BUYING It’s not the quickest bike in the world, but you’ll So easy to be surprised how fast ride one you can ride it quicklyy Pillions love it as well Bike chooser 42 OCTOBER 2006 0042-04642-046 BBikeike CChooserhooser GGS.inddS.indd 4422 33/8/06/8/06 99:23:24:23:24 aamm 1999-05 BMW 250-mile tank range R1150GS Big, stable, steady and composed enough to humble fl ightier bikes. But surely life’s not all beer and skittles with an 1150GS Words Tim Skilton Pictures RiDE archive here are few bikes with a bigger In 2004, actors Ewan McGregor and following than BMW’s R1150GS. Charley Boorman cemented the GS’ hardy TOwners absolutely love them. Just take reputation by riding a pair of GS Adventures a look behind the bike’s ungainly façade and on their trans-global trip. it’s easy to see why. Robust, rugged and The GS is reputed to be as hard wearing as perfect in almost any situation. The GS will a ship’s anchor, but in reality the build quality forever be a motorcycling legend. is dubious, particularly the painted parts, as Its roots go back to the original R80GS, shown by our readers’ comments. That motor created in 1980, inventing a niche of its own. Production of the 1150 ran from July 1999 Plenty have tried to emulate the GS since but to the end of 2003, with the Adventure goes on none have captured its mysterious lure. model surviving through 2004 and 05. It So what is it that makes them so popular? replaced the already popular R1100GS. A forever The GS is a big, comfortable road bike with new front fairing, dashboard and lighter attitude. It’s useable, reasonably quick and Telelever suspension sat up front. An 1130cc exudes the same sort of ‘don’t mess with me’ engine used cylinders from the R1200C aura as a bullbar-clad Land Rover. Ride a GS cruiser while heads, cams and crankshaft and everyone will think you’re heading out came from the R1100S. A six-speed gearbox on a multi-thousand-mile mission. Even if gave easier cruising with fewer revs and a you’re just popping to the shop for teabags. redesigned rear subframe sat next to a Ask any owner what they think and you’ll shorter paralever swingarm. usually be bombarded with praise, even if The 1150 was sturdier, more powerful but their bike’s been far from perfect. Then take also weighed a whopping 10kg more than its a shufti at the resale values. It’s one of the predecessor. The weight makes it the least least depreciating bikes of all-time, whether trail-oriented of the GS family, but the power it’s covered two or twenty thousand miles. and stability make it hell of a good road bike. It’s never mentioned in the ‘what’se. Better the than most beautiful bike ever?’ debat most BMWs, though OCTOBER 2006 43 0042-04642-046 BBikeike CChooserhooser GGS.inddS.indd 4433 33/8/06/8/06 11:08:47:08:47 ppmm BUYING Bike Braver riders hit the trails on an 1150, but chooser most stick to the roads Standard lights are rubbish! Check lock stops for damage Final drive in doubt get a professional to inspect Engine as either the pistons are loose or the The critical area on any Boxer is the the bike before buying. A well-maintained Boxer engine will big-end bearings are knackered. drivetrain. Almost anything else A clunk in the rear bevel drive easily do 100,000 miles before it If the bike’s left on the sidestand for should be reasonably cheap and easy means either the crown wheel and needs signifi cant work. We’ve had any length of time, oil drains down to fi x, but a broken fi nal drive can get pinion or the rear wheel drive splines reports of bikes covering 300,000 into the left combustion chamber, very expensive. are damaged. Rectifying either miles with no serious engine work which results in a billowing cloud of To check it’s OK, put the bike on the problem can cost around £300-£400 needed. A poorly maintained bike will smoke when you next fi re it up. This centrestand and grasp the rear wheel. and it’s a specialist job. Alternatively, need attention much sooner. smoke is never terminal, it’s the Rotate it back and forth, listening you can fi nd a good used replacement There should be a noticeable tappet engine burning the oil out as it carefully all along the drive train. for £100-150 and fi t it yourself. noise. This is normal. There will also warms, and it should clear in a minute Using a piece of