I admit it!

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

This thing is starting to grow on me. Having a dirt bike background, the "knobbies" are quite appealing, but I also know how much they must suck on the road! are these things actually worthy of some serious road speed? I guess at some point i am going to have to test ride one, and see for myself. i am a big fan of the R12 HP though, i wonder why they havent carried that muscle throughout the line.

anotheroldrider · 02-23-2008, 05:11 PM

We might not completely agree about MX based roadracers, but we do about these babies - they are without question, cool, and the black/silver is my favorite. For dodging Buick bumpers, I'm betting they're excellent.

MaineRoads · 05:24 PM

The knobbies aren't bad on the road. The bike tends to "tip" or "fall" into the corner faster initially, but overall handling is good. Without the knobs the bike suffers off road, unless your just riding dirt roads.

signit98 · 02-23-2008, 05:18 PM

...I could almost bet you that you would not be able to pull your 12S away from Ivan, riding the 12GS on any road with curves...

Straight away, yes, the 12S is faster... but who cares about that...

Here are a couple of examples of what I am talking about:

I almost bought one today... not quite there yet, but it probably won't take much longer... I am going to get rid of all the other bikes and buy a GS and then I am done with it...

Bob Hancock · 02-23-2008, 06:07 PM

I'm no Ivan but I still had fun with this bike. This is me trying to lean my R12GS. I found the limfac was the front tire. Ducati behind me soon passed and now he's an R12S owner. Does that mean I win?

Here's the rear tire (a Dunlop 607) after that track day.

Startin' to get another GS hankerin' too.

chewie · chewie's Garage

...it must upset road bike riders when the big girl goes around the outside of them out in the twisties

My partner is wanting to get the 650 and wants me to get the 12g, she's found this camping store where you can buy all this tiny/compact camping equipment, she's already started buying stuff

signit98 · 02-23-2008, 06:42 PM

Every time you post, I like Kate more.... SIGH, Jonathan... you are NOT making my life any easier...

markjenn · 02-23-2008, 06:49 PM

Let's separate the bike from the tires guys. With the right tires, the bike will run with any sportbike if the speeds are under 100, and outrun them if the road gets tighter, the day gets longer, or the bumps get taller. But don't kid yourself that you can run those TKC80's out to their edges - they'll stick Okay, but you'll get plenty of feedback that you're going too fast, followed by sliding. hopefully on the back end first. They're great for semi-knobbies, but aren't even on the same page as a sportbike tire.

Of course, no reason you can't fit sportbike tires to the Adv. But then you lose the look and you lose any ability to take it off-road. A 550-lb bike on sportbikes tires in the mud isn't fun at all.

- Mark

OpenBoatt · 02-23-2008, 06:52 PM

Here in the wilds of eastern Washington, I've been riding the 1100GS for a couple weeks amongst the 12 foots roadside snowbanks. My S sits snug in the shop, mostly because this is a dirty time of year to ride, and the GS was made for dirty times.

I believe a GS in the hands of a proficient rider is every bit as quick as an S. tom

Guest24 · 02-23-2008, 08:54 PM

Shreddr, I sat on a 12GS today with the low seat and fell in love. I think it's the fact that my old bones like that upright sitting position more than the race tuck of the S. It was down right comfortable. I think a test run is in order with the low seat next time I'm up in ATL which I hope is real soon. Saw Nate and we inspected the work they are doing to get the BMW ATL R12S's ready for Daytona. Nate said they will take them to Jennings for some practice. They've got new mag rims and I swear that they are feather light because the difference it and the standard alloy rims felt like the weight of the of the tire without a rim. The 12S look great and ready to go fast and Nate can handle that with no problem.

sfarson · 02-23-2008, 09:34 PM

Have a friend with knobbies on his 1150GS ADV and he cooks through corners just fine with them. I had no road sporting issues with the Kazoo equipped HP2 Enduro when it was in the barn here. But I am more confident with a more road biased tread.

Have ridden GS's for seven years now. More roads in CO unpaved than paved. Have more memorable rides from the saddle of a GS than any other bike. While the abundance of forest roads in the Rockies was the initial attraction to the GS, its sporting attributes, long distance capabilities, passenger friendly accomodations, and roomy ergos make it no mystery to me why it sells so well for Munich.

From off road...

To far roads...

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

that off road pic looks great sfarson! i would love to live in Colorado, not sure my better (sic) half is as interested. I was thinking about the GS and the appeal seems to be not only being able to take that dirt road if you come across it, but to ride them on a regular basis. here in the land of macadam (NJ) i would have to ride around to find some. if i lived in CO, CA or the pacific NW I would probably be on a GS already. so for now i will keep my GS daydreams tucked away with my west coast relocation desire!

AZ-Twin · 02-24-2008, 07:45 AM

Have any of you folks upgraded from an R1100GS, or R1150GS to an R1200GS? If yes, is the R1200GS far superior to the previous series?

Hopefully I am staying on topic here, Shreddr, I don’t want to hijack your thread. I do like these big GS bikes, and am curious if the difference between an 1150GS and a 1200GS is as significant as what “most” folks say the difference between the 1100S and 1200S is in the area of handling, and performance. I don’t believe the ergonomics and storage have changed much on the GS bikes.

Thanks

Ultra54 · 02-24-2008, 08:01 AM

I can't get by the woody woodpecker front fender thingy that Germans seem to be fascinated with.

I realize it is only aesthetics.

signit98 · 02-24-2008, 08:08 AM

just look at it this way, Rob... 20 somewhat more ponies, 100 or so more cc's, 50+ less pounds and a slightly changed geometry... ya think that's making a difference? YA!

I rode the 1200 GS and the HP2 Enduro, back to back... both of which available for around the same price, here in SD... both Demo's, about $16K out the door...

HOLY cow, what a difference just between the two of them... whereas, the HP2 is hard for me to flatfoot on one foot... and it is more or less a single track bike... the 12 GS, on the other hand is a wonderful bike! Quite a bit heavier than the 12S, but the handlebars and the upright seating give you all the leverage you need to handle that thing...

SIGH!