Do NOT test ride a GS

No test drive !

I did the same thing over 5 years ago ! I sold my beloved Fireblade that I had for 7 years to slow me down and save my back before it broke forever :eek: I bought a 1100 GS and never looked back. I traded the 1100 in for a 1150 GSA a year later and have just sold the 1150 and bought a new 1200 GSA. You can't beat them. They do and carry everything you ask, without complaining and better all round fun than the Fireblade ever was... :thumb2
Cheers
Kev
 
I must confess I did have a test ride. I was trading my CBF600 in and wanted something that would comfortably do my Plymouth to Torbay work journey (60 mile there and back). Having also owned a Diversion 900 I was a bit worried about getting another heavy shafty so I had set my heart on a Tiger or possibly a GS. BMW were very helpful and rassured me regarding my concerns about weight and shaft drive- have a test ride they said, and that was it. Forget the Tiger I'll take the GS. It's such a forgiving bike, but at the same time you can have some great fun. best bike I've owned.
 
Am just about to..

Have just joined the forum as have just traded in my 650 twin for a 1200GS. Had a test ride and loved it - hence 5 days later I am picking it up. I shall look forward to reading more posts here - a quick question is where is the best set of crash bars for the 1200GS-can anybody help?
Paul
:thumb
 
I test rode a F650GS Twin a couple of months ago I really want one but done have a spare $17,000 at the moment.
 
Well im on my way in da morning to change my 2003 vfr v-tech for an r1200 GS 2005 with 3.5K on the clock without a test ride this is the 3rd bike in a row that I have not taken for A test ride just go for it I say,where is the beat place to buy bits to go on the bike?:pullface:pullface
 
Well im on my way in da morning to change my 2003 vfr v-tech for an r1200 GS 2005 with 3.5K on the clock without a test ride this is the 3rd bike in a row that I have not taken for A test ride just go for it I say,where is the beat place to buy bits to go on the bike?:pullface:pullface


what are you looking for in a bike?

makes me wonder because i certainly wouldn't change a vfr for a 1200gs.

not even with with only them few k's on the clock

ps, the engines are at their best when they have 20 thousand of them k's on, so you will be topping up with oil regular then:D
 
by the way i am assuming the k's your talking about are kilometers, so is it a import?
 
well I took my vfr 800 to the BMW dealer Bristol Motorrad the gentleman I dealt with had given me A price for my bike which upon seeing it said that would be the price they would as the bike was as I had described, mean while my friend my fifteen year old son and my self gave the R1200 GS 2005 with 3385miles on the clock described as,as new which you can expect with the millage that low I told the sales man that I had seen the bike on the Sunday through the shop window and the screen looked as if it was scratched which he said on inspection it was but could do something with it,Well that's only the start as I said we gave the bike A close inspection the rims on both wheels were badly gauged front mud guard and hand guards were badly scratched,the rear drive shaft badly scuffed back wheel was buckled (which the sales man and BMW trained technician said was quite normal for these bikes) there were quite A few other areas of chipped paint work on the frame and handle bars,as you can quite well understand the vfr went back on the van and home we came not very happy at all!!!has any one else had A bad experience with this dealer?
 
well I took my vfr 800 to the BMW dealer Bristol Motorrad the gentleman I dealt with had given me A price for my bike which upon seeing it said that would be the price they would as the bike was as I had described, mean while my friend my fifteen year old son and my self gave the R1200 GS 2005 with 3385miles on the clock described as,as new which you can expect with the millage that low I told the sales man that I had seen the bike on the Sunday through the shop window and the screen looked as if it was scratched which he said on inspection it was but could do something with it,Well that's only the start as I said we gave the bike A close inspection the rims on both wheels were badly gauged front mud guard and hand guards were badly scratched,the rear drive shaft badly scuffed back wheel was buckled (which the sales man and BMW trained technician said was quite normal for these bikes) there were quite A few other areas of chipped paint work on the frame and handle bars,as you can quite well understand the vfr went back on the van and home we came not very happy at all!!!has any one else had A bad experience with this dealer?



