Goldwing vs. BMW 1200GS

[TWTourist]

Originally Posted by YoDoc

Ymmv indeed. Some folks call it buffeting, I call it wind... lol

But their is a difference. Wind will keep you cool and try to blow you off the bike at funner speeds. Buffeting knocks your head around at any speed.

[tsp]

Isn't a better comparison the GW to an RT? GW is touring... never for off road. The RT is touring and not for off road. The GS can do road and off road.

IMHO the RT is light enough for the short rides and in town use yet does awesome on the long hauls. My second choice was an R1200R.

And then there is the ST1300, FJR, and C14 to name a few sport tourers. I wanted the lighter RT with the funky boxer engine.

tsp
Blog: www.swriding.blogspot.com

[swoody126]

imho, the subject falls back to WHICH ONE FITS THE RIDER?

they will both give you many smiles/mile

the GS is not for vertically challenged riders

if you can stand, flat footed, over the GS, then you have a dilemma

which one to get

i, sadly, found the GS's too tall for me, any more

my balance has diminished & since my legs only just barely reach the ground, i find myself on a WEE STROM, w/ a custom seat & a tall Suzuki brand windshield(no buffeting)

have done several 3-400 mile days w/o unusual discomfort and it works quite well around town & for short commutes

& did i say?? i am always 1 up, since my bride, of over 40 years, prefers the grandkids to riding, anymore...

like i said, above, IMHO

btw: i've had 3 WINGS, an RT & a GS ... & LOVED THEM ALL!!

shiny side up

[DFW_Warrior]

Just an FYI, anyone that says a bike has buffeting really means that a bike has buffeting for them. I've ridden quite a few bikes, some of which are on the dreaded "bounce your head around" list, and none of them have really bothered me. I've always been told that the Strom is one of the worst bikes when it comes to this. I have over 90k miles on mine with the stock windscreen and I promise it is just fine..... for me.

So just because one person, or a group of people seem to have bad luck I would still try a bike out.

Now for your two choices, if it were me, I would go with the GS simply because I have too long of legs for the Goldwing. Like Kurt said, those things are pretty cramped in the legroom dept.

Originally Posted by DFW_Warrior

I would go with the GS simply because I have too long of legs for the Goldwing. ...those things are pretty cramped in the legroom dept.

Naaahhh, with the many aftermarket foot peg variations, there are plenty of options for those that need to stretch their legs out. Plenty of tall folks who love the Wing once properly tweaked.

It is not called one of the greatest touring bike ever made for nothing....



RB

[DFW_Warrior]

Forward controls don't fix the 22" seat height... I don't like my feet forward so for me ALL of the options aren't very helpful. I had forward controls on my cruiser way back when, but couldn't stand having to take all those bumps with nothing but my tail bone and spine. The Strom is worlds better, and the GS would be worlds better than a Wing.... for me.

Again, the key words are "for me". Heck my current Strom is lifted in the rear, has stiffer springs and therefore sits up higher, I have the tall touring seat on it, plus the beads. Overall it has +3" of seat height over a stock DL1000 which many complain is already too tall. One of the pros of being tall I guess...LOL

[YoDoc]

Yeah, I could flat foot my concours and still stand up out of the saddle. I have forwards on this shadow I'm on now, but I don't feel stretched out at all. In fact I can still stand on the pegs, lol.

[Desert Skies]

Originally Posted by Red Brown

Naaahhh, with the many aftermarket foot peg variations, there are plenty of options for those that need to stretch their legs out. Plenty of tall folks who love the Wing once properly tweaked.

It is not called one of the greatest touring bike ever made for nothing....



RB

Disagree... I have Kurys on my wing and they are only worth a mile or two then it's feet back on the riders pegs. The wing's boxer six if like putting a keg between your feet. With your feet up like that, the weight of your legs is transferred to your butt. The GS, with my feet slightly behind me is way more comfortable... to me.

