So these GS's are BIG!!

[xspencex]

My F800 went in for a bit of warranty work today and the loan bike was an '08 R1200 GS...my god it is BIG. I felt like I was riding on the bonnet of a truck. What a weird experience. My feet could barely touch the ground as well, so not the low seat option then. Took the OH out and the bike handles fantastic with her on the back. Dropped the GS off at he dealer and picked up the F800 and headed home only to break down again just round the corner.... so tonight I have said GS outside the house again...think I might keep it.




Anybody else have experiences of the big GS?

And a pic of my F800 behind some Italian car...

[Hooli]

that red thing looks disgusting (so does the FS )

[PolarExpress]

I don't get these GSes either. I also have trouble getting my heels on the ground despite being 5'11"... it's a massive bike that just feels unwieldy... too heavy, too tall, too wide... seemingly built for 6'5" Germans?

[xspencex]

PolarExpress said:

I don't get these GSes either. I also have trouble getting my heels on the ground despite being 5'11"... it's a massive bike that just feels unwieldy... too heavy, too tall, too wide... seemingly built for 6'5" Germans?

I love riding it, but I couldn't justify owning one... unless I commuted across the Gobi desert every day. . . It's also despirately ugly, but in a Land Rover 110 kind of way, functional and robust.

[Twit]

PolarExpress said:

I don't get these GSes either. I also have trouble getting my heels on the ground despite being 5'11"... it's a massive bike that just feels unwieldy... too heavy, too tall, too wide... seemingly built for 6'5" Germans?

Ride one! They are great!!

I have a 1200RT which is also a huge bike; I have to have the seat at its highest setting and I still get both feet down OK, as I do on a GS, so I guess that helps. Big BMs are simply the best bikes out there, just can't be beaten as outright tools!

[gsfrontera]

I used to have the R1150GS. An absolute quality piece of kit, I would recommend one to anyone (unless they are super short) Im around 6 foot and touching the floor with both feet was a definate no go.

As I say, there are many good features, the size of the bike for one. Your bigger so car drivers see you easier. You can command a better position on the road etc. We did a tour round Europe last year for 10 days, it didnt miss a beat, carried me and all my luggage comfortably. I really cant praise it enough.

The only reason I got rid of mine was that it just wasnt quick enough, I thought I had grown past wanting to fly everywhere I went. How wrong I was! Hence the ZX12...

But thats just me, these really are good bikes, and mine was worth every penny.

[RizzoTheRat]

Not ridden the 1200 but heard of a lot of people having electrical issues with them, and some going back to the 1150, despite the 1200 being more powerfull, lighter, faster and more economical. I test rode the 1150GS when it first came out and they are good. Yes they're big but they're suprisingly agile and glide over the bumps. I'm quite tempted by an 1150 but am slightly put off by the "Ewan and Charlie syndrome" where a 1200GS with all the touratech luggage seems to be the latest fashion accessory (yes I know not wanting to buy something becasue of its image is as bad as buying something because of it's image).

[PolarExpress]

Maybe they are the 'Range Rover' of bikes and would be better on the open road/Gobi instead of trying to filter through traffic where it's useful to get the feet down frequently.

Out of the Beemers, I'm a big fan of the K1200R... but anyone heard of the new one that's supposed to be coming out next year?

[fergus]

RizzoTheRat said:

Not ridden the 1200 but heard of a lot of people having electrical issues with them

interesting. what type of problems have you heard about? thks

[Rocket Pepper]

I was amazed how light, nimble and chuckable the 1200 was when I took one for a little burn around some Yorkshire Moors twisties. The first thing that struck me when I set off, was how 'Japanese' it felt. You know,like smooth and comfortable and kinda effortless to ride.

Amazing the GS's. I'm still wanting one for my 'round the world' fantasy.

[RizzoTheRat]

fergus said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Not ridden the 1200 but heard of a lot of people having electrical issues with them

interesting. what type of problems have you heard about? thks

The newer BMW's are fly by wire rather than a conventional loom, eg instead of a microswitch on the brake lever that supplies current to the brake lights, the sensor tells the computer you've braked and the computer turns the light on. Not sure if they've now fixed it but there were a lot of reliability issues. Once I've heard of include the fuel pump controller failing, the accessory socket switching itself off randomly, imobiliser not turning off and the brake servo failing (unlike most bikes they're servo assisted so very little braking without it).

Of course this is the UK's best selling bike so there's a lot of them out there and it could be that the people with problems are the most vocal. If you're looking at getting one take a look at http://www.ukgser.com/forums for more specific info.

[fergus]

RizzoTheRat said:

fergus said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Not ridden the 1200 but heard of a lot of people having electrical issues with them

interesting. what type of problems have you heard about? thks

The newer BMW's are fly by wire rather than a conventional loom, eg instead of a microswitch on the brake lever that supplies current to the brake lights, the sensor tells the computer you've braked and the computer turns the light on. Not sure if they've now fixed it but there were a lot of reliability issues. Once I've heard of include the fuel pump controller failing, the accessory socket switching itself off randomly, imobiliser not turning off and the brake servo failing (unlike most bikes they're servo assisted so very little braking without it).

Of course this is the UK's best selling bike so there's a lot of them out there and it could be that the people with problems are the most vocal. If you're looking at getting one take a look at http://www.ukgser.com/forums for more specific info.

[xspencex]

some of those problems listed are across all BMW's not just the GS's.. trust me 4 trips to the dealer for the F800, re-calls and break downs...due another trip at the end of the month for a new engine. But dealer has been first rate sorting every problem out without question.

[fergus]

xspencex said:

...due another trip at the end of the month for a new engine..

Which dealer do you use?