BMW GS's

[shoestring7]

CAPP0 said:

Well, I can't crow too much, as I commute on an elderly R1100RT, but today I believe I have seen the ultimate ridiculous GS accessory.

I rode down towards Fiveways at Sidcup alongside a newish (I think 14-plate) 1200GS. I could see there was something black attached to the top of his knee guard (?) tube but couldn't work out what it was. It stuck out further than the guard; I was thinking, that's got to get in the way for tight filtering.

Anyway, we stopped at the lights, I had a closer look - and it was a fkn CUP HOLDER! What the actual?? I mean, we all know the joke about the motorcycle ash tray, but why on earth would you want a cup holder? Does he really stick his double grande skinny mocha soya latte in there? And then what? Take a sip at traffic lights? He wasn't even wearing a flip-up lid.

.com

http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-132-400U

You mean you have a GS without one...?

SS7

[CAPP0]

shoestring7 said:

http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-132-400U

You mean you have a GS without one...?

SS7

Dear Mr Palm. Meet Dr Face.

(Mine's an RT, not a GS. I have an excess of Tupperware AND a (working) radio-cassette! )

[LeadFarmer]

Bumping this as I enjoy reading the GS bashing posts.

[boxedin]

flyingvisit said:

Just as a matter of interest (from a K11 rider who fancies a twin), what sort of mileage will a GS (or any other modern BM twin) clock up without major problems? Do they suffer the old BM twin problems that I've heard of i.e. oil leaks and chocolate gearboxes?

1200GS 86K before being written off by some ding-bat, but was still able to ride home, their car had to be trailered. Replaced that with the same but was the newer Twin Cam and I went for a fully spec'd one this time, that was sold off at just under 70K covered. Each was covering 25-30K a year, all year round.

So, IME nothing needed other than servicing ( not by BMW ), brake pads, tyres and replacement shocks every 20-25K same as every other bike I've had.

Like any vehicle, some have problems, others don't.

[PHlL]

I learnt on a GS and have a GS and could not be without mine.

Being a young rider, I'm unlike the norm but I've never done the sports bike thing. Never fancied it. But I'm not superslim and never liked the leant over riding position when I have tried them.

I just love the riding position and puts a huge smile on my face which is the most important thing. Rain or shine, the GS is my vehicle of choice and leave the 4 Series at home unless I have to take friends and family out.

Also, another thing with GS riders to other GS riders, especially the new R1200's with the LED running light as you can see what bike it is, you usually get a wave instead of a nodding head which I always like.

[Ceeejay]

PHlL said:

Also, another thing with GS riders to other GS riders, especially the new R1200's with the LED running light as you can see what bike it is, you usually get a wave instead of a nodding head which I always like.

Thats because they're just riding along, cruise control engaged, waving with their throttle hand, drinking with their other hand, and smoking a pipe...

[J B L]

sc0tt said:

What happens if I dress up like charlie and stick a top box on my R1

Thread implosion?

That's what I'll be doing soon. Textiles, Sportsbike, heated grips, Renntec rack and top case. I might even consider handlebar muffs if it gets chilly.

[Mr2Mike]

PHlL said:

I learnt on a GS and have a GS and could not be without mine.

Being a young rider, I'm unlike the norm but I've never done the sports bike thing. Never fancied it. But I'm not superslim and never liked the leant over riding position when I have tried them.

I'm not superslim either, but you quickly get used to the riding position (and helps with some muscle development around the gut) and it makes absolute sense for the purpose of the bike.

[spareparts]

J B L said:

sc0tt said:

What happens if I dress up like charlie and stick a top box on my R1

Thread implosion?

That's what I'll be doing soon. Textiles, Sportsbike, heated grips, Renntec rack and top case. I might even consider handlebar muffs if it gets chilly.

Eventually you'll realise that that combo is such a compromise where nothing is done particularly well. You will then admit defeat and pick a bike like a GS where it does everything quite well.

[Silver993tt]

spareparts said:

J B L said:

sc0tt said:

What happens if I dress up like charlie and stick a top box on my R1

Thread implosion?

