Forums > Motorcycle Discussion > Gelände / Straße

Here ya go...

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/pdfs/r1200gs_r1200gsa_why_the_gs_rules.pdf

I only own the wee GS, but I love it just the same. And probably for the same reasons other folks love their GS. The only difference is, mine gets far better gas mileage (65 MPG, woo hoo!). 

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Scott (AKA GSlite. Isn't there some way to get your username changed?)

Jack.............I did a full page on this about 3 years ago. If I still have it I may have an answer for you. But in one word, playfulness...................Bob

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"Go out, things happen. Stay at home, they don't" .....................Ted Simon

Hey! Wait a minute! If that's the only difference why bother with the 1200? The fact is, if I keep my speed down to what the 650 will do I get almost as good of fuel milage. (61mpg @ 55mph)

Seriously though; As a returning rider I really don't remember how many bikes I test rode in the one and a half-two years leading up to my purchase of the R12GS, but there were a lot! Before starting to shop for my own bike I had ridden only my brother's KLR 650 and my son's Ninja 600 in the privious 20 years.

"Back in the day" my 2 favorite bikes were the BSA 441 Victor, mentioned in the "cult bike" thread and a Kawi KZ400. The Vic was the most fun bike I ever owned-a dual sport that in 1970 had acceptable street performance, and was a great hill climber. The incredibly high maintainance requirements took a lot of the fun away though. I pushed it as much as rode it. The Kawi was stone reliable, Period. Though it was no sport bike, nothing really was back then. At least not by today's standards. It would keep up with traffic on the freeways, but not the bigger bikes.

So even back then, what I really wanted was something as streetable as my KZ400, as tractable on a hill as my Vic 441...PLUS sportier and better for high speed touring than both. My son's Ninja has a definite edge in the twisties, but only if the pavement is smooth. On bad roads I don't need to slow down and he does.

In short, my R1200GS is 75% as dirt capable as the 441. It's 250% as touring worthey as the Kwak 400 when you consider 500+ mile days on any road. AND, something I didn't even know about back in the day, it's 90% as much of a sport bike as my son's Ninja 600. I think of it as a "Rough and Tumble" ST1300, only sportier.

Realistically though; the new F650GS is probably exactly what I was looking for back then, as my imagination could not have come up with either the F800GS or R1200GS

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If you meet the Buddha, kill him

HEY!   My 650 will go faster than 55 (56 is faster than 55, right? )

The "little" GS is perfect for me and my area (greater Los Angeles). It's a fantastic commuter, but still allows me to play in the dirt and gravel when I want. Is it a comfortable touring bike? Not exactly. Is it the right bike for full-on MX action offroad? No way. Does it straddle the line between those activities (and perhaps many more)? Absolutely.

I find myself looking seriously at the R1200R when visiting the dealer. I've even entertained the notion of an RT, or perhaps even stepping up to a KGT. However, I know myself too well, and know that the second I sign on the dotted line for a bike like that is the second I have the urge to go run around on some fire roads somewhere. This is where a GS (of any size) comes in. It's a great bike on the pavement while still allowing you to take those dirt tracks off into nowhere.

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Scott (AKA GSlite. Isn't there some way to get your username changed?)

[quote user='Madhatter']

In the "Cult Bike" thread, a great deal of passion was expressed about the venerated G/S design.  Riders expressed delight in ownership, steadfast loyalty to the line, and regret for bikes now gone from the garage.

One rider said that the G/S was flat out "the best bike" he'd ever ridden. Another intimated that the G/S was the one bike to own...if you were going to own just one. (Well maybe that's a moot point with this crowd, but still.)

I've always been intertested in the G/S's, but wasn't aware of this level of passion. Maybe G/S riders are reserved.  But why is the G/S the one bike to own?   What are the rest of us missing out on?

Why do you love your Gelände/Straße?

raymondito writes:

Why do I love the GS? Here's the story... Mom doesn't want me to ride motorcycles, because they are dangerous. She always said I had to wait until I was 18 then I could do what I wanted. So when I was 18 I bought my first BMW motorcycle. It is a 1977 R 100/7 that I still own and love. I proceeded to ride that bike everywhere including a nice moto tour to Baja Mexico with my friend and his father who were also on BMW's. The journey was challenging and amazing and got me hooked on motorcycle touring. This Baja Mexico tour and other similar dirt GS rides on my /7 made me realize the importance of a large enduro bike.  So only a short time after the purchase of my /7, and a generous loan from my converted mother, I purchased my 1984 R 80 GS Paris Dakar. This bike made me fall in love with not only the GS bike but also the entire sport of adventure riding. Now I really could go anywhere and enjoy, not stress, the riding. This was fun! I could carry my gear, ride the back roads and camp where ever I could get the bike, which truly was just about anywhere...  I still own my first two BMW's and still ride them all the time, but I finally broke down and went for new technology and got the 2004 R1150 GSA. Wow, BMW did it to me again. This bike really rocks. The German engineering does it again. This bike goes amazing, stops unbelievable, handles with precision, and is the best touring motorcycle on the planet. So this year I went to Argentina to do the vacation of my dreams and ride Patagonia by motorcycle. What bike was my choice? Guess. I rented a 2007 BMW 650 Dakar. Again I am highly impressed with the GS machine in any conditions; Fast pavement, deep gravel, loose dirt, sandy back roads, muddy slop. These GS bikes can handle anything that adventure motorcycle travel can dish out, and they are super reliable. Over 5000 kms. of rough riding in Argentina and Chile and only one thing went wrong... The mud flap broke off... Not a big deal. Engine was solid and the bike ran like a top the entire time, despite the mediocre gas. My home is in rural Northern California so I use my GS bikes to go to a variety of places. I ride them on rocky terrain, gravel roads, creek crossings, and dirt trails to get to alpine lakes, rivers, and backwoods camping. I am thrilled that I can access the coolest places and have a great time getting there and back.  

