Interesting GS comparison

[KBasa]

I thought it was neat, anyway. The oilhead vs. airhead debate rages on, ten years later.

:thumb

City Bike Magazine (http://www.citybike.com/303/gs.htm)

[GlobalRider]

Originally posted by KBasa
The oilhead vs. airhead debate rages on, ten years later.


I don't really know what there is to debate, though.:dunno

If I were going around the world and crossing through some pretty remote areas, I'd want a simple, dependable, roadside fixable motorcycle.

The R80 G/S wins that category.

[sfdave]

I agree with alex, not much to debate. I love my 1150gs for eating up miles of twisties and not much dirt. It's manageable on firetrails and sloppy unpaved roads, but way too heavy for all day dirt stuff - especially with the stock tires. Another BMW that needs a diet.

Also, used to think it was reliable - meaning, even being quirky about seals etc (1100), it would never strand you. Then after input spline failure at 10k on my 1150, I started questioning even the reliability.

That said, I still love my GS.

My .02
Dave (SF)

[GlobalRider]

Originally posted by sfdave
Then after input spline failure at 10k on my 1150, I started questioning even the reliability.
Dave (SF)
Please don't tell me that, Dave. I am waiting for my new GS Adventure to come in; also my first oilhead.

I don't worry about failures that don't leave me stranded, like a Valeo starter that drops a magnet. I've had to push start my R100 GS twice in eleven years, but I always made it home. Now a fuel pump or driveshaft failure, thats a different matter that I would worry about.

[sfdave]

I know it won't happen to you:lol

Dealer thought imput shaft wasn't properly hardened etc. Thank God I was close to home and wasn't off in Death Valley like the City Bike guys. (though standing on side of freeway with blinkers on, while HD riders kept blowing past waving, wasn't exactly fun)

Alex, why the wait on the Adventure, all Bay Area dealers seem to have at least one in stock. Is there a shortage in Canada?

Dave

[GlobalRider]

Originally posted by sfdave
I know it won't happen to you:lol

...standing on side of freeway with blinkers on, while HD riders kept blowing past waving, wasn't exactly fun.
Ahhh, let them blow by and wave. Did you know that 80% of Harleys are still on the road? They haven't made it home yet.:D



Originally posted by sfdave
Alex, why the wait on the Adventure, all Bay Area dealers seem to have at least one in stock. Is there a shortage in Canada?

Nope, no shortage, I just wanted to get one the way I wanted it.

I ordered it without the "blacked out" engine and transmission cases (I hate black) which is standard on the GSA and an option on the regular GS.

I also asked that the blue anodized rims be deleted even though there is no "delete code" for them. I also went for the Metzeler Tourance tires.

I also ordered the "Enduro" transmission. I think a low 1st gear, even for everyday city traffic is more desireable. I also didn't need the tall 6th gear because I usually tour at 60 to 70 mph. I plotted all six gear ratios for both available transmissions on Excel and compared them to my R100 GS which I find just right.

[MarkF]

Originally posted by Global Rider
If I were going around the world and crossing through some pretty remote areas, I'd want a simple, dependable, roadside fixable motorcycle.

The R80 G/S wins that category.

Gotta agree with that. I think I heard that they still sell it off road only in South Africa. Too bad they can't make a modern airhead. The old reliable motor with modern brakes and shocks. Heck, that's what The Motor Company did and Triumph just started doing.

Mark

[GlobalRider]

Originally posted by Eric Blume
I am also a big R80G/S fan however I experienced the dreaded ignition can failure last year. I bought a couple pick-ups and I am finally getting around to take the thing apart for repair.
Hi Eric,

Have you seen Frank Warner's twin Hall effect sensor modification? Check it out at http://www.geocities.com/fwarner_au/mc_things/bmwr_ign_sensor.html

The following site describes an ignition Hall effect replacement:
http://www.deathstar.org/~flash/ig_trig.html


Originally posted by Eric Blume
My oilhead is the most reliable machine I have ever owned.

I'm glad to hear that because I have one on the way.

Reliability has its place, but under certain conditions, I'm not willing to give up roadside repairability for reliability. For example, I'd sooner play with a set of points every once in a while, than sit next to my motorcycle in the middle of nowhere even if it means one failure every ten years. That doesn't mean I want a set of points in my GSA though, but if I were heading across Africa, I'd want good old fashioned "plain and simple".