Oh God I’m slipping to the dark side
Discussion
croyde said:
On the same subject of height, I'm an inch off 6ft and on test rides I didn't really have a problem on the standard GS but a few I see secondhand are lowered seat.
Is this easy to change if I don't get on with it, or is it a bonus?
You’d almost certainly find someone on a GS forum looking for a low seat either to buy or swap.Is this easy to change if I don't get on with it, or is it a bonus?
It’s a 2 minute job to swap and also to lower or raise the existing seat.
Gixer968CS said:
My journey to owning a GS went like this:
c50 years old, herniated discs in my back, too fat and own a 3 year old GSXR1000 I bought from new. Rode the Suzuki all over - Italy, Alps etc. Loved it but I began to worry about how fast I rode it and, frankly, it was "too nice" to use regularly on my London commute and I'd just destroyed my trusty old ZX9R which I used for that. I also long ago gave up on track days (I found them boring in the end. Yes really!) and realised I much preferred touring, which I'd always done on litre sports bikes up 'til then. So, after 34 years of always owing bikes and always having sports bikes I decided to get something "sensible". Obviously I opted for a Ducati Monster 1200R - 162 bhp as standard but with Termis and a remapped ecu for a bit more. Bloody love it. Goes like a pig up a ditch and looks just sublime.
However, a new relationship at the time presented the opportunity to put a willing girlfriend on the back of a bike. So, off we went for a test ride two up on the M12R. If you're not familiar with the Monster R it is considerably tweaked over the standard S model (it's 25mm taller for more lean angle, it's lighter, has forged wheels, diablo corsas as standard, upgraded Ohlins etc etc) and includes a much narrower, smaller tail unit and therefore a tiny pillion seat.
In the pub after the ride my (still) girlfriend advised that while she could see how riding pillion may be fun there was no way she was getting on the Ducati again - too hard, too small, nothing to hold on it except me etc. Now, I bought the Ducati new, it's a work of art and no way was I selling it. So I began to hatch a plan....
My man brain figured that more is more, right. Two bikes is better than one. Obviously. So the answer was to get an older, cheaper second hand bike that we could ride on together and that the girlfriend would feel confident and happy on. And that I could commute on again. I definitely wanted a shaft drive, that was a given. I would tour and commute on this bike (60miles a day) so after 35 years of chain faffing I was done with it. I needed something I comfy, I wanted something fun and I wanted practical things like heated grips, USB, weather protection. luggage options etc.
Long story (sorry) short. Test rode a KTM 1290 GT (yes, I know, chain) - lovely bike but too hooligan (already got the M12R for that) and I found the seat way too hard. Test road a ZZR1400. Again, too hooligan and too forward leaning for what I wanted. Test road a Triumph Tiger1200. Ok but I thought "capable" rather than exciting or interesting. Good noise though. Then I test rode a 2013 (LC) GS1200. Bought it that day for c£9k with 22k on the clock and 5 years old at the time. Put boxes on it and happy girlfriend and happy me!!
The GS, for me, had so much more character in the engine. It has a smile inducing amount of low end torque - you genuinely can't believe it until you've ridden one and I speak as an experienced large capacity twin owner. That combined with the silly noise it makes is just a lot of fun. It also handles well (in a kind bendy but trust inspiring way) and stops well. I changed the Michelins out for Metzlers recently and now I have the confidence to really chuck it in and lean it over. But, but when I want can just I sit on it, calm, radio on, that easy motor just relaxing me. 150 miles in one hit is easy-peasy. 400+ in a day.
I bought the M12R in March 2018 and it's done 5k miles. I bought the GS in May 2018 and I've added c30k to it. Every time I ride the Monster I just laugh at how crazy and fun it is. But it's a one trick pony. The GS really is the chameleon motorcycle - it'll change character according to your mood and what you ask of it. It really is a fabulous piece of kit. It aint fast, but it aint slow either and I like that. I also like how it looks (without boxes at least) though I know the looks can be divisive.
I have many things to thank my lovely partner for and without her I probably wouldn't have ever come around to riding a GS and I'm soooo very glad I have one. It was a process of logic that led me to it but now I do have emotion for my BMW, mainly respect. I will buy another, of that there's no doubt.
I also now have a Honda VTR1000SP2 so don't box me off a non-nodding GS fan boy with grey adventure gear (I don't have those). I'm just a biker who loves riding and appreciates a fine piece of engineering. Seriously, if you haven't ridden one, don't knock 'em though I do except that they are (of course) not everyones cup of tea. Thanks for the difference, it makes bike meets and bikers so much more interesting.
What a great post, proper biker attitude c50 years old, herniated discs in my back, too fat and own a 3 year old GSXR1000 I bought from new. Rode the Suzuki all over - Italy, Alps etc. Loved it but I began to worry about how fast I rode it and, frankly, it was "too nice" to use regularly on my London commute and I'd just destroyed my trusty old ZX9R which I used for that. I also long ago gave up on track days (I found them boring in the end. Yes really!) and realised I much preferred touring, which I'd always done on litre sports bikes up 'til then. So, after 34 years of always owing bikes and always having sports bikes I decided to get something "sensible". Obviously I opted for a Ducati Monster 1200R - 162 bhp as standard but with Termis and a remapped ecu for a bit more. Bloody love it. Goes like a pig up a ditch and looks just sublime.
