1 week into GS1200ss ownership

[T.W.R]

:banana: Well 1 week has gone bye in the realms of owning a new toy

A totally unmolested 2002 GS1200ss with 14.5k on the clock :yes:

Picked it up last Saturday and on Sunday took it out for it's initial 'Let's see how this thing goes' ride :rolleyes: with very little persuasion from a mate we took off for a quick strop over to Akaroa (surprisingly there were plenty of bikes out too BTW), though barrelling through heavy fog from the Black Tulip to Little River made the ride exciting.

First impressions were that the previous owner had no idea about setting up the suspension :slap: with everything feeling overly taut with the bike skipping off small bumps and giving me a real nice head shake coming out of a sweeping right hander under power (The ZXR would eat it at present handling wise).
The motor produces the power where & how I like it :woohoo: (kept having flash backs of bikes I've had in years past). 2nd & 3rd are fun for winding ones way up the Hill and on the flat it could be used like an auto for casual plodding along. Over 19km/l has got to be good too
The previous owner had fitted new tyres front & rear both Shinko brand with doesn't hold to well with me as I prefer keeping close to brands I know. They seemed OK-ish but I can see the rear is going to be in for a horribly short life span.
The stock hand grips are awful things and felt like holding on to a couple of pencils so they're the first to be ditched for some 714s

A Ventura pack frame is on the way along with a tank protector and a few other wee bits 'n' pieces

After having to do a bit of running around on Tuesday in the rain it's easy to see it's going to be a sod to keep clean :pinch: but that's half the fun.

Just have to sort out a bit of time to get away for a decent ride to see how it goes over distance, but I think it'll be all good as it's a bit roomier than the ZXR so the old body doesn't get crunched up as much as it used too.

[Mom]

Nice looking bike there Sir! I hear you about bleck! Bleck is a shit colour to keep looking clean!

[AllanB]

My previous bike was a 1200ss.

Stock grips are indeed shit - hand carved out of Japanese rubber-stone. Not nice going down hill.

I had the full Yoshi system on mine (yum). The stocker is ...well.....very large!

I ran a set of Continental Attacks on mine - sport front, road rear - they were excellent on this bike - the front quickened up the steering a bit and held like a gluey hoop, while the rear looked like it was going to get very good life and caused no issues during the 4000kms I put on the Contis. Don at Pit Lane in Manchester St will see you right on a pair.

The main problem with this bike, and my reason for selling mine and going naked, is that anything remotely near the speed limit is, well, boring :shifty: The big beast likes life at license loosing speeds.

Have fun :clap:

[scumdog]

Nice scoot Bill - screen looks too 'bubbly' - if ya know what I mean.

[Mountlocal1]

Nice example...:yes:

I put a k&n out of a gsx1400 into mine as well as upping jets.. Huge differance! Like it should have gone out of the box... I dont know about the suspension.. I didnt like the way mine handled. Had someone look at it and only way to make it better was a visit to Doc Rob for new rear shocks and re kitted front... Bloody nice bikes for long distances..

[T.W.R]

Nice looking bike there Sir! I hear you about bleck! Bleck is a shit colour to keep looking clean!

:Oops: was my first thought after a 27km trip in heavy drizzle :weep:road film




My previous bike was a 1200ss.

Stock grips are indeed shit - hand carved out of Japanese rubber-stone. Not nice going down hill.

I had the full Yoshi system on mine (yum). The stocker is ...well.....very large!

I ran a set of Continental Attacks on mine - sport front, road rear - they were excellent on this bike - the front quickened up the steering a bit and held like a gluey hoop, while the rear looked like it was going to get very good life and caused no issues during the 4000kms I put on the Contis. Don at Pit Lane in Manchester St will see you right on a pair.

The main problem with this bike, and my reason for selling mine and going naked, is that anything remotely near the speed limit is, well, boring :shifty: The big beast likes life at license loosing speeds.

