BMW GS Update

twinrider

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Sep 28, 2011
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Yokohama
Update.......I just cracked 11,000 miles on my 2019 R1250GS. Still no issues or problems. Will be going in for my 12,500 mile servce very soon. I will get back to let you all know the cost. I will be needing tires soon too.

I just love this bike, the best!
Try the PanAm special and let us know what you think.
 

pooh and xtine

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Nov 13, 2014
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UK
I agree, UKGSer is quite a toxic clique. I had a very unpleasant experience posting there and it sure put me off owning another one too! I'm sure the forum owner and his henchmen aren't typical of owners in general, but it does make you question whether you want to be associated with their behaviour.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Philippines
Personally, this would be my first stop for GS info, https://www.ukgser.com/forums/forum.php
Lol, that forum put me off BMW ownership!
I agree, UKGSer is quite a toxic clique. I had a very unpleasant experience posting there and it sure put me off owning another one too! I'm sure the forum owner and his henchmen aren't typical of owners in general, but it does make you question whether you want to be associated with their behaviour.
Known issues on there: drive, cylinder, gearbox failures, brought me here... :)
 
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Longdog Cymru

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I agree, UKGSer is quite a toxic clique. I had a very unpleasant experience posting there and it sure put me off owning another one too! I'm sure the forum owner and his henchmen aren't typical of owners in general, but it does make you question whether you want to be associated with their behaviour.
Yeah, I know what you mean! I haven’t owned a BMW since 2008However, there are still some decent people on there, Steptoe, Magwa, Timolgra, and a few others but the rest are best kept at arms length;) I only look at the For Sale and Other Bikes sections nowadays after straying into one of the “discussion” threads and being quite shocked at some of the views put forward, stuff that that would get you banned for life on Facebook and Twitter, there seems to be a lot of angry and/or ignorant people around.
 
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yoyo

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Yeah, I know what you mean! I haven’t owned a BMW since 2008However, there are still some decent people on there, Steptoe, Magwa, Timolgra, and a few others but the rest are best kept at arms length;) I only look at the For Sale and Other Bikes sections nowadays after straying into one of the “discussion” threads and being quite shocked at some of the views put forward, stuff that that would get you banned for life on Facebook and Twitter, there seems to be a lot of angry and/or ignorant people around.
I'm with you there, I've had many a bargain from the for sale section and it's well worth the subscription fee. I don't think I'd sell anything on there though, far to many people happy to rip a for sale ad to shreds just for their own amusement.

There seem to be 5 or 6 people who really hate each other and once they start arguing on a thread they ruin it for everyone.

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

steve68steve

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Oct 23, 2014
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Seacoast, NH
Well, I drank the Koolaid about a month ago. IMO:

Super Tenere: Clutch engagement point more centered in range, friction zone larger, brakes better, first gear feels more linear, shifting seems smoother. Less stuff to go wrong.

1250 GSA: engine noticeably smoother with more hp and torque, switchable ABS, better dash and electronics, ride modes tunable and noticeably different characteristics switching between them. Mine came with hard luggage (and racks), heated grips, aux lights, crash bars, skid plate, and nav prep - all of which I had to add a la carte to my ST.

I've been enjoying both for the last month, but it's time to let the ST go, only because the 2 are so matched in size and mission that it seems redundant to have both. I might keep 2 bikes, but if one's a big ADV bike, the other will NOT be.

The ST is fully dialed in for me and I have lots of happy memories with it. It never disappointed me or stranded me. In times when things could have gone south, I was always presently surprised by its durability and capability. I realize I'm one big BMW reliability issue away from regret, but I'm having my YOLO German bike for now.
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
. . . . Mine came with hard luggage (and racks), heated grips, aux lights, crash bars, skid plate, and nav prep - all of which I had to add a la carte to my ST. . . .
I support you getting the bike you want, and hope that you continue to be happy with it. But, the above sentence implies that after all was said and done, both bikes required the same monetary investment, to be similarly equipped. I find that unlikely.

The GS is puurrty, but I just can't bring myself to trust BMW again. BTW, bought my FJ from Seacoast Powersports back in '86.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Jun 20, 2020
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Well, I drank the Koolaid about a month ago. IMO:

Super Tenere: Clutch engagement point more centered in range, friction zone larger, brakes better, first gear feels more linear, shifting seems smoother. Less stuff to go wrong.

1250 GSA: engine noticeably smoother with more hp and torque, switchable ABS, better dash and electronics, ride modes tunable and noticeably different characteristics switching between them. Mine came with hard luggage (and racks), heated grips, aux lights, crash bars, skid plate, and nav prep - all of which I had to add a la carte to my ST.

