Xclimation
Well-Known Member
A couple of days ago I rode my brother's 2014 1200gs. Pretty well farkled at that. My brother is a BMW/Harley guy. He recently sold his 2011 Harley Ultra Classic and kept this bike. He's owned several beemers of various types throughout the years.
I rode his bike and wanted to give my impressions. My S10 is my 2nd S10 and had a 2012 before. Before that...I rode cruisers. Before buying and ADV bike I did a LOT of research. Made a spreadsheet of the pros and cons. I did not test ride all the ADV bikes. Never rode a 1200gs. I've ridden a 2002 1200rs and 2019 r nine t. Was always curious about the the gs/gsa. Never had the chance on demo days everyone is in line for the gs/gsa and I get there too late. I ride with guys who have gs/gsa but feel uncomfortable riding other's bikes unless they really push me to it. Always notice guys on gs/gsa pulling wheelies.
So I rode for 50 miles all on the road and in various modes. I'm 5'10" and weigh about 170lbs. My brother is shorter by a couple of inches and more heavy.
Sorry...trying to give as much reference as possible.
BMW has been sending me all these great offers including 0% interest/cash back blah blah blah as of late. (Y'all are probably getting them in your mailbox too)
So...after my ride....Nothing Wowed me. It was Okay. I was expecting more.
The bike definitely felt lighter. I strangely had a little trouble getting the bike OFF the center stand. In trying I lifted the rear end of the bike off the ground! I can't do that with the S10! In the pictures, you can see my brother has panniers and they had stuff in them as well as a Bumot tool box. The bike felt sooooo light! I could actually pivot/turn the bike around pivoting on the center stand like it was nothing!
I started the bike and it started right up. Noticed right away it seems to have the exact same handlebars as the S10? The hand guards were more flimsy than the S10 and less protection (If you can believe it!)
I enjoyed that you can tell what gear you are in while the clutch is held in. I first road in the "road" mode. Bike road nice, reminded me of the S10 Touring mode. I wanted to feel the acceleration. I wanted to see how the extra 22 hp felt compared to the S10.....Didn't feel it? My S10 is chipped with after market exhaust and modified intake..but I don't think I've gained 25 hp and the S10 feels like it weighs more. My S10 feels like it has more pull and acceleration. Tried the "Dyna" mode. Felt a little more pull and acceleration and a LOT of engine braking. Still didn't feel as powerful or spirited as my S10? This is contrary to what I read in ALL other reviews?
The braking on this bike was EXCELLENT! No dive, no nothing! Just stopping! My S10, if I brake hard, I have to hang on straddle the gas tank or I feel like I'll fly over the front end. Smooth stopping on the gs. My brother says it has to do with the suspension. Shifting was smooth! Required little to no effort pulling in the clutch! I was worried at first. Bike supposedly has quick shifting I didn't test it on purpose. I think I did it on accident 1 time. Just not in to quick shifting. In traffic after 30 minutes my clutch hand gets a good workout. On this beemer, soooo effortless! My father claims I have something not adjusted properly on my S10? My previous S10 had the same feel on the clutch and the s10 is my first bike with hydraulic clutch. Honestly I don't notice a difference on my S10 compared to my previous non hydraulic clutches.
As far as riding...the bike (gs) just felt stiff? Hard to explain. Just seemed like the bike wanted to be going in a straight line. Felt like I was putting more effort in to leaning in corners. The gearing seemed Identical to the S10. This is going to sound weird, but riding the gs remind of riding a VW with manual transmission. I wish I could put in to words what I mean. The bike has a lot of road noise. Almost seemed like the beak on the front end was amplifying the road noise. The bike has Anakee 3 tires. Another thing I noticed...the engine seemed to vibrate. I felt the engine throughout the frame. Just seemed to me the S10 engine is more smooth. Even the idle on the S10 is more smooth. My brother keeps up with maintenance and has the work done at BMW dealerships.
Again, nothing Wowed me. I like my S10 better and can honestly say this. I don't get the gs/gsa hype? Most definitely not the price tag?
