My weekend with the 2013 BMW R1200 GS LC

[nielvn]

Nice and ballanced review  :thumleft:

 

[Alpine Al]

Thanks for the great report SGB methinks you write as well as you ride.

 

[SACK]

Looks like the air intake is much higher as well...

 

[SGB]

Looks like the air intake is much higher as well...

Yes it is.  Just have not had a chance to look at the plumbing under the skin.  Will do when I see a stripped one in a workshop. And hopefully form an educated opinion then.  Good point, I should have mentioned something about it.....

 

[spoedvark]

WOW, really enjoyed your report and comparison.

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences!!!

 

[2StrokeDan]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

 

[SGB]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

Yes Dan, the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

 

[SGB]

I see there is a new GPS, based on the Montana for the new 800 Adv.  Wonder if they will make it work on the 1200 as well.....

 

[edgy]

Well written and informative Stefan :thumleft:

 

[kevin]

Nice review - thanks for that most valuable information

 

[Masai]

Thanks for an excellent review

 

[2StrokeDan]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

Yes Dan, the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

IN front of the engine?, how does it drive to the gearbox?

 

[LuckyStriker]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

Yes Dan, the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

IN front of the engine?, how does it drive to the gearbox?

the gearbox is now under the engine as opposed to behind it

 

[LuckyStriker]

the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

not that smooth, stepping into first gear still has a loud clank and if you don't switch gears assertively it occasionally hits a false neutral.
BMW build tough gearboxes but also crappy ones compared to Japanese bikes

 

[SGB]

the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

not that smooth, stepping into first gear still has a loud clank and if you don't switch gears assertively it occasionally hits a false neutral.
BMW build tough gearboxes but also crappy ones compared to Japanese bikes

Agreed, the gearbox is still "clunky" like a GS box.  Not sure if it is bad, never had a gearbox failure.  But the clutch works well.

 

[2StrokeDan]

Thanks Luckystriker, those cutaways really showed the new engine's differences up well. Surely COG has risen a bit? Will the new wasserboxer rider be required to ride lying down to counter this? ot:

The last question was just a chirp. But feel obliged to respond. Also OK if no response.

 

[LuckyStriker]

Thanks Luckystriker, those cutaways really showed the new engine's differences up well. Surely COG has risen a bit? Will the new wasserboxer rider be required to ride lying down to counter this? ot:

The last question was just a chirp. But feel obliged to respond. Also OK if no response.

I honestly dont know. I think the CoG is just about the same. The oil seems to be distributed all over the engine rather that pooling at the bottom. What might raise the CoG is the extra radiators now hanging above the engine. But I'm no engineer.

Here's a freeby chirp: upon smashing the old bash plate it notoriously ripped holes in the sump and you lost oil. Now you'll brobably lose some gears as well

 

[LuckyStriker]

the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

not that smooth, stepping into first gear still has a loud clank and if you don't switch gears assertively it occasionally hits a false neutral.
BMW build tough gearboxes but also crappy ones compared to Japanese bikes

Agreed, the gearbox is still "clunky" like a GS box.  Not sure if it is bad, never had a gearbox failure.  But the clutch works well.

The clunkyness is part of its charm. Some say that switching gears on a GS is like closing a door on BMW car. You KNOW it's done!

 

[SGB]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

Yes Dan, the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

IN front of the engine?, how does it drive to the gearbox?

Oh yes, whilst I am thinking about it....    The engine and gearbox counter rotate on the new bike, and the inertia induced tendency to lean over to once side when you blip the throttle is no longer there.  The large flywheel and clutch also contributed to this phenomenon previously.  All of this has largely disappeared and the new bike stays upright when you twist the throttle swiftly.

 

[2StrokeDan]

I heard that the clutch is now also a "wet" unit as opposed to the old one's car-like clutch. Should last much longer in "enduro" mode.

Yes Dan, the wet clutch now sits in front of the motor and it is nice and smooth, like a bike clutch, not a car one.

IN front of the engine?, how does it drive to the gearbox?

Oh yes, whilst I am thinking about it....    The engine and gearbox counter rotate on the new bike, and the inertia induced tendency to lean over to once side when you blip the throttle is no longer there.  The large flywheel and clutch also contributed to this phenomenon previously.  All of this has largely disappeared and the new bike stays upright when you twist the throttle swiftly.

Good thing this counter-rotation making for neutral feel when blipping the throttle. The older Beemers were especially bad, not too mention the rider being lifted upwards by about a foot when opening the throttle.