R1250GS or V Strom 650
Discussion
Yes it's my almost yearly banging on about the possibility of a big BMW boxer. I've been doing this since they were air cooled 
Fed up of lockdown and realising I had only put 300 miles on the Vespa 300 since the last MOT as it's only used for commuting and during Covid work has given me a parking space, I really want to blow some of my not big enough to be of any real use pension pot and get a big bike again.
I was looking at the GS1250 but I still can't justify £15k on a secondhand bike plus after test riding and hiring GSs over the years, I know it'll slow me down in London traffic.
I want one but it's a s
t load of money. I bought a new car only the other day for £10,500. Ok it's a Dacia Duster but it's actually a very good little car.
So my Harley riding neighbour keeps banging on about the V Strom and how her biking mates get on with them when they (used to) go touring.
What does anyone here think? I've seen them new for £8k but I don't think there's any stuff included like hand guards and heated grips. I'm old and my hands suffer.
Being an inline V twin it's nice and narrow for traffic.
I was so bored and fed up the other day that if there had been an open dealer close to me I would have been straight down there with my credit card.
Fed up of lockdown and realising I had only put 300 miles on the Vespa 300 since the last MOT as it's only used for commuting and during Covid work has given me a parking space, I really want to blow some of my not big enough to be of any real use pension pot and get a big bike again.
I was looking at the GS1250 but I still can't justify £15k on a secondhand bike plus after test riding and hiring GSs over the years, I know it'll slow me down in London traffic.
I want one but it's a s
t load of money. I bought a new car only the other day for £10,500. Ok it's a Dacia Duster but it's actually a very good little car. So my Harley riding neighbour keeps banging on about the V Strom and how her biking mates get on with them when they (used to) go touring.
What does anyone here think? I've seen them new for £8k but I don't think there's any stuff included like hand guards and heated grips. I'm old and my hands suffer.
Being an inline V twin it's nice and narrow for traffic.
I was so bored and fed up the other day that if there had been an open dealer close to me I would have been straight down there with my credit card.
I can’t comment on the v strom but I’ve got that engine in a Sv and find it great. Likes to rev and has character. On an 80 mph motorway run it easily does 70+mpg. B road ragging is still an easy 60mpg.
It’s only a 650 so you don’t get a slug of torque but it still does 0-60 in 3 second bracket and standing qtr in 11s. I think it would only feel relatively slow on roundabout linked dual carriageways.
Its one of those bikes that you should have a ride on to see if it suits you.
It’s only a 650 so you don’t get a slug of torque but it still does 0-60 in 3 second bracket and standing qtr in 11s. I think it would only feel relatively slow on roundabout linked dual carriageways.
Its one of those bikes that you should have a ride on to see if it suits you.
spareparts said:
Don’t understand how a boxer twin is any harder to filter in London compared with an inline v-twin. Handlebars are the same’ish width. If you can’t filter with a boxer twin, you won’t be able to filter with an inline twin. Nothing to do with the bike.
Cars do tend to be slightly narrower at handlebar/mirror height. It's also easier to "wiggle" bars and mirrors around obstructions. Also, being a narrower bike allows handlebar width to be narrower without losing proportionality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_R1200GS
width 953 mm
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/Suzuk...
width 865 mm
The Boxer engine just mentally stops me going for gaps and it just feels wider than all the across the frame 4s that I've owned.
But then I've only ridden a GS a couple of days in total.
I used to dispatch ride on a GPz900R back in the 80s.
Many a time I've been stuck behind a modern BMW GS in heavy traffic when I know I can fit on my Japanese or Triumph 4 or triple.
Saying that, I have seen the odd GS move through London traffic like a Boss. I think the kids say.
But then I've only ridden a GS a couple of days in total.
I used to dispatch ride on a GPz900R back in the 80s.
Many a time I've been stuck behind a modern BMW GS in heavy traffic when I know I can fit on my Japanese or Triumph 4 or triple.
Saying that, I have seen the odd GS move through London traffic like a Boss. I think the kids say.
croyde said:
The Boxer engine just mentally stops me going for gaps and it just feels wider than all the across the frame 4s that I've owned.
But then I've only ridden a GS a couple of days in total.
I used to dispatch ride on a GPz900R back in the 80s.
Many a time I've been stuck behind a modern BMW GS in heavy traffic when I know I can fit on my Japanese or Triumph 4 or triple.
Saying that, I have seen the odd GS move through London traffic like a Boss. I think the kids say.
A GS will never be a narrow sports bike, but ignore the boxer heads and it filters just fineBut then I've only ridden a GS a couple of days in total.
I used to dispatch ride on a GPz900R back in the 80s.
Many a time I've been stuck behind a modern BMW GS in heavy traffic when I know I can fit on my Japanese or Triumph 4 or triple.
Saying that, I have seen the odd GS move through London traffic like a Boss. I think the kids say.
I had a V-Strom 650 for my commute and only sold it when I started working from home due to the pandemic. When I start back in the office I will be buying another V-Strom 650, I find them very comfortable, easy to filter and I was getting about 270 miles to a tank which I like for the convenience of not having to fill up everyday.
SINNIS 380 Terrain?
Shall i get my coat, but much like your Duster its had a good 'underdog' write up.
https://overlandmag.com/features/sinnis-t380-terra...
Shall i get my coat, but much like your Duster its had a good 'underdog' write up.
https://overlandmag.com/features/sinnis-t380-terra...
I commute in to central London each day from Kent (although not for a few months!!) on a GS1200 and whilst the width does sometimes mean I can't filter it isn't much of an issue most of the time. I just move out of the way and let the smaller bikes through. I don't reckon I lose much time. Also, the low down weight, turning circle and torquey engine mean the GS is seriously easy to manoeuvre at low speeds so it pretty easy to handle in traffic. So I wouldn't be put off by the dimensions.
As to whether you should buy one, well that's a subjective point. I would say though that they are popular for a reason. I was a sceptic until I rode one. I'd always been on sports bikes. Tested a Ducati Multistrada and Honda Africa Twin but landed on the GS as it has so much character compared to the others, enginewise mainly. Sounds like a grunting pig and flicks sideways when you start it etc. In a slick modern ubiquitous world the GS is an oddball with character, but still manages to be a fantastic handling, comfortable bike.
As to whether you should buy one, well that's a subjective point. I would say though that they are popular for a reason. I was a sceptic until I rode one. I'd always been on sports bikes. Tested a Ducati Multistrada and Honda Africa Twin but landed on the GS as it has so much character compared to the others, enginewise mainly. Sounds like a grunting pig and flicks sideways when you start it etc. In a slick modern ubiquitous world the GS is an oddball with character, but still manages to be a fantastic handling, comfortable bike.
I'm still debating.....again 
Was on the Motorrad page early and it seems my brain has finally adjusted to the idea of a motorbike costing well over £11k.
Brand new 1250 £1370, so man maths kicks in but I forgot, that's the base bike. Price rockets as you add some packages.
I'll only want heated grips, hand protectors and I guess the fancy suspension is extra.
So looking at the 1200 at 3 to 4 years old.
Was on the Motorrad page early and it seems my brain has finally adjusted to the idea of a motorbike costing well over £11k.
Brand new 1250 £1370, so man maths kicks in but I forgot, that's the base bike. Price rockets as you add some packages.
I'll only want heated grips, hand protectors and I guess the fancy suspension is extra.
So looking at the 1200 at 3 to 4 years old.
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