Do you ever feel like you need a GS?

[peckhammer]

I spent a few hours shooting some footage with Jeremy of AltRider.com because they have a R1200GS in for "fitting." Bike is brand new (4 miles) and was on loan from a dealership. I really like this bike, and if my R wasn't so handsome, I think I'd be going "GS." Here is the footage we shot yesterday, loosely edited together for a review we'll be doing later: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWU-cZdG ... r_embedded

I like this bike now more than ever...

Peckhammer

[DAV-AZ]

Traded my GS in for the R. Was a good move on my part. Even though I live in Arizona and there are lots of places to ride the GS off-road, I never did. Too big, too heavy, too expensive. I bought into the whole GS macho thing hook line and sinker, and then never took advantage of its versatility. Felt like a poser.

I do make full use of the R. It suits me just fine.

My opinion, which is not worth much to anyone but me but thought I'd share it anyway.

[peckhammer]

Even though I live in Arizona and there are lots of places to ride the GS off-road, I never did. Too big, too heavy, too expensive.

I've heard that only 20% of them ever see dirt. I generally agree that "light makes right" but for someone who wants a comfortable dual purpose bike, the GS is great. I wouldn't consider any off-road duty for a Ducati MultiStrada, despite the marketing, but the GS does have a proven track record for pulling it off. Would you take a $22K MultiStrada to this competition: http://www.adventureriderchallenge.com/home.html ?

All that said, I really liked this GS. Nice improvements to the motor, but not that much different from the '09 model I put through hundreds of twisties in Califronia last summer. Not the fastest bike out there, but it handles really well. And I still love my R, of course. I just need a bigger gararge for all my toys!

[Stef.]

I rode the GSA test the other day and have to say - it's not the bike for me. Peter (my hubby) on the other hand really likes his GSA and plans on going on tours where he will take advantage of its abilities to ride off road. Nevertheless, so far he hasn't done it. I think some of the dreams relating the GSA comes from the movie "The long way around" with Ewan McGregor and Charlie Borman. I was hooked when I saw the movie but reality is that this kind of off road would be nothing for me. I really don't want to fall down into ditches if I can avoid it
Anyhow horses for courses- if you go off road and on long trips than I think the GS makes sense.
Stef.

[gezerbike]

Yep. So I gots me one. Great long haul bike.....handles like a sportbike. All day, day after day, comfortable, lots of electrical power, super dupper reliable, and I love going eye to eye with SUV owners. This one is still my favorite of my BMWs that I've owned. But truth be told, I've never taken it aywhere I could not have gone on my R,or RT, or RS, or F650. But doG, I love it. I suspect I'd like the 1200 GS,which is probably why I have never test ridden one Here we are out at Appomadix Courthouse after the Johnson City nationals last year.

[ShinySideUp]

I really wanted to like the GS, since I found its ergonomics better than the R for me EXCEPT for the fact it's just so high off the ground.

I'm on and off my bike all day long, on the job, and on San Francisco's hills. Even though I'm 6'1", I just found it awkward to push around, into and out of parking places, especially on hillsides. The RR, on the other hand, easy.

[Philbie]

I sure do, right now i'm fighting the demons within wondering which bike will suit me best.

At 6'4 and a 36" inseam, logic tells me to go the GS - but I don't like the 08 onwards only 05-07, and I worry about high milage old ones. And the cliff hanger??? The R ticks all the boxes in reality for what i do and I love the looks.

My wife can't stand the discussions anymore - so fight those demons I will, and until I know better, their both in equal standing right now!

[spenserj87]

I went to the dealer intending to by a GS, decided to test ride a GS and an R12 - wasn't even close, the R won me over. I'm 90% road, but I have no problem taking the R on local fire roads, gravel roads, and related. I don't do enough heavy offroad to need the GS, although I've always loved the look of the GS. All what you get used to. In the foothill twisties, nothing beats the R.

[curmudgeon]

I owned a 2000 GS from 2000 until I sold it in 2007. Loved the ride, suspension and handling but it always needed "just a bit more" horsepower than the oilhead engine had. To be fair I've owned bikes like ZX-11's and Blackbirds so there's no such thing as "enough" horsepower. I'm 5'8" and didn't have any problem sitting on or maneuvering my regular GS but an Adventure model would have been out of the question. By the time I was ready for something new the updated GS had the horsepower I wanted but unfortunately GS's had gotten rather trendy and it seemed too many "adventure" wannabe/posers had one outfitted with every part guard and oversized bag known to mankind. Nothing against anybody who owns one as they're great bikes but I buy bikes for performance (& comfort now that I'm older ) but also for something hopefully somewhat unique that get used for its intended purpose .

What really attracted me to the R was the very pragmatic styling and engineering along with light weight coupled to the hexhead's horsepower. The only thing I really miss from the GS is the longer throw suspension. The R has very good suspension but I'll admit to wondering what an R would ride like fitted with GS suspension .

[NakedRider]

The thing about BMW's is they are are great at what they were designed to be. You want a dual purpose bike bike for long distance - the GS and Adventure are great pack mules. Touring bike - the RT or LT depending on how big you want to go maybe even a GT. Midsize dual purpose - the F800GS is a good choice. They each have a purpose.

The R1200R is the sleeper in their line up. Maybe the best all-round road bike out there. Many don't notice it but those that do, and test ride one, always seem to be impressed. You have standard sized wheels which allow sticky rubber. Put some good shocks on it and you'll really be surprised at how sporty it can be. Want to tour...load her up. Just beat around town...no problem. It's great for what it was designed to be.

BMW has really broadened their line up in the past few years. Look at the smaller bikes, then again the S1000RR. The selection of purposeful bikes has never been better.

