| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
1. Preface. Please bear with me on this. I have been an '06 Uly owner since October 1, 2005. I purchased '06 Uly S/N 044, on which I put 55,400 wonderful miles. THIS was the most satisfying bike I had EVER owned, covering over 50 years of riding everything from a BSA Bantam 125 to a '59 Triumph TR6, '67 Suzuki X-6 Hustler, '69 Honda CB750 (sandcast, of course), to an '86 Honda VFR750 Interceptor, '92 Ducati 900SS, '00 Aprilia Mille ... dirtbikes, of course: '92 KX250, '00 KLX 300. You get the idea. I am 62 years old; 5-9, 155 pounds. The Uly was very reliable except the rear spark plug blew out at 55,200 miles. I repaired it myself using a Time-Sert kit and---in the process--did a top-end overhaul at the same time. Well documented on this forum with lots of pictures. On December 6, 2008 the Uly and I hit a deer at 72 mph; totaled him and knocked me around a little bit. I found another '06 Uly (S/N 564) with 9,000 miles and currently have 23,000 miles on it. I kept S/N 044 as a "parts bike"... I thought I had found the bike that would last me forever; the news of Buell's demise was very frustrating. Another orphan bike (Aprilia?)...and I had been counting on this one. So I started thinking of other bikes. The BMW R1200GS (I felt) was the nearest direct replacement, but---my doG---those things are expensive. KTM 9xx series too dirt-oriented; reliability in question. V-Strom...no way. And so it went. Hemmed and hawed for a while, but finally decided I had to take the R12GS out to see for myself. Reviews of the GS by media were overwhelmingly positive; owners' reports a little more mixed. I had seen the notorious "EWS immobilizer" failure up-close and personal for myself on Forest Road 76 at ADVrider.com WestFest 07 in New Mexico. The GS had to be trucked out to dealer for resurrection. Mrs. Greg forbade me to get one on that basis. 2. The '09 R1200GS SE First of, kudos to Jim Johnson, General Manager of Sandia BMW Motorcycles in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jim---whom I didn't know before this---tossed me the key to the nearly-new GS SE and said "...take as long as you want..." Jim, if I buy a new BMW if will be from you folks. Anyway, the "SE" is an R1200GS with some "GSA" bits; wire wheels, computer, etc. Doesn't have the big fuel tank, though. One to a dealer, apparently. Here's a picture of the Uly and the GS after I arrived at Sandia BMW.  One thought that struck me is that the comparison between the appearance of the Uly and the GS is kinda like in "Star Wars"...comparing the spaceships of "The Empire" to "The Rebels." The Empire ships are really high-tech, whereas the Rebel ships are kinda old and rounded, a little dingy. That's how I see the Uly v. GS appearance. This is VERY subjective, however. Mrs. Greg sees it exactly opposite. YMMV. I think the R1200GS is a gorgeous bike. More on that later. 3. Home to Dr. Greg's Garage. After leaving the dealer, the first stop was to my garage (about 6 miles), where I (1) showed the thing to Mrs. Greg and two of my boys, and (2) weighed it. BTW, the clutch (hydraulic) was adjusted to engage farther away from the handlebar than I like...that would come back to (almost) bite me later. First, the weight. I weigh on a bathroom scale F/R (very accurate), here's the results (written on the wall of my garage):  So the GS is about 40-45 pounds heavier. I really can't remember if I weighed the Uly with the cases on or not (don't think so). But the GS is definitely heavier...that point will be made again later, too. Secondly, I wanted to see if I could turn it around in my garage (something I do every evening). The '06 Uly steering lock is so limited (yes, I know I could fit newer triple clamps) that turning it around is a major PITA. And I ride it EVERY DAY (I don't have a car...Mrs. Greg has the '02 VW Golf TDI Diesel) so I use the Uly for everything. Well, indeed the GS is easier to turn around---in that it has more steering lock---but MY doG it is a BIG, BIG, MOTORCYCLE!! I'm sure I would get used to its, um, heft...but it was a little intimidating. As for a GSA...ya gotta be kidding! Remember my relatively small stature here... A few more pictures in the driveway...    This windscreen was aftermarket; I left it set in the "low" position. It worked well.  BMW "Vario" cases...probably not my choice.  