new scoot

[nostatic]

I didn't want to clutter up Jeff's Duc thread any further, so a new thread for a new scoot. For those playing along at home, the Shiver is a hoot but not great for 2-up and since there are no top box options it is lacking for touring (plus it is in the shop for going on 2 weeks now with the tech's scratching their heads but that's another topic). The Duc ST2, while certainly stirring my soul with the Remus pipes, just was too "sport" of a riding position. That sold on Friday on eBay.

So pondered another MTS, but starting hanging around the advrider.com site. A local shop had a raging deal on new KTM 990s, so I read up on them. But then of course the GS comes up. I always have been a "flat" engine fan and love the old air heads. But for whatever reason, never really considered a BMW.

For a bunch of reasons I nixed the KTM (having one bike with a lousy dealer network is enough), I finally rode a GS. Certainly not a Ducati, but damn composed ride. Took the g/f for a short test ride and she dug it. We'd actually planned to ride to Laguna Seca this weekend to watch some club racing (I raced there last year in August), but with the ST2 sold via eBay and the Aprilia in the shop, it looked like it wasn't going to happen. But I can be driven at times, so I called around sorted my options, then got a ride down to Irv Seaver on Friday to pick up my '08 GS. Rode to the g/f's house, packed her stuff, rode to my place, packed my stuff, and we headed north to stay with friends in Santa Barbara. Then Saturday loaded up and headed north again. I wasn't sure how far I wanted to go, as Sunday we'd have to make it back home in one day and it being a new-to-me bike, I wasn't sure how my butt would like it.

At any rate, Saturday we ended up at the track at Laguna Seca. Even got to see my old car there (the guy I sold it to was running - and actually broke his sterring linkage on the grid - damn lucky/unlucky). Then to the motel in Salinas. Sunday got up, headed to Monterey for some Peet's coffee, then down Hwy 1 through Big Sur. Then across 46 to 101, then into ridiculous traffic through Santa Barbara (riding the wake lane splitting behind 3 HD guys), then finally dropped the g/f off at her place at 8pm, then back home before 9pm.

All I can say is why the hell didn't I buy one of these before? Ridiculously great bike. "Composed" is the word that keeps coming to mind. No matter what I threw at it, the bike didn't flinch. 2-up? No problem. Long day? No problem (other than the saddle). Lane splitting? No problem. Some dirt trails up north? No problem. 10+ hours riding from 50's to 100+ temps? No problem.

Brilliant bike. Let the farkling begin.


rest stop about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara


co-pilot checking the oil level at Peets in Monterey

To answer Mike's question:

I've always felt a certain "attraction" to the tall GS, but the off-road design element always put me off. Never understood why an off-road enthusiast would buy a 1200cc 600+ lb bike for that application. I've perceived a "compromise" for both street and dirt, which may be an unfair or simply uninformed perspective. Definately a cool bike and tremendously capable. I often see people touring on them 2-up. But the bike is very tall with huge (almost unnecessary) ground clearance....at least for the street. Anyway...enough rambling. Interested in your take regarding the GS for the street. Are you off-roading it at all?

Since I'm 6'1", the tall bike doesn't bother me at all. I did just a bit of dirt during the trip and the bike feels surprisingly light (btw the bike is under 500# loaded). It certainly is not a 250 2-stroke dirt bike, but it feels like it is perfectly happy on fire roads and double track.

I can say on the street the riding position totally rocks (though the stock seat gets a bit painful on a 10 hour day). I have the seat on the higher position (you can get a low or std seat, and both of those can be adjusted - very slick system) after doing the regular position on the way up. The screen provides a fair amount of wind protection and the hand guards keep the breeze off your hands. Plus it has heated hand grips. You are sitting way up and have a very good view of traffic, and likewise are pretty visible to other drivers. The handling is plenty quick with all the leverage, but the bike is quite stable at speed. Totally composed 2-up. The BMW system case is a brilliant design, and my passenger actually dozed off a few times on the ride home.

In short, it is a bike I wouldn't hesitate to ride solo or 2-up anywhere. It's going to be the commute bike as well, as it has ABS and stability control along with tire pressure monitoring. Now I just need to add a few farkles like engine guards (those cylinder heads stick out a ways) and some extra lighting.

There certainly are some potential issues with the bike, but so far I am totally impressed and feel quick at home on it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Very cool bike. Everyone I know that has one has stated pretty much the same opinion of them as you have; they are all very happy with theirs.

