I was just wondering if anybody here has owned or does own a BMW R1200 GS?

My girlfriend wants to do some two up touring and the SD is a lousy option for that. Also my little boy will soon be big enough for the occasional road adventure so something comfortable and secure is in order.

I’m reluctant to buy a Blackbird or ZZR 1400 as my self control is weak and it’s not much fun on the back at warp speed.

After a little thought I wondered if the 1200 GS might be the perfect choice. Ugly yes but comfortable, sufficiently perky to keep me awake and with very strong demand I can easily off load it if decide to at some later stage although I’m thinking it could be a keeper. Good 2004 / 2005 options seem to be out there for 5 - 6K

Probably keep the SD as I have the space and I think its a keeper as well.

If anybody has any experience / thoughts they would be welcome. Even the inevitable old man pipe and slippers comments could be worth reading if done with enough wit or spite.

Also open to similar alternatives although I hate the look of the KTM adventure bike and the SMT which I do like is probably too expensive.....

You could get an SMT for your budget. Tried a GS years ago. Like a barge. Despite the hype it was awful IMO

Funny just looking at this thread on ktmforum......

http://www.ktmforum.co.uk/950-990-super ... worth.html

I think you will be shocked.....I was

.....lets just say I think BMW owe ' Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman' big time (and they wanted to use Adventures but KTM would not do them for free.... )

SMT or Tiger

Bmw's are very comfy bikes.
Go ride one and be your own judge.

Just had long chat to a guy that has had both (GS and SMT)

Sounds like the SMT is a great bike but really its an alternative to the SD and not something you would have as well as an SD.

If it were just me I would happily put a 1,000 mile week in on the SD with a backpack or throw overs but two up the SD is a non starter and the SMT is reported to have poor pillion comfort.

Looks like realistically its some form of barge if I'm going to keep the SD as well for solo fun. Probably between a GS and a ZZR / Blackbird. The only one of those I have yet to ride is the GS so I better go and throw a leg over one and see if its a viable solution.

Have to say the SMT does sound like a lot of fun but couldnt have that and the SD (and a GS and the exc etc etc)

Need to ride them all....surprised about the pillion comfort on SMT I thought it was meant to be a solid two up bike

Cant go wrong with the BMW.

I have done over 40,000 k on them, they are not barges,IMO. They are excellent with a passenger. Just as the KTM's excel in their specific areas the BMWs are a swiss army knife.

I did have the new one for two days and they have again notched up a few levels. The suspension is superlative and the handling makes you drool.
Mark

I'd go check out a Kawasaki Versys 1000.

First off, it's cheaper than either the ktm or bmw for same years, meaning you're left with more money or buying a newer bike.

Then, it's one of the best bike for taking two ups, IMO, both for pillion and rider.

It's also a REAL FUN BIKE. yep, you heard right, it is. One of the nicest and surely most surprising bike I've ridden.. It's just does everything real easy, has the engine to put on serious pace on real roads and overall a good package, especially when we're talking two ups and if I understand correct, you get to keep the SD.

Add to it that it would be more reliable than a KTM or a GS, probably cheaper to maintain as well. Got some nice electronics, not too complicated but gets the work done.

It's ugly as fook but hey, you get to keep the SD.

Had one of my best rides with it, 600 km's a day, at the end of it I wasn't even wanting to get off.





Rest of that test's gallery..
http://www.fullgaz.co.il/home/p/41008/
Note - what ever you do! DO NOT GO FOR THE OTHER BIKE!

Honestly, it's shit.

Shadowman,
The BMW is definitely a hoot.
Put it this way you WILL find it fun. Just as I will not sell my SD the BMW is super competant and you look forward to riding it.
I did do a 4800km trip on a GS 2 up, the passenger was more comfortable than I!!

I got a KTM Adventure as my touring bike. Sure is nice to have two LC8 motors to keep up with, instead of two different brands of bikes.

You should test ride a KTM Adventure before you buy.

Nuf said.

Just to throw another one in - Triumph Tiger?

Personally if it was me, I'd be steering away from the Adventure/SMT if I was keeping the SD as well, simply because the would be too close to the DNA of the SD... as in engine characteristics. Yes I know they have different tunes, but I'd want something totally different.

ASK if there has been any work performed on the final drive unit...many failures have been reported. Sprockets/chains are cheap in comparison. As an old off-road rider/racer, the fact of those big cylinders hanging out in the wind just scares me to death.

Good luck with your new adventure...no pun intended.

Hated the 09 plate I rode for a while , it was agricultural
Versys is renowned for pillion comfort (albeit proper ugly )
SMT is also a decent bike

New multistradas ain't no barges either , an SD would struggle to keep up

Just by way of a quick update....

