BMW Motorcycle Club Pretoria
« K1200GT »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Dec 24, 2009, 12:16am

[Home] [Help] [Search] [Calendar] [Login] [Register]



BMW Motorcycle Club Pretoria :: Model Specific :: Grand Tourism (GT) :: K1200GT
   [Search This Thread][Send Topic To Friend] [Print]
AuthorTopic: K1200GT (Read 384 times)
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
K1200GT
« Thread Started on Oct 4, 2007, 11:28pm »
I was fortunate enough to be called by Shaun when my bike arrived in the crate.

[image]

I rushed to Pretoria to video the unpacking. Then the black beast appeared!
[image]

:-[ To put things in perspective, I last owned a 350 Honda somewhere around 1980. It leaked so much oil that I had to wear plastic bags over my shoes to prevent the oil from saturating them on the way to work.

This K1200GT is a heavy bike - you can feel it when you are off balance. But once you put your feet up, it changes into a mixture of a Lamborgini and an airoplane.

We fitted the GT with the large top box at the back and now it looks like a cruiser. But once you turn the GT's ear, it changes into a sport bike of note. Removing the boxes makes it look even sportier.

But speed is not really the reason Ina and I bought this bike. I laugh at people who attempt to be motorcycle critics and then compares the GT with other "tourers". The first thing they talk about is speed and how they raced one another from one place to another.

Cruising is more than just speed. There are times on a longer trip (especially if you are not used to travelling far) that your right hand needs some rest or when you just want to relax and look at the scenary. The speed control is magnificent! I even use it in town in 4th gear and 60km/hour.

Once you are on the open road and you find yourself in the dark, the xenon headlights changes everything into daylight. The on-board computer works great but I would have liked to see it include the tyre pressure monitor. Temperature, fuel consumption, distance left in the tank are only some of the information obtainable from this computer.

The seat and hand warmers came in very handy this past winter, but the ESA is something special. When you set it for two people, you can feel the seat rise as the suspension is pumped up. Getting on rough terrain is solved by the push of a button and when you get to corners (like on the Natal Spa trip), all you need is another push of the button. You can choose between one person, one person with luggage or with two people. Each of these can then be set to Comfort, Normal and Sport.

The best thing about this bike I have found is the steadiness on the open road. Coming from Brits, a bakkie with a lot of plastic holders for cold drink bottles dropped some empty cases as he came towards me in a corner. My son was riding behind me and he saw the K1200GT ride over the plastic container, breaking it in two - and I hardly felt a thing!

If it is speed you want, the GT is happy to oblidge. The rev limiter kicks in at 230km/hour and reaches it very quickly. It does not take much effort to get the foot pegs down. This happened to me by accident while I was on a training course with BMW at Swartkops. I do not make a habit of doing this, but I know the bike and I can if we really want to.

;) With a pillion and all bags packed (with a large top box) Ina and I reached 220 km/hour trying to catch the rest of the gang as they reached the pass. The wind gets rough with the bike and you need to cool it a little bit. 200km / hour is a more comfortable speed if you rally have to go that fast - but remember you could spend the night very cold and lonely without your wife or your GT!

:-[ By the way, do not put your lip-ice in the "cubby-hole". This handy little lockable compartment gets quite warm from the engine. The same goes for the pannier on the right above the exhaust. If you need to keep things cool, rather use the left pannier.

::) When Ina first got on the bike we bought her a flip-up system 5 helmet. This is a great helmet, but it is also quite heavy for somebody who has never worn one before. As the speed goes above 100km/hour, she found it difficult to keep her head in one place. As she got used to the bike, her neck got stronger and that was when we did the 220km/hour going to Natal Spa.

We put in a Baehr sound system that works wonderfully. If the wind makes too much noise and I cannot hear what somebody is saying over the Bluetooth connection to my cell-phone, I just drop my head behind the raised windscreen and everything becomes quiet.

I am on 15 000 km now and we will have to replace the front tyre before we leave on our trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town in December. The back tyre was replaced during the 10 000 km service.

In town I get around 5,5 km/liter (sorry - this is 5,5 liter/100km)which comes down to around 5km/liter (sorry - this is 5 l/100km) with Ina and myself on the bike on the open road. I find that the petrol light comes on at around 250km and she then has around 60 km left in the tank.

The mirrors are fantastic! They are situated high and it is very easy to see traffic behind you. The mirrors are also about the same width as the panniers so if the mirrors can go through a gap, so can the rest of the bike.

:'( The GT can take gravel road, but a word of warning: Do not loose your balance, you will need assistance to pick the GT up again. The panniers rattle on gravel as they have not been disigned for these types of roads.

