Fjr Vs Bmw 1150/1200gs

[Dave Houk]

Any owners of these two bikes who could give a comparison. I would especially like to know how comfortable the BMW is while riding 2 up. Thanks

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I don't own, but have rode the R1150GS many times and it is a really fun bike on both tar and during serious off road adventures.

Anyway, I think you are comparing apples to oranges when comparing the FJR and the GS. While I didn't ride the GS 2up, I can say I didn't because the passenger wouldn't be as comfortable as on a sport touring bike of any kind. If you are going on the dirt (off road) a lot, get a GS. If you will be on tar with just a little dirt road riding then get the FJR, or spend more for a less capable sport tourer.

Comparing the R1200RT and K1200GT and maybe a few other sport touring models of BMW would be a better comparison, and my wife likes the FJR better than all those mentioned from the passenger perspective. (She may have said this to save money, but she also is very keen on riding and knows that we'll be doing long rides).

I bought the FJR for a few reasons:

1) comfortable 2up riding

2) better performance than other competitors

3) feels better in action in every way (acceleration, turns, braking)

4) price

 

[Jetmaker737]

LOL...wrong forum to get many unbiased opinions on the beemer :haha:

 

[shep]

Dave,

After two years and 30,000 miles on my 02 1150GS, I am going to pick up my new 05 FJR today. As soon as I have had a little saddle time I will offer you some comparisons.

I have been riding Beemers and Ducs exclusively for the past 8 years, but I believe I can offer an unbiased observation.

Shep

 

[exskibum]

I am going to pick up my new 05 FJR today. As soon as I have had a little saddle time I will offer you some comparisons.

Congratulations, Shep! Just a bit of excitement until you pick it up?

:hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :rolf: :rolf: :rolf: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

Looks like you have a fun weekend in front of you.

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

[zorkler]

why the change bemer/ duck two top of the line companys some will say you are downgrading to the fjr .

 

[shep]

why the change bemer/ duck two top of the line companys some will say you are downgrading to the fjr .

I suppose the first reason is simply that I have that notorious biker disease that causes me to want to change bikes every couple years. Before the GS I had two RT's a 650 GS and a Ducati ST2. I had a Monster along with the 1150GS. I have been riding my entire life ( I am 44) and I simply want to ride as many bikes as possible in the time I have.

My other reasons for choosing the FJR over Beemers and Ducs has to do with cost, distance to dealers and my riding style. I am a long distance type and while the GS was more than capable of nearly anything, it did get a little tiring on a long ride. The wind management was the most challenging part. It is not that I wanted "more" coverage, but simply smoother coverage. Plus, unless you ride with an Aeroflow, your shoulders get a fair amount of the blast.

My nearest BMW dealer was 70 miles away, but they went out of business (Revards - Indy). Now I have to travel at least 110 to get to a BMW or Ducati dealer. While I do not go there that often, when I do have to go, it makes for a logistical issue.

Another issue I began to face with the GS was that the totally upright position was beginning to wear on my lower back.

As to brand name and quality concepts, I will admit that I was a little hesitant to return to a Japanese machine. Not because of qaulity (no doubt Japanese quality is as good as or superior to anyone else's), but simpy because I enjoy things that are "different." I also enjoy European cars and my wife was very concerned that I would not be happy if I did not buy the Ducati. As I thought about that idea, I realized that I was beginning to sound somewhat "elitist" or smug. I have no interest in taking on those characteristics. Even my own mother, who knows nothing about bikes, suggested I buy the Ducati because a Japanese bike would be like owning a "Ford Taurus!" I assured her that that was not the case.

I will possibly miss the BMW and Duc dealerships though. While they are few and far between they often seem to employ a more mature and motorcycle savvy crew. The BMW groups also offer a lot of rallies, but I am still an MOA member, and there are plenty of BMW guys who will want to check out my new ride! Actually, I am more of a loner when I ride, so that will not matter much either.

I would have considered a new R1200RT, or possibly a new KGT, but really, with 4 kids and a wife who does not ride, how can I, an average middle class man, justify an $18,000 bike? Hope I answered some of your questions and as soon as I get a chance to ride this thing I will try to make some realistic comparisions. As of this moment, the bike only has 5.7 miles on it - the distance from the shop to my house!

