Why GS - BMW R 1200 GS Rallye TE Review and Rejection of Ktm Adventure Motorcycles

[@paulhiggins9492]

Second gear , sat nav constantly red camera or speed zone, what’s happening, you have to concentrate these days, I’m a gs owner it’s becoming tiring, we are being crushed from all angles, still love the bike though. Good roads know them well, great Norton rider well done you, keep em coming pal.

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Thanks Paul yep i know exactly what you mean flashing for a camera speed zone the cat and fiddle etc is all average as you know hence doing 40mph all the way up in a 50 to be safe . I've had a couple of lighter low power motorcycles over the past year I'm on an 1150gsa at the moment didnt need the HP in the end from the 1200lc an I'm actually eying a switch a another Royal Enfield again. I'll be doing a lil video about my thoughts this week there's a few on the 1150gsa. I've actually been having amazing fun on a 1927 Norton 16h 4.9hp 252lbs 55mph Cruising really made me start to think about how much HP I need glad you enjoyed Paul. I've also got a 2nd channel called savingclassicmotorcycles motorcycles now which will feature my Restorations going forward an here's gonna be adventure stuff I think :) thanks again for taking the time to comment.

[@mohba01]

i like how opinions are given on youtube by people who have exactly exp. with what they are talking abt. just brilliant !

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Thanks Alinel glad you enjoyed the video :) there's a few on my channel of vintage Nortons as well which are pretty fun happy riding.

[@oclv110sl]

Interesting thanks. I'm considering a 2018 1200GS as my next bike. Then I came across information about a defect causing very premature wear of the intake cam lobes in the 1200 engines from 2013-2018 (not sure exactly how common because of the magnification effect of the internet). I'm hoping its rare as I prefer the 1200 to the 1250 GSA bikes. Did you consider this or first time you've heard of it?

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Hi Paul thanks for the comment I had heard about a few shift cams having issues to. There's a few interesting threads over on adv rider and mainly JimVon Badens posts are probably the ones worth listening to on there. I did have an engine failure with my 2014 gsa but that was due to a dealer leaving the rocker gasket off. That was sorted pretty swiftly by BM in the UK with a complete engine. Which ultimately is why I went for the bike being under the approved used warranty for peace of mind if nothing shows up with the cams or rockers then thatl be good. If something happens after that I'll deal with it as a matter of course if I don't take up the extended warranty :) at least on the boxer engines it's very easy to keep an eye on any impending doom.

[@oclv110sl]

@@adaptableadventurerider Thanks for replying. Yes, it looks like you'd/I'd be unlucky to be one of the few getting the dodgey batch of ultra-hard rockers. I was deliberately going for a bike outside warranty so I could do my own maintenance. As you say the cyliner heads are easy to access so I'm thinking if I do get unlucky I'll fix it myself. I've never owned a BM before but I imagine the parts are stupid expensive.

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@oclv110sl the best thing I'd always Suggest when considering a new brand is to Google for the BMW motorrad epc and check out the cost of the genuine bits and you can look up the cost of some of the parts that's what I always tend to do, I self service all my other bikes but weirdly I've found the BMW service costs not to bad under warranty in the past. Be interesting to see how I get on with this if you are self servicing the gs911 is worth checking out ill be buying one for Iceland. One thing I do like with the watercooled bikes is the clutch being at the front nice and easy if you trash a plate. The old dry clutch bikes were a bit of a pain to get at still a superb platform though.

[@milesdavis8665]

seems like if it makes it past 30,000 kilometers its probably good. especially if it has a good service history from the dealer. Im a little torn myself on whether to get a used 1200 or 1250

[@adaptableadventurerider]

Hi Miles I just sold my GS last week for a Royal Enfield Himalayan :) the weight started causing me issues an I was getting a little bored with it, there's a new video on the Channel.

[@milesdavis8665]

@norton.rider wow that was sudden. I was under the assumption everyone liked the balance of the bike so the weight didn't matter. Anyway. Enjoy the new ride. I'm sure you'll get many enjoyable miles out of the RE...

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@milesdavis8665 thanks :) yep to contradict what everyone says they are still a heavy bike alot better than the gsa but still heavy there's just no getting away from it when you have to push it about picking it up off the side stand etc I had a 1200gsa and f800gs(very tippy and top heavy) before this one, an the weight difference is really noticeable on the Himalayan :) which is what I was after be alot better for the trips I'm after doing In Iceland etc. The new Himalayan video is in two half's the first on the Himalayan an the 2nd being my final ride on the GS. It all depends what you are looking for in a bike though for road touring only I still really rate the Vstrom 650xt Japanese Engineering and you havnt got the service costs that are involved with the Beemers. Personally for me the Himalayan seems to tick every box simple to service, great handling, lighter, lower power so efficient on fuel and good parts cost + I really fancied a long stroke single. I'll be going everywhere on it on an off road Iceland Norway etc. Once you get used to the idea off less power its cool to take in the scenery an enjoy the adventure. Hope this helps :) very much depends on what you want from a bike power or all round capability. It's a shame we don't get the DR650 over here in the UK as that would have been high on my list but the Himmy is suprisingly smooth for a single.

[@milesdavis8665]

@norton.rider indeed. Heavy bikes don't bother me much cause I'd never take a heavy bike off road. But fir hitting the twistys and general road touring I think a heavy bike is best. But thats just me. I'm used to heavy bikes. I'll definitely keep up with your postes. Keep them coming

[@adaptableadventurerider]

@@milesdavis8665 good luck with your search miles :) yep for road work vstrom or a gs are great choices. Let us all know what you choose :)