On the Fence

Hello everyone, I currently drive a BMW 1200GS but I am looking for another bike that is good for daily commute and occasional rides in the country. I like the GS but I think I can find a better suited daily bike.

The GRiSO has really caught my eye. I don't know a lot about the bike but I have been reading a lot of articles.

I figured I would post here and see what the daily riders think, I know that I am on a forum that is for GRiSO riders so you guys may have a slightly biased opinion.

I have a short commute that usually takes 15 - 30 minutes depending on Austin traffic.

There are a couple of bikes available in this area and I have my eye on a 2014.

Let me know what you think and thanks for the help.

Pfreak

The only negative I can think of in regard to why a GRiSO wouldn't be a good choice for you is that these bikes need to get up to temperature to avoid condensation issues in the heads. You do live in a warm climate, as do I, so that might not be an issue. That being said, if I'm not taking a ride of at least 20-30 miles, I take another bike or a car.

GRiSO is not a great choice for urban traffic. It's fairly heavy and not very nimble at low speed. Fuel economy is not good in town either. GRiSO is best at blasting through uncongested countryside, hills, mountains. For my money, there are none better. It's an absolute joy. So good in fact, I recommend you get one, sell your BMW, and get a scooter or Aprilia Mana for the urban slog.

+1 What LBC said. The GRiSO is no commuter - unless your commute has many highway or backroad miles. Not much fun in traffic.

+2 , I'm 10 minutes from my work, and can't be stuffed to put jeans, jacket, helmet etc on for a short squirt, GRiSO's love the open highway

Most of the big blocks, whatever their designation are not commuters. My trip to work is 42 km and that is barely enough. However, the V7 series are probably more suited to doing the type of work you want

Thanks for the responses guys, I guess I will have to keep looking around. If I didn't take the GS off road I would probably think about getting rid of it for this beautiful bike.

Thanks again,
Pfreak

I don't agree on the statement that she's not good for commuting. I'm commuting every day. It takes 35km to one head office and 45km to the other one. 35km is in light urban traffic, small country roads and lots of short traffic jams (called "traffic lights" :-) )
The 45km is a mixed route. Partly as described above and a part on totally congested highways.
My experience is that, if you have good "road type" tires and a well serviced bike, commuting is not that bad as you say.
My FJR1300, ok, that was a hell of a commuter. And the Bandit600 had a blooduy elastic body.
But the GRiSO is agile enough to use as a commuter and she has the advantage that everybody hears you coming if you ride in between the traffic jam rows.
The only downside is the lack of standard luggage capacity. But I solved that with a decent backpack.

A GRiSO-riding mate just picked up a Mad Ass - having a ball - reckons it's a real hoot, but then his commute is only a few miles.

To be clear, there are far worse bikes in city traffic than a GRiSO. But there are also far better ones. Still, if I could only have one bike, GRiSO would be quite lonely in my garage.

I'm commuting on my GRiSO every day, 10-15 miles each way depending on my route (and closer to 100 miles on the way home on Friday's *grin*). My commute is generally pretty heavy stop and go traffic, and the GRiSO has handled it just fine so far, other than the throttle being twitchy at low speeds. But hoping a Beetle map after the first service will sort that out.

It's not as easy in heavy traffic as my old Bonneville, but it's a sight better than either my Yamaha Warrior or Tuono v4r ever were. The commute just doesn't seem so bad when I've got that Guzzi Grin plastered on my face.

Caleb

Well the guy is coming from a GS so he's used to heavy bikes and I say and the GRiSO is lighter anyway.
The V7 was mentioned and it's a good commuter due to its nimbleness.
I also think that a well sorted GRiSO is not bad at all in city riding...I know I'm not complaining despite not being flat footed on it but then again, I'm hardly flat footed on any bikes except for boring cruisers so I'm resigned to that fact.

Grisonut wrote:

Well the guy is coming from a GS so he's used to heavy bikes and I say and the GRiSO is lighter anyway.
The V7 was mentioned and it's a good commuter due to its nimbleness.
I also think that a well sorted GRiSO is not bad at all in city riding...I know I'm not complaining despite not being flat footed on it but then again, I'm hardly flat footed on any bikes except for boring cruisers so I'm resigned to that fact.

I have both a GRiSO and a V7 Racer. The V7 is a hoot and they are up-sizing that motor so even better. Check one out.
I would also consider a Yamaha fz7 or 9 for the price, hard to beat, though ugly as shit IMHO

I agree with you CC...
Ugly bikes for sure, mega deal breaker for me though. Most of these modern bikes look like insects anyway.
As far as the V9, mehh...Not really an improvement over the V7. I'm a big block dude.

Having owned both the GS is a much better Daily commuter, in fact I currently have an R1100S and an 1100 GRiSO and the R1100S is a better commuter