The ubiquitous 'GS'

Anything you like about motorbikes

Have you ever owned a BMW 'GS' model of motorcycle?

Yes
18
47%
No
8
21%
Fuck No
7
18%
Do I look like I smell of piss?
5
13%
 
Total votes: 38

User avatar
dern
Posts: 2145
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:51 am
Has thanked: 1018 times
Been thanked: 1786 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by 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.
User avatar
gremlin
Posts: 5935
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:12 pm
Location: Kent (AKA God's own country)
Has thanked: 812 times
Been thanked: 4809 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by 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....
All aboard the Peckham Pigeon! All aboard!
Bigjawa
Posts: 1932
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:54 pm
Location: Ballymena Co. Antrim
Has thanked: 221 times
Been thanked: 879 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by Bigjawa »

dern wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 11:50 am 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.
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4380
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7825 times
Been thanked: 2532 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by Rockburner »

Bigjawa wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 12:29 pm
dern wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 11:50 am 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...
non quod, sed quomodo
Whysub
Posts: 888
Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 8:53 pm
Has thanked: 1058 times
Been thanked: 864 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by 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.
User avatar
Count Steer
Posts: 11848
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2021 4:59 pm
Has thanked: 6383 times
Been thanked: 4775 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by Count Steer »

Whysub wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:29 pm 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. :lol:

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.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one
.
Voltaire
v8-powered
Posts: 2528
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 7:37 pm
Location: Layer-de-la-Haye
Has thanked: 2250 times
Been thanked: 1243 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by v8-powered »

Rockburner wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 3:54 pm
Bigjawa wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 12:29 pm
dern wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 11:50 am 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?
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 16009 times
Been thanked: 10265 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by Taipan »

Count Steer wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 5:08 pm
Whysub wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 4:29 pm 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. :lol:

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?
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14230
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7547 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by 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
Posts: 4096
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1523 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by The Spin Doctor »

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 9:13 pm 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.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 16009 times
Been thanked: 10265 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by Taipan »

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 9:13 pm 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
Posts: 1932
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:54 pm
Location: Ballymena Co. Antrim
Has thanked: 221 times
Been thanked: 879 times

Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'

Post by 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.