New GS first ride

[dcstrom]

I'm on a BMW kick tonight...

First impressions from the launch of the new watercooled boxer in Sth Africa. This paragraph caught my eye. I was expecting that the new GS would have electronics that were more advanced than the Super Terere, but... the S10 doesn't do this when thrashing in TCS2, does it? If it does I've never noticed. It just drifts and then smoothly brings everything back in line.

"Exiting the same gravel-strewn corners in Enduro mode is great fun, the ASC delivering just enough power to hold long power slides without losing control. Choppy throttle input or holding it wide open causes an oscillating slide-and-catch symptom in the ASC, but even still doesn’t let the bike get out of control."

Read more: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1305_2013_bmw_r1200gs_first_ride/viewall.html#ixzz2J3KwDLIM

 

[~TABASCO~]

Screw that... that sounds like there ABS system..... On or off... Im NOT a BMW hater.... but this doesnt sound nearly as refined as the ST....

Im with you DC, I have RIPPED on my bike off road a million times with TC2 and it will allow you to do anything you want in a corner very smooth.. In fact many times I dont really know its working until your really pushing it... I have no complaints, its pretty darn seamless.

 

[GrahamD]

I'm on a BMW kick tonight...

First impressions from the launch of the new watercooled boxer in Sth Africa. This paragraph caught my eye. I was expecting that the new GS would have electronics that were more advanced than the Super Terere, but... the S10 doesn't do this when thrashing in TCS2, does it? If it does I've never noticed. It just drifts and then smoothly brings everything back in line.

"Exiting the same gravel-strewn corners in Enduro mode is great fun, the ASC delivering just enough power to hold long power slides without losing control. Choppy throttle input or holding it wide open causes an oscillating slide-and-catch symptom in the ASC but even still doesn’t let the bike get out of control."

Except if you were the unlucky two.

It's called ASC character. It goes with the ABS character.

My understanding is that the new GS was a bit more road oriented than the outgoing model so it may be set up a bit more for tarmac.

And yes all my TC 2 is pretty linear. Sometimes a few farty poppy sounds emanate but it all seems pretty linear. It never changes its mind mid corner that's for sure.

"and where the quick-revving new engine benefits with increased midrange or high rpm power, it is a little bit less friendly when lugging through a tricky section of dirt."

Please YAMAHA if you want to make the S10 spin better fine but don't loose the bottom end !!

 

[~TABASCO~]

Except if you were the unlucky two.

It's called ASC character. It goes with the ABS character.

My understanding is that the new GS was a bit more road oriented than the outgoing model so it may be set up a bit more for tarmac.

And yes all my TC 2 is pretty linear. Sometimes a few farty poppy sounds emanate but it all seems pretty linear. It never changes its mind mid corner that's for sure.

That's because your hitting the red line like a MAN..... ::26::

 

[Rasher]

The old GS ASC was awful, it felt like someone was turning your ignition on and off and the bike lurched back and forth like a mating Hippo. It would also get confused and chop the power under hard acceleration in first and second on anything other than the smoothest road.

The Tenere impressed me on the Demo rides as I found a patch of wet mud to drive through and flat out in first it just pulled through as if I was being gentle on the throttle, same story with the ABS - extremely smooth. I often try and upset the TC when on cak covered roads and normally only notice the TC is kicking in because the light flickers a bit.

The old BMW TC would make me more nervous as I can see it being more likely to cause a highside than save one, especially on wet tarmac.

 

[GrahamD]

YAY! ::012::

Does this mean that we won't have to put up with all the "ABS is dangerous off road" talk in a few months as the news finally trickles out.

Can we all chime in on BMW forums and emanate clouds of SMUG and say things like "ner ne ner. Finally almost caught up have we?"

Or will we have to put up with "BMW are so clever they made ABS work off road" :

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/857/15409/Motorcycle-Article/2013-BMW-R1200GS-First-Ride.aspx

ABS + dirt = pucker-inducing moments. At least that has always been my experience on two wheels, so I was reluctant to heed the advice of our BMW tender, who insisted we keep Enduro/ABS engaged during our first off-road incursion on the day. My faithlessness was soon chastised, however, as the linked braking proved incredibly effective at scrubbing speeds. So much so that I prefer to keep it on for casual dirt surfaces.

 

[Old Git Ray]

I would be very surprised if BMW did not now install the Bosch System 9 ABS unit (as is on the S10) on their new bikes.

