I like very much, BMW R1200GS

[Ol'Blue]

I like very much. Anyone else around here ride one? If so what do you think. Pro's and Cons. What is the longest ride you have done? I would love to do the ride from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego. One day right......



BMW Releases New R1200GS Adventure

 

[LandCruiser]

Is it a tourer? A dirt bike?

A 1200cc bike off road?

Really? I thought 700cc four strokes were heavy...

 

[bofa]

It's multipurpose... I've never been a big fan personally but they have their uses. I assume this is to target those that are mostly on pavement but take the occasional venture off-road. I'd be nervous to jump it.

 

[LandCruiser]

It's multipurpose... I've never been a big fan personally but they have their uses. I assume this is to target those that are mostly on pavement but take the occasional venture off-road. I'd be nervous to jump it.

The 800GS seems like a good bike. It's not massive... If I could convince my wife that I wouldn't kill myself, I might get one.

I'd just be worried about such a tall and awkward bike with a 1.2L engine, boxer or not. It's like they took a proper touring bike then made it crazy tall.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Is it a tourer? A dirt bike?

A 1200cc bike off road?

Really? I thought 700cc four strokes were heavy...

I remember having a 650 back in the day and it was a beast. This is more for the trail/cruising. Not sure I would want to do deep off road trails on it but never know.

It's multipurpose... I've never been a big fan personally but they have their uses. I assume this is to target those that are mostly on pavement but take the occasional venture off-road. I'd be nervous to jump it.

There are a few pictures of it getting some air. It is by no means a Moto Cross bike but I think you would be fine with a few feet of air under it. Just hope your stuff is strapped in.

Blue

 

[bofa]

The 800GS seems like a good bike. It's not massive... If I could convince my wife that I wouldn't kill myself, I might get one.

I'd just be worried about such a tall and awkward bike with a 1.2L engine, boxer or not. It's like they took a proper touring bike then made it crazy tall.

I shouldn't have sold my last bike... the chances of me getting another now are slim to none.

 

[ndcent]

I'm very familiar with the BMW GS line having ridden several models over the years. Let me know if you have any specific questions?

My dad and I even rented brand new R1200GS's in Montana and did the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Jasper, etc. It's very off road capable in the hands on an experienced offroad rider, experienced being the key word. I've ridden offroad for 20 years so it's no problem for me to whip one of these around on backroads but a street rider convert would have much difficulty.

Now-a-days theres a lot of competition in the adventure touring marketplace though, KTM's and Triumphs are stiff competition for the BMW as well as some others.

Really you have to think about your predominate riding style. Right now my riding style is such that I mostly 75% commute 20% joy ride and 5% do some adventure touring. For this I just picked up a Triumph Scrambler which can do all just fine, and personally important to me - do them with style. Sure I could have picked up say a Suzuki VStrom 650 but no body looks twice at one of those.

My last bike was a full size adventure tourer like the BMW, a Triumph Tiger, full hard bags etc. And I hardly ever rode it because it was too big and bulky for throwing a leg over and running an errand. But again if the goal was a bike to specifically buy for world touring then the GS is a great choice - although for Tierra Del Fuego I'd think a Kawasaki KLR the most appropriate.

 

[02SE]

I've ridden the R1200GS's extensively, and have been riding dirtbikes for nearly 40 years now. Streetbikes for about 30 years. As previously said, the R1200GS is no motocross bike. Graded and/or washboard roads, and not too rough or tight two-track are it's element. Sand dunes can be fun to blast along on, but anything technical like big jumps, or carving bowls, is best left to real motocross bikes.

A technical two-track quickly becomes a real pain on a top-heavy and tall bike, that when loaded is pushing the 600 lb range.

The new partially water-cooled R1200GS definitely has more power than the old oil/air cooled GS's. It now also has a wet clutch in a shared sump design. Based on that alone, I'd wait a bit to see how their long-term reliability is. Especially since newer BMW's of the last 10-15 years or so can be somewhat finicky reliability wise, anyway.

 

[Wepps]

I;ve been eyeing the GS's and the R1200 for a few months now but it's just not in the budget. I got a good look at a 800 today and I liked it a lot!!! Time to start a get Wepps riding fund!:sadwave: