BMW GSM 1200 Adventure.

Ralph's post @ No.17 is the most sensible thing I've read on here so far.


GS's are great bikes and have been selling in big numbers worldwide for years because of that fact.

I tried to take mine for some gentle off-roading because I've had MX and trials bikes in the past. Not too bad on the easy gravel trails through Kielder (although I did manage to fall off) and S/W Scotland but anything muddy/sandy/rocky........forget it unless you're very good, on knobblies and built like Martin Johnson. As Yorkie Chris says elsewhere, horses for courses. If I had to choose only one bike to keep in my garage, something that had to do everything, from trips to the shop, trips to Casablanca and beyond, track-days or two-up to the NW200, it would be another GS12. With two sets of wheels, TKC's on one, RoadSmarts on the other.

I agree. Were not looking to go off roading and rip up some mud, we've got a KTM LC 600 for that

Big Birtha will be expensive to repair and service after the 3 month warranty is over. Im just looking forward to having a bike that SUITS US. People may not be fans of GS's i mean we all have our own ideas of a good bike but for now it suits us perfectly.

I've heard a few reviews about them and they're meant to handle like a sports bike, comfortable and some power. What's the point buying a busa for touring? It seems to tick all the boxes and if it gets us from A to B.. Im happy.
Reliability isn't a issue.. After all we used to go out on rides with a BSA C15, that says it all!

[rictus01]

Oh I've nothing against them, and am a great proponent of "if it gets you out riding it's a good thing", however to me they are neither one thing or another, they aren't as sharp as a sports bike, aren't as good off road as a lighter machine, aren't as comfy as a proper tourer, to big to wiggle through traffic, but perhaps that's the point , you can do just about anything with mostly any bike, just look at what some have done on any of the Cub 50 forums, I've owned many bikes but have avoided the long fork custom type and these as the limitations out weight the benefits IMO

Cheers Mark

Originally Posted by rictus01

Oh I've nothing against them, and am a great proponent of "if it gets you out riding it's a good thing", however to me they are neither one thing or another, they aren't as sharp as a sports bike, aren't as good off road as a lighter machine, aren't as comfy as a proper tourer, to big to wiggle through traffic, but perhaps that's the point , you can do just about anything with mostly any bike, just look at what some have done on any of the Cub 50 forums, I've owned many bikes but have avoided the long fork custom type and these as the limitations out weight the benefits IMO

Cheers Mark

One word - "Compromise"

Most people can't afford to own one of every type of bike, so compromise is exactly what they are looking for.

Wind & weather protection, they are not as good as a 'proper' tourer, but other than that I'd say they are as comfortable, and being perched higher up is a great visibility advantage. They are no less capable of filtering traffic than a big tourer.

They aren't as good off road as for instance a DRZ, but a DRZ isn't going to be the best thing to get you to for instance Spain, if that's where you want to ride off road. Big tourers are nice to get up to Scotland on, but I'd rather cross the Bealach na ba on a GS1200 than on a K1600GT.

A bike that can do it all, and do it pretty well, is what most owners are after.

[L3nny]

A bike like this doesn't appeal to me but I can see why it does to a lot of people. If I ever start carrying a pillion I might consider one.

Riding around Germany and Italy a couple of years ago pretty much everyone had a BMW.

I must reluctantly add that I have been shown a clean pair of heels by people riding these bikes on numerous occasions. Both on the road and on the track!

My requirements list for my XT600 copy and paste from an old thread, there's not many bikes that could fit this list

off road ability to go anywhere, ie: muddy, rutted UK green lanes. Though it is damn heavy compared to a 250cc enduro bike, but you learn to handle it and keep it moving

ability to sit at 80mph on the motorway, though the seat is comfortable, it's not a refined cruiser

ability to be loaded with luggage and do long trips, for instance it's going to Portugal in two weeks time

a commuter and a winter hack

not so expensive that I mind when it gets damaged off road

air cooled, no radiator to put a hole in

carbs, easy to fix at the side of the road

unburstable single cylinder simplicity

not as heavy to handle off road as something like a Transalp or Africa Twin

can get parts for it anywhere

runs on any grade of fuel, or with whatever engine oil you can get your hands on

[rictus01]

I don't think you can legitimately use the cost angle, as they are far from cheap and you could easily buy two bikes for the price, go secondhand and you could make that three, I wouldn't have a tourer for filtering anyway, it's not what it does or doesn't do, I guess it's what it purports to be, it's not a motorbike version of a landrover, no matter how much more metal you bolt to it....

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by rictus01

I don't think you can legitimately use the cost angle, as they are far from cheap and you could easily buy two bikes for the price, go secondhand and you could make that three, I wouldn't have a tourer for filtering anyway, it's not what it does or doesn't do, I guess it's what it purports to be, it's not a motorbike version of a landrover, no matter how much more metal you bolt to it....

Cheers Mark.

So if you buy three bikes for the same money, what are you going to do? Get a Goldwing to travel up the M6/M74, but once you get to Scotland leave the Goldwing at the campsite and unload the R6 off the trailer to do a day of Scottish B' roads, then the next day unstrap the XT660 from the pillion seat to cross the Bealach na Ba and do some light off-roading?

No, you take an Adventure bike.

It's not a motorbike version of a Landrover, it's a motorbike version of an X5

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

So if you buy three bikes for the same money, what are you going to do? Get a Goldwing to travel up the M6/M74, but once you get to Scotland leave the Goldwing at the campsite and unload the R6 off the trailer to do a day of Scottish B' roads, then the next day unstrap the XT660 from the pillion seat to cross the Bealach na Ba and do some light off-roading?

LOL! That made me chuckle.

Like i said everybody likes different bikes and this happens to.be one we both like

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

So if you buy three bikes for the same money, what are you going to do? Get a Goldwing to travel up the M6/M74, but once you get to Scotland leave the Goldwing at the campsite and unload the R6 off the trailer to do a day of Scottish B' roads, then the next day unstrap the XT660 from the pillion seat to cross the Bealach na Ba and do some light off-roading?

No, you take an Adventure bike.

It's not a motorbike version of a Landrover, it's a motorbike version of a Honda CRV.

no I wouldn't I can think of many bikes that would do what you suggest more rewardingly than a GS1200, which is probably why I fail to see the point of them, and if as you say it's more Honda (ish) this could well be another reason (but that's a different discussion), I've done 1500 miles on a superduke (clearly unsuited to touring) as well as a over 900 miles overnight on the pegaso, so as said you can do most things on most bikes, I just interpret do anything as fairly bland...

Cheers Mark.