New R1200GS and Airheads

[R100RS]

Did anyone else read about the new R1200GS and think "thank God I'm an Airhead?"

[donkey doctor]

Hello; I am curious of the new technology, and hopeful that it is an improvement, but I can't bring my self to part with my R100/7 which is totally contemporary. A way better bike then I am rider. Full of charm, grace, a willing accomplice. What do people buy motorcycles for? my airhead pleases me, what else could I ask of it?

Having said all that, if I was just getting into motorcycling without any previous prejudices, I would like the latest newest thing.

[fish]

I like the specs...I like the look and design of the new shaft...but that's about it. Overall, it just doesn't do anything for me. I think I'll add an Adventure tank to my GS, and consider myself ahead of the game.

I'm looking forward to adding an R100GSPD to the stable one of these days.

[jdiaz]

My wife and I both have old and new bikes. The K75 is a quantum improvement in ride quality, acceleration, and braking beyond my R65, and the K1200 is another quantum leap beyond the K75.

But the biggest shock when riding a '70-'95 Airhead is just how competent and enjoyable they are as daily drivers. I think they fell behind the curve a bit on electrical output as heated clothing and lighting became popular, but other than that, they are pretty painless bikes to use on a regular basis.

[R100RS]

Originally posted by jdiaz
But the biggest shock when riding a '70-'95 Airhead is just how competent and enjoyable they are as daily drivers.

That really sums it up for me. I'm always toying with the idea of an 1150RT (money aside), but I always come back to "what's wrong with my current bike?" Sure, a little more power and a little more brakes would be nice, but overall, I still don't ride it to 100% of its potential.

I'd have no problems getting on it and riding anywhere in the country. And I wouldn't worry about breaking down in the middle of nowhere and not being anywhere near a BMW dealer.

[knary]

Originally posted by fish
I like the specs...I like the look and design of the new shaft...but that's about it. Overall, it just doesn't do anything for me. I think I'll add an Adventure tank to my GS, and consider myself ahead of the game.

I'm looking forward to adding an R100GSPD to the stable one of these days.

Can I please have both?
(yes, you're buying)

[WesPeterson]

I'm an airhead and oilhead owner - like them for different reasons and wouldn't want to pick one over the other. Part of what would make it hard for me is not so much choosing an airhead over an oilhead, but choosing between the two different purposes my two bikes serve for me. My oilhead GS can more comfortably carry me, my girlfriend and our stuff on long trips and it gets me to the fly fishing spots (an airhead GS could do this as well). I find it more comfortable and fun to ride than airhead Gs's but that's just personal opinion.

My 100S provides a more complete experience - I ride and do all the work on it myself. Working on the bike has brought a whole new dimension to owning motorcycles - I feel I really know that bike. The airheads lend themselves more readily to being your own mechanic. No reason in theory that I couldn't do all the work on my GS but for now it is above my abilities.

If you were to bundle all of the oilheads and all of the airheads together and ask me which I like better as a group that would be easy: airheads. But the oilhead GS is a special bike in my opinion and if I could only own one bike I suspect it would be it. It's an 1100 and I've yet to be tempted to "upgrade" to an 1150 or to the new 1200.

Thankfully, I don't need to choose.

[kbasa]

Good post, Wes.

I've owned oilheads for about 6 years and I can tell you that they're actually pretty easy to work on. I've had our RS apart to do all kinds of stuff and it's really no harder than an airhead.

If you subtract out the necessity for monkeying with carbs and ignition, there's actually not a whole lot left to do.

But yeah, I think Wes is right. It's not really either/or.

[WesPeterson]

Originally posted by KBasa


If you subtract out the necessity for monkeying with carbs and ignition, there's actually not a whole lot left to do.

You are exactly right. Probably better if I said that my airhead needs work more often than my oilhead - in the sense of needing more tinkering to keep it flying properly (a lot of that is due to the fact that the airhead is much older and thus more parts are getting past their prime). As a result I am much more familiar with how the airhead's engine is put together and how to deal with problems. I just haven't had the reason to get inside the GS and as a result it remains a bit of a mystery - to me.

[YB in IN]

But the biggest shock when riding a '70-'95 Airhead is just how competent and enjoyable they are as daily drivers. I think they fell behind the curve a bit on electrical output as heated clothing and lighting became popular, but other than that, they are pretty painless bikes to use on a regular basis.

I use my K75S as a daily driver precisely because I can wear heated clothing and add lights and what not. That make my K-bike more of a daily driver than my airhead was, or at least makes it more comfortable to ride when the mercury falls. This last season I rode my K later in the year, and more consistently than I had my airhead the year before. Also, I've put much less time into the maintenance and general "things going wrong" with the K than the airhead. This isn't to say however that I still don't like to kickstart my dad's /5 and take it for a ride when the weather is nice.

[R80RTJohnny]

Hello,

After reading the article on the new R1200GS I can honestly say YES. I motorcycle for the pleasures it brings and not for all the technology behind it's design. Granted my 86 R80RT is an "antique" compared to the new stuff but it's gets me going (physically and spiritually). I bought into BMW motorcycles because of their elegance and simplicity. Now a new generation of riders will buy BMW motorcycles because of their technological advances. Hooray for them.

In time I will probably join them in purchasing the new stuff but until then I too thank God that I'm and Airhead. After 16 years with bike I still smile when I see and hear it.

Jean

[GlobalRider]

Originally posted by R100RS
Did anyone else read about the new R1200GS and think "thank God I'm an Airhead?"

Nope, never read it.

I've got a 2003 R1150 GS Adventure and am I ever glad I am an Airhead.

I'd never part with my R80 G/S PD or R100 GS.

[srb]

Every time I have to do something to my '79 R100S I think to myself that I should get a new bike (not to replace, but to supplement). I always think that I would feel more secure on a long trip with a new bike. I am not very mechanically inclined, so I am not the airhead that can fix any problem on the side of the road. I love my airhead and always come back to it. Who knows?

[R100RS]

Originally posted by sbrick
Every time I have to do something to my '79 R100S I think to myself that I should get a new bike (not to replace, but to supplement). I always think that I would feel more secure on a long trip with a new bike. I am not very mechanically inclined, so I am not the airhead that can fix any problem on the side of the road. I love my airhead and always come back to it. Who knows?

Give it time (if you want to be the airhead that can fix any problem on the side of the road). I used to lust after the R1100RT, but as each year goes by, I want one (or 1150RT)less and less. I'm above average mechanical-wise, but no expert wrench by any stretch of the imagination. After 6+ years of airhead ownership, and doing virtually all of the work on it myself, I can safely say that I would have no problem hopping on and riding anywhere in the country (and not worry about being stuck on the side of the road). I would pickup a few spares before doing so, though.

If you DO want to learn more, join the airheads, subscribe to the airlist, and go to local airhead functions. I've learned so much just by hanging out (for real or virtually) with other airheads and just doing the work. Plus, by doing so, you get to know your bike like you never imagined.

[braddog]

I read the article and thought that I would like to have the new GS to supplement my old airhead, but I rather doubt that I'll part with it any time soon.

I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but always do my own basic maintenance, i.e. oil and filter, air filter, basic fluid changes, etc. To be honest, I'd really like to get a newer machine so that I feel a little more confident on the road, especially if riding distances. I'd also like a little more power.

I suspect my next Beemer purchase will be a GS, but doubt that it will be the new 1200.