The ubiquitous 'GS'

[IanB]

I've got a 2009 1200 GS which I really should sell, but I'm quite attached to it. They do that to you.

I "replaced" it with a 2017 R1200RS which has a night & day better LC engine. I would have bought another GS but the RS was about £1500 less than the same year GS, so it was a money thing really. The riding position is not quite there so I've fitted replacement higher & wider handlebars. The pegs will be next, basically I'm starting to turn it into a GS ..

GSs are popular because they have lovely engines & a comfy riding position. For context I rode a mates 1260 Multistrada to the coast a few weeks ago & for my money as a touring bike the engine was just too powerful & too playful, I couldn't help riding it like a complete twat - clear bit of road on the nationals & I was off leaving my mates way behind. Every time.

"The engine made me do it officer, honestly"

Get ahead get a boxer.

[Supermofo]

too playful, I couldn't help riding it like a complete twat

Sounds like I'd prefer a Multi

[dern]

I didn't like my 1150. It was ok to ride but nothing special, good on back roads I guess but not that fun. Throttle response was poor and inconsistent in traffic. Reliability was not good and caused me to cancel a couple of weekend trips so I dumped it.

[gremlin]

Hired a couple in Italy over the years. Didn't really gel the first time, but the second time I kinda 'got it'.

Never bought one, mind.





Yet....

[Bigjawa]

I didn't like my 1150. It was ok to ride but nothing special, good on back roads I guess but not that fun. Throttle response was poor and inconsistent in traffic. Reliability was not good and caused me to cancel a couple of weekend trips so I dumped it.

Getting the Gemi chip, ditching the massive collector and making sure the TBs are balanced makes it 100 times better.

[Rockburner]

I didn't like my 1150. It was ok to ride but nothing special, good on back roads I guess but not that fun. Throttle response was poor and inconsistent in traffic. Reliability was not good and caused me to cancel a couple of weekend trips so I dumped it.

Getting the Gemi chip, ditching the massive collector and making sure the TBs are balanced makes it 100 times better.

I keep intending to get a Gemi chip for the Rockster, just haven't quite got around to it over the last 3 years...

[Whysub]

I did the BMW off road weekend. Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb were the instructors, and they made things look so easy on the GS's (1100 or 1150's I think). Had a go on an 1100 on day two, bloody horrendous, but that was me, not so much the bike. But the weight of it when off road was a huge issue for me.

We had a couple of R1200RS's at work which were OK, but I never really liked the power delivery or flat exhaust note, so just rode something else instead.

Can see the appeal, but I don't see too many here around here on Spanish plates, mostly showing other countries plates.

[Count Steer]

I did the BMW off road weekend. Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb were the instructors, and they made things look so easy on the GS's (1100 or 1150's I think). Had a go on an 1100 on day two, bloody horrendous, but that was me, not so much the bike. But the weight of it when off road was a huge issue for me.

You do spend quite a bit of time picking them up on those courses I believe.

Surprised by the comment re the weight of the 1100 and the 1150 though. I thought the 1100 was lighter than the 1150. It was the 1200 that they really shed the weight on. Still quite a lump to pick up in the mud though.

[v8-powered]

I didn't like my 1150. It was ok to ride but nothing special, good on back roads I guess but not that fun. Throttle response was poor and inconsistent in traffic. Reliability was not good and caused me to cancel a couple of weekend trips so I dumped it.

Getting the Gemi chip, ditching the massive collector and making sure the TBs are balanced makes it 100 times better.

I keep intending to get a Gemi chip for the Rockster, just haven't quite got around to it over the last 3 years...

I had one on my Rockster along with the exhaust Y pipe thing, seemed to go quite well?

[Taipan]

I did the BMW off road weekend. Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb were the instructors, and they made things look so easy on the GS's (1100 or 1150's I think). Had a go on an 1100 on day two, bloody horrendous, but that was me, not so much the bike. But the weight of it when off road was a huge issue for me.

You do spend quite a bit of time picking them up on those courses I believe.

Surprised by the comment re the weight of the 1100 and the 1150 though. I thought the 1100 was lighter than the 1150. It was the 1200 that they really shed the weight on. Still quite a lump to pick up in the mud though.

I don't know what the weights are but always remember thinking the 1100 felt a lot more nimble?

[KungFooBob]

My Googlefu says that the curb weights (with fuel etc..) of the 1100 is 243kg, 1150 253kg and the 1200 is 244kg and the 1200/50 LC is 249kg.

The 1100 made 80bhp, the 1250LC makes 136bhp, so it gained 6kg and 56bhp.

Standard bikes, not the GSA's.

[The Spin Doctor]

My Googlefu says that the curb weights (with fuel etc..) of the 1100 is 243kg, 1150 253kg and the 1200 is 244kg and the 1200/50 LC is 249kg.

The 1100 made 80bhp, the 1250LC makes 136bhp, so it gained 6kg and 56bhp.

Standard bikes, not the GSA's.

I might be tempted if a new version lost 6 hp and 56 kg. I struggle to understand how they are so heavy.

[Taipan]

My Googlefu says that the curb weights (with fuel etc..) of the 1100 is 243kg, 1150 253kg and the 1200 is 244kg and the 1200/50 LC is 249kg.

The 1100 made 80bhp, the 1250LC makes 136bhp, so it gained 6kg and 56bhp.

Standard bikes, not the GSA's.

Came so close,many times, to buying a 1200. Still want one in many ways, but I never had a lot of luck with the R series.

[Bigjawa]

Well, being NW200 week there's a billion bikes about, but I've noticed the GS is a lot less ubiquitous than it once was, there seems to be a whole lot of Africa Twins and Tigers. Nowhere near as many sportsbikes either, it seems that big nakeds are in the ascendancy.