my old car! We discussed colour and wheel swap or removing gearshift from the dark blue bike I liked and then noticed that the one I wanted was pre-reg so no cheap finance. BUGGER. Then I noticed the low seat demo bike and asked to ride that round the block to compare it to the normal seat one I'd ridden with the shifter when the sales guy said "all the demo bikes have the shifter!". Well, fuck me with a strap on, I was making a fuss about nothing so a deal was struck on a new MY15 Alpine White TE with free GPS, panniers and top box thrown in and 2.9% APR PCP finance :thumby::thumby:

I collect it on Monday and to say I'm happy is an understatement. To add to this I've just had a call from Scott at Parks to say that as he'd made a wee mistake with the calculation, the Boss man had authorised an extra wee discount to keep the monthly payment essentially the same, saving me £15 per month on the post error price. This all bodes very well.

So I'm a biker again, a GSer, a Tosser no less and proud to be one. Now to see if I can blag insurance for less than £500 (no NCD :mad:)
 
Nice glad you liked it. I may have to go back for another extended ride to see if I can rid myself of 8k..
 
Nice write up Rdover.

Sounds like a great deal. I love my GS TC but do like the new ones in virgin white :green gri

I can't get excited by the XR. Partly because our dealer has not had one in long enough to park it in their showroom and the other being that if I wanted a road oriented upright bike I would buy a multi (I have a bit of a crush on them).

Enjoy your new toy and keep us informed.

Neil
 
Richard, did you have NCD previously and the policy just lapsed? You may get an introductory 10 or 20%.

Sounds like a good result on the test drive.
 
Packer said:
Richard, did you have NCD previously and the policy just lapsed? You may get an introductory 10 or 20%.

Sounds like a good result on the test drive.
Click to expand...

Aye, 9 years NCD but it lapsed after 2 years and I don't have any I can scam off another vehicle policy either :mad:

BMW are the cheapest of the premium policies at £580 and give me 20% introductory discount. I just have to bite the bullet I suppose. At 48 years old I've got used to not thinking about the cost of insurance :rob

A few more thoughts on the test ride after chatting to my pal Alan who did the Norway trip with me a few years ago and the 'Round the Bend' Tour in 2008 and who is also considering a GS:

BMW seem to have moved away from the car model of making them basic and getting you to pay through the nose for the extras. All the stuff I paid for as extras in 2009 are now standard; ESA, ECU modes, fancy computer display etc. For sure the bike is now 50% more expensive than 6 years ago but having ridden it for 2 hours and 70 odd miles I'm sure it is at least 75% better.

Normally at this point I'd be scouring Nippy Norman's emporium for add ons and extras that I 'know' I'll need right from the off but apart from some ACF50 (or similar) perhaps a new handlebar bag (my old one is rather scabby after 10 years) and, if I can find it, one of those sponges in a box that I always find so useful. I'm not risking getting a TT or wunderlich brochure just yet :cool:

That old 'I'd rather be riding' feeling is coming back .... now to get my advanced riding lessons and test sorted out and then I'm ready for my bike shifts with Lifesavers Scotland (I'm already qualified for the car) :thumb2:thumb2
 
Add on extras?

Free?

For a TE, you're paying nearly £3k for all the extras over the base model, so no different to older bikes - it's just how they wrap them up for you
 
Try principle insurance tel: 0161 973 9572 ask for mark, he will sort you a great deal out, I've got full NCD and much younger then yourself and pay £166 fully comp on a ducati insured for £18k. I also had the XR and paid £130'ish fully comp.
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
Add on extras?

Free?

For a TE, you're paying nearly £3k for all the extras over the base model, so no different to older bikes - it's just how they wrap them up for you
Click to expand...

Fair point. I was comparing buying my GSA 6 years ago when I ordered the 'top spec model' and then had to also specify and pay for ESA, computer read out etc etc.

I'm still a happy boy
 
DING-DONG said:
Try principle insurance tel: 0161 973 9572 ask for mark, he will sort you a great deal out, I've got full NCD and much younger then yourself and pay £166 fully comp on a ducati insured for £18k. I also had the XR and paid £130'ish fully comp.
Click to expand...

What a great referral!

The number took me through to Manchester Ducati which confused me a little so I googled them and got the 0330 number. I spoke with a nice chap called David, who got me 2 years NCD introductory and 5 years NCD next year if I'm claim free this year. Total cost with legal and helmet cover is £384 which is £200 cheaper than the next best comparable broker who, coincidentally was also offering me Equity Red Star!

Now I can afford those X-head cylinder head covers!
 
rd rover , what a great deal. Free GPS , box and panniers? I had to pay extra for the panniers, so I'm a tad miffed now!
Serves me right for not trying harder?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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