Your 1200 GS Adventure ownership story

[burnergold2B]

 Looking at the 1200 GS Adventures-mammoth fuel tanks and all, for a next used purchase.

What've you got for good/bad/ugly ownership experience?

Which GS production had the "Enduro Trans." in it, and what was it? Shorter? Taller?

 

[atadaskew]

Between this dood, and Raj, it's hard to decide who wears the crown..

[burnergold2B]

I can certainly appreciate that Sir.


This seems to be a good start;  http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40559.0.html

[Davy F.]

I owned an R1200GS (non Adventure) for four years and sixth months. In that time, I covered 25,000 miles (I only ride for six months of the year) and have to say that the GS is probably the best bike of the 21 I've owned so far. It is amazingly fast cross country and it belies its appearance by being able to keep up or even ahead of many so called sportsbikes. It was comfortable for a full days riding (after I changed the seat to a Sargent, the stocker is crap) and the engine is a peach. Full of torque, smooth now that it has a balancer shaft fitted and economical returning up to low 50's. Although the front fork setup usually gets some complaints from the journos in the press, in reality they provide stable handling with built in antidive and once used to it, you'll happily grind the pegs with gay abandon.

However, they aren't without their faults. One of the main complaints is the quality of finish. People buying them expect to have no faults (they are a BMW and are the ultimate riding machine type mentality), but not looked after and they will corrode (I guess it also depends on how much winter riding you do and how much salt is thrown on the roads to keep them clear. The UK is notorious for this during winter). Other problems can be fuel pump relays failing, anntenna rings failing, gearbox seals leaking, driveshafts leaking and failing and there has been quite a few cases of one cylinder crapping and scrapping itself amongst others. But many things can also be attributed to what year you bought as BMW seemed to have had a hard time keeping up with the quantity of bikes being produced due to the high demand, so quality definatly suffered. A good source of info can be got at www.ukgser.com. You'll also find that even tho' there are many who have had several faults with their bikes, they'll defend them to the death as they give so much riding pleasure.

Saying all the above, I did love mine, but even though it gave me great pleasure, it was also the worst bike I've owned as I always had a feeling of doom brought on by too much information (from the GS forum) of what can and will go wrong, and not if but when.  Now, I was reasonably lucky and the main problem I had was that the gearbox seals went with only six days left on the warrenty. But it was repaired with no quibble by the main dealer (it would have cost me £600 otherwise). I guess that with 30+ years riding Jap bikes with virtually no major problems, I think that that is what made me sell the GS at the end of 2009.

Would I buy another ?    

No, which is a shame as it is a terrific motorcycle in so many ways. But I prefer not worrying about how much my bike is going to cost to repair once out of warrenty. I know that many GS riders change their bikes every two years or take out an extra years warrenty because of some of the things I've written above.

[DNA]

I bought mine off e-bay from a guy in Florida in 2009.

I basically rode it only 3 times in 2010 and logged just over 10K.

I did a fly and ride and rode it home on New years Eve - BB1000 straight through from FL to NoVa  in freezing rain and even some snow 1 hour after signing title.  No problems.

With  little time to prepare - I rode in the MD2020 in May - 350 miles between fuel stops and ability to scoot over dirt roads when i became...mis located...netted me a 5th overall. Not a bad way to spend a 2000 mile weekend. No problems what so ever.

August - BBG from NoVA to Colo spgs then a loop around the west.  7 days and 6500 miles - massive distance between stops and 5 of the top 10 roads in the country. Some dirt and a lot of awesome scenes.

Next year I hope to ride at least 5 times and hit 15K miles.

The bike is a mileage machine in any conditions on most any road.

For gnarly single track - I have a proper KTM 250 dirt bike - for everything else - the GSA rocks the world.

If you want a light weight commuter put around - look elsewhere - this bike is a do everything platform.

[DangerMoney]

 
Which GS production had the "Enduro Trans." in it, and what was it? Shorter? Taller?

The Enduro transmission has a shorter 1st gear than the standard. My understanding is it's an option.

For a bike that will be taken off-road, the standard 12GS tranny 1st gear is pretty tall. I've got a standard (non-enduro) transmission on my 12GS and its 1st gear is significantly taller than 1st on my K1200RS.

[Baz]

A friend of mine owned a GS in which he put 50,000 km on in two years. Absloutely loved the bike to the point that we couldn't stand talking to him anymore. (Think new parent)


He bought an RT as he decided he was getting old and needed some luxury. He road that bike for half a season, sold it, and gave up riding all together. The whole time he was kicking himself fro selling the GS.

[sagerat]

Had an '04 GS that I put 24K on in about two years and sold it, which I regretted almost immediately.  Loved the bike; hated the service costs and that the dealer was two plus hours and one mountain range away, which made early spring and late fall visits a challenge.

Missed the bike enough to buy a 2010 GSA this summer.  Put about 8K on it in four months.  Stock seat on my '04 was very comfy; stocker on my '10 GSA is adequate at best.  

Still, the GSA is a wonderful platform for touring, for commuting, for canyon carving.  The bike can do more off-road than I can; I'll stick to gravel roads and major logging roads, thank you.

Only grumpings so far is my fuel gauge:  I'm on my second already.  This is a known problem and falls into the "argh, #$%! irritant" category rather than a severe issue that will strand you.  I just fill up and repeat at about the 350-mile mark and I'm fine.

[Lawn Dart]

I have 48k on my 2007 GS.  Not the ADV model but with exception of the 8.8gal Super Tank it's basically the same bike.  

Reliability has been superb.  Service costs have been virtually zero (I do my own work and it's very easy to service).  

[sagerat]

Service costs have been virtually zero (I do my own work and it's very easy to service).  

Ahh, if only you lived closer you could teach me much, Boxer Master.