Lets talk about: The BMW GS1200 Adventure

[Chad]

another thing to think about cie is the new f800GS coming out next year this bikes going to be running proven technology from the F800 thats a bloody good bike

closer in style to the @

[stanbloke]

I love this thread. !!!!! .

[Sniper]

Cannot comment on the Adventure, but i have been running an O5 1200gs since last August. In the 15000 miles that i have done, the only problem that I had was a leak from the clutch slave cylinder. This was repaired under warranty by North Oxford BmW. My bike is used almost daily and i have just come back from 2 weeks in France & Belgium and the bike performed faultlesly. My opinion is that it is the best bike that i have owned. capable on and off road (not that I go off road much), and when ridden gently will give 250 miles+ to a tank of gas. An adventure should return 350-400miles to a tank full. Servicing costs are about £150 every 6000miles.
The 1200 will cruise all day at 90 and leave you as fresh as when you started. I regularly do 600mile days and cannot fault the bike. It is far more comfortable than my Transalp was, and just as cheap to service.

Just my two penne'th

[Mabels Old Man]

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So what are the considerations when thinking about the GS?

1. Initial cost - ~£10k, if you buy it on the never never, add at least another 2k.
2. Servicing costs - These are apparently huge, anyone of you owners have anything to quote? Is servicing your own realistic with all the computers on the bike?
3. Capability - On road and off road, it'll do both apparently rather well.
4. Reliability - Are the latest models really as bad as the originals? What's going wrong with them today.
5. Modifications - What will you have to add to the bike to make it suitable for normal use. What you don't want to buy from BMW, eg their luggage

By all means make comparison to the TA/AT/Vara, I hope to keep this thread as a reference for anyone else considering the move.

PLEASE, keep it serious.

1. yep fully kitted mine was just under 12K

2. Had two services this year 6k was £235 but that included a new rear tyre, 12K was £180. I should point out that this was at an approved BMW independant not a main dealer.

3. Fantastic road bike with amazing road presence cars just melt away. Off road I can't comment but I know lots of people who use them off road, Simon Pavey uses one to teach at the BMW off road school so must be fairly capable.

4. I've had two 1200's. Did 10K in a year on the GS only problem I had was the tail light kept blowing and the unit was changed under warranty. I've done 11K in a year on the ADV with no reliability problem at all. Driven normally can get 300 miles from a tank no problem. On the Lucky 7's with Mabel I was getting over 400 miles. On a through the night trip to Dover I emptied the tank in 180 miles

5. What mods? How long's a piece of string. End cans, lights, sat nav, the list is endless just look in the TT catalogue. I've got BMW luggage but I've seen others fitted.
I've just ordered Wilburs shocks for mine after my trip to Corsica and seeing how much better they are then the OE ones.Again personal choice.


There are some issues with corrosion but this is usually sorted out under warranty.


One of the best bikes I've ever owned I love it to pieces and would have another tomorrow.

[iswoolley]

...lots of people who use them off road, Simon Pavey uses one to teach at the BMW off road school so (it) must be fairly capable...

Alternatively, Si could just be a really really good rider...

[Cie]

You know, of all the people that have had issues with their bikes, how many hundreds haven't?

The two things that lack on the AT are power and pillion comfort. I know that the GSA will be an improvement in those two areas. I'm not really concerned about the reliability, all bikes have their problems, but the initial outlay is going to take some justification.

Of course, I could always go for a nice clean, low mileage 1150Adv

[Whealie]

Driven normally can get 300 miles from a tank no problem. On the Lucky 7's with Mabel I was getting over 400 miles.

Fantastic dig there. I spotted it.

[Mabels Old Man]

Fantastic dig there. I spotted it.

Lets hope she hasn't

[Pussyhorse]

The 1200 doesn't appeal to me at all. I'll stick with the 1150 GSA.

Isn't the 1200 impossible to service at home because of all the computery gubbins needed for the task?

[Cie]

I believe that the software is now available so that you can diagnose at home and on the road.

Rumour has it that Touratwats sell a unit designed to do the job.