New bike day! BMW R1200GS

New bike day! BMW R1200GS

Author
Discussion

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
After three and a half years without a bike it’s finally time to get a new one!

I’ve had a Yamaha XJ6 and a GSXR 600 in the past. Both too small for me.

Now getting a 2012 (but registered in 2013) BMW R1200GS Adventure in black.

Completely over the top for what I’m using it for, but large and comfy is what I want.

Will be fun to see how I get on without riding for a while!

Photos once I’ve collected it and got home!

black-k1

11,964 posts

230 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
thumbup Enjoy!

Looking forward to the pictures.

Bob_Defly

3,721 posts

232 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
Congrats!

guitarcarfanatic

1,615 posts

136 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
Fantastic! My venerable 2005 model keeps ticking over (currently on 79k miles). They are buggers though as have no clue what I would replace it with!

Edited by guitarcarfanatic on Thursday 21st October 19:41

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
Home! First impressions are good.

It’s huge. I love the size. But surprisingly easy to ride. It’s a very comfy riding position. No aches or pains anywhere. Surprised as I’ve not ridden for three and a half years.

Got my confidence back quickly. Doesn’t make me want to ride at silly speeds like my GSXR did. Quite happy plodding along at 60.

What don’t I like? Where the indicators are placed. Makes sense for left for left and right for right but the cancel button is annoying.

Oh and getting on and off is comical to watch!

Can’t get a photo to upload annoyingly.

guitarcarfanatic

1,615 posts

136 months

Thursday 21st October 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Home! First impressions are good.

It’s huge. I love the size. But surprisingly easy to ride. It’s a very comfy riding position. No aches or pains anywhere. Surprised as I’ve not ridden for three and a half years.

Got my confidence back quickly. Doesn’t make me want to ride at silly speeds like my GSXR did. Quite happy plodding along at 60.

What don’t I like? Where the indicators are placed. Makes sense for left for left and right for right but the cancel button is annoying.

Oh and getting on and off is comical to watch!

Can’t get a photo to upload annoyingly.
Awesome - they are rock steady at 100mph fully loaded. The torquey engine is nice and pokey, plus they handle well for tractors.

Drawweight

2,901 posts

117 months

Friday 22nd October 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Oh and getting on and off is comical to watch .
You are stepping on the n/s footpeg first and climbing on like you’d do with a horse and not trying to lift your leg over the seat?

I made that mistake first time too. Luckily it was at a bmw dealer so they’re probably used to seeing that.

SlimRick

2,258 posts

166 months

Friday 22nd October 2021
quotequote all
guitarcarfanatic said:
Fantastic! My venerable 2005 model keeps ticking over (currently on 79k miles). They are buggers though as have no clue what I would replace it with!

Edited by guitarcarfanatic on Thursday 21st October 19:41
Snap - 2005 with a mere 73k on the clock. Gets used for anything and everything!



LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Friday 22nd October 2021
quotequote all
Drawweight said:
You are stepping on the n/s footpeg first and climbing on like you’d do with a horse and not trying to lift your leg over the seat?

I made that mistake first time too. Luckily it was at a bmw dealer so they’re probably used to seeing that.
I’ll give that ago! Although last time I went on a horse 20 odd years ago I fell off…

GriffoDP

192 posts

138 months

Friday 22nd October 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
I’ll give that ago! Although last time I went on a horse 20 odd years ago I fell off…
Just pop a couple of polos in the air intake before getting on. I do that with my 1250gs and it runs sweet biggrin

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Friday 22nd October 2021
quotequote all
Four hours and a 100 miles today. Bike is good! Comfy, although a little twinge in my back towards the end, but that’s likely due to not riding for so long.

Got around 50MPG from the onboard computer. Happy with that.

Not a huge fan of how small the speedo is. Hard to see the numbers.

But other than that I love it.




LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Friday 29th October 2021
quotequote all
First problem with the bike…headlight bulb went. They do make it easy to change for someone who doesn’t have children’s hands! Maybe I need to have kids for that reason…

Also fked up with my new plate…where I need to drill the holes is right in the middle of the new 4D plates. That’s annoying!

Loving it though. So easy to ride.

croyde

23,032 posts

231 months

Friday 29th October 2021
quotequote all
It's a plate you can see thru time man smile

Good on yer OP, I've been saying that I'll get a GS for years. Tested a few but never got round to buying.

Keep saying that if I do a whole winter on the Vespa 300 I will but every winter the Vespa likes the parking garage and I take the car and sit in traffic.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Sunday 31st October 2021
quotequote all
Well today was possibly the worst weather I’ve ever ridden in. Nine miles from work can be done in just under 12 minutes normally…

30 minutes today! But amazingly my kit held up great considering it’s nearly nine years old. Slightly damp foot as boots aren’t waterproof (getting some new ones next week if they fit!).

Might need a new helmet…the riding position means some water drips down my neck! Ok not the end of the world but gives me a reason to buy a new one!

Bike felt good though. No issues with the standing water, cross winds etc.

Heated grips work well and are actually too hot on the highest level!

TT1138

739 posts

135 months

Sunday 31st October 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Well today was possibly the worst weather I’ve ever ridden in. Nine miles from work can be done in just under 12 minutes normally…

30 minutes today! But amazingly my kit held up great considering it’s nearly nine years old. Slightly damp foot as boots aren’t waterproof (getting some new ones next week if they fit!).

Might need a new helmet…the riding position means some water drips down my neck! Ok not the end of the world but gives me a reason to buy a new one!

Bike felt good though. No issues with the standing water, cross winds etc.

Heated grips work well and are actually too hot on the highest level!
If you’re going to be using it regularly all year then definitely get it cleaned/ detailed then cover it in ACF50 and keep it topped up. If you’re using it in salt then rinse it off after every ride. The paint/ finish on these bikes is very fragile, especially if used in poor weather.

For cleaning don’t use Muc Off/ wheel cleaner or anything like that as it’s much too harsh for regular use on the BMW paint and anodising. Just a basic car shampoo is enough, the cheapest PH neutral stuff will do.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Sunday 31st October 2021
quotequote all
Yeah going to get a coating of ACF50 on it smile. Annoyingly I don’t have access a hose but will use the one at work when I can.

gareth_r

5,766 posts

238 months

Sunday 31st October 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Yeah going to get a coating of ACF50 on it smile. Annoyingly I don’t have access a hose but will use the one at work when I can.
Rechargeable jet washer and a bucket?

Tribal Chestnut

2,999 posts

183 months

Sunday 31st October 2021
quotequote all
gareth_r said:
Rechargeable jet washer and a bucket?
You wouldn’t be doing that after every sh**ty ride.

If you’ve got the luxury of being able to wash a bike after each usage on filthy, salty roads, then that’s great, but is hugely impractical for many.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Monday 1st November 2021
quotequote all
Yeah sod doing it after every ride!

We’ve got a self use car wash up the road. Just used it. Didn’t use the brush and god knows how many stones are in it! But jet wash (at a distance) and a snow foam it turned out alright.

Got most of the of the st off.

I can’t find the mileage trip. I like to keep track of how many miles I do a month without having to make a note.

LosingGrip

Original Poster:

7,837 posts

160 months

Saturday 13th November 2021
quotequote all
ACF50 applied last week. Fairly easy to do.

Had a two people comment on the bike when I’ve been out as well. Some bloke in his 80s loved it. His smile as he revved it was great!

I’m amazed at how big the panniers are! I’ve managed to get a weeks food shop in two of them.

Enjoying it so far! Nice refund from Hastings when I told them of my private plate as well! Wasn’t expecting it at all!