2020 BMW R 1250 GS Review | Daily Rider 

Read Spurgeon' review of the R 1250 GS here: rvz.la/3vbHCYi

Some say the GS gets too much credit. I say it doesn't get enough. I'm on my fourth one. A 2021 GSA. I agree with Zack about getting a GSA over a GS.

If Zack got pulled over for doing a wheelie, would his bosses be mad, or give him high fives? I'm guessing high fives.

Good to see he's not using signals like a true bmw owner

kinda neat how you can see the rev limit (the red area in the rev counter) getting higher the warmer the engine gets, this bike really thinks for you, cause we germans trust nobody xd

So you've covered the GS.. you better do the new 1290 SAR when it comes out!

Zack always finds new ways to impress me. What a rider. Him and Ari are the best journalists in motorcycling right now. Definitely my motorcycling heroes.

Seeing that speedo spin up to 70MPH in the dirt section had me worried... and then Zack and that porky GS pull an effortless wheelie. Pretty damn impressive for both Zack and the GS.

"weLL I'd LiKe tO sEE yOU Hit thAt jUmP on A GoLdwing, FrankLy." Next Daily Rider episode foreshadowing?

"you could 2, maybe 3 versys 650s" That was hilarious. I went with a Versys 650 as my first street bike 5 years ago and I look at other bikes like, "Oh... that's like 2.5 Kawasakis."

“A GS sucks off-road.” Translates to: “I don’t know how to ride a GS off-road.” I literally go everywhere guys on Honda 450s go. You just have to understand that sometimes you have to throttle through or use a different technique to get there.

I ride a 1200. The only bike I'd trade for would be a 1250 but can't justify the difference in the cost. My recommendation is that if you want to jump on the GS wagon (or bike) but need to work within a somewhat lesser budget, buy a 1200GS.

I like that the leader board covers a broad spectrum of manufacturers (11). I want them all!

4:04 "No GPS, I think I know where I am going." And he was never seen or heard from again...

Have one, love it, drive it every day, best bike I’ve ever had. The cylinders sticking out means no heat on your legs in summer,, and good protection in winter

0:25 “Some people say it’s the Best Motorcycle in the World” 🤣 lol that’s what BMW stands for

I was one of the haters of this bike once. But holy smokes a whole day test ride from my dealer changed it all. The bike handles so well. Smiles for miles!

What I like about the BMW Boxer platform is I can have at least 50% of the 1250 GS’s goodness for 1/5 of the price with my 16 year old 1200RT. My 1100 RT was 1/10 of the price. Also a great riding bike. Basically, there’s something at every price point, they ride amazingly well and run forever.

Hey Zack, fun review as always. I test rode and bought a new, fully loaded R1250 GS Adventure Low (as in Low Suspension) back in 2019 at the suggestion of a buddy that has ridden the big GS for years. When test riding a GS/A was first suggested to me I derisively laughed it off. I am short, 5’5” tall with a 30” inseam. That said, one test ride was all it took for me to buy the bike (and I was by no means a BMW fan-boy, almost the opposite). The handling is incredible for a bike it’s size and, very manageable at parking lot speeds. For shorter riders looking for a full size ADV bike that they can fit on, the low suspension GS or GSA (in 2019) seemed to be about the only game in town i.e. a full size ADV bike that could pass the laugh test for accessible seat height. (The HD Pan America Special seems to have changed that this year and I plan to test ride one to compare.) After two years of back road sporty riding on my GSA and, having owned dozens of bikes of all brands and sizes over many years, I have to say that the hype about the GS/A from those that love it, is (mostly) justified. That is, if one can get past the sticker shock of the purchase price and the cost of dealer maintenance. One additional thing to note about the GS Adventure vs. the GS is that the GSA’s have the “Sport” front suspension geometry versus the standard GS without the “Sport”suspension option. Having owned dozens of bikes, my GSA has lived up to it’s name as a comfortable and highly capable do-it-all bike. The closest my GSA has come or ever will come to off road has been a fire road or two but, like many GS owners I never had any pretensions about taking it off road. What I wanted was a sporty touring rig that handles well on both good roads and bad, has good wind protection, stops well and has the creature comforts I never had before on any other bike. My R1250 GSA has lived up to all my expectations and then some. For anyone considering the GS or GSA, just be prepared for sticker shock at the cost of purchase and, for pricey parts/service. The BMW “brand” does unfortunately, carry a price tag. It will be great to see how the HD Pan America Special compares to my bike once I can get my hands on one to test ride.

