"BMW R1150, 1200, 800 GS's" thread in "Motorbike Chat"
Well I'm on my second R1150 gs the first was the standard variety and my current one is the adventure incarnation, now I'm not by ...

Well I'm on my second R1150 gs the first was the standard variety and my current one is the adventure incarnation, now I'm not by any means a manufacture snob having owned bikes by all the major ones apart from Triumph( I'll own one on day just so I have done)..

I like the GS range because they have my ideal riding position, sit up and beg scrambler style. Having just got back from 2600 odd miles with my 1150 adventure I've found it's Achilles heal, it's fucking heavy to pick up fully loaded when dropped in a camp site in front of 25 or so Lambretta owners!!!! (any bike would be but the shame of it)

So today I test rode the new incarnation of the 1200 gs and the new R800gs. Firstly the 1200, well it's lighter than my 1150 and was far more easily rolled around the forecourt. Out on the road it's sort of how I'd imagined it would be, it's quicker than the 1150 by quite a lot and the engine seemed a lot smoother, the comfort and riding position are fine (I did about eighty miles). On the carriage way it was fine, like I said nippier than the 1150, but that's not where a GS is happy so on to some of my local twisty bits I went..

As expected it was a ball!! The 12 loved being thrown into corners and certainly powers out of them far quicker than the 1150 although it doesn't seem so planted, even a bit skittish dare I say! However this added to the fun! The same front end vagueness (compared with traditionally sprung bikes) was present as on the 1150 but I now trust the paralever front end so it's no drama at all. All in all the R1200gs is a great package and not to be over looked of you're after a more comfy bike that still goes and handles well, what ever bike it is you've ridden before (IMO).

BMW R800gs...Now that was a surprise!!! For starters it seemed to weigh nothing compared to the other two GS's. I was expecting something like the Honda dominator I had when I first passed my test or like the Honda SLR650 that I crashed....This was not to be the case, now I've ridden the BMW f 800s that it shares it's engine with and having owned a TDM900 (a bike that I hated but did like the engine) I sort of knew what to expect from the parallel twin engine.

Firstly It needs a bigger screen, the one that's on it may as well not be there (I do some big miles, may not be so important if you don't) but I'm sure that's going to be covered by a myriad of after market companies!
Having heard complaints about the seat I have to say that I've got numb bum after about 100 miles on whatever bike I've had and this was no different. no worse or no better than any other bike IMO.

So...The carriage way bit, it could do with a better screen as already said but the engine was fine and pulls all the way to an indicated 132 ( on the private carriage way I was using) with no stability issues I noticed. On the twisty bits it was hilarious fun!!! It can be thrown about all over the place (the one I was on was on Bridgestone trail wings) although I wouldn't go for the ABS as it cuts in way to early, something I noticed with the f800s as well. The forks dive, it has normal sprung upside down jobbies but they're fine. I'm not a big one for technical I'm a racer "feed back from the bike under braking was a bit vague" type stuff but I have to say I was far more aware of what the bike was doing underneath me than I am on the Paralevered GS's, not that that would be a deciding factor anyway!!

Bearing in mind that I'm only comparing 3 different bikes at the momment the 800 has it, I loved it! However it needs to do two up and carry some luggage so I'll have to get a test ride on one with luggage added and Mrs Bobby on the back before I decide where my money goes in the spring.

Nice write up.....
I agree that the R1200GS feels less planted at the front - it actually puts me off the bike quite a lot, I really much prefer the 1150's feel.

Also agree about the ABS with forks - but I've posted about that before.






But can I have one little rantette??





the front end system is not paralever, it's TELELEVER




(I'm a pedant, I know, but that little error gets right on my tits ).

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non quod, sed quomodo

Interesting...
I'd consider a 800GS, 1200GS or 1150GS Adventure.

Stability at high speed (100-120mph) with hard luggage would be a deciding factor for me.

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Lying outrageously on the internet since 2003

Cheers. Quite interesting to compare notes.

It'll be interesting to see what your missus thinks of the comfort on the back of the 800GS.

I don't think it'll have a problem with luggage and 2-up (we tested it 2-up). The power output is the same-ish as the 1150 IIRC and it's lighter...it'll just buzz along at higher revs I suppose - for equivalent power output.

Interesting comments about the 1200. I thought the engine worked really well in the (ugly duckling) R12ST. I had a loaner R12GS as well and it seemed a bit 'wrong' in that...too 'civilised' somehow...you could almost forget that you were riding a flat twin. Which was OK in the ST but just seemed a bit in a GS.

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'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice
And when justice is gone, there's always force
And when force is gone, there's always mom.

On my second 'twelve' now, following an 1150. Don't worry about high-speed stability with luggage (and/or a pillion) - it is rock-steady at all speeds. It does, however tend to get a bit thirsty at over a hundred - drops to about 35-38mpg. The 1150 will struggle to cruise at 120 - it's a bit breathless at that speed when loaded.

And you're right....I'll admit I'm not really up with the technical jargon and that being the case the suspension description was just a guess, soz.

Bobby, did you up the rear preload to a couple of turns off max on the 1200 like I said?
That makes it handle better cos it raises the rear, shifting some weight forward and settling the front. It also makes things a little less bouncy at the rear.
I certainly had no instability issues on mine.
If you didn't, try it again. Trust me on this.

I will have to get a go on the 800 sometime tho. I reckon it might suffer from the extra weight of luggage and a lard arse like me on it tho.

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I think you should try the 12 Pete I think you'd enjoy it. It's a different beast to the 1150 but it is IMO an improvement..Mrs Bobby doesn't like the comfort on the adventure and TBH she'd rather I bought a Gold wing! She did however like the seat on the Tiger 1050!!!!

On the 12 the preload was set at half way as it is on my adventure, I have long legs but if I wind the 1150 adventure right up I'd be dropping it even more!! The 12 was fine at half way, the vagueness at the front wasn't an issue unless you've not ridden a BMW with a TELELEVER (Riceburner) front end before.

As for the 800..It's a bike you'll love or hate I think! I love it but that's not to say it's the right bike for me....Hmmmm!

The 1150 and 1200 have that covered for sure...Only another test will say if the 800 does the same

Make your mind up then.
James seemed to agree.
Certainly on the first 1200 the extra height at the back made ALL the difference.

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Wouldn't it be easier to learn to pick up your current GS?

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Before your dreams can come true, you have to have those dreams.

Have you tried lifting up a fully laden 1150 GSa with a full tank of petrol?
They weigh over 1/4 ton.

Lifting excalibur from the stone would be easier.

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Ah yes I had one back in 03, lightweights compared with my Electra!

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Before your dreams can come true, you have to have those dreams.

Well, I did spend a day on the 12. The mechanic that had been riding it the day before is a BIG chap, so the seat was on the high setting and the preload was on max. The front end still felt a bit flightly compared with the 1150. The 12 engine is fine...just feels a bit sort of 'Japanese' in a bike that is very much not what they make IYSWIM.

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'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice
And when justice is gone, there's always force
And when force is gone, there's always mom.

Well of course it does. It tracks OVER bumps not THROUGH like that hefty old tank does.

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