Upgrading...

[indylead]

Has anyone here moved from the F800GS to the new model 1200?

I've the opportunity to go for a brand new R1200GS...but not sure if this is a step too far in terms of my use of the bike, and if I would be trading down in terms of reliability as there seem to be a lot of threads on warranty claims for the 1200.

I use the bike as my main transport, shopping and getting around town. Weekend trips are usually twisty A- and B- roads, with the occasional dirt/gravel/stoney track (nothing you couldn't get a hire car around!) with an annual trip of 2k around Europe.

The main attraction of the bigger model is mainly the shaft drive and the tubeless tyres - I've always been slightly nervous about punctures with the F800GS as I can't use a spray-gunk repair to get home (assuming I will be able to on the 1200!); plus more comfort on the highways.

Downside of the change would be the weight...I ride solo, so if I come off, the recovery is all me!
I'm the happy owner of a 2011 F800GS. So far we have covered 38,000 miles around Europe, mostly in the pyranees.

The only major work done was to replace the steering head bearings at 32k miles. Tyres/brakes/chain all done as and when needed.

The only niggles outstanding with her that might/will need attention are:
1. Very rare issue with the ignition EWS problem if ridden in heavy rain for a day. Happened twice in three years, but application of Silicon spray and/or WD40 seems to keep it at bay
2. Slight leak in water pump (apparently) that BMW dealer found today on inspection to assess trade-in price that I haven't yet verified.
3. Slightly burnt headlamp shield, and a life span of headlight bulbs of around 6 months.

So...any comments on upgrading? I've found plenty of threads about both bikes individually, but not much from people how can compare both.

 

[snaponphil]

Has anyone here moved from the F800GS to the new model 1200?

I've the opportunity to go for a brand new R1200GS...but not sure if this is a step too far in terms of my use of the bike, and if I would be trading down in terms of reliability as there seem to be a lot of threads on warranty claims for the 1200.

I use the bike as my main transport, shopping and getting around town. Weekend trips are usually twisty A- and B- roads, with the occasional dirt/gravel/stoney track (nothing you couldn't get a hire car around!) with an annual trip of 2k around Europe.

The main attraction of the bigger model is mainly the shaft drive and the tubeless tyres - I've always been slightly nervous about punctures with the F800GS as I can't use a spray-gunk repair to get home (assuming I will be able to on the 1200!); plus more comfort on the highways.

Downside of the change would be the weight...I ride solo, so if I come off, the recovery is all me!
I'm the happy owner of a 2011 F800GS. So far we have covered 38,000 miles around Europe, mostly in the pyranees.

The only major work done was to replace the steering head bearings at 32k miles. Tyres/brakes/chain all done as and when needed.

The only niggles outstanding with her that might/will need attention are:
1. Very rare issue with the ignition EWS problem if ridden in heavy rain for a day. Happened twice in three years, but application of Silicon spray and/or WD40 seems to keep it at bay
2. Slight leak in water pump (apparently) that BMW dealer found today on inspection to assess trade-in price that I haven't yet verified.
3. Slightly burnt headlamp shield, and a life span of headlight bulbs of around 6 months.

So...any comments on upgrading? I've found plenty of threads about both bikes individually, but not much from people how can compare both.

Hi Indy, I've currently got a GSWC, previously had F800GS & wouldn't go back, BUT! I really enjoyed my F800 but did approx 20k on it & thought it was time for a change.
One thing the wc uses more fuel, got amazing mpg out the 800..
The WC is better at constant higher speed on motorways etch, less harsh on the engine..
Also the we is better at lower speeds & town/hilly work, the gearing is better..
The WC is heavier, but easy to pick up alone.. (Last week on a hill)
Seat is comfier on the WC
Display & electronics are far superior to the 800, TE version comes with great sat nav mount & led headlamp.. This is the first bike I've not fitted xenon upgrade kits to..
WC is lower seat height, or it appears to be easier to touch the ground..
WC is much more ££££££ tho..
I'm sure there are more, but it's remembering..

