Why do you ride a GS ?

[JohnC]

Perhaps deciding to 'get real' @ 40. Done the sportsbike thing owning a good few GRXR's and CBR's etc. Done the cruiser thing with a trully evil FLH Shovelhead. Done the retro thing with my Z1000. Time to try some longer distance riding and see some more of the world on a bike I've always admired from afar

 

[jimbo]

In many ways the GS is my first bike. I passed my test on a training school 125. After this I bought a Honda VT250 off a mate of mine at work for £200. the tyres had gone off and it reved to something like 14,00rmp, but the rev counter didn't work. Basically I hated it. 3 months use in the summer and into the garage for winter and it never started again. Sold it to a mate for 200 quid. That was 15 years ago.

I bought a GS a couple of years ago because:
- I wanted ABS *
- I loved the looks
- I liked the riding position
- I thought I'd kill myself on a R1-fire-hyperZZninja bike
- Those funny chain things look a pain
- I wanted to ride and travel not pose

On the whole I love it, although I can't help thinking that a Buel or the new Z750/1000 must be a great laugh.

As I committed car nut for all my life, I now hardly ever use 4 wheels (unless I have 2 kids with me)


* Whatever the pros and cons of ABS, I think that its the most important factor for someone inexperience with bikes.

 

[-Robbo-]

It takes me down my favourite roads, including.......
the girls sixth form college about 330pm on a weekday

Tricky, you can get locked up for that......... know what you mean tho'

 

[(RIP) maverick]

I took a harley 1200 custom sportster for a test drive over the weekend. Bloody hell was I surprised also asked myself why do I own a GS. Decided the GS is going and gonna buy me a harley

Change of scenery and will probably get a GS again in the future but the Harley ride sure confirmed what I knew a long time, I am just a tosser that will ride anything that vibrates

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Why a GS?

Dunno, I've always had a thing about Bee Emms! Then I remember seeing a German GS in Edinburgh in the early eighties boy it looked good! I think it was blue and white but it was the offroadness and purposefullness about the bike that had me hooked didn't do the test till much later and could never 'find' a GS for sensible money at any of the dealers nearby, Bought an F650 which was good but Italian and eventually ended up with what I have now. I would still like to have one of the early GSs but maybe you are better with the memories!! Never had anything but Bee Emms though and must admit they do it for me! Oh, living down the end of a muddy road on a muddy farm in a muddy field might have something to do with it of course The other bike I must admit to liking is the Africa Twin

 

[Minustide]

GS

The 1150 GS is my seventh machine, the last being an R75/5 1972 model. I bought the R/75 in 1979 and alas had to sell it in 1982 to pay for the birth of my 3rd daughter. Well 23 years later I asked that daughter, now married and about to present me with my 7th grandchild (I have two other daughters with 3 each) If it would be alright for the Old Man to buy another Beemer and she said "Hell Yes". I had my eye on a 2000 1150 GS and test rode it and fell in love.
I like these machines for their versatility, they can ride pavement quite competently and when the pavement ends at 55 to 60 MPH I can drop a gear and continue on the gravel at 45MPH, sometimes a bit slower as the depth of the gravel can make handling such a behemoth a bit twitchy. Certainly not a narrow trail machine because of the weight but on open forest roads/rough terrain where there is room to turn around without damaging the machine these are much fun. The grinometer is pegged out whenever I'm on this thing.
It will be interesting to see how the new 1200GS stacks up over
the next couple of years to the 1100 and 1150 for durability and maintenace problems.

 

[cessnacycletrucker]

I've only had my GS Adv. for a month,and everytime I ride it,I find another reason TO ride it.After 8 years of Harley ownership,I wanted something different.The nice people at Sawbridgeworth let me have a demo 1200GS for the day...in -1 degree temp.,the Missus and me did 300 miles,(a whole years miles on the last Harley!).I loved it,she loved it,but the pitiful tank range put me off,so we got the Adventure.Went out playing in the rain today....another 100 miles....says it all really.......

 

[BBB61]

You've had Harleys for 8 years and you complain about the tank range on the 1200GS??

Bob

 

[Dusan]

Why?

Ya just got to get over the looks (call my 1100 'the warthog') ride one, the bloody things WORK! Awesome, had mine nearly 10yr's n still love it! If only the wife had bin arf as good! Weird but my ist 'bike' was a Garelli Tigercross too? stuffed fizziy's!! in it's day.

 

[jnrobert]

The only reason I ride anything is because its fun. Bikes can get boring quickly because lets face it, they are not as convenient or as comfortable as a car. But get it right, and its a beautiful experience on a bike. The GS has given me more of those moments than any other road bike in the thirty years I've been riding.

I took the 1200 out for a second test ride last week and its the next GS I own.

 

[Deleted Member I]

Why do you ride a GS ?

I don't!

After nearly 30 years, the fun was slowly fading, and the GS brought it all back -

Still does, everytime i ride it .

I thought that was called Senile Dementure

 

[toucan]

1. crash resilience, i am always dropping my bikes in the garage, parking lots, etc. no plastic=no damage.
2. ease of maintennance, i don't have to strip off tons of covers and things. i also don't need tiny little fingers to get to anything.
3. no chain, i ride everyday and oiling and adjusting chains is a PITA.
4. low topspeed. i have a problem with the devil on the tank screaming, "FASTER, FASTER" especially on friday nights. (related to point 1.)

 

[phooey]

It does EVERYTHING I ask of it without complaining - from carrying my pipe and slippers to kicking sportsbike ass in the twisties.

Great Bike !

 

[CoolCarbon]

Because you can make it 'Your Own' ...

Without losing the essence/ethos/excellence of the GS Concept....

CC

 

[Butler]

I ride a GS because...


My journey to work, like few of us on here ,I imagine, consists of motorways, country lanes and the city.

They fit me. I'm a tall bloke.

Shaft drive is a bonus.


Oh, and quite comfy for the wife on the back.

 

[Wraithwrider]

but the pitiful tank range put me off

Jeez, 190 to reserve is pitiful?

Peter

 

[GSmonkey]

A few reasons:

-To slow me down. Found I was just going too fast on sportsbikes, not round corners necessarily but down straight roads, through built up areas. Bought the GS to slow me down. Can't say its been entirely successful on that front. Generally I found the GS to behave better at lower speeds / throttle settings that sportsbikes - which have a tendancy to feel *wooly* when trying to go slow.

-Liked the looks i.e. big engine, big bike, high riding position.

-Liked the ride. Compared to a sportsbike which makes you feel every tiny change in the road, the GS just soaks it all up. Still gives you some feedback however.

-Tank range. 100mile sportsbike tank ranges (Honda) were a pain in the arse, especially as I was trying to do more touring.

-Service intevals. Liked the idea of the 6k interval rather than 4k, less of a pain in the arse. Don't suppose it will work out cheaper i.e. BMW labour rates vs japbike labour rates.

-Tyres. Sick of swapping out sportsbike rears at 3k and spending a fortune. Got over 4k out of a rear Anakee at £88 - Bargain. Gonna try the famous TOURANCE next.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture.

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

My folks have always had BM's, and I used to take the piss alot.

I had a few sports bikes but found on the Blade I was having new tyres every six weeks! I tried the GS, purely to spite my Dad because he can't reach one, and I fell in love straight away!

Possibly the best scratching tool you can ride the world and back on?!

 

[Timolgra]

it lets me fly and sets me free

Does everything I could ask of a bike. So wouln't consider riding anything else. had this one for five and a half years and thats considerably longer than I can keep a woman.
Tim

 

[Pukmeister]

Because I can.........................