That's what I'll be doing soon. Textiles, Sportsbike, heated grips, Renntec rack and top case. I might even consider handlebar muffs if it gets chilly.

Eventually you'll realise that that combo is such a compromise where nothing is done particularly well. You will then admit defeat and pick a bike like a GS where it does everything quite well.

or maybe they'll stick to what you often see coming off the Eurotunnel at Calais, 'sports' bikes with an array of ill-fitting soft bags, plastic bags etc drooping and bungeed/cargo netted hanging lop-sided 'ready' for their big Euro tour. 100km away you'll see the same bikes huddled under the roof of a gas station at the first sign of rain hopping around trying to get into their balloon like cheap rain over suits covering up their already damp and wet 'racing' leathers. A perfect start and perfect preparation for their Euro tour

[moto_traxport]

An awesome thread.

Silver993tt said:

spareparts said:

J B L said:

sc0tt said:

What happens if I dress up like charlie and stick a top box on my R1

Thread implosion?

That's what I'll be doing soon. Textiles, Sportsbike, heated grips, Renntec rack and top case. I might even consider handlebar muffs if it gets chilly.

Eventually you'll realise that that combo is such a compromise where nothing is done particularly well. You will then admit defeat and pick a bike like a GS where it does everything quite well.

or maybe they'll stick to what you often see coming off the Eurotunnel at Calais, 'sports' bikes with an array of ill-fitting soft bags, plastic bags etc drooping and bungeed/cargo netted hanging lop-sided 'ready' for their big Euro tour. 100km away you'll see the same bikes huddled under the roof of a gas station at the first sign of rain hopping around trying to get into their balloon like cheap rain over suits covering up their already damp and wet 'racing' leathers. A perfect start and perfect preparation for their Euro tour

You do just sound bitter going over the same ground again and again. You will mentioning a sportsbikes inability to get around a hairpin next.

If people want to tour on sportsbikes then good on them, if you want blatt around on adventure bikes with textiles and fitted hard luggage then good for you.

It's a bit like comparing Range Rovers to Ferraris when all you need is a Mondeo estate - how flipping dull would the world be?

[Silver993tt]

moto_traxport said:

You do just sound bitter going over the same ground again and again. You will mentioning a sportsbikes inability to get around a hairpin next.

If people want to tour on sportsbikes then good on them, if you want blatt around on adventure bikes with textiles and fitted hard luggage then good for you.

It's a bit like comparing Range Rovers to Ferraris when all you need is a Mondeo estate - how flipping dull would the world be?

There are tools designed to do a job, a shame that there are those who refuse to use them just to make a 'rebelious' point when in fact all they are doing is limiting the potential of their experience. They really do look very stupid

[moto_traxport]

Silver993tt said:

moto_traxport said:

You do just sound bitter going over the same ground again and again. You will mentioning a sportsbikes inability to get around a hairpin next.

If people want to tour on sportsbikes then good on them, if you want blatt around on adventure bikes with textiles and fitted hard luggage then good for you.

It's a bit like comparing Range Rovers to Ferraris when all you need is a Mondeo estate - how flipping dull would the world be?

There are tools designed to do a job, a shame that there are those who refuse to use them just to make a 'rebelious' point when in fact all they are doing is limiting the potential of their experience. They really do look very stupid

The use of a motorbike of any description is already a rebellious point. Of the vehicles I own the very worst one to take to the South of France or The Alps is a motorbike. The next worst is a small convertible car and finally a my normal car or van. Ironically I have no desire to undertake this trip in the more appropriate vehicles.

It's just a scale thing - 'normal' people think that you getting wet and being vulnerable on a bike is madness - much pointing at stupid person etc. You are just doing the same on your bikey scale. If I saw a Brit registered RS250 smoking up an Alpine pass in the sleet in his sodden jacket and jeans with his worldly belongings in a Tescos carrier bag Gaffa taped to the back I would salute him rather than give it the full Schadenfreude.

[PHlL]

Ceeejay said:

Thats because they're just riding along, cruise control engaged, waving with their throttle hand, drinking with their other hand, and smoking a pipe...

Ha. Don't knock it until you try it.

