Count
Registered user
What many of the newer folk fail to perhaps appreciate is the heritage of the GS and the owners that have been around here some for years. Original GS's were tough, dependable motorcycles with bags of character, they could be offroaded, abused and could be worked on to a degree at the side of the road. To those that have existed around those bikes at that time and seen the airhead to 11xx to 1200 transition, and now this next step, it is inevitable that they will have views on where the bike is going today and there will be some cynicism; as the bike becomes more intricate and technical that moves away from the basic fundamentals of the original bike.
BMW's business development ploy clearly would to be to try and lure in the ex-sportsbike crowd. How to do that? Well, more power of course. BMW are there to sell bikes and the competition had already upped the ante. Anyway it is too natural that as those people get on board with their own outlook so there'll be differences in opinion.
The points about the power are actually interesting to me. I adore the lazy nature of my 12 and I've read posts talking about how some of that is lost in the new bike. It doesn't make it worse- but maybe just not for me and my particular riding style. I had to postpone my test but I'm going to do it soon so will be able to give that verdict from my personal view.
For me the jealousy thing is just a red herring for the most part, there will be trolls here who enjoy the sport but in the same respect it is an easy get out for LC owners to say 'oh they're just jealous' rather than to try and understand the points being made.
Going back to the reliability element, with the ongoing evolution towards technology one wonders just how many 'side of the road' repairs may be possible as we go forward. Even on my 1200 last year I had brake failure, ABS and traction control warnings which I actually rode on for 3,000 miles with them present, but I suspect some folks wouldn't do it and that would be the end of their trip. This was also down to something as small as faulty sensors. It does make me think exactly what will be happen on the new LC with ride by wire technology as an example. (How long before that digital dash comes up with 'Error 101: refer to dealer') and refuses to do anything..
Of course you can't ignore that for many that may be a worthy trade off. Bikes today are seldom sole sources of transport. Those that can afford new LC's won't in theory have to worry about them getting old and will replace at the end of the warranty. The downside might be only as much as a spoiled holiday (or an adventurised holiday)
It also seems to me that the GS is moving into RT territory- adding cruise control and making touring editions. People snigger at RT's as they are 'for old people', pipe and slippers, yada yada yada. I think the new RT may be an absolute winner, but I'll bet there's a community of people here that would have the GS but wouldn't be seen dead on an RT. Ringing any bells, anyone?
Interesting point re the legacy owners who have been around for years. The LC is a completely new bike as BMW market it so it would make the Multistrada owner or sports bike convert equally as well qualified to comment. Of course the bike shares a heritage but at the same time, this is a new machine with as yet unknown long term positives and negatives.
The banter with the older owners is enjoyable of course, it does feel like some of us have turned up and taken the old leather armchair on the corner of the pub reserved for tales of RTW with nothing but chewing tobacco and duct tape to see you through.
BMW have to compete as this is a market segment unusually booming compared to sales of litre race reps and the rest of the manufacturers are after the GS buyers. They've done well to attract new buyers already and some of the new buyers have turned up here and upset the comfortable old guard with our leading edge jargon like radiators and water, I'm even pretty sure I'm not on solid tyres....
Plastics are the future, has no one here seen The Graduate ?
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