daveslash5
Member
A good riding buddy, now 82 and with failing health, has had his last ride and offered to sell me is bike at well below market value. He does not want the hassle of selling it. I accepted thinking that I might like it, but if not then it will go on the sales block. But after riding it for a short time, I like it. Now I am having to make the decision: Which bike to keep?
I currently ride a 2018 R1200GS Rallye. It is basically a regular GS with the Adventure suspension, so it sits pretty high, but with my 34” inseam I can stand flatfooted with both feet at a stop. The new bike is a 2019 R1250GS Exclusive (bought new in 2020) with Lowered Suspension. Sitting on this bike with a regular height seat in the high position and suspension on Auto this bike feels like a regular height street bike. I do ride some Forest Service roads, but 95% of my riding in on pavement, both highway travels and for errands around town. Here in the southeast most of the roads are paved; the longest dirt road in my county is only 3 miles. As I age, will I find the height of the Rallye more difficult and appreciate the lower seat of the Exclusive? Will the Low suspension handle the Fire Roads without problems?
The Rallye has 27k miles and is out of warranty; the Exclusive has 13k miles and has another year of warranty. Will a final year R1200 have more long term reliability than a first year R1250 ShiftCam engine?
The Rallye has proved to be a comfortable ride - I took it from South Carolina to the Great Falls rally last year (5600 miles in 16 days including time at the Rally) - but the Exclusive definitely has a lower center of gravity and a sportier feel. I have not tried it on a long ride yet. In a year or two I hope that whichever bike I have will take me across country for a southwestern and California trip, so I will be looking for a bit of long range comfort. Would a Lowered Suspension GS still be comfy?
Now the problem: I like them both, but in different ways. I only have space and riding time for ONE GS, so one will have to go. Any thoughts or input on which one it should be? Comments will be welcomed.
I currently ride a 2018 R1200GS Rallye. It is basically a regular GS with the Adventure suspension, so it sits pretty high, but with my 34” inseam I can stand flatfooted with both feet at a stop. The new bike is a 2019 R1250GS Exclusive (bought new in 2020) with Lowered Suspension. Sitting on this bike with a regular height seat in the high position and suspension on Auto this bike feels like a regular height street bike. I do ride some Forest Service roads, but 95% of my riding in on pavement, both highway travels and for errands around town. Here in the southeast most of the roads are paved; the longest dirt road in my county is only 3 miles. As I age, will I find the height of the Rallye more difficult and appreciate the lower seat of the Exclusive? Will the Low suspension handle the Fire Roads without problems?
The Rallye has 27k miles and is out of warranty; the Exclusive has 13k miles and has another year of warranty. Will a final year R1200 have more long term reliability than a first year R1250 ShiftCam engine?
The Rallye has proved to be a comfortable ride - I took it from South Carolina to the Great Falls rally last year (5600 miles in 16 days including time at the Rally) - but the Exclusive definitely has a lower center of gravity and a sportier feel. I have not tried it on a long ride yet. In a year or two I hope that whichever bike I have will take me across country for a southwestern and California trip, so I will be looking for a bit of long range comfort. Would a Lowered Suspension GS still be comfy?
Now the problem: I like them both, but in different ways. I only have space and riding time for ONE GS, so one will have to go. Any thoughts or input on which one it should be? Comments will be welcomed.
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