BMW R1200GS Adventure - ABS or non-ABS?

Post by **Britnheaven** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:06 am

Hi Jonothon,

I also have a 1200 Adventure on order and havent been asked the question on ABS yet.

I also currently ride an 04 twin spark 1150 Adventure - which has ABS as standard with those %$$#^ servo assisted brakes. You can switch the ABS off for off road use which is helpful. I also occasionally ride off road but mainly use the bike for long distance touring.

Will I take the ABS option? I am not sure to be honest..

The whole brake set up on my current Adventure is the only bad thing about an otherwise excellent motorcycle. The problem is the servo assist - it is really is bad IMHO.

The things I hate are listed below:
NOISY!
No braking when engine is not running (a bit disconcerting when manouvering the thing in car parks).
Wooden feel to the brakes...
Less input to the rider.

The good thing is that when push comes to shove the ABS does work well.

It will be interesting to see if they have improved the brakes on the new bike, but to be honest I think its probably more of the same..

Q. Did you notice the new 1200 Adventure screen has 'tank wings' as standard? Way cool for touring imho. Also out of interest I have the Tourtechs cases fitted to my current bike and they are awesome! I am sure the new BMW cases (which are made by Tourtech btw) will be just as good.

Delivery on mine (I am number 2 in the queue) is scheduled for May '06. I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:23 pm

What's the cost of a 1200GS Adventure? I'm seriously interested in this machine.

Post by **Britnheaven** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 4:09 pm

Cost in the US not released yet. Dealer expects it to retail at around $17K, with ABS, heated grips, cases etc extra. Best guess is a 'tad' over $20K loaded + tax. If your interested get a deposit down soon as they are sure to in demand (my local dealer has 5 deposits already

)

Cheers,

Bob

Post by **socalrob** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 5:47 pm

Hey Bob, long time no see any posts.

Over on the Advrider board there is a rumor the new GS Adventure may have a completely new brake system, still ABS but by a new suppplier to answer the questions about failures. The theory is BMW will be keeping it quiet so as to not admit problems, and to release the new brake system on 06 or 07 models.

Post by **Britnheaven** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:32 pm

socalrob wrote:Hey Bob, long time no see any posts.

Over on the Advrider board there is a rumor the new GS Adventure may have a completely new brake system, still ABS but by a new suppplier to answer the questions about failures. The theory is BMW will be keeping it quiet so as to not admit problems, and to release the new brake system on 06 or 07 models.

Hi Rob!

Thats very intewesting - the dealer is very vague at the moment on details - but (funnily enough) I rang them today to say 'yes' to ABS (safety concerns stopping in the wet won the day..) and he tells me its standard!

Post by **socalrob** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:45 pm

That new GSA does look very very cool to me. I saw those tank wings too. The bike is very "surveyorish" to me. I could see bolting on some brakets for my GPS system (its on kind of a 2 meter bipod pole system), but some survey supplies in the cases, & I'm doing GPS on that baby (& maybe writing her off too).

Guys on the Advrider board were complaining about the weight, but I think its lighter than the old GSA1150. The new one has some wicked crash bars & aux lights. What I want to know is what is the weight on the GSA1200 with 5 gal. of fuel vs. the GS1200 with full tank. I think the big weight dif. may be the extra gas from that giant tank.

You are coming to Torrey06 arn't you?

Post by **Britnheaven** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:34 pm

You know its funny but your right the advriders are all moanin' amd groanin' its gunna be waaay too heavy (compared to the new 06 KTM 950 with fuel injection et al).

I must be kinda strange - but I LIKE the fact they have put the massive tank on and increased the weight! I didnt like the standard 1200GS coz the tank was too small and the bike felt sorta light on the highway. This new Adventure has it all. Looks - huge tank - big travel suspension - better gear ratios (for me) - great cases. God I am sooo weak!

Torrey is a definite maybe for me - only coz I am tentatively planning to ride to Alaska in '06 - so will be pushed for vacation.....

Post by **Deans BMW** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:20 am

Bobbers, after 30 years with the same company and the sucesses that you have had, you should be able to get as much vacation as you want.

jonothan · Post by **jonothan** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:22 am

It weighs less than the R1150GSA and will cost about Ã‚Â£9,500 in the UK.

J

Post by **socalrob** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:12 pm

It is hard to compare apples to apples on weight issues.

The GSA has maybe 3 more gallons of gas, thats about 25 lbs.
The GSA comes with ABS standard (per rumors by Britnheavn - Bob), thats about 15 lbs.

So right off, the GSA has at least 40 lbs of what I would call "usefull" weight, as I like the tank range (& you don't have to fill it up if you don't want to) & I would be ordering ABS even if it were an option.

I doubt the standard GS & GSA with the same options, or the standard GS spec'd to include the GSA options, weight much different at all (not including gas).

Post by **socalrob** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:15 pm

Hey Bob, I did Torrey last year from LA with only 2 days off work. You can be "sick" that long.

jonothan · Post by **jonothan** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:02 am

Well, I tried an R1200GS yesterday with ABS.

I tanked it down the Laceby bypass (the A46) at 85mph, and as I approached the roundabout with the A18, I braked hard as I rode over the yellow rumble strips on the approach.

It felt just fine to me. I didn't brake hard enough to engage the ABS but it felt safe and secure enough in my relatively inexperienced hands. I noted the slightly wooden detached feel compared to my non-ABS R850R, but the brakes worked OK.

J