[J B L]

spareparts said:

J B L said:

sc0tt said:

What happens if I dress up like charlie and stick a top box on my R1

Thread implosion?

That's what I'll be doing soon. Textiles, Sportsbike, heated grips, Renntec rack and top case. I might even consider handlebar muffs if it gets chilly.

Eventually you'll realise that that combo is such a compromise where nothing is done particularly well. You will then admit defeat and pick a bike like a GS where it does everything quite well.

I really fail to understand what a GS does better than a sportsbike? I went out on my R1 and SP in the rain, in the cold, on salty roads and done hundreds of miles at a time without thinking twice about it.

Not aimed at you SS but frankly, after having tried an MT09 recently which a very good bike, the only 2 reasons I can see one would willingly go towards a GS or anything upright is because they're a) physically incapable, too tall, too large or b) way past their physical best and can't hack it any longer.

Silver993tt said:

r maybe they'll stick to what you often see coming off the Eurotunnel at Calais, 'sports' bikes with an array of ill-fitting soft bags, plastic bags etc drooping and bungeed/cargo netted hanging lop-sided 'ready' for their big Euro tour. 100km away you'll see the same bikes huddled under the roof of a gas station at the first sign of rain hopping around trying to get into their balloon like cheap rain over suits covering up their already damp and wet 'racing' leathers. A perfect start and perfect preparation for their Euro tour

But of course it's much better to have a go at 'power rangers' and other so-called deluded sports bike riders than admit their own failings.

[Silver993tt]

J B L said:

But of course it's much better to have a go at 'power rangers' and other so-called deluded sports bike riders than admit their own failings.

How are your lop-sided soft bags and your cargo nets?
I'm fit, running regular 10km runs and training 35km per week, weighing 72Kg, so don't fit into your perceived stereo-typing.
I've had 'sports' bikes such as the original 1998 R1.Nice bike for a day bike in good weather on open roads with no traffic. For touring these bikes really are non-starters no matter how much people say they are fine. Sure they get you there and back but you will miss out on a whole lot of fun if you use them for this purpose - which has been my point. A lot of it is to do with peer pressure and 'mates' and perceived image. That's something that I don't care about, it's about what I want to ride and where I want to ride without worrying what others think. Too many buy a bike that they think is 'acceptable' top others and in doing so waste not only their money but also their time and miss out on quality biking experiences.

Edited by Silver993tt on Monday 3rd August 21:51

[Andybow]

Sometimes getting older changes what you want in life, I love bikes, always have and always will, my grandad raced, my dad raced and so did I when I was younger. But now going away on the bike is a jolly, touring around Europe or wherever is my escape from normal life, I don't fancy it anymore on a sportsbike, I've done it many times in the past and loved it, but I know like more comfort, better luggage and just to have a laugh, I still don't hang around but I'm not bothered with setting personnel bests up some twisty road. I don't like the GS personally, but those that do love them, I also don't want a full blown tourer, so my last few bikes have been a multistrada and k1300s, you can't beat hard luggage until you have used it!

[JacquesMesrine]

Silver993tt said:

I'm fit, running regular 10km runs and training 35km per week, weighing 72Kg, so don't fit into your perceived stereo-typing.

That's annoying. You sound from your posts that you should look like the actor Gert Fröbe.

[CAPP0]

My mates and I used to do all sorts on sports bikes, long trips, UK track days, Spanish track weeks, the 'Ring before anyone in the UK had heard of it, etc etc etc. There was a time when I wouldn't even turn my head in a showroom to glance at anything which wasn't a full-on sports bike. We used to joke and say we hoped that when we got old, we wouldn't all be pootling around on BMWs.

I'm older now…. To be fair one of us is still sports bike mad, and in fact now races properly, but the rest of us are riding tourers, adventure bikes, etc.

Post above said don't knock hard luggage until you've tried it - ain't that the truth! I said the same to a mate only this evening!

People change, and those of you who say you'll be riding a 300bhp crotch rocket when you're 80, well, one or two of you might be but I'd place a decent wedge on the rest of you being on something a bit less full-on

[spareparts]

J B L said:

I really fail to understand what a GS does better than a sportsbike?

Lots!