Thank you for all of the replies. I went to Oahu and did a demo ride for an hour on a R1200GS, water cooled. The fit and finish of the bike is very nice. The motor I wasn't a fan of, but I could live with it. But at freeway speeds (RPMs), the bars vibrate horribly and literally hurt my hands. That's a deal breaker for me!
Am I crazy for considering a R1200GS?
- Thread starter KCW
- Start date
Tyke
New Member
Seems like some things just don't change 
greg the pole
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people
i picked it up in mid august, and our riding season is over. 2700km (1700mi).Donk said:
I've poked a hole in the stock exhaust, which wakes the bike up, and went whole hog on the suspension (this is where they saved big). Some guys say the suspension gets better after 5 or 6k miles, but I can't be bothered to wait. I went with fully adj. traxxion dynamics cartridges, and a yacugar shock with hyd. preload.
The range is much much better than the FZ09, the abs brakes are nice. I only wish that TC would stay turned off (small gripe)
My removable givi bags showed up, and will make the bike very useful.
I'll do a brief write up on the suspension, and various bits and bobs that went on.
I think for fast sport touring, this will fit the bill without breaking the bank.
Donk
Well-Known Member
Sounds like the Super Tenere it is. Good you got to try the GS, now you won't be second guessing yourself about it.KCW said:
TheHelios
Taco Enthusiast
This so much.Donk said:
KCW: Did you have to go on a dealer day to try it out or they just had one ready whenever?
It's good that you had a chance to ride the GS and decide for yourself, however bar vibration complaints is not something I hear a lot about from owners and not an issue on my 2015 GSA now with 13K miles on the odo. When it does come up a TB calibration is all it takes to resolve the issue. I suspect the bike you rode was not in proper tune.KCW said:
Paul
That may be the case, but if so, BMW should make sure their dealers demo bikes are setup properly.Big Blu said:
I rode a 2013 water cooled back when they first came out and had a similar complaint. Is TB sync an issue for bikes straight out of production?
Not that I'm aware of.KCW said:
I had several demo rides at three different BMW dealers over a period of two years before purchasing my GSA and never experienced what I would consider excessive vibration. My GSA doesn't have a vibration problem and, as I said earlier ..... it seems not to be an issue owners complain about.
Perhaps you should ask that question at ADVRider on the GS forum, some there are far more knowledgable.
Paul
carrot
Member
I demoed a fjr before buying a tenere it seemed to have a lot of slack between the engine and the rear final drive compared to my v max the guy there said it was not normal and probably from abuse I also walk away unimpressed
Time for some perspective, I am considering a Benelli Tre-K....
...Dodgy Clutches, Dodgy Fuelling, Dodgy Forks, Dodgy Coils, a tendency to snap frames and very Italian electrics - and unlike BMW the Benelli Factory / Importers do not give a toss if your bike blows up / falls apart, they just charge a fortune for the parts that will take an age to arrive (if they arrive at all)
Then again the residual values of these bikes are similar to that of used bog roll.
...Dodgy Clutches, Dodgy Fuelling, Dodgy Forks, Dodgy Coils, a tendency to snap frames and very Italian electrics - and unlike BMW the Benelli Factory / Importers do not give a toss if your bike blows up / falls apart, they just charge a fortune for the parts that will take an age to arrive (if they arrive at all)
Then again the residual values of these bikes are similar to that of used bog roll.
Dogdaze
Well-Known Member
The Amazonas? Sounds good with that triple though..................Rasher said:
Donk
Well-Known Member
A friend left his GS LC, I think it's a "14, at my house and asked me to put some miles on it. Been riding the b'jesus out of it the 2 few days and I have found no as in zero bar vibration. I'm not trading the S10 for one but it is a nice bike. Does make me wish I could get a quickshifter for the S10.
Hmmmmm!Donk said:
Paul
RIVA
Well-Known Member
We have the technology.Donk said:
http://www.sportbiketrackgear.com/healtech-yamaha-xt1200z-super-tenere-10-15-quickshifter-easy/
Donk
Well-Known Member
I said '14 GS not '16 RS!Big Blu said:Hmmmmm!
Paul
I ain't tell'n, nope mot me.Donk said:
Paul
Tyke
New Member
Im guessing, nay hoping that you're avin a laugh Rasher.....tell me you are ???Rasher said:
No deadly serious.Tyke said:
I could get a dream bike (KTM1190 / Ducati Multistrada / MV Turismo etc) but somehow think that would require about £9,000 on top of my barely run in S10.
The Benelli's are something different and at a fraction of the price of other used bikes, a mint 2010 Tre-K with under 10,000 miles can be had for under £4k from a dealer with warranty, or about £3k privately.
I know someone who has signed a 3 year deal on a new GS - £4k down, another £4k over 3 years making for about £8k for 3 years riding - I bet the Benelli won't cost me £5k in repairs over the same time, and I won't see millions of them everywhere I go.
TBH it will only be for local summer Sunday ride outs on the local lanes, can't see me loading it up for the Alps trips, but I have the Super Tenere for that.
I am fairly certain I will get a lot of pleasure from such a beast, the reviews are all very complimentary, the only thing letting them down was launching them before ironing out the bugs and sometimes dubious build quality - at full price you would be insane, but get a well sorted used one and I cannot see anything out there offering this value - Similar price a 650 Strom of the same Vintage.
Going back to the OP question "Am I crazy" , nobody is Crazy for buying a bike they really want, as long as you go in eyes open and understand the implications.
Money no object I would have a new super-doper bike, on my budget the S10 is a good bike, I cannot find anything to replace it without spending stupid money - and for me I would rather spend a bit less money on another bike (or two) as the S10 is still "fit for purpose".
carrot
Member
Madhatter just sent me this pic think he might be liking the BMW ::010::
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Tyke
New Member
A good friend of mine purchased an almost new Tre K a few years back, I loved it, it was a good looking bike with loads of individual style, I rode it a few times and as well as sounding great it also went very well........however, it was riddled with problems which were mostly electrical, the main one of which was a constant abd persistent non start due to a faulty side stand cut out switchRasher said:
Shame that such a good bike was dogged with an apparently simplistic issue
Regarding the OP question, I think you should try it ....I know that I plan to try one for myself