hey fellow bike riders..
i am currently looking at upgrading to another german ride - BMW R 1200GS (current breed)
i am wanting to know if anyone has any good, bad or indifferent views on such an animal..
i would love hear and value any comments re the 1200
cheers for your input
paul

(this german affliction is driving me crazy!.. haha)

only that bajas are more fun on the sand....

I know a guy in the States who raves about them. He's had plenty of other bikes - and is a reasonably switched on guy. I've still got my R90S that I bought nearly 30 years ago - so I;m biased to the Beemers too. I guess it comes down to what sort of riding that you want to do. Last bike I rode was a Suzuki Hayabusa - and I've still got the dings in the back of my skull from where my eyeballs hit as I cranked it open. Not the sort of bike that I would like to own.

Didn't you get an F650GS not so long ago?

If you don't mind that the BMW's are overpriced, then go for it. They are supposed to be very good from all the reviews I've read.

I reckon the new F800GS might be the goods

All depends on what you want it for. Are you looking at using it for dirt roads/offroad/touring, have alwayas heard they are the leader for that sort of thing. But if its bitumen would a softer version be any good.

I was looking at getting the f800s as a new ride. Its about as close as i can get to a v twin sporty bike for under 20k. ( don't like the colour of the svthou, don't want another sv650, don't like the vtr and can't afford a duke)......

If I didn't want to go offroad, and just liked that style of bike (which I do) then I'd go for the Triumph Tiger. It's pretty damn good value for money;
http://www.bikepoint.com.au/portal/alias__bikepointau/tabID__5760/ArticleID__120589/DesktopDefault.aspx

The Suzuki DL1000 is better value, but the triumph looks better. The BMW R1200GS would be the better dirt bike of the 3.

I think I actually have a comparison in a bike mag at home.

Good point wes, the triumph is a nice bike...


mmmm 675

So your thinking about a new Bike are keen on a KG and looking for a 23 window split , SO YOU OBVIOSLY DID ALL RIGHT BUY SELLING PAWS PET SITTERS AND YOU HAVE KILLED THE MISSUS ?????????

Two guys i work with have both just bought new 1200 BMs.One guy has always had em an was raving about em.They often put up ride day info on the notice board and this day The BMW dude and a Harley rider were the only guys to show.They swapped for a bit and the Harley Guy(who even looks likes a biker)traded his Hog in for a 1200GS the next weekend!!

thanks for your input guys..
true, i did get the 650gs a little while back but that was 'always' for my missus,
now as she wants it to ride im lucky enuff to get what i want n better still shes happy to be payin for it..
so cool i say.. ya only live once so try n do what ya want here as theres no reruns - to my way of thinking..
this looks to be a great cruiser and dirt road/off road bike which is what my missus n i want to take to tackle around parts of australia where roads are a bit ??
i like the my07 R1200GS as apposed to the my08s coming soon hense the asking nowish yeah..
i know that they maybe a bit on the exxy side but ive given a few a trial and this has come out ontop for me..
i dont mind the new GS800 but im afraid i'll feel unsatisfied unless i go for what i really want..
im sure some of the hog riders @ work will want to give one a spin if i get one thats for sure.. especially my mate with the MV
n yes aw we were happy to sell our business and yes i still have my missus..
great to kick a few goals once in a while.. a good feeling hey
thankyou for your input n look forward to anymore..
taa pauly

The closest I've ridden is a '89 R100GS
I've had quite a few BM's, and the GS was a very nice bike to ride, but the front end was a bit soft and front brake (single disc) a little weak for my liking on the road. Those things made it great off road though.
Just my opinion, and depending on the riding you intend to do, I actually prefer a good touring bike, most will handle dirt roads just fine and be nicer to ride on the road if that's where it will spend the majority of it's time. Also most have a fairing of some sort which makes long trips more comfortable.

Not an option if you intend to do some serious off roading of course, but then a big road trail bike is a handfull to control in those conditions (how heavy is a current 1200GS?), you'd be better off on the F650! (watch "long way round" on SBS Sat. nights to see what I mean)

Dad has one of the last BMW cruisers (they were discontinued a few years back). The motor is a detuned and older version of would be in the current GS, it has run faultlessly for him, ~20,000km so far.
Actually of all the BM's we've had in the family, all have been faultless, including the R50!!

Hope that helps!

oh my DR 250 is ok !!

I've ridden my friends R1200S street-bike. I didn't like it. Very BMW with lots of weird things (like the blinkers). I think the jap bikes are much better.

