New GS is even better in person!

Dr. Curve · 04-09-2004, 04:02 PM

Today I got to examine the new GS from its clear glass headlight to its areo space casting rear luggage mount. I was not prepared for the ammount of inovations that they have offered. The rear frame is so light and functional and the new engine and trans castings are slim and effective. So quite and smooth the engine that you simply keep waiting for it to shake of studder and it simply does not. Very strong down low and getting the wheel up with a simple roll on of the grip will be effortless for all. The new injection system eliminates all the past trouble areas and the slenderness of the cat converter and the delicate casting of the new light weight, deep dish, telelever is a sight to behold. The new wheels are both lighter than in the past and the rear one especially is very sleek. We are so proud to put one of the first ones on the street in America from here in Tallahassee.

The new, very beefed up front, the slender and all business rear drive and the ultra quite transmission are almost too much for us old ones.

Wait till you see one of these puppys...........then you will know how great the new S will be when it finally comes.

shannonnunley · 04-09-2004, 04:27 PM

you're losing your touch Dr. Perv...

Mr. Deltoid · 04-09-2004, 07:35 PM

Amen brother.I saw this machine last month in Daytona.The only nonsense the BMW reps offered was the the magical final drive. They say the lubricant is good for the life of the drive!! Wow!! And I thought George Dubya was a good politician!!!I would guess the life of the drive without fluid changes would be about 50k or better with a bike designed for offroad riding(plenty of mud and other foreign material). Other than this insane statement, this is a REAL improvement over the old machines.Enough ranting, where is my NEW AND IMPROVED S????

Dr. Curve · 04-09-2004, 08:08 PM

Well DT, at least they made a plug on the rear of the drive so that it can be changed if necessary. They state in the materials I read today that it should not need changing for a long time but that it may be changed on the same inervals of the transmission fluid (every 24000 miles) if the dealer thinks it necessary. BMW knows how hard it will be to sell the idea of a no maintaince rear end to us old die hards.........but they are trying. I was especially taken with the slender castings, and the overall lightness of the the bike. Makes my outdated S feel like it is "pure heavy" compared to this slender new power train. Did you hear it run? Unlike any BMW yet. Way smooth and equal combustion cycles, one side to the next.

bikerfish1100 · 04-09-2004, 08:11 PM

gee, sounds like you're in love there Dr. Jim. is the Pelican crew invited to the wedding? and do we get copies of the wedding night videos too?

pdonnell · 09:33 PM

Sorry to disappoint Dr. Perv. my neighbor took delivery of his last week. It does look impressive though. .....for a GS......yea, your S is really heavy too. At a whopping 100hp. though it was about time BMW sort of caught up.

BMW Atlanta · 04-10-2004, 07:51 AM

Hey Curve,,.................by chance did you get to examine the packing materials that the Yellow R1200GS you saw came with? Was just curious if anyone left you a love note. HAHAHAHA

Dr. Curve · 04-10-2004, 10:05 AM

While that is very true Bobby, it was not exactly "love at first sight" and indeed that love note only came after many hard paced rides with one of the serious mountain riders and personalities in you area of the country. Over the years we diced at every oppertunity.....and gained respect for one another. Great to hear from the 'Snakemaster" who earned his name in the millions of miles of tight stuff that he has encountered. Did "he" get a new GS yet Bobby, or perhaps a Twin plug BCR? Whatever the case........I hope to see him and you as well at the GMR. Perhaps we can get some of the big talkers on this forum to show up there this year and try the roads. Thanks for the kind note and say hello to your Dad for me. Tell Zack (I hope he is your head wrench by now) that I hope to see him as well.

The new GS has so much more in the way of innovations that I am still going over. What about the new fuel filter and retreival system? (Life time fuel filter) and those crankcase ventilation fans on the end of the cam?

Just a few more things that have not been mentioned much if at all:

Elast Alternator Belt with no tension adjustment. (replace every 36000 miles)
Nail head intake valves.
Smaller oil filter
Lighter pistons (although they are 101mms across)
Assymetrically balanced Flywheel (a first in motorcycle engines)
Sodium Filled Valves
Twin oil pumps
Conical Valve Springs
Smaller tappets.

The list continues to build..................... What a great new twin engine that lets us know that the S will really be special when it comes. Can't wait. See you at the GMR.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

I think I might like one of those. Do they come in all black?

Chris Canning · 04-10-2004, 03:31 PM

BMW have in deed made a great effort with their new GS,people better just hope they don't make the same mistake with the new S that they've made with this new GS what is it??? the size of the fuel tank 20 litres you've gota be jokeing,i'll stick to my 1100s and Triumph Tiger thanks very much.

