When I was a good deal younger, in the mid-80s, I spent a few years in a row arseing around Europe in the summer months. The first time I got to the South of France, I was amazed to see huge numbers of these big bikes that looked sort of off-road-ish, but with enormous fuel tanks and hard luggage. They were a mixed bunch of Super Tenérés, Africa Twins and some more exotic kit.
I wanted one.
Well, at the time, being a scummy student, the only thing I could possibly afford was a crappy CG125, with regulation L-plates, and in time, I'm afraid to say, I was seduced by the cage-side and bought a mini (part rally spec conversion, including full flip fiberglass front end, but that's another story). It wasn't for some years that I returned to the biking fold, but I still wanted a big traillie.
When I finally got around to passing my bike test in '96, I did consider buying an Africa Twin, but the sheer size of the thing was a bit intimidating for me as a newbie. Anyway, for various reasons, I ended up buying a Yamaha SZR660 as my first "big" bike.
When I moved to London, with the standard pay-rise that such things involve for Northern Ireland ex-pats, I decided to keep the SZR, and treat myself to another bike - again I considered big traillies, but was talked into a Bandit 1200 by my girlfriend. I loved the Bandit, but unfortunately wrote it off into the side of a mini metro. Oops.
Another job change/payrise later, I bought myself a TRX850, basically because I'd always liked them, and it was a very good deal indeed.
Early in 2001, I decided it was about time that I got around to fulfilling my long dream of owning a big traillie - by now there was quite a good choice of bike in that class, but for me there could only be one: the R1150GS.
I paid my deposit to Sawbridgeworth BMW (confusingly located in Hertford) in April, and was dismayed to be told I'd have to wait until August to actually collect the bike - BMW make them strictly to order, and no dealers seem to have any in stock. Anyway, specified the factory fitted options I wanted (heated grips, ABS, hand guards, cylinder head protectors, luggage frames) and settled in for the long wait.
August seemed like a long time coming round, but when I eventually picked up the bike I couldn't have been more pleased - even before it was run in the engine was much smoother than I'd expected, the bike was very very comfortable, and the handling was sublimely neutral.
In the first three months of ownership, I've put on about 4000 miles, including a trip with ukrm to France for the weekend.
I love pretty much everything about the RGS - it's fast enough for the sort of riding I do, it's got a great tank range (best so far 200 miles, average around 170 per tank), it's got brilliant road presence and, as I mentioned, the handling is brilliant in all conditions.
The ABS and telelever front suspension take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it makes the bike even more fun to ride.
If I had to find something to criticise about the bike, I could probably only come up with a couple of things. Firstly, it is a very, very heavy bike, and whilst this isn't a problem when you're actually riding the thing, it does make pushing the bike around a bit of a problem if you're a short-arse like me. The only other thing is that it's just that little bit too big to happily commute round the North Circular in London everyday, if you're in the habit of nipping in and out of the traffic like I do. Still, I've got my R30 for that sort of thing.
I've now sold this bike
