Not to mention the Yamaha tenere 700 will school this thing in real off road situations. At a fraction of the cost. And on the highway.....the cops are going to be on you when this thing passed the Yamahas top speed.
I enjoyed my 160 000 kilometers of BMW Boxer ownership, but access to buy and replace parts was not easy. The last straw came in two strokes; a $40 idler gear was going to cost $1000+ to replace, and the parts and service guy had the same attitude as Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi. So, I sold the thing, joined a BMW victim support group and swore I’d kick the habit. And, now this - clearly a relapse is imminent; but, here’s the question: Is it time to call my support group sponsor . . . or visit a dealer?
That’s a big chunk of money for a fully loaded bike. I can do two very different bikes for that combined price - keep my T7 for mixed riding and a Supersport/Ninja 1000SX/Street Triple etc for more road fun.
You are right, BUT go for a test ride and You will see, that You only need 1 GS for mixed riding and for fun. I mean You can do twisty roads with a sports bike for half an hour, while not being slower on the same roads with a GS except, because of the comfort she gives You, You can do this for hours.
@@norbertscheibner8334 exactly. If I could only own one bike, it would be the GS. It’s amazing in the twisties, comfortable on the road, and fully capable off-road.
Hi Bob, This is exactly the bike I have, down to the exhaust and coulour scheme. I live in the Paris area and most of my riding is urban. This means that I can't really do it justice - as you say - or exploit its full capabilities. But, I traded up twice, first from a Ducati scrambler and then a Triumph Tiger 900GT Pro. I can't honestly say that I regret my choice despite the huge price tag and not using it to the full. It's a wonderful, everyday machine, even for filtering in dense traffic, which is supposedly it's weak point.
Its all about depreciation rather than the “list” price. Cheapest new motorcycle in its class to run . I lost more on a second hand bandit than my new GS.
Have BMW improved the quality of the nuts and bolts? I had 2 new Adventures, 2004 & 2008 both were stored and maintained properly but both started to rust very quickly.
I think people from a sporty bike /super naked bike groups will have KTM superA or a Ducati Multi over a GS but I recon the average GS rider thinks and feels that the GS is quick enough for them and the biggest problem will be the chain drive. If you had a shaft driven bike for some time now and the GS owners tend to chamge their GS for a newer GS the thought of chain adjustment / lubrication will drive them mad. Ps I'm not a GS owner but I owned bikes with chain drive and shaft drive. You change the dif oil once every 10K mies or every time U change the back tyre is much more enjoyable then spraying your chain on a long tour im the rain every 3 fuel stops
Have been watching your videos for two years now, great channel! However, I really miss you riding the bikes on screen and sharing your experience in the moment. Share your emotions, instead of the dry facts. :-)
I like these dry facts videos. There are other channels around to watch if we want real time riding reviews. Good thing we have both bro´, don't you agree?
@@jonrinoandreassen5431 I agree. These are beautiful visuals which I really appreciate. Agree on plenty of ride vlogs available. If there weren't . . .
What do you do on the morning of your wedding while slugging a coffee and slurping your porridge in bed?! That’s right, you watch this! A joy as always Rob. Trust you well and clearly busy as always, your status as one of the best in the business for this thoroughly enjoyable medium well deserved. Thank you.
You don't need more power. Where I live in Melbourne, Australia the government has just bought a heap of new red light /mobile speed cameras, choppers etc. This bike has all the real world power you can can use. Brilliant bike. I've got adaptive cruise control in my car so it's good but I can live without it. $21K? Worth every penny I don't have either. Harley's Pan America is $32K. All academic really.
An important option sport suspension! It gives you the GSA suspension on the standard gs. That was the ticket for me! I wanted a thin bike with the off-road suspension
Good luck in the West Country. You are well positioned there for rides to Wales, South West and the South Coast. As ever with these bikes we have to figure out exactly what we want the bike for and choose accordingly. There is always a compromise. Good review as always. Cheers.
I took one out last week. They are great but to get one with the toys you want you are paying over £20,000 for that you could buy 2 great bikes. You need to have money to burn to justify one. I don’t so it’s a no from me.
If you buy a GS or GSA, do yourself a huge favor snd buy the touring windscreen and side screens from Aeroflow out of Riverside, CA from a dude named Paige (sp?). The person who answers the phone is Christine. If you’re over 6’2” buy the extra tall windscreen. You can always lower it. Best bike of all time once you’ve specked it out with Aeroflow imho.
Got one in June this year, best bike I've ever had! I don't know how they can improve the perfect bike unless I guess you look at all the after market accessories! I guess the bike would be even more expensive if they added all these extra bits to it, on the positive side it gives business to the 3rd party suppliers.
Used to hate them, made the mistake of test riding an early LC, now on my third a 2019 GSA Exclusive. The secret is the versatility and living in rural Northumberland they are perfect, fast, comfy, great handling. Had a few issues with my 1250 but sorted under warranty and I’ll probably have another despite the cost😢
That sounds familiar. I didn’t hate them, I just didn’t think one would be right for me. Oh, how wrong I was. I took an RS out for a test... then the salesman suggested trying a GS. I was hooked.