Stopped in at Oxford BMW yesterday to sit my boy on the back of a GS and see how much longer his legs need to grow before he can reach the legs (answer - a lot!) Anyway got chatting to a chap called Ian with a 2005 GS with only 20K miles and all the toys. He was trading up and told me the offer price. This means I can get his for 5K if I want it. I had settled on a black one with spoked wheels if I got one at all and his is yellow with cast wheels so I'm not sure. He is bringing it round to my gaff tomorrow evening weather permitting so that I can have a spin and make my mind up.

I think it's going to be a GS or a Blackbird (which can easily be had for 3K or less) unless some flash of inspiration occurres in the mean time. Versys sounds as good as people say but I just can't ever see myself on one!!

A bit left of field here but, GSX1400?

Easily the best touring bike I have ridden. Took the Mrs and myself on a 5000km trip no worries. Best pillion seat around that she has tried. Plenty of poke, reliable as, handle well enough. I used to use mine to round up sports bikes in the mountains.

Luggage does not both it, we chewed through an entire tank of fuel while 2-up, saddle bags, 52L top box and a tank bag, cruising at 180-200km/h. Bike barely noticed it, just hummed along.

I do miss that bike, and my partner misses that comfy seat.

Apparently not a complete barge after all

Test riding one tomorrow, will post up findings for anybody interested in adding a touring option to the garage.

OK, a quick 1200 GS report for anybody considering adding a tourer to the garage.

I was quite surprised by the strength of feeling on either side of the debate when I mentioned the GS. It was a bit like the Apple / Android thing that happens when conversations turn to phones so I was curious to find out for myself.

Some context, the purpose is to get something that would be comfortable for my girlfriend to tour on and still be some fun for me to ride. She has a bit of pillion experience from a couple of years back and I have done loads of two up european bike holidays but not for a couple of decades. In fact other than short hops I haven't taken a pillion anywhere for a long time. Incidentally I'm somewhere between 5'11" and 6' tall.

I arranged a test ride with the Oxford BMW garage. Weather was good but traffic was heavy, we rode to Cheltenham a trip of about 40 miles each way. It was a strange and occasionally amusing mixture of experiences. First impression Fu*K ME IT'S TALL!! Turns out I was riding the adventurer model and I could only just get tip toes down either side. Anybody under 5'11" would not be able to touch both feet on the ground at the same time. This made for some anxiety as I would be having a passanger and doing some town work and didn't really want to topple over at the first stop....

Once moving it was very stable, easy to steer and had good brakes (no where near as good as the SD's though) The feeling was of a lot of mass on the move but the suspension was great and I really liked the handling. It's everything the SD is not, slow to turn in, placid, neutral and utterly unflappable. Obviously I had to keep the pace down in consideration to my passenger but we achieved a fair lean angle without any drama, it was solid over bumpy surfaces, the riding position was great, comfort front and back was great and overall it was a calm placid sort of fun. Quite a contrast to the SD!!

The motor was gentle, a slow accumulation of pace with no real urgency or punch. Overtakes had to be planned well ahead and there was little point in revving it out. It's not actually slow, we nipped up to 110 ish but it is dull and feels antiquated to me despite all the electronics. The box was sweet and I didn't notice the shaft drive at all.

Would I buy one..... Probably not. It's just too tall for me and lacking in power although the longer I rode it the more I liked it. Perhaps I should ride the standard one which is allegedly lower to the ground, not sure.

I'm now going to try the jap route (ZZR / Blackbird etc) to see what she makes of that It will suit me better but I doubt 50% more power and less suspension travel will be the ingredients needed for a contented passenger

I've owned a Multistrada 1200 for nearly 2 years and 6k miles. I really love it. If I'm nipping out for more than a couple of hours I tend to take the Ducati. I've fitted proper road tyres which made a big difference to the handling. Other mods include the usual decat plus replacement silencer (Leo Vince). I also upgraded the Ohlins ECU to the new semi active spec, best £260 I've ever spent on a bike. Much as I still love my SD which has a shed load of mods, the MS IMHO is great at everything. It's even cheap to service! Like the SD it puts a smile on face even though it doesn't have that rawness the KTM has. I think they complement one another ESP if like me you have a soft spot for twins.

Seeing as you're gonna look at the Japs, why not the Brits with the Sprint ST 1050? A mate has one and loves its. I had a test ride of one a few years ago, and it is a capable bike but I ended up get a VFR 800 V-tec, as it felt more nimble.

Early SMT's can be had for 6k which is top end of your budget. I am thinking of getting one myself having not liked the Multistrada. I was tempted by a Sprint ST but am hearing tales of poor build quality. VFR Vtec is a bit too old now.

