Help me decide please

[harrisn]

Hi all first post and hopefully not the last, currently a GS owner and looking to move over to a Rockster, love my GS to bits but dont do any of that offroading stuff so dont see the point in it anymore, just the daily commute and the odd bit of scratching, anyway my question is, is the rockster comfy and whats it like on your wrists, broke them both in abike accident a few years ago and cant lean on them for more than a few minutes, have a set of nippy normans risers (back and up an inch) on the GS and its perfect, will the rockster be ok?

Also whats the story with ABS on the rockster was it a extra, lookied at a couple on autotrader and it doesnt mention ABS (2003-2004 models) will they have it?

Also any other views you have on changing from a GS to a rockster

Cheers all

Neil

[jas]

Not sure if this will help you but here goes……I find the rockster very comfortable on my 125 mile a day commute with the occasion longer ride (14000 miles in about 6 months). With the fairing on the bike I find I spent a little more time on my wrists than when it’s off (wind resistance). I too broke both my wrist and have had no pain or discomfort while on the bike.

The rockster, like the roadster, came with ABS as an option (extra). I loved the GS, but the rockster was a better move for me in the city and commuting.

[harrisn]

thanks for the response, thats what i wanted to hear! So i take it its worth getting one with ABS? have felt it kick in a couple of times on the GS.

[MikeCam]

harrisn,

Frankly, I would think the GS is most suitable for your riding. Same engine, tranny, state of tune, frame and only minor differences in suspension.

Better visibility, somewhat more manueverable with upright and wider bars, seat height to peg relationship and seat comfort (by many accounts).

GS has better weather protection from wind, rain, cold.

The Rockster will place more pressure on your wrists. The front is sprung and trailed more aggressively using the R1100S parts - leads to a more sporty twisty capability but not necessarily discernable to the commuting rider. Much less wind/weather protection. Hooligan look and all, but....

Best of luck with the decision.

[riceburner]

Hi all first post and hopefully not the last, currently a GS owner and looking to move over to a Rockster, love my GS to bits but dont do any of that offroading stuff so dont see the point in it anymore, just the daily commute and the odd bit of scratching, anyway my question is, is the rockster comfy and whats it like on your wrists, broke them both in abike accident a few years ago and cant lean on them for more than a few minutes, have a set of nippy normans risers (back and up an inch) on the GS and its perfect, will the rockster be ok?

Also whats the story with ABS on the rockster was it a extra, lookied at a couple on autotrader and it doesnt mention ABS (2003-2004 models) will they have it?

Also any other views you have on changing from a GS to a rockster

Cheers all

Neil

TBH you may as well keep the GS. They're virtually the same bike bar the riding position and the Rockster DOES put some weight on your wrists, especially in town.

Can you not get a longish test ride? If you're buying from a dealer they should give you an hour at least.

[fnfalman]

The Rockster does lean your body a bit forward which is nice when you hit the highway and let your weight fight the wind instead of hanging on with your arms and shoulders. As far as in-town riding goes, just use your stomach muscle to hold you up straight. I have a Buddha's belly and I don't have any problem with getting the weight off my wrists.

As far as ABS goes, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have gotten my Rockster with ABS. Nothing against ABS, I'm rather fond of it actually, but I am dead set against the servo-mechanism that comes with ABS. I think that it's a hindrance to good riding practice than anything else. The brakes are so sensitive that it's hard to make slow speed maneuverings with them, not to mention completely devoid of feel and feedback.

[NHighCotton]

I'd keep the GS and lower it, slap a new set of street tires on it with maybe and a smaller front rim.

Might swap the wide handle bars out too.

Personally I wouldn't have the ABS either. Yeah, I'm still pissed from when my K75s/ABS went out.

[MIXR]

If the GS is a good one, stay with it. I love my R riding position, but want a GS to be even more 'upright'. Most guys I know with GS bikes are able to ride just as 'sportingly' with the GS as anyone with an R or Rockster, and that usually means better than guys on sportsbikes once we get into the hills and the rougher roads.

Try and organise a ride on the Rock and the R. I think you will find too much pressure on the wrists from the Rock, and very little difference between the R and the GS.

One thing you didn't say was what model GS. If it's an older 1100, the 1150 is a far better bike in either GS, R or Rock form. If you have an 1150 GS, keep it as the differences aren't enough to warrant the money of changing to a Rock or R unless you really want ABS. Even that would be questionable.

Good luck in the decision.

[coyofmo]

This time last year I was getting down to the brass tacks of which BMW bike I would purchase..first BMW and first bike in 20 years so I really did some soul searching. I would have liked a GS. Riding an R11XX is a statment, but the GS people seem to be a way of life and dare I say culture?. That said, for a person of my modest and practical means, I went with an 04 80th edition Rockster. I got a low time bike, system cases, heated grips, ABS, and added on a great wind screen and cylender guards, all for about 3K less than the nearest priced comparable GS without cases. Truth is, it's the same engine and tranny, slightly bigger tank, looks good, and the legendary rock hard rockster seat does not seem to be an issue for me. The ABS saved my butt 3 days after I bought the bike when I mijudged a stopping distance in the rain so it's worth every penny far as I'm concerned. I guess the most profound question to ask is..Who amoung us would take a $16.000 motorcycle off road?? Some might, but I'll stick to the pavement. Coy

[Lion_Lady]

AS for the leaning on your wrists issue. GO and sit on one. Depending on your build, it may or may not be an issue. I've got long legs and a shorter torso, so the Rock provides me with just enough forward lean to be easy on my back but not so much that my hands/wrists suffer.

