BMW R1200 GS Alpine 2016

BMW R1200 GS Alpine 2016

Author
Discussion

shoestring7

6,138 posts

245 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Been looking at GS's recently as want to get a more suitable bike for pillioning with my 9 year old daughter. But they seem to vary in price enormously, 800's being cheaper of course, but still "seem" flipping expensive for what they are.
Is it a branding thing, or are they "that good". For example, is a £17k low miles second hand Iconic twice as good as a brand new V Strom with panniers, available for £8.5k? I borrowed a V Strom in the summer and was quite impressed on road of course.
How about the Honda cross tourer at about £12k, or more off roady, the Africa twin at £10.5k and 0%? The GS seems so much pricier, is it that much better?
Is a Honda RC213VS ten times better than a Fireblade?

My sons (12 & 17) have each come on the back of my '11 GSA on week-long tours. The big alloy boxes give plenty of room for stuff, the big screen protects me from the wind and weather, the ride is excellent and the big twin's low-down torque means overtaking doesn't involve stomping down three gears. ABS and ESC systems give confidence in poor conditions, that big tank and 50mpg gives a couple of days gentle touring between fills, there are BMW Motorrad dealers all over Europe (although in five years the biggest problem I've had is a blown headlight bulb) and for owners low depreciation is welcome. That 260kg is a wet figure including 30kg of fuel, a big tourer like a Yamaha FJR1300 is heavier. One downside is the seats which most people find uncomfortable; I've replaced the front with a Sergeant and use an Airhawk on the back.

Its my second GS, it works for me, but you need to try one and make up your own mind.

SS7

poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
shoestring7 said:
poo at Paul's said:
Been looking at GS's recently as want to get a more suitable bike for pillioning with my 9 year old daughter. But they seem to vary in price enormously, 800's being cheaper of course, but still "seem" flipping expensive for what they are.
Is it a branding thing, or are they "that good". For example, is a £17k low miles second hand Iconic twice as good as a brand new V Strom with panniers, available for £8.5k? I borrowed a V Strom in the summer and was quite impressed on road of course.
How about the Honda cross tourer at about £12k, or more off roady, the Africa twin at £10.5k and 0%? The GS seems so much pricier, is it that much better?
Is a Honda RC213VS ten times better than a Fireblade?

SS7
To collectors and the very wealthy, yes. Are you saying the top range GSs are in the same category?

I have test ridden a GS, albeit an aircooled one, having heard some mates say "on normal road they are as fast as any sports bikes" (this was back in 2007).

poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
The Iconic is a special case, you can get a low mileage GS for around £10k -£11K. It might depend on how important shaft drive is to you.
That's a good point, it is a proper difference.

308mate

13,757 posts

221 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
shoestring7 said:
poo at Paul's said:
Been looking at GS's recently as want to get a more suitable bike for pillioning with my 9 year old daughter. But they seem to vary in price enormously, 800's being cheaper of course, but still "seem" flipping expensive for what they are.
Is it a branding thing, or are they "that good". For example, is a £17k low miles second hand Iconic twice as good as a brand new V Strom with panniers, available for £8.5k? I borrowed a V Strom in the summer and was quite impressed on road of course.
How about the Honda cross tourer at about £12k, or more off roady, the Africa twin at £10.5k and 0%? The GS seems so much pricier, is it that much better?
Is a Honda RC213VS ten times better than a Fireblade?

SS7
To collectors and the very wealthy, yes. Are you saying the top range GSs are in the same category?

I have test ridden a GS, albeit an aircooled one, having heard some mates say "on normal road they are as fast as any sports bikes" (this was back in 2007).
Please god, don't go down that road.

Davel

8,982 posts

257 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
I'm on my 6th GS now.

Much as I love the GSA, it is simply too big and heavy for me as an everyday bike.

I can't even climb on the bloody things.

But I've seen folk use them everyday and filter without any problem.

Personally, unless you're planning a long trip, the GS does everything just as well.

Ceeejay

398 posts

150 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
boxxob said:
ta, I may take a look at it. In your photo, is that as rough as the track gets?
Its a bit more cobbly in places... which is a little unnerving if you're not used to the bike being moved sideways. Would wait for a dry day. In the wet it will be very slippery.

Ceeejay

398 posts

150 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
Jezz172 said:
I'm test riding both the 1200 GS and GSA tomorrow as a replacement for the Tracer that got stolen.
I love the look of the GSA but thinking that massive tank will make filtering too tricky
The overall width of the GS and GSA are no different. Its the bars or panniers that are gonna hit anything first, then maybe the cylinder heads. Bars clear most cars wing mirrors if you want to get through tight gaps, but panniers won't. Vans and 4*4's can be an issue with their wing mirrors higher up.

You can feel the weight in the GSA, especially with a full tank of fuel. Its not a lot compared to the standard GS, and certainly not a deal breaker, compared to the increased front protection of the wide tank and bigger screen.

I've had a GS, an RT, and now a GSA all with recent liquid cooled engines.

The RT toured brilliantly, but wasn't much fun. A great tool but difficult to get excited about it.

The increased protection of the GSA is a big plus for me. It overrides the downsides of extra weight.


poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
308mate said:
poo at Paul's said:
shoestring7 said:
poo at Paul's said:
Been looking at GS's recently as want to get a more suitable bike for pillioning with my 9 year old daughter. But they seem to vary in price enormously, 800's being cheaper of course, but still "seem" flipping expensive for what they are.
Is it a branding thing, or are they "that good". For example, is a £17k low miles second hand Iconic twice as good as a brand new V Strom with panniers, available for £8.5k? I borrowed a V Strom in the summer and was quite impressed on road of course.
How about the Honda cross tourer at about £12k, or more off roady, the Africa twin at £10.5k and 0%? The GS seems so much pricier, is it that much better?
Is a Honda RC213VS ten times better than a Fireblade?

