the best bike i've ever ridden

[Engineer]

Now that would make for a good MCN test... I'd pay £2.10 for that.

I did buy MCN yesterday. I want that £2.10 back. They rated the Triumph higher in performance than the LC yet in all the measurements below the ranking the LC was better.

Not sure I got that.

I didn't bother adding up the numbers - the Triumph has a smidgen more power but it is heavier so its acceleration and top speed are almost identical.

I like the "GS is a class apart" section that starts with the following:

"First there is no getting away from the fact that new GS instantly comes over as being a class above its rivals..."

Good stuff but Bauer media do need BMW to start advertising again after the Bike report

 

[cookie]

- Agree the speedo is small which is why I've (and many others) used the custom buttons on the screen to display the speed in numbers on the bottom line and don't even look at the speedo any more. Nice for BMW to give this option.
- I guess tall riders will find they've lost sight of the top of the tacho but for me at 5' 10" and standard seat in the low setting I can see it all but having said that I wouldn't be interested in looking at that part of the tacho at mid revs and surely the red line rev area at 3 o'clock is visible for tall riders?
- Love the gear position indicator on the screen.
- Does it really pull to the left? I hadn't even noticed. I'll check when I ride again so it must be very slight compared to the old boxers. I know you were joking.

Enjoy your GSA.

i didn't know you could customise the screen. the pre flight briefing seemed to take about 15 mins and still couldn't cover everything

i'm 5' 10"

instead of pull, i should have said rock.

the engine is better, the gearbox is better, the handling better etc,etc,etc....

The only thing that I can think of that's worth a mention, is the clunk going into first, it sounds just like a chain driven jap sports bike in that respect, it grates with my mechanical sympathy but so many bikes do this that I can't imagine that it is a real problem.

You do need a few more revs in first gear before changing up to seconf, I think that the E-gas throttle has allowed them to 'soften' things off a tad in first gear - probably a good thing because of the increased torque and compression ratio. I found that you adapt to this just as you adapt to the little quirks of any bike.

the engine is more powerful, but i can't say it's better. it's not as smooth. if all you want is more power, i suppose it is better, but i can't really use much of that power on the roads i like, and if i use it on faster roads, i'd have to worry myself more about the quality of prison food.
i reckon i go fast enough on the current model and i prefer the power delivery. on the strength of an hour so's demo, i'd say the old wheezer is easier to ride and that suits me. it's more than quick enough.

the gearbox was not noticeably better anywhere, in fact it was worse when ragging it in the lower gears, as i said.

i suppose my report does look a bit negative, but i'm a "half empty" sort of bloke and tend to notice the annoyances...and anyway, i'd probably say the new GS is the second best bike i've ridden. that's pretty good - first of the losers after all

i've read the road tests and the posts here, and realised there are definitely two points of view on this bike: mine and then everybody else's. as usual

it can't be too bad. i'm thinking the GSA version is probably my next bike

 

[jonnyp]

I'd read somewhere the EXP is only 110BHP in 5+6th not sure if that is true.

I rode one last year, under 5k rpm it's a bit of a whale, over 5k rpm more, oil tanker !

Yep, the GS is class!! From your other post, it would be....elite.

Shame I'm just working scumbag class...

 

[jonnyp]

i didn't know you could customise the screen. the pre flight briefing seemed to take about 15 mins and still couldn't cover everything

i'm 5' 10"

instead of pull, i should have said rock.



the engine is more powerful, but i can't say it's better. it's not as smooth. if all you want is more power, i suppose it is better, but i can't really use much of that power on the roads i like, and if i use it on faster roads, i'd have to worry myself more about the quality of prison food.
i reckon i go fast enough on the current model and i prefer the power delivery. on the strength of an hour so's demo, i'd say the old wheezer is easier to ride and that suits me. it's more than quick enough.

the gearbox was not noticeably better anywhere, in fact it was worse when ragging it in the lower gears, as i said.

i suppose my report does look a bit negative, but i'm a "half full" sort of bloke and tend to notice the annoyances...and anyway, i'd probably say the new GS is the second best bike i've ridden. that's pretty good - first of the losers after all

i've read the road tests and the posts here, and realised there are definitely two points of view on this bike: mine and then everybody else's. as usual

it can't be too bad. i'm thinking the GSA version is probably my next bike

You're sounding more, glass half empty to me!

