Author Topic: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge  (Read 21022 times)

Son of Pappy

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #40 on: April 15, 2014, 11:19:10 AM »
Are you comparing to the new "water cooled" GS? I'm considering one. Rode a friends and I think it has much more potential than the air heads.
The water boxer is an improvement, just decide what kind of riding you would like to do.  If it is primarily road and gravel forest roads awesome choice.  If you are looking at pushing it beyond that??  My ultimate ADV Bike would be a well equipped KTM690, provided I stayed primarily in the dirt/back country.  For what I do the F800GS has proven to be the right bike for me (after many mods of course).

Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #41 on: April 15, 2014, 11:34:21 AM »
SOP, I'm definitely more of a road guy, but want the option for gravel/dirt roads and a limited amount of light offroad when the opportunity arises. Just trying to decide between the 1200 Tiger and the new GS. Huge price difference, so weighing the options.
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline Pokey

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #42 on: April 15, 2014, 12:15:25 PM »
Tourtech equipped 2014 V-Strom 1000.......drool. Oh and thanks for the Kool-Aid pic SOP, glad to see it was actually running that day.  ;)




2006 DL1000  2006 SV650
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"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given to us". Gandalf the Grey

Offline TJ

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #43 on: April 15, 2014, 12:29:45 PM »
SOP, I'm definitely more of a road guy, but want the option for gravel/dirt roads and a limited amount of light offroad when the opportunity arises. Just trying to decide between the 1200 Tiger and the new GS. Huge price difference, so weighing the options.

Have you looked at the Tiger 800? I don't think I have ever gotten less than 55 mpg and I don't baby it. Plenty cheaper than a 1200, lighter, and more than enough HP and speed.
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #44 on: April 18, 2014, 02:46:40 PM »
For touring with the ability to ride some gravel I prefer to have a shaft drive.  The GS is still thousands more than the Super Tenere. 
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2014 New England Tour http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17336.msg212077#msg212077

Offline texrider

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #45 on: April 20, 2014, 03:53:41 PM »
SOP, I'm definitely more of a road guy, but want the option for gravel/dirt roads and a limited amount of light offroad when the opportunity arises. Just trying to decide between the 1200 Tiger and the new GS. Huge price difference, so weighing the options.

So, what did you pick?
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Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #46 on: April 21, 2014, 11:02:52 AM »
So, what did you pick?

I ended up with a new 2014 BMW 1200 GS. It's really nice, but definitely a change from my Concours.
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline TJ

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #47 on: April 21, 2014, 01:20:41 PM »
How are the seating and handlebar position's?
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Offline Pokey

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #48 on: April 21, 2014, 07:08:47 PM »
I ended up with a new 2014 BMW 1200 GS. It's really nice, but definitely a change from my Concours.


Sounds to me like a great change.  :thumbs:
2006 DL1000  2006 SV650
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"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given to us". Gandalf the Grey

Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #49 on: April 23, 2014, 09:18:17 AM »
How are the seating and handlebar position's?

Seating is great. That handlebars seem really wide, but I'll get used to that.
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline texrider

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #50 on: April 26, 2014, 07:30:16 AM »
In what ways did the BMW win out over the Explorer 1200? Were there any other serious contenders for you?
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Son of Pappy

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #51 on: April 26, 2014, 08:39:45 AM »
In what ways did the BMW win out over the Explorer 1200? Were there any other serious contenders for you?
I would bet throttle, the Explorer has an extremely twitchy throttle and abrupt power delivery.  Another plus is dealer support.

Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #52 on: April 26, 2014, 08:08:56 PM »
In what ways did the BMW win out over the Explorer 1200? Were there any other serious contenders for you?

Dealer support was one issue, but most of the reviews I saw did talk about the power delivery of the Explorer. I believe that if you were going to ride 99% of the time on the highway, the Triumph would have been a good choice. One of the guys I ride with has the Triumph, but he's had it lowered so far that I didn't really feel comfortable riding it. If money would have been more of a concern, I would have opted for the Triumph, but since I could afford it, I went with the GS. (Plus, SWMBO told me to go ahead and get the one that I really wanted. I heeded her advise!)

