Test Ride of the New Water-Cooled BMW 1200GS

[leafman60]

Our local BMW dealership had an Open House celebration today and I test-rode the new water-cooled 1200GS.

Its an awesome machine. It actually feels as small or smaller than the bike it replaces. I think I read that it is only 6 pounds heavier. It readily snaps right up on the centerstand with amazingly little effort. With 125 HP, it runs like scalded dog. It's very quick, very nimble, smooth-running and would be fun on a curvy road.

The switchgear is very well-designed and of top quailty in appearance and feel. The standard digital gear indicator is coupled with automatic turn signal cancellation and this year theyve finally added electronic cruise control to the bike. Many options such as suspension control are available. Everything worked fine. Again, it is a fast machine.

I didnt get a chance to test it on off-road conditions but I suspect it will perform much like its predecessor in that regard.

There is much new about the bike. BMW people will be especially impressed and I expect they will overwhelmingly opt for this bike over any remaining non-water-cooled versions that happen to remain on dealership floors. Pricing of the new bike is at or slightly below the older model!

I have to say that I felt a noticeable amount of heat that blows up from the two side-mounted radiators of the new GS. I'm curious how this would feel in the heat of summer weather or when plodding about in the woods.

Oh, by the way. The media reports about pending recalls must be outdated. The dealership manager did a check with BMW corporate and there are currently NO pending recalls on the new GS.

Time will tell.

[JimMoore]

Lalala!Ican'thearyou!Lalala!

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by leafman60

Our local BMW dealership had an Open House celebration today and I test-rode the new water-cooled 1200GS.

Its an awesome machine. It actually feels as small or smaller than the bike it replaces. I think I read that it is only 6 pounds heavier. It readily snaps right up on the centerstand with amazingly little effort. With 125 HP, it runs like scalded dog. It's very quick, very nimble, smooth-running and would be fun on a curvy road.

The switchgear is very well-designed and of top quailty in appearance and feel. The standard digital gear indicator is coupled with automatic turn signal cancellation and this year theyve finally added electronic cruise control to the bike. Many options such as suspension control are available. Everything worked fine. Again, it is a fast machine.

I didnt get a chance to test it on off-road conditions but I suspect it will perform much like its predecessor in that regard.

There is much new about the bike. BMW people will be especially impressed and I expect they will overwhelmingly opt for this bike over any remaining non-water-cooled versions that happen to remain on dealership floors. Pricing of the new bike is at or slightly below the older model!

I have to say that I felt a noticeable amount of heat that blows up from the two side-mounted radiators of the new GS. I'm curious how this would feel in the heat of summer weather or when plodding about in the woods.

Oh, by the way. The media reports about pending recalls must be outdated. The dealership manager did a check with BMW corporate and there are currently NO pending recalls on the new GS.

Time will tell.

Meaningless without knowing how old you are,how long you've been riding and what bike you own,then folks can relate to your post.

[bradzdotcom]

Originally Posted by leafman60

Oh, by the way. The media reports about pending recalls must be outdated. The dealership manager did a check with BMW corporate and there are currently NO pending recalls on the new GS.

There are many shades of "recall". they're sometimes called "updates", and there's a big difference (especially if corporate is on the phone) between a "voluntary" and a "mandatory".
the "mandatory" recall only comes into place when a manufacturer appears to be trying to duck an issue. a "voluntary" recall means that they would rather not get CPSC, DOT or any other GOV Acronym up in their face. if it's a issue that is being fixed/updated at the dealer level, then it's not a recall at all.

while it's quite possible we don't know if there are issues at all with a new bike, i'm not sure that the folks that make it are necessarily the best source to ask if something is going south.

unless/until the percentages of a failure are high enough to draw attention (complaints to government folks), a manufacturer has the option to fix things on their own.

i have a six year old ford pickup. best selling truck in history. there's a ga-zillion of them out there.
i still get the occasional "notice" about some widget in a wiring harness or some renegade fuse block, with instructions to rush down to the dealership to get it replaced (while they paw over the truck and find other issues).
so far, haven't gone.
so far, truck has not spontaneously burst into flames, nor stuck the throttle wide open, or even left the interior light on.
however, the left passenger window squeaks a tiny bit when rolled down quickly....i'm calling CPSC in the morning to start a class action suit.

[1100s nut]

Leafman60, thanks for views and points and taking time to post them. Charlotte bmw has 3 of them, went by there yesterday... and looked them over....they look nice. Weather was crappy so did not ride....yet. I have mixed emototions about it....I still like the old GS`s 2002-2005 alot...they just seem so simple...

Be safe,
Lane

[Chris Canning]

You wait till our resident KTM man on here see's the new 1190 in the flesh,I'd seen one at the bike show and on a stand looked big,but when a mate turns up at the house on friday with one,jeeze it's hardly bigger than a 690.

[Drews323i]

Thanks for the review. I'm very curious about the heat boiling your legs also. Other than a Goldwing most liquid cooled bikes I've rode put a lot of heat onto your legs on extended rides.

[1100s nut]

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

You wait till our resident KTM man on here see's the new 1190 in the flesh,I'd seen one at the bike show and on a stand looked big,but when a mate turns up at the house on friday with one,jeeze it's hardly bigger than a 690.

I am intrigued by this bike. One of my bike mags did a comp. on that bike and the new gs. I am looking forward to riding one. There are so many nice bikes out there Its hard to go wrong.

Lane

[leafman60]

Yeah, the heat issue is something that I'd be concerned about.

The weather was coolish this weekend during my test ride. I was wearing full leathers and I still noticed it. In the worst of summer heat or in the woods plodding along, what is this this thing gonna be like?

It's not a concentrated stream of heat but rather a general bathing of the cockpit area around the rider's legs from waist down. I removed my left glove and extended my bare hand down to ascertain where the heat was coming from. I found the general area of the heat source and pulled off the road to bend over and take a look. The area was right behind the radiator(s). Logical.

Im just curious if anyone else notices this.

[Martin Glasser]

VFR Adve
nture bike

We W

ant in The US.

No ne
ed for monster size engine 900-1100 is fine.

[1100s nut]

You already drunk?

[Drews323i]

Let me translate. I speak drunk.
"The VFR adventure bike is what we want in the U.S.A. No need for monster size engine, 900-1100cc is fine."

[MaineRoads]

When Martin doesn't attach a random picture his thoughts are even more confusing .

[slowrider]

Originally Posted by MaineRoads

When Martin doesn't attach a random picture his thoughts are even more confusing .

I assume that's just what happens when the virus on his computer crashes.

[1100s nut]

Drews...thanks...lol

Maineroads, yea, I was looking for a pic of a broke down car or a pic of a cinder block with a can of pea`s sitting on it. lol

Be safe,
Lane

[Martin Glasser]

Thanks drew, Guys! I'm working out the visuals.. Get some 3D glasses and stay tuned..


Hey did some one say random? Not pertinent and random are different, see.

[Martin Glasser]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=558756350822925&set=a.235805653117998.65771.235679506463946&type=1&ref=nf

[lkchris]

Originally Posted by leafman60

It's not a concentrated stream of heat but rather a general bathing of the cockpit area around the rider's legs from waist down.

Electric radiator fans are standard.

[leafman60]

Yes, I noticed a fan but it was on the right-side radiator only. I guess the two radiators are connected. I never noticed the fan coming on but I was riding in 60-degree weather.

I wonder how the bike will feel when plodding about the woods in summer heat and the fan comes on.

Time will tell.

[1%er]

I was going to acquire the F800GS until I felt the heat from the radiator blowing on me at slow speeds. I don't get that on the aircooled boxer as much.