Why does your GS inspire confidence over most other bikes?

[Schtum]

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?

Everyone's lot in life is different, René. I suspect we all have better and worse aspects to our lives. Anyway, it was Christmas 2004 not 2005.....

I wouldn't say the later bikes inspire more confidence. The WC delivers the same level at higher speeds and handles and rides better.

 

[mpgscott]

Hi Renevator, i had a 2011 twin cam R1200GS without any frills firstly then swapped to a 2012 GSA with all the toys that was a lot smoother.

 

[Aidan1150]

I bought my 1150 almost eleven years ago from a guy (BigBadBen) on this site and flew over to Newcastle to collect it. I questioned my wisdom almost every mile of the ride home and it was several weeks later before she and I finally clicked. Since then we have covered 95,000 miles on three continents with a fourth to be added in the new year.

Undoubtedly there may well be better bikes out there, but this one suits me and I'm happy with it. The best compliment I can pay it is that there is nothing out there on the market that appeals to me enough to make me want to change. It's still fast enough to lose me my licence, but that's not really what it is about, well, not for me anyway.

After many years of riding a mixture of bikes the GS is the one that changed how and where I ride and gave me back a love of bikes and riding. It sounds twee to say life changing, but it certainly changed biking for me. Some of that is down to this place and the friends I have made here too.

Yes, pretty much any Jap four will blow you into the weeds on a straight bit of road but if he is behind you on a twisty section then chances are he isn't coming past. A GS (any GS) doesn't look like it should handle well, it seems all wrong, a big fat heavy thing which is about as aerodynamic as a truck but in spite of all that it just inspires confidence which enables one to cover ground at a reasonable pace.

Maybe that's the answer to your original question?

Maybe it's not. I don't know. But I do know that my GS will be my ride of choice until I can't ride it any longer.

2p

 

[Renevator]

Thanks Aidan1150, that is an answer to my question. As is inevitable with talk about how good ones chosen bike is, the discussion gets into varying arguments, points of view etc, about how much faster/better handling each bike is over another, but your point about your 1150 getting to the heart of what it is for you that makes riding a bike such pleasure, changing how and where you ride, was what interested me. As with others, it's even more intriguing that such reward doesn't happen immediately. I guess that's true with a lot of things in life - it takes time to learn.
As Blue ranger commented earlier, the ergonomics of these "adventure" style bikes seems to be an essential contributing factor to the whole enjoyment and all round capability. Obviously bikes like the Super Tenere, Versys, KTM etc all do the same thing in better and worse ways dependent on your point of view, but I don't want to start a fight so I'll skip over that point pretty quickly
The Versys is obviously an amazing bike, great engine etc, and they are pretty cheap secondhand in comparison to. GS, but boy are they ugly.... Though I used to think that of the BM but now think the 1150GSA especially is quite a funky looking motor, so I'd better not dwell on that either.
In the end it's what a bike does for each of us that matters of course, not what the press, your mates or anyone else thinks is important, and the GS certainly seems to reward it's owners, maybe more so than other bikes, maybe not? I like your strap line by the way, sums up your experience and many others no doubt. I tried explaining to a young lad at work why I prefer to ride a bike than drive a car, when seemed dumbfounded why anyone would choose effort and hassle over comfort and convenience.......I gave up very quickly

 

[tuftywhite]

I've been out on my 1981 g/s and had a very confident ride.

Even from the early bikes then, perhaps they should have been called them BMW Confident Use Numerous Terrain

Now, how could they abbreviate that to fit on the tank?

 

[Rob Farmer]

I've been out on my 1981 g/s and had a very confident ride.

Even from the early bikes then, perhaps they should have been called them BMW Confident Use Numerous Terrain

Now, how could they abbreviate that to fit on the tank?

I think we'd all be confident at 15mph. Now wind the throttle open and take your ancient bag'o'shite up to 70mph (it will get there eventually)and then report back that you had a confident ride

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

In the end it's what a bike does for each of us that matters of course,

And that is a very personal thing, and for some the GS will do more than a garage full of other more focused bikes.

I would describe the GS as a what ever when ever bike.

For me the GS is best summed up by this.

A month or so ago I went out with some other guys on here around Salisbury plain to do some off roading...had a raz round in the rain, had a great time, then rode 200 miles back home in the rain. Then rode to work the next day.

You could have done that on numerous bikes and substituted off road for track day but on the GS it was all enjoyable.

Yes it has its limitations.....especially offroad.

Never during that weekend did I feel I'm on completely the wrong bike to the point it made me miserable.


But if I could only ever have one bike from now until the end of my days....the GS and especially the 1150 would feature very highly on a very short list of the GS's and its stable mates.


You will either click with it or you won't.