 

[Matty589]

I had the F700GS - not exactly the same but pretty close, and I've ridden both the 800GS and GSA. Whilst some people prefer the 800 series I realised I couldn't get on with the engine. It's powerful in its own right and can be frugal but the delivery is rough and uninspiring. Despite the threads on here about finish the paint on the engine casings of my 700 were bubbling and peeling with less than 2K miles on the clock. The clocks, lights, dash, fit and finish are imho way better on the wc. The differences are for you shaft drive, 19" front wheel (instead of 21" on the 800GS) and tubeless tyres, lower seat height and much better comfort, and the character of a proper boxer flat twin engine instead of a competent but rather dull Rotax parallel twin. ESA is more advanced as is the semi active suspension (the ESA on my F700 was next to useless as it only affected rebound damping and only on the rear shock). Front end will very different with less dive under braking and apparently a more remote feel (but I adjusted to telelever forks in about 5 minutes).
However you'll probably need to shell out the thick end of £10K to chop in your 800 for a new 1200 given the mileage on your bike. The 1200 is a great bike but I'm not sure it's that much better!

 

[paddy]

800 v 1200

Buy a 1200. It's the buisness compared to the 800.

I've owned many GS inc the 800.

Make sure, if your able to get the gear shift assist.


It magic.

Paddy

 

[Rederic]

I had a 2012 GS 800 triple black with all the bits on it, a great bike carried me 20k in the thirteen months I had it,
Then one day coming back from Scotland as briskly as I could manage loaded up with tent and all the kit you carry but never use , when I realised what I was missing
You just cannot beat the 1200 for long jollies loaded up, good as the 800 is, its not as good as its big brother.
Get the longest test ride you can this new 1200 is a different animal to the ones before it

 

[mrtee43]

Me and a mate went out for a ride with another couple of mates who both owned 800 GSs. Me on my 1200LC, other mate on a loaner Ducati Hyperstrada (His Multistrada in for repair).

On the nadgery single track roads we all stayed together but come the fast twisty A roads, well we just blew them away. The torque of the 1200 LC just lets it pull away so easily.

Conversation at coffee time was how they were wringing the neck of their engine and gearbox trying to keep up but they had no chance as we disappeared into the distance.

So I suppose the answer lies in what you want the bike to do. I find mine very light when moving, very economical compared to other big capacity bikes and very torquey. As a do it all bike, the big GS LC takes some beating. Earlier heated grips are shite though !

 

[Wright GSer]

I had a F800GS for five years. Awesome bike . Changed to a R1200GS LC one year ago. At first I wasn't sure if I had done the right thing .... But now, I'm sure... the 1200 is far more comfortable for long rides even with the comfort seat on the 800. The screen is better, it's a proper mile muncher loaded up for camping.
The down side is the gear box compared to the 800 although the quick shifter is really good
I too was craving the shaft drive over a chain and tubeless tyres.
The 1200 feels lighter than the 800 on road, purely because the weight is lower.
I find the suspension on the 1200 much better and the cruse control is a must for long motorway stints.

 

[indylead]

Wow, overwealming support to upgrade (although given the forum I am in, perhaps that was to be expected

Thanks everyone for the comments -

However you'll probably need to shell out the thick end of £10K to chop in your 800 for a new 1200 given the mileage on your bike

I've got the trade in numbers for the deal, and you're about right. I've been offered either an Adventure with all three main upgrade packs, plus panniers, for €18.5 plus after trade in of €4k on the 800. I've lost about €1k on the value of that, as they need to do some work to put her back to stock (non standard horn, and the display is in miles, not km),plus tyres, brakes, waterpump and headlight unit. The dealer said (and I agree) that I would be better selling privately; that way I can use the extras as negotiation (screen/panniers/seat/crash bars) or sell those separately. My problem is I don't speak much French, so negotiating a private sale would be 'interesting'!

If I lose the Comfort pack, and knock €1k off the price and wait an extra 6 weeks, they also reduce the offer on the 800. Essentially I pay €500 for €1000 of upgrades, and get the bike in 10 days.

