Hayabusa to BMW 1200 GS

Hayabusa to BMW 1200 GS

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Discussion

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I need some help here please...

We are in the process of starting a Touring company where we will be taking people across Southern Africa with BMW 1200 GS and 800 GS (clients choice). We will be doing some serious off road riding as you can imagine, but my problem is this...

I currently have a Suzuki Hayabusa and I absolutely love the thing and I ride her quite hard. I have been riding since I was 4 and grew up on a farm with plenty of off road bikes. However, I've been in the UK for 18 years now and have always had sport bikes (R1s, Fireblade, Blackbirds, etc.). I want to start spending more time on the GS bikes to start getting used to them, so have been spending the last week researching other riders comments on the subject.

I use my Hayabusa to commute to work with every day (25 miles) into Wimbledon and obviously getting out of here in the afternoons/evenings does require some filtering.

Am I doing the right thing??? so confused

trickywoo

11,706 posts

229 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Can't see the point in getting used to a GS on the road when from the sounds of things your main plan is to ride offroad when you make the jump.

If it was me I'd have a fun day out on a trails bike see how I got on then find somewhere doing offroad courses on GS and again see how you go. I'd imagine it'll all come back to you but if it doesn't get a GS and take some green lanes to work.

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I'm booked in of the Offroadskills.com course this coming weekend so am doing exactly that!

If I get one, I will be doing quite a lot of green lane riding to play around...it's the daily commute I more concerned about..don't want to buy the thing and then a month later think it's a crap bike

Rosscow

8,723 posts

162 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Are the GS's the correct choice of bike?

I know they're popular, but I always hear bad things about reliability and can't help think there might be something better, lighter, for the job?

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Rosscow said:
Are the GS's the correct choice of bike?

I know they're popular, but I always hear bad things about reliability and can't help think there might be something better, lighter, for the job?
I haven't heard anything about reliability, but that doesn't sound good!! Thanks for the tip

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
How "serious" will the offloading be??
Are you familiar with Southern Africa?? It's quite a bit different from Wimbledon wink
And why choose GS'S specifically??

If you're taking paying riders you need to account for all skill levels. GS's are heavy things and not so great at true off road. There's a joke in South Africa (the GS'S biggest market) that the GS stands for Geen Sand. Afrikaans for 'no sand" due to its weight and poor offroad ability.
Additionally, when punters do crash, which they will often, parts are very expensive and the bikes themselves aren't so robust.
Then factor in the amount of services the bikes will require and you'll understand why a GS wouldn't be the best choice for repeated serious off road trips.
Look at things like the Yam XT660 which are far more robust.
As for learning to ride offroad, no amount of mx track riding or greenlaning will teach you how to handle a 200kg bike in deep sand.
And unless you're going to offer something unique there's a ton of companies offering this already from solo trips to fully organised and escorted adventures......
This is from someone who lives in SA and has ridden the Rift Valley through Malawi and Mozambique. GS's tend to go as far north as the border of SA before the dirt starts,)


Edited by Steve Bass on Tuesday 20th September 08:44

Ceeejay

398 posts

150 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Rosscow said:
Are the GS's the correct choice of bike?

I know they're popular, but I always hear bad things about reliability and can't help think there might be something better, lighter, for the job?
During the BMW offroad course, as a novice I found the 1200GS easier to ride than the 800 or 650's... Its bulk aids in stability and has a smoother throttle. I found the smaller bikes a bit more flighty, less likely to barge through mud and gravel..

I get that experts will want a more responsive bike.

And the 1200 isn't that difficult to pick up. The sticky out bits mean you have another pivot point to move the bike around when its on its side, and its already slightly lifted compared to a flat sided bike. Cylinder head covers were a consumable item. They didn't put engine bars on, as damage to them could break the central engine casings where they mount.


jcelee

1,039 posts

243 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I think my ultimate adventure trip would involve a decent road bike (with some choice, maybe R-nineT, MT10, Tuono, XSR900, some 600 and 1000 sports bikes) for the road sections, jumping onto a two stroke trials bike (Beta 300 or something like that) for the off-road bits. It would be good to have a support vehicle anyway - they could run on ahead loaded up with the trials bikes smile Does anyone else offer a trip like this?!

gareth_r

5,712 posts

236 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I have zero off-road experience, but the videos of South African tours that I've seen were on hard-packed dirt roads, rather than on Dakar Rally sand or the sort of muddy trail that you find in the UK, and the medium to huge "adventure" bikes seemed to give the riders no problems at all.

(I'm convinced that some of those dirt roads are smoother than the potholed tarmac I see around Bristol. smile )

They all seem to be BMWs, though. Do BMW offer the best support in SA, or is it just the Charlie and Ewan effect?