And as we all know....it works.

 

[RED CAT]

For anything but serious trail riding I find leaving the ABS on is better 95% of the time. The S10 works best on fast gravel and dirt roads with the ABS on. I tend to ride on the aggresive side so am constantly in the zone and can wait longer and dive into corners harder with it on. Don't get fooled into believing the ABS has to be off whenever you see dirt. ::26::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Don't get fooled into believing the ABS has to be off whenever you see dirt. ::26::

::026::

As for that "Choppy throttle input or holding it wide open..." stuff, NO, the S10 never does that in a power slide, which I tend to test on every dirt road I find. TCS2 is very predictable in a power slide. Not crazy about it over wash-boarded roads. Still predictable, but kind of annoying. That's one of only two situations where I feel the to turn off TCS (wheelies being the other). But I run TCS2 98% of the time and am very happy.

 

[BWC]

Stopped by our local BMW dealer today just looking for some road maps for our ride south in June.............honest. Whats sitting center stage but the new WC 1200 GS. Salesman says it would be about $23,000 Canadian for this one. Looks like the premium package, ESA,cruise etc.
Was telling me how nice throttle by wire, wet clutch, new smooth shifting transmission and liquid cooling is ::013:: ::022::. Very nice bike, will be interesting to see how it does. Sounds like they are not quite ready to be released to customers yet.

 

[thfraser]

::026::

As for that "Choppy throttle input or holding it wide open..." stuff, NO, the S10 never does that in a power slide, which I tend to test on every dirt road I find. TCS2 is very predictable in a power slide. Not crazy about it over wash-boarded roads. Still predictable, but kind of annoying. That's one of only two situations where I feel the to turn off TCS (wheelies being the other). But I run TCS2 98% of the time and am very happy.

Yep, when I followed you after our RTE, I noticed that you definitely liked to create a few rooster tails on the dirt roads!

If there is one fault of the TC, it is on washboard roads. I actually had my bike stall out in TC1 once on a washboard road. It was very annoying.

 

[gmtech]

when is motorcycle magazines gonna start being like topgear britian and start saying that some bikes are crap
clarkson will let ya know when somthing is crap or worthless or unreliable.

, the gold standard in adventure touring has not been tarnished. We at MC were asking ourselves before this launch how BMW could significantly improvewhat was already the standard bearer for the class. Amazingly, BMW did

Read more: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1305_2013_bmw_r1200gs_first_ride/viewall.html#ixzz2MylCHelt

really

 

[GrahamD]

when is motorcycle magazines gonna start being like topgear britian and start saying that some bikes are crap
clarkson will let ya know when somthing is crap or worthless or unreliable.

From memory the British press said the Super Tenere was crap (except Ash who said it was just like the BMW so why bother) and bagged it out any chance they got, or sort of ignored it like the geek in the cool club. Pretty much what happened to the DL650 over the years.

Top gear also got in a bit of poo over the Telsa Roadster and an imaginative test they did a few years ago. If you don't like electric you'll gobble that up and never think twice about it. Tesla now data logs all test vehicles.

But if you bag the GS you stand out and are open to LOTS of criticism. There is really not that much to bag but there are some things.

It takes a bit of guts to openly state a few things that are the opposite to what 90% of the press is saying and it comes with problems.

Just like saying that the DOT COM hype was all bullshit when everyone was making money out of it.
Housing bubble? Remember Condoflip.com? Houses never go down remember.
Fracktastic gas boom? Just wait.
Climate change?
Facts don't help with any herd mentality.

And most bikes I read about are amazing just after a press launch. Which is why I wait.

But at least we now know that wet clutches, water cooling, ABS that works off road etc are good things. Oh and apparently the new bike has a decompression thingy that allows the use of a smaller starter motor and battery and saves weight. Very clever eh!

 

[wildy]

First post here so be gentle. I have owned three GS in the last 10 years, and have done some pretty long rides, all without any issue. Some might know me from ADV forum from old. I took out the new GS and put on it 50 miles. Salesmen said I could have 30 mins ) , I rode off and returned in just over an hour. If they want me to part with £14100 pounds then I want to ride the bike. The bike was nice, lively , low down grunt but....... I rode down lanes that I knew well and wel it was never a leap into the next century, and I came back rather underwhelmed after reading all the hype.