 

[Dave Houk]

Shep,

Congrats on the new ride. My wife and I went down to the BMW and Yamaha shops today and tried things on for size. She says get whatever I want because she might end up not riding on either. Bad bike accident in college. "They both have 2 wheels." She did say she felt more comfortable on the GS.

I'm on D&H's list for an '06 so I'm in no hurry to do anything. I've been looking at the FJR since it first came out. Put my deposit down in Nov '04 for my 06. It was, in my opinion, the perfect bike. Not being one to be wishy-washy, it's just a little strange for me to be considering a GS after looking at them for a couple of weeks. I'll be looking for your ( and your wifes) comparo. By the way, anyone looking for a new 2005/ABS in the Louisville, KY area. Yamaha of Louisville 502-339-7172. He told me $12,500.

 

[shep]

Dave,

So you are in the Louisville area? I am in Bloomington, Indiana, not too far north of you. I go to Louisville all the time. I have bought several BMW's from the Louiville shop. The Ducati shop in there, Commonwealth Motorsports, is the shop I was looking at the ST3 at. Ed, the owner, is a fantastic guy, a real enthusiast who loves his product. I had such a good time with him that I really hated that I did not end up buying a bike from his shop.

I put my first 70 miles on the bike this afternoon. I will try to do 150 -200 tomorrow and will offer a few impressions/comparisions. I will not be very helpful in the passenger comparision though, as my wife does not ride - ever!

Now that I have spent a few minutes on the bike I can honestly say that you can not go wrong with either choice. If someone told me today that I had to buy a bike and keep that same bike for the rest of my life it would either be a 1200GS, the FJR, or the new 1200RT (which I have not ridden). At this point it would probably be the GS just for its all-around versatility. I can tell already though that the FJR is going to be much more pleasant riding distances than the GS.

My only disappointment during my short ride was with the windshield. I had two RT's with electric windshields so I figured at some point of adjustment it would be "just right." I have a bad habit of riding with my helmet visor open and I never really found the perfect spot. The lowest point seemed to work best for me. The windshield is plenty tall enough for me - I do not like to look through one - it may be that the shape is not quite right. Oh well, it would not be any fun if I did not have to buy some kind of accessory! More to come later.

Shep

 

[marcparnes]

Hi Guys,

I happen to have both, a '05 FJR ABS and a R1200GS. I was looking for a garage mate for the FJR so I would have something to ride in the summer. The last two summers with my '04 and current FJR I found the heat was taking all the fun out of it. I've done all the fixes and even added a Bagster tank cover in an effort to get rid of the heat but it is persistent. I ended up with a GS because I've had lots of Beemers and have always liked them. I was also looking for something different enough from the FJR so I wouldn't feel guilty having two similar types of rides in the garage. Yea, I know, weird..

I also rode one two up with my wife for 5K kilometers in Italy during May which helped convinced me to buy one when I got home. The other thing that ended the argument was following a friend on his GS with me on my FJR during a day of tight fast roads in the Trinity Alps of Northern California. I couldn't catch him! I'll be able to now Here is what I think the main differences are:

Engine: No comparison. The GS is way improved from the 1150 model but is still no match for the liquid smoothness of the FJR.

Trans: The GS is again, improved, but the FJR still snicks better.

Handling: The GS has more ground clearance and wider bars which makes it fly in the tight stuff. The FJR handles high speed sweepers with greater confidence.

Highway Ride: The GS does not do well on the open road. It is bumpier, offers little wind protection and is easily moved around in the turbulence set up by other vehicles on the road. The 1150GS was noticeably more stable on the open road then the new one is. Probably a result of its reduced weight and modifications made in order to make it a better off-road bike. The FJR takes the ribbon in this catagory.

Seating Position: The GS puts you in an erect sit up position with a lot of leg room and an easy reach to the bars. Its a very comfortable bike from that standpoint if that is the kind of position you're looking for which I was. The FJR is a bit more cramped but very comfortable just the same particularly with bar backs. Overall, I think the GS has a better riding position for all day comfort. No leg cramping here. The biggest drawback for me in this catagory is the GS's miserable seat. 100 miles and I'm moving around. I had dinner with Roozbeh in Morro Bay last night and rode home this morning. By the time I had reached 150 miles I was hurting. By the time I got home at 275 miles I couldn't wait to get off. Russell here I come.

