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

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dern
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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.
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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....
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.