I test rode a S10 earlier that day, and I couldn't get it out of my head that the S10 was more comfortable, tracked better, linear power curve, just as economical ( £1.38 litre unleaded UK :exclaim: ). I thought that the GS was the one of the best handling bikes ever and was genuinely surprised how good it was.

The S10 I want will cost more but comes with a world crosser kit, panniers, top box, heated grips and fogs, and looks so good.
The BMW is a TE spec, so all the gadgets, but no luggage.

Both dealers have offered me the same money to part with my 2009 Vmax, but with the lower finance rate the S10 works out £9 pounds a month less, so nothing in it.

So I am in a state of limbo. The S10 was the better bike during the test rides. But do you think I would be better off with the BMW ( resale if I come to trade). I say this as I am worried that Yamaha may bring out an update with more toys thrown in to keep up with sales.

Again first post so be gentle. O

 

[BaldKnob]

First post here so be gentle. I have owned three GS in the last 10 years, and have done some pretty long rides, all without any issue. Some might know me from ADV forum from old. I took out the new GS and put on it 50 miles. Salesmen said I could have 30 mins ) , I rode off and returned in just over an hour. If they want me to part with £14100 pounds then I want to ride the bike. The bike was nice, lively , low down grunt but....... I rode down lanes that I knew well and wel it was never a leap into the next century, and I came back rather underwhelmed after reading all the hype.

I test rode a S10 earlier that day, and I couldn't get it out of my head that the S10 was more comfortable, tracked better, linear power curve, just as economical ( £1.38 litre unleaded UK :exclaim: ). I thought that the GS was the one of the best handling bikes ever and was genuinely surprised how good it was.

The S10 I want will cost more but comes with a world crosser kit, panniers, top box, heated grips and fogs, and looks so good.
The BMW is a TE spec, so all the gadgets, but no luggage.

Both dealers have offered me the same money to part with my 2009 Vmax, but with the lower finance rate the S10 works out £9 pounds a month less, so nothing in it.

So I am in a state of limbo. The S10 was the better bike during the test rides. But do you think I would be better off with the BMW ( resale if I come to trade). I say this as I am worried that Yamaha may bring out an update with more toys thrown in to keep up with sales.

Again first post so be gentle. O

Welcome Wildy,

I think in the long run, your cost of ownership will be less and the ownership experience will be much better with the Yamaha. Yes it looks like Tonka built the Tenere when parked next to the new GS and the electrics are barbaric compared to the Germans but that may be the S10's most appealing factor!

 

[greg the pole]

Bike UK did a write up on the new GS.
Everything was splendid except the nasty tank slapper that broke off the steering stop (nice chunk of frame ripped off)

gee whiz...where do I sign? ???

 

[RED CAT]

The first thing I noticed on my new S10 was how much better the ABS and TC were than on my previous 08 GS1200. Much less intrusive. Suspension is better too. The S10 is also nicer going up washboard hills. Just not as much clatter and chatter with the S10. Nothing wrong with a GS though other than the price. I saved $10,000. buying a US S10 bike compared to a Canadian GS. The S10 is just so planted at speed on gravel roads. Makes it easy to ride briskly. Big grins! ::26::

 

[greg the pole]

$10 grand saved?
yep sounds about right.
I doubt the new GS electronics will be a huge step from what the ST has.
They are most likely a big step from the previous GS, after all, they are selling the water and air cooled model side by side this year (left over stock ::014:
Hope they get the tank slappers sorted out.
to each his own.

 

[wildy]

I went back to the BMW garage to take another look and decided to order one. You would think I would be excited but I am not. I am frustrated due to the cost of the ST working out more than the GS TE. I leave you all wishing you safe riding. You have a fantastic ride in the S10. Respect to all who own one. It shows you should take with a pinch of salt magazine reviews. It is down to future risiduals that I went with the GS. When the new S10 comes out I will definitely be tempted.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I went back to the BMW garage to take another look and decided to order one. You would think I would be excited but I am not. I am frustrated due to the cost of the ST working out more than the GS TE. I leave you all wishing you safe riding. You have a fantastic ride in the S10. Respect to all who own one. It shows you should take with a pinch of salt magazine reviews. It is down to future risiduals that I went with the GS. When the new S10 comes out I will definitely be tempted.

Crazy that the Yamaha costs more in the UK, but let us know how it goes with der Neue WasserBoxer.