In terms of what you'v all said about the 1200, I think you've reinforced my view of the good points, and negated the few concerns...

I think I will be giving a "Go" on Tuesday for what will become known as Beaky3...and looking forward to many more Adventures (with capital "A") in the future.

For the test ride...I had a 20 min ride yesterday but have had longer ones on older models in the past.

I could *not* get used to the auto clutch. From what I understood of the instructions I was given (see early comment about not much French; at least the dealer spoke a little English!) when accelerating you just change gear, no clutch. First time I tried it (second to third) the bike jumped like she'd been hit by a truck. After that I tried it a few more times but the instinct to use the clutch was really hard to get over. Mind you, there was a pretty good thunk from first to second as well.

I think my only bug bear was the indicators. What the hell did they have to go and screw around with the damn indicators for!? I nearly killed the engine on the first roundabout, then honked the horn on a left turn. Still not sure how I managed that. Maybe it's just me, but I liked the separate left/right set up on the 800 even after two earlier bikes that had 'regular' switches like the WC. Out of interest, where the heck is the hazard flasher switch?

I was surprised how light the 1200 felt...I had assumed that with a higher fuel tank than the GS, she'd be a little more weighty than that. Far more nimble than I was expecting, even if she didn't have panniers on!

The last question I meant to ask (and I need to go and google the tech specs, I know) but the seat on the 1200 seems much lower than on the 800. I have an after market seat (top sellerie, locatedin france, awesome seats) which might have made that a little higher, but I expected a similar height seat for some reason.

Oh, and whilst I might be spending more time in this subforum in the future, I will not be able to refer to the 1200 as a WC. It will give my friends far too much ammunition when they find out that is hiow they are differentiated!

Anyway, thanks again for the edvice and comments, folks.

 

[Tengiz99]

I agree with all of the above. I loved my 8, put 24000 km on it, but the 1200wc is better in almost every way. (Sorry Micky). Yes the gearbox is a bit, agricultural, it needs a mudsling not to get covered with white from the back wheel, and when you are really pushing on you can see the fuel level going down on the gauge. But I love it
No issues with reliability so far, when I had the 8 there was much talk of recalls and reliability problems, mine worked fine, as is the case for most I suspect on the 12.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Interesting, do the French dealers off BMW Select PCP like they do in UK or is it just a British option for PCP Finance?

 

[indylead]

Interesting, do the French dealers off BMW Select PCP like they do in UK or is it just a British option for PCP Finance?

They have something which sounds very similar...at least, I never used it in the UK to know how that works.

Here I can trade in the 800 and then €450 (and linked to mileage of 60k in three years) a month I can have the 1200 for three years, then either buy at the end, or give it back and start paying the same amount on a new 1200. Or walkway. If I add €2k up front, the payment reduces to €400 per month. I end up paying just over 3/4 the total value in that time, but it includes something that sounds like gap insurance plus I have heard a few stories that the dealers are more gracious with warranty claims as they know they will only end up with the bike at the end of the three years if they don't sort you out.

Interesting as well that the insurance quote they gave me was lower than I pay on the 800.

you can see the fuel level going down on the gauge

What sort of mpg do people get? I realise this is a good YMMV but the book numbers seem to only be a little lower, and I et a bigger tanks to fill up. How far can go get until the fuel light comes on, and how much 'reserve' do you have?

 

[Tengiz99]

Without putting any numbers on it, generally the 12 is not too bad, but not as miserly as the 8, I seem to be averaging 60 mpg on B roads without being silly about the speed. I probably get 320 km to a tank. The 8 seemed to be around 400 km. if you are tearing the arse out of it the fuel seems to drop as you watch though.

 

[snaponphil]

My 800 average 56mpg without panniers or 54mpg loaded..
My 1200 WC I'm getting an average over the last 2k of 50mpg as display indicates. Mixed riding style & some town some dual carriageway terrain..

 

[indylead]

Thanks folks.

Went out today and put down a deposit

T'deed 'tis done!