The All New 2013 LIQUID COOLED R1200GS threadfest

[6USMC6]

I can not understand what makes people think the LED lights won't be available in the States?

BMW and Audi (and probably Mercedes and the high end Japanese cars) have had LED lights - at least surrounding the headlights - for the past two model years. Why would they penalize bikes and prohibit an obvious safety feature?

[bajaburro]

Originally Posted by Montauk

K1600 is a touring bike, so okay Georgia worked. Any place in California, definitely can be the home of he GS. Especially in SoCal, we have mountains. We have desert (sand). We have rocks. Changing elevations. Scenery. All of these welcome GS type bikes, hence riders. We even have BMW's official GS training center in Angeles National Forest mountains. Well Starbucks too! Panera Bread too, if that helps. I'm just say'n

California also has more adv posers per capa than all the other states combined so you maybe right.

[Emoto]

I think the problem with a California intro is that it is not exotic. IMHO, BMW likes to portray the GS as a bike to ride across the most remote corners of the globe, so it needs to be someplace that looks to be out of a National Geographic safari of some kind.

[Montauk]

Originally Posted by Emoto

I think the problem with a California intro is that it is not exotic. IMHO, BMW likes to portray the GS as a bike to ride across the most remote corners of the globe, so it needs to be someplace that looks to be out of a National Geographic safari of some kind.

Well, think of this way, those Clint Eastwood movies with tough and remote locations of Mexico, perhaps shot somewhere in California. We have green forest too, think of Muirwood Park just 20 minutes north of San Francisco

[Montauk]

Originally Posted by 6USMC6

BMW's US headquarters is on the East coast..............

Okay you got me there. Can't argue with that.

[MANXMAN]

Originally Posted by Slippy Chips

With both rims being 1/2" wider on the new GS and the tires now being basically sport bike tires and wider also (120 width front and 170 width rear) I would like to know what we are going to do about fitting dual sport tires.

The bottom picture shows a proper dual sport tire fitted so I am guessing the narrower 110 front and the 150 rear TKC 80s for example can be used on the wider rims. If that is so, then I wonder if the wider rim is a good idea when running lower air pressures in the tires on rougher sections of the trails. Possibility of the tire coming off the rim?

One phone call to Woody and he will be able to lace up the previous narrower rims to the new hubs and solve that problem, but that sounds like a very expensive route to go.

[JNRobert]

Originally Posted by cug

For us, the show was worth it. We were looking for a potential new bike for my wife and she had a chance to sit on everything that was even remotely interesting - even on the GS. She can pretty much flat foot it with her 5'7" and 32" inseam.

But have to admit, compared to any of the European bike shows, the IMS is a freaking joke. Two very small exhibition halls barely filled. But at least most of the manufacturers were there, not many aftermarket guys though. Next time I plan my European vacation around Intermot or so.

Cug, did BMW have the F800GT there?

[cug]

Originally Posted by JNRobert

Cug, did BMW have the F800GT there?

No. That one wasn't there. Would have loved to sit on one.

[Marki_GSA]

Originally Posted by MANXMAN

With both rims being 1/2" wider on the new GS and the tires now being basically sport bike tires and wider also (120 width front and 170 width rear) I would like to know what we are going to do about fitting dual sport tires.

The bottom picture shows a proper dual sport tire fitted so I am guessing the narrower 110 front and the 150 rear TKC 80s for example can be used on the wider rims. If that is so, then I wonder if the wider rim is a good idea when running lower air pressures in the tires on rougher sections of the trails. Possibility of the tire coming off the rim?

One phone call to Woody and he will be able to lace up the previous narrower rims to the new hubs and solve that problem, but that sounds like a very expensive route to go.

There are new dual sport tyres made in the new size. That's one advantage of BMW being a market leader I guess. If they want tyres of X size the manufacturers will make them. I bet the other adventure style bikes move to the new size soon as well.

[KMC1]

Originally Posted by MANXMAN

I LOVE the look of this model!

Oh, and I think there are new tire sizes and some new models coming out to support the new bikes.

[MANXMAN]

Originally Posted by Marki_GSA

There are new dual sport tyres made in the new size.

If you are referring to the Anakee 3 then that is not a dual sport tire but very likely an excellent tire for spirited riding on pavement. Plus wider tires will not be better once you leave pavement.

[KMC1]

This new tire looks really interesting:

http://www.metzelermoto.com/web/news...nth&word=word#

[Marki_GSA]

There is a whole range of tyres coming out from various manufacturers including knoblies. It's a fair comment about the wider tyre not being optimal though. That said it doesn't seem to hamper the 4x4 vehicles which are increasingly using wider tyres to good affect. It is probably just a fashion thing though.

[MANXMAN]

Originally Posted by Marki_GSA

It's a fair comment about the wider tyre not being optimal though.

I do understand why BMW have gone with the wider wheels & tires. More riders want better performance on pavement than on dirt and BMW wants to sell as many GSs as possible.

I'm in the minority because if I up-grade to the new GS, I want to keep at least as much off pavement performance as I have on my 09.

[6USMC6]

The TKC-80 in 120/70R17 and 180/55R17 (KTM Supermoto size) has been available here in the states for several months. The smaller BMW size tires were said to be available too.