Painful!!!

[Sgt Grunt]

Just stopped by the BMW / Ducati dealership.... Wow!!!! :chowtime: GS 1200 or the Adventure... What an amazing maching.

Does anyone own a newer model??? I would love to hear what the verdict is on them, and does anyone really cough up 20 plus grand and ride it to it's capability???

The cool guy BMW jacket was even pricey $675... ouch!!!

I have my 80 currently for sale and just kicking around ideas as to a replacement, although I may not replace it at all...

[HMR]

I was all set on the new GS ADV but went with an '07 1200GS (non-ADV) instead. I'm 5'9", 30" inseam and the ADV was just too dang tall. I also didn't like the extra weight of the big ADV gas tank when it's full of fuel- there's NO WAY I'd be able to handle that thing off road. Besides, the 220-240 mile fuel range of the standard GS fits my bladder range perfectly.;)

What I don't understand is EVERY SINGLE 1200 ADV I see in my travels has street tires on it. My local dealer confirmed that most of the GS Adv's he sells appear to be used for Starbucks runs. It's becoming the Hummer of motorcycles.

As for the non-Adv 1200GS. I absolutely LOVE mine. I got the 7 year, unlimited mileage warranty since I tend to rack up miles quickly and these things are $pendy to fix.

[Hltoppr]

I've got a buddy bringing a 1200GS Adv. through town this weekend, and I'm expecting to take a spin on her....I'll report back...

...and maybe my 1150 Adventure will be up for sale....:chowtime:

-H-

[Hltoppr]

Not a Starbucks for 500 miles in any direction....closest one is Mexico City...

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/195284393-M.jpg

No Starbucks for 200 miles in any direction...

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/195284397-M.jpg

-H-

[HMR]

Not a Starbucks for 500 miles in any direction....closest one is Mexico City...Ha! I should've been more clear...

The 1150 GS ADV (especially with TKC 80's) is one of the most beautiful/capable bikes ever made IMHO. I've also seen them tackle things on the trail that I'd be afraid to do on a 250CC dirt bike let alone a 600lb big twin.

My comment was regarding the new ADV and the # of riders in my area that seem to spend more time waxing their bikes and ironing their $1200 Savannah riding suits than putting miles under the tires. Goes along with the large # of blinged out Hummers in my neighborhood (who knows, maybe 22" DUBS on Pirelli's actually work offroad?).

Nice pics. The silver/red ADV was always my favorite. Glad to see you use your bike for what it was made for. See you on the road...

[jkam]

BMW is currently experiencing final drive failures on the newer bikes like the 1200 GS and ADV version. Something has changed in either the design or supplier providing the parts.
Until they sort that out, I'd stay away from them.

I never had an issue with the FD on my 1100GS in 100,000 miles of jkam abuse..

[Hltoppr]

...Here are a couple of pics of mine at the carwash....

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/197363703-M.jpg

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/197363702-M.jpg

-H- :)

...and the silver is FASTER....

[vcsnover]

I have a 2005 regular 1200gs and I fookin' love it, I ride my 650gs on the rough stuff, singletrack, real rutted/rooty trails and use the 12 for less gnarly stuff due to its awesome weight... still a do it all bike, from ripping around
Deals Gap to hitting the double track/ jeep trails, just a sexy utilitarian beautiful machine!!

[805gregg]

I had a friend with a BMW, he carried an extra final drive with him on long trips.

[LaOutbackTrail]

DONT FORGET V-stroms! Less sticker shock and alot better bike! You'd have a fully rigged bike for 2/3 the price of the beemer.

[HMR]

DONT FORGET V-stroms! Less sticker shock and alot better bike! You'd have a fully rigged bike for 2/3 the price of the beemer.Whoa now! I put alot of miles on my '05 V-Strom before I went to the 1200GS.

Great bike? Yes.

Cheaper than a BMW? Yes.

A lot better bike? Not so much.

It's kinda like KIA vs. Land Rover. (Actually, that's a near perfect analogy);)

[4Rescue]

It's kinda like KIA vs. Land Rover. (Actually, that's a near perfect analogy);)
So it is a more reliable bike then (the V-strom)...