I think the GS's are a marmite thing , my mate has an old 800 one , brilliant bike
Some of my other mates have newer ones GS 's and adventures , me I don't like them , they just feel a bit agricultural , kinda Harley like ,not for me

On a left field tip try a later Honda pan euro
Stop laughing
If you want Summat that's a bike like a car hard to beat a pan ,pillions are well catered for ,smooth reliable
Surprisingly quick and handle quite well even 2 up
I borrowed one a couple of years ago for wifey and me to go away for the weekend ,really impressed
Not gonna buy one tho

Mike

have a pal that had an ST and had many issues , swing arm seized to frame
middle piston seized , reg/rec , started rusting before it started deprecciating , bag of shite!!!!
I am patriotic but i would never buy a triumph unfortunately ( cept for a 675R maybe)

I am going to try the SMT as well. If the rear comfort passes the test and if I like it as much as everybody seems to think I will this gives me an option.

I wouldn't keep SMT and SD as they are too similar so the SD would go perhaps being replaced with a full on 1000cc sports bike (probably a road legal track bike) Then when the new SD has depreciated into my price range I could flog the sports bike and get a 1290 SD. If I really like the SMT perhaps I won't feel the need for another bike, hard to say without riding it.

I have also heard a few Triumph reliability stories although it's often a mate of a mate so I'm never sure how true they are. Would be hard to organise a triumph test ride I think so I'm not really motivated to go down that route.

I'm told the Pan is a great two up bike but I hate the look of them so its not an option for me.

Somebody, I forget who, questioned the Blackbird option but I rode round on one for a while and remember it as really comfortable, with solid handeling and plenty of go so thats still in the mix as a "cheap" third bike if none of the other ideas work out.

Have you tried out else ?
Tying a new GS tomorrow for curiosity reasons

I love my airhead, but I will never own another "modern" boxer BMW (post 1994). Anyone who is interested in one should read this thread, a owner's survey about the final drive issues that afflict so many of these "reliable", "bulletproof", "well engineered", blah blah blah machines: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29360.

In a nutshell: "For the life of the bike, the data says there is a 1 in 7 chance of a final drive failure." 1 in 7 chance of major surgery required, leaving you on the side of the road. That is effing ridiculous for the most overpriced motorcycles after Hardleys. An F800GS on the other hand....

thanks for the info , by the way 1 in 7 isnt that bad is it ???
Ive had lots of things replaced on my beemer

I have my SD for 'me time'
I then have a ST 1300 Pan for the 'me and a pillion, shopping, touring' time. It's an '02 reg and it is absolutely brilliant and easy to ride. I must say, I love my Pan.

I think the 'my time' bikes are the ones I tend to get bored of and get rid of more often, i'd be surprised if the Pan was going to be sold anytime soon.

yeah you are probably right , just concerned about reliability if Im honest when spending that much cash.
also didnt want to spend my 1290SD money on a bike i will ride in the rain and stuff

Quick Update on my touring bike options...

The GS is out - Too tall and a bit too dull for my taste.

Also considered but now excluded - Any triumph (nothing grabs me) - Pan (Too ugly) - Versys (Expensive and ugly) - All the pure touring bikes as again I just cant see myself on one and if it was just about utility then you are always better off in a car. There has to be some fun element or otherwise what's the point??

I'm test riding an SMT this weekend (assuming the predicted return of Noha's flood holds off for long enough) and will post a little report on what thats like afterwards.

If I don't like that as a two up mount then it's either an old Blackbird of which there are many available for less than 3K with all the touring goodies. I don't need a test ride as my mate had one and ran in the fast group on many track days and I used to really like riding it as well. Brakes were poor for track riding and you could run out of clearance but realistically two up on the roads this would be completly irelevant. They even look quite nice in the gunmetal grey finish.

Or I have been offered a ZZR 1400 with all the touring goodies for throw away money and I'm very tempted to buy that. I think they are ugly but big, spacious, good handeling for a bus and hyperdrive for when I'm not hauling the girlfriend. Whats not to like?? I have always enjoyed the iron fist in a velvet glove sensation, quite a contrast to the raw simplicity of the SD!!

If i get the SMT the SD will have to go as they are more or less the same bike and I cant justify having both. Either of the other two and the SD stays.

Nearly there now I think......

Guy,

I do quite fancy the 1190 Adventure but at 13K+ its out of my reange financially. Had an interesting ride on the SMT, not really what I was expecting. Will try and type up my thoughts for a post later.