Have fun :clap:

The grips are shockers for bigger mitts, least it's an easy fix

Yeah the muffler is big, the only mark on the bike is right on the outer edge where the guy's daughter had run into it with a trolly. But it's nice to have a quite pipe for a change as the ZXR is a noisy beast :rolleyes:

I can get a pretty good selection of rubber through work cheaply. Apparently Don suggested these tyres to the previous owner with the fore warning that they wear quickly and going from one ride to Akaroa he isn't wrong.

:rolleyes: Don't do boring well, but the fairing works well for me at legalish speeds. Have noticed it does get a buzz going at 4.5 rpm around the contact area between the headlight housing & the front, going to sort that when I replace that after-thought of a centre mounting screw :pinch:

Fun's the intention :niceone:

[megageoff76]

Definately ditch the Shinkos. I have them front and rear on my 1100, and they spin up in the wet with the slightest sniff of too much throttle.

I fucken hate them...but I guess it serves me right for being a cheap arse, and trying to save a few dollars.

[T.W.R]

Nice scoot Bill - screen looks too 'bubbly' - if ya know what I mean.

:shutup: is a bit like a bubble, but I'll get used to it. Going to put a dark tint on though.


Nice example...:yes:

I put a k&n out of a gsx1400 into mine as well as upping jets.. Huge differance! Like it should have gone out of the box... I dont know about the suspension.. I didnt like the way mine handled. Had someone look at it and only way to make it better was a visit to Doc Rob for new rear shocks and re kitted front... Bloody nice bikes for long distances..

After a while I'm going to have a play with the motor but at the moment it's enjoyable to have everything happening when I want it & quite a few thousand rpm lower down:2thumbsup

At the moment the rebound just feels too stiff, I backed off the rears which helped but the front needs to soften up a bit for me

[AllanB]

Have noticed it does get a buzz going at 4.5 rpm around the contact area between the headlight housing & the front,

Forgot about that - I spent a long time trying to workout a Japanese 1200ss website to determine what that buzz was - apparently they can be prone to it. It's the adjuster on the left headlight - the plastic around the screw splits and sets up a buzz. I cured mine by removing the fairing and wedging a piece of rubber between the light and the housing. This was not visible when the fairing was back on. Also when removing the fairing the turn signals have a joining clip - its a bit fussy to undo and a small screwdriver to press down on the cip helps.

Another tip - if the headlights do not have a cover - get some quick. I had a stone break one of mine - a Suzuki replacement for the light only (excluding chrome frame) is $200. Per light.......... I was lucky and got one from a wrecker. Supercheap sell stick on headlight protection film that you cut to suit.

[ozrobo]

really nice lookin bike saw a fellah drop one at the cold kiwi i think alcohol may have entered the scene

[T.W.R]

Definately ditch the Shinkos. I have them front and rear on my 1100, and they spin up in the wet with the slightest sniff of too much throttle.

I fucken hate them...but I guess it serves me right for being a cheap arse, and trying to save a few dollars.

:shifty: I think the previous owner just wanted to fit some legit rubber for a fresh WOF so I'll just put up with them for a while till the play money looks a bit healthier then there'll be some better hoops fitted.

I think I'll go up to a 180/50 -17 instead of the 170/55 -17 though as I've already used the majority of the width of the tyre without trying :pinch:


Forgot about that - I spent a long time trying to workout a Japanese 1200ss website to determine what that buzz was - apparently they can be prone to it. It's the adjuster on the left headlight - the plastic around the screw splits and sets up a buzz. I cured mine by removing the fairing and wedging a piece of rubber between the light and the housing. This was not visible when the fairing was back on. Also when removing the fairing the turn signals have a joining clip - its a bit fussy to undo and a small screwdriver to press down on the cip helps.

Another tip - if the headlights do not have a cover - get some quick. I had a stone break one of mine - a Suzuki replacement for the light only (excluding chrome frame) is $200. Per light.......... I was lucky and got one from a wrecker. Supercheap sell stick on headlight protection film that you cut to suit.