[peckhammer]

I went to the dealer intending to by a GS, decided to test ride a GS and an R12 - wasn't even close, the R won me over.

That's pretty close to my experience as well -- but it was Girl Wonder who liked the R much more than than the GS. The GS is too tall for her to comfortably ride, and as a passenger she does not like being higher than me. I, OTOH, really like the tallness of the bike, the long suspension travel, and the flickability of the GS. And it has one distinct advantage over the R: Superior low speed maneuverability resulting from wide bars and more side to side travel. I am a trials bike rider, so I appreciate that sort of thing -- especially when doing slow maneuvers with a passenger and a heavy load.

Still, we bought the R because it's such a damn good looking bike and it does everything so well. Dirt capability was not so important since we have off-road bikes which are capable of conquering extreme terrain in ways a GS never could.

And I completely agree with the notion that The R1200R is the best all-round road bike out there.

Peckhammer

[deilenberger]

Nope. The GS reminds me of two things:

Hummer - can do it, looks like it can do it, but only 5% of the owners ever actually DO it (off-road..) The GS is most often put to off-road use crossing a shopping center parking lot to get a latte..

All-Season-Tires - better in the winter then summer tires, better in the summer then winter tires, but not as good as winter tires in the winter and summer tires in the summer. ie - a compromise.

A jack-of-all-trades never really achieves the level of competence a specialist will. If I wanted to go off-road, I'd be looking for a 125CC dirty bike that I could toss around the woods with abandon, pick up when I fell over, and not worry about $1000 parts getting broken. For a street bike - well - it's hard to beat the R12R (as we ALL know.) Since I've gotten too old to do serious off-road stuff - for packed gravel roads and hard fire roads - the R12R works just fine and I don't need a dirty bike.

Plus the GS is just too damn tall for my 27" inseam, and I know it's personal taste - too damn ugly.

So - nope. No need for a poser bike, I'm having too much fun with the R12R (out of factory warranty - 3 years - yesterday at 35,500 miles.. almost got the two expiration points matched perfectly.)

[Tarmac]

Yep. So I gots me one. Great long haul bike.....handles like a sportbike.

You havn't ridden a sport bike lately, have you? My R1200R dosn't handle like a sportbike.

I can't imagine taking a GS "off road". On gravel, or fire roads, ok.... but not "off road". Not without doing thousands of dollars of damage.

[JohnM]

[quote="deilenberger"]Nope. The GS reminds me of two things:

All-Season-Tires - better in the winter then summer tires, better in the summer then winter tires, but not as good as winter tires in the winter and summer tires in the summer. ie - a compromise.

Mike Miller (the Don E of BMW cars) has referred to all-season tires as "no-season" tires.

[Tr250Tom]

I live on a dirt road in a rural area, and spend the beginning and end of every ride "off-pavement", on loose gravel etc. The R12R is more than adequate for this, even with street tires. That makes me think the R12GS must be intended for something much more rugged, which is something I'll never do unless I move back out west.

I'm also surprised by the number of people who claim the GS rides "like a sport bike." I've test ridden them, and they ride like John Deere pogo sticks compared to a Ducati. My R12R, with a more reasonable ground clearance, would never claim the description "sport bike" with all the bulk and drivetrain lash it has. I love my BMW, but let's be real, people. Before someone foolishly challenges a Ninja 500R to a race.

Cheers, Tom

[deilenberger]

John M posted:

Mike Miller (the Don E of BMW cars) has referred to all-season tires as "no-season" tires.

Ummmm... John, you've never heard my rant about Mike Miller I guess.. he's a real good parrot - sometimes. (people who know how he gets his "info" will know what I mean..)

[craigleo]

I recently bought an R1200R after test riding both the GS and the R several times. I am 6'2" so bike height was not an issue for me with the GS. I rode them both on the freeway and around town. Then I went into a parking lot and tried to make the smallest figure 8 I could on both bikes. The R was, IMHO, superior. I then went out on the road and did some higher speen manuvering. To me, the R was more responsive with more real feel than the GS. I like riding in the dirt. It is extreme fun. I just never take the time to go dirt bike riding since it requires more work and time than I get on a random day. My last dual sport saw no dirt mileage whatsoever so the part of the GS I might most appreciate would be irrelevant for me. The R is also, awesome on all fronts including not having to bend over to go fast.
Leo

[thepeacebullgrunt]

A nice little 800 GS all equiped would be nice I must say in addition to my R1200R.
but I am looking forward to buy a boat these days....a small boat under 35feet long

[deilenberger]

A nice little 800 GS all equiped would be nice I must say in addition to my R1200R.

Frede - talk to Chitown, I believe he has one he'd sell you happily (if current squeeze isn't riding it..)

but I am looking forward to buy a boat these days....a small boat under 35feet long

35 foot long is not a small boat. Or an inexpensive one. Boats are like taking the contents of your bank account and simply feeding it into a shredder. BTDT, and NGDIA.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I'll be curious for how much Chitown would let go this one...I will write him... thank you Don


Yes I am looking more for a comfortable 20/25 feet but you know about boats I think it depends of the original fabrication, material used to make it but also if you give your time to it by living in it or just showing up twice a year.

I live in Pasadena area but would be glad to have a "Pied a mer" near Venice beach.... a 35 feet used made of "low maintenance materials" can go around 35K second hand and after restoration can go up to 75K fully functional...physical, electrical, cable and web docking is $500 monthly same thing for the yearly insurance. What price do you get for any housing at few feet from the ocean in Los Angeles ? most often in ugly condo's with way much less "mojo strenght" every one must agree.

"BTDT, and NGDIA" what is that ?...few years living in US tells me that BTDT might be "been there done that"...but have no clue for NGDIA ?