A 'do everything' bike and the demise of the 11S?

[Gromit]

Proper bike! Nice!

Agreed - and much better looking now they've lobbed those mingin' white wheels.

Just needs an Akra 4-1 system, Ohlins shocks...

Having said that, I think I prefer the Kwak ZRX12R - in bogey green of course. Eh...proper motorbikes...like when men were men, and the sheep were scared...(calm down Gus)

[RoLoo]

http://www.lerepairedesmotards.com/actu ... sx1400.htm

...a few pictures more...

...I bought almost, almost such a Suzi before I bought my S...

[bmwonder]

As you say proper man's bike. I going out to get a tattoo and kick over a scooter.

Needs to be ridden wearing a nylon paddock jacket and a pair of dunlop green flash trainers (only 36p a month for 800 months!). Watneys "Party Seven" anyone?

[RiceBurner]

Oooh! Good thread.

What BMW is equally at home;

Daily commuting
Two-up touring
Sunday blasting
Saturday afternoon shop trip
Handful of trackdays per year

The only beemer that comes close in the new range is the GS (I guess that the Rockster is not really part of the new range anymore?). THe only other one is the F800, but that's not really a BMW as we all know!

If your looking outside of BMW then for the money it would have to be an SV 1000. I don't think that there's a better value bike available anywhere. You get two for the price of one R1200S!!!

Was about to say... ROCKSTER!! But you beat me to it.

Can't think of anything yet (from any manufacturer in the last 10 years) that equals it.

[Jason M]

There isn't one now,and there never will be.

I reckon each bike is about compromises, and we all just happen to agree with the ones the S makes. None have us have ridden the new one yet so how can we really tell what it's mixture of compromises is? Talking purely dynamically, I'm bloody sure it will be able to do all the S does and probably a lot more. You think the seat is too compromised - get another seat. You think the luggage is compromised - get different luggage. You don't like the back end, get a big bugger off 'look at me' exhaust (I'd have one of those btw!) If something is more important, then you can probably come to a compromise using the new bike as an excellent platform.

I think the question might be... what would YOU have said should have been done to the S successor? What is it that YOU would want improving? If they had done nothing but given the same again for more money with nothing gmore than a 'tech refresh' then I'm sure we'd have wanted more.

Jason

[Gromit]

I think the question might be... what would YOU have said should have been done to the S successor? What is it that YOU would want improving? If they had done nothing but given the same again for more money with nothing gmore than a 'tech refresh' then I'm sure we'd have wanted more.

Jason

I think that's an extremely valid point. I'd have wanted perhaps another 10-15 bhp, but LOADS more torque - something I reckon you can't have too much of. Let's face it, a Boxer twin is never going to give huge numbers in the bhp dept simply because it's too chock full of compromises, but one thing it does have is bags of midrange.

The look of the new bike is growing on me, albeit slowly, but to carry on the 11S's mantle it would have to have been more long-distance & luggage-capable. Oh...and give it a Duolever front end too - I was well impressed with on the K12S

[Ade B]

what would YOU have said should have been done to the S successor?

My 2p

A more progressive evolution of the design - current S is solid looking and has a nice balance between the metal bits and the plastic bits (front view of fairing aside) and for a hefty lump has a tidy rear... New S wide of the mark here...

A hugger as standard

A bit more oomph and a bit less lard

More protection from the screen

Same luggage/ pillion capacity

Stainless fasteners

Self cleaning paint....

Same relative low level of stealableness

Group 12 insurance

Wouldn't change much really, the current design has aged ok imho (compared with 7 year old jap tackle) and with tweaking/ sharpening up could have been updated without much fuss.

Weight loss and motor tweaks would have made the most difference. (which I suppose has been done with the new S...)

Ade

[sandbar]

A hugger as standard

:wink: NO WAY!!!

sandbar

[bmwonder]

Self cleaning paint....

But it has this. It doesn't stay on long enough to get dirty.

[minivin]

...how about this ; believe me, it can do everything !
(torque, torque, torque !!)

Suzuki's GSX 1400 F



(...and keep the S for fun)

A friends got one, calipers seize, bolts rot in the forks and shear, chains don't last long, suspension sags, and he uses it all year round as his main bike so he keeps muttering about putting the Bandit1200 back on the road

[NA1959]

Chaps as per all the comments I have been trying to make up my mind on what BMW to buy! Tried the 1200GS and loved it bar was light at front end on Motorways and suffered from side winds. Otherwise A/B roads fantistic.

Tried the 12oo ST on same day and while more stable, was a bugger to turn into courners, ran wide and jsut felt large and bulky!

Also was scared of the 1200 new electrics and the fact that BMW do not want you to touch the bike, no tool kit as standard etc. Cost specked up over 10K

So as the proposed 1200S was much like my fireblade it also was dismissed.

After 8 months of a search bought a mint 2003 twin spark 1100S with 2000 miles one owner from new , and I am realy happy with my choice (and the wife fits on the back), also saved myself at least 5 K.

Can still work at the bike and have had it in bits already !!

[bmwonder]

Sounds like you made a great choice.