BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

As I haven't got either at the moment
I just wondered if anyone on here had owned a GS before buying there RT ?
I wouldn't intent to do any off road riding so I think the RT best suits my needs although I do like the look of the GS and standing at 6ft 4 the GS might be better suited to me ? Would value your comments
Stuart

Really they are both tourers.  With your height go sit on a GSA.

Having owned both bikes I must say that I didn't notice any difference which was affected by my height. As far as I can remember the seat to pegs distance was very similar. (I am 6 feet 2 inches). The big difference I found is the vastly greater all round comfort with the RT. On a long ride up from Provence in appauling weather a few years ago the GS was a right pain. A similar journey some time later and in similar conditions was a piece of cake on our Hexhead RT. The RT "is" a Tourer, The GS is a bike you "can" tour on. There's a big difference.

Wind and rain protection is better on the RT


With any "adventure" bike you are sitting higher and hence, in the wind blast


If you are never going off road, get an RT


With an RT you won't look like every other born-again charley farley long way down touratech wannabe

ds99 wrote:


With an RT you won't look like every other born-again charley farley long way down touratech wannabe

With attitude !! (meant as humour)

ds99 wrote:
With an RT you won't look like every other born-again charley farley long way down touratech wannabe

You will however, look suspiciously like your Grandad on a bike!


;-)

but you won't be the laughing stock of all non-BMW owners.


as much as the GS1200 is a good bike, I could never own one as it just screams "i've seen Long Way Down and I'm like everybody else"

I went from RT to GS.

As mentioned already, the GS does come accross as a ' 'wanabe Charlie McGregor' round the world bike' and it is cringeworthy when the owners dress in full BMW Rallye apparel (twat suits) with their massive beer guts......but it is a really good bike.

As RT man suggests, try a GSA. Definately go and get a test ride on both.

The RTs weather protection is obviously much better, but the GS LC also offers good protection from buffeting/wind blast (but you will get wetter on the move in rain). In hot weather the boot is on the other foot of course.

I do not go off road on mine. I just prefer the wide bar, sit in riding position.

I would really like to have both :-).

ds99 wrote: but you won't be the laughing stock of all non-BMW owners.


as much as the GS1200 is a good bike, I could never own one as it just screams "i've seen Long Way Down and I'm like everybody else"

Yes, that's a fair comment!! . Out of control cloning.....!!!

Let's face it, if we had enough money and garage space, we'd all have half a dozen bikes.  A good solid tourer (RT of course), a sports bike (Hayabusa), cruiser (mine would be a Rocket), nippy city bike (any naked muscle bike) . . . and the list goes on.  If I lived in the city and wanted to commute every day i'd probably not have my RT - although, that said, I have spent quite a few days filtering through the traffic on the M32 riding into Bristol recently.

richardbd wrote:
You will however, look suspiciously like you Grandad on a bike!


;-)

I am fortunate that just because my father rode a works Jawa in the International Six Days Trial, i did not have to buy a GS.  ^-^

beemerboy9 wrote:
I am fortunate that just because my father rode a works Jawa in the International Six Days Trial, i did not have to buy a GS.  ^-^

Yeah - but hopefully you didn't have to buy a Jawa either...

Eee ba gum. there's a name from the past, "Jawa". Reminds me of just how old I must be. Remember Franta Stastny ?.

I take it you do not follow Speedway where Jawa are still world beaters on Shale , Long Track and Ice.

scunny1 wrote: I take it you do not follow Speedway where Jawa are still world beaters on Shale , Long Track and Ice.

Correct.