Initial thoughts were to pack the gap between the headlight housing & fairing as it seems to be located at the top edge of the housing :angry:bloody annoying buzz, I hate wee things like that so it's a must fix asap.

Yeah the headlights are exposed & I learnt my lesson with the ZXR, had both lights taken out by stones :slap: so some lens protectors are on the list too.


really nice lookin bike saw a fellah drop one at the cold kiwi i think alcohol may have entered the scene

:apint: alcohol & rallies :confused: nah couldn't happen :lol:
I've got no intention of putting the bike down any time soon, particularly at any up coming rallies :oi-grr: once the campsite is established the bike is parked & doesn't move again till it's time to head home.

[laRIKin]

Glad you like your new bike and well done.

Should have drop a PM and I would of joined you for the ride.:innocent:

[T.W.R]

Glad you like your new bike and well done.

Should have drop a PM and I would of joined you for the ride.:innocent:

;) I'd been bouncing off ideas for a new bike for a while and had missed a couple of good ones through hesitation & procrastination so when this came up I jumped on it :yes:
Have always liked the styling & the simplicity of the GS so once I've personalised it a bit it'll keep me happy for ages :)

:o The ride last Sunday was a bit of a snap decision, but I've intentions of getting a few more rides in shortly so will let you know for sure :niceone:

[scumdog]

:shifty: :apint: alcohol & rallies :confused: nah couldn't happen :lol:
I've got no intention of putting the bike down any time soon, particularly at any up coming rallies :oi-grr: once the campsite is established the bike is parked & doesn't move again till it's time to head home.

So we'll see you at Winchester in November then??:2thumbsup

[98tls]

Congrats mate shes a beauty.Always liked them myself.Lots of bang for the buck.

[nudemetalz]

Never thought I'd see you off a Kwaka, Bill !!!
Those GS12's are beautiful machines, lovely classic 80's lines. :drool:

Good on ya, Dude !!! :cool:

[T.W.R]

So we'll see you at Winchester in November then??:2thumbsup

:niceone: should be there I think


Congrats mate shes a beauty.Always liked them myself.Lots of bang for the buck.

:doobey:
I'd been looking at a few options but this had too much going for it


Never thought I'd see you off a Kwaka, Bill !!!
Those GS12's are beautiful machines, lovely classic 80's lines. :drool:

Good on ya, Dude !!! :cool:

Ha Chris don't worry bud the ZXR isn't going anywhere, just been resigned to special duties :blip:

:doh:sprung! can't take a boy away from his roots :2thumbsup

[cynna]

nice bike

was that the one that was in the bike shop in new brighton

[T.W.R]

nice bike

was that the one that was in the bike shop in new brighton

:oi-grr: Nah was a private sale. I think Ian still has that 04 GS sitting in his shop

[paturoa]

Nooooice

I was going to buy one of those but got the SV instead because there were none around when I was looking.

If you are considerring painting it they look stunning!

I've seen one with the red colour scheme, but the blue looks good too.

[T.W.R]

Nooooice

I was going to buy one of those but got the SV instead because there were none around when I was looking.

If you are considerring painting it they look stunning!

I've seen one with the red colour scheme, but the blue looks good too.


I'd been keen on them since they first arrived in the country but couldn't justify another bike at the time. But over the last month or so I'd been on the hunt for another bike and after missing one really good deal I wasn't about to let another go :msn-wink:

No plans to change the colour scheme

I've heard there's at least 2 in the country in the red/black colour scheme and a few in the blue/white; there's something about the blue/white that just doesn't do it for me :no:

[paturoa]

there's something about the blue/white that just doesn't do it for me :no:

I owned for a million years a blue 81 GS1000s, so the colour kinda grows on you, though it was a different shade.

[Buster]

Those are sweet looking bikes. They remind me of the 80's gsxr's with the lower fairings taken off.

Enjoy the new ride.

[AllanB]

some modded ones.