HammyUK

129 posts

100 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Generally they have the largest and widest dealer network, backed by their international warranty.
That is one of the deciders for me having a GS delivered on monday over the Explorer.
I'll be in france extensively and 2 years with recovery, loan bike, etc all included in the price along with the shear number of dealers was a no brainer.
Triumph on the other hand offered next to nothing and a EU dealer network that is sparse.

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
HammyUK said:
Generally they have the largest and widest dealer network, backed by their international warranty.
That is one of the deciders for me having a GS delivered on monday over the Explorer.
I'll be in france extensively and 2 years with recovery, loan bike, etc all included in the price along with the shear number of dealers was a no brainer.
Triumph on the other hand offered next to nothing and a EU dealer network that is sparse.
To be fair, their UK based warranty/recovery operation is very good. Unfortunately, I had cause to use it around 5 times in the first 8 months, so had to sell my LC GS and revert back to my old air cooled tractor ('05 GS) for commuting, as the newer version was just not reliable. Very good dealer service from Bahnstormer Thames Valley though.

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Steve Bass said:
How "serious" will the offloading be??
Are you familiar with Southern Africa?? It's quite a bit different from Wimbledon wink
And why choose GS'S specifically??

If you're taking paying riders you need to account for all skill levels. GS's are heavy things and not so great at true off road. There's a joke in South Africa (the GS'S biggest market) that the GS stands for Geen Sand. Afrikaans for 'no sand" due to its weight and poor offroad ability.
Additionally, when punters do crash, which they will often, parts are very expensive and the bikes themselves aren't so robust.
Then factor in the amount of services the bikes will require and you'll understand why a GS wouldn't be the best choice for repeated serious off road trips.
Look at things like the Yam XT660 which are far more robust.
As for learning to ride offroad, no amount of mx track riding or greenlaning will teach you how to handle a 200kg bike in deep sand.
And unless you're going to offer something unique there's a ton of companies offering this already from solo trips to fully organised and escorted adventures......
This is from someone who lives in SA and has ridden the Rift Valley through Malawi and Mozambique. GS's tend to go as far north as the border of SA before the dirt starts,)


Edited by Steve Bass on Tuesday 20th September 08:44
I was born and raised in South Africa so I have a very good knowledge of the terrain. Johannesburg, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Etosha Pans, Namibia and Back.


speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
gareth_r said:
I have zero off-road experience, but the videos of South African tours that I've seen were on hard-packed dirt roads, rather than on Dakar Rally sand or the sort of muddy trail that you find in the UK, and the medium to huge "adventure" bikes seemed to give the riders no problems at all.

(I'm convinced that some of those dirt roads are smoother than the potholed tarmac I see around Bristol. smile )

They all seem to be BMWs, though. Do BMW offer the best support in SA, or is it just the Charlie and Ewan effect?
Great call...We have a deal with BMW already in place there and they have given us loads of options which we like and will also have a support 4x4 following us the whole way...on a bit that I have already done, it's a lot more extreme than you may think

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all



Edited by speedofile on Tuesday 20th September 16:22

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
jcelee said:
I think my ultimate adventure trip would involve a decent road bike (with some choice, maybe R-nineT, MT10, Tuono, XSR900, some 600 and 1000 sports bikes) for the road sections, jumping onto a two stroke trials bike (Beta 300 or something like that) for the off-road bits. It would be good to have a support vehicle anyway - they could run on ahead loaded up with the trials bikes smile Does anyone else offer a trip like this?!
You want to ride a bike you can't sit on that only does about 45 mph for "the off-road bits"?

OK

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
My original question was do you guys think the 1200 GS would be a good commuting bike?

Ant thoughts?

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
I don't think Ants really have thoughts about BMW GSs to be honest.

HTH,
PP

speedofile

Original Poster:

27 posts

204 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
I don't think Ants really have thoughts about BMW GSs to be honest.

HTH,
PP
ROFL

Any Thoughts

Prizam

2,335 posts

140 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
speedofile said:
My original question was do you guys think the 1200 GS would be a good commuting bike?

Ant thoughts?
Yes, its fine. 15k in the last year on mine.

Mirror hight is a bit annoying with vans, and they don't fold away. you soon get used to the size. I am quicker at filtering now than a lot of sports bikes, only occasionally do i have to give up and sit behind until a space opens up.

As for off road, probably not the best choice for sand. most other things are ok though.

I have the 1200 and agree that the bulk makes slow speed and off-roading a lot easier. As does the torque.

I have limited experience, Mud and grass off roading on road tyres. Was aright, eft all the aids turned on.

Löyly

17,990 posts

158 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
What's the GS like for commuting? Pretty good I would hope since they were designed with that in mind. They're also popular with short blokes with fat wives who tour at a leisurely pace, it seems.