SS7
To collectors and the very wealthy, yes. Are you saying the top range GSs are in the same category?

I have test ridden a GS, albeit an aircooled one, having heard some mates say "on normal road they are as fast as any sports bikes" (this was back in 2007).
Please god, don't go down that road.
laugh Turns out they were full of st!!

Treehead3000

Original Poster:

96 posts

112 months

Friday 4th November 2016
quotequote all
literally went in to buy today and its been sold yesterday!
Gutted!!!

Tim1989

738 posts

133 months

Saturday 5th November 2016
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
Been looking at GS's recently as want to get a more suitable bike for pillioning with my 9 year old daughter. But they seem to vary in price enormously, 800's being cheaper of course, but still "seem" flipping expensive for what they are.
Is it a branding thing, or are they "that good". For example, is a £17k low miles second hand Iconic twice as good as a brand new V Strom with panniers, available for £8.5k? I borrowed a V Strom in the summer and was quite impressed on road of course.
How about the Honda cross tourer at about £12k, or more off roady, the Africa twin at £10.5k and 0%? The GS seems so much pricier, is it that much better?
I test rode the new GS and the new V Strom. Rode both for a decent time, mix of different roads and terrains. The GS is a better bike no doubt about it. But, I bought the V Strom. Plenty of electronics, easily fast enough, excellent suspension, nearly as good aftermarket panniers/ parts etc, better reliability record and the handling is as good as the GS. 4000 miles done so far and love it.

Fully optioned GS I'd have been looking at about £15,000. The V Strom? £8.5k on 0%. The GS is better, but 6 or 7 grand better? Not a chance.

poo at Paul's

14,116 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Tim1989 said:
I test rode the new GS and the new V Strom. Rode both for a decent time, mix of different roads and terrains. The GS is a better bike no doubt about it. But, I bought the V Strom. Plenty of electronics, easily fast enough, excellent suspension, nearly as good aftermarket panniers/ parts etc, better reliability record and the handling is as good as the GS. 4000 miles done so far and love it.

Fully optioned GS I'd have been looking at about £15,000. The V Strom? £8.5k on 0%. The GS is better, but 6 or 7 grand better? Not a chance.
Interesting, what bit of the GS was actually better?

Been looking at the Tiger 1200 today. Guy at the used dealer reckons it knocks spots off the GS on all areas? He's got both in, and the Tiger is 5k miles, 64 plate and 8k.
BUt I still keep coming back to the V Strom!! Or older Tiger 1050

Gunk

3,302 posts

158 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
HammyUK said:
308mate said:
What extra maintenance do the spoked wheels require?
Spoke tension, checking the nipples, more difficult to clean, etc.
They also can need an inner liner to make them seal although most don't nowadays.

Advantage off-road is that they will flex more hence being used in MX, etc.
Spokes are easily replaced if damaged.
Cast will crack if subjected to some of the loads involved.

Unless you really are planning on going off-road properly or sodding off to fkknowswhereitisstan its purely an astetic choice.
The GS spoked wheels have a very clever design where the spoke nipples come through the rim so no liner or inner tube is required and tubeless tyres can be used.

Found this out on the BMW stand at the NEC whilst looking at the new GS Adv

Davel

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 4th December 2016
quotequote all
There's loads of stuff on the UKGSer site and bikes for sale too.


Mosdef

1,733 posts

226 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
I bought a 2015 GS Alpine TE in March of this year and ended up swapping it for a brand new GSA in late September, so have some recent experience with both bikes.

I chose the GS Alpine on the basis that I had always fancied owning a GS and it had an excellent spec as standard (I think the only thing mine didn't have was the alarm) and I got a good price from a dealer who had 2-3 in stock. At the time of the test ride, I hadn't ridden a bike for 3 months because my old Versys 1000 was written off whilst parked and as such, I probably pulled the trigger on the Alpine purchase a bit too quickly, without trying other bikes, notably the GSA.

I had the bike for around 6 months and never really enjoyed riding it. Yes, it was very competent but it didn't have much character. I do a lot of riding in London and it was well suited to that but for some reason, I never felt inclined to go on longer rides at weekends in the same way I did with my Kawasaki.

The change to the GSA was prompted by BMW offering a really good deal on new GSAs in September, and I went for the GSA unseen and without a test ride. The spec on both bikes is pretty much identical (gearshift pro, keyless ride, spoked wheels, the usual stuff like heated grips, cruise control, computer etc) but I find riding the GSA more of an event than riding the Alpine. The Alpine was probably a bit sharper and slightly better balanced, not to mention it had 8k miles on it so was nicely run in, but for whatever reason I prefer riding the GSA. The extra width and bigger screen have been excellent in the colder weather and I have no problem with it in central London traffic. Sure, it's not as nimble as other bikes but I don't tend to feel held up by its size. Also, being 6'10" I like the extra height of the GSA and the increased weight doesn't make much difference to me given I weigh around 20 stone. The GSA is far better for pillions too.

I'm not a particularly fast or aggressive rider and I have no interest in trying to keep up with sports bikes, so the GSA suits me quite well . Before the colder weather set in, I had a couple of great, longer rides on the GSA and still look forward to riding it every day. It's not that quick or exciting but it has its own appeal.

TL;DR - I found the Alpine nice but unexceptional and find the GSA is more of an event to ride, even thought it's a little slower/less sharp. Probably partly down to being tall and weighing a lot.