I've ridden a friends R1150GS, I didn't like it either. It was heavy and slow, I could keep up with it in acceleration on my 650 V-strom. The R1200GS's are a big improvement on the R1150GS's though (in paper specifications at least, since I haven't ridden the later).

The R100GS was 187kg (about the same as my V-strom).

The R1150GS was a rather porky 229kg.

The R1200GS came back down to about 200kg (quite a weight saving from the last model). The new Triumph Tiger is about the same weight as the R1200GS, but more powerful. And cheaper.

I have a 1200 Harley Sportster. I don't get BMW's. Bit like Horses for courses. Each to their own. If I can drive a 40y.o. VW on a daily basis, a harley is considered modern for me (it has a kmph speedo.).
Whatever cranks yer tractor. Either way, I'll still give ya a nod & help if your at the side of the road (motorcyclists will know what I mean).
- Adam

Quote:

Originally posted by Notch Nut I have a 1200 Harley Sportster. I don't get BMW's. Bit like Horses for courses. Each to their own. If I can drive a 40y.o. VW on a daily basis, a harley is considered modern for me (it has a kmph speedo.). Whatever cranks yer tractor. Either way, I'll still give ya a nod & help if your at the side of the road (motorcyclists will know what I mean). - Adam

Hi there, A Beemer...naahhh get a harley! there awesome!!! only kidding what ever your ride stay safe.

Buy a KTM! there much better.

Being a long term BMW M/C owner I feel a bit of an explanation is required about why these things have such a hardcore following. In the 70's if you were a rallyist what options did you have for a mount. Brittish, Jap, and the odd Italian stallion or The BMW. On a 600 mile trip on a japper or britt, it was pot luck if you were going to make it, if you had a Guzzi your chances were a lot better! But if you had a BMW it was a 99.9% reality that you would get there, the other .1 of a % was if you forgot to fill the tank before setting off. Over time the others caught up with better designs and quality control, but the legend of the BMW was firmly entenched. If you wanted to travel big distances with good reliability and in a reasonable amount of comfort the BMW was the one!
I do think they have lost their direction of late with their off road models. They are TOO BLOODY BIG! A friend of mine who runs a BMW only workshop completely rebuilt a sweet little R80GS twin plugged, heated grips, and all the good mod stuff for these models. This would be a fantastic round OZ bike capable of any road/track you want to have a go at, a lot smaller lower weight and if something goes wrong with it you have a chance of fixing it yourself, no computer controlled anything to let you down. Helge Pederson rode one of these around the world on a ten year oddesey, and managed to get it accross the Darien Gap on his own, try that with one of the Tiger Tanks BMW make these days.
I have had my BMW for more than 20 years now and I will still have it in 20 more years, if I live that long!
Rob....

They lost their reliability a little. A friend has an R1150GS (or similar, I haven't seen it yet because it hasn't been running) and it's fuel pump died because the strainer bag decomposed. He rang BMW and they said "yeah that happens, the plastic doesn't like Australian fuels". And guess what, the replacement will have the same problem. He's trying to work out how to get a jap fuel pump in there

Tell him to talk to Ray Peak. 07 55435962. arguably the best BM workshop in OZ. he is out at wonglepong just up from canungara. Im sure he would have a fix for the problem, the blokes a genious, people from all over the country go to see him. The problem your friend is having is one of the reasons I will never part with my old one. There is too much that can go wrong with the new stuff. They have a shitload more power but with a 100 km open road speed limit in this country what can you do with more than 100hp anyway!
Rob...

100hp?
I'm happy with the 26hp of the R50. Still going strong at young age of 52......




Sorry, couldn't resist.

I spose with 75 hp that makes me a bit of a excessive hoon then!
Rob....

You bet

If we`re talking HP, may i suggest my ride, 160hp on 168kg with 135kph in 1st gear =a hell of a way to get to the shops for some milk

that is crazy man.. totally.. nice ride tho..

well bikers i have ordered something but i will keep a lid on it until i can plaster a pic on here for you all to see.. sweet!
i looked at many and am super happy with what i have picked as me n the missus can go for rides together into the sunset.. hooray!
+ i shall pick it up in mid jan when im back from xmas hols..
roll on xmas..
watch this space..

not long now.. pickin it up next week..
but thats seems soooo long away..

Come on just tell us !! The week will go faster then with all the chat and banter you'll get on here!