All things BMW GS thread

No bike is perfect but to welcome the BMW R1300GS to the MCN fleet, let’s dwell on some good stuff first​

Rich Newland with the MCN fleet BMW R1300GS


 
It maybe, as with so much these days, you get to peak product in that you get the best bang for your buck and the total package fits its need. I would give the 1200 multi instead of the 1260/ V4 , or gs 1200 instead of the 1300 as examples.

After that peak product, the nature of business can't really move in any other directions than more power and more tech, if that makes sense?
 
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Seems to be a lot of negativity towards these.
Poor headlight, wind protection, build quality, uncomfortable seat plus the price is horrific!
I can only imagine the price of the Adventure!
The smart money will buy a good 1200 for less than half the price.

I have similar conversations with a friend of mine. He's had a few bikes in the past 3 years while I am quite happy with Helga, my R1200GSA. :love: 9 years old now and 33,000 miles on her. She never misses a beat and I'd be quite happy to see 100k on the odometer and keep using her for years to come. I'm not fussed about the digital dashes, hill start and lots of other fancy toys. Touch screen menus infuriate me and I hate them in my car. Just give me big buttons to turn shit on and off! I don't need the newest thing in my life. I paid £10k for her with all the boxes about 3 years ago and it's probably the best money I have spent for what I have used her for.

I don't see any attraction with the new bike and side loading, funny shaped boxes are a real turn off. £24k for a new 1300GSA, not for me. I plan to buy a bike or 2 when I retire in a couple of years, one for touring, but it won't be one of these. I can see me still pootling about on the 1200 if things like breakdown cover for an older bike can still be had reasonably for my touring. Even if I do buy something newer, I can see me sticking Helga in a corner of the garage and keeping her, if she's not worth much by then.

Baron Von Grumble has said he finds the 1200 the best of the bunch and my friend wished he had kept his, but only traded it in as it was a bit 'tappy' (some do it, some don't)

**CAUTION** - @Noobie porn warning below.

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I have similar conversations with a friend of mine. He's had a few bikes in the past 3 years while I am quite happy with Helga, my R1200GSA. :love: 9 years old now and 33,000 miles on her. She never misses a beat and I'd be quite happy to see 100k on the odometer and keep using her for years to come. I'm not fussed about the digital dashes, hill start and lots of other fancy toys. Touch screen menus infuriate me and I hate them in my car. Just give me big buttons to turn shit on and off! I don't need the newest thing in my life. I paid £10k for her with all the boxes about 3 years ago and it's probably the best money I have spent for what I have used her for.

I don't see any attraction with the new bike and side loading, funny shaped boxes are a real turn off. £24k for a new 1300GSA, not for me. I plan to buy a bike or 2 when I retire in a couple of years, one for touring, but it won't be one of these. I can see me still pootling about on the 1200 if things like breakdown cover for an older bike can still be had reasonably for my touring. Even if I do buy something newer, I can see me sticking Helga in a corner of the garage and keeping her, if she's not worth much by then.

Baron Von Grumble has said he finds the 1200 the best of the bunch and my friend wished he had kept his, but only traded it in as it was a bit 'tappy' (some do it, some don't)

**CAUTION** - @Noobie porn warning below.

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The build quality on the 1200 is better than the 1250.
Engine corrosion is rife on the 1250, hence the change on the 1300.
Bob has just bought the KTM for £14K, boxes were extra I believe. The GS 1300 with similar spec is pushing £24K, madness!
The Adventure, including boxes, will be pushing £27K I think.
The world is a different place than it was 5 years ago, the money is not out there.

A Triple Black 1200 is what I’d go for, I’m not sure but I think @The skitz has had a couple of those….
He’s never mentioned it though…
 
The build quality on the 1200 is better than the 1250.
Engine corrosion is rife on the 1250, hence the change on the 1300.
Bob has just bought the KTM for £14K, boxes were extra I believe. The GS 1300 with similar spec is pushing £24K, madness!
The Adventure, including boxes, will be pushing £27K I think.
The world is a different place than it was 5 years ago, the money is not out there.

A Triple Black 1200 is what I’d go for, I’m not sure but I think @The skitz has had a couple of those….
He’s never mentioned it though…
Top line on big Sonja was, including the tech pack, heat pack with the uber comfortable seats, crash protection and the luggage pack, £17k.
£7k less than a similarly spec'd V4S travel and Radar
£5K less than the GS1300 and couldn't reach the same spec.
£4k less than the Trumpet 1200 tiger pro which again couldn't reach the KTM spec!
 
Ktm seem to be hitting the sweetspot on the quality of the bikes, concentrating more on road use and pricing.
 
The build quality on the 1200 is better than the 1250.
Engine corrosion is rife on the 1250, hence the change on the 1300.
Bob has just bought the KTM for £14K, boxes were extra I believe. The GS 1300 with similar spec is pushing £24K, madness!
The Adventure, including boxes, will be pushing £27K I think.
The world is a different place than it was 5 years ago, the money is not out there.

A Triple Black 1200 is what I’d go for, I’m not sure but I think @The skitz has had a couple of those….
He’s never mentioned it though…
Triple black really is the nicest of the bunch, thing is, to me those Gs things are the same as the Africa Twin I sold after 6 months, very good, very capable but sooooo boring, I did take out a 1250 for a few hours a few years back but I was bored within an hour, my streetfighter is never boring🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Triple black really is the nicest of the bunch, thing is, to me those Gs things are the same as the Africa Twin I sold after 6 months, very good, very capable but sooooo boring, I did take out a 1250 for a few hours a few years back but I was bored within an hour, my streetfighter is never boring🤷🏻‍♂️
I will genuinely say they were the best all around bikes I have ever owned but like a lot of beemers just a little bland... My SDR isn't bland 👀
 
I have similar conversations with a friend of mine. He's had a few bikes in the past 3 years while I am quite happy with Helga, my R1200GSA. :love: 9 years old now and 33,000 miles on her. She never misses a beat and I'd be quite happy to see 100k on the odometer and keep using her for years to come. I'm not fussed about the digital dashes, hill start and lots of other fancy toys. Touch screen menus infuriate me and I hate them in my car. Just give me big buttons to turn shit on and off!


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