The ubiquitous 'GS'
Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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.
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.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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....
Never bought one, mind.
Yet....
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
Getting the Gemi chip, ditching the massive collector and making sure the TBs are balanced makes it 100 times better.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
I keep intending to get a Gemi chip for the Rockster, just haven't quite got around to it over the last 3 years...
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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.
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
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
You do spend quite a bit of time picking them up on those courses I believe.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.
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.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
I had one on my Rockster along with the exhaust Y pipe thing, seemed to go quite well?Rockburner wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 3:54 pmI keep intending to get a Gemi chip for the Rockster, just haven't quite got around to it over the last 3 years...
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
I don't know what the weights are but always remember thinking the 1100 felt a lot more nimble?Count Steer wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 5:08 pmYou do spend quite a bit of time picking them up on those courses I believe.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.
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.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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 1100 made 80bhp, the 1250LC makes 136bhp, so it gained 6kg and 56bhp.
Standard bikes, not the GSA's.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
I might be tempted if a new version lost 6 hp and 56 kg. I struggle to understand how they are so heavy.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.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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.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.
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Re: The ubiquitous 'GS'
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.