Discussion
On my recent foray's into Europe on my bike it appears the place is infested with R1200GS's, often ridden by German men of a certain age and girth. They are all loaded up with touring gear and look to be going a long way (round?).
Anyway, are they that good that they are the only tool for the job for big trips or is it brand loyalty/good marketing? I'd like to try one, though they are eye wateringly expensive, never mind it looks like climbing onto a giraffe next to my CBR600.
Anyway, are they that good that they are the only tool for the job for big trips or is it brand loyalty/good marketing? I'd like to try one, though they are eye wateringly expensive, never mind it looks like climbing onto a giraffe next to my CBR600.
Mastodon2 said:
As a touring bike, I gather they are absolutely superb. I mainly see them being ridden with panniers, top box and miserable pillion in tow, using their 300 mile tank range to get from Rothbury to Seahouses.
These types of bikes are MUCH more fun and MUCH more suited to Alpine roads. If you manage to go top these areas, you will see many sportsbikes (mostly from the UK) struggling around tight Alpine roads while the Adventure type bikes sail past them.There for people who never quite got biking. I refused to hire one on holiday as that's all they really had. So I never bothered.
I'm worried it's like homosexuality. There's a fear you try it and like it. I feel the same way about mayonnaise.
That's why I can always be found bashing gays, homos and every f
king sandwich in greggs these days.
I'm worried it's like homosexuality. There's a fear you try it and like it. I feel the same way about mayonnaise.
That's why I can always be found bashing gays, homos and every f
king sandwich in greggs these days. They are decking brilliant at what they are.
On a twisty bumpy B road, I am far faster on one than on one of my sports bikes. Very easy to ride quickly, are a lot of fun and have a lot of character.
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
On a twisty bumpy B road, I am far faster on one than on one of my sports bikes. Very easy to ride quickly, are a lot of fun and have a lot of character.
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
Silver993tt said:
hese types of bikes are MUCH more fun and MUCH more suited to Alpine roads. If you manage to go top these areas, you will see many sportsbikes (mostly from the UK) struggling around tight Alpine roads while the Adventure type bikes sail past them.
fking hell, do you have a beeper or something that goes off when someone posts about GS's? You're never far away, chip well and truly on your shoulder, ready to decry sports bikes and tell everyone how fking great the GS is.jackh707 said:
They are decking brilliant at what they are.
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
I've got a couple like that, they're called cars.Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
jackh707 said:
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
That's what I thought. It's the Volkswagen Golf of the bike's world.Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
Biker's Nemesis said:
jackh707 said:
They are decking brilliant at what they are.
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
Comfy, good range fuel consumption, warm when needed.
Luggage capacity if you need it but not my thing.
Only thing i don't like is the size of thing in the garage, it bloody wide... takes up a lot of room compared to the 4 other bikes.
I've got a couple like that, they're called cars.
Mastodon2 said:
Silver993tt said:
hese types of bikes are MUCH more fun and MUCH more suited to Alpine roads. If you manage to go top these areas, you will see many sportsbikes (mostly from the UK) struggling around tight Alpine roads while the Adventure type bikes sail past them.
fking hell, do you have a beeper or something that goes off when someone posts about GS's? You're never far away, chip well and truly on your shoulder, ready to decry sports bikes and tell everyone how fking great the GS is.Silver993tt said:
Touched a sore point have I? I don't own a GS and never have done but have owned R1, ZX12R, ZZR1400 and regularly (3-4 times a year) tour the Alps/Dolomites. Certain bikes are much better on certain types of roads, not very difficult to understand for most people.
It's not a difficult concept, I agree, but that is beside the point, as you rarely post here but every time this thread pops up you appear and post your stock comment.Silver993tt said:
hese types of bikes are MUCH more fun and MUCH more suited to Alpine roads. If you manage to go top these areas, you will see many sportsbikes (mostly from the UK) struggling around tight Alpine roads while the Adventure type bikes sail past them.
They do appear to be very capable. Granted, I'm not the fastest of riders on my zx6r, but I've had a couple of fully loaded GS's come flying past me on the twisty stuff. clen666 said:
Silver993tt said:
hese types of bikes are MUCH more fun and MUCH more suited to Alpine roads. If you manage to go top these areas, you will see many sportsbikes (mostly from the UK) struggling around tight Alpine roads while the Adventure type bikes sail past them.
They do appear to be very capable. Granted, I'm not the fastest of riders on my zx6r, but I've had a couple of fully loaded GS's come flying past me on the twisty stuff. Poor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
bass gt3 said:
Sorry gents, but to imagine the GS bestows some mythical ability where it's automatically faster than a sports bike on a tight and twisty road is tosh.
Poor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
Certainly not, I agree but that configuration of bike is much easy to hussle through mountain twisties and hairpin bends.Poor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
I reckon a lot of the time it's off roader types or experienced riders that have given up on sports type bikes that buy GS's.
I also reckon that maybe a lot of people that ride spurts bikes are new-ish DAS riders that have not yet sussed how to ride a spurts bike too so combine the 2 and maybe that's what makes the GS type bikes look quicker.
I know a few people with adventure bikes that can make 95% with spurts bikes look stupid.
I also reckon that maybe a lot of people that ride spurts bikes are new-ish DAS riders that have not yet sussed how to ride a spurts bike too so combine the 2 and maybe that's what makes the GS type bikes look quicker.
I know a few people with adventure bikes that can make 95% with spurts bikes look stupid.
Mastodon2 said:
Silver993tt said:
Touched a sore point have I? I don't own a GS and never have done but have owned R1, ZX12R, ZZR1400 and regularly (3-4 times a year) tour the Alps/Dolomites. Certain bikes are much better on certain types of roads, not very difficult to understand for most people.
It's not a difficult concept, I agree, but that is beside the point, as you rarely post here but every time this thread pops up you appear and post your stock comment.bass gt3 said:
Sorry gents, but to imagine the GS bestows some mythical ability where it's automatically faster than a sports bike on a tight and twisty road is tosh.
Poor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
I agree, my ability is clearly the limiting factor, but I was just making the point that they may look big and ungainly but they can certainly be hustled along wellPoor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
clen666 said:
bass gt3 said:
Sorry gents, but to imagine the GS bestows some mythical ability where it's automatically faster than a sports bike on a tight and twisty road is tosh.
Poor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
I agree, my ability is clearly the limiting factor, but I was just making the point that they may look big and ungainly but they can certainly be hustled along wellPoor riders will be poor regardless of what they're on. A GS doesn't transform you into a craving King...
But this assertion that they're more suited is what gets me.
If a sports bike is passed by a GS it's solely an indication of the SP riders ability vs that of the GS rider.
I know guys who are unfeasibly fast on their GS's but then again they're even quicker on their Superbikes.
Only difference is the GS is nicer for the pillion they usually have on-board.
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff