Nah, they are shit and because I'm British, that makes them good. If they were good, they'd have a Honda badge 
Why does your GS inspire confidence over most other bikes?
- Thread starter Renevator
- Start date
Renevator
Registered user
Steve, that, and Cookie's comment about crap springs, goes some way to suggesting that all this "my GS is a handling dream" is in some cases maybe overblown?? However, Although I've never ridden with you any of you guys, so can't really get a true measure, there are folk like Schtum and Sven who I know of from the VFR site that are clearly very capable riders who have owned/still own a GS because it definitely does shif in a capable and rapid way (if you have the skill of course).
Ok, it's obvious an R1 etc, as designed, is a far more rapid bike, but I wasn't so much interested in the outright performance issue, more the opposite end if you like, that in tricky weather and road conditions the GS almost seems to shine even more. That's a very rewarding characteristic of any bike. I had a Falco for a short while and although on paper it should have been better than my VFR, it wasn't, for me. maybe just a lack of skill on my part. I guess the added appeal with the GS, like my VFR, is that the bike (and the requisite expectations from others) doesn't shout "ride fast" ALL the time.
Maybe it's maturity too that enables folk to appreciate the full and varied capabilities of the GS? If we all had a million bucks and the garage to accommodate, we wouldn't need a GS 'cause we could have something different for every mood, though I'm betting a lot of you guys would still keep your GS.
Thanks for the replies everyone, makes for interesting reading, even if it does keep me going back to the 'for sale' section where I shouldn't
where there is a bloody nice 1200gsa there for £6K ish, and I have just passed my 3 months probation at the new job... 
Renevator
Registered user
A man of your talents clearly needs something a bit more challenging René. Can I suggest a nicely modified VFR800 might be just the thing.....
Yeah, sorry about that. My wife did kinda make me realise that buying someone else's tricked up VFR was a bit daft especially as I had intentions of rebuilding mine to similar spec. Busy work and life schedule also meant that I couldn't get up to you anyway until end of this month at the earliest. My VFR will be a very long term project at this rate, and having secured regular employ after a few years off, it's tempting to splash out a bit and get a GS, circa £5ish, and sod the debt, even though my budget should prob persuade me to buy something like your VFR.
The other odd thing with reading all about the GS on this site, is that it's made me think about getting back to riding a bike as my main form of transport again, despite saying to myself a few years back that I'd not do winters again. I've got an ancient Mondeo that I bought for a guy on here, and that'll do for the icy days, cause no bike is fun on ice really is it? It's daft I know, but I still see myself as a 'biker' first (for want of a better phrase), despite not having ridden a yard for more that 3 years.
Yep, I'm too much of a dreamer
Life's too short and unpredictable to be tooooo careful and sensible with money though.Anyway, good luck selling your VFR, definitely a very nicely put together bike.
Yeah, sorry about that. My wife did kinda make me realise that buying someone else's tricked up VFR was a bit daft especially as I had intentions of rebuilding mine to similar spec. Busy work and life schedule also meant that I couldn't get up to you anyway until end of this month at the earliest. My VFR will be a very long term project at this rate, and having secured regular employ after a few years off, it's tempting to splash out a bit and get a GS, circa £5ish, and sod the debt, even though my budget should prob persuade me to buy something like your VFR.
The other odd thing with reading all about the GS on this site, is that it's made me think about getting back to riding a bike as my main form of transport again, despite saying to myself a few years back that I'd not do winters again. I've got an ancient Mondeo that I bought for a guy on here, and that'll do for the icy days, cause no bike is fun on ice really is it? It's daft I know, but I still see myself as a 'biker' first (for want of a better phrase), despite not having ridden a yard for more that 3 years.
Yep, I'm too much of a dreamer
Anyway, good luck selling your VFR, definitely a very nicely put together bike.
I was just pulling your leg, René....
It's a nice bike though.....
The low CoG is the only point I'd query with regard to GS's. The crank and flywheel are level with the centre line of the cylinders with the cam shaft below, necessary to get the pots high enough for decent ground clearance. The clutch gearbox are similarly high except on the WC's. Having gone from an 1150GS to a Super Tenere there is no doubt in my mind that the CoG of the S10 is lower than the 1150 was.
