After Riding a BMW GS - Why Does The C14 Handle So Poorly ?

[tommytool]

My only post on this thread will be that I agree with Zeds, there is no such thing as an inherently dangerous bike, only the limitations of the rider and the ability to adapt to the different riding style each bike demands.

Unfortunately my limitations were not that obvious to me in august when I swapped the ride to work from GTR to my XT660 Tenere. Put it simply I was used to a nice heavy front end with a nice big contact patch,ABS and linked brakes - not the skinny light front end with 2 massive disc brakes and a contact patch the size of a postage stamp.

I grabbed a handful, locked the front, bike washed out and I end up with a seriously broken right thumb, damaged gear ( not the rukka thank god) and time off work. The only good news was the bike only required a single panel ( thanks ebay £10!) my boot at the ankle lost all the ankle protector so imagine what the effect trainers would have had.
The reconstruction of my thumb joint next year won't be so much fun.

I enjoy the diversity (nice wholesome word for this day and age) of owning different bikes but thoroughly respect  now their differences and my ability to accommodate them.

I would only seriously compare bikes back to back if they were genuinely comparable - example GTR vs say, K1200/1300GT, Pan, FJR, ST1050, some sort of similarity here I think and probably yes, all behind the times but out of them all I think we bought the best option. Times change but please don't ask me to take seriously a comparison between a GS of any incarnation and the GTR.

Incidentally the XT was sacrificed on the instruction of my wife who now has a nice new kitchen - let's see that spit me down the road! On a plus side the garage is now less packed!

Happy New Year one and all - the plan for 2014 is to revisit Belgium for the centenary - hope the thumb is repaired by then else it's mountain bikes only!

[Charlie747]

I want to comment, but I wont.

Most modern bikes including the GTR, will do anything you want it to......  in most cases, its rider orientated - I'm not saying anyone is a bad rider......  its just that we are not "taught" how to ride a bike to "ride" a bike, We are taught to ride a bike to pass a test....

Neil

[Debs]

Agree with what you're saying there Sirtou. I took up biking relatively late in life, late 30's I guess. The Gtr is my fourth bike, but its the one I have had most confidence in to throw around the corners. I guess that's mainly due to gaining experience and putting more miles on the Gtr. I love the way it handles, to me it feels planted, and when it does squirm a little its all part of the fun as it never feels like it wants to let go.
I'm sure I'd probably feel the same way about the other bikes now if I were to ride them again due to experience gained.
I'm a firm believer that there's not many bad bikes or cars for that matter these days, just different ones, and you usually choose one on appearance, riding style and what you want to use it for. I chose the Gtr on its mile munching abilities, its looks, and the way you can throw it around on the twisties for such a big bike. I won't be looking for a replacement for a good while.

[pistole]

ok  ok , guys .



am gonna get on a new set of tyres and try to learn to ride the GTR again , do not want to give up on her yet. We've had plenty of good times together.

that and I can (used to anyway) ride this thing :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG288ea-LBI

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC6npGLiZdk

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that last vid was the scariest. Seriously big speeds on that chase. And my gtr was weaving her head in the turns (which you may just see in the vid) .

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[Lonewolf]

At the risk of offending the minority I'd like to say that no way whatsoever does the GTR handle poorly, I've never been on a GS, I can't say how it compares to the GTR, clearly if what we are reading is correct, then it is significantly better, that being the case it must be truly awesome...but absolutely no way on this earth can the handling of the GTR be described as poor.

[pistole]

At the risk of offending the minority I'd like to say that no way whatsoever does the GTR handle poorly, I've never been on a GS, I can't say how it compares to the GTR, clearly if what we are reading is correct, then it is significantly better, that being the case it must be truly awesome...but absolutely no way on this earth can the handling of the GTR be described as poor.

have to disagree there though.

Every single magazine review of the C14 mentions the handling , and not in a positive way unfortunately.

and imho , any bike's handling is good/poor when compared to something else (of course). If you've not ridden anything that handles "better" , of course you'd not know what "better" was.

cheers and no offence meant since I do own both machines.

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[Lonewolf]

I know I'm going to regret this but here goes anyway....Pistole, even if the handling of the GTR was not as good as a GS that would still not in my opinion make the handling of the GTR poor, just different.




Hopefully that makes sense.

[Charlie747]

have to disagree there though.

Every single magazine review of the C14 mentions the handling , and not in a positive way unfortunately.

and imho , any bike's handling is good/poor when compared to something else (of course). If you've not ridden anything that handles "better" , of course you'd not know what "better" was.

cheers and no offence meant since I do own both machines.

You are missing the point.

