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Well Matt has spent too much time with BMW riding Andy it would appear and he has turned to the dark side and bought himself a BMW R1200GS. I followed him down to a mate’s place a few weeks back and he and the bike do seem to suit each well: He was swift and assured on the chunky GS, generally quicker than when rides his trusty CBF1000.
So I was interested to have a go on his latest stead recently and see how it compares with a 2008 model I rode recently. Initial impressions are that the two are very similar to ride, as you might expect. I was impressed how taut the bike felt for a nine year old, 36,000 mile bike. The suspension felt well damped, the brakes had a good feel at the lever and bite well. The engine was smooth and responsive although, again like the 2008 bike I feel a 1200 twin should have more grunt. The indicator switching remains maddening and I am not sure that familiarity would ease my feelings of hatred towards it!
In cracking condition and looking virtually as new…impressive for a 9 year old machine. Seen here touring in Northern Spain….the GS is really well suited to this kind of work as you would expectWhen compared with the 2008 model it lacks some of the electronic trickery, but for my money the vast majority of that is not needed in any case, so the earlier bike is no poorer for the absence of these trinkets
But yet again I find the GS to be a bit too clompy in feel for me: I know they are massively popular and the more you ride one the more you are supposed to ‘get it’. But the whole thing eludes me, they just strike me as overweight and clumsy. Clearly I am wrong as the sales numbers tell their own story. Everybody I know with one loves their bikes; so it must be me!
Anyway Matt cheers for the ride and I hope you continue to enjoy the old girl as much as you have done so far.
The bike does suit me pretty well, the full exhaust system has made it a fair bit quicker since you rode it last.
It is a bike that the more you ride the more you like, well unless your name is Radar! I agree the indicator switches are annoying but you do get used to them but its still a stupid idea!I have a 2013 GS Adventure at the moment with 200 miles on the clock while mine is in for a service, the Adventure has every possible extra and must say that mine rides just as nice, if anything its faster and handles a bit better too, the 2013 is a bit tighter as you’d expect but I am pleased with how my 2004 stacks up, certainly wouldn’t be changing to the newer model as in my opinion doesn’t really offer anything that mine doesn’t already give me.
The bike does suit me pretty well, the full exhaust system has made it a fair bit quicker since you rode it last.
It is a bike that the more you ride the more you like, well unless your name is Radar! I agree the indicator switches are annoying but you do get used to them but its still a stupid idea!I have a 2013 GS Adventure at the moment with 200 miles on the clock while mine is in for a service, the Adventure has every possible extra and must say that mine rides just as nice, if anything its faster and handles a bit better too, the 2013 is a bit tighter as you’d expect but I am pleased with how my 2004 stacks up, certainly wouldn’t be changing to the newer model as in my opinion doesn’t really offer anything that mine doesn’t already give me.
It would probably cost at least £6-7000 to trade up too, not exactly VFM!
One on the right and one on the left with cancel also on the right
ooo that is weird! :S
They flash on and off
lol, always one!
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