 

[Engineer]

2000+ miles in 10 days to France, Germany, Austria, Italy 2up with luggage, not a single ache or slightest discomfort for me or pillion, then commute to work most days in the UK, hoon about or go shopping to Waitrose - the GS is the most accomplished all round motorcycle ever made, to date.

 

[Aidan1150]

As with others, it's even more intriguing that such reward doesn't happen immediately. I guess that's true with a lot of things in life - it takes time to learn.

It took me a long time to get my 1150 just the way I wanted it, 41ltr Touratech tank, Corbin saddle, Hyperpro suspension and bespoke panniers but now I have the very bike that I want, even though BMW didn't make that very bike. Most manufacturers don't seem to make the ideal bike which is probably a good thing as it leaves room for us to personalise them.

The Versys is obviously an amazing bike, great engine etc, and they are pretty cheap secondhand in comparison to. GS, but boy are they ugly.... Though I used to think that of the BM but now think the 1150GSA especially is quite a funky looking motor,

Thing is, you don't notice how ugly it is when you are on it.

In the same way, when you are dead you don't know that you are dead so it is only difficult for those around you. It is the same when you are stupid.

 

[Timolgra]

Thing is, you don't notice how ugly it is when you are on it.

In the same way, when you are dead you don't know that you are dead so it is only difficult for those around you. It is the same when you are stupid.

Class

 

[Mutley]

Having hung around here for much longer than I care to remember I'd make a few observations:

• Turn up to a gathering of GS riders and you will see a number of common trends amongst them. Consequently this site is a gathering of those people who have all found a bike that suits those people. If you are one of them, chances are it'll suit you. I'll leave you to guess what the commonalities are
• People are reporting on their own experiences on here. You are putting your own spin on them as you read them. You have no idea how skilled they are and whether they are exagerating any points from before or after. The only way to find out is to go for a ride with them (and trust me on this, group ride outs with GS riders are a real eye opener) :O
• If you were riding an inappropriate style of bike for the kind of riding you wanted to do, and then switch to an appropriate one, then it will feel like an improvement surely?
• If you've just spanked £12,000+ on a new GS you are unlikely to tell everyone you've made a huge mistake
• Anyone who refers to their motorcycle as 'she', has a 'stable' of bikes or uses the word 'presence' in their justification for riding it is worth discounting in my humble opinion

 

[cookie]

Having hung around here for much longer than I care to remember I'd make a few observations:

• Turn up to a gathering of GS riders and you will see a number of common trends amongst them. Consequently this site is a gathering of those people who have all found a bike that suits those people. If you are one of them, chances are it'll suit you. I'll leave you to guess what the commonalities are
• People are reporting on their own experiences on here. You are putting your own spin on them as you read them. You have no idea how skilled they are and whether they are exagerating any points from before or after. The only way to find out is to go for a ride with them (and trust me on this, group ride outs with GS riders are a real eye opener) :O
• If you were riding an inappropriate style of bike for the kind of riding you wanted to do, and then switch to an appropriate one, then it will feel like an improvement surely?
• If you've just spanked £12,000+ on a new GS you are unlikely to tell everyone you've made a huge mistake
• Anyone who refers to their motorcycle as 'she', has a 'stable' of bikes or uses the word 'presence' in their justification for riding it is worth discounting in my humble opinion

wise words - especially 2, and 5 extra especially

 

[Mutley]

wise words - especially 2, and 5 extra especially

Am I ready to set out on my own now master?

 

[Gonzo]

For me, it's the commuting all year round that this bike does stupendously well. With 4 sites to visit on a regular basis, including central London, most of which require some use of the M25 for part of the journey, the GS is the perfect tool. It's all been said about the stability, comfort, enough (too much?) speed, height. I'm 6'2" and 17 stone - the bike fits me perfectly.

Apart from very serious snowfall in the morning, there's pretty much no weather that will make me take the car to work instead of the bike. And when the snow falls during the day and you've got to take the bike home - it does that brilliantly too! The limiting factor in snowfall becomes snow on the visor and twats in cars.

In 13 years of GS ownership (including a 650) I've only ever done 4 overseas trips (not for a lack of desire, more the time) and I've got the point where I'm comfortable with what I know. I'm on my 3rd GS which will probably become my 4th next year. I know I really should look at some of the others on the market but I love what I have and don't want the fear and effort required to get used to a new bike when an evolution of what I have does all that I need. I have ridden some of the others in the last year or two - and they were "quite good" - but nothing stood out as a replacement for the Master.

*Slightly* boring but that's what matters to me.