A bike that at its launch was sold as a cross continent missile will need an engine with good mid range torque and top end power coupled to a frame that has a long wheel base for ride comfort and steering geometry that gives high speed stability = GTR

A bike that at its launch is sold as an all round adventure bike will have an engine with good low speed torque and strong power in the mid range coupled to a short a wheel base frame for ease of low speed manoeuvring when used in conjunction with steering geometry with minimum trail for light weight feel and quick turn in = GS

I would not ask or expect a GTR to go off road down a green lane just as I would not expect a GS to sit at 130mph for hour after hour on a German autobahn. The design brief of each machine is poles apart just as is their respective target markets.

"Every single magazine review of the C14 mentions the handling , and not in a positive way unfortunately"

Incorrect statement.  Lean how to steer it from your seat not the bars...........Just like riding a well schooled horse.  Learn how to set the suspension up for your weight style of riding...then go enjoy

I remember a well documented and videoed launch crash of a GTR......................But the GS world launch was cancelled after a fatal accident and several bikes had ripped the steering lock stops off the frames !!!

Handling as a word when used to describe the riding qualities of a bike is very subjective.

Go chase cars down a motorway as in your video on the GS and its high speed (does it do high speed) ride would be interesting to say the least.  Just as if you took the GTR off road (now I know that's a dumb idea) to take big air, neither bike would come out well on those tests !!!

You are a lucky man if you have GS and GTR in the garage ....................go enjoy...............but remember the flight envelope of each is very different.   

"and imho , any bike's handling is good/poor when compared to something else (of course). If you've not ridden anything that handles "better" , of course you'd not know what "better" was."

Was in the trade for many years and have ridden a lot of different bikes so feel more than qualified to comment.

[Deon]

@PISTOLE,
After watching the videos you posted, all I can say is that you have to learn how to ride the GTR mate ! The bike is capable of so much more and in fact, the faster and SMOOTHER you ride ( and in the correct gear ), the better the bike handles.


Deon

[pistole]

sure , lets see the vids.

post them up.

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[100milesaway]

Pistole, I must say that having watched your first clip there seemed to be a hell of a lot unnecessary gear changes plus lots of on/off throttle action.    That road looked to me like it could have been ridden in lot smoother and flowing style.                PS do double white lines in the centre of the road not mean the same in your country as they do here?

[Charlie747]

ok  ok , guys .



am gonna get on a new set of tyres and try to learn to ride the GTR again , do not want to give up on her yet. We've had plenty of good times together.

that and I can (used to anyway) ride this thing :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG288ea-LBI

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC6npGLiZdk

.


that last vid was the scariest. Seriously big speeds on that chase. And my gtr was weaving her head in the turns (which you may just see in the vid) .

.

I've got to say you've got some great roads to ride in your neck of the woods countryside looks lush...............love the camera on the bottom of the fork leg 

[zedmeister]

You are missing the point.

A bike that at its launch was sold as a cross continent missile will need an engine with good mid range torque and top end power coupled to a frame that has a long wheel base for ride comfort and steering geometry that gives high speed stability = GTR

A bike that at its launch is sold as an all round adventure bike will have an engine with good low speed torque and strong power in the mid range coupled to a short a wheel base frame for ease of low speed manoeuvring when used in conjunction with steering geometry with minimum trail for light weight feel and quick turn in = GS

I would not ask or expect a GTR to go off road down a green lane just as I would not expect a GS to sit at 130mph for hour after hour on a German autobahn. The design brief of each machine is poles apart just as is their respective target markets.

"Every single magazine review of the C14 mentions the handling , and not in a positive way unfortunately"

Incorrect statement.  Lean how to steer it from your seat not the bars...........Just like riding a well schooled horse.  Learn how to set the suspension up for your weight style of riding...then go enjoy

I remember a well documented and videoed launch crash of a GTR......................But the GS world launch was cancelled after a fatal accident and several bikes had ripped the steering lock stops off the frames !!!

Handling as a word when used to describe the riding qualities of a bike is very subjective.

Go chase cars down a motorway as in your video on the GS and its high speed (does it do high speed) ride would be interesting to say the least.  Just as if you took the GTR off road (now I know that's a dumb idea) to take big air, neither bike would come out well on those tests !!!

You are a lucky man if you have GS and GTR in the garage ....................go enjoy...............but remember the flight envelope of each is very different.   

"and imho , any bike's handling is good/poor when compared to something else (of course). If you've not ridden anything that handles "better" , of course you'd not know what "better" was."

Was in the trade for many years and have ridden a lot of different bikes so feel more than qualified to comment.

Very well said.

[nightrider]

 

Pistole, I must say that having watched your first clip there seemed to be a hell of a lot unnecessary gear changes plus lots of on/off throttle action.    That road looked to me like it could have been ridden in lot smoother and flowing style.                PS do double white lines in the centre of the road not mean the same in your country as they do here?

[pistole]

again : put up your vids.


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