However, a new relationship at the time presented the opportunity to put a willing girlfriend on the back of a bike. So, off we went for a test ride two up on the M12R. If you're not familiar with the Monster R it is considerably tweaked over the standard S model (it's 25mm taller for more lean angle, it's lighter, has forged wheels, diablo corsas as standard, upgraded Ohlins etc etc) and includes a much narrower, smaller tail unit and therefore a tiny pillion seat.
In the pub after the ride my (still) girlfriend advised that while she could see how riding pillion may be fun there was no way she was getting on the Ducati again - too hard, too small, nothing to hold on it except me etc. Now, I bought the Ducati new, it's a work of art and no way was I selling it. So I began to hatch a plan....
My man brain figured that more is more, right. Two bikes is better than one. Obviously. So the answer was to get an older, cheaper second hand bike that we could ride on together and that the girlfriend would feel confident and happy on. And that I could commute on again. I definitely wanted a shaft drive, that was a given. I would tour and commute on this bike (60miles a day) so after 35 years of chain faffing I was done with it. I needed something I comfy, I wanted something fun and I wanted practical things like heated grips, USB, weather protection. luggage options etc.
Long story (sorry) short. Test rode a KTM 1290 GT (yes, I know, chain) - lovely bike but too hooligan (already got the M12R for that) and I found the seat way too hard. Test road a ZZR1400. Again, too hooligan and too forward leaning for what I wanted. Test road a Triumph Tiger1200. Ok but I thought "capable" rather than exciting or interesting. Good noise though. Then I test rode a 2013 (LC) GS1200. Bought it that day for c£9k with 22k on the clock and 5 years old at the time. Put boxes on it and happy girlfriend and happy me!!
The GS, for me, had so much more character in the engine. It has a smile inducing amount of low end torque - you genuinely can't believe it until you've ridden one and I speak as an experienced large capacity twin owner. That combined with the silly noise it makes is just a lot of fun. It also handles well (in a kind bendy but trust inspiring way) and stops well. I changed the Michelins out for Metzlers recently and now I have the confidence to really chuck it in and lean it over. But, but when I want can just I sit on it, calm, radio on, that easy motor just relaxing me. 150 miles in one hit is easy-peasy. 400+ in a day.
I bought the M12R in March 2018 and it's done 5k miles. I bought the GS in May 2018 and I've added c30k to it. Every time I ride the Monster I just laugh at how crazy and fun it is. But it's a one trick pony. The GS really is the chameleon motorcycle - it'll change character according to your mood and what you ask of it. It really is a fabulous piece of kit. It aint fast, but it aint slow either and I like that. I also like how it looks (without boxes at least) though I know the looks can be divisive.
I have many things to thank my lovely partner for and without her I probably wouldn't have ever come around to riding a GS and I'm soooo very glad I have one. It was a process of logic that led me to it but now I do have emotion for my BMW, mainly respect. I will buy another, of that there's no doubt.
I also now have a Honda VTR1000SP2 so don't box me off a non-nodding GS fan boy with grey adventure gear (I don't have those). I'm just a biker who loves riding and appreciates a fine piece of engineering. Seriously, if you haven't ridden one, don't knock 'em though I do except that they are (of course) not everyones cup of tea. Thanks for the difference, it makes bike meets and bikers so much more interesting.
I bought a new R1250GS Rallye version in July this year. It replaced a R1200GS I bought new in May 2014. It replaced a 2006 R1200GS I bought secondhand in 2013 to go on a trip to Morocco.
I’ve generally had two bikes the whole time usually Ducatis which was more for bragging / vanity than riding.
There’s nothing wrong with being an older rider who employs the experience they’ve garnered over many tens of thousands of riding miles to know that the GS suits them best. That’s me.
They are a bit pricey, which can prompt defensiveness on the part of owners who suspect they’ve paid too much for a lump of plastic/ metal that with another badge could have been about half as much. But you pay your money etc….
I’m happy with my choice & it has sod all to do with fact that the local BMW dealer is 2 miles from my house & I drive past it all the time.
I’ve generally had two bikes the whole time usually Ducatis which was more for bragging / vanity than riding.
There’s nothing wrong with being an older rider who employs the experience they’ve garnered over many tens of thousands of riding miles to know that the GS suits them best. That’s me.
They are a bit pricey, which can prompt defensiveness on the part of owners who suspect they’ve paid too much for a lump of plastic/ metal that with another badge could have been about half as much. But you pay your money etc….
I’m happy with my choice & it has sod all to do with fact that the local BMW dealer is 2 miles from my house & I drive past it all the time.
Three years ago I bought my first bike, even before I sat the tests. I am no biker but I just wanted that 'bike' and to try riding out.
51 year old chunky lad on a 2001 R1150GS non abs. I take it slow (mostly) and relish the roads Scotland has to offer.
As for the bike, put about 3k a year on it for weekend and evening pleasure runs and I enjoy every mile.
51 year old chunky lad on a 2001 R1150GS non abs. I take it slow (mostly) and relish the roads Scotland has to offer.
As for the bike, put about 3k a year on it for weekend and evening pleasure runs and I enjoy every mile.
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