;D Riding the Outeniqua Pass is a pleasure. You can even drop the handles after you have taken off the panniers and really enjoy the power and handling of this machine. I normally do the pass in 4th gear and there is sufficient torque to travel up the pass. I will see next time I get there. I will then be more used to the bile and might even use other gears as well!
[image]

:o Like the petrol attendant told me a while ago when I filled up in Mossel Bay: "Meneer, dit is 'n groot kar hierdie"!
« Last Edit: Jan 31, 2008, 6:41am by johangt »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johanrt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Me & my best find .....to date.


[homepage]

Joined: Sept 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 56
Location: Montanapark Pretoria
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #1 on Oct 5, 2007, 4:48pm »
Thanks for sharing this interesting story with us.

I visited Ig at Pta Motorrad yesterday and also said to him my first bike was 25 years old the second 6 and the next bike I want to buy in a crate.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #2 on Dec 1, 2007, 11:40pm »
Hi JohanRT,
It was a great feeling when the bike became visible, just like a little buck standing on its back legs while the front legs are still too weak to bear the load.
[image]

Let us know when you get your new bike!
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
K1200GT Tank Bag
« Reply #3 on Dec 5, 2007, 9:48pm »
;D If you really want to spoil yourself, get a tank bag. It is actually the tank bag of the K1200RS that fits on the K1200GT as well.

This is a small bag OR it is a HUGE bag - you choose. It has three compartments that can zip in and out. This leaves us with sufficient space for:

- Compartment 1: The GT's weatherproof cover
- Compartment 2: Our camera bag (camera and video camera)
- Compartment 3: All the tools for the bike and a chamois

Over all of this fits a waterproof cover. This waterproof cover is not inside the compartment like some of the tank bags, but fits right over the whole bag. It also has a plastic top so that you can either fit your GPS or a map under it.

We are going to try and fit our video camera on top of this tank bag for some fantastic video footing we are hoping to bring back with us on our Jophannesburg to Cape Town trip.

[image]
« Last Edit: Dec 5, 2007, 9:49pm by johangt »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johanrt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Me & my best find .....to date.


[homepage]

Joined: Sept 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 56
Location: Montanapark Pretoria
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #4 on Dec 6, 2007, 6:07pm »
I've considered a tank bag, they look very convenient but they also look like they might be in the way and can damage the paintwork?
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #5 on Dec 18, 2007, 10:08pm »
We tried the tank bag to Vereeniging and back. I thought it might be in the way of some of the guages, but I could see perfectly. I loaded the tank bag to the brim with all three compartments.

The tank bag does not hurt the bodywork as it has two strips of foam at the bottom. It is also strapped quite tightly so that it does not slide around.

If the bike is on its side stand and the tank bag is loaded top-heave, the pile does lean to one side. But with the heaviest load at the bottom (cameras), the waterproof cover in the middle and the love handles, chamois, glasses and medical case at the top, it stays pretty much upright, especially if you start riding.

By the way, I will be trying to stick the video camera on the top of the tank bag when I get to nice parts of our country, I am sure it will work quite well - even if I have to use a tri-pod. I have one of those that are about 10cm high, just enough to get over the screen.

We are leaving for Cape Town on Friday via Golden Gate, so by Saturday I should know whether it works or not.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
hyn
Paddlefoot
*
member is offline





Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #6 on Jan 28, 2008, 3:09pm »
Hi Johan

I thoroughly enjoyed the article regarding your new K1200GT

We ,Margaret, and myself are new to the bike scene and is currently riding a 650GS. We also joined the club last month so we are rookies but eager to learn.

I am at this stage in the process of purchusing a K1200GT demo model with 14000 km (2007 model) and any advice will be appreciated.

I am extremely exited about this mashine but one particular point in your article conserns me. You mentioned that you get 5,5km/liter in town and approximately 5km/l with a pillion on the open road. Shouldn't it be 5.5l/100km and 2l/100km?
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
Jamie
Serious Biker Dude
****
member is offline

[avatar]

respect the power



Joined: Feb 2005
Gender: Male
Posts: 114
Location: Centurion
Karma: 3
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #7 on Jan 28, 2008, 3:59pm »
Welcome Hyn. Think you came to the right place....lots of good, like minded and knowledgeable people in the club.

Can't speak for Johan but those figures are definitely not correct....if that is his consumption then he has a fuel leak ;D

You can also have a look at the international community of BMW K owners for excellent model specific info - BMW-K.COM or go directly to the forum http://www.bmwk1200s.com/forum/
or if you want to bypass all and go straight to the GT section http://www.bmwk1200s.com/forum/viewforum....fc4a792614d9596
« Last Edit: Jan 28, 2008, 4:01pm by Jamie »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
Jamie
K1200S & CBR1000RR & Overall bike lover
hyn
Paddlefoot
*
member is offline





Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #8 on Jan 30, 2008, 11:10am »
Thaks Jamie

I looked at the sites. Lots of useful information.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #9 on Jan 31, 2008, 6:36am »
Yes you are right, it should have been 5,2 l/100km. That is with 2 people on at 135km/hour on the open road.

