Anyone own a watercooled BMW R1200GS?
Discussion
bass gt3 said:
Having recently ridden 3000kms from Malawi,down the Mozambique coast into South Africa and a 250kms dirt track along the Kruger National Park fence line as part of a total of 18000 kms riding around East Africa, i have to say i have grown a bit of a soft spot for the old girl. I've just had her serviced and new road biased tyres fitted and it's clear there were some niggles that needed addressing which dampened my enthusiasm for the bike initially. A loose headstock and squared off knobblies don't make for a fun ride it would seem.
But overall, given my choice was this or the GS Adventure, i think i made the right choice. The GSA is a bit of a old donkey (yes, i've ridden many) whereas the KTM is a fun bike to ride. It's a bit harder, less squishy and squidgy like the GSA so you need to ride it but in some ways thats part of the KTM DNA. Even with full luggage, panniers and tat on board, the 1190 will hustle like a sports tourer,eatup the miles with ease and give you a serious grin on the loose stuff.
I said she wasn't a keeper, but i might be changing my mind!!
Compared to the BMW it is far more Offroad focused, even more so with the R model. Aginst the GS it wins hands down in some areas, looses out in others. It really depends on the kind of riding you like and how you like your bikes to perform. Coming from absolute Superbikes, the GS/A was just too flaccid for my liking whereas the KTM has at least some semblage of sportiness and real off road ability. It'll keep up with all but a very well ridden Superbike when scratching around on a Sunday morning but can be loaded to the gunnels and will take you up the North face of the Eiger should you wish.
Off to Cahorra Bassa in Moz for some Tiger fishing
Trail Riding around Majete
End of 1100km Day 1 ride up to Malawi. Overnighted in Harare.
Grabbing a Pizza in Mulanje
Overlooking the Shire River from the Blantyre escarpment. 1000 meters vertical climb!
Rain + Dirt = This. A lot!! Thank heavens it's not a GSA!!
They'd sold out of Mars bars!!
Typical Country Village
Tiger Fishing Cahorra Bassa
Sand River Beds. Properly Hard and not for the faint of heart!
Potholes in Tete Province. 200kms of this!!
Riding through the clouds on Zomba Mountain
Given where you ride, the decision for the KTM is obvious imho. The GS is too complicated a bike to take into the wilderness for such long distances. The KTM's simplicity and power are a great combo, but I think it is totally outclassed by the GS on the tarmac and Motorrad are present every 100 miles of speed cameras.But overall, given my choice was this or the GS Adventure, i think i made the right choice. The GSA is a bit of a old donkey (yes, i've ridden many) whereas the KTM is a fun bike to ride. It's a bit harder, less squishy and squidgy like the GSA so you need to ride it but in some ways thats part of the KTM DNA. Even with full luggage, panniers and tat on board, the 1190 will hustle like a sports tourer,eatup the miles with ease and give you a serious grin on the loose stuff.
I said she wasn't a keeper, but i might be changing my mind!!
Compared to the BMW it is far more Offroad focused, even more so with the R model. Aginst the GS it wins hands down in some areas, looses out in others. It really depends on the kind of riding you like and how you like your bikes to perform. Coming from absolute Superbikes, the GS/A was just too flaccid for my liking whereas the KTM has at least some semblage of sportiness and real off road ability. It'll keep up with all but a very well ridden Superbike when scratching around on a Sunday morning but can be loaded to the gunnels and will take you up the North face of the Eiger should you wish.
Off to Cahorra Bassa in Moz for some Tiger fishing
Trail Riding around Majete
End of 1100km Day 1 ride up to Malawi. Overnighted in Harare.
Grabbing a Pizza in Mulanje
Overlooking the Shire River from the Blantyre escarpment. 1000 meters vertical climb!
Rain + Dirt = This. A lot!! Thank heavens it's not a GSA!!
They'd sold out of Mars bars!!
Typical Country Village
Tiger Fishing Cahorra Bassa
Sand River Beds. Properly Hard and not for the faint of heart!
Potholes in Tete Province. 200kms of this!!
Riding through the clouds on Zomba Mountain
Edited by bass gt3 on Friday 26th September 05:50
Small update given I have a GS 1200 now for hacking around in Saigon
Well I guess it was coming.....
Left side switch gear pooled and TPS gone AWOL and bike in limp mode
People talk about BMW legendary quality...... a concept long dead I suspect
A friends 9 month old GSA just ate its final drive and to add another insult to injury he had to contact BMW Germany for the warranty to be honoured under threat of a social media s
tstorm....
