2013 r1200gs?

[JimmyC]

We have a 10 page thread on the KTM 1190, just wondering if anyone has tried (or bought) the new GS? Be interested in your thoughts.

[Racing Dave]

...and my article will appear in Kiwi Rider magazine.

Cheers,
Dave B

[Gremlin]

Haven't tried it, but I have a 2010 GSA. I wouldn't buy year 1 of any BMW model...

Racing Dave, are you crazy? The GS is for road warriors who want to look like adventurers! Unless of course... you uh, were giving it a wash

[White trash]

We have a 10 page thread on the KTM 1190, just wondering if anyone has tried (or bought) the new GS? Be interested in your thoughts.

That's because the KTM is exciting and new. The BMW is new, but still a bit "meh". (in my own humble opinion)

[Gremlin]

That's because the KTM is exciting and new. The BMW is new, but still a bit "meh". (in my own humble opinion)

We all know you're slightly biased

I'm not too fussed on the new model mostly because I can't afford to upgrade anyway, and the GS is less bike than the GSA. I am really interested to see the next GSA, but again, can't afford it regardless.

That said, after owning a KTM 990 SM and the BMW R1200 GSA, I trust the BMW far more. Owned the KTM for 27 months, did 63,000km from brand new. Owned the BMW for 29 months so far and done 74,000km and it was 1 year old, ex demo with 4000km on the clock.

KTM summary:
Buckled front rim twice
Broke rear subframe twice
Lost plenty of bolts over time
KTM oil bloody expensive
A lot of time (and money) spent tuning it and getting it to where I wanted it
Uneconomical below about 120kph because you can't use 6th. Very economical above that in 6th

BMW summary:
Front discs vary in thickness after 40k - still haven't replaced them as it's a stupid life from discs
Headlight broken internally after 1 year of ownership (was a demo for 1st year) BMW replaced under warranty. 1st Replacement arrived broken in the same way, 2nd still in service.
Brake pads stupidly expensive, never using OEM again
Lost a few mysterious bolts (including a bloody indicator one)
Uses oil depending on use, but about 1/4 the price of KTM oil (yeah yeah, full synthetic vs mineral)
A lot of time (and money) spent fitting accessories to get it how I wanted
Impressive economy (around 5L/100km) for the profile of a flying brick.

Never had structural issues with the BMW and I've thrown a hell of a lot more at it, with a lot more adventure riding etc. The KTM was mental fun (several can ahem... testify to this) but I think too much of a queen. Never got the adventure as it was too adventure biased, but that said, was a period of rapid change in my riding.

[Devil]

Literally spoke to someone today who has ridden the new GS, and also the 1190 Adventure R and thinks the BMW is a great bike. KTM still more off-roady but was well impressed by the GS.

want.

[Racing Dave]

...it's pretty good.

[Gremlin]

want.

You need to stop that... your wants would bankrupt a small country.

[JimmyC]

...it's pretty good.

Glad to see someone taking it off road, even if it is on standard tyres. Look forward to your full review.

[LankyBastard]

I took out a demo for a couple of rides, only happened after I went to test ride the new KTM 1190 Adventure, but that was fully booked out for the day, so the salesman asked if I'd like to try the new GS. Now not being one to argue I agreed, but with a fair bit of skepticisim, as I had ridden a 2012 R1200GSA and did not gell with it one bit. Especially the stupid paddle indicators (flame away BMW fans)

Immediately after jumping on I was impressed by how well balanced the bike felt, it holds its weight very low, unlike, say, a Triumph Tiger Explorer.

I had imagined taking it for a quick up and down the motorway spin, but after all of 200 metres I was really starting to like the bike, so made one of those very hard to do decisions when you have lots of free petrol to take a minor (1hr) detour instead.

Initial impressions were how much different it felt to the older GSA, felt to me like it was much more 'alive'. The motor is smooth once off idle, and really does want to go, i'd put it on par with my tuned Tiger 1050. The clutch was fantastic, it's hydraulic, very light and easy to modulate, which is always nice off-road. The gearbox rated as ok, little clunky for my liking, definately not Suzuki smooth.