Weather protection: The GS has almost nothing which for me makes it a good summer bike. The FJR is obviously better in this catagory particulary in the winter.

Overall Comfort: For a long ride or an extended trip in anything under 80 degrees I'd take the FJR. For a day ride with lots of tight roads and someone on a sport bike to chase I'd take the GS. It is absolutely amazing how fast you can go easily with this bike. I can ride the GS faster with more confidence on those kinds of roads than I can anything else.

Two Up: I just asked my wife how she would compare them since she has spent time on both. Her answer is that the GS is quite a bit roomier then the FJR which she prefers. She mentioned the distance between her and I which is greater on the GS so she didn't feel so cramped. She also appreciated the lower pegs of the GS. She also said sitting up higher on the GS gave her a better view of what was coming whereas on the FJR she has to crank her head around my helmet to see where we're going. She also said that an inexperienced passenger might feel more secure on the FJR only because she would be closer to the rider. In our case we ride separate from each other. She holds on to the bag mount with one hand and the backrest with the other. I can't even tell she's there. From the rider's perspective I noticed quite a bit of turbulence coming off the screen with her on the back of the FJR which forced me to sit more upright and closer to the screen in order to minimize it. That is with the stock screen. Otherwise I didn't think one was better than the other.

Summary: Long rides in cooler temps - take the FJR. Play rides in the tight stuff - take the GS. High temps no matter what the ride - take the GS. Going off road - take a DIRTBIKE

Anything else??

 

[rogerfjrfaster]

Ask Marc about his hight speed run from Death Valley home to Huntinton Beach his wife was livid about it as she new what time he left Furnace Creek.

rogerfjrfaster

 

[ripdaddy]

On the 1150's watch out for that old bug-a-boo surging fuel injection. It may seem negligible on a test ride but the longer you ride the more intrusive it becomes. Supposedly the 1200's have it sorted out but I have seen an occasional review that mentions imprecise fuel metering. (In fairness the same can be said for the FJR.) After 10 years of BMW ownership my only comments are, "never spent so much for a motorcycle and enjoyed it less", and "over-priced, over-rated". Dealers, though, are several cuts above any UJM dealer I've met.

 

[shep]

I think Marc summed up the differences perfectly. When I had my 1150GS, I also had a Monster in the garage. My reasons were the same as Marc's. I was looking for something completely different from my other ride. I have to say that I am envious of Marc's current combination - an FJR and a 1200GS would be a wonderful pair.

I have heard others say that the 1150 is a better highway bike than the 1200. I have only ridden the 1200 briefly so I cannot comment other than to say that I can vouch for the fact that the 1150 can be ridden on the highway, but it is not that much fun. I have done plenty of 600 mile days on it, but some of it was more endurance than pleasure. I would also agree that I have never ridden a bike that is more fun on twisty roads than a GS.

In a perfect world, highway riding would be nonexistent. If I had all the time I needed I would never get on one. However, when I only have a three or four day weekend and want to ride the mountains 7 hours away, some highway time is necessary. This is one reason I went with the FJR - hoping to find a combination that will allow me to travel more comfortably but still be great fun when I get to my destination.

Seats - I have never had a bike with a seat that I liked. I have also never owned an aftermarket seat that I thought was worth the money. I have owned Corbins, Russels and Rick Mayers and disliked all of them. Yes, they were better than stock, but not by much. I am a small guy, 5'6" and 140 lbs. I guess these seats are just not made for a guy my size. The best seat fix I have found so far is an Alaska Leather Butt pad - it really helped me and is what I will try first on the FJR. I have not ridden it enough yet to comment on its comfort though.

The heat issue. Okay, so I have only ridden the bike for an hour or so to this point, but here is what I have observed about the heat issue so far. 1. It is real. I felt it even on the 5 mile ride home from the dealer. 2. I always ride in a full riding suit and boots, so some of the heat is shielded from me. 3. There were moments when I really noticed it, followed by times when I was just enjoying the ride and it never even crossed my mind. By the way, it was 92 degrees outside when I was riding, so I certainly did not need any more heat. Well, I have said enough and Marc said it all much better, so I am off to ride!

