Those new R1200GS look kinda cool.....

[jumph4x]

I would totally accept one of these with the water cooled engines, ~8ish inches of travel, and 17s for a long tour bike for me and the wife.

Ahh! Yus. I am just now discovering that a 19/17 wheelsize combination is actually very popular with touring/adv guys.

 

[Outta Control]

Mmmm.....GS....

You on the fence and thinking of going back to the dark side Jason?

 

[kiwi_outdoors]

Multi

Not the one with spokes but this one:

Dumb idea to buy one with zero intent of going off road? Are they comfy and handle well in twisties??

Just thinking out loud.

Is it trying to look like a Ducati with that trusswork?

 

[Kornholio]

You on the fence and thinking of going back to the dark side Jason?

You may remember, I originally intended to go the GS route but didn't because I couldn't get it with cruise.

....however, I don't have enough coin to pick one up now anyway.

 

[dmfdmf]

Kinda looks like a V-Strom.

 

[Ant]

What difference would I notice with 19/17 wheels combo vs 17/17? Pavement only, if I were to have a GS no dirt.

 

[Outta Control]

Kinda looks like a V-Strom.

I believe you got it backwards. V-Strom copied the R1100GS.

 

[Kornholio]

Except V-Stroms have ALWAYS been ugly. :|

 

[Outta Control]

 

[cleverusername]

What difference would I notice with 19/17 wheels combo vs 17/17? Pavement only, if I were to have a GS no dirt.

if pavement only, nothing. one can rail quite hard even on 80/20 ish tires in real turns if it's just pavement. so, if it's just touring, then not even a whiff of a fart in 50 knot winds of a difference.

if you were to do any dirt work, or just try to ride up obstructions such as curbs, parking stoppers, or any kind of rock with no attempt at technique (and other such buffoonery), then a 19" makes a substantial difference.

 

[augustiron]

My fucking kingdom of dirt for one with 17s.

You can put a 17 on these.
Speak to JT2 right above your post. The early GS I think he is referring to is my previous (and sennasixty8's previous) 2006 with a 17" on the front.
I think he has the 19" on it last I saw it.
I don't know what model it was from but it was a bolt on mod with a factory BMW wheel. Identical to the rear.

 

[Gary856]

What difference would I notice with 19/17 wheels combo vs 17/17? Pavement only, if I were to have a GS no dirt.

Compared to my 690SM w/ 17/17 wheels, I don't flick my R1150GS w/ 19/17 as deep into a corner due to the more limited cornering clearance from lowered pegs, and the 200+ extra pounds. Nevertheless, the R1150GS corners beautifully, with effortless steering and perfect balance. The 19" front feels great, especially when it gets rougher.

I test rode a '14 R1200GS (water-cooled) and was really impressed. If I could have only one bike, I'd get one.

 

[stan23]

I loved my '08 R1200GS. Most people assume it is heavy, but it was not. It handles itself very well, and I love the boxer motor.

 

[cleverusername]

...and I love the boxer motor.

i thought that was the worst part of the bike. well, second to the weight that made it so bad in the dirt.

 

[mrmarklin]

Not the one with spokes but this one:

Dumb idea to buy one with zero intent of going off road? Are they comfy and handle well in twisties??

Just thinking out loud.

They are the SUV of the motorcycle world. I would bet 90+% never see any dirt. Just like a soccer mom's Jeep.
Why not get one? They are very sophisticated machines and if ever you must go off road you could.

 

[stan23]

i thought that was the worst part of the bike. well, second to the weight that made it so bad in the dirt.

Well to be fair, you either love it or hate it. I had never ridden a boxer motor bike when I drove down to LA to pickup my GS. Luckily, i loved it!

 

[cleverusername]

true. i just thought the bmw motor was so weak when compared to its peers like the multi, fjr, or 1190. and not on-paper racing, but when i actually gave them a go.

 

[danate]

A lot of the people on here call the boxer "weak" because feels a bit tractorish. Then again, it pulls like a tractor up to about 130mph with no hesitation and handles like a dream. Some people just want that feeling of strangling a screeching peacock every time they twist the throttle.

 

[Ant]

true. i just thought the bmw motor was so weak when compared to its peers like the multi, fjr, or 1190. and not on-paper racing, but when i actually gave them a go.

The new water cooled boxer motors are pretty nice

 

[cleverusername]

i suppose. but it's just that my r1200gs vibrated unhappily and with minimal results when loaded up and in the wrong gear, whereas the others i listed just pulled like criminals that didn't give two shits. which made me realize the bmw boxer twin just didn't have the guts, that's all.