KITCH
28th January 2011, 11:49
Now I wasnt planning on owning one of these as I had ridden a friend's 04 r1200gs and to be honset I wasnt stunned. But when you drop on an 09 model still under a year old, a full £$3000 cheaper than all the others advertised of the same age, because the owner had already put a deposit on a new harley and the sale of his bmw had just fallen through.... Sometimes you just gotta... Ok, so to the bike itself. Are they the best thing for off roading since sliced bread??? definitely NO. Way too heavy, ABS system that means you cant stop in the loose (turning it off every time you restart the bike is a pain) and let me see, oh yes... way too flippin expensive to risk throwing down the track on its side if we are being realsitic!!! Is it the most comfy touring bike on the planet? Perhaps so... the seat is excellent, supportive without being soggy, still good on the arse after 6 hours or more in the saddle. Riding position that is ideal for mile munching, screen and handguards that keep you warm and dry. Heated grips, engrossing computer dashboard functions that keep you mesmerised all the way up the back of the slow moving truck.. then the excellent brakes are handy.
Handling is , has to be said, very very good for what the bike is. Once its moving, you can throw it absolutely anywhere, slow or fast. I have ground various bits off either side due to the ease with which you can lean these bikes over in spirited cornering. The suspension gives you a very confidence inspiring feel, always being composed and crisply holding a line through a bend. Its not as sophisticated as some, but it works well.
So why am I still not impressed? One word; agricultural. The drive train could be out of an 80's Guzzi. The gearbox is much better than the old boxers, but its still nothing in comparison with a modern Jap box. The drive line is lifted straight off a ww2 panzer tank, or so it feels. Dont forget this is a nearly new bike with 15000km on the clock, so should be perfect. Another gripe was the hit and miss nature of the fueling. SOOOOOO dependant on atmospherioc conditions as to whether it would be smooth or stuttering like a pig thats just eaten a bag full of chillis and is working out just how to scream its pain to the world. I had this thing back to BMW 3 times to try and set it up properly. I would do this myself, but the buggers have you tied over a log like a certain scene in Deliverance if its still under warranty... Oh no sir, they're all like that. Hmmmm.
Maybe its just me being ultra-picky, but lets face it. If you spend a SHED load on a bike, you expect it to be absolutely perfect and a joy to ride. You DO NOT put up with crap running and put a brave face on it because "they are all like that"... Yes the R1200GS is an excellent tourer, yes its good on fuel and its very comfy as long as you dont go rampaging down a rocky track. It will do a rocky track, but at a walking pace and tottering along with your balls retracted in case you drop it and have to risk finding out how much the new bits are. It is very good at carrying a lot of luggage, pillions etc without noticing it, but as for it being the best adventure bike? Depends on whether you want your adventure to be down the beach road to a few bars, or battling through swamps, over mountains etc... which some luntatics do do on these bikes. Give me a big jap single for that kind of thing every time. The complex rear transmisionn on the r1200 is not bombproof - mine sprang an oil seal under warranty and had never been abused, and I have heard tales of bearing failures and complete melt downs... you cant change the transmision fluid as BMW say its lubed for life.. My arse!!!! Somehting like an XT600 can have new wheel bearings, swing arm bushes, a whole chain and sprocket set, and a new back tyre for about the same price as an official bmw engine oil change. And it can be done anywhere with minimal tools. Go figure just how much you DIDNT see on the Long Way Down... from what I hear there was a LOT of behind the scenes repair work going on.
Ok, enough ranting. Basically the R1200GS is good at road touring and as long as you are prepared to accept that it is not perfect and will break down sooner or later, then yes it will go round the world. But so will a lot of other bikes that are cheaper, lighter, easier to work on, and less likely to get people thinking you are loaded with cash and really ought to be robbed. I sold mine, never having been fully pleased with it, and shaking my head about the fact they could have got it spot on if they had asked Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Honda about how to make a nice smooth shaft drive, and make a bike fuel smoothly all the time. My girlfriends 1993 750 virago was more of a pleasure to ride.
Handling is , has to be said, very very good for what the bike is. Once its moving, you can throw it absolutely anywhere, slow or fast. I have ground various bits off either side due to the ease with which you can lean these bikes over in spirited cornering. The suspension gives you a very confidence inspiring feel, always being composed and crisply holding a line through a bend. Its not as sophisticated as some, but it works well.
So why am I still not impressed? One word; agricultural. The drive train could be out of an 80's Guzzi. The gearbox is much better than the old boxers, but its still nothing in comparison with a modern Jap box. The drive line is lifted straight off a ww2 panzer tank, or so it feels. Dont forget this is a nearly new bike with 15000km on the clock, so should be perfect. Another gripe was the hit and miss nature of the fueling. SOOOOOO dependant on atmospherioc conditions as to whether it would be smooth or stuttering like a pig thats just eaten a bag full of chillis and is working out just how to scream its pain to the world. I had this thing back to BMW 3 times to try and set it up properly. I would do this myself, but the buggers have you tied over a log like a certain scene in Deliverance if its still under warranty... Oh no sir, they're all like that. Hmmmm.
Maybe its just me being ultra-picky, but lets face it. If you spend a SHED load on a bike, you expect it to be absolutely perfect and a joy to ride. You DO NOT put up with crap running and put a brave face on it because "they are all like that"... Yes the R1200GS is an excellent tourer, yes its good on fuel and its very comfy as long as you dont go rampaging down a rocky track. It will do a rocky track, but at a walking pace and tottering along with your balls retracted in case you drop it and have to risk finding out how much the new bits are. It is very good at carrying a lot of luggage, pillions etc without noticing it, but as for it being the best adventure bike? Depends on whether you want your adventure to be down the beach road to a few bars, or battling through swamps, over mountains etc... which some luntatics do do on these bikes. Give me a big jap single for that kind of thing every time. The complex rear transmisionn on the r1200 is not bombproof - mine sprang an oil seal under warranty and had never been abused, and I have heard tales of bearing failures and complete melt downs... you cant change the transmision fluid as BMW say its lubed for life.. My arse!!!! Somehting like an XT600 can have new wheel bearings, swing arm bushes, a whole chain and sprocket set, and a new back tyre for about the same price as an official bmw engine oil change. And it can be done anywhere with minimal tools. Go figure just how much you DIDNT see on the Long Way Down... from what I hear there was a LOT of behind the scenes repair work going on.
Ok, enough ranting. Basically the R1200GS is good at road touring and as long as you are prepared to accept that it is not perfect and will break down sooner or later, then yes it will go round the world. But so will a lot of other bikes that are cheaper, lighter, easier to work on, and less likely to get people thinking you are loaded with cash and really ought to be robbed. I sold mine, never having been fully pleased with it, and shaking my head about the fact they could have got it spot on if they had asked Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, or Honda about how to make a nice smooth shaft drive, and make a bike fuel smoothly all the time. My girlfriends 1993 750 virago was more of a pleasure to ride.