I took the bike out the back of Albany, where the roads present a good variation in surface quality, and set about flicking through the fancy new 'Dynamic ESA' modes. There is noticable, not major, difference between soft, normal, and hard suspension settings, and these of course vary if you have the dynamic, road, rain or enduro throttle settings as well. I must say the new semi-active suspension rather impressive, it's hard to tell if it's actually working, but I think that is the point. The bike just felt very stable and very flat across all surfaces, really confidence inspiring.

Oh the LED light is badass in my opinion.

To sum it up I was highly impressed, far more so than when I finally did get the chance to ride the 1190 (don't get me wrong that is one monster motor but just left me a little cold). Is it worth me trading up from my Tiger? I'm not sure, $18k gets you a hell of a lot of petrol.

If I had the cash, I'd have one in my garage for sure, which i'd never of thought i'd say. Now that's got to say something.

[JimmyC]

Interesting changes already being made in the 2014 model announced by BMW Press, of particular note is the steering damper -

BMW R 1200 GS.
As of model year 2014 the BMW R 1200 GS will be available with the following altered standard features and options:

The two modes "Rain" and "Road", along with ASC as standard.
New "Pro" mode with three additional riding modes "Dynamic", "Enduro" and "Enduro Pro", including harmonised ASC and ABS as an optional extra.
Dynamic ESA can now be ordered separately, independently of the riding modes.
The existing five modes are no longer available as an optional extra.
Steering damper as standard.
White-coated coil springs with the option Dynamic ESA
Altered features for the package options "Dynamic Performance", "Comfort" and "Touring".
All options can now be ordered separately except for the on-board computer Pro.

I'd wager the switching gear (also an issue on some 2013 F800GS's) and the clutch will also come under some attention. Seem to be the most common problem areas to date.

Looking forward to your review Dave. Presume\hope it'll be in next months KR mag? Just received August's and it wasn't in there.

[Racing Dave]

I'd wager the switching gear (also an issue on some 2013 F800GS's) and the clutch will also come under some attention. Seem to be the most common problem areas to date.

Looking forward to your review Dave. Presume\hope it'll be in next months KR mag? Just received August's and it wasn't in there.

It's funny that you mention the switches - on the (almost new) demo model I rode the Hazard light switch jammed on (don't ask why I pressed it!), but assuming it was a one off, I only mentioned it to Danny at Jeff Gray in passing. To stop the flashing I had to pick the button out of the switch block and jigger the actual switch inside. Not easy, with the standard tool kit! Since then I've heard that the indicator switch on the same bike has also given trouble.

I'm not aware of any clutch issues, and thought it was delightfully smooth with a broad friction point, and certainly superior in this aspect compared to my own (air-cooled) clutch.

I'm not, however, surprised to hear that a steering damper will be fitted. Again, my experience (which at one point was stupidly fast on the newly graded Mackenzie Pass) was of impressive stability under all riding conditions, but I hear through the grapevine about a magazine test in the UK (Bike?) whereby one went into a tank slapper so violent that the steering stops broke. This was unable to be replicated, under any conditions (brave rider!).

I don't know when KR will publish my review, but in general it's very favourable about most aspects, although for the life of me I can't really tell the difference between all the riding modes (other than Rain and Enduro being obviously more gentle). For me, it worked best with all the electronic safeties disabled, and in Enduro Pro mode. Skids on shingle roads? Oh, yes!

[JimmyC]

Yeah there's been some really frustrating stories about the switch gear on the new 800 and 1200. The horn has got stuck on for some, but more commonly, rain\condensation getting into the switch shorting both the start button and the kill switch leaving the bike unable to start. Guys have resorted to using hair dryers to sort the issue :-)

The clunk into 1st seems to be more problematic for some, along with really clunky down shifts. Others are reporting it difficult\impossible to find neutral again after the bike has warmed up. A few instances of warped clutch plates. These are from the UKGSer and ADVRider forums.

I'd never heard of the concept of avoiding 1st year models before to be honest but it's making pretty good sense now. Should be another incredible machine once the niggles are sorted though.