Someone please tell me what I missed? You don't have to be kind ( I have a thick skin) I want to "get it." I test rode a T7 recently and would take the T7 over the gs.
I rode his bike and wanted to give my impressions. My S10 is my 2nd S10 and had a 2012 before. Before that...I rode cruisers. Before buying and ADV bike I did a LOT of research. Made a spreadsheet of the pros and cons. I did not test ride all the ADV bikes. Never rode a 1200gs. I've ridden a 2002 1200rs and 2019 r nine t. Was always curious about the the gs/gsa. Never had the chance on demo days everyone is in line for the gs/gsa and I get there too late. I ride with guys who have gs/gsa but feel uncomfortable riding other's bikes unless they really push me to it. Always notice guys on gs/gsa pulling wheelies.
So I rode for 50 miles all on the road and in various modes. I'm 5'10" and weigh about 170lbs. My brother is shorter by a couple of inches and more heavy.
Sorry...trying to give as much reference as possible.
BMW has been sending me all these great offers including 0% interest/cash back blah blah blah as of late. (Y'all are probably getting them in your mailbox too)
So...after my ride....Nothing Wowed me. It was Okay. I was expecting more.
The bike definitely felt lighter. I strangely had a little trouble getting the bike OFF the center stand. In trying I lifted the rear end of the bike off the ground! I can't do that with the S10! In the pictures, you can see my brother has panniers and they had stuff in them as well as a Bumot tool box. The bike felt sooooo light! I could actually pivot/turn the bike around pivoting on the center stand like it was nothing!
I started the bike and it started right up. Noticed right away it seems to have the exact same handlebars as the S10? The hand guards were more flimsy than the S10 and less protection (If you can believe it!)
I enjoyed that you can tell what gear you are in while the clutch is held in. I first road in the "road" mode. Bike road nice, reminded me of the S10 Touring mode. I wanted to feel the acceleration. I wanted to see how the extra 22 hp felt compared to the S10.....Didn't feel it? My S10 is chipped with after market exhaust and modified intake..but I don't think I've gained 25 hp and the S10 feels like it weighs more. My S10 feels like it has more pull and acceleration. Tried the "Dyna" mode. Felt a little more pull and acceleration and a LOT of engine braking. Still didn't feel as powerful or spirited as my S10? This is contrary to what I read in ALL other reviews?
The braking on this bike was EXCELLENT! No dive, no nothing! Just stopping! My S10, if I brake hard, I have to hang on straddle the gas tank or I feel like I'll fly over the front end. Smooth stopping on the gs. My brother says it has to do with the suspension. Shifting was smooth! Required little to no effort pulling in the clutch! I was worried at first. Bike supposedly has quick shifting I didn't test it on purpose. I think I did it on accident 1 time. Just not in to quick shifting. In traffic after 30 minutes my clutch hand gets a good workout. On this beemer, soooo effortless! My father claims I have something not adjusted properly on my S10? My previous S10 had the same feel on the clutch and the s10 is my first bike with hydraulic clutch. Honestly I don't notice a difference on my S10 compared to my previous non hydraulic clutches.
As far as riding...the bike (gs) just felt stiff? Hard to explain. Just seemed like the bike wanted to be going in a straight line. Felt like I was putting more effort in to leaning in corners. The gearing seemed Identical to the S10. This is going to sound weird, but riding the gs remind of riding a VW with manual transmission. I wish I could put in to words what I mean. The bike has a lot of road noise. Almost seemed like the beak on the front end was amplifying the road noise. The bike has Anakee 3 tires. Another thing I noticed...the engine seemed to vibrate. I felt the engine throughout the frame. Just seemed to me the S10 engine is more smooth. Even the idle on the S10 is more smooth. My brother keeps up with maintenance and has the work done at BMW dealerships.
Again, nothing Wowed me. I like my S10 better and can honestly say this. I don't get the gs/gsa hype? Most definitely not the price tag?
Someone please tell me what I missed? You don't have to be kind ( I have a thick skin) I want to "get it." I test rode a T7 recently and would take the T7 over the gs.
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