I'm not particularly keen on getting another Jap bike.
Been riding boxers since 1975 all over Southern Africa so I have a particular affinity for them.
There you go then! Start a collection! May I suggest that sir considers a nice Paris Dakar?
I'm not particularly keen on getting another Jap bike.
Been riding boxers since 1975 all over Southern Africa so I have a particular affinity for them.
Easy anwser. Do you like to work on the bike yourself or are you exclusively a bike shop/main dealer type person?
If Dealer then get the newist bike you can affored.
DIY then an 1100 or 1150, and steer clear of anything with fecking canbus !!!!!!!, steer clear of anything where the rear diff needs NASA apparetnly to rebuild it, as opposed to a camping stove and freezer
1100/1150 no can bus, 1200 on every model can bus, to be fair I am very biased, I hate can bus electrics and wont entertain any bike with so I have R1100GS, KTM990 adv, Ktm 640 Adv oh and an old laverda, thats as new as I will go
Can bus or multiplex came in with the 2004 1200.
It’s been used on vehicles for twenty years ish.
The problem with it does not lie generally with the wiring ,more so that any major Ecu changes etc need the use of dealer level diagnostic kit to program the units to talk to one another,like an electronic handshake.
So you can’t just fit a new or second hand abs unit,engine management unit,instrument panel etc and expect it to work.
Been lurking for awhile and now have corralled the funds for one of these GSey things...
Not planning on touring just two-up bimbles through the countryside, so...
1) Oil or LC
2) Are the twincam's all LC?
Cheers (for now!)
I know we're in a lockdown, but why don't you talk to your nice, local BMW dealer (Chandlers) and take a couple of no-obligation test rides. Surely more effective than a couple of armchair test rides from the inmates here. You have a wonderful full-on touring machine in the GW and you don't need a 1200GS for a bimble. So why don't you look at the 750/850GS (they're not awaful just because they're not boxers) as well.
The problem with a 1200GS is that the magic carpet ride from the long-travel suspension will question your requirement for the GW.
I am frightened by the ABS issues...
Earlier 1150's had the non-servo abs, look at the front wheel, if a pressed tin abs ring it tends to be a servo, if a cast abs ring it'll be non servo. The non servo abs tends to be reliable (as is the 1150 generally) and when called for will get you out of trouble. For what it's worth I bought my R1150GS new nearly 20 years ago and it has never let me down, albeit it has only done just over 50k miles.CheersJohn B
The GW is mainly for my wife, who finds it comfortable for 500+ mph blasts down to coast in France.
That speed gives a whole new meaning to the Wing in Gold Wing ........
If you fancy something shaft-drive with character there are a few low mileage Moto Guzzi Stelvio's around.