wooden dowel, as you Serious clunks in the gearbox (more be a light ticking from the barrels. or two. Check for smoke again after a would a stethoscope, helps as a than the normal slack between gears) This is normal, too. Some bikes have a test ride. If it continues to smoke, or listening aid. Knocking or grinding will require a rebuild or replacement louder noise than others. A heavy smokes from both sides, the rings, noises mean there’s a problem, so if box, usually costing around £400. knocking from the barrels is serious bores or valve guides are worn. The ! THE HISTORY OF THE GS Great Good Ok The one to buy 1980 R80G/S 1988 R100GS 1994 R1100GS 1999 R1150GS 2001 R1150GS It’s 800cc, reasonably light and A bigger engine, larger petrol A revised engine producing Extra power (now 85bhp) and Adventure extremely competent. The tank and oil cooler took the GS another 20bhp, Telelever front more weight (219kg) took the Longer-travel suspension, R80GS was used on many theme to the next stage. Many suspension and Captain Beaky GS to new heights. It proved a bigger fuel tank and huge transglobal expeditions and still prefer the R80 though as mudguard heralded the launch better road bike but was more panniers. It also weighed over created a new class of machine. it’s more nimble. of the R1100GS. diffi cult on loose terrain. 250kg dry. Heave! 44 OCTOBER 2006 0042-04642-046 BBikeike CChooserhooser GGS.inddS.indd 4444 33/8/06/8/06 55:06:43:06:43 ppmm R1150GS 1999-05 Meet the owners... mileage. Upgrade the lights as well as the stock ones are like a candle in a hurricane.” I bought one Bad points: “A few issues with fork-brace Oliver Newby- corrosion and a major issue with lunching Robinson, R1150GS the gearbox and shaft as I was in the middle Adventure of overtaking an HGV. That underpant-fi lling Mileage: 100,000 moment cost £1200 to sort out. Not a Good points: The squeak of a problem since. Just use 20w 50 engines are good oil (a fi ver a pot) and change it often.” for 200,000 miles and more if looked after. I should know having I bought one done 236,000 on a R1100RS. Get a dealer Tony Williams, 47 Pull the wheel back and problems might be revealed with oil leaking from the rubber cover bike with a AUB (approved used BMW R1150GS warranty) and it will be fi xed quickly and Year: 2003 GS has Nickasil-coated bores so they thin and metal parts look tatty in no without fuss. Owners tend to be a little more Mileage: 28000 can’t be rebored. New barrels and time. Suspension and engine paint are mature so there’s less chance it’s been Good points: “It’s pistons are the only answer. criticised too. thrashed. No matter what I do to it, the GS brilliant for touring still comes back for more. I’ve crashed it on and comfortable for Oil Exhaust and off road and it’s as solid as a rock. It’s the long days in the The fl at twin motor commonly Akrapovic and Remus are popular Humvee of the biking world. All-day comfy saddle. Panniers consumes 500ml per 1000 miles replacements. They cost £600-800 with enough poke to keep me amused. and a Hein Gericke when new. Unusually, they get better for a conversion. Expect 8-10bhp The Adventure tank is wonderful; 350miles- tankbag mean I can with age. Steer clear of fully-synth oil, extra. Both systems do away with the plus I’ve also got the alloy wheels from a carry all my camping which is better for high-revving fours. catalytic converter. A Remus Y-piece R1150RT, which gives me a huge tyre choice necessities – including a chair! ditches the cat, giving a throatier over the standard spoked rims. It’s running It has lots of road presence so is unlikely to Electrics sound and small power increase. This BT020s at present. I’ve tried D207s, Conti be overlooked or ignored. It has good tank Check the battery as they’re can cause a popping on the overrun. Road Attacks and MEZ4 and Z6 and I’ve range and reasonable fuel economy. expensive to replace. Gel ones are less always gone back to the 020s as they offer If you want a big trailie this is the one. I’ve likely to leak and pump out the same Discs the best mix of grip (enough to get the rocker test ridden the R1200GS and I found it lacked power. Budget to spend about £100. They’re prone to warping. PFM high covers down) durability (around 10,000 the stature and presence of the 1150.