Test Ride of the New Water-Cooled BMW 1200GS

[AZ-J]

It may be better than your 12S but I rode one, and it is slower than my 12S because of the extra 100+ lbs.

[Cloud9blue]

Originally Posted by AZ-J

It may be better than your 12S but I rode one, and it is slower than my 12S because of the extra 100+ lbs.

Never said it is faster than the R12S. It just feels faster off the line and riding around the town with some sanity, because of the electronic throttle. Don't worry, I still love my R12S

[AZ-J]

It is not faster off the line with all that weight. You were fooled by by the e-throttle, I was not.

[OwenM]

The lower gearing of the GS makes if feel quicker of the line but once under way its definitely not as as fast as the R12S. However the throttle response of the standard S is certainly less than best

I rode the new water cooled GS back to back with the 2012 CAM head. The CAM head sounded significantly better and performed much the same at the WB.
As far as handling is concerned I prefer the 2012 and earlier GS, and I didn't find the wet clutch significantly different to my dry clutch boxers, they all work just fine.

The default suspension setup of the R12S makes it slow to turn, but that's fixable.
The wide bars of the GS make it easy to turn in comparison.

[Cloud9blue]

Originally Posted by AZ-J

It is not faster off the line with all that weight. You were fooled by by the e-throttle, I was not.

Gezzz, why so confrontational? I never said it is actually faster off the line, just the feel of e-throttle...

[AZ-J]

Not being confrontational. I did not like the new GS. Too much gadgetry.

[RoLoo]

...think I like the new one...

[Scblacksunshine]

Originally Posted by shreddr

That was how I thought the R1100S compared to the R1200S, if the Waterboxer is really that much better it must be phenomenal, but the HP numbers wouldn't bear it out. The fly-by-wire throttle I am sure is responsible for a lot of the perceived performance improvement, as you can map the throttle just like you map the fuel.

I guess I'll have to demo one and see how it compares to the Big Bore HP2S

Please do...I would be curious to see how it compares to your HP2S or if you remember how the stock Hp2S was like..how it compares to that..

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by RoLoo

...think I like the new one...

Well jeez, that was weak! A paint job and a slip-on?

I'm surprised those guys didn't pull that motor, radiators and electrics, punch it out to a big bore and shoehorn it into an HP2S frame!

Now THAT would be a project bike!

[1100s nut]

The LC gs is 125 HP, what is the 1200s and what is the HP2? Just curious.

[AZ-J]

The 1200S is 122HP and the HP2S is 136HP stock.

[Droptarotter]

Originally Posted by RoLoo

...think I like the new one...

That is one ugly motorcycle...........what happened to Van Harten??? They used to come up with some of the best looking bikes........now this.........I'm gonna barf!!

Almost looks as bad as the last red Multistrada I saw!!

Cheers

[throttlemeister]

Come on Droptarotter, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!

[nail24fac]

BMWRA Rally in Asheville, NC

[Flounder]

I'm a lucky duck and have one of 12 press bikes on loan from BMW USA. Such an incredible machine. It's going to be agony to hand over the keys in a couple weeks.

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by nail24fac

BMWRA Rally in Asheville, NC

Did you buy a water pumper Bubba? That one looks pretty nice!