Hi Pidcocks BMW went the other way with me, traded a 2007 B King with 3k on her to my 2005 gsa1150 with 19k on her, ave px but they chucked in 12 month warranty/full mot when its ready in june/full tax/ a buy one get one free jacket/free tea and coffee lol and a discount on the GSA so not bad at all even though there service prices are a bit steap!




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GSA Wannabe.......

Hi All,

I'm new to the site and was going to post a new thread about getting a GSA but when I read this one, felt much had been covered. However, further advice from fellow bikers would be greatly appreciated.

Let me explain........I like many on this forum have owned/ridden sportsbikes and sports tourers. Up until August last year, I had a Triumph Sprint ST which I really liked - however, a bolt shearing in the rear drop link followed by a trip in the air ambulance kinda chnaged my mind a little (funnily enough, when I got out of hopsital, there was a safety recall notice on my doormat for the precise part that failed!). Anyway, I am now in the market for purchasing another bike and have always liked the GSA but like many people, worry about the height. I know you can get seats to drop the height to 31.5" (which is only slightly higher than the Sprint) but many people say the width of the seat means you still may have trouble reaching the ground. My leg is 31" long - do you think I'd be OK? I can't be on tip toe when stationary as I know the bike is heavy.

Should I buy a low seat to enable me to test ride a GSA and see if it works (if it doesn't, it'll be going cheap on this site afterwards :) ) or is that completely mad?

Any other suggestions greatfully received as I've been going round in circle with this for weeks and surprisingly, one of the dealerships I visited were of little help..........

Thanks.
 
welcome to the site:thumb2

i think you will find that if the seat is set in its lowest position you should be fine:thumb2
any dealer worth their sort should have a lower seat inhouse for you to try anyway.

why dont you test ride both the GS and GSA to see what feels better for you:thumb2
 
Hi All,

I'm new to the site and was going to post a new thread about getting a GSA but when I read this one, felt much had been covered. However, further advice from fellow bikers would be greatly appreciated.

Let me explain........I like many on this forum have owned/ridden sportsbikes and sports tourers. Up until August last year, I had a Triumph Sprint ST which I really liked - however, a bolt shearing in the rear drop link followed by a trip in the air ambulance kinda chnaged my mind a little (funnily enough, when I got out of hopsital, there was a safety recall notice on my doormat for the precise part that failed!). Anyway, I am now in the market for purchasing another bike and have always liked the GSA but like many people, worry about the height. I know you can get seats to drop the height to 31.5" (which is only slightly higher than the Sprint) but many people say the width of the seat means you still may have trouble reaching the ground. My leg is 31" long - do you think I'd be OK? I can't be on tip toe when stationary as I know the bike is heavy.

Should I buy a low seat to enable me to test ride a GSA and see if it works (if it doesn't, it'll be going cheap on this site afterwards :) ) or is that completely mad?

Any other suggestions greatfully received as I've been going round in circle with this for weeks and surprisingly, one of the dealerships I visited were of little help..........

Thanks.

In June 2008 I didn't buy a new GSA for my first foray into BMW ownership because I found it daunting on a test ride......I let head rule heart and bought a new GS instead. It was a great bike, just what I wanted, the GS experience without the stretch to the floor, or at least that was what I was trying to convince myself.

Fast forward to September 2009 and my GS was booked in for a service at Jeffries, for a loaner I had a GSA but to make things easier I put my own standard height Sargent seat on it. That was the answer (for me at least) yes the GSA is higher but the seat made it lower enough for me to feel confident. I'm 5' 10" and don't have too much leg but the balls of by feet were on the ground.

December 2009 I was back at Jeffries doing a trade for a nearly new GSA! I'd recommend the Sargent seat to anyone in a similar position, all day comfortable AND makes the GSA more accessible to the under 6 footers. I have tried a low BMW seat on a mates GS but found it uncomfortable, of course he and many others get on with them so maybe it was just me???
 