[T.W.R]

Those are sweet looking bikes. They remind me of the 80's gsxr's with the lower fairings taken off.

Enjoy the new ride.

:yes: yeah pretty damn close to a 88 GSX-R 'J' series Ltd in the black with gold insignia :drool:

This one is pretty hot :msn-wink:

Like the pipe in the 2nd pic but they cost the equivalent of $2650NZ in japan with out the cost of getting it here :eek5:

[reofix]

Paturoa... nice pic of the trainer wheels... you know whats really tragic ... there is a rocket 3 on trademe with trainer wheels (calls it a trike... but it has 4 wheels ) and a snip at $40k... no joke!!!

[helenoftroy]

Bit slow !! but congratulations on the new bike Bill

Looks veery hot in black:devil2:

You will enjoy........this I know:yes::msn-wink:

[T.W.R]

Bit slow !! but congratulations on the new bike Bill

Looks veery hot in black:devil2:

You will enjoy........this I know:yes::msn-wink:

:niceone: cheers Helen

:angry: I'm enjoying looking at it presently, damn weather has stopped me enjoying riding it :laugh: 500kms in 3wks is piss poor for me & a new bike :weep:

[Jantar]

A bloody nice bike. I would have liked to have kept mine when I bought the VStrom, but couldn't afford two large bikes.

I will probably own another at some stage. :ride:

[T.W.R]

I remember when Kirk rode your bike to the Brass in 06, I had a damn good nosy at it ;)

I've added a tank protector to it and made a mounting bracket for my radar detector to clamp on to the trellis bracket and hard wired the unit in as well. Got a dark tint screen coming from Visual Plastics & a pack frame & lens protectors coming from Dold industries too :yes:

[Silage]

I'm a bit late picking up on your buy Bill. You said you would like one the first time we me - musta been three yr ago. The faring while "largish" is very effective especially in 150km/h head winds.

I will be interested in anything you want to comment about the setup and tyre combination. Also, how much are the light protectors? ($200 :gob:, I thought they would be more like $20 so have not thought about protectors)

I hope you enjoy the experience.

[T.W.R]

I'm a bit late picking up on your buy Bill. You said you would like one the first time we me - musta been three yr ago. The faring while "largish" is very effective especially in 150km/h head winds.

I will be interested in anything you want to comment about the setup and tyre combination. Also, how much are the light protectors? ($200 :gob:, I thought they would be more like $20 so have not thought about protectors)

I hope you enjoy the experience.

:lol: Was funny seeing you roll up to work looking for the GS, but it was good to catch up :niceone:
Small world though in relation to when I 1st saw your bike and knew where it'd come from but yep had always had the bug to get my mits on one :msn-wink:.
It's growing on me after finally being able to spend a bit of time around my old stamping ground on it.
The fairing works pretty well but the screen isn't as effective as the Givi on the ZXR though, but it's still pretty good.
Initially the whole set-up was too spongy for my likings so I've upped the preload both ends one notch and added 1/4 of a turn to the rebound on the rear shocks, behaves a lot better now but I'm not pushing the tyres too much (more particularly the front) but I've run-out of tread on the rear :innocent:. I've checked everything front to back & top to bottom and it's still got a shimmy in the front end at certain times and the tyre is the culprit.

As soon as I've got a bit of spare coin they're out of there and I'll be fitting better rubber.

The headlight protectors cost me :shutup: but retail they'd be about $45, the set that were sent to me were actually designated for a Cagiva 900 elephant (Adventure bike). They are a snug fit & slightly dished out so work well (check the piccy).

:done:

[Bonez]

Well done T.W.R.

A few of them at the cold Kiwi this year. The one that grabbed my attention had the fairing removed and single headlight. Certainly looked the bizzo.

If anyone's interested ANZA here in Palmerston North has one up for grabs.

[Gibbo13p]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=177694946

Good price for a nice bike I thought

[T.W.R]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=177694946

Good price for a nice bike I thought

Pretty good price for sure, it'd scrub up nicely with a bit of a clean