I’d put the KTM and Multistrada up with the GS when they’re still putting in huge mileage when they’re 30 yrs (and more) old. I doubt too many people will still live with the KTM and Ducati for as long as GS riders do with their bike

This is NOT a criticism. Watching you ride, talk technical details coherently, split lanes, ride offroad... made me tense & I couldn't understand why... and then I remembered, I ride a VN2000... pretty cool, thanks for the content.

The venom is most propably envy. That is a lot of bike, and I would love one. If someone gave it to me, of course. The prices are just ridiculous...

I think the engine is way better on the 1250 than the 1200. The engine response from the shift cam tech can snap your neck off! And this engine is WAY smoother than the 1200. I upgraded for this reason alone.

So glad to hear Zack point out the overdrive issue. I have a '15 1200GSA, and it's high-revving at 90mph, which seems insane. I also have a KTM 1290 Super Duke GT (w stock gearing), and they got it right... you don't even shift into 6th until like 80mph, that 6th gear is TALL. I love it, and sure wish BMW had done the same, especially since there's nothing you can (easily) do to change it.

a real engineering machine brought with great passion and strictness by the Germans !! And thanks RevZilla for thir great video! Love from Romania!!🤗😎👊

Do a Daily Rider on the 2.gen S1000XR please!

Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹 I ride one of those every day, commuting, on weekends, and occasionally, off-road. It's always a great pleasure, versatile, performant, comfortable, and it's just beautiful (for my taste). Of course, it isn't cheap but do your research...you won't be paying much less for a AFT Adv, and it will cost less than a Multistrada or a KTM. Nice rides! 🖖🏻

Great vid Zack. Agreed with the pick. I ride an older oiled cooled GSA and it is a great bike. The only item that I miss from the newer one is the cruise control. Throttle lock is good but not as comfortable. I used it for everything including daily commute, I like the view over traffic and still can lane split where allowed. For the no foot down stop I get better luck with only rear brake :)

People talking trash about the gs either never had one, or cant afford one. Best bike I ever had…. And I have had many ! On of the later bikes I had, was the KTM 1290 SAT. The bmw has less power…. But wins all other areas… better ballance, better wind protection, better ergonomis, better overall quality… better re-sale value. It`s a winner…

Love your upbeat and energetic reviews Zach! Keep ‘me coming please.

I always think of the big GS' and equivalent bikes as 2-track bikes. They're remarkably capable if they have room to roam.

this video made me understand that all the bad things attributed to the gs are actually about the owners. cause seeing it in Zach's hands looks like it can really do everything

I just cant comprehend how cylninders serving as crash pads is a good idea for a off road capable motorcycle

I have a lot of experience with the 1250 GS from playing PUBG. The jumps this thing can do are insane. The suspension can handle 100 foot vertical drops without any damage to you or the bike. If you can keep from falling off the bike, then just about anything is survivable. This video just scratches the surface of what this bike can do. It can also take a lot of hits from an AK47 before it blows up. Handling is compromised a little if a tire gets shot out.

Best, most complete, informative, review I’ve seen on this bike. Also, you are a great rider.

*ZACKO* Thanks for another fun ride along.. *PLEASE* have a crack on the MOTO GUZZI V85 TT. Thank you.

I love this bike, I think it's brilliant. It can wheelie effortlessly too. Hoping to add one to the stables in the future.

"Zat is what I will give you!" 🤣 Zack is the best bike reviewer! Informative with a good dose of humor!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I found that the biggest benefit of the Telelever fork is how it doesn't dive causing your passenger to get thrown forward under heavy braking. Makes sporty two up riding a joy.

I appreciate you using the term "Lady Friend" and not using a curse word like "Wife"

As an overlander with an FJ Cruiser loaded for long trips, this would be my bike. I don't need a dirt bike, but I need something that can get me through dirt and rocks and light trails while holding everything I need for a few days away from home. It's just enough offroad to be an overlanding bike.

Need to do the Pan America now so we can see the compare and contrast.

Took a test-ride the H-D PanAmerican, about 15 miles on a twisty section of the Santa Cruz mountains. Extremely impressive bike, felt powerful, nimble, and light. Matches the premium European bikes on features and technology, and trumps them on maintenance costs with the hydraulic valve-lash adjusters. To my eyes, the PanAmerican looks the best, too. Add in H-D's enormous sales and service network, and highly competitive pricing, I think it is going to take a lot of sales from, especially KTM and BMW!

