Tell me why I shouldn't buy a 1200GS

[Rockburner]

Any enlightenment on why? Lighter? Free-er spinning engine?......

I do think the 'beak' on the 1150 was better looking than either the 1100 and the 1200+s.

Just to add my own experiences...5 BMWs, (1150, 1200 flat twins, old K12, new K12, 850 parallel twin, no issues, no warranty work, no post-warranty problems. The only bump in the road was the ABS light came on on the K12LT when riding home after buying it from Big Nige. IIRC it either didn't happen again or it was solved at first service.

I’ve no idea if the 1100 is lighter, but it felt it? I always felt the 1150 was a bit more ponderous! It felt that compared to my Rockster as well! Maybe there was something wrong with it lol!

I seem to recall my R1100RT feeling smoother than my 1150GSA. The 1100 didn't feel lighter but was/is easier to manoeuvre if you've got stumpy legs like myself.

Oddly - I have always found the XX00 engines a touch 'rougher' than the XX50 engines:
eg comparing my brother's R1100S to the R1150Rockster to the early R1200GS that I tested.
But that's a very subjective (seat of the pants) impression from riding bikes made at different times and at different points in their lives (and at different states of tune).

I’ve no idea if the 1100 is lighter, but it felt it? I always felt the 1150 was a bit more ponderous! It felt that compared to my Rockster as well! Maybe there was something wrong with it lol!

I can't remember what it was that FLASH said made him prefer the 1100 - I think it was something about it being only a 5-speed rather than a 6 speed, so there's less gear changing?

I've not ridden an R100GS so I can't say how different they are from the R1150GS, but the R1150GS is a touch more ponderous than the Rockster, personally I put that down to the extra height, and the (slightly) narrower bars of the GS. The Rockster can be thrown hard into a corner because of the increased leverage of the bars, and the suspension isn't quite as wallowy (because there's a shorter range of movement).

Can't wait to get out on My Rockster again - I've only done about 50 miles on the new Nitron shocks.

[Beancounter]

Oddly - I have always found the XX00 engines a touch 'rougher' than the XX50 engines:
eg comparing my brother's R1100S to the R1150Rockster to the early R1200GS that I tested.
But that's a very subjective (seat of the pants) impression from riding bikes made at different times and at different points in their lives (and at different states of tune).

To be honest, I don't remember much about the 1100 engine. I think the best way to describe it (my RT, that is) is sedate. Almost vanilla. It was on standard cans so sounded a bit farty whereas my Rockster had a Remus. I think the riding position of the Rockster helped make it feel livelier.

I wonder if I'm equating smoother to freer revving?

Can't wait to get out on My Rockster again - I've only done about 50 miles on the new Nitron shocks.

Just say the word!

[KungFooBob]

Popped up on my Friendface newsfeed just now...

https://www.adventurebikerider.com/bmw- ... the-world/

I do think the 1150 is loads better looking than the newer ones.

[Demannu]

Well, test ride booked at our local stealership, I'll let you know how it goes!

[KungFooBob]

Now nice is this?

I don't think the auction title is getting them the hits tho', the GS1000 was a Suzuki

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154707027854

[wheelnut]

An 1150 having a pootle round the IOM.

[media] [/media]

[Demannu]

That's not mad Sunday, traffic wouldn't be coming at them if it was.

[Dodgy69]

Christ knows why folk go over the mountain the wrong way, it's bloody frightening.

[wheelnut]

That's not mad Sunday, traffic wouldn't be coming at them if it was.

Yeah - noticed and edited.

[Demannu]

Test ride done.
Itch scratched.
Nothing to see here!
What, you want more! My opinion.
Oh, alright then.
It was a 2010 with knackered abs and dodgy fuel gauge.
It had anakee fitted so I reckoned we could push it a little.
So for anyone that has never ridden a telelever BMW, the front end has a vague feel about it, which you just learn to trust, and the motors are deceptively quick, quite car like (apart from the vibes).
So I did @70 miles on it, rode it like I stole it.
Handling, surprisingly good for a bloody great lump of a bike. However, once you're committed to a line, better make sure that's the line you want, as there's an awful lot of momentum going on. Likewise, chopping the throttle mid corner, not a recipe for disaster like it used to be, but she wasn't happy!
It was comfy, good wind protection, quick-ish, handled ok. I can really see me buying one..............
in a few years time.
It was really competent, but the one thing it wasn't was FUN.
The XSR snaps the front wheel up in 3rd, lets you take liberties with line choice.
If you're a 'sensible' rider, they're perfect, if you're not, move on.
As for having to kick on chasing one, I'm guessing that as he really knew the road and was probably pretty close to the limit being the reason it impressed me.

