BMW R1200GS

So, the time had come to bid farewell to my trusty Yamaha FJR1300 and welcome a new steed into my life: a BMW R1200GS, affectionately named ‘Betty’—because, well, it was a scorching hot day when I bought her, and the name just stuck. I’d been eyeing the BMW GS for years, even joined the UKGSER forum way back in 2010. I’d pop in now and then to soak up the wisdom on all things GPS, routes, and whatever else those forum gurus had to offer.

July 2017
So, how am I getting on with Betty? Well, in just a few short weeks, I’ve racked up nearly 1,000 miles, and let me tell you—I’m having an absolute blast! The big twin-engine feels fantastic, and she handles like a dream. The only real “problem” (if you can call it that) is the slight power shortage. You see, after 18 years of riding bikes with over 125 BHP, my throttle hand got used to a certain… oomph. Now, I’ve had to retrain it to deal with Betty’s more modest get-up-and-go. But hey, it’s all part of the fun, right?

August 2017
With the miles piling up, Betty was due for a major service. After consulting the ever-wise members of UKGSER, one name kept cropping up: Mikeyboy, the mastermind behind Overland and Classic Motorcycles, just outside Melton Mowbray. Now, I never need an excuse to ride out to Melton Mowbray—the roads around there are some of my absolute favorites. Plus, it’s the starting point of the Rutland TT! So, after a quick phone call, we arranged for me to drop Betty off for her service and pick her up a week later. Win-win for both of us.

February 2019
While the rest of the UK was enjoying a freakishly warm February (18°C—someone pinch me!), I noticed my front tyre was looking a bit worn. But hey, after 7,572 miles, it had earned its retirement. The rear tyre still had about 1,000 miles left in it, but it was starting to square off, so I figured I’d replace both. Off to Wheel House Tyres in Coleshill I went, where they had a sweet deal on a pair of Metzeler Tourance tyres. A quick swap, and Betty had fresh shoes! Now all I needed was a ride to break them in…

Naturally, I headed down to the Cotswolds. And seeing as I was passing through, it would’ve been rude not to stop at the Touchdown Cafe at Wellesbourne Airfield for one of their legendary Full English breakfasts. Fully fuelled (me, not the bike), I spent the rest of the day enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and the gorgeous Cotswolds scenery.

March 2019
Betty hit 42,000 miles, which meant another visit to Mikeyboy over at Overland and Classic Motorcycles for her service. As usual, he worked his magic and left Betty running like a dream.

July 2019
After 10,621 miles of smiles and exactly 768 days of ownership, it was time for Betty to move on to a new home in Stoke-on-Trent. Saying goodbye was tough—but at least I know she’ll be in good hands.