They just grow on you - but like mould !

interesting read - should have read it before I bought one ! As I wobbled of fon my first outing, I hated the thing but 4 years on I love it so much I can't let it go. As mentioned in another post I was tasked with rationalizing the fleet of three to around one - VFR was part ex'd for a nearly new RT and the GS was meant to go as well, some quick man maths ensued and the GS is still here - I just can't let it go.....bugger.
 
I've always ridden sports bikes apart from a breif weekend trip in Ireland using my dad's cruisers (to :rob for me), for the last 6 yrs I've had an Aprilia RSV and love it, but its a fair weather & track day pass time. Moving house has dramitally changed my commute and I've decided to get a bike to do the daily 50 mile commute of 50/50 dual carrageway and rural roads with a couple of small villages. Initally I'd discounted the GS as I'm 5'4 with a 30" inside leg and had once put a leg over in a car park but was to scared of topling over to even get it off the side stand. However walking round SBW in Hertford I spotted an 09 1200 with the low seat conversion and blow me if it didn't just feel right. After hearing how much everyone hates their first ride I didn't know what to expect but I wasn't going to but without trying.

The GS was comfy from the off and although not inspiring in comparison to the RSV the engine has a nice strong pull from as low as 2000/2500 rpm. The first few miles from the dealer were not good: bloody thing seemed to turn like a supertanker. Once out of town I got to a streach of road I know well and after a few bends I had to give myself a mental slap across the face! it wasn't the GS that was so sluggish in turning, it was me sitting up ram rod straight and tensing up

A quick chat to myself inside the helmet, switching to attack mode: throw the bike around under me and WOW what a difference, so stable and finally tracking where I wanted it to go. Another 20 min getting used to the feel and engine before I reached our local mecca the A507 from Buntingford to Baldock, wound the wick up and when I got to the end I just wanted to keep going. I had loads of visability from the riding position and as I'm not a lunatic on the public roads (but also have no regard for speed limits outside of 30/40 zone) I recokon I wasn't far off my pace I average on the RSV. The way back to the dealers consisted of m'way and some gravel strewn single track lane just like the ones I'll encounter on the new commute and as soon as I lifted my lid off the dealer knew he had me.

So there you have it, after a consult with Mrs L and the finances, as of tomorrow I will be adding a short arse GS to the stable.

FYI yes the dealer even got a customer to let me try sitting on their 1200GSA with low seat fitted but it was still to tall for me to be 100% comfortable.
 
Welcome to the club

Lonner
You're right :thumb2
I didn't even testride it. I saw the 12GSA at the local dealer and was sold. Head over heels in love with that monster.
Now we have driven 64.000 Km since june -07, and I'm still in love <a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/Ragnhild61/Smileys/Smil/?action=view&current=1006_1006014md59pu2ka2.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/Ragnhild61/Smileys/Smil/1006_1006014md59pu2ka2.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

My loverboy at Alvdal (Østerdalen, Norway) about a year ago (090327)
<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/Ragnhild61/Turer%20-09/090327/?action=view&current=090327Kvikne-Alvdal-Rros005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/Ragnhild61/Turer%20-09/090327/090327Kvikne-Alvdal-Rros005.jpg" border="0" alt="Kamelen,Vinterkjøring,Alvdal"></a>

Last friday he got a new reartyre, Metzeler Tourance. And is ready for a new season on the road. The former tyre (Tourance) had 16.000 kms and was a tad worn :augie Use to have 40 - 42 psi in the tyres. They usually stand for a longer mileage that way.

Enjoy your new ride :bounce1
 
No, no, no... please, test ride the bloomin' thing!

I had my first scooter at the age of 14 (we could have that in Eastern Europe), at 16 I was already (illegally) riding a 125 and at 18 I started racing which lasted for 3 seasons...I'm in my early 40s now and motorbikes have been there with me almost all the time. Although I always considered myself a tarmac rider about 15 years ago I got into enduro and enjoy it a lot as a fun alternative to road-riding.