I've been enjoying both for the last month, but it's time to let the ST go, only because the 2 are so matched in size and mission that it seems redundant to have both. I might keep 2 bikes, but if one's a big ADV bike, the other will NOT be.

The ST is fully dialed in for me and I have lots of happy memories with it. It never disappointed me or stranded me. In times when things could have gone south, I was always presently surprised by its durability and capability. I realize I'm one big BMW reliability issue away from regret, but I'm having my YOLO German bike for now.
Good luck. Hope all goes well and no reliability issues....
 

Longdog Cymru

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I had a BMW R1150GS before Ewan and Charlie went anywhere and swore it was my bike for life. It broke down on the way home, well the battery died and it wouldn’t start, but apart from that, it was reliable and I enjoyed it Right up until the powder coating started to fall off everything from fork legs to wheel hubs to cylinder heads. Everything else was brilliant and although I washed and sprayed protector on it, the powder coating was rubbish. My best friend has had a series of R1200GS bikes and he loves them. Mind you, he has had quite a bit of recall and warranty work carried out on each one of them and still he goes back and buys another one. He says “the customer service is excellent”. I have ridden each of his R1200GS bikes and they are really good to ride but I would rather not spend too much time in a BMW dealership. They really are good bikes but they are not without their issues. I have been tempted many times but the itch has never been great enough to need scratching.
To you I say if you want a BMW or indeed any other make of bike, go for it, we only get one turn on this merry go round of life so you need to let your heart rule your head sometimes and follow your dreams and desires. Buy it, ride it, enjoy it! But don’t be a stranger and stay in touch with us. :)
 

PhilPhilippines

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Jun 20, 2020
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Philippines
I had a BMW R1150GS before Ewan and Charlie went anywhere and swore it was my bike for life. It broke down on the way home, well the battery died and it wouldn’t start, but apart from that, it was reliable and I enjoyed it Right up until the powder coating started to fall off everything from fork legs to wheel hubs to cylinder heads. Everything else was brilliant and although I washed and sprayed protector on it, the powder coating was rubbish. My best friend has had a series of R1200GS bikes and he loves them. Mind you, he has had quite a bit of recall and warranty work carried out on each one of them and still he goes back and buys another one. He says “the customer service is excellent”. I have ridden each of his R1200GS bikes and they are really good to ride but I would rather not spend too much time in a BMW dealership. They really are good bikes but they are not without their issues. I have been tempted many times but the itch has never been great enough to need scratching.
To you I say if you want a BMW or indeed any other make of bike, go for it, we only get one turn on this merry go round of life so you need to let your heart rule your head sometimes and follow your dreams and desires. Buy it, ride it, enjoy it! But don’t be a stranger and stay in touch with us. :)
Damn straight!
 

steve68steve

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Oct 23, 2014
Messages
435
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Seacoast, NH
I support you getting the bike you want, and hope that you continue to be happy with it. But, the above sentence implies that after all was said and done, both bikes required the same monetary investment, to be similarly equipped. I find that unlikely.

The GS is puurrty, but I just can't bring myself to trust BMW again. BTW, bought my FJ from Seacoast Powersports back in '86.
I didn't mean to imply that there were the same, only that the actual apples to apples difference is often overlooked in favor of less expensive base model bikes.

My ST's skid plate was $400+, crash bars $400+, suspension $1000+, luggage and racks $1000... $3,000 aftermarket on a $15,000 bike is a 20% upcharge. I never priced grips or aux lights, but assume that would be several hundred more. Honestly, if I was looking at my ST new with that equipment installed for nearly $20k, it wouldn't seem as attractive. The "crazy, way-overpriced" BMW for a few thousand more with TFT, integrated nav, electronic everything, and more hp and torque seems less crazily overpriced, and a little more "you get what you pay for."
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
But, and it's a Kardashian sized but. . . . I just can't trust the bike. With Yamaha, and to be honest. . . . any of the brands from Japan, I know that I will likely not have any issues with them. I just don't have the same faith with BMW. (from personal experience, not hearsay)

As a kinda weird comparison: One of the new Corvettes is $75k-ish. A new Porsche 911-Turbo (not the turbo-S) is $175k. The 911 claims to have more horsepower, and is about .5 seconds quicker to 60mph. Now, neither of these cars are my style, but. . . . being able to buy two 'Vettes for the price of one 911? That's a shit ton of extra money. . . . for what? I don't know Porsche's reliability record, but, I do know that their services are quite expensive. Also, I don't know where the nearest Porsche dealer is. But, I do know where three Chevy dealerships are. I'm not talking bad about the Porsche, I just want to know what that astronomical price gives me.

Everybody has their priorities, and that fine. Mine is bang for the buck. I'm not going to pay more for something, if I'm not going to get more of that something in return.
 
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