R1150GS,how good is it?convince me!
 

Hi all

i am interested in the R1150GS,i would like to know how good this bike is,i have read all the reveiws and they sound great but i want to hear from owners who have lived with them,tell me all good and bad.

cheers Jason

I recently returned from an aborted (due to illness in the family not a bike problem) trip overland from the UK to Australia on an old R100GS. On my return it was my intention to buy a brand new GS1150. I had been warned by a friend to expect surging when cruising at certain speeds. I rode two bikes, a brand new demo bike and a used one. On both bike this problem was noticable. The dealer told me that this was "normal" and said "you get used to it" My friend recieved the same information from another dealer. He found the problem so unbearable that he sold the bike at a loss after only a few months of ownership. I didn't buy one and would seriously recommend a test ride before you buy. Maybe you can put up with it but I couldn't. Imagine a BMW car with such a problem, it just wouldn't happen. My nine year old R100GS ran much better than either of the 1150's. I'm sure my comments will recieve alot of criticism from loyal GS owners, but I'm only telling it the way it is.

Apparently, BMW is switching to a 'dual plug' head (adding a second plug off to the side of the combustion chamber) to reduce the surging problem noted above. They have done this on the new Rockster model, and presumably will follow through with the GS and other models. There are also plans for a new and revised GS (lighter!?) in a year or two, so if you can you might want to wait for either of the two changes to come into affect.

I talked with a host of 1150GS owners at a recent rally and got mostly positive reviews, and no comments about the surging. People who just shelled out $22,000 for a new bike are rarely in a critical frame of mind tho'.....

------------------

I just spent three weeks 4500km on a dual spark R1150GS broken in and prepped by BMW, with 1500km on it when I picked it up from BMW.

Unfortunately the surging is still there, but VERY minor, and I'm extremely fussy, I like my bikes perfect. More miles and a good tune again should help. It was noticeably more "ragged" at the end of the trip. I DID ride it hard.

Great bike though, very impressive, awesome brakes and great handling, especially in it's native habitat, Germany autobahns and the Swiss Alps...

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Im doing an overland trip to OZ in January and after much research I have bought a used 1150GS. The main reasons were:-

- I am going two up and after test riding a number of other bikes it seemed the most comfortable loaded up with luggage.
- The size of the engine, again bearing in mind there will be two of us with luggage. The 1150 can comfortably cruise two up with luggage at 90/100mph.
- Ease to work on. It's a very simple bike to work on yourself (even with my limited skills). For example shaft drive, single sided rear swinger should make fixing rear punctures a breeze.
- Crash resistance. Ive fitted crash bars, a steering stop hard part, if I drop it at low speed hopefully the damage will be minimal.
- Even though I wont be doing much offroad the GS will cope very well with dirt tracks.

So far (ive had the bike about 2 months) I have nothing but praise for the bike. Its a big contrast to the sports bikes Im used to but I have to say that I dont think I will have another sports bike on the road in the UK again after riding the GS.

Hope this helps.

G'day Jase.
What sort of riding do you want your 1150 GS for ?
I've had an 1150GS for 80,000km and find it competent for keeping up with almost all sportsbikes. It loves high speed dirt roads -gravel, potholes, corrugations are all taken without any fuss. It can handle fire trails, but it will remind you of the weight at every opportunity. It tours better than my previous R1100RT, due to longer - travel suspension. You'll probably want an aftermarket screen ; try Givi or MRA vario or even some Tobinators (www.stopthebuffeting.com) with the standand screen. Ohlins help considerably, and you'll probably want to fit a Touratech "hard - part". If you're buying new, BMW have just released in Australia what's basically a standard GS with a 30 litre tank and Adventure screen. The standard GS gearbox / rear drive ratios are suitable for autobahn riding but not acceptable for riding in 6th at 100km/h into a headwind with (slab-fronted Zega aluminium) panniers, as the engine is not revving enough. First gear is also poor for trickling along at 4 km/h. Therefore I'd suggest the Adv. gearbox, which I'm sure you can specify when the bike is ordered. The other way to fix the problem, as I did, is to fit a 3.2:1 ratio(as opposed to the standard 2.8:1) rear drive unit. This still doesn't remove the (standard GS's) too-large step between 5th and 6th, but it helps considerably.
Servicing is quite simple, and I've had no mechanical problems with the bike thus far.
So apart from the weight in the really tight stuff I'd recommend the 1150. I'd buy another one tomorrow.
Phil

------------------

Im not picky, but a brand new bike should NOT surge. It is not normal it is bad engineering. I hope BMW is not going the way of many companies and trying to ride on their name while their product quality takes a dive. I was considering getting a Dakar next year to add to my Suzuki, now I am wondering. If BMW is listining pay attetion. Correct the surging problem, then fix the bikes you already sold, your name will increase with the masses and in the long run profits will go up. If not people will tell all their friends what an expensive pice of crap you sold them after the newness wears off. Just my humble opnion.

