A new boxer....

[Zombie Master]

I'm going to see the new water cooled bike on Saturday, I think that the photos look good. I was told that the gearbox is made in Japan, so it might even change gear easily.

However the South African bike launch was not a success, with the bike seemingly going into tank slappers on both Tarmac and dirt roads, at least 3 journalists had this problem and the bike being ridden by the UK bike magazine, broke both fork stops. Another British journalist was killed,apparently due to a tank slapper, but I have not seen this officially confirmed.

HOLLY SHARE DROP BATMAN! Can it be real? I just read a road test in Cycle Canada from South Africa, and they loved the thing.

[chasbmw]

If the cycle Canada review did not mention the issues that some of the journalists had with the bike then they are being economical with the truth.

Google Kevin Ash the guy that was killed.

[Major Softie]

If the cycle Canada review did not mention the issues that some of the journalists had with the bike then they are being economical with the truth.

Google Kevin Ash the guy that was killed.

Yep, I've read the Cycle magazine article here, and they mention the accident (one of their journalists was was a trained para-medic on the scene), but they made zero comments about the possible cause, and still have found zero comments by the other rider who was injured at the same time. The also make zero mention of handling issues on the bike.

[The Veg]

Today I went to the open house at one of the local BMW dealers to see the new GS. Wow; it looks even better in person than it does in pictures!

Demo-rides were available, but I declined the opportunity as I haven't ridden in over two years and the idea of my rusty-ness at the controls of a nice shiny new bike that I didn't own made the decision seem prudent if a little heartbreaking.

But the new GS- dang, what a nice bike! It's about the same shape and size and weight as the outgoing model, but packs in so many more features. The guys who did take test-rides all had great things to say about it. I did sit on the bike and found it to be very familiar-feeling.

One thing I noticed (and liked!) is that the oil filter is now in a MUCH better place for service-access. No more removing the bash-plate to change the filter! Foot-room is definitely improved now that the throttle bodies are above the jugs instead of behind them. The windscreen is adjustable with a single knob and can be stopped in any position along the range of adjustment (no 'notches') and the knob is easily reachable from the saddle. The previous GS had an oil-cooler mounted above the 'beak' and below the headlight assembly; this could sometimes result in a bit of warm air coming up from between the instruments and the handlebar. The new GS has two small radiators, one on either side, below the front of the fuel-tank area, and positioned so that they won't be harmed by anything thrown up by the front wheel.

All in all it looks like one heluva great machine, and I can't wait to try one out once I'm back up to speed with my riding skills. Also we all know that BMW always come out with improvements after a few years of a model...I wonder how this one will evolve? The previous GS evolved in some great ways, ending it's run WAY-improved over what was a great design to start with.

[Garnet]

I'm going to see the new water cooled bike on Saturday, I think that the photos look good. I was told that the gearbox is made in Japan, so it might even change gear easily.

However the South African bike launch was not a success, with the bike seemingly going into tank slappers on both Tarmac and dirt roads, at least 3 journalists had this problem and the bike being ridden by the UK bike magazine, broke both fork stops. Another British journalist was killed,apparently due to a tank slapper, but I have not seen this officially confirmed.

HOLLY SHARE DROP BATMAN! Can it be real? I just read a road test in Cycle Canada from South Africa, and they loved the thing.

BMW does have several full page adds in every Cycle Canada issue.

[chasbmw]

And funnily enough this months issue of Bike did not have a single BMW ad".............they are carrying out a full test next month, they give the bike 4 stars out of 5, with the note that they will give it 5 stars when the stability issues are resolved.

[Steve in Golden]

Apparently if the starter breaks, a new engine is required.

Am I the first to break a GS WC?

[Major Softie]

Well, it's not really required, but the most expedient solution under the circumstances.

"Spoke to the dealer. Im gettimg a whole new engine! Supposedly it was one of those gears attached to the starter on the engine side. This would require complete disassembly of the motor to fix. Seeing as dealers havent been trained yet BMW advisedto replace the entire engine. "

[The Veg]

"...dealers havent been trained yet..."

That being the key phrase.

We're going through the same thing at my job. We fix endoscopes, and a new family of models just came out that have some significant differences to the previous generation. We're being authorised the parts and repair-procedures in phases (phase II was just released), but the reality is that we have to send them to the national service center in CA most of the time because the company has yet to send us most of the tools and a great many of the necessary parts, plus the fact that we are FDA-regulated which means that no technician may perform a repair on customer-owned equipment unless there is written record on file of the technician being signed-off by a designated instructor to do that type of repair on that model or range of models.

[The Veg]

2013 GS in the hands of a show-off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOnIe-ix ... e=youtu.be