An aquaintance had one of these for years (the 1150 version) but sold it and bought the KTM 990. He rode the KTM to Prudhoe Bay and back this summer. When he got home, he sold it and bought another Beemer, saying it was just a better all-around bike for his tastes.

[ramonesfreak]

awsome. ive always wanted one but i cant touch my feet to the ground when i sit on em

[ramonesfreak]

whoa , did you say your passenger fell asleep? yikes!

[Seahawk]

How much...I'm not buying, just interested.

[creaturecat]

selling the Shiver?

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

How much...I'm not buying, just interested.

as they say, if you have to ask...

Sticker on the bike was just under $18K. In other words, about what I sold the 911 for. This should be a lot cheaper to run though. I got a good deal as this was a demo bike with 500 miles on it. I actually prefer that as I don't have to deal with break-in, and this dealer is pretty fastidious about their bikes. The salesguy evidently put about 300 of those miles on it. Plus 3year/36K mile warranty, roadside assistance, ABS, TPMS, traction control...pretty amazing.

I'll have to see if I end up keeping the Aprilia. I could see this being a do-everything bike. The only thing it lacks is the Italian "drama."

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by nostatic

as they say, if you have to ask...

You're right

I am intrigued because it looks absolutely great...wife and I have been talking.

[Rick Lee]

I installed the factory LED turn signals Friday night. They are awesome!





Don't forget the Sargent seat.



And it's always good to have a bike you can lift all alone when out in the desert, forgot your cell phone and ran out of water.

[nostatic]

Are those HB engine guards? I'm trying to decide between those and TT. Seems that the engine guards are a "must have." The Sargent is on my list too as the stock seat is brutal after a few hours. The DayLong gets great reviews but looks very odd to me. I'm hoping I can stop at engine bars, saddle and a second set of lights.

yeah, right...

[Rick Lee]

Yes, they are HB crash bars. I got them used for $100 delivered. They were in very rough shape and I took a wire wheel and sandpaper to them before spraying them flat black. They need a respray now after a few tumbles in the sand and gravel.

I think I got my Sargent for around $220 and sold my stock seat for $140ish. I've done a 700 mile day or two on the Sargent and it feels fine.

The light bars for these bikes are crazy expensive, around $180. I fabbed my own for about $20 in parts and they've been great with my Hella Micro DE's.

[Rick Lee]

Here's my cheapo light bar.

[JavaBrewer]

Here's what Todd really needs to buy...



j/k

The BMW just plain looks awkward. Ride safe.

[berettafan]

you've been to advrider.com i assume?

[speeder]

Everyone who owns those bikes raves about them, so that says something. Including a lot of people who've had many a bike. They really improved the 1200 over the 1150, both looks-wise as well as function. Wish I had one for the road trip I'm taking this week, 2k miles+ in a cage. (Fast cage, though).

I met a guy @ Hollywood BMW this summer who was picking-up his new GS, he was trading-in his 1150 that had been around the world. Cool French guy, real traveler and friendly. He and some buddies are riding all the way down to the tip of South America this fall, (it's spring in SA), I got his card in case a miracle happens and I can join them. That's a dream for me. The GS is considered the ultimate long-distance traveler around the world. When your life depends on it being dependable, that's the bike.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

neat bike, congratulations! why did you get spoked wheels? is the front snout aesthetic or function. looks wild!

[speeder]

What's old is new. Spoked wheels are an optional upgrade on those bikes, they are better off-road and just as good as alloys on the highway.

[MichiganMat]

I have nothing but lust for that bike, they are so damned cool.

What was your mpg this weekend?

[Rick Lee]

I think the spoked wheels look so much better than the mags. Also, they are tubeless on the GS. I'd love a second set for knobbies, but they are around $2000 a pair and the only aftermarket place gets about the same for them.

[nostatic]

The spoked are tougher than the cast wheels, and they can often be fixed if you whack them hard. Plus I think they fit the aesthetic of the bike better. They are going to be a pita to clean though. They are a $495 option when you buy the bike, but like Rick said if you try to pick them up separate/aftermarket they are pricey.

Mileage was around 42-43mpg. That is cruising at around 80mph on the freeway, 2-up the whole time, and factoring in slower stretches on hwy 1 through Big Sur and many miles of slow lanesplitting on the 101 through Santa Barbara, Ventura and the valley.