Took my GTR in for its 43k service today :)
The dealer loaned me a 2000 plate BMW 1150GS with 37k on the clock.
Once my arse, hands and feet stop vibrating I'll write a review. How do people ever consider this heap of junk to be a serious bike?*
*Appreciate this might not be the best example but still ...
I had a R1200 as a loaner when my k1300 was serviced and like you I could not see the attraction at all.
The whole bike was shaking at tickover - very embarrasing at traffic lights felt like shouting ITS NOT MINE and when on the move the engine had no low down grunt no mid range and even less top end really glad to give it back.
Shows how important the badge on the tank is when it comes to selling to certain people and yes the k1300 was a mistake more warranty repairs/recalls than everyother bike I have owned put together although it did do what it says on the tin very well when running
;D very funny, I felt the same way after buying my R12GSA but after 500 or so miles they grow on you, possibly like a rash, but grow they do. Just got bored on it though, hugely capable but dull.
Oh and I had a K12R sport too but in 12 months ownership it spent 4(!) months in the dealers :o
Love my GTR
I had a GS last spring for our holiday... hated the bloody thing..came home and sold of fer the GTR...happy bunny now ;D
OTOH we took an 1150GS round Europe for 10 weeks (http://thewellers.us/trips/Europe08/EuropeanTripMap.htm) in 2008 and it was ideal. A bit slow for motorways but excellent on other roads and great for gravel and tracks.
We also had a 1200GS for about a year and I loved it. I was very grateful we were on such a bike in Eastern Europe last year when friends on more conventional bikes were having an uncomfortable ride due to the road surfaces. Having used one on the level 2 off-road course in Wales I know how capable off-road they are; far more capable than I am. Take a look at the excellent photo's on the front of UKGSer (http://www.ukgser.com/home/) to see just how serious a bike they can be. The only reason we sold it is the 170 mile tank range is no good for us. It will be replaced by a GSA in the not too distant future. I've been hanging on to see the spec's of the Triumph and Honda but their tank sizes probably ensure it will be BMW again.
For people who actually use their bikes it has absolutely nothing to do with the badge on the tank. What other bike would you buy for extended two-up trips that will include road and off-road tracks?
Kevin
For serious touring and anywhere with gravel/track riding it has to be the R1200 GSA ...33 litre tank ! .... one day but for now I shall stick to my beloved GTR ;D
Nope...still think the GS is a pile of over-rated expensive Poo...
tis ok if you want to go to the ends of the worlds, but fer touring in comfort in Europe, it's crap....The GS is dog slow, handles like ya riding a camel, and has no feel in the front end, and the vibration at speed is horrendious...and don't get me started on the buffeting, from what BMW laughingly call a screen!... that lump of perspex wasn't tested in a wind tunnel thats for sure >:(
Quote from: Mogster on November 18, 2011, 10:52:44 AM
Nope...still think the GS is a pile of over-rated expensive Poo...
tis ok if you want to go to the ends of the worlds, but fer touring in comfort in Europe, it's crap....The GS is dog slow, handles like ya riding a camel, and has no feel in the front end, and the vibration at speed is horrendious...and don't get me started on the buffeting, from what BMW laughingly call a screen!... that lump of perspex wasn't tested in a wind tunnel thats for sure >:(
'crap comfort'? We find them comfortable. When Lyn flew home from Romania (after I managed to break her rib by landing on her when we fell off) I rode home. Just under 1400 miles stopping for petrol, food and the channel train; no discomfort. We've had quite a few long days on a GS. Neither of us liked the stock seats so we used Air Hawks. I didn't like the stock seat on the GTR either and had it rebuilt as the Air Hawks didn't work for us on that.
'Dog slow'? I guess that depends on how you define slow. They're not the fastest accelerating bike by any stretch of the imagination, neither will they break any top speed records but that's not what they are designed for (just as the GTR would not be very good on some of the trails we've ridden as it's not designed for it and it would be 'dog slow' compared to our Hayabusa - horses for courses). The 1200 will comfortably hold a ton+ on a motorway, the 1150 90'ish. I agree that more torque would be better but that's because I'm a lazy rider, keep them spinning above 5k and they are a lot of fun. I'm not sure a GS would be the first bike I'd choose for an endurance rally but people do choose them and they are well represented at the top end of the finishers. All three Brit Butt Lights, all four Brit Butt Rallies and the recent Wolfhound have been won by someone on a GS.
'Handles like a camel?' They handle very well IMO and do everything I've ever asked of them. It's very easy to deck the panniers without knowing you're that far over. I had no problem with the front end and on the odd occasion where exuberance got the better of me and I was going way too fast into a bend I was able to brake with no drama at all as the bike doesn't try to stand up unlike one with conventional forks.
Kwik also commented on the vibration but I get more vibration through the seat of the GTR than I ever did on either of our GS's and as for the screen, well I changed it just as I have on the GTR.
I have to say that if we could only have one bike it would be a GSA for its 'go almost anywhere' capability. Fortunately we don't have to impose that limitation.
Still, if we all liked the same thing it would be a boring world wouldn't it.
Kevin
Before I purchased the GTR I went to the local BMW showroom, cash in hand, to test ride and purchase a 1200GSA. Had I not taken a test ride I would have purchased 1200GSA. It was the vibration on the right bar that put me off. Everything else was spot on.