I've had quite a few bikes and I enjoyed almost every single one of them but over the past decade it was superbikes and KTMs (for the off-road bit) for me... After a short time on a Blade, in 2005 I got the new upgraded R1 and I was very impressed... maybe not as reliable as the 'ole' 'onda but a pure vicious race-breed. So if I was calling a 2003 Fireblade a "good 'ole bike" you probably get the general idea of the kind of rider I was... If anyone who knew me would've told me I'll very soon be riding a BMW boxer (and love it) they'd have ended up laughed and sneered at and ridiculed as fools...

And then came the autumn of 2007 when a mate who'd been on a spin in Europe on a GSXR'750 (nice bike btw) and who on return was making his chiropractor rich in a desperate attempt to have his bones put back in place, asked me if I want to go with him on a short ride as he booked a test ride on a GS12... Thinking I'll bore myself to death riding with him while he was on what I thought must a grandpa' bike, I reluctantly agreed. At this point I have to tell you that the "Ewan and Charlie" phantasy never caught with me; nice money making idea while having a bit of fun? certainly! exceptional marketing stunt for the bavarian brand? by all accounts! but "adventures" in the true sense of the word? nah, that their trips never were.

As it turned out, one of the people at the BMW dealer was an old acquaintance and he asked if I didn't fancy a go on a GS myself. As he knew my motorcycling preferences I doubt he ever thought he might get me interested in what he was selling, but probably he thought he'll almost certainly loose a potential customer in the person of my friend if we go together for a ride, him off his Gixer and on the GS and me still on my R1. Only looking at the bloomin' thing I declined saying I'm not willing to wrestle, not even for a few hours, what I thought to must be the some 300kg of such a behemoth. He dully assured me we're talking only 220kg and surprisingly nimble for that. I confess giving it a go more with the idea to acquire the practical conter-arguments to rub his nose in what I thought was his sales pitch. Just by looking at it, that bike wasn't telling me anything I might have been interested to hear...

So my friend and I left on a pair of GSs for what we have agreed to be about a 1 hour ride to the mountains with a stop for lunch before heading back... But from this point the only thing I can further say is that the rest is the two and a half years of ongoing, uninterrupted love affair I have with my beemer... To give you an idea of how almost immediately smitten I was with this bike I'll just tell you that our test ride lasted about 6 hours of almost continuous riding and that at the end of it I put a down payment to buy the very bike I was given for the test (it had 400km on the clock but it was the only one in stock in that bright colour), much to the bewildered but nonetheless delighted surprise of the dealer. Needles to say, my friend got one too...

So here, I used to race motorcycles, on road I rode mainly sport bikes, in the traditional "adventure bike dispute" I was on the KTM side, and still, even dismounting my viciously fast Yam R1 to take a test ride on what was later to be known as the "beem of joy", the GS felt so right I just could not let it go ever since. I even took it for a bit of knee down antics around the Nurburgring. It might not peel your eyelids backwards under heavy acceleration, it might not be as planted on the line in mid-corner (it wasn't even built for that, mind you) and it certainly is a strange beast to look at, but altogether it's an exceptional and versatile motorcycle. And tell you what, when I scrap the pegs on the bends of some mountain road to whizz past some superbikes who's riders just can't get their head around on how this tall, bulky yellow camel (I admit having road rubbers on it) can handle to so assertively overtake them on what they think it's their turf, I grin in my lid even harder and give the trusted girl an affectionate pat...
 
Yep ...... been a sports bike rider for 25 years, bought my first GS a month ago and absolutely love it!!! :thumb
 
My experience was on a test ride. Having sat on a GS at a show the saleman turned out to be from our local dealership and he said he had 2 GS's and suggested a friend and I took them out for a day.
We booked the test ride and off we went, and well after an hour or so both of us hated them and had we returned to the dealership then we not have looked back.
After a day however we loved them and long story short, my friend is on his second GSA and I have an RT and a GSA.:beerjug:
 
I've now done 1200 miles on my GS and slowly falling in love. It's perfect for exploring the goat tracks of the Dales, Lakes and North Yorks Moors, comfy, has a great riding position and the gearbox is a massive improvement over my K1200S...

...which is a good thing as the lack of power compared to the K is taking some getting used to, so I'm actually having to use the 'box; the K ws like an automatic :p Once you knock it down a few gears it goes fine though :)
 


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