new bike ordered today

[tog66]

I have one week to finalise the colour and what factory fit extras i want.
I have gone for a new shade of blue they have used on the road bikes and are just starting to use on the 1200GS. i was wondering if white, red or gray are better colours.

The other option i am pondering: if the spoked wheels (+300) are a worth adding as they are 1.6kg more than the std cast wheels if bought at time of purchase.
thanks for any advice.

[marc]

Spoke wheels look better to me, but are much harder to clean if that is important to you. The cast wheels are plenty strong for most use. If you are going to be treating your GS as a 200 pound dirt bike and do lots of single track then you will need the spoke wheels. Otherwise it comes down to looks and cost.

[tog66]

II like the look of both, the cost is not swinging my decision either way spoked or alloy & I will not be taking the GS on serious off road,

If 90% of the people prefer spoked wheels or the general GS riders opinion is against alloys on an enduro, without cost considerations the ease of cleaning and lighter wheel would be the only consideration. I have just had 7 years of cleaning in between spoked wheels.

I would want an older 250cc trail bike again if I was to enjoy the riding rather than worry about the bike getting damaged.
thanks.
g

[rcliffor]

Red is faster.

[RickC]

I've never seen a cast wheel on the GS, except in pictures. I think that BMW NA only orders them with spoked wheels in the US.

Rick
'08 R1200GS
'99 K1200RS

[sttraping]

Black is faster ... I prefer spoked wheels

[marc]

Originally Posted by RickC

I've never seen a cast wheel on the GS, except in pictures. I think that BMW NA only orders them with spoked wheels in the US.

Cast wheels were quite common when I got mine 6 years ago. No-one has commented on my wheels one way or the other... except to point out when they are exceedingly dirty, usually immediately following a dirt ride.

Not yet dirty:


Getting dirty:

[tog66]

that bike looks bad on its side I think i have bought the upright version that you show in the first picture. perhaps the bike would stay upright with the added weight of the spoked wheels.
I am adding spokes to the spec, just in case i get good at riding it and they cost much more if i go and buy them as aftersales.
Thanks (now i need to know what engine crash bars to add, BMW oem parts. hepco & becker or tourtech - there is plenty out there and you must have a post somewhere)

[marc]

I've found the hepco becker to be excellent. The touratech may be a touch better as they are stainless instead of painted steel, but they cost more, too. Also interesting are the Alt Rider bars. I'd give them a good look were I buying today.

Installing the HB here: R1200GS: Installing Hepco Becker Crash Bars

After a deer strike:


Repair was easy: Crashbar repair

After a lowside:


Repair was nothing more that to clean and apply some touch up paint to keep the rust away. The bars did bend a bit, as now I have to loosen them (but not remove them) to take off the valve cover. The only other damage to the bike was this:

[Wiley]

I was glad to find my GS with cast wheels. They are easy to clean, never run out of true, and are lighter. I've beat mine on some moderate rutted dirt roads. But the true test was riding on pavement in the rain when I hit a pot hole filled with water, BAM it about shook my fillings out! I *knew* it had to have bent the front wheel, but I pulled over and checked and nary a scratch or dent at all. Oh and as far as color? Gray of course! +1 on the Hepco Becker bars.