BMW R1200 GS - Reviews ??

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gixermark
08/07/2006 at 19:46
Hi Guys,

surprised myself today - saw one of these sitting in town, and really thought... yep I could have one of those.... just has that look that you want to get on and ride...... ride anywhere really.

Are they fun ?? having been on sprtsbikes for the last few years including GSXR thou's the most 'sensible' bike I've had in the past was a VTR1000 which i thiught was a great 'road bike'

any thoughts ? reviews.. comments etc ?

Mark.
Big Nige
08/07/2006 at 19:50
Try here old chap

www.ukgser.com/forums


gixermark
08/07/2006 at 19:56
Thanks mate.... they seem to sensible to be contemplating.... but they do make alot of sense..

I woudl imagine they woudl take a while to get used to though... definately a different beast to a sportsbike..

i guess a fazer would be a half way house...

Mark.
ed_mudman
08/07/2006 at 20:04
I bought one over a 990 Adventure and it's alot of fun. You have to work harder, but it's more rewarding. My ZX6R flatters me, but the GS is much more of a hoot and surprises the hell out of people when you can keep up with them. Sure, it's pig ugly, but it's 400+ miles/day comfortable and fun.
Big Nige
08/07/2006 at 20:12
gixermark wrote
Thanks mate.... they seem to sensible to be contemplating.... but they do make alot of sense..

I woudl imagine they woudl take a while to get used to though... definately a different beast to a sportsbike..

i guess a fazer would be a half way house...

Mark.



Pop a long to any BM dealer and take one for a test ride.
You'll need it for at least an hour but that wont be a problem.

At first you'll think it to be bloody awful and a complete pile of shite....but then suddenly it should all make sense.
The lack of dive under braking, the eclecticness of the boxer engine, the brakes, handling, weird switch gear etc....it'll all click into place.

If it doesn't then hey, no probs, you got a free test ride out of it all.

I've been a BM owner (from a die hard Jap man) for many years now and have had a blast.
ed_mudman
08/07/2006 at 20:56
you're right Nige, I took 1 out in Feb, 100 miles of then it started snowing and the bike felt good. So good I did another 200 miles in the snow. Now that was some test ride.
El Toro
08/07/2006 at 21:20
I think I will arrange a test ride next week for the K1200R

Pointing out brainless, deficient, dense, dim, dumb, foolish, gullible, half-baked, half-witted, idiotic, imbecilic, inane, indiscreet, irrelevant, irresponsible, laughable, loser, ludicrous, mindless, moronic, nonsensical, obtuse, pointless, puerile, senseless, short-sighted, simple-minded, thick, trivial, unintelligent, unthinking, witless VD members who lack conduct, conscience, decency, ethics, honesty, honour, integrity, morals principles and boast double standards - wherever they are

Gromit
08/07/2006 at 21:42
You want GS reviews?

Have a lookie here

The archive has even more.
Ringadingding
Schtum
08/07/2006 at 22:04
I'll give you an R1200GS review.....

Brilliant but deeply flawed.

I love mine. It's the most fun I can have with my clothes on....
In search of a better quality of white noise.....
redrooster
08/07/2006 at 22:06
If you thought that the VTR1000 was a good road bike, then the 1200GS is twice as better! (I've had both, BTW). Superb handling and well-sorted suspension (much better than the 1150), and the brakes are simply awesome, even on Tourance knobblies.

I know where there may be a nice '05 one coming up for sale shortly....
Mac-Cecht
08/07/2006 at 22:11
BMW mmmm!

"THINK" it's not illegal yet.
Zanx
08/07/2006 at 23:48
Saw one at work the other day. For something that's supposed to be so superbly designed, I find it rather odd that the passenger pegs stick out half a mile and will write off the frame if they hit the deck because they are welded to the frame (like 600 Bandits used to be).
Schtum
08/07/2006 at 23:54
zanx wrote
Saw one at work the other day. For something that's supposed to be so superbly designed, I find it rather odd that the passenger pegs stick out half a mile and will write off the frame if they hit the deck because they are welded to the frame (like 600 Bandits used to be).

Snot a frame.....

In search of a better quality of white noise.....
Bigjawa
09/07/2006 at 00:00
Big Nige wrote


At first you'll think it to be bloody awful and a complete pile of shite....but then suddenly it should all make sense.


Had a quick run on one and thought exactly the above, VERY disappointing!
Zanx
09/07/2006 at 00:05
Schtum wrote
Snot a frame.....



Ok, maybe not but I'd rahter not be pulling it all off and paying for a new one because it fell onto a kerb.
Schtum
09/07/2006 at 00:21
zanx wrote
Ok, maybe not but I'd rahter not be pulling it all off and paying for a new one because it fell onto a kerb.

You're more likely to have to pull it off to replace a leaking rear crankshaft oil seal first. As I said, deeply flawed....
In search of a better quality of white noise.....
NorthernBoy
09/07/2006 at 04:07
gixermark wrote
Thanks mate.... they seem to sensible to be contemplating.... but they do make alot of sense..

i guess a fazer would be a half way house...

Mark.


They do not ride as "sensible". They are just huge fun. Try one. You need a couple of hours, though, at least, as they can feel a bit strange at first.

I was all ready to buy a Fazer too, until I had one last try on the BMW. The big grin was worth the extra cash.
RS250-Squid
09/07/2006 at 05:38
I saw one of those BMW's a while back, the sports ones. Can't remember what they're called...
...the twin underseat cans, sports fairings...

THAT'S a BMW I would love to own .

My Bike!
Lynw referring to a photo of my computer: "you are captain kirk, that is the space ship enterprise. i claim my soapy tenner and yorick pony"
i just filled out an online mortgage application to test something. I just received a phone call from a mortgage broker: "Hi, I'd like to speak with, um, Mr Testy McTest..."
"The algebra has a devil for a sidekick eeeeeeeeee...." - Queen
GSMonkey
09/07/2006 at 08:07
Just done 20k on one and sold it for a gixer thou.

Yes the 12GS is a very competant bike. The handling is fantastic, as is the braking.

However, reliability is really bad. I had at least £2000 worth of warranty work done in my 18months of owning one. I would not dare to own one without a warranty. My brother has just recieved a £1500 bill for his 1150GS after the ABS light started flashing.

They corrode like cheap yamahas as well - extremely dissapointing.

If you can afford to buy new do it. Own it for 2yrs, put lots of miles on, then sell private. The warranty service is fantastic, no hassle whatsoever.

If you're on a tight budget to afford a second hand one, forget it. You have been warned. Have a look at the recent threads in the 1200GS section of UKGSER to get a flavour of ownership.

Good luck whatever you decide.
GSJ
09/07/2006 at 13:09
Yeah but that's a few owners having problems out of how many bikes sold? And lets face it, that is a GS specific forum, with posters from all over the world, and with people being people, you tend to notice the vocal minority over the silent majority.

OK perhaps that's not good enough for those particular owners, and perhaps the early 1200 bikes were not as reliable as the 1100's or 1150's. But.... many, many others have done huge mileages on their 1200's without a problem. Any problems with older bikes should be sorted by now, and if buying new the 2006 bikes apparently have had quite a few 'enhancements'.
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