Roadster Rockster Comparo

[MikeCam]

Search did its usual full featured failure...

Anybody remember the links/pointers for the Roadster Rockster differences?

Here is what I remember:

Roadster = standard set up on GS frame with lowered suspension, standard seat at 31.5" 61.9 degrees rake and 5" trail. 5" rear wheel and 170/60/17 rear tire.

Rockster same as Roadster except: seat at 32.9, R1100S forks, 63 degrees rake, 5" trail, 5.5 " rear wheel and 180/55 17 tire. GS headlamp and instrument cluster. Smallish gnat screen. And funky paint scheme.

Same shocks, same Alternator, same engine tuning. Same kill switch!

[riceburner]

Gearing is different.

Rockster has the same top gear as the R1150GS Adventure - it's shorter than standard

[drevil]

also i recall soomething about the rockster having a better "sport" shaft drive. not sure if this is true or not.

[DJ Downunder]

The Rockster has a bigger mojo...

DJ

[Lion_Lady]

Search did its usual full featured failure...

Anybody remember the links/pointers for the Roadster Rockster differences?

Here is what I remember:

Roadster = standard set up on GS frame with lowered suspension, standard seat at 31.5" 61.9 degrees rake and 5" trail. 5" rear wheel and 170/60/17 rear tire.

Rockster same as Roadster except: seat at 32.9, R1100S forks, 63 degrees rake, 5" trail, 5.5 " rear wheel and 180/55 17 tire. GS headlamp and instrument cluster R1100S Instrument cluster, including self-cancelling turn signals. Smallish gnat screen NO SCREEN. And funky paint scheme.

Same shocks sportier shocks, same Alternator, same engine tuning. Same kill switch!

[duke]

Smallish gnat screen.

NO SCREEN

Probably MikeCam had his beer goggles at the time!

[MikeCam]

Gearing changes and shorter paralever arm.

LL, Thanks for the catch on instruments from R1100S vice GS. And the self-canceling feature. But the shocks? Which ones versus the R1150R version? Also R1100S?

What do you call that plastic cover in front of the instrument cluster if not a fly screen?

[duke]

instrument cluster cover I suppose ...

it is anything but a screen (unless you have seen some aftermarket add-on stuff)

the gnats end up on our jacket/helmet/trousers ... the Rockster is pure roadster - you, all the headwind and all the bugs, no protection!

I have made the foolish mistake to go out of town on a 200 mile trip with synthetic mesh/aero summer suit 10 days ago ... BIG MISTAKE ... cleaning leathers is messy job ... cleaning mesh suit is impossible ... ended up washing it in the washing machine!

Cheers

[MikeCam]

Road GS frame Rock same as Roadster
Upright handle bars Rock flat bars, slightly wider
shorter suspension than GS Rock shorter paralevel arm - higher rear
31.5 seat height Rock 32.9 seat height
61.9 rake Rock 63.0 rake R1100S forks
5" trail Rock 5" trail
5" rear wheel 170/60 tire Rock 5.5" wheel 180/55 tire
700 watt alt Rock 700 watt alt
torque tuned boxer engine Rock same tuning
6 spd overdrive tranny Rock 6 spd lower 6 tranny ala GSADV
Locomotive headlamp Rock GS headlamp cluster
R1100R instrunment cluster Rock R1100S instrument cluster
std switchgear Rock self canceling TS switchgear
early models rubber brake hoses Rock SS brake lines
standard Roadster shocks w/ adj Rock sport shocks (R1100S?) w adj


Any errors?

[jon pierce]

So, it seems that we all agree that essentially the Rockster (& Roadster) are very similar to the GS, sure, shock lengths might be longer, different wheels etc - but essentailly they have the same or similar components. In fact the only thing the GS has extra seems to be the screen - all agreed?.

So, my question is this - why oh why does the GS cost SO MUCH more when new??

My answer - BMW are having our pants down - the GS is so very popular that they cam charge a premium.............I have had many GS machines sice the late 1980s and loved them............now I have a Rockster and love it as well, more so having just attended the BMW meeting in Vermont with more than 8,000 visitors - walking amogst my fellow campers I counted about 5 Rocksters and 5,000 GSs - boy, I love being special!

[chipko]

... the indicators self-cancel? Mine don't appear to (but I might be turning them off too quickly anyway).

[riceburner]

... the indicators self-cancel? Mine don't appear to (but I might be turning them off too quickly anyway).

should be after about 200 yards.


I do know that the Rockster Paralever is longer than the GS arm - because I have a GS length arm on my Rockster.

[placey]

if, as jon says, the rockster is so similar to the gs that it could be a gs variant, then why do the bike press rave so much about the gs and either ignore or slate the rockster?

bike magazine has been less than complimentry about the r1200r roadster this month too - so it doesn't look likely the press stance on these bikes will change in the not too distant future...

paul

[cworley5150]

I do know that the Rockster Paralever is longer than the GS arm - because I have a GS length arm on my Rockster.

Just wondering . . . What is the benifit of doing this? Does it give more ground clearance?

[riceburner]

if, as jon says, the rockster is so similar to the gs that it could be a gs variant, then why do the bike press rave so much about the gs and either ignore or slate the rockster?

bike magazine has been less than complimentry about the r1200r roadster this month too - so it doesn't look likely the press stance on these bikes will change in the not too distant future...

paul

if it can't do 195mph on one wheel round a hairpin, it's crap.

[riceburner]

I do know that the Rockster Paralever is longer than the GS arm - because I have a GS length arm on my Rockster.

Just wondering . . . What is the benifit of doing this? Does it give more ground clearance?

And steepens the steering angle slightly.

[rockster.ch]

... the indicators self-cancel? Mine don't appear to (but I might be turning them off too quickly anyway).

12 flashes unless you're doing low speed tip-turning and then it'll stay on