First and last for me I suspect... I just don’t see what the fuss is about??
Well I guess it was coming.....
Left side switch gear pooled and TPS gone AWOL and bike in limp mode
People talk about BMW legendary quality...... a concept long dead I suspect
A friends 9 month old GSA just ate its final drive and to add another insult to injury he had to contact BMW Germany for the warranty to be honoured under threat of a social media s
tstorm.... First and last for me I suspect... I just don’t see what the fuss is about??
Get your dealer to replace the LH switch gear (under warranty). Ditto for TPMS. Doesn’t sound like anything else wrong with your bike? What mileage have you done, and is it left outdoors all the time?
Mine remains fault free, does everything, and is still the best bike I’ve had by a long way. Just popped on some new PR5 Trails this week to see what they’re like. Sorry to hear about your friend’s bike - but I would never transpose others owners problems onto my own to affect my opinion of a bike.
Mine remains fault free, does everything, and is still the best bike I’ve had by a long way. Just popped on some new PR5 Trails this week to see what they’re like. Sorry to hear about your friend’s bike - but I would never transpose others owners problems onto my own to affect my opinion of a bike.
Steve Bass said:
Small update given I have a GS 1200 now for hacking around in Saigon
Well I guess it was coming.....
Left side switch gear pooled and TPS gone AWOL and bike in limp mode
People talk about BMW legendary quality...... a concept long dead I suspect
A friends 9 month old GSA just ate its final drive and to add another insult to injury he had to contact BMW Germany for the warranty to be honoured under threat of a social media ststorm....
First and last for me I suspect... I just don’t see what the fuss is about??
Sorry (but not overly surprised) to hear about your BMW woes. Well I guess it was coming.....
Left side switch gear pooled and TPS gone AWOL and bike in limp mode
People talk about BMW legendary quality...... a concept long dead I suspect
A friends 9 month old GSA just ate its final drive and to add another insult to injury he had to contact BMW Germany for the warranty to be honoured under threat of a social media s
tstorm.... First and last for me I suspect... I just don’t see what the fuss is about??
I think that "BMW legendary quality" ended in the early 80's with the last of the air cooled boxers, although the original K series bikes were pretty solid.
Now, low grade components but nicely put together and (generally) with excellent after sales support.
BMW are good a building bikes that meet a lot of peoples requirements, even if they're not the best bikes out there.
I hope your electrics get sorted quickly and with minimal agro.
Swapped my old air cooled GS for a WC adventure and loved it.
Commuted up the m56 everyday for 2 years. Onky sold it when I retired and stopped using it.
I'm 6' 3" tall and it fitted like a glove, and the adventure is massively manoeuvrable in traffic as the weight is low down. Although if it starts to go you won't stop it!!!
If you're buying 2nd hand though and you get the option of BMW warranty then take it, it's worth every penny. My rear shock failed and needed replacing, cost me nothing but if I'd had to pay it was the best part of 3k to do the job!
Commuted up the m56 everyday for 2 years. Onky sold it when I retired and stopped using it.
I'm 6' 3" tall and it fitted like a glove, and the adventure is massively manoeuvrable in traffic as the weight is low down. Although if it starts to go you won't stop it!!!
If you're buying 2nd hand though and you get the option of BMW warranty then take it, it's worth every penny. My rear shock failed and needed replacing, cost me nothing but if I'd had to pay it was the best part of 3k to do the job!
keirik said:
Swapped my old air cooled GS for a WC adventure and loved it.
Commuted up the m56 everyday for 2 years. Onky sold it when I retired and stopped using it.
I'm 6' 3" tall and it fitted like a glove, and the adventure is massively manoeuvrable in traffic as the weight is low down. Although if it starts to go you won't stop it!!!
If you're buying 2nd hand though and you get the option of BMW warranty then take it, it's worth every penny. My rear shock failed and needed replacing, cost me nothing but if I'd had to pay it was the best part of 3k to do the job!
My concern is the weight of these bikes now im looking at the GS Ralle. As you say if it starts to fall its a beast to catchCommuted up the m56 everyday for 2 years. Onky sold it when I retired and stopped using it.
I'm 6' 3" tall and it fitted like a glove, and the adventure is massively manoeuvrable in traffic as the weight is low down. Although if it starts to go you won't stop it!!!
If you're buying 2nd hand though and you get the option of BMW warranty then take it, it's worth every penny. My rear shock failed and needed replacing, cost me nothing but if I'd had to pay it was the best part of 3k to do the job!
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