My first bmw was the K1200s, then changed to a 2015 1200gs, then again to a 2017 1200gs Rallye, now I ride the 2020 R1250 GS HP …. so my opinion on them is very obvious 😁👍
Interesting comment, I've said the same as you for years n years, having had hondas a Zx7r and a Zx10r for 15 years.... i was about to pack up biking completely as I'd been everywhere in the uk and Europe but then sat on my mates GS and thought, Why Not, I'm Only 70 lets start again ! So bought an 07 Oilhead ..... I'm absoloutely addicted to it ! Try One !
Have one (air-oiled cooled). Bought new it in 2007. The bike has none of the electronics this one has. BMW should consider to bring out a GS KIS (keep it simple) and lower the price of that model considerably. Then they would have place 1 2 and 3 :-)
Always wanted a BMW sadly out of my reach, maybe one day,this is the one I would buy have to be soon I’m 69 but still fit.love your review many thanks.
I have ridden a 1290 Adventure S for 2500km in the alps and after that a GS 1250 for 30mins. So not enough time to compare in depth. But i am not so sure why everyone raves so much about the engine. The KTM twin has much more power on top and is more direct. Sure the 1250 starts strong but it is also over very soon.
The thing about the BMW GS is... everything. It does everything well. As for the price, blame the PCP industry. Sadly, a lot of buyers don't care too much about the sticker price, they're only bothered about the monthly payment. As residual values are quite good on BMW's, it has allowed the sticker price to increase whilst still maintaining a competitive monthly payment, compared with a lower priced, residually weaker bike from another manufacturer.
Every 60 seconds, over 500 hours of video is uploaded onto RU-vid, so I find your claim that you have, '[...] seen everything on RU-vid' disingenuous, misleading, and plainly incorrect. I also checked your 'Watched' list, and it does not list anywhere near the 800 millions videos that have been uploaded onto RU-vid. To put the nail in the coffin of your erroneous claim, I would like to end with the fact that it would take at least 60,000 years of continuous viewing to watch everything on RU-vid. The only possible way that you could have seen everything on RU-vid is if you have several screens, each with several windows, playing all the videos in sequence. I consider that unlikely, so, Mr. I've seen Everything on RU-vid, your braggadocious claims might fool the regulars at your local, but you can't fool Motobob's commenters.
I've owned 2, a 2016 GS Adventure and currently a 2022 R1250GS which I'm selling. These bikes are sold under a myth of traveling 'round the world in all kinds of terrain. We get the gear and the bags and then almost no one goes off-road. Like a Range Rover, sure it could go off-road but it never does. And for those that do, they quickly realize it's too big and heavy for off-roading for anyone other than expert dirt riders. Experts who will tell you to get a smaller bike for off-road adventures. Yes it's versatile, like a Swiss Army knife - but we don't use those gadgets either.
Sad. Top selling bike only shifts less than 2000 units, and one that costs 21k. Bikes have become toys. How things have changed. The rear brake light is the only usefull feature. YMMV.
It is way too noisy- wind noise [new windscreen], but engine and what is probably air intake noise - ridiculous, horrible and intolerable. My KTM is ordered.
Ridden by the same people who used to buy sports bikes and racing leathers...look at me I'm Valentino Rossi!.....now it's look at me I'm Charlie Boorman!..U really need a bloated 1250 motorcycle to ride down a track in Wales!😅
Many ppl say BMW R1250GS/A is the best in ADV motorcycle segment, in the past I never drove an BMW. I own a 2021 Africa Twin Adv Sports (AT-AS), so I had high expectations for R1250 GS compared to my AT. Today I got an opportunity to test-drive R1250 GS, honestly I didn't like it (maybe I'm used to my AT). Few thing I noticed 1. Handle-bar position - IMO AT has relaxed handlebar position compared to R1250. 2. Immediately I felt engine heat from the boxer engine, even after riding for multiple hours on AT I barely notice engine heat. 3. Foot pegs, shifter & rear brake position is more comfortable in AT than BMW. 4. Even though R1250 GS is heavier than AT ES, I feel the speed. While driving 75-80+ miles on Interstate, I felt the speed on BMW. On AT I don't feel that speed, 80+ miles engine is pretty relaxed at 4000/rpm. 5. Parallel-Twin engine/exhaust sound has more grunt/thump compared to the boxer engine. I really like how AT sounds. 6. Brakes are much more effective on BMW compared to AT. BMW excels in braking. Maybe I'm missing something on BMW, pls let me know if you think otherwise... No more second thought of trading AT for R1250GS, IMO for me AT-AS is more comfortable than BMW.