 

[cookie]

You're sounding more, glass half empty to me!

shit! that's what i meant

slopes off to the edit facility....

 

[jonnyp]

shit! that's what i meant

slopes off to the edit facility....

Made my day

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

More power for a GS, isn't always and necessarily better

If you want BHP, then there are better offerings elsewhere

On a bumpy, undulating C or unclassified road - as Cookie says, you can't use the power and in reality go any faster

Depends on where you ride, but most of mine is well away from A roads, in the main - but I guess some of you in other parts....down South (for example) struggle to find the sort of roads we have up here in the North/Northumbria and Scotland and I can understand the new,fast whooosh of the new WC, on the fast and open A&B road

 

[jonnyp]

More power for a GS, isn't always and necessarily better

If you want BHP, then there are better offerings elsewhere

On a bumpy, undulating C or unclassified road - as Cookie says, you can't use the power and in reality go any faster

Depends on where you ride, but most of mine is well away from A roads, in the main - but I guess some of you in other parts....down South (for example) struggle to find the sort of roads we have up here in the North/Northumbria and Scotland and I can understand the new,fast whooosh of the new WC, on the fast and open A&B road

More power is, as you say not much help unless, you can get it down and that I think is what the new bike does well, ok aided by some good electronics but the chassis is able to cope and the suspension really helps... IMHO!

 

[Rod]

Who rides their bike on only one type of road...... nobody I'm sure.
The beauty of the more powerful engine & the Dynamic ESA is that it can be enjoyed on ALL roads.
Also, just because you don't take your Adventure bike off road does not mean you only ride it to Starbucks. I ride 10,000 miles a year, no commuting, and never go off road. I do ride on a lot of shitty back roads though & spend 10 days in the Alps every year. These adventure style bikes are perfect for that, especially the ergonomics. They make great road bikes. The LC is my third GS & I've also put 24,000 miles on a Multistrada 1200.
I had my first GS prior to Ewan & Charley, and stopped wearing my twat suite after that show !!
Personally I'd be happy if they made a version of the new GS with 120/70 180/55 tyres and no off road ability. I don't need the rufty tufty off road pose.
I think Ducati were wrong to compromise the Multistrada with an off road setting. They would have been better to give it a track setting instead, which is where I used mine several times.
So many people seem very narrow minded, all bikes are great, just get out and use them.

 

[hazzy]

So many people seem very narrow minded, all bikes are great, just get out and use them.

here here

 

[Sadjim]

I could not agree more

Who rides their bike on only one type of road...... nobody I'm sure.
The beauty of the more powerful engine & the Dynamic ESA is that it can be enjoyed on ALL roads.
Also, just because you don't take your Adventure bike off road does not mean you only ride it to Starbucks. I ride 10,000 miles a year, no commuting, and never go off road. I do ride on a lot of shitty back roads though & spend 10 days in the Alps every year. These adventure style bikes are perfect for that, especially the ergonomics. They make great road bikes. The LC is my third GS & I've also put 24,000 miles on a Multistrada 1200.
I had my first GS prior to Ewan & Charley, and stopped wearing my twat suite after that show !!
Personally I'd be happy if they made a version of the new GS with 120/70 180/55 tyres and no off road ability. I don't need the rufty tufty off road pose.
I think Ducati were wrong to compromise the Multistrada with an off road setting. They would have been better to give it a track setting instead, which is wear I used mine several times.
So many people seem very narrow minded, all bikes are great, just get out and use them.

 

[Davey B]

My Rallye was in at AJs for a service today. I tok the WC out for 4 hrs.
Staggeringly good bike. 20% better than my twin cam in all areas and for me, it's half as good again, overall, as my 2012 bike.
Obviously opinion is just that. This GS suits my riding perfectly, I found it way smoother than the Oil cooled and as it was dry at 12, then pissing it down at 3.. I got to test the rain setting as well as dynamic/road etc.
I must be odd as I still felt as tho I was riding the bike as opposed to the other way round.
With a very good deal on the table, I am seriously looking at chopping in my Rallye for one with a June delivery, I really did think it was that much better.
Agree re the 180/55 rear tyre, would make way more sense to me.

