Which Year / Model 1200 GS?

[Owen Snell]

I sold my 05 GS quite a while ago because I had 2 bikes in the garage and not enough free time on my hands. I've kept the R90/6, but find that I use it less and less frequently, especially in bad weather / winter, as it's in such good original condition. A 1200 GS is getting tempting again as a more useable option, at which point the R90/6 would have to go.

The 05 was a nice bike and I used it a lot. I had most of the standard faults - FPC, FD seal, gearbox seal, immobiliser antenna, engine case corrosion and paint issues on the swing arm. The corrosion / paint issues bothered me most as these were a pain to deal with.

Being out of the loop for a while, which model years have introduced worthwhile improvements in spec / quality? The upgrades I would do again based on the 05 experience would be Migsel lower pegs and a Cee Baileys higher / wider screen - do any model upgrades have a better screen / more leg room?

 

[Tractors are go]

Yes, it's called a gsa !

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[mondrage]

Yes, it's called a gsa !

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My 2cents.

The years ‘09 - ‘10 have the newer gen iABS 2 Conti-Teves without the stupid servo. Should you loose the module you still have regular brakes. It’s also repairable for $250.
Those model years have lots of electronics. Traction control, ESA, ABS, etc.
They also have the nut adjustable valves. So you can do your own adjustments very easily in about 30 mins.
Your model year was the same but with servo brakes.

The ‘10-‘12 model years have a dual cam I believe and non adjustable valves. You have to use bucket shims. To me that’s a deal breaker. I don’t have a dealer in my country.

Then you have the newer LC GS.
They’re more torquey and powerful. Not by a lot, but enough to really feel the difference.

I’m still on the fence on that. Mainly because I don’t get rid of my bikes, and adding another one would seem like an obsession to my family.

There ya go.


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[essjay]

I bought a GS back in January and all my research pointed me towards a twin cam, a 2010-2012 or thereabouts.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I bought a GS back in January and all my research pointed me towards a twin cam, a 2010-2012 or thereabouts.

That's exactly where i arrived. Very happy with the change.

Ref the valve adjustment mentioned above. I would actually imagine the TC is easier to adjust than the version with tappets...and if i believe what i read, they rarely need adjusting by comparison - someone will probably correct me on that, haven't had mine long enough to know if that detail is correct.

 

[Bendy toy]

The easiest to adjust valve clearances are on the tappet type. Check with feeler gauge adjust clearance with screwdriver and spanner recheck. Job done.
The TC uses shims so valve clearance adjustments are more complicated.

 

[Slipperyeel]

The easiest to adjust valve clearances are on the tappet type. Check with feeler gauge adjust clearance with screwdriver and spanner recheck. Job done.
The TC uses shims so valve clearance adjustments are more complicated.

they're too arcane for me...shims i like. Too much nuance for my liking.

My Honda ST, in 135k miles needed just one shim adjustment toward the end of my ownership...and i wasted several services checking them. I've never heard the same about tappets... I agree, there is a little more involved to check and change them. But exactly how often do you do them? And it's almost never a roadside job.

 

[mikeyboy]

The easiest to adjust valve clearances are on the tappet type. Check with feeler gauge adjust clearance with screwdriver and spanner recheck. Job done.
The TC uses shims so valve clearance adjustments are more complicated.

In 8 years I’ve never come across more than a couple of twin cams that needed the valve clearance shims swapping,
If I was in the market for a 12 the tc would be my choice,it also has the better 08 on gearbox which is a big improvement over earlier bikes

 

[ROLL DOG]

Had all the 1200 models including the LCs, recently switched back to TC - They are GEMS - and a bonus if mollycoddled.

 

[neo]

I own a tc down to research to post 07 lost the servo on abs (abs 2) I had one on an 07 but for some reason the fuel line was AWFUL always hunting and hesitant at low speeds , could have been a throttle body/valve clearance issue looking back.. the TC is great

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[neo]

I forgot to add Good luck with the search

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[Gelandestrasse]

I had an 04 model for 5 years and then an 08 model with ESA and everything (again for 5 years). Now I have a 2010 GSA (18 months) and now my legs have grown an inch I think it’s the best bike I’ve had, ever. My next bike will be a late model LC but I don’t want to spend that much on a bike, ever. My only gripe is that the adjustable damping is unnoticeable over that I had on the 08 model.

Oh - keep hold of your 90/6, ride it when the sun’s out. They are better than money in the bank just now! Don’t Cafe Racer it unless it’s reversible at low cost!

 

[mondrage]

Oh - keep hold of your 90/6, ride it when the sun’s out. They are better than money in the bank just now! Don’t Cafe Racer it unless it’s reversible at low cost!

What he said.
Don’t get rid of the R90.
That’s a keeper.


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[IrishGaucho]

I have an 08 and I think it's a perfect balance between 2nd hand value and tech/features. It has the new ABS system, ESA and all the electronics with no big known issues.

 

[Owen Snell]

I had an 04 model for 5 years and then an 08 model with ESA and everything (again for 5 years). Now I have a 2010 GSA (18 months) and now my legs have grown an inch I think it’s the best bike I’ve had, ever. My next bike will be a late model LC but I don’t want to spend that much on a bike, ever. My only gripe is that the adjustable damping is unnoticeable over that I had on the 08 model.

Oh - keep hold of your 90/6, ride it when the sun’s out. They are better than money in the bank just now! Don’t Cafe Racer it unless it’s reversible at low cost!

What he said.
Don’t get rid of the R90.
That’s a keeper.


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The R90/6 is going and will hopefully pay for a nice GS that I will get a lot more use from.

 

[Bendy toy]

they're too arcane for me...shims i like. Too much nuance for my liking.

My Honda ST, in 135k miles needed just one shim adjustment toward the end of my ownership...and i wasted several services checking them. I've never heard the same about tappets... I agree, there is a little more involved to check and change them. But exactly how often do you do them? And it's almost never a roadside job.

The TC is the better bike as most of the issues plaguing the older versions were ironed out. Its just a shame it took BMW so long to get it sorted - more or less.

Valve shim clearances are easy enough to check just a bit more hassle when they do need changing. I did the old Diversion 900 and what a pain that was. The shims popped out easily enough but were swines to get back in. The Beemer should be a lot easier as its all just there on the side.

 

[lawvar]

In 8 years I’ve never come across more than a couple of twin cams that needed the valve clearance shims swapping,
If I was in the market for a 12 the tc would be my choice,it also has the better 08 on gearbox which is a big improvement over earlier bikes

Listen to mikeyboy he is the font of all wisdom GS
I have a twin cam also if you read ride magazine on the GS purchase guide it rated the twin cam best

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[Bendy toy]

Get the latest you can afford.
The Mk 2 it has the older style engine with better mid range but most of the running gear of the Mk3 (twin cam). It does vibrate a bit more and the black frame paint is rubbish. The twin cam has pretty much everything sorted (it took BMW a while).

Eventually its down to cash, but don't expected an older model to be cheaper - age does more damage than miles and as said the later bikes are more reliable.

 

[Rockred]

I have a 2015 wc, and wished that I still had my 2012 tc. The switch gear for example is so flimsy on the wc, the tc felt altogether more solid all round.

 

[neo]

I have a 2015 wc, and wished that I still had my 2012 tc. The switch gear for example is so flimsy on the wc, the tc felt altogether more solid all round.

Blimey I feel quite pleased i got my tc now, would you rather trade the extra ponies for the tcs strengths ?