------------------
John

G'day all

thanks for all the posts i didnt expect such a big response so quickly,hmmm the sort of riding i will be doing,in my head i will be roaring across the simpson like Peterhansel
but in real life it will be mostly the daily grind and the odd weekend until i get some time off bloody work! but it's nice to have the goods when you need it,i must agree with the surging,this sort of thing is not on in a modern vehicle,especially a Beemer,it sounds like this is a pretty common thing and to be honest is a little off putting,but i havn't bought one yet so i will give it a little more time.
thanks to everyone and keep the info coming!

cheers Jason

From the large number of oil-head owners in the BMWMCCVIC I've not heard one complaint about surging, nor have I heard any complaints whilst on three BMW safaris. I've ridden plenty of GS's and RT's and I don't know what the hell surging feels like.
All the complainants seem to be outside Australia - maybe it's petrol related ?

It's amazing what a bit of time with feelers and a Twinmax'll do.

Phil

No surging so far at my Adv.

Was riding 8000km's the last 3 months on my new GS Adv. all arround Europe, especially the montain sumits and many of gravel-roads and I can tell you, THIS is the love of my life!!

This bike is just incredible! I'm not realy tall, so to feel save when the bike is standing still, is the worst thing. But as soon as it's moveing (no matter if this is slow or fast) it simply feels like a bicycle.

I have owned a 2001 1150 GS for about 1.5 years and found the bike to be extremely capable and a lot of fun. My main problem was buffeting. I tried a Givi screen, which did not help much. I ended up riding mostly without a windshield preferring the steady wind flow to the turbulence. My GS had no surging at all. I very much agree with “Ikyphl”s post. This is one of the most competent bikes I have ridden.
The GS was replaced with a R1150RT. The adjustable windshield (tall version) is very effective. But the bike surges heavily between 40 – 55 mph.
I am planning a trip to Central- and later South America two-up. I just bought a new black 1150GS Adventure (w/t black Jesse bags). For me this seems to be the best bike available for my purpose including the two-up riding (The new 1200 GS won’t be available in time).
For the occasional weekend dirt ride I have a Honda XR650L. Fun for its’ purpose. But I could not imagine to use this bike as a daily ride or for extended traveling as it is way to unstable at highway speeds, uncomfortable and a nightmare two-up.


Paul
http://www.natureseeker.com
Alaska to Tierra del Fuego

Jase, a) have a look at the UK GS'ers site :
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdi...014&forumid=62 and b) go and see Dave at Procycle and take a GS for a LONG test ride. A lot of people coming from non-BM bikes aren't initially impressed by GS's ; a ride around the block's not long enough. I'd suggest Laver's Hill and back ........
Phil

I have ridden an 1150GS for 3 trouble-free years now and before that an 1100GS and pardon my ignorance but what is surging?

Only put 30,000 miles on my 2000 1150gs.. Surging happens, but you tend not to pay attention to it. The bike other than tire and oil changes has been a dream.. Except 1 month after the warrenty expired the rear wheel bearing blew out.

i would also like to know what "surging" is, i´am familiar with the term. Thanks

thanks Phil thats a good idea,to get to Lavers Hill i would of course need to go down the GOR.....hehe....dont need a reason for that!thank guys i think i'm gonna organize a test ride and see for myself

see you on the road
cheers Jason

Change the plugs to Brisks, this helped with mine. Just rode from Europe to Asia on 1150 GSA, without a single hickup. Ok, a couple of flats in India!
-jasong

------------------
RTW on the road now! Jan 2003-?

Surging in oilheads does happen. That's a fact. It seems to effect higher compression motors more though, RT's for example. My R1100R which has basically an R1100GS motor/tranny has over the past 70K miles had surge-free times and surge-ful times. Most (but not all) surging can be eliminated by very careful valve setting and throttle body adjustment.

From what I've gathered, surging seemes to be a manifestation of the closed loop FI system hunting for the correnct fuel/air mix. Earlier oilheads like mine ('96) were sold in the US with closed loop control and a catalitic converter. These can be converted to open-loop. European models were not. However, now I believe all models sold throughout the world are closed loop: Now you Europeans can experience the surging too! 'Course you may have a better network of m/c mechanics that can set the system up than we do in the US. According to BMW, the dual plug heads was to improve emmisions. As far as I know BMW has never officially aknowledged the surging as inherent, only mechanic/rider error. Some bikes exibit it more than others.

In my opinion, the surging is a huge problem (even at minor levels). For the money that BMW is asking of thier machines, they should not due this. The current FI system is not adequate, especially since Harley Davidson can come up with a FI system that is nearly perfect on an engine that's much more difficult to control (inline V twin).

BMW has concentrated research money on power assist integrated brakes yet left a crappy FI system out there. To me, this is the wrong way to go, especially when considering what a dual purpose world touring motorycyce should be capable of. Perhaps attracting less experienced older riders with lots of extra cash is what they are after (won't they notice the surging too?)