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Bruce Behnfeldt]

i've had alot of good times a zero problems with mine....

http://hexhead.smugmug.com/photos/12839637-O.jpg

[Octamog]

...Here are a couple of pics of mine at the carwash....

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/197363703-M.jpg

http://hltoppr.smugmug.com/photos/197363702-M.jpg

-H- :)

...and the silver is FASTER....

What's up with all the spotters in the creek?!? Here's how we do a water crossing on a KTM...:wings:
http://octamog.smugmug.com/photos/17522878-L.jpg
:peepwall:

[Hltoppr]

Major softball to basketball rocks, sand and mud were giving us some major issues, plus....nothin' but slime on the rocks.....

The power to weight ratio of the GSA isn't good for keeping the front wheel from bouncing around (and I'm not a good enough rider to hit those at 30mph!)....

but look at it this way.....I don't have any "fixin' the water pump" pix that we would have with the 950s.... :costumed-smiley-007

-H-

[HMR]

but look at it this way.....I don't have any "fixin' the water pump" pix that we would have with the 950s.... :costumed-smiley-007

-H-LOL! I never had any of the dreaded water pump failures on the KTM but I did have the sputter-sputter-stall-can't-go-more-than-a-few-miles-before-it-quits problem when it was brand-spanking new. Took 3 visits to 2 different shops to get it fixed. But man, once it was fixed it ran GOOD! That LC8 motor is a thing of beauty. I think the water pump failures are like the final drive failures on the Beemers; They don't happen often but when they do- EVERYONE hears about it.

Overall, I like my GS better but I always seemed to be 10-30mph faster on any given trail when aboard the 950:
http://wileyp.smugmug.com/photos/51939395-M.jpg

:bike_rider:

[Hltoppr]

A 950 will school a GS off road any day....:sport_box

-H-

[TxRider]

Whoa now! I put alot of miles on my '05 V-Strom before I went to the 1200GS.

Great bike? Yes.

Cheaper than a BMW? Yes.

A lot better bike? Not so much.

It's kinda like KIA vs. Land Rover. (Actually, that's a near perfect analogy);)

That about says it, The Vstrom is pushing harder off road and will break more than the BMW there.

They are both out of their element on anything worse than a maintained dirt road though.

[LaOutbackTrail]

That about says it, The Vstrom is pushing harder off road and will break more than the BMW there.

They are both out of their element on anything worse than a maintained dirt road though.

Oh nonsense..... where are my photos of the Vstrom offroad....:)

[LaOutbackTrail]

Whoa now! I put alot of miles on my '05 V-Strom before I went to the 1200GS.

Great bike? Yes.

Cheaper than a BMW? Yes.

A lot better bike? Not so much.

It's kinda like KIA vs. Land Rover. (Actually, that's a near perfect analogy);)

Id still like a Beemer, but, that will be when im atleast like 30, lol. The Strom, was a good bike, but the short ride i had on a GS was pretty nice... and that was ride up (6 hour ride) get off ask to ride the GS. They just seem to feel better. But, I'll stick with my cheap bikes for now... I got out of the Vstrom note to get a Honda XRL which has only cost me about $889 not including tires or gas.:costumed-smiley-007 Next bike I get will probably be a Ninja 250 so I can go places (stuck to hwy though) economically.

[TxRider]

A 950 will school a GS off road any day....:sport_box

-H-

But an LC4 will school a 950. :)

[TxRider]

Oh nonsense..... where are my photos of the Vstrom offroad....:)

Didn't say you couldn't take it offroad, but I've spent way too much time scouting trails for BMW's and Vstroms on my LC4 to see if they were passable for those bikes to rate em as DS bike for exploring off the maintained roads.

Not to mention helping them pick up those heavy bikes.

Course soon as we hit tarmac at 70-80 they are riding easy while my thumper is rattling my teeth out. :)

[LaOutbackTrail]

Course soon as we hit tarmac at 70-80 they are riding easy while my thumper is rattling my teeth out. :)
Gotta love them thumpers... what bike do you have anyways??

nevermind, just saw your sigline

[TxRider]

Funny thing is the two guy I've ridden with like that most, both got tired of watching me effortlessly scout those trails and went out and bought KLR's.