I also test drove the KTM 1190 Adventure. Although I really did want to like it, I just didn't care for it. Lots of heat on the back of my left thigh, even in pretty cool weather. Plus, I decided I wanted to stay with shaft drive. Price for the KTM was almost exactly in the middle between the BMW and the Triumph.

The GS seems to win every shootout and adventure bike comparison. There must be a good reason for that, don't you think?
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline texrider

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #53 on: April 27, 2014, 01:33:07 PM »
Congrats on the new bike. Is it the '14 GS Adventure model?
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Offline Pokey

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #54 on: April 28, 2014, 09:53:08 AM »
The GS is also most mentioned as the one bike to have if you could only own one. The new Vee2 " 2014 V-Strom 1000" is creating quite the buzz from those who now own them, and for the money cannot be beat compared with the other ADV bike choices.
2006 DL1000  2006 SV650
08 C14 "gone"

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given to us". Gandalf the Grey

Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #55 on: April 28, 2014, 11:09:45 AM »
Congrats on the new bike. Is it the '14 GS Adventure model?

Nope. I didn't go with the Adventure model, although I did get spoke wheels rather than the cast ones. From what I understand from the local dealer, there is quite a significant waiting list for the Adventure models, but they had a couple of the standard models available.

The GS is also most mentioned as the one bike to have if you could only own one. The new Vee2 " 2014 V-Strom 1000" is creating quite the buzz from those who now own them, and for the money cannot be beat compared with the other ADV bike choices.

Yes, Pokey. Since the wife dictated that I can only have one bike, the GS got the nod. I can tell you that it is a good bit chillier ride at 45F than the Connie was.
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline texrider

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #56 on: April 28, 2014, 12:55:17 PM »
Sounds great, have fun making it suit your style.  ;)

I'm still toying with the idea, but have also been making a few tweaks on the connie.
Re-adjusted preloads to 1-1/2" sag front and back, and increased rebound dampening. Already have been running '55 rear tires, and I have a new pair ready to spoon on soon.
Flies came out, which really made a world of difference in how much better it runs and responds.
Splurged on a set of RKA fitted bag liners, and recently had added heated grips.

The 14 really is a tall bike to begin with, and with her new found pizzaz and more dialed ride, I'm having a harder time plotting against her!  8)
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Offline CADMAN97

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #57 on: April 30, 2014, 02:50:18 PM »
I ended up with a new 2014 BMW 1200 GS. It's really nice, but definitely a change from my Concours.
Any pics?? Ya know, since none of us know what a BMW 1200GS looks like  ;) ;)...Ok ok, it's cuz we all love pictures  ;D
1998 Honda Magna--->Sold | 2003 Yamaha FZ1--->Sold | 2003 Honda VFR800--->Sold | 2010 Honda VFR1200--->Sold | Kawasaki C14--->SOLD | 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 1000--->Current | 2014 Yamaha FJR 1300ES--->Current

Offline wally_games

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #58 on: May 05, 2014, 11:14:16 AM »
Any pics?? Ya know, since none of us know what a BMW 1200GS looks like  ;) ;)...Ok ok, it's cuz we all love pictures  ;D

Here's on on the showroom floor and one in my driveway.
'14 BMW 1200 GSw (red, what little there is that's not grey)
'11 Concours ABS (black) w/ Leo Vince carbon, heated Corbin, Garmin; TechSpec pads (gone but not forgotten)
'05 Yamaha FZ6, only crashed once, gone in trade; '87 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, sold; '85 Honda Magna (700), sold; '76 Kawasaki KZ400, sold

Offline manowarwi

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Re: Which DS, if I were to take the plunge
« Reply #59 on: June 01, 2014, 07:33:28 PM »
Here's on on the showroom floor and one in my driveway.

Congrats!  I just took a new 1200GS for a demo ride last week and was very impressed by the power.  One thing that I was slightly concerned about was it really felt like it was getting blown around the highway compared to the connie.  Did you notice that or is it just something you get used to?  I had just driven my connie 30 miles to get to the BMW dealership so it may have just been an initial difference in riding position. 
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly

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