| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
I was at a BMW/Ducati/Triumph dealership today and took the opportunity to ride a 1200GS. I know many of you have owned GS's in the past and could give a much more thorough review than I can, but I thought I'd share my limited perspective on my ride. First, I can flat foot the GS, while I cannot the Uly. It is still a tall, large bike, though. It is much smoother than the Uly, though, and just more refined feeling in general. It also costs at least 5 grand more though based on the ones I saw at the dealership today. I didn't get any heat on my leg, like I do on the Uly. I didn't find the stock seat comfortable, though. I seemed to slide forward on it toward the gas tank. It was like the rear of the seat was higher than the front. I am sure there is a fix for that, but as it was it was an aggravation. Personally, I didn't find the motor very exciting. I didn't really get the chance to stretch its legs, as I had to follow a salesman, but on the couple of occasions he let me get on it, it was just adequate. I mentioned this to the salesman after the ride, and he believed I was not revving the motor enough. I may have been in too high a gear as I am used to my V-twin with lots of torque down low. The Beemer seems to need to be run at higher RPMs for the same power. At the end of the ride I have to say I was not excited. I mean it was OK, but it really didn't get me going. The XB12XT was more fun to me when I rode it in Daytona. Some of that may have been the test ride style though, as the Buell guys in Daytona let us ride at a quicker pace than the Beemer guy did today. Still, I think I prefer the XT, even with its shakes and less refinement. The heat on my right leg is the only reservation I really have about that bike. I know there are potential fixes, so it is staying on my short list of bikes for the time when I actually have money to buy another one. It would be nice if Buell would fix it themselves though. | ||
| Strokizator |
Your soul wants the Buell but your brain is making you go through all these gyrations and rationalizations before making the commitment. Your brain was telling you the BMW was a nice bike but your soul says "Who cares? I don't want nice, I want excitement." End your misery now and get the Buell before you waste one more day without the bike you really want. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
pity you werent here fall 05 when I took TWO BMW GS's in on trade on the ULys. They went for cheap money on the wholesale side of things. Nice bikes, if you want to play nice ;) | ||
| Bross |
Quoted by: dynasport "Personally, I didn't find the motor very exciting. I didn't really get the chance to stretch its legs, as I had to follow a salesman, but on the couple of occasions he let me get on it, it was just adequate. I mentioned this to the salesman after the ride, and he believed I was not revving the motor enough. I may have been in too high a gear as I am used to my V-twin with lots of torque down low. The Beemer seems to need to be run at higher RPMs for the same power. " I did the same thing when I demo'd a GS a few years ago. I have now changed my tune since owning the RT, and you are right the boxers need to rev. Next time get it up to 6-7000 rpm, then the fun begins. If I'm riding aggressively I keep it between 5-8000 (redline). My riding buddy thought my RT was boring as well the first time he rode it, until I found out he only revved it to 4000! Told him the same thing for next time, get it over 5000 and get back to me.  | ||
| Dr_greg |
When I test rode a 12GS the overwhelming feeling was of SIZE. The thing felt HUGE. When I got back on the Uly the bike virtually disappeared beneath me. The GS's are nice, but not my cup of tea. | ||
| Dynasport |
That's one of the problems of a short test ride. I have been riding my FXDX for five years now. I know how to ride it to get the most out of it. Hopping on a different bike and riding six miles just doesn't do the bike justice. You can make some obvious conclusions, such as I didn't like the seat angled down toward the tank, and the bike was pretty smooth, but I didn't get a chance to push cornering, or acceleration like I would if I was riding on my own. Still, I'm glad I got the chance to ride it at all. | ||
| Towjam |
I've owned and '06 and '07 GS. To be brutally honest, if they were the same price as the Uly, I'd be hard pressed to recommend the Uly over the GS. The GS is a more capable off-road bike (even with the street wheels/tires); radiates ZERO engine heat onto the rider (typical boxer); full instrumentation; much higher quality switch gear, etc. But all that said - and I can't explain it, the GS doesn't have the "fun" factor that a Buell has when you ride it. (I'm not going to open the "FD failures" can of worms that inevitably come up in every BMW comparison thread.) No sir. Not me.  | ||
| X1glider |
You really can't compare the 2 bikes. The GS is physically bigger, 100 lbs heavier but makes the same power at the rear wheel. It needs to be revved 1000 rpms higher to feel the grunt. I've lofted the GS front wheel numerous times. It really does accelerate quite briskly for it's size. I like the Uly too, wouldn't mind having one as my daily commuter and probably main touring steed, I just wish it had more of a DS capability. But I'm having a hard time coming back to Buell as it seems not much has changed in the way of customer care, service at the local level, parts availablility and warranty issues. At least here in Houston... Just so you know, BMW has the same problems, only the parts and service rates are more expensive. Sometimes the techs don't know how to properly diagnose the problems because of the complexity of the bikes. That said, both the BMW and Buell bikes work damn well when they work properly. For capability as an adventure tourer, the BMW wins easily, but God forbid it have a problem in B.F.S.A. I've had a piss poor experience with BMW N.A. Enough that I won't buy another BMW. Mine's been reliable except for a clutch slave leak that soaked my dry clutch. Would've have cost me $1000 in parts and labor if it weren't warrantied. I'd love to have the upcoming F800GS. Now, THAT...is my style! By the time it's released, the F800GS Adv should be hot on it's heels. Base should weigh in at 400 lbs dry, Adv should weigh 430 dry. 85 hp may not seem like much, but offorad, more will get you in a heap of trouble. If only they cost less and the dealers were worth a hoot. BMW have their problems too. It's easier and cheaper to work on a Buell. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Heat issue on ULY is way over rated because for a little of nothing it can be fixed and without paying for blankets...unless that's what you want to do. | ||
| California |
Electraglider 1997, you say. . . "Heat issue on ULY is way over rated because for a little of nothing it can be fixed and without paying for blankets...unless that's what you want to do." What, I'm sure it's already been covered somewhere else, but, what's your solution? | ||
| Bross |
Move north! | ||
| Blake |
Don't wear tight fitting gear? I've not heard of any serious heat issues with the Uly before. Did I miss that or is this a very unique to one person Uly heat issue? Tight fitting jeans don't work well with Buells. Boots and proper riding gear should eliminate the issue, no? | ||
| Blake |
The big GS, especially after its recent transformation to 1200 and loss of some 50 LBs, is one of the top bikes on my wish list. I'd rather have a new Uly. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
California, This is what I did: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/295156.html |