Now the 1150GS I rode yesterday for 20 miles, I'm sure that bike was the exception rather than the norm. Fitness centres can get rid of the vibration machines, all they is this bike and rev it to get the same experience!
Anyone recall 'The Long Way Round'? KTM are probably kicking themselves for not providing their bikes. BMW took the risk and were well rewarded.
KTM must indeed be kicking themselves ... idiots !
We are all different and so like different things which is good otherwise the world would be a very boring place .
As I do a fair bit of mileage every year ( about 11,000 ) commuting and an annual French trip I get my monies worth out my bikes ... buy new, keep for 5 years and start again and I love the GTR to bits but I wouldn't buy another one simply because there is so much out there to ride, different shapes and sizes, new ideas etc so I like to go from one to another.... I just wouldn't spend all that money on a bike that I have had before .. personal thing I know.
I said on this forum recently I was up for a GSA before I clapped eyes on the beautiful GTR and I would have bought one ( which on reflection would have been sad as I would not have met you lot ... ahhh ! ) but the staff of Vines Guildford showed no interest in me at all so I spent my money elsewhere.
Unless something else lands on this planet in the next 4 years my next bike will be a GSA, but I shall buy it elsewhere !
So to sum up then ... I agree with Kevin on this one ;D
Quote from: Lord Rusty on November 18, 2011, 04:29:40 PM<snip> the staff of Vines Guildford showed no interest in me at all so I spent my money elsewhere. <snip>
That seems to be a common problem with BMW dealers. I've had similar issues at Canon in Braintree (admittedly I only wanted to spend £300 on a jacket. Could I get a 'salesman' to serve me?) and Coopers in Tunbridge Wells (where the 'salesman' couldn't be bothered to get up from his desk to see if the GSA I wanted to sit on had its seat at the lowest setting).
OTOH the salesman from Rainbow in Rotherham spent 30 minutes with me while I tried various GSA seat options even though I told him I wouldn't be buying one just yet and I was only there to have the battery replaced in our GS (we'd broken down with a flat battery and the workshop fitted us in with no notice).
Guess where I'll be going to get the GSA if they have one.
Kevin
The BMW dealership in Bradford, Alan Jefferies, isn't too bad. Always approachable. The only time they were a bit off was when I took my two kids with me. But that's the same at most dealerships. They just hate having kids about. Except for my Kawasaki dealer and HG, cause they know I spend a shit load there.
Hi All,
I found this subject really interesting, bikers jumping from BMW to GTR and vice versa. I had seven BMW's on the trot over quite a few years, K100LT (sold with 125000miles), K1100LTSE (sold with 80000miles), R65 (winter hack silly miles), R1100RT (45000 miles), R1200RT (21000 miles) and finally the R1200GS adventure (only did 1200 miles). I would have considered myself a BMW man through and through but got caught up in the hype for the adventure so thought "what the hell" swapped the R1200Rt for the adventure and hated it. The vibration and buffeting was enough to put me right off and I didnt find it that comfortable. I quickly got rid of the adventure for the GTR and everytime I get the bike out it makes me smile! ;D Thats what its all about for me.
The only good thing i can say about the adventure is I only lost £500 from the purchase price to the selling price. Unfortunately it would seem from the comments on the forum the depreciation on the GTR will be much bigger. But as im going to keep it for a few years I dont really mind.
Hello Maj ... nice to meet you 8)
Yes, interesting stuff indeed ... I love the smoothness of the GTR and everything about it but just like to swop about when the time comes. As I have said before .. thank goodness we are all different and what I like is just not for someone else .... great to see big miles on your bikes .. I am sure many of these Gtr's that we own now will end up with some serious mileage on them ... they will go on and on and on ... I too smile when I get off the bike when arriving home and the garage door closes down behind me and everything is ticking ;D ;D ;D
I have spent a biking lifetime, (started when I was 17 am now 63) looking for THE ONE. 33 bikes owned some I have liked others I have loathed, but this one is a keeper. Most of you will understand when I state that the GTR just feels right, and for my biking needs is simply perfect, more power than a normal mortal could ever us, comfort, great brakes, fantastic handling for such a large bike, and lots of other thing that when I'm riding it make me feel "special". I just love this motorcycle. :)
Quote from: 100milesaway on November 26, 2011, 05:33:53 PM
I just love this motorcycle. :)
There you are not alone, Geoff.
Its called the Massey Fergusson Factor !!!!
Designed by Mr John Deere
Built by JCB
The GS is excellent for winter biking as there is a 'snow plough' available in the Tourtech catalouge to fit to the front ;D ;D
Nah, you need some of these: Motorcycle Skis (http://youtu.be/NNYhl4BCh98) (links to You Tube).
Kevin
I used to do that with my boot on a Honda XR500 in Winter. :P
That looked like a decent bit of fun.
TTwo trains of thought! the dealer could have lent you a rough bike intentionally, so that when you got your own bike back it felt so smooth and healthy, or we used to lend people a top of the range car which was a better spec than their own so they felt jealous when they drove it and hopefully traded up to the next level.
Crafty.....but cunning! 8)