R1200GS - got to ride one today!

[ADKsuper10]

A good firend of mine let me take his 2012 BMW R1200GS for about an hour or so today. My impressions of the bike are as follows:

Riding position almost identical (the way he had his seat set up), and once you are rolling down the road, almost no noticable difference.

Engine of course has different character, not more powerful, or less, just different.

Quality - I think my S10's build quality/overall quality is absolutely on par with the BMW.

Handling - both bikes behave in much the same manner on the pavement.

That's my impression of it. I am really lucky to have had the chance to ride one and compare to the S10, because I have been wondering.
The BMW is a great bike for sure, but I won't be running out to sell my S10 te get one. Still love my S10.

 

[Cycledude]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I would also like to take one for a test ride someday, my closest BMW dealer is 150+ miles away so I don't think I would ever buy one unless there was something I really liked about it.

 

[Sierra1]

That's my impression of it. I am really lucky to have had the chance to ride one and compare to the S10, because I have been wondering.
The BMW is a great bike for sure, but I won't be running out to sell my S10 te get one. Still love my S10.

So, what your impression is, is that it is the same but different. I agree. Now consider the price difference....and the choice, to ME, is clear. ::001::

 

[RonH]

Plus doesn't BMW have all the unwanted garbage like the service light that comes on like every 3000 miles, and can't be turned off except by a dealer for $300 or so? I know on my Jeep holding the throttle full three times shuts off the light, but BMW won't have any do it yourself of any kind. F**k them. I had one once, and good riddence to that fricking brand do to the greed in maintenance built in.

 

[TXTenere]

Plus doesn't BMW have all the unwanted garbage like the service light that comes on like every 3000 miles, and can't be turned off except by a dealer for $300 or so? I know on my Jeep holding the throttle full three times shuts off the light, but BMW won't have any do it yourself of any kind. F**k them. I had one once, and good riddence to that fricking brand do to the greed in maintenance built in.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again .. having owned both a Super Tenere and a R1200GS, when dealer maintained by the book, the GS is cheaper to maintain.

 

[Davidr8]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again .. having owned both a Super Tenere and a R1200GS, when dealer maintained by the book, the GS is cheaper to maintain.

What makes the GS cheaper?
Longer service intervals?
Easier to work on?
Less maintenance required overall?



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[TXTenere]

What makes the GS cheaper?
Longer service intervals?
Easier to work on?
Less maintenance required overall?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

GS service interval is 6,000 miles.
Valve check interval is 12,000 (GS) vs 26,000 (Super Tenere), but takes 20 mins versus 4 hours (?)

I found the Super Tenere cost me $1900 in scheduled maintenance to own through 28,000 miles. The GS has cost me $1500 so far in 30,000 miles.

 

[RIVA]

GS service interval is 6,000 miles.
Valve check interval is 12,000 (GS) vs 26,000 (Super Tenere), but takes 20 mins versus 4 hours (?)

I found the Super Tenere cost me $1900 in scheduled maintenance to own through 28,000 miles. The GS has cost me $1500 so far in 30,000 miles.

Have you had any issues during the 30k miles. I am asking out of interest and not sarcasm.

 

[TXTenere]

Have you had any issues during the 30k miles. I am asking out of interest and not sarcasm.

None.

Prior to the GS, and Super Tenere, I owned a 2005 R1200RT. I put 145,000 miles on it. Only non-scheduled maintenance I had to do was wheel bearings and the windshield mounting hardware needed to be replaced due to a crack in one of the mounting arms.

 

[ADKsuper10]

In starting this thread I only meant to best describe my impression of the r1200gs' form and function in comparison to the Super Tenere. As best I could after only having ridden it for an hour or so. The build quality/ride quality was the comparison. The GS is a great bike, but so is the S10. They are on par with each other in my opinion - in many ways.

And the owner of the r1200 - who rode my S10 for that hour or so, agrees. Cut from the same cloth but brothers from a different mother.

 

[Kllamb]

GS service interval is 6,000 miles.
Valve check interval is 12,000 (GS) vs 26,000 (Super Tenere), but takes 20 mins versus 4 hours (?)

I found the Super Tenere cost me $1900 in scheduled maintenance to own through 28,000 miles. The GS has cost me $1500 so far in 30,000 miles.


BMW cost 10,000 more and you save 400 per 30,000 miles. So when you hit 750,000 miles it's a wash! Doesn't sound like much of a savings!

 

[Dogdaze]

GS service interval is 6,000 miles.

BMW cost 10,000 more and you save 400 per 30,000 miles. So when you hit 750,000 miles it's a wash! Doesn't sound like much of a savings!

You forgot to include the residual value of the GS would be significantly higher than the S10, plus easier to move on............ possibly.

 

[scott123007]

For all intents and purposes, the '12 GS is very similar to the '14 and up S-10. Unfortunately, once the Water Boxer came out, the GS went up another notch.

 

[Checkswrecks]

For all intents and purposes, the '12 GS is very similar to the '14 and up S-10. Unfortunately, once the Water Boxer came out, the GS went up another notch.

I was agreeing with you till you said unfortunately. BMW raising the bar means that the next Yamaha will be better too.

 

[Sierra1]

I can't remember at what mileage my input shaft(s) broke, but it happened twice within 60K miles. Around here, a new clutch alone is $1400.00. And then add the new input shaft.... Of all the "issues" that I have seen on this forum with the Tenere, broken drive trains hasn't been one. If Y'alls Beemers don't cost you money for repairs, congratulations. But, two Beemers with same problems versus Honda ST1300s with NO unscheduled repairs with 150K miles...."I" won't spend more for a bike with questionable reliability. Of course, this is just my opinion. ::001::

 

[Checkswrecks]

Yup -


Some people have great experiences with their Beemers, but there've been too many others having bad ones. I've had two not start on me for relatively minor electrical problems, and personally know two owners with failed rears, and one with a failed transmission. Nice bikes to ride but I have no desire to own one.

 

[TXTenere]

Around here, a new clutch alone is $1400.00.

If you compare apples to apples (wet clutch GS with wet clutch Super Tenere), the price for the BMW clutch is the same as the Super Tenere, around $400 installed.

 

[Donk]

Owned a '14 S10 ES sold it and bought a'"16 R1200RS and now own a "17 S10 ES. Enough said. But I think we're getting a bit side tracked from what the OP was saying.

 

[OldRider]

If you compare apples to apples (wet clutch GS with wet clutch Super Tenere), the price for the BMW clutch is the same as the Super Tenere, around $400 installed.

I don't know about the BMW cost, but you can buy a set of friction plates for the S10 for $120 and it's a 30-40 minute job. Add another $80 if you need the steel plates, which you usually don't.

 

[TXTenere]

I don't know about the BMW cost, but you can buy a set of friction plates for the S10 for $120 and it's a 30-40 minute job. Add another $80 if you need the steel plates, which you usually don't.

In all fairness to both sides of this argument .. I highly doubt a dealer would charge a Super Tenere owner 30 mins of labor to change a clutch.