I'm now thinking of replacing my R, but the possibility of a new BMW is out: No electric brakes for me, thanks. Other options: Older BMW's (but even airhead GS's are fetching top dollar) or maybe a Triumph Tiger, hmmm and only $11K US. Or how about the big KTM? BMW should think about that.

Kurt

After the surging experiances I had with two GS oilheads (see post above) I have abandoned BMW and returned to Honda.

I've owned several new Honda's including Transalps and an Africa twin. All of them proved reliable machines over many thousands of miles, one Transalp had covered 87,000 miles when I sold it on. I had seriously abused this bike and the only money I had to spend on it were service items, oil, filters, brakes, chains and sprockets. I have also owned a VFR800. Whilst I didn't do a huge amount of miles on this bike, it was equipped with fuel injection which worked faultlessly, with no hint of surging.

Prior to my latest purchase I rode tested an Aprilia Caponord. I was particularly interested in the new Rally Raid version, but couldn't get hold of one, so tested the standard model. This bike has a fantastic fuel injected engine. The power is seemless with no hint that the bike even has fuel injection.

What I'm getting at is that all these bikes cost significantly less (other than the Aprilia} than the BMW. For the price BMW charge for "Ultimate riding machine" I would expect perfection and faultless reliabilty. For the money the Aprilia is several steps closer to perfection than the BMW.

When choosing a bike as an overland or serious travel bike, the availability of spares is another issue. Throughout europe, whilst not quite as numerous as the Japanese, BMW certainly beats Aprilia. Once outside europe and into Asia workshops catering for the Japanese manufacturers are far more widespread. Jap bikes being Jap bikes though tend to be more reliable so the need for spares is less.



[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 14 September 2003).]

OK, my other half has a '94 1100RS, not the same as a GS, but similar enough. Here are my two cents worth:

For supposed fixes to the surging problem see here: http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads...ng-fixes.shtml

Her bike surges, too, but a good sychronisation helped. She says it's still not perfect, so I may have to try the above procedure myself. Interestingly, I hardly notice this surging myself, but I'm 15kg heavier, so maybe that helps.

One other major consideration for trips through third world countries, though, is that the bike should be easy to fix. The 1100/1150 BMWs AREN'T:

@ 25000 km her clutch died (a known problem with that model year). To remove it you first have to remove the entire rear end of the bike, rear frame, wiring, then the gear box. Count two days work. Now, on an 1150 you have a single-piece frame. That probably means you'd have to remove the entire frame fron the engine/box assembly.

@45000 km a gear box bearing failed. (Another known problem, but for ALL flat twins at least since 1969 until '94) The same job as above, but we had to remove the final drive unit and the swingarm. The bolts are glued into place, so you have to heat them. I had to buy €400 worth of tools just to do that part of the job. Repairing the gear box itself is so complicated on any BMW twin that even as a bike mechanic I don't try this at home. Don't take my word for it, take a look at the tech tips for BMW on this site, there is a description of how it's done on an older twin.

Contrast this to, say, my old Honda CX500 that took me from India to Europe: I can remove the engine in 30 mins with the tools I normally carry.

My wife loves her BMW. but when we travel back to NZ we're going to use simpler bikes.


------------------
Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Jenny & Peter.

I test rode a new standard twin spark GS and was impressed with the performance of it, no surging etc, comfortable too.
Placed an order for one with ABS. Have to wait until December '03 for it to arrive, apparently the "standard" model is being discontinued in AU, to be replaced by the new 1150GS SE model. I did not want the new SE black coloutr scheme for engine/transmission.




------------------
Jack
Rockhampton, Australia

i have a 2001 1150gs and the surging only started after it had been in for its 6000mile service - at high speeds it is not noticable but in the lower gears it is a pain in the ass.

i have a house in the north of england where the roads are great for recreational riding - the surging is not noticeable as your generally accelerating thru the problem.
but when i got a job in the south east of england 18 months ago(shite roads, heavy traffic etc)i brought the bike down and have done approx 350miles since - driving on a constant throttle and up and down thru the low gears it is a pain.
my dealer suggested one of the problems is that they run lean to pass emissions tests but removing the yellow gizmo in the fuse box can help (richens the mixture), ididnt notice a vast difference.

i will ask them to pay particular attention to the throttle set up on the next service.

if your buying it for recreational riding on good open roads then there are few bikes around that are better, handling is excelent especially two up with luggage.

if your buying it as a workhorse(for which bmws use to be famed) in not such a fun environment dont bother get a jap bike they are still the most reliable bikes available.

also dont just test ride the dealers demo bike with a couple of thousand miles on it ask to test drive one of the used bikes in the showroom, this will give you a better idea of what the bike will feel like in a years time.

also dont expect a bmw to be problem free either however the dealers are very good generally.

having said all that im still going to india and beyond on it with the wife next year