Amazing job man, may i ask you to take the new tracer (900) for a test ride?

I always used to make fun of GS’ until I rode one. I've owned 4 Multistradas. Love them too, but love my GS more. My track bike is a V4S though -

My only complain with the BMW brand is reliability. For what they cost they should be bullet proof. But they are far from it. They ride/drive nice, they look good and luxurious. But do not buy one if you want to keep your mental health. Even my Toyota diesel Rav4 with a BMW engine inside broke down and needed a 700 euro repair just out of warranty.

RE: FOOT UP STOPS: the lower the center of gravity the harder it is to do a foot up stop. The weight is closer to the fulcrum. It also makes BMW's feel nimble!

My '21 GSA is my daily commuter. It's a fantastic motorcycle.

The deal with the venom is , simply, people cannot afford it so it feels better for them to pull you down and makes them feel less inadequate. Not saying they should feel that way, absolutely not , but that is what happens.

Your footless stops usually rely on the rebound stroke creating resistance against the tyre. No dive, no rebound, no help.

Yep that is my dream machine. I believe you’re right, the competition is super strong. In my mind the long term pedigree edged out any rival, but not by much. Would definitely have to go GSA and spec’d max. All around good and informative review. Your angst at the “leader” board looked honest. Ride Safe and Ride Often 👍🏼 😎 🇺🇸 🌎

Tried the tenere and the gs The t7 is a blast to ride good city filtering very nimble and lightweight The gs was too heavy for me

Had a 2015 Versys 650 LT, now a 2015 R1200GS. I daily commute year round in Virginia (~50 miles daily). I added heated grips, larger windscreen, and an auto oiler to the Versys…all must haves for commuting on that bike in my opinion. As good as it was, the GS is still better. It’s marginally more comfortable, the engine is more relaxed, and shaft drive is a beautiful thing for daily use. My GS came with the touratech hard cases. Not that they’re the only option, but better for commuting than the cases on the Versys from the standpoint of more easily keeping all my gear on the bike while at work, and can tote enough groceries for at least a few days if I stop on the way home. I’m also a fan of the electronic preload adjustment since I’m carrying a passenger frequently. That said, hitting the back roads was a little more fun on the Versys due to the noticeably lighter weight.

i was excited to see you do the GS. Zach, i met you at Laguna, I told you I got the Tracer after your review. Well i sold that for this exact GS. I am 5'6. People have to ride a GS to understand its pedigree. Telelever, paralever, boxer engine are the 3 main things that atribute to the bikes impreccable handling. Any bike can follow the recipe of power, wire wheels, etc, but it will never ride like a gs without the mechanical design that GS has. ive done lots of moderate offroad, GS is superb within reason. if u want serious offroad, go get a dirtbike. I will only replace the GS with the same or improved GS. Supreme onroad, track able bike, and it does offroad well. amen.

I just bought this bike, same color too! At 5’8 I got the low suspension model. This bike is amazing. Well balanced and I do not feel the weight. Great review!

What a great in depth review and all done in my "back yard" so I knew most of the streets you were on. Palos Verdes Drive East is one helluva fun road to ride/ drive unless you get behind a slow driver. I think this tips the scale for me to get a GS as compared to an RT. Thanks

I wonder how a GS Adventure would be as a daily driver. Being in Texas, that bigger tank would be useful for those open roads.

Thing is: a Multistrada might have Valve-Service intervals three times as long as the GS. But what hase been left unsaid here is how much easier those Valve checks are on a boxer engine. That probably isn't reflected in the bill of the BMW service partner... but it would be an interesting question for Zach: "If you did your your valve check on your own... would you rather do one on a Multistrada or three of them on a GS?" ;)

Thank you Zack! I was able to watch you reviews every bike that I considered. I am 64 years old and have had 9 bikes. Currently still have three bikes and am picking up my new BMW 1250 Adventure in two days. Maybe my last bike - maybe not, but being close to my last I spent a lot of time making my decision. Your reviews were of great value to me and although I will not be in the market for a new bike in a while I will still be watching your reviews. Best Regards, Boomer.

That last segment of these shows, where Zach struggles to place the bikes in his ranking, is really so much fun... and it provides a bit of a personality test as well, don't you think?