Chris

Dr. Curve · 04-10-2004, 04:00 PM

However, the new BMW gets 8 to 15% greater miles per liter that the 1150 GS while making more HP and torque and any given RPM level. This new bike has the same range as the GS 1150............it just does not need as much gas to get there.......faster. Lots more to this bike than adding or subtracting a few pints of fuel. You will haf to stick with um Chris.........you sure won't be able to sell them unless you move quick. Just kidding.........

RobinS · 04-10-2004, 07:13 PM

the 20 liter fuel capacity is plenty.2 liters more than the S and it will travel half again as far as the S. A great improvement over the old GS no matter what the naysayers say. Change is hard for some folks.

davidb2 · 04-10-2004, 07:48 PM

The old and new GS is uglier than ****. I won't buy one until they cut that butt ugly front faring off. Just put the freakin motor in the s or cruiser.

Dr. Curve · 04-10-2004, 08:13 PM

Totally Agreed. They look kinda like A Praying Mantis doing Penitence. Its that engine and drive train however, David, that lets us know the upcoming R12S will be a force to be reckoned with on those drunk snake, and rough, mountain roads.

andros · 04-11-2004, 01:00 AM

Hey I happen to like ugly bikes...........

pdonnell · 07:41 AM

Before one of you pee your pants over all the new improvements and send out wedding invites lets not forget it took BMW over 6 years to re-do this bike. And another 6-7 years to improve on it further. Not very impressive. Especially a lousy 15 hp. improvement over its predecessor. Maybe the R motor is at its limit. Hence the focus on dropping overall bike weight.
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I think time will show that to lose the weight and increase its profit margin BMW has just cheapened it. Its future frame, mechanical, electrical, drivetrain failures will be interesting.

Merrimac · 04-11-2004, 09:39 AM

I saw Mischlers first R1200GS. Everyone who rode it commented about the weight reduction and more power. However, the appearance, in my opinion, looked like it was made by a Japanese company. Lots of bits and pieces that seemed to by added as an after thought. It also has lots of angles, caused by the bits and pieces, that detract from it looking more like a "whole" design. The swing arm is longer and looks to be a lot lighter. It now has a plastic gas tank just like the R1100/1150RT. The exhaust sound was better then most stock BMWs of recent vintage. The A-arm is now forged and looks better then the previous fabricated A-arms. This model had the cast wheels. They looked just fine on this application. The bags were not in yet. Neither was the tail pack.

Just my thoughts and observations.

Jeff "S" Moore

Chris Canning · 04-11-2004, 11:14 AM

Well without getting to excited over the pros and cons,here in the the UK it's all a minor detail anyhow as the earliest delivery is september this year,as they've sold out,and besides one BM is enough for anyone!!!!!!

Chris

Chris Geuting · 04-12-2004, 01:01 PM

The new GS is for sure a new benchmark and will give some guys in Japan and Italy headaches for years to come...I am no GS guy anymore.They are great bikes but due to the nature of the beast they almost steer too quick and are not as stable when riding fast when the frontends gets too light,but for what they are made for they are close to perfect.Except for the ridicolous small tank and still no underseat exhaust that robs saddlebag space.An exciting foundation that will make the new 1200S and RS variants close to the perfect street bikes a lot of people are waiting and lusting for!
But for the planned trip to Panama I might even get me a GS again...
1200 cc Boxerlust
Chris
PS:THe new 1200 is $900 more expensive than the "old" 1150 but it might be also $6000 cheaper...Why?In the last MO BMW Motorraeder Sonderheft the new 1200 put out the same horsepower/torque as a tuner built 1200cc triple spark motor;104hp/117nm (19hp/10nm more than the old 1150 ! and 55lbs of real weight savings !) The new 1200S should be a real winner;hopefully with a 1 ga bigger tank,otherwise I have to by the new 1200RS...

Dr. Curve · 04-12-2004, 02:12 PM

Agreed Chris, especially the need for a bigger tank on the New S when it comes. Under hard mountain use where strong pull out of the corners is used time and time again...........the green light can come on at 110 miles and the tank can go dry at 145 miles. Give us a full six gallons of usable gas at the minimum.

Note Chris that the new engine has a larger, more robust clutch..............nice that BMW is prethinking the power to come...........especially when the S arrives.

Could anyone please list the bikes now available for purchase that have as stock:
Sodium Filled Valves and Conical Valve Springs? Is there any dealer that has not presold at least two?