Look at how much space the muffler removes from the left side case. Someone oughta show the Panzerheads where to locate a muffler so's it doesn't do that...  4. Off on the Ride... First stop is the gas station to fill the beast up. Upon flipping up the gas cap, there was a small orifice leading down into the tank. I guess "new" filler nozzles fit in there, but I kinda prefer just a big ol' "hole" leading into the tank.  There was exactly 4,320 miles on the odometer when I filled the GS up. Recorded that in the iPhone. My route is out I-40 to what's called "South 14" although it's now NM 337. Quite twisty initially, it straightens a little as it winds down towards Mountainair, NM. Elevation is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. It was an absolutely GORGEOUS Indian Summer day...temp in the high 60s. I usually take pictures while I ride, but with no tank bag and a throttle which closes when I release it (I removed the return spring on the Uly) I really can't do that. So you'll have to imagine the pinon pine country and high plains of central New Mexico... 5. So, How does she Handle on the Pavement? Well, pretty darn well, actually!! The "long" front end didn't bother me AT ALL. Kinda gave me a feeling of security, actually. On the interstate the GS felt more planted than the Uly, although the latter is plenty stable. I think the bars on the GS are a little wider; the riding position is supremely comfortable (just like the Uly). On the corners---I had the ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) set to "COMFORT" (hey, I'm and old guy, and used to plush Uly ride)---the darn GS is a REAL BLAST!! People that say it's way inferior to the Uly must have ridden a different bike than mine. The GS seems to "arc" into corners, and in a strange---but pleasant---way, seems almost to anticipate my needs as it begins to lean almost before I push on the bars. Once committed to a line, it is VERY STABLE and holds the line perfectly. I can hustle the big GS through a set of twisties just as fast as the Uly. I know; I did, since I had a rare "clear road" coming back towards I-40. 6. Some pictures down at Mountainair, NM. My turnaround point (roughly 180-mile ride) was at Mountainair, NM. Specifically at the Shaffer Hotel, where I was sorely tempted to stop for lunch (it was time). But I didn't want to spend too much extra time, so I didn't. But I snapped a few pictures against the wall of the Shaffer Hotel: A beautiful bike (IMHO):  This seat was just as comfortable as my '06 Uly standard seat, which is the best I've ever had. Amazing.  I love mechanical things, and it was delightful to look down while riding and see the cylinder heads...  Again, I love the mechanical stuff, which is largely HIDDEN (even more with the Comfort Kit) on the Uly:    6. Other Things... Windscreen: There are many aftermarket screens for the GS (like everything else; that's one advantage of the bike). This screen brought the wind up near the top of my helmet (my Laminar Lip on the Uly brings it just above the bottom) but there was a little more turbulence. Still very comfy, though. Brakes: The Telelever largely eliminates "dive" on braking. The dive never bothered me that much (just showed me the suspension actually "works"...unusual for us lightweight guys). But---more importantly---there was not a HINT of "standing-up" under front braking in a corner. The Uly still has some of that characteristic. And it's NOT NICE to run unexpectedly wide in a turn. Engine: Plenty of power. Hard to compare with the Uly. Everytime I needed to pass, it was easy to do. Let's just say both bikes have "adequate" power for their intended use. Oh yeah, the vibration on the GS was MUCH LESS than on the Uly. I have never been bothered by the Uly vibration, but the GS is smoother, hands down. Transmission: A little vague going from neutral to first, but never missed a shift. A little more of a "snick-snick" gearbox than the Uly, but I've never missed a shift on the Uly either. Pretty much a draw. Suspension: Leave the ESA set on "COMFORT" and I'm happy! I'd be a little concerned about the GS I would buy (without ESA). I don't think the "normal" GS suspension is as adjustable as the Uly. The Showa components on the Uly pretty much spoil you for anything else. Like I said after buying it, the only thing I changed on the Uly was the handgrips. And THAT'S unusual. Instrumentation: Oh yeah, the GS SE has the "computer," which gives you readout of average speed, fuel consumption, temperature, and some other stuff. I wouldn't get the "computer" on a bike I'd buy, because most of that stuff is taken care of by my GPS, or other stuff. Also, the "temperature" was flat wrong. It stayed on 69F most of the ride, when I damn well knew