I've had my wing for 10 years and put 80K miles on it an still can't a setup that works for me on that bike.

BTW, The Kurry stuff is pure crap. The only chrome on my wing that is either peeling, cracking or checking is the bolt-ons with their name on it. All the Honda and the few pieces of Show Chrome I nave on the bike still looks new.

[Fort Bend Rider]

Originally Posted by Desert Skies

Disagree... I have Kurys on my wing and they are only worth a mile or two then it's feet back on the riders pegs. The wing's boxer six if like putting a keg between your feet. With your feet up like that, the weight of your legs is transferred to your butt. The GS, with my feet slightly behind me is way more comfortable... to me.

I've had my wing for 10 years and put 80K miles on it an still can't a setup that works for me on that bike.

BTW, The Kurry stuff is pure crap. The only chrome on my wing that is either peeling, cracking or checking is the bolt-ons with their name on it. All the Honda and the few pieces of Show Chrome I nave on the bike still looks new.

Way back when, I went with some cheap highway pegs for my wing. I didn't want to spend the big money for the Kurry stuff, plus I really don't care for chrome.

I am opposite of you, I spend 90 percent of my riding time with my feet on the highway pegs. Now I do have a modified seat on the wing (Bike Solution), and Russell on my GS, but as far as comfort goes, I like the wing a bit better. As far as fun goes it is the GS all the way. Now before anyone mentions that my wing is a trike, I need to state it had 85,000 miles as a two wheel before I triked it.

Originally Posted by Desert Skies

I've had my wing for 10 years and put 80K miles on it an still can't a setup that works for me on that bike.

Does it take 80,000 miles of riding to figure out that the ergonomics on a Wing or GL1800 are not compatible with your body type?



RB

[Desert Skies]

^^^ Nope, the wing is my wife taxi. When I leave her at home, the Wing stays home and keeps her company.

I'll be on the GS.

[PassTheGravy]

I owned an 1150GS and now own a 2005 Wing. I loved the GS, but I love my Wing more. The Wing is more comfortable for me, and feels like it was custom built for me. Plus, I've become spoiled to the conveniences such as electronic cruise control and the stereo with direct feed into my helmet. I have the Mick-O-Pegs on mine, which allow me to stretch out periodically. Helps a lot on long distance rides.

The Wing is heavy, but the COG is very low and the weight melts away at anything above parking lot speeds. The 1150GS was not only heavy, but was also very top heavy. It was comfortable, but not nearly so much as the Wing. I've ridden the 1200GS, but not enough to be able to compare it to the Wing.

I solved the buffeting issue on the Wing with a laminar lip.

Originally Posted by kurt

Depends. I found the current Wings short on rider leg room and relatively cramped feeling. It just wasn't a good around town bike for me as it was heavy and cumbersome. I like the higher seating position, more relaxed ergonomics and MUCH lighter feel of the GS series. What you give up is low end torque, smoothness, cruise control, stereo/intercom and wind protection, which I found to be too good on the Wing.

Hmmmm...Kurt, now that you own a 2012 Wing, I would be interested in your thoughts now.



RB

[Multisurface Rider]

Both are great bikes and are different altogether.

The GS you can ride the rough roads, (paved/gravel or even worse if desired) and the interstate and be comfortable.

The GW is a highway bike and will go down the rough paved roads but not like the GS.

The difference is the roads you want to ride.
GW = less roads to ride, super smooth bike and hard to beat.
GS = all roads to ride, smooth bike and hard to beat.

My 2 cents.

Oh yea, I see a '12 Explorer in your sig. Great bike, talk to us and tell about it.

Ride safe.

[msfdude]

Yep, decided to go the Triumph Explorer route. Quite a bit different than where I started (was positive that I was replacing a Wing with a Wing). The Explorer has really been enjoyable. The upright seating suits me very well, then there is the cruise, tire pressure monitoring, etc. Very happy with my decision.