The OP is possibly aware that Schtum is bound to toe the party line and bang on about WC's as he works for a dealership punting out the over complicated current products thrown together in Germany from parts cheaply made in China.
I have ridden every 1200GS model except the TC. None of the Oil head 12's was sufficiently better to persuade me away from my 1150. The early WC I rode was dire and resulted in me buying the S10 and henceforth referring to WC's as "boggers". Two years on I believe they are supposed to be a bit better but the gearbox still seems to be so sh1tty that a quick shifter is almost de rigeur.
The OP is possibly aware that Schtum is bound to toe the party line and bang on about WC's as he works for a dealership punting out the over complicated current products thrown together in Germany from parts cheaply made in China.
I have ridden every 1200GS model except the TC. None of the Oil head 12's was sufficiently better to persuade me away from my 1150. The early WC I rode was dire and resulted in me buying the S10 and henceforth referring to WC's as "boggers". Two years on I believe they are supposed to be a bit better but the gearbox still seems to be so sh1tty that a quick shifter is almost de rigeur.
The OP is possibly aware that Schtum is bound to toe the party line and bang on about WC's as he works for a dealership punting out the over complicated current products thrown together in Germany from parts cheaply made in China.
He's not and I don't. Can you keep up on the road on that underpowered Yamaha thing...?
Renevator
Registered user
The low CoG is the only point I'd query with regard to GS's. The crank and flywheel are level with the centre line of the cylinders with the cam shaft below, necessary to get the pots high enough for decent ground clearance. The clutch gearbox are similarly high except on the WC's. Having gone from an 1150GS to a Super Tenere there is no doubt in my mind that the CoG of the S10 is lower than the 1150 was.
The OP is possibly aware that Schtum is bound to toe the party line and bang on about WC's as he works for a dealership punting out the over complicated current products thrown together in Germany from parts cheaply made in China.
I have ridden every 1200GS model except the TC. None of the Oil head 12's was sufficiently better to persuade me away from my 1150. The early WC I rode was dire and resulted in me buying the S10 and henceforth referring to WC's as "boggers". Two years on I believe they are supposed to be a bit better but the gearbox still seems to be so sh1tty that a quick shifter is almost de rigeur.
Ok, you've confused me now (not difficult
). I thought the low centre of gravity was a contributing factor to the stable/planted feeling that all the different GS's have?I take it you didn't find any significant performance difference between the 1150 and the 1200? Or felt the 1200 to be any lighter or more responsive than the 1150?
Just so I'm keeping up, TC refers to Twin Cam, Oilheads refers to pre WC which are the latest Water cooled 1200's, all early 1200's and 1150's were Single Cam? ......and an S10 is just making things unnecessarily complicated
And no I wasn't aware of Mike's involvement with Germany or China.....should I take that into account when the time comes to buy my next bike?
What sir needs is S1000 XR
Wait, so you're saying it's the bike, and I'm not a riding God?
Mark
you and me both mate lol
Ok, you've confused me now (not difficult
May be something to do with the longitudinal crank/drive line? The 1150's definitely feel "planted", in my opinion the 1200's less so. On an 1150 you knew exactly what was happening at the front wheel, some of that was sacrificed for perceived agility and weight reduction on the 1200.
I take it you didn't find any significant performance difference between the 1150 and the 1200? Or felt the 1200 to be any lighter or more responsive than the 1150?
Just so I'm keeping up, TC refers to Twin Cam, Oilheads refers to pre WC which are the latest Water cooled 1200's, all early 1200's and 1150's were Single Cam? ......and an S10 is just making things unnecessarily complicated
The difference with the early 1200's wasn't so great. I ditched the can on my 1150 and ran a stubby pipe on the under-gearbox catalyst/silencer which freed up the breathing a bit in the low and mid range as well as saving around 6Kgs in weight. As the 1200's got more powerful the difference was greater but even side by side with a TC roll on power from 50'ish mph the TC would ease away, it's not like you were left for dead as you would be against an R1 or similar. Your grasp of the nomenclature is correct. The S10 (Yamaha Super Tenere) is simply what the GS should have evolved into. Enough power for touring, a chassis more than capable of handling rough roads and gravel, a torque curve that makes a GS's look like a profile of the Himalayas and that most desirable of assets reliability. Look at how many threads on this site confirm that many GS owners won't take the risk of running a 1200GS, especially the WC's, without the BMW extended warranty.