 

[Black Dog]

Personally I'd be happy if they made a version of the new GS with 120/70 180/55 tyres and no off road ability. I don't need the rufty tufty off road pose.
:

+1

I haven't been able to find any road tyres available yet for the new rim sizes. Used to run Roadsmarts on my TC and they were fab.

 

[bowser]

best bike ever ridden, Buell S3 Thunderbolt and if I could find it and buy it back I would, it was the most fun bike I have ever owned or ridden, god I really miss that bike.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

More power for a GS, isn't always and necessarily better

If you want BHP, then there are better offerings elsewhere

On a bumpy, undulating C or unclassified road - as Cookie says, you can't use the power and in reality go any faster

Depends on where you ride, but most of mine is well away from A roads, in the main - but I guess some of you in other parts....down South (for example) struggle to find the sort of roads we have up here in the North/Northumbria and Scotland and I can understand the new,fast whooosh of the new WC, on the fast and open A&B road

Switch to Rain / Normal /Dynamic depending on the road you're on?

Andres

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

^^^
Could do, but I don't always see the need for more bhp
Especially when you can't use all that bhp because of the road type/surface or speed limit
Surely not many people can use 125bhp on a WC riding the Furka Pass
Reminds me why I gave up fast road bikes, I could only use 30-40 % of the massive power & speed
On the 1150 I can use more of the bike's capabilities, so that equals more fun
In reality, I get the most fun in the twisties on a 53 bhp sub 90 mph capable 650cc bike & it's never wanting against twin cam 12GS's on the Dales roads
Bhp race - the GS is losing the original plot

 

[Black Dog]

^^^^^^^
Yeah, they should've made an underpowered crap handling model instead.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

^^^^^^^
Yeah, they should've made an underpowered crap handling model instead.

Nope

But all these Adv bikes are just going down the roadbike route nowadays as they have mass market appeal
More power
More speed
More gadgets
More bling

Originally I bought a GS because it was different, a bit left field

I just think I will stay in GS oblivion, on a 1150 GSA just to be different from the herd

Enjoy the new WC, however I don't think it's for me - the more actual reports I read from trusted friends & riders, the less I am impressed & my initial interest is waning

 

[cookie]

in retrospect

i can attribute some of the the NVH issue to the fact that i got off an R1200R wearing earplugs, and didn't put them back in when i rode the GS. i did have them in when i rode my GSA home. i think that could have made a big difference and it never occurred to me until after i wrote the post.

from previous reports, i was expecting it to be vibration free. it wasn't. it was less than the old engine, but i found it less pleasant. i had one particular instance where the vibes on the overrun resonated down the chassis and i could feel it through my spine. it was weird.
the old bike vibes more like an old twin, i find it more pleasant.

i never really used the brakes hard as it was pissing down, but i would still say i thought mine had slightly better bite initially.
i was surprised that the gearbox was not noticeably any better than the old one. maybe the one in my bike is just particularly nice?

i enjoyed the ride home on my own bike more than the ride on the new GS.

nothing about the bike was a deal breaker. as i said - i'd buy one. just not at the moment.

for the record, anything i've written is nothing to do with jealousy and i'm not so skint i couldn't buy a new GS today if i felt like it.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

^^^
Could do, but I don't always see the need for more bhp
Especially when you can't use all that bhp because of the road type/surface or speed limit
Surely not many people can use 125bhp on a WC riding the Furka Pass
Reminds me why I gave up fast road bikes, I could only use 30-40 % of the massive power & speed
On the 1150 I can use more of the bike's capabilities, so that equals more fun
In reality, I get the most fun in the twisties on a 53 bhp sub 90 mph capable 650cc bike & it's never wanting against twin cam 12GS's on the Dales roads
Bhp race - the GS is losing the original plot

Yup, I'm 90% with you on that

Every now and again though, it's fun to have a bit of power there, it's why I ride bikes and why the new KTM appeals more than the WC to me at the moment.

However, and it's a big however, I wonder if some of what you say above is more to do with size and weight [1] of the bike? My 1200 is the first 'big' bike I have owned in 35 years of riding bikes. For all the reasons you give above I have always prefered small to mid sized bikes as more fun is to be had and they are more forgiving yet at the same time more technical to ride than a big bike. Just look at the 'fun' thread in the pub, with a few exceptions all the 'fun' bikes are small
underpowered.

Andres

[1] Your 1150 excepted