[weeksy]

I wasn't buying one, but now I'm really really not buying one

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I never even considered buying one, I'm guessing you'd now have to pay me to ride one.

[PitaNaanRoti]

Go ride a 1250 then come back with your opinion.
Mine is faster cross country on roads I know and more so on those I don’t than the 1400 or the 10 as you can use the bikes capabilities.
It really does have to be someone with local knowledge to get away with from the latest version.

[Demannu]

Go ride a 1250 then come back with your opinion.

Oooooooooowww, defensive!
Thing is, thread title definitely states 1200.
More importantly, I don't have £12+large to spunk on a bike.
Does your 1250 loft the front wheel at 70+ mph?

[Taff]

I'm a bit late to this thread and it's interesting to see there's definitely 2 camps of owners, ones that haven't had many problems and ones that have.
I fall into the latter with the 1150rt that I had for about 2 years and 30 something thousand miles.

It was the most expensive bike to keep running that I have ever owned. But all for relatively small things like oil leaks from the sight glass (iirc) that were never ending rather than major failures that left me stranded.
It did it's job of blatting up and down the m5 very competently, but I wouldn't have another boxer. Ever.

[wheelnut]

It really does have to be someone with local knowledge to get away with from the latest version.

Local knowledge is irrelevant. They are a superbly capable bike. You can jump on them and do a 500mile day at a good pace on nadgery roads and still be relatively sane at the end of it.

Other good bikes are available though.

[PitaNaanRoti]

Go ride a 1250 then come back with your opinion.

Oooooooooowww, defensive!
Thing is, thread title definitely states 1200.
More importantly, I don't have £12+large to spunk on a bike.
Does your 1250 loft the front wheel at 70+ mph?

Ride the 1200LC then - same difference.
Front wheel? If you really wanted to then yes you could. But why the fuck would you want to on a public road?
Guy on a 1200GSA at Almeria last year had no issues being in the advanced group either so guess that leaves a WWII shell where the sun doesn't shine in you.

[Demannu]

Go ride a 1250 then come back with your opinion.

Oooooooooowww, defensive!
Thing is, thread title definitely states 1200.
More importantly, I don't have £12+large to spunk on a bike.
Does your 1250 loft the front wheel at 70+ mph?

Ride the 1200LC then - same difference.
Front wheel? If you really wanted to then yes you could. But why the fuck would you want to on a public road?
Guy on a 1200GSA at Almeria last year had no issues being in the advanced group either so guess that leaves a WWII shell where the sun doesn't shine in you.

And I've run a fzs1000 in the fast group at several circuits.
As for popping wheelies on the road, because it's FUN!
I didn't say it handled badly, I said ok. My current steed handled badly until I sorted it, I'll not sugar coat things, they're a competent bike with build quality issues, but not for me ATM.

[weeksy]

Go ride a 1250 then come back with your opinion.

Oooooooooowww, defensive!
Thing is, thread title definitely states 1200.
More importantly, I don't have £12+large to spunk on a bike.
Does your 1250 loft the front wheel at 70+ mph?

Ride the 1200LC then - same difference.
Front wheel? If you really wanted to then yes you could. But why the fuck would you want to on a public road?
Guy on a 1200GSA at Almeria last year had no issues being in the advanced group either so guess that leaves a WWII shell where the sun doesn't shine in you.

LOL why is he not allowed to dislike the bike ? I've ridden loads i don't like.... it's not a dig at people who like them

[Skub]

Oooooooooowww, defensive!
Thing is, thread title definitely states 1200.
More importantly, I don't have £12+large to spunk on a bike.
Does your 1250 loft the front wheel at 70+ mph?

Ride the 1200LC then - same difference.
Front wheel? If you really wanted to then yes you could. But why the fuck would you want to on a public road?
Guy on a 1200GSA at Almeria last year had no issues being in the advanced group either so guess that leaves a WWII shell where the sun doesn't shine in you.

LOL why is he not allowed to dislike the bike ? I've ridden loads i don't like.... it's not a dig at people who like them

More than a few GS owners take offence if you fail to acknowledge their bike's superiority.