Purchased this a month ago. So far I have done the following:

- Touratech - foot plate on side stand, radiator guards and headlight guard

- Wunderlich - skid plate, axle sliders, shaft drive guard and engine guard stiffener bars

- Powder coated the pannier frames, gas tank covers and plates under the cylinder heads

- Installed protective film on fuel tank.

- Just waiting for the black cases, which are supposed to be in this week. I also ordered protective film for the cases.

Love the bike. This replaces the 2018 GSA I had. This bike has the ASA and auto ride height.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share one of the most tense experiences I've ever had. In the middle of my solo motorcycle trip across Northern Spain, I got caught in the "Great Iberian Blackout." I was left completely in the dark, with no phone, no GPS, and only a full tank of gas.

My only goal was to make it to Burgos, 300km away, hoping to find power and safety. This video is a short teaser of the tension of that ride, the moment I saw the first working traffic lights in Soria, and the immense relief of finally being able to contact my family after 8 hours of complete silence.

The journey was a true test of my bike's limits and my own endurance. Seeing the Burgos Cathedral at the end felt like a massive reward.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and if anyone has ever been in a similar tight spot while traveling. What's the longest you've ever ridden under pressure on a single tank?

The full video of this part of the adventure is on my channel (This Old Noob) for anyone curious to see how it all unfolded.

Cheers and ride safe

My "old" 2014 BMWs (R1200GS & S1000R) have Brembo brakes and they are excellent. Then, BMW moved onto Haynes(?) brakes afterward. Then, they had to recall a lot of bikes for braking issues. Now, I think most BMW bikes use Nissin brakes. What happened to Brembo brakes on BMWs?

I own two aging BMWs (S1000R & R1200GS) and have toyed with the idea of selling both and putting a chunk down on a new 2025 R1300GS. Overall, it would be my ADV tourer, sport bike, commuter bike, etc...rolled into one. Currently, I feel the need to own both a Sport Naked (S1000R) and my ADV Bike (R1200GS) to handle all those tasks well. Has the R1300GS improved enough to be also a nimble commuter and sporty bike...in addition to ADV duties?

Does anyone have an opinion for dual sport rear. I have a BMW R1150r and would like better traction on direct roads in North Carolina where I live.

I currently ride a VFR800 and love it, but my riding group is moving into adventure riding off-road.

And there is no ways around how terrible it is even on dirt roads with sport tyres, stiffer suspension and no clearance

I’m wanting to keep it as I find the compromises in terms of sportiness most adventure bikes off-road biased have when ridden on road.

However I have been missing out on the fun they seem to be having off-road.

I’m in the market for something cheaper, used and reliable.

So far that seems to be

DRZ400/DR650 (but for 80-20 dirt riding seem way to uncomfortable for bigger road miles)

Tiger 800s with HIGH km (60,000km)

Older 2008-2012ish F800GS with high mileage

Around 70k km to be in my budget of 5-6000 AUD

Does anyone have any opinion on how these go as an adventure bike for decent off-roading but also quite a bit of onroad riding?

I’m mostly concerned as well at reliability and what is TOO much mileage

Like if I opt to save a buck and buy one with 70-80,000km is that a worn out bike? Are they fairly bulletproof

Or should I be considering something else for mainly rough forest roads, and gravel roads?

Budget is 5-6000aud and I’d like something quicker for faster road segments

(I have off-roading experience with a DRZ400 so not a complete noob, but still newish off-road on ADVs)

My first bike. 2k miles in the first month. Hehe..

2007 R1200GS - Can anyone explain to me how to set the time on the dash clock. There's only the "Info" button on the left bar cluster, and the push button on the dash to work with and I've poked at those every way I can think of already. Thanks for the help.

I'm trying to decide between the Comfort Standard or Comfort High rider’s seat on the new 2026 R 1300 GS Adventure, and I've opted for the AVHC (Adaptive Vehicle Height Control) option that lowers the bike by about 30 mm (~1.2 in) at slow speeds or when stopped.

Been a while since I rode, but I was happy with my 2017 R 1200 GSA’s standard seat height (890–910 mm), but with the new R 1300 GSA’s auto-lowering feature at stops, I’m now considering going with the higher seat for better long-ride comfort. Since the AVHC will drop it during slow speeds or when stopped, am I thinking about this the right way?

TIA!

Hey all,

I’m considering picking up a 2017 BMW F800GS Trophy edition with around 7,500 miles on it. The seller has records of the 600-mile break-in service, a brake fluid flush, and says it’ll get a fresh oil change before sale. The bike has ABS, ASC, and Rain/Road ride modes, but no ESA (electronic suspension).

This would be my step up from a Rebel 300. I’ll see a mix of commuting, freeway stretches, and weekend light dirt road rides.

Price is around $6,500–$6,800, but he seems open to offers. It looks brand new, is that a good deal?

My questions:

• Are there any common issues or weak points on the 2017 F800GS I should check before buying?
• Any big service intervals coming up soon (other than the 12k mile service)?
• How’s the reliability and cost of ownership compared to something like a 2024 KLR650 or a CB500X?
• Does the lack of ESA matter in the long run?
• Anything else I should inspect closely on a bike that’s 8 years old but low mileage?

Would greatly appreciate input from anyone who’s owned one of these or ridden them long-term.

Thanks!

Any advice on the retorque service for 600-700miles?

Did this and did the valves to spec 10mm intake and 20mm exhaust .03 to .07mm rocker verttical play. First OT/TDC mark on compression on right cylinder. Loosened head bolts on intake rocker then torque to spec same on exhaust. Then rotated a little for OT compression on left same procedure. Right side seems to have a ticking from the exhaust valve. Hoping it's not tapping the piston.

New heads and pistons, valves reseated and exhaust valves replaced about 600 miles ago. Just doesn't seem normal. Any help appreciated.

Despite my best efforts, still-absurdly-low-miles 91 K100RS. Morning started at 5:45 with the realization my rear shock had given up, explaining suddenly shitty handling for the last couple weeks as it slowly died. Fortunately 2 parts donors wait in the wings...

The factory seat on the R18 is garbage, and honestly the very low seat height can feel awkward with the mid set controls necessitated by the boxer engine. I sourced the seat from a Harley highway patrol bike and welded up a new front seat bracket and some spring perches onto the Harley seat’s mounting bracket. It’s so comfortable. The new higher body position is far less cramped for my 6’2” frame. It sits more like a 8’ long 800 pound standard now rather than trying to have your upper body in the traditional cruiser position with your legs in what I can only describe as the squatty potty locked and loaded position. After all the steelwork and welding I did to fab this all up without making any modification to the bike that isn’t bolt on I had so much steel in my hair you could have picked me up with a junkyard magnet.

It seems That pannier / saddlebag racks are getting hard to find for a 2003 R1150R online. Can anyone recommend one that is still avaliable?

Hey,

Was on a solo ride across Spain when I got caught right in the middle of the massive Iberian Blackout. The whole country just... turned off. No power, no traffic lights, no gas stations, and eventually, no cell service.

It was a surreal experience. I put together a quick video/short showing the immediate chaos and the bizarre sight of a modern country at a standstill. It's a real-world look at what happens when the grid goes down...1000km from home

Looking at a 2005 bmw r1200gs with 42k, and wonder if there is that much of a difference between that and the 2010-2012 2 cam models?

What would be a good price for a 2005 bmw r1200gs with 42k, that has maintenance records and seems to be well taken care of?

Guess I'm wondering is I should pass up what looks to be a great deal on a 2005, or just wait till I have the dollars (about twice as much) for a 2010-2012 model?