As you can tell, I could go on and on about how much I love my GS bikes. These are only a few stories of why I completely agree that they are the best bikes in the world. In fact I can't wait until the F800 comes out so I can head down to the dealer and pick one out.

BMW rider: raymondito

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Raymondito - a.k.a. Ray Pettengell - PO Box 1555 - Mount Shasta, CA, 96067 - 530.905.2211

Just DEMO ride one and see for your self !!!

I have several times!!! 

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'06 ducati 620 Multistrada; '81-ish BMW R100 "Project Enduro Rat"

 

In a recent review of the Kawasaki Versys, the writer begins by saying that

on paper, the bike is anything but impressive. He says that the a review of

the component parts ... and specifications would suggest something that would be

gangly, sluggish, poor handeling and anything but fun.

 

The assembled bike however he found to be the polar opposite and ranks it

as one of the great scoots of the last decade.

I believe that such is the case with the big GS... at least in its' 1100 and 1150 

forms. (the lighter, more powerful 1200 actually looks good on paper )

 

It seems that in spite of all the science, there is some real alchemy at work

when these things actually come together.. sometimes producing bikes that punch

way... way above their weight level.

 

I've ridden no end of scooters including the big KTM 990 Adventure and

950R Super Enduro ( now there's one tall scooter). Great bikes all but the bmw 1150 and then the

1200 GS are just more to my liking ... particularly the less powerful, heavier 1150.

 

No end of science and spec reading is going to explain that. 

 

 

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Fast.... oh yeah... I remember fast.

So, is the lowered R1200GS still worth the adulation or is it just an R1200R with a different look?

Ssssssssh

don't tell but the secret is the wide motocross bars

makes me feel about 16 years old again

can't explain

just is

b 

 

 

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"Go out, things happen. Stay at home, they don't" .....................Ted Simon

Hey Scott,

I hope you know I was just playing. I have a friend with an F650GS who changed the rear sprocket to one with 4 less teeth. He cruises at 80+ on the interstate. He uses it for his anual trip from Fresno to his parents house in Montery Mexico. And if you dig deep enough in the "Touring" forums you'll find TREX's trip report from his Alaska trip last July on a F650 Dakar. I wouldn't ride 1.000 miles a day on one, but many have.

 

I'm going to have to stay away from the F800GS when they're available cuz there's not room in my budget for another bike for me (at least not till the wife gets one!)

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If you meet the Buddha, kill him

Some great posts.

Ray, I love your passion for these bikes. You make me want to get one myself. And it sounds like you know how to use them.

I have not taken one out for a full demo ride. However, I did get to motor about on both an 1150 and a 1200 for about a mile. A relatively sedate mile. Both bikes had luggage on them. Both were....nice. The suspension felt a bit loose and the handling was compromised by the luggage I believe. But both were nice bikes. I could see being happy with either, but I think I prefered the 1200. Of course, I'd need to do a full demo to really get a feel. I will say that both were more comfortable than the KTM950, but also less spirited. 

JC, your post seemed to be positive in re the G/S, yet you do not have one. Por que? It's like you drank the Kool-aid and are now considering Sprite. What did you like? What kept you from acquiring one?

You too T. You wax poetic about the synergistic marvel that the G/S's are, and yet you don't have one either. Why did you get rid of such a marvelous machine? We need to talk about Zufriedenheit someday.

Bob explained it best for me. The wide handlebars. I totally get it. How often do I wish the KTM had an extra 2" either side.

 

Jack

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"There ain't no Devil, there's just God when he's drunk." -- T. Waits

Anybody here, like me, a previous owner of a GS..... that sold it????  If so, I'm curious.... why?

 

 

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******Mike****** "We choose our joys and our sorrows long before we experience them."

 

Hey Jack... the simple answer is that I'm a slut... or as a dear friend calls me... a cycle

honey bee. I should wear a T shirt that reads... " so many scoots... so little time ".

Unlike dear pal Charlie, my head could not cope with a garage full of scoots that never

got exercised. So i've sort of set 3-4 as the limit at any given time.

Who knows... maybe i'll  change my ways and settle down with the ones i have for the

next decade.

 

 

God i crack myself up.

 

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Fast.... oh yeah... I remember fast.

 

Hey Mikey... in which month did you have a GS?

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Fast.... oh yeah... I remember fast.