BMW 1200 GS ADVENTURE TOURING REVIEWS

Bike details  2007 model year BMW GS 1200 Adventure. (scroll down for bike sale details)
Difference between previous models / 2006 model Adventurer's? - A BMW source advises me that BMW made a few tweaks to the gearbox and engine management, equating to smoother gear changes & reduction to gearbox noise that other riders have noticed on earlier pre 07 models. Initially tempted by the prospect of saving a few Euros by going for a nice used 2006 model, I'd spent a few months searching classifieds, & BMW agents in my quest to find the perfect touring 1200 Adventure!
Here's what I learned along the way & why a new 07 model suddenly gained in appeal;

1. After chatting with a few fellow BMW owners I was reliably informed that there has been quite a few reported instances of pre-07 BMW's failing to stop at roundabouts, resulting in more than damaged pride. Apparently an often cause being the fact that pre 07 BMW's are fitted with a brake servo which relies on being electronically convinced that it's happy to work every time the bike is started. Should the rider decide to ride off before this feat of electro-wizardry be performed to the satisfaction of the bikes brain - the brakes may decide not to work that well! I'm told that one of the warnings the bike gives is failing to stop at the next junction! All perfectly safe I'm sure - providing you follow the manual precisely.
2. My reliable BMW friend informed me that BMW has decided to remove the servo facility from the 2007 model year bikes. Apparently it's not really needed anymore!! So, I can confirm on my bike - should I decide to ride off immediately I start the bike without waiting for the full safety pre check,
my brakes have always worked. Furthermore they work with such power and precision that the bike stops quicker than you can think, with barely any front end dive. The way these BMW's brake with the whole bike seemingly just sitting down a little under heavy braking is worth stopping for a sudden coffee for just to experience.
3. Still on the braking issue; older GS 1200's will not brake without the engine running. When asking owners what they thought about this, in a quest to sell their bike? would happily state that they always start their engine before going anywhere!! sounds obvious doesn't it! after all what idiot what attempt to ride such a heavy expensive machine without starting the engine? Actually I do, and I can pretty much guarantee that should you wish to use your GS for the purpose it was built, you probably will as well!
It's amazing what things we all do on motorbikes without thinking. Subconsciously making small decisions which go totally un noticed. ie, we get on the bike, lift the side stand and right the bike ready to start. Having parked on a slight incline - or not so slight! we instinctively pull the front brake to hold the bike steady. Who always starts the engine first!? or having stopped the bike for coffee break, we then decide that we prefer the look of
parking a few metres (because we're in Europe now :_) further down the road. So we just roll a little further without restarting the engine.
Finally, imagine the worst case scenario on that around the world expedition, we need to get the bike transported by truck or train requiring the bike to be wheeled up & down a ramp. Again on older bikes, you would probably want to have the engine running whereas lack of running engine might just be the reason that you're trying to wheel it up the ramp in the first place!?
If you're the proud owner of a 2006 model I'm sure none of these things will be causing you too much trouble because that's what bikers do; we're adaptable resourceful creatures. That's why we're able to travel long distances at high speed on two wheels in pouring rain & still smile when we stop for fuel and water pours out of our wallets instead of cash. If you're riding 1000 miles per year on sunny days for a fun ride out to the coast (and amazingly that's what a great many world going GS riders do) then most of the above will be barely noticeable. If you're riding 1000 miles every other day for weeks on end (and amazingly that's what a great many world going GS riders do) then you'll certainly notice these things and probably be more than happy to pay a few pounds extra for the improvements on the 07 model.

Globe rider 2007 1200 GS Adventure - FOR SALE from June 2008 ABS / spot Lights / Garmin GPS Sat Nav & AutoCom (available separately) Htd Grips / Touratech light protector / Touratech oil cooler protector
Very well run in, 1 owner from new (me!) BMW service history / BMW Warranty & Euro assist until March 2009.
New rear brakes just fitted & new version Metzler rear tyre (rides much smoother with stunning grip)
Now bedding in nicely with 20,000 miles - all on long distance tour rides throughout Europe to Budapest. Engine is very smooth & powerful, a real noticable difference to a new bike > much smoother & free reving. My 07 bike actually feels to be producing more power than the 2008 model! & at 20k is just loosening up nicely. (General feeling on these boxer engines is that they start to fully run in & loosen up from 30000! Very minimal oil consumpion (aprox 1/2 ltr per 3000 miles) - well below average!! Always run on the correct grade BMW Castrol GP oil. Tel, Steve on: 07788 101144 or e mail: contact@globerider.co.uk
Offers over £9199 including next full BMW service (full set of BMW metal luggage with locks: £770) or £695 with bike.
** £150 discount off any GlobeRider East European tour also available to purchaser of the bike)