All advice I can give you is ENJOY! We have had nothing but excellent service from this K1200GT. I just got over 12000km on my back tyre but I must say that I did not spend a lot of hours in passes or racetracks.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
noddy2zn
Paddlefoot
*
member is offline





Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #10 on Feb 12, 2008, 10:57pm »
Hi All
This is my first post on a local sight and enjoyed reading some of the comments. To introduce my self, I am an experienced biker having ridden since I was 17 now almost 50(in a few months time). My third BMW is a K1200GT 2006 model which I love, congratulations to all who ride the best sport tourer in the world. I have had the GT since new and have enjoyed every ride on her. I have got 12000km on my GT and have had the following probles(all sorted under warranty so far), Rear suspension packed up, could not select between different loads(replaced by BMW) and the valve in the airbox died resulting in the motor's revs increasing when the throttle was closed(Also replaced bt BMW). I have replaced the Exhaust can with a leo vince tail pipe(no Cat) and fitted a BMC air filter, the monster now sounds like it should and I have noticed that the performance in the higher rev range is far better. I noticed that some of you talk about doind 220 km/h as fast, I have registered oer 240km/h on the Zumo GPS with alll the panniers on(large tail box,coloured the same as the dark blue of the bike)and found the GT to be perfectely stable and still pulling fairly strongly.

I would love to get into discussion with other riders to discuss this amazing bike

Regard Noddy
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #11 on Feb 18, 2008, 10:13pm »
Yes the K1200GT is an amazing bike! You can use it as a tourer, as a super bike and as a commuter. It is great to be able to accelerate to 240km/hr without feeling that you are driving the bike to its utmost.

But I did not really buy this bike to have a superbike. For that a Suzuki 1000, Hyabusa or X14 would work better. I saw that when we went through the corners in the Outeniqua Pass. But then I can travel at 180km/hr for 800 kilomters without feeling that I have overstretched myself or the bike - with a pillion!

Scraping the pegs on this bike is incredible, but it is a heavy bike to throw around if you plan on scraping the pegs in every corner! Above 100 km/hr the bike becomes amazingly stable especially in strong winds, but unfortunately it also means that throwing it around in corners are not as easily done as with a much smaller super bike.

Unfortunately my brakes gave trouble and BMW replaced them with a less potent version of the brakes. Although it can still stop quickly, it is no longer BMW-quick. One finger braking is no longer recommended after this change which means that I now have less grip on the throttle during serious riding.

I just cannot get enough of riding this machine. From the serious headlights to the speed control, this is an awesome bike.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
hyn
Paddlefoot
*
member is offline





Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #12 on Feb 20, 2008, 10:43am »
I am glad to see the participants on this forum regarding the K1200GT is increasing.
Exchange information regarding our bikes and learning from each other is great.

Johan what went wrong with the brakes?

I am planning to joining Richard,Gert and Peter on the Extreme Gold ride from 20-30 March. Will give feedback on the experience and the performance of my bike during the trip.

Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
Re: K1200GT
« Reply #13 on Feb 20, 2008, 9:07pm »
I wish I could join you, but because my spleen was removed, I can only go into the North around August to November.

I am not sure what happened to the brakes, the ABS light just stayed on. The mechanic told me that the servo or something that they used was a new type and if it gave problems it was better to replace it with an older model servo - or something to that effect.

We are looking forward to your report! Enjoy the bike and the trip, the memories lasts forever!!! We will be going to Nelspruit and surroundings this weekend.
« Last Edit: Feb 25, 2008, 2:51pm by johangt »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
johangt
Biker
***
member is offline

[avatar]

Impossible is just a word used by people who need excuses


[homepage]

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male
Posts: 54
Location: Midrand
Karma: 0
K1200GT - Wind Deflector
« Reply #14 on Feb 25, 2008, 2:56pm »
I just purchased and installed the following wind deflector on my GT:
http://www.aerotrim.co.za/

We tested it on the trip to Mpumalange and it works fantasticly. The Arai RX7 is a very noisy helmet when comparing it to the System 5 for example. Now I understand why many people use ear plug on these helmets.

With this device you can set the screen a few centimeters lower for the same effect with the result that if I move it closer to the max position, the wind noise in the RX7 decreases significantly. Now I do not have to wear ear plugs and Ina and I can have great discussions travelling at any speeds.

At a cost of R399 I highly recommend this for anybody with an Arai helmet on a K1200GT.
Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
   [Search This Thread][Send Topic To Friend] [Print]

If you would like to include images in your posts, here are some free image hosting services:
Pix8 PhotoBucket Walagata UpLoadIt

Pretoria BMW Motorcycle Club

Google
Webbmwclubs.proboards.com
Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free


This Board Hosted For FREE By ProBoards
Get Your Own Free Message Boards & Free Forums!