I've joined the darkside

[FragglePete]

Hi all.
I've come to confess to parting ways with my beloved 2014 V-Strom 1000.  It's time had come I'm afraid.

I ride with an IAM group and every other bike appears to be a BMW GS of some sorts, and well, I had to see what the fuss was all about so I picked up a 2018 R1200GS last week.  I have to say... gosh....  What a machine!  It somehow feels lighter than the Strom but my, what an engine and just feels a generational leap from my old bike.  Maybe too many gizmo's, but Cruise Control is a game changer.

I can see myself coming back to the ways of the Strom in the future, but for now life is too short to want something and just not do it.

I may have a few bits of my V-Strom going up for grabs which I'll post in the For Sale section soon.

See you all later!

Pete

[MartinW]

See you next year Pete!
 

[2112]

An interesting choice. I personally find the gearboxes far too clunky and agricultural for my liking, the main reason I've never had a GS. They do however ride well (gearbox excepted), have great barkes and seem to defy their weight while moving. I've had a few attempts at buying one but always get put off by something, like the gearbox. I tried the latest 1300GS but it was too small & broke down on my test ride, hardly a selling point! The gearbox was much better however...

[Upt North]

FP, enjoy your ride.
The last Boxer I rode was the new RT variant in 2014. Had a day long test ride but couldn't get on with it. Bought an ST1100 Pan as a stop gap and kept it about 8 years and 35,000 miles. That's some stop gap.
But to each their own, you know you're going to have to start riding standing up in every town and village you go through?
Upt.

[FragglePete]

Interesting.
I'm finding the gearbox super slick on my one.  Only complaint I would have is sometimes Neutral takes a bit of effort, but I noticed it in another one I test rode of the same year.

Pete

[The Doctor 46]

I had a GSA back in 2003. It needed a new gearbox at 12.000 miles but luckily BMW paid for it and the fitting, I was even given a loan bike while they did the job. The new gearbox was as sweet as almost any bike I've owned.

They are a great ride and will pass many sports bikes on twisty fast roads overtaking with ease and cornering like on rails. I'm glad I had mine and had it been as reliable as my DL1000 2014 (the same as you had) then I would have kept it and then probably traded it in for another.

I hope you enjoy riding yours as much as I enjoyed riding mine. 

If you join the UKGSER site you have to pay annually and you will meet (online) the most horrible trolls on the planet.

[NeilM]

The Doctor's last comment made me laugh.

I have a 2005 R1200GS that was bought as a non runner from a friend. A battery issue gave me a few headaches and the blokes on the UKGSer forum were full of fixed ideas that were of no use at all. It was the blokes on this forum, plus one chap on UKGSer who didn't own a BMW who I got the most help from.

I now have both the GS and my 650 on the road and although in general I can get everywhere on the GS just a little bit quicker, I still love my VStrom for being just that little bit more nimble.

The GS really makes full sense when loaded up for travel, at which it excels.

I hope you have a great time on your Beemer, they really are very good.