 

[Renevator]

For me, it's the commuting all year round that this bike does stupendously well. With 4 sites to visit on a regular basis, including central London, most of which require some use of the M25 for part of the journey, the GS is the perfect tool. It's all been said about the stability, comfort, enough (too much?) speed, height. I'm 6'2" and 17 stone - the bike fits me perfectly.

Apart from very serious snowfall in the morning, there's pretty much no weather that will make me take the car to work instead of the bike. And when the snow falls during the day and you've got to take the bike home - it does that brilliantly too! The limiting factor in snowfall becomes snow on the visor and twats in cars.

In 13 years of GS ownership (including a 650) I've only ever done 4 overseas trips (not for a lack of desire, more the time) and I've got the point where I'm comfortable with what I know. I'm on my 3rd GS which will probably become my 4th next year. I know I really should look at some of the others on the market but I love what I have and don't want the fear and effort required to get used to a new bike when an evolution of what I have does all that I need. I have ridden some of the others in the last year or two - and they were "quite good" - but nothing stood out as a replacement for the Master.

*Slightly* boring but that's what matters to me.

Not boring at all matey, actually quite relevant to my initial question. I know confidence is about many things, and changes with the wind sometimes, but your experience of the GS as the consummate weather beater is what interests me in these bikes. I've done the whole commuting through wind, rain, snow and ice, and totally agree that snow on the visor makes progress very difficult. I've always found salt spray, the kind without much wetness too it, if you know what I mean, is one of the most irritating and debilitating conditions to ride in.
How have you found the progress through the GS's you've had?

 

[BigDan]

Here in the UK we used to drive on the left of the road...

Now we drive on WHATS LEFT of the road.

Thats why i'm buying a GS

 

[dave hendy]

Here in the UK we used to drive on the left of the road...

Now we drive on WHATS LEFT of the road.

Thats why i'm buying a GS

Lol........

How true!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[evoarrow]

I just come off a 650 versys and I loved the bike. Very under rated. A nice handling bike, a bit of vib, but as a commuter it was good. The headlight looked a little odd, other than that, I liked its looks.

The 800gs is a different animal, but its a lot more expensive, so you need to expect improvement. I commute and always use my bike, regardless of weather, so I just hope the 800 doesn't fall apart in wet weather.

 

[MR&MRS.P]

I'm coming up for 1 year with my 1150GSA and its the first GS and the first BMW I have owned. It has taken me about 8 months of adjusting this and buying that to get it absolutely spot on and up until recently I thought I hadn't really clicked with it; this being mainly due to having an awkward body shape and not being able to get comfortable. Anyway, now that its blob on I have clicked, majorly and boy can I ride it far and fast and comfortably. We've just come back from our honeymoon European tour and the bike was absolutely faultless. I'm not a small guy and 2 up with all the luggage I'm guessing 500kg or thereabouts so for a bike to handle so well in the mountains and pull so hard in 2nd gear from a switchback turn amazes me. We even managed a 300 mile tank run from Brussels back into the UK.

I cant comment on the 12GS's as I've never ridden any but as other people say the low range grunt and 'on rails' handling is just so confidence inspriring, if any of the newer ones lack these qualities then I'd probably stick with the lebenfiddy for £3.5k and stick 10 grand into a few decent tours and some farkles!

Aside from fully loaded riding the bike is used for commuting every working day of the year more or less and for me its perfect for that, great wind protection, heavy enough not to be unsettled by high winds on the motorway, brilliant in the rain and dare I say ice.

I did think that a VFR750 that I had a few years ago was a spot on compromise between commuting/touring/scratching/economy and that I wouldnt really get any better. Admittedly the Viffer has been the one that got away and I'm so gutted I sold it but if I could only have 1 bike in the garage then it would deffinitely be the GS

 

[Wrinkly]

Having hung around here for much longer than I care to remember I'd make a few observations:

• Turn up to a gathering of GS riders and you will see a number of common trends amongst them. Consequently this site is a gathering of those people who have all found a bike that suits those people. If you are one of them, chances are it'll suit you. I'll leave you to guess what the commonalities are
• People are reporting on their own experiences on here. You are putting your own spin on them as you read them. You have no idea how skilled they are and whether they are exagerating any points from before or after. The only way to find out is to go for a ride with them (and trust me on this, group ride outs with GS riders are a real eye opener) :O
• If you were riding an inappropriate style of bike for the kind of riding you wanted to do, and then switch to an appropriate one, then it will feel like an improvement surely?
• If you've just spanked £12,000+ on a new GS you are unlikely to tell everyone you've made a huge mistake
• Anyone who refers to their motorcycle as 'she', has a 'stable' of bikes or uses the word 'presence' in their justification for riding it is worth discounting in my humble opinion

I agree wholeheartedly with all your comments, apart from number four.

I spanked £13,280 on my GS and made a HUGE mistake