And no I wasn't aware of Mike's involvement with Germany or China.....should I take that into account when the time comes to buy my next bike?
Schtum implies that he doesn't work for a BM dealership, maybe he is/was a contractor, you'll need to ask him. What you should take into account is that he's fond of rose tinted glasses
.
What you should take into account is that he's fond of rose tinted glasses
Very good for spotting diesel spills on the road, I believe. Perhaps I should get some. However, my opthalmologist tells me that my vision is better than 20/20 with my existing glasses.
bikemad
Registered user
In my ownership of two 1200 early GS I found an hour on standard seat was a massive pain in the ass ! seargent sorted it,& like others the handlebars have an annoying kink that can agrovate wrists (changed to some alloy windham bend) standard shocks are ok but when tired Wilbers are a massive leap forward,plenty of other stuff also needs checking like FD,fuel pump controler etc.
They are a doddle to self service though no need to spend at dealer when diy
Luggage,engine bars,bash plates,protective £s Touratech bits are nice but are you actually going to go on African adventure to 
My 2nd bike had power commander & BOS exhaust noteable difference in power,no more stuttery low rev power delivery nice note at topend,some go for remap they are both good,as it will be nextyear until I recover from recent accident (wrote bike off) I'm tempted by the orange brand & the super 10
They are a doddle to self service though no need to spend at dealer when diy
Luggage,engine bars,bash plates,protective £s Touratech bits are nice
but are you actually going to go on African adventure to My 2nd bike had power commander & BOS exhaust noteable difference in power,no more stuttery low rev power delivery nice note at topend,some go for remap they are both good,as it will be nextyear until I recover from recent accident (wrote bike off) I'm tempted by the orange brand & the super 10
Deleted account 200123001
Registered user
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2014
- Messages
- 2,372
- Reaction score
- 0
I thought that might be the case too perhaps the decentralisation of mass is also a factor?
I thought oh no what have i done on first run this was up the A90 with horrible side wind and the road is sh*t for bikes. Anyway what i struggled with at first was the telelever front end it felt floaty if that makes any sense but then after a few miles i clicked with it and with my first run over the Lecht i thought this is excellent. Its like everyone says the upright position and the overall balance that is unbelievable. As soon as you move off and are doing like 2-3mph it just feels so light and balanced.
Another for me is fully loaded and two up it still feels just as nice "apart from the first few gear changes" if your not quick through the gears it can mean a bump of lids. You get used to it quickly, just great bit of engineering and covers all bases and more.
Another for me is fully loaded and two up it still feels just as nice "apart from the first few gear changes" if your not quick through the gears it can mean a bump of lids. You get used to it quickly, just great bit of engineering and covers all bases and more.
Aye does me fine, i like to wait till all the initial development bugs are ironed out same with computers. Never change platforms until a few years running has been done.
Only joking, cant afford the new machine yet maybe in a few years or maybe Santa will bring me one, godness knows enought hints have been dropped to her indoors.
Only joking, cant afford the new machine yet maybe in a few years or maybe Santa will bring me one, godness knows enought hints have been dropped to her indoors.
Feel free to tell her that my wife bought me my first GS for Christmas 2005. I'm on my 5th one now.....
Will do, thats a nice present like. Im hoping for maybe the latest Tom Tom, hoping it comes with a free GS
Renevator
Registered user
Feel free to tell her that my wife bought me my first GS for Christmas 2005. I'm on my 5th one now.....
Good grief, you lot live in a different world
Seriously though, regardless of power, I assume you've found all the models you've gone through have inspired the same confidence, but more so with the later bikes?
Renevator
Registered user
Thanks, that seems to be the general reaction, hence my initial question. Just out of interest which model do you have?
Similar threads