2008 model GS ADVENTURE
Very few changes for the 2008 GS Model
Mainly a tweak to the power delivery? any one notice a difference?? Lower first gear ratio - available option.
+ a few very minor cosmetic tweaks
= that's why they hold there value - because BMW make few changes
Why change something that is already right!

Useful GS touring extras
What's BMW's metal luggage really like to use? pro's & con's - well, we've just been told by a BMW dealer that it's not actually fully waterproof!
Our experience is that the BMW luggage can actually leak. In fact my original set used to fill with about 2-3 cm's of water everytime it rained heavy!
Another tour member, experienced exactly the same problem & actually managed to get his luggage exchanged for a newer updated version, which BMW are not currently acknowledging exists!!? ** I have also had my luggage exchanged for the NEW SPEC set - with an upgrade to the seals & can report that these do a better job of keeping out the wet. Strangely - the top box as always been perfect - 100 % watertight :_)

Top tips for carrying your touring kit.
SAT NAV - advice & review with details of how find your way around the whole of the UK, Europe and eastern Europe without the expense of BMW's
Garmin based system. Also, some useful tips for Mac based users!

Running in - for high mileage GS touring . . . without excessive oil consumption!
Does it make a difference? why do we need to run a new bike in? I'm not keeping the bike very long, it wont effect me will it?
What's the best way to run a GS in?
What effect will I notice in the bike?
. . . . watch this space!

GS servicing & oil options

Synthetic, semi synthetic, mineral based. 10/40 15/40 20/50 - what's the difference? what effect does it have on the bike? why bother?
Watch this space!
This one takes a while to unravel - since virtually every BMW dealer will have their own unique opinion - & their all right. The bottom line seems to be that BMW recommend mineral oil for at the very least, the 1st 10 000 miles - ideally 2 services worth / or 12 000 miles to fully enable the engine to bed in correctly. Synthetic oils make this more difficult due to the fact that the oil fills the peaks & troughs a little better than mineral based, meaning that the GS boxer engine struggles to fully bed in correctly - at it's most critical point, those first 10 000 miles.

So - the OFFICIAL BMW LINE appears to be that the correct oil to use is: CASTROL GP 20/50 'the thick red stuff'
Basically what BMW advise in their service book - but many dealers appear not to addear to themselves . . . . emmm oil company deals!!??

With 6000 mile oil changes there is no benefit in using more expensive synthetic oil + the thicker 20/50 suits the GS at higher temperatures
more common now in the UK & usual on the continent.

These engines are good, as are most oils nowadays - & truth is that semi synthetic is mainly mineral based anyway - BUT USUALLY a thinner oil better suited to moderate temperature ranges. Again as per the BMW handbook 20/40 is ok around the 0 degree range, whereas 20/50 will take you to 20 degrees.

Finally, on the issue of high oil consumption on the GS boxer engines; both 1150 GS & 1200 GS:
Some riders have reported using 1 litre per 1000 miles - that's a lot of oil to carry on your tour!
Correctly, well run in GS's using Castrol GP 20/50 from new have reported using 1 litre per 6000 miles or less.
YOU CHOOSE!

Service schedules & Costs

1st service: BMW Budapest Motors @ 6231 miles
Cost: £120

2nd Service: awaiting at 12500 miles - initially we've had 4 quotes to do the service:
Prices quoted have varied by as much as 50%! with each BMW dealer suggesting a different level of service at the 1 year / 12000 mile interval!
We had one quotes of: £200 / £243 / £300 & under £200! - with the under £200 doing the same service as the dealer quoting £300 suggested!
Again - YOU DECIDE . . . Accept the first price & service the dealer gives - or get a comparison!? What ever happened to fixed price menu servicing!?
Awaiting BMW'S official response . . . . . ??