I own a gs1250 and it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned

I have an identical bike. I watched your review after getting home from a 90 minute ride: freeways, heavy traffic, high speeds, with rain and drizzle. I don't know any other bike that would make me feel as confident and comfortable in those conditions. I was one of the cynics until I made the mistake of test riding one. Now I keep looking for excuses to go on long rides. Nice review.

Loved this Zack. Very honest, inclusive of all common questions mentioned. Sliding the back out man, I think every GS rider has to do that as a right of passage.

I've got a 2013 GS-A and it's the best bike I've ever owned out of over a dozen. It's my keeper. Glad to see the new ones are just as good!

I hate to be like everyone else but yes, this is my favorite bike and I think one of the best bikes for almost anything.

Well there you have it, the new leader, It's not surprising but I must admit that you can tell that other brands like Ducati and KTM are getting a lot closer to dethroning it. I think the Versys is better in my mind but I'm considering it from my daily rider view where affordability and the ability to more easily filter is a bit higher on my list of qualities. I do think BMW should figure something with the exhaust so the luggage solution can be improved. No standard cruise is a point against the Kawa but for my commute it's not that important. I suppose the GS would be something to upgrade towards if I intend to a lot more touring. Next up in the Daily Rider, the new Busa ;) ? Cheers

That's the fastest IC seen you ride on the daily rider off road section Zack. 😉

Bought mine three weeks ago, and I'm absolutely in love. Extremely comfortable (on and off road), still pretty quick, and loaded with more bells and whistles than I thought possible on a motorcycle. It carries its weight very gracefully, IMO. Feels really sporty on the road, and feels very composed on the dirt.

Question about the steering: I went into a 2005 GS from a 2003 R6 (I know...) I loved the GS. I could travel for hours with no issues whatsoever. I had it 6 months before I got rid of it because the steering under most circumstances was fine...Except when wind suddenly hit, like when there was a break in the tree line. Steering would still do what asked of it, but literally felt like you were riding on ice with no feedback or feel from the front end at all. Several riding buddies confirmed this. Confidence in your machine is everthing. Do the new generations still do this???

those cylinder heads without protectors scare me

The GS never says "OK". It says "Jawohl".

I was feeling trepidatious at the outset of this video because there is so much to this bike: its storied history; its evolution; the seeming complexity of its dash and systems; that I didn't know how on earth you could sum it up in a relatively brief Daily Rider review. Well, you did it! As someone who has owned multiple iterations of the GS and GS-A as well as of the Multistrada, I think you did a great job of hitting the highlights of the riding experience of the GS (especially the comfort over distance and the unexpectedly good cornering and general handling capabilities). I haven't owed the KTM equivalents and so cannot speak to them, but I think it is fair to say that the Ducati Multistrada vs the BMW GS comparison has now come down to brand loyalty or emotional response (which bike speaks to you, or which one you feel most at home on). They are different for sure, but genuinely solid, sophisticated, highly evolved machines, easily capable of globe trotting as well as having way too much fun on your favorite regional twisty roads. It is also noteworthy that both makers have done great work in preserving character and performance while complying with the increasingly stringent Euro standards. I think we should appreciate the richness of choices we have during what may be the last phase of ICE powered two wheelers. (I grew up happily making engine and shifting noises while daydreaming about sports cars and motorcycles and feel sorry for future generations who will be limited to making humming/whooshing sounds.... They will doubtless have much better hearing in their later years, but with not a lot to listen to!)

The things that happen on the bike that make Zack giggle are the same things that make my heart sink and think I was almost about to die. Last time my tail end got swayze I thought "I'm going down!"

I'm astound that someone is curious about GS valve checks. I mean there can't be any easier access to valves on any other bike? 😁

I am glad we finally get a mention of cost and value at the leaderboard segment, I think that needs a much bigger component! The Versys 650 LT has got the be like the best appliance definition daily rider on the market!

For a footless stop, do you wait for 0 on the speedo or do you "sense" being stopped (0 MPH)? Any delay at all on the speedo, which could vary bike to bike, will have an effect on footless stop success.

590 lbs best daily driver, really?

Love your work Zack. Very fair and honest. And if you want to put the GS on the top you go for it. If others gonna hate let them make their own leaderboard.

Every day is a good day for the daily rider before my daily ride.

About to reserve a R1250GS Adventure at the dealer, then I wake up and see this video.. is it a sign?