it changed. The $40 analog thermometer on my Uly is accurate to within 1 degree, and easier to read as well. The fuel gauge seemed to be reasonably accurate. I have read that typical GS fuel gauges are way off, but maybe they've improved. What else? Hmmm...oh yeah, THE WEIGHT!!! As I was leaving on my ride, I stopped to adjust my "sunshade" (I'll start a separate thread for that...an excellent winter riding aide). When I put the sidestand down and leaned the GS over to the left, it went over a little farther than I expected. I adjusted my sunshade, then tried to get the bike off the sidestand. Ughhhh, Hungghhhhh, UNMGHMH!!!! My limited weight (155 lb) was marginal for getting the GS vertical again. If it had been loaded for, say, a camping trip (my absolute favorite form of moto-activity)...no way. If it had been a GSA instead of a GS...no way. The sheer MASS of the bike was a little much for me. I've probably forgotten something, but it's late and I'm hungry... 7. Conclusion. I really, REALLY, REALLY enjoyed riding the R1200GS SE. It is an amazing machine. I did not ride it off-pavement: Sandia BMW had told me they didn't want me to, so I didn't. I'm sure it would handle off-pavement equally as well as the Uly, so that would not be a deal breaker/maker. So is the GS enough better than the Uly to make me part with beaucoup $$$ that I don't even have? Not right now. BMW has some promotions, but the price is way out of line for me. My Uly is paid for, I have a "parts bike," and I still enjoy riding him. If I had unlimited financial resources, I might well go for the BMW R1200GS. It was MUCH more enjoyable than I expected, and handled MUCH BETTER than I was led to believe. But realistically, with $$$ realities, I'm pretty much forced to stay with the Uly. And that's not a bad thing. 8. Coming Back to the Ulysses. Stopped at the same gas station and filled the beast up: odometer showed 140 miles and it received 3.216 gallong. Well, I don't know the accuracy of the odometer, so I'll take EXACTLY the same ride on Saturday on the Uly with the GPS so I get an accurate reading. However, we all know that the cost of fuel is an insignificant cost of motorcycle ownership. Hmmm, I wonder how the insurance of the GS compares with the Uly? Didn't check that one out. As far as range, probably pretty close. I routinely get 200 miles from the Uly (light rider plus steady throttle), and probably similar from the GS. One thing in favor of the GS is that it has a knock sensor, and can thereby use regular fuel. I've had to run regular fuel in the Uly (no ill effects) but we don't have a "knock sensor" (except when we're waiting at a stoplight at idle). When I got back on the Uly to ride home I forgot about the clutch engagement, and just about did a wheelie (I don't do wheelies) in the parking lot. Once I got calibrated again, the Uly felt well, pretty mechanical. In a way, the GS is like the Uly with a thin coat of rubber over everything. All the controls are just a little bit more "soft" (and not in a bad sense...think "comfortable"). The Uly is more of a machine. Ironically, I feel that the GS LOOKS more like a machine, but the Uly ACTS more like a machine. 9. Afterword. When I returned the '09 R1200GS SE to Jim Johnson, he was most humble. Boy, that attitude of that BMW dealership is an example to the rest of them out there. When my son (I was still injured) rode the Uly that I now own (pictures on this forum), he had to go with a salesman on a prescribed route. Even though I was there, and was a previous customer. Fie on Thunderbird H-D/Buell for that! Kudos to Sandia BMW!! Well, the ADV bike market continues to grow, with the impending release of the Ducati Multistrada 1200. With my Ducati heritage (2V engine, though) I'll be looking at that one intently. For the meantime, though, I'm happily back on the Uly. At least until the next spark plug blow out! --Doc | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
Great Pics and great review! Yes the GS does look like a quality built machine..But too many $$$ for me too.. Thanks!! | ||
| Choyashi |
Yeah, great bike the GS. My buddies is in the shop again! Reminds me of my '95 R-850-R! The one I gave back to BMW after I was awarded $3,500 from the Judge! The Judge told me he heard lots of cases against BMW for service related problems. Congrats on your purchase! | ||
| Dentguy |
Congrats on your purchase! He didn't purchase it. | ||
| Choyashi |
Boy, when I hear the word BMW I go crazy! Thought Dr.Greg had gone to the dark side! Thank God he didn't buy it......Craig |
