OfficerImpersonator
Seattle-area Rounder
I've received permission from my wife/comptroller to purchase a new motorcycle in 2012. I currently have a 2002 R1150RTP which I will be keeping. This will be an additional bike. After the honeymoon with the new bike wears off, I plan on keeping the RTP as my primary commuter. My problem is that I can't figure out what model I want.
My primary reason for adding a 2nd motorcycle is to get a bike with a 2nd seat. I have a six year old son who would love to ride with me, and as he gets older, I want to take him on more and more motorcycle road trips and camping adventures. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with thousands of miles of forest roads. Naturally, a GS would be perfect for long-distance touring with occasional forays onto gravel and dirt forest roads to find those perfect remote campsites.
One of the things I love most about my RTP is the weather and wind protection I receive from the full fairing and the large windscreen. All that protection sure sounds like a good idea when spending long days on the bike covering long distances. Plus, the RT includes most of the luggage you need to buy separately for the GS. The only down-side to a new RT is that it doesn't have the dirt road capabilities of the GS.
I've eliminated the GT/GTL due to price and maintenance costs. I can only begin to imagine what an annual major service costs, given six spark plugs and all that complicated machinery. I've seen and sat on a GTL, and I was amazed at how small it is in person compared to how large I thought it would be based upon the prior LT and how it appeared in photos in the magazines. Given a choice between a GT/GTL and a RT, the choice is easy for me - save $6k and get an equally competent - albeit must less exotic - BMW sport tourer.
Based upon all of the above, I had just about settled on a 2012 GS (GSA if I can afford it). Then I did a Google search for "2012 BMW GS" and came across all sorts of links that say it looks as if BMW is going to introduce a water-cooled boxer engine on the 2012 GS. I realize the move from air/oil cooling to water cooling is inevitable due to fuel economy and emissions requirements - and I accept that. My concern is with getting a model from the first year of production of a brand new technology.
My concerns are ameliorated somewhat by the knowledge that BMW has introduced two brand new engines in the past 24 months, and by all accounts, both engines are remarkable pieces of machinery. The superbike engine appears to be reliable thus far. There isn't enough data available yet on the new 6 cylinder engine, but BMW knows a thing or two about making straight 6 engines. But a two cylinder boxer engine with a water jacket? I don't know if I want to be BMW's test mule.
Perhaps an ideal situation would be to find a left-over 2011 bike sitting around a dealer's showroom a year from now. I'm somewhat constrained by my list of required options. I'll want the ESA, ESC, and TPM systems. Many GSs don't come with the ESC. We'll see what BMW introduces between now and then, and what's available on the market when I'm ready to buy.
It's an exciting opportunity, but it's also somewhat scary at the same time!
My primary reason for adding a 2nd motorcycle is to get a bike with a 2nd seat. I have a six year old son who would love to ride with me, and as he gets older, I want to take him on more and more motorcycle road trips and camping adventures. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with thousands of miles of forest roads. Naturally, a GS would be perfect for long-distance touring with occasional forays onto gravel and dirt forest roads to find those perfect remote campsites.
One of the things I love most about my RTP is the weather and wind protection I receive from the full fairing and the large windscreen. All that protection sure sounds like a good idea when spending long days on the bike covering long distances. Plus, the RT includes most of the luggage you need to buy separately for the GS. The only down-side to a new RT is that it doesn't have the dirt road capabilities of the GS.
I've eliminated the GT/GTL due to price and maintenance costs. I can only begin to imagine what an annual major service costs, given six spark plugs and all that complicated machinery. I've seen and sat on a GTL, and I was amazed at how small it is in person compared to how large I thought it would be based upon the prior LT and how it appeared in photos in the magazines. Given a choice between a GT/GTL and a RT, the choice is easy for me - save $6k and get an equally competent - albeit must less exotic - BMW sport tourer.
Based upon all of the above, I had just about settled on a 2012 GS (GSA if I can afford it). Then I did a Google search for "2012 BMW GS" and came across all sorts of links that say it looks as if BMW is going to introduce a water-cooled boxer engine on the 2012 GS. I realize the move from air/oil cooling to water cooling is inevitable due to fuel economy and emissions requirements - and I accept that. My concern is with getting a model from the first year of production of a brand new technology.
My concerns are ameliorated somewhat by the knowledge that BMW has introduced two brand new engines in the past 24 months, and by all accounts, both engines are remarkable pieces of machinery. The superbike engine appears to be reliable thus far. There isn't enough data available yet on the new 6 cylinder engine, but BMW knows a thing or two about making straight 6 engines. But a two cylinder boxer engine with a water jacket? I don't know if I want to be BMW's test mule.
Perhaps an ideal situation would be to find a left-over 2011 bike sitting around a dealer's showroom a year from now. I'm somewhat constrained by my list of required options. I'll want the ESA, ESC, and TPM systems. Many GSs don't come with the ESC. We'll see what BMW introduces between now and then, and what's available on the market when I'm ready to buy.
It's an exciting opportunity, but it's also somewhat scary at the same time!
Actually I refer to them as "investments" anyway.
