1200 GS test ride

[Spades]

There is something about the 1200 GS that I've always liked. It's been on my wishlist for sometime .. so I took one for a ride. Here are some thoughts.

• Light. I say that as Varadero rider.
• Low centre of gravity. Again the envy of a Vara rider.
• Hides its size wonderfully. Being a 1200 I was expecting it to be cumbersome. It wasn't and was reasonabley nimble in city traffic.
• Well put together. Extras are nicely "engineered" into the bike rather than appearing as after-thoughts.
• Pretty good lookin'.

Ok, enough flattery, the bad points.

• Outrageously expensive.
• Unstable at motorway speeds. This was a disappointment. It seemed way less stable that the Vara on the motorway.

Is this instability unique to the bike that I rode ... or is it a GS 1200 thing?

Since I've taken the test ride, I've been wondering what the cause was. I'm suspecting the boxer engine!!!

With the boxer engine the flywheel is perpendicular to the direction of the motorbike. I'm sure that there are lots of technical term to describe the vectors of force that are exerted on the bike as the engine (fly wheel) accelerates, but this acceleration seems to exert a force that is also perpendicular to the direction of the mororbike. This is very evident when you rev the engine when the bike is just resting on its side stand. Accelerating exerts a force that pushes the bike to the right. Decelerating (as the power comes back from the wheel through the cranshaft) pushes the bike to the left??? Any thoughts?

Anyway, the conclusion is that the Vara gets another year .

[Mabels Old Man]

I've had a 1200 and now the ADV and have never had a stability problem. I would suspect tyre pressures or tyres are the problem. Both models cruised comfortably at 80mph and in Germany the 1200 held at 110 for ages without a problem.

[Spades]

I've had a 1200 and now the ADV and have never had a stability problem. I would suspect tyre pressures or tyres are the problem. Both models cruised comfortably at 80mph and in Germany the 1200 held at 110 for ages without a problem.

Ok, cursing at a constant speed is one thing. But, say when you accelerate to change lane and overtake, do you find that the boxer engine introduces an extra (sideways!!!) dynamic that has to be countered?

[Mabels Old Man]

you probably mean the torque reaction from the shaft drive. Nope don't notice it at all. If you think the 1200 is bad you should try an 1150!!. Don't worry you'll soon adjust

[phil w]

I jumped on mates 1200 and was amazed how light it was, and would have one over an 1150 any day, its just the extortionate price of them!!
I thought the side to side was eliminated on the 1200, I cant say I noticed it on my mates. Mind I had just got off my soon to be gone 1150 and that will almost stand up on its own if you dropped it on its left hand side