Shep

 

[Piggy]

Seats - I have never had a bike with a seat that I liked. I have also never owned an aftermarket seat that I thought was worth the money. I have owned Corbins, Russels and Rick Mayers and disliked all of them. Yes, they were better than stock, but not by much. I am a small guy, 5'6" and 140 lbs. I guess these seats are just not made for a guy my size. The best seat fix I have found so far is an Alaska Leather Butt pad - it really helped me and is what I will try first on the FJR. I have not ridden it enough yet to comment on its comfort though.
The heat issue. Okay, so I have only ridden the bike for an hour or so to this point, but here is what I have observed about the heat issue so far. 1. It is real. I felt it even on the 5 mile ride home from the dealer. 2. I always ride in a full riding suit and boots, so some of the heat is shielded from me. 3. There were moments when I really noticed it, followed by times when I was just enjoying the ride and it never even crossed my mind. By the way, it was 92 degrees outside when I was riding, so I certainly did not need any more heat. Well, I have said enough and Marc said it all much better, so I am off to ride!

Shep

I have had a bunch of aftermarket seats on my bikes. I like the Russells best -- have had about 6 of them -- and I have also had Corbins, Sargents and Rick Mayers, too. In all cases, with the exception of one, the aftermarket seat has worked superbly.

The one sole exception is the FJR. I just can't get a seat that gets it right. I started with a Russell; kept sliding forward, so I rode up and had them tweak the seat on three separate occasion. Did not quite work. So I sold the Russell and got a Rick Mayer. Two subsequent visits to Rick for adjustments still have not got the seat so I don't slide forward.

So then I got me an AirHawk. At the beginning the improvement was slight. Then by accident I discovered that if I position the AirHawk so forward that 1-2 inches of it sits on the tank, well then there is no sliding forward 'cause I am already there. So that's the position I use and I am quite comfortable.

But now I have another problem: Since I sit so far to the front with my boys practically resting on the tank, well now I get a lot more engine heat than I used to; especially where my inner thighs rest against the tank. :angry:

Solve one problem; got another. Last night I installed a Bagster I had ordered. Should provide some insulation. How much, I don't know.

Piggy

 

[shep]

I have had a bunch of aftermarket seats on my bikes. I like the Russells best -- have had about 6 of them -- and I have also had Corbins, Sargents and Rick Mayers, too. In all cases, with the exception of one, the aftermarket seat has worked superbly.

It just goes to show how subjective everything is and how different we all are. That is why no matter what advice and opinions I offer, those who read them must take into account that what works for me may not work for them.

I just got off my first bit of saddle time of any real consequence - about 200 miles. I ran into another guy on a BMW Adventure who is also considering the FJR. I think at this point my suggestion to Dave would be the same one I gave my friend with an LT who is looking to make a change: Look at your real riding circumstances. How do you really ride? Not what you want to do, but what you actually do on a Saturday, Sunday, or whenever you are able to get away. Is it mostly short trips? Slabs? Tight mountain roads? 100 miles? 250 miles? 400?

A typical Saturday ride for me is somewhere between 200 and 400 miles. I often ride into Kentucky and head east toward the Lexington area around the horse farms. Sometimes I go further into Daniel Boone National Forest or even to the Tennesse line and back. This involves a little of everthing - some nice two-lane, some occasional tight turns and possibly some four-lane in the mix as well. I also seem to spend a lot of time hovering in the 70 mph range. If it were not for the higher speeds and the four-lane, the GS would be king. But in light of those circumstances, I believe the FJR is going to prove to be a fine choice for my style of riding. Hope some of my lengthy ramblings helps in some way.

Shep

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

Cee Baileys, & Rifle Shields are prefered by most riders. The Highway peg mounts for the FJR offer another leg position without effecting cornering clearance at all. The info is on this site as someone needed a replacement plate from a right side drop. TJ

 

[Warchild]

Bout time you showed up here, Mr Pharnes!!!

If anyone want the most kick-ass wheel balancer on the planet, just go check out his web site here: https://www.marcparnes.com/

 

[Warchild]

And for those who inadvertantly creep pass the posted speed limit on occasion, be sure to check out Marc Phanes' Visual Alert for your V1 or Bell:

https://www.marcparnes.com/Visual_Alert.htm

 

[Piggy]

And for those who inadvertantly creep pass the posted speed limit on occasion,  be sure to check out Marc Phanes' Visual Alert for your V1 or  Bell:

. . . and for the Escort 8500 X50.

(PS If you mention my name you'll get $5 off the list price.)

Piggy