Folks put barbacks on the Rock or switch to the R bars.

P

[harrisn]

thanks all for the responses, lots of stuff to think about, in response to the question about my GS its the 1100 (99 model) had a go on a R1150R last year and wasnt overly impressed with it, but at the time i was riding to around on a 1200 bandit, now after almost a year on the GS i am used to the way the engine responds etc so think i may enjoy it more.

I will have to get a test ride on a rock to see if i like it, and as mentioned if i love it but the bars are wrong i can always change them or get the different risers (have them on the GS)

Thanks again for the responses

[riceburner]

thanks all for the responses, lots of stuff to think about, in response to the question about my GS its the 1100 (99 model) had a go on a R1150R last year and wasnt overly impressed with it, but at the time i was riding to around on a 1200 bandit, now after almost a year on the GS i am used to the way the engine responds etc so think i may enjoy it more.

I will have to get a test ride on a rock to see if i like it, and as mentioned if i love it but the bars are wrong i can always change them or get the different risers (have them on the GS)

Thanks again for the responses

If you can't find a Rockster to get a test on at a dealers (they're getting rare) then let me know - I'm not that far away and you could have 5 mins on mine.

[paulr]

I am also new on here and in a similar situation in that I have an 1150GS and am considering a Rockster, though probably in addition to my GS. There was a nice one for sale on here locally to me just before xmas but unfortunately that has gone now.

I had a testride on a Rockster when it first came out whilst my GS was being serviced and really enjoyed it. Although the frame and engine are very similar to my GS it felt very different. The gear box was a slight improvement but it felt a fair bit quicker, probably due to the lack of fairing and shorter top gear. The servo brakes were very sensitive but I guess you would get used to that(?). I'm not a fan of ABS but as the bike would be used through the winter I guess it would be advisable to have it.

Harrisn, I would be very interested to hear what you think after a test ride.

Paul

[fnfalman]

The servo brakes were very sensitive but I guess you would get used to that(?). I'm not a fan of ABS but as the bike would be used through the winter I guess it would be advisable to have it.

Paul

You don't get used to the servo-mechanism at all. Actually my hatred for it increases as time goes by and I'm more in tune with my Rock and wanted to try different things with it such as braking later and harder or trail braking and all that good stuff.

Let me put it this way, if you don't want to ride your Rock in a sportive manner then the servo is nothing. Other than being a pain in the ass for slow speed maneuvering, the servo work quite well for street riding. But when you want to push the bike hard in the twisties or on the track, it's an impairment.

I have nothing against ABS. Rather fond of it myself. The servo is the problem. And of course, you don't see the servo any more on new ABS-equipped bikes.

[cworley5150]

The servo brakes were very sensitive but I guess you would get used to that(?). I'm not a fan of ABS but as the bike would be used through the winter I guess it would be advisable to have it.

Paul

You don't get used to the servo-mechanism at all. Actually my hatred for it increases as time goes by and I'm more in tune with my Rock and wanted to try different things with it such as braking later and harder or trail braking and all that good stuff.

Let me put it this way, if you don't want to ride your Rock in a sportive manner then the servo is nothing. Other than being a pain in the ass for slow speed maneuvering, the servo work quite well for street riding. But when you want to push the bike hard in the twisties or on the track, it's an impairment.

I have nothing against ABS. Rather fond of it myself. The servo is the problem. And of course, you don't see the servo any more on new ABS-equipped bikes.

I agree that the servo brakes were a solution to a problem that never existed. However the only problem I have with them is that I know they will fail one day and it will be a very expensive repair. They are not a problem for me at all while riding. The front can be a little sensitive at low speeds, but I don't use my front brake much at parking lot speeds. The rear seems to operate the same as any other bike I've had. Really feels no different to me. Honestly they are not that much different feeling than most of the brakes on the sport bikes I have owned or ridden. The biggest difference I feel when riding another bike is the amount of front end dive they have. Maybe I have just learned to compensate for the sensitivity of the brakes with a really light touch. I like them. I just don't want to have to fix them and bleeding them is a real PITA.


Edited to say that I feel that I ride as "sportive" as the next guy. I came from sport bikes to the Rockster and honestly consider it to be more of a sport bike than a cruiser. Everybody else I ride with are on repli racer bikes and I have no trouble keeping up. It is possible to be smooth in the front brake, you really have to think of it as a rheostat and not an on and off switch. A very light touch is all you need to haul the bike down in a hurry. The BMW's are fantastic for a late braking/trail braking technique once you get used to the brakes and suspension. When I first got the Rockster I was amazed at how stable the chasis felt when hitting the twisties hard. It is a pretty forgiving bike when it comes to hamfisted inputs on the controls. (and I do this quite often) I plan on doing a track day this summer on it. It should be fun. I absolutely love this bike. Wished I would have looked into the BMW's a long time ago.