The R1200GS is my daily ride. I love it!

Another great review, thank you Zack. This is the best bike I have ever ridden in my 24 years of having a motorcycle license. Its understandable why people consider this the best bike in the world. I'm holding out for an updated model as this will most likely be my last bike. Safe rides!

Really engaging review, Zack. I’m in my mid sixties and I’ve been riding a 2015 1200GS that was the dealer demo, so it has all the goodies you could want. It really does everything I want of it, and way more. And yet, unless I’m onboard and in command, I daydream about what bike has a lot of the same goodies but is 100 to 200 pounds lighter? I haven’t found that bike. I think about the Versys 650 LT, but do I want to go back to that simplicity? So far, no. I guess I’ll just have to keep on watching Revzilla Daily Rider to find out if the perfect bike is out there for me... Keep it up!

I picked up a 2016 GSA after having 3 r1100GS' and 3 r1150GS'... I miss the "agricultural feel" of my 1150's- I have tried to embrace the W/C r1200, but I can't. I miss the sound of the air cooled and the feel of riding a real boxer... The 2016 has these damn TPS that on one wheel, has a dead little battery, which lets me know by the low air warning light... I Miss my r1150GSA!

I've seen these larger bikes on my daily commute and usually not filtering well, behind cars. My commute is 80 km round trip daily. Thats a real commute with a variety of traffic conditions. You can't filter that beast well.

Hi Great review. I just happened to be one of the lucky ones that own a BMW R 1250 GS HP. If I remember correctly you reviewed the 2021 Ducati Multistrada which had adaptive cruise control. I know that you mentioned that the BMW 2021 model also had adaptive cruise control however in your final summary you gave points to the Multistrada. Over the BMW for that. I felt that was harsh considering you were comparing a 2020 model with a 2021 model. Just saying :-)) now I’ve been lucky enough to also have a day with the 2021 Ducati Multistrada. The Ducati put the biggest smile on my face while riding it, so much fun. When I finally had to take it back to the dealership I was asked my thoughts on it. My response was…. The bike is a great machine for playing on the open roads, a lot of fun. However in traffic I was continually having to ride the clutch because the bike needed to rev. That was just one more thing that you have to concentrate on while lane filtering Unlike the BMW which chugs along like a tractor in the low revs. I also take my beamer off road it’s way more capable than I am unfortunately. I doubt I will ever be able to get the full potential out of my machine. For obvious reasons I did not take the Ducati off road however I imagine that it would be difficult to ride in technical sections because you need to keep the revs up so much more. At the end of the day we are talking about a daily ride and in this case I believe that the BMW wins out right. Let the hating begin. Cheers.

I just purchased a GS 1250 TE, after riding a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport for last 5 years a gorgeous triple that after 4 hours is tiring. Most adv bikes are top heavy including my 1050, the GS engine is low therefore not and is so easy to ride slow speed. Also the roads in UK can be quite poor, the suspension is a dream. I went for a test ride and was hooked. Can other bikes do things better ? Maybe, but for me won't be as easy to ride and as comfortable on long journeys.

i got a GS a couple years ago and this made me fall back in love with it all over again

Good video. Love the Teutonic part! Gotta love the gate because of the price, but forget that a base Harley starts there and has no where near the equipment

Would love to see a Daily Rider video of Super Tenere, seems like it could be a good comp for the GS!

this is the category killer - if you end up doing big trips - you will end up with a GS

it'd be nice if you could show us the key/key fobs too

The distortion from that windshield! And the GPS further blocks the view. I need to see where the front wheel is going on New Jersey roads.

one of these days I’ll splurge and spend a whole 5k on a bike.

The hate from SOME towards the gs / gsa I think is from those who A. haven't ever rode one and B. Those who are not at the phase in their biking evolution to know a gs is what they need or at least should try

Would love to hear your thoughts on the new Suzuki 1050XT, Revzilla hasn't put out any review of it yet!

BMW is the adventure touring bike that I like

In California, aren't the footless stops supposed to be executed while riding with one hand and lane-splitting?

Super new to riding here, but maybe that front suspension thing that stops the bike from diving, is whats causing the footless stop issues? That rocking back and forth when you come to a stop on other bikes give you time to get going again before it starts falling over vs the R1250 that doesnt rock much or at all when you stop.

1250 GS as a daily commute is a whole 3 grand Stanley tool kit to tighten the wheel nuts.