I bought the zzr1400 and the seller is delivering it this Friday

Overall costs are similar to choping the SD against the SMT I rode but this way I get to keep the SD for solo fun and have a 200 HP comfy two seater for touring. Hopefully the best of both worlds.

Just for curiosity sake I will post up impressions of the zzr from an SD lovers perspective once I have actually ridden it.

I bet I'm the only one here with this bike combination!!! Could hardly be more different...

Cool, looking forward to your ride report. I'm curious what that kind of Busa-killer power feels like.

Nice one. My mate had one and it was a serious monster bike. It also handled suprisingly well after he had spent some money at MC Technics.

He has had almost everything on the market and buys 1 or 2 new bikes per year. He still says it was the absolute best bike for covering big mileage he has owned. Although I did mention it might need a new rear tyre whenever you got where you were going.

But yeah,it is a pretty good companion and a pretty poor replacement for the Superduke so in that I applaud your decision.

If you get it I am sure you will like the 1400. I had a ZX14, really regret selling it, and I have my eye on a 1400GTR in the future.
On one of my touring holidays, I was 2 up on my GSX1400, and by chance I ended up spending 2 days riding close to a 1400GTR that was 2up. We were both travelling at a similar pace, both just eating up the km, sweeping bends were so much fun, with both bikes being footpeg down sparks flying at 140km/h plus.

The engine is great, shaft drive is nice and comfort is all there too.

Let us know how you get on.

I read "your girlfriend wants to go 2 up " it goes downhill from there

Right then, ZZR 1400 – Ahem....

Already I have had one new experience with it. I found myself wondering what the max advised speed for top box and panniers is, not a thought that had ever crossed what passes for my brain before. Anyway more of that later.....

So – What’s it like Mr

It’s huge, really really long! Next to the SD it appears to be a bus.

The one I have just bought also has full touring luggage which makes it look even bigger. I guess the fact that it’s big shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise but even so I was shocked at just how big it looks up close and personal.

Here are some pictures...











Climb on and the next surprise is the riding position. Much more sports bike than tourer. Perhaps my memory is letting me down but the bar, seat, pegs triangle seems much like I remember from my Fireblade . It’s not at all uncomfortable but after several years on the SD and other sit up and beg stuff it genuinely came as a shock. Some people put bar risers on them and I can see why now although I’m happy the way it is.

Once over the shock of a sports bike rising position it is actually very comfortable. At standstill it feels heavy and it is a bit of a handful shoving it about on my gravel slightly hilly drive but I could trickle along below walking pace feet up without any trouble at all so it’s well balanced and no trouble in town.

Took it for a very brief solo run and even this was enough to demonstrate that it’s all about that engine. I had read that they lack low down punch – Errr, not really.

Out of my house, turn right, 200 yards turn right again onto A road. Gentle snick up through the gears (no clutch needed) whilst fiddling with my jacket and helmet strap and never exceeding 6K revs. Silky smooth, didn’t really feel all that rapid but speedo told a different story. Slipped past a little traffic, clear section, pin it full chat in 3rd and 4th just to see what all the fuss is about. Strangely this was the least exciting warp drive I have ever experienced. It growls a bit and starts to tingle in the higher rev range but honestly it’s smooth as silk. If they ever work out how to solve the energy density problem and develop powerful electric road bikes I think this is what they would feel like.

Acceleration is in F1 car territory, think Veryon, F40 that kind of thing but the actual experience of it is nothing like you think. Rather than a violent explosion hurling you at the horizon it’s like being on the end of a huge bungee when somebody cuts the tether. Just a wall of linear acceleration that doesn’t stop or fade, completely fuss free and if you run out of revs snick up another gear and do it all again. The most undramatic 0 to 150 in 10 seconds you will ever experience.

Which brings me to the top box and luggage speed issue. Having been on the bike for well under a minute and having pinned what is the most powerful production road bike in the world on an A road you might expect that I was having a drama but I wasn’t. In fact it was so calm and unflustered that I had time to muse on the likely survival of the luggage should I keep going. Some might think this boring and perhaps the novelty will wear off but for today it makes me smile that so much fury can be disguised in this way.

After my haircut (the purpose of the solo trip) I picked up Hilary and we went for a quick 30 mile spin on a good twisty well surfaced A road. She reports good comfort but with me a bit more crouched down it’s a windier for her. I’m sure one long run will get everything acclimatised and settled into place. We even did some shopping, shoved it in the top box and brought that home!

The bike scarcely seemed to notice the extra mass and was happy swinging gently round the twisties and dismissing traffic as if it wasn’t there.

Is it as much fun as an SD – No of course not

In its own way is amusing and will it work as a tourer, time will tell but it’s an encouraging start.