Had a test ride yesterday. I'm thinking to replace my VFR1200X with something more up-to-date. First impressions- I'm 185 cm tall - sitting position. I have lean slightly forward towards handlebars. Knees angle is higher than in VFR1200X. After half an hour started feeling pain in my back. Standard screen is way to small. Air stream hits me directly in helmet, making terrible noise and causing buffeting. From the other side, suspension is superb, dynamic ESA does phenomenal work. Fantastic TFT display. Spotted something strange with gearbox - 4th gear was lagging compared to others, and couple of times ended up with excessive revving. Would I buy it? Rather no. Way to expensive, expected much more for this kind of money. I think I'll stay with Crosstourer for the while.
I have a 2020 1250GS TE and probably the thing I'd like most that I haven't already got is the blind spot warning like the system that's currently fitted to the latest Ducati Multistrada. In fact I think every bike should have that as standard.
Great review, was looking forward to hearing what you think of it. I own the 1200GS but with the same digital dash and auto levelling suspension. They're a game changer from the previous water cooled model. You are right about the cockpit and seeing the back of the lights etc. I too thought it felt unfinished at first, but you don't see it after a while and it adds to the rugged charm. The problem with owning one of these is what to switch to next. I'm desperately wanting something different but genuinely can't think of what that would be without causing major regrets.
The new Triumph 1200 Rally beats this bike in nearly every aspect unless you like the tele front ends of the GS. Go ride one of the Triumphs and report back.
havnt tried this 1250,but it's probably as all the other gs - completley boring - bmw:s gs-series all the way from the old 650 and up ti 1200 have all the same temperamente-linear all the way,no grunt,no fun..boring as hell to ride-good bike,but way to boring..not as f.ex. ktm:s bike that realy have a nice punch in them,or the yamaha tenneree-series..i understand why people like the gs-series,but to me they r way to boring to drive
Giving them to Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman for Long Way Down was a marketing master stroke. Even though it’s what, 15 years ago now I still think the GS is riding that wave. The only thing that will spoil,it’s image is it’s buyers. It’s like the Mercedes G Wagen, an awesome piece of equipment but makes a statement that not everyone will be comfortable with.
Give you a sub, great forest for testing! I’m on an ‘05 GS with Öhlins, and that telelever will never say dive. Just this morning had a busy light turn red and I was stopping very short, then just roll up to the line like Ho-hum.
I'm telling you one thing, all these electrical gadgets are cool and they make bikes safer and easyer to ride but once they start to brake down... O lord all mighty you going to pay severely to repair them, expecially when they are out of warranty. Same problems with new cars with full of processors and sensors built under the hood.
Great review, fantastic bikes, I had the air cooled 1200 triple black; which was worth around 8k so great value too for such a machine, and to this day I don’t know why I sold it 😏 👊🏻
I disagree. R1150GS for example had „Integral ABS“ which was more complicated than the ABS which is used today. With those old ones it was important to service them in time, although there were some failures even then. ABS in BMW Motorcycles today is not very prone to failure, there was only one Technische Aktion i know of with a soft rear brake (fixed free of charge, of course - its BMW).
The reason the boxer motor sounds awful is the same reason that Triumph and Yamaha (and Ford and now Chevy) should have avoided crossplane crankshafts at all costs. There's nothing worse than a crankshaft with super long spaces between each piston firing. The long pause between each firing stroke, leads to the really unnatural "digital" sound where you can't identify what kind of engine you're listening to. Notice a conventional inline 3 cylinder engine sounds like an inline 6 cylinder engine, because it has the same pitch as a larger 6 cylinder, due to the firing intervals being similar. Notice that a conventional inline 4 cylinder has a high pitched mean scream that you can readily identify as an inline 4. Notice that a Harley V-twin air cooled engine has a beautiful, rich sound, as the firing pulses are very close together due to a shared single crankpin, and 2 closely spaced firing intervals. Now contrast these beautiful engine sounds with the Yamaha Crossplane R1 engine (sounds like a video game from the 1980's) or the Boxer engine (puttering sound) or the new Triump crossplane crank triples, which sound grunty, impure, and rough, without the beautiful high pitched sound of the original. Crossplane (flat plane/T-plane) crankshafts do not sound good, and for that reason alone, they should be avoided on 3 and 4 cylinder bikes.
Just got back from riding the Rallye pack GS on & off road around the Spanish mountains, clocked up 400 miles with the Toro Adventure. The GS is just a awesome bit of engineering setting the bench mark in the industry. I did miss the heated seat as I have it on my own GS TE I bought in May 21' & clocked up 4k miles. I still can't get my head around after for the first time taking the GS off road & it just munching up rocks/gravel/puddles in Enduro mode, then switching to Dynamic it behaves so fantastically around the twisties! I have the Pearl white TE but I do equally like the Rallye colours. Going to the bike show tomorrow so if you are considering a 21' spec GS the price should come down a little after the 22' model is revealed! Motobob thanks for the vid, take a look how I got on with the on/off roading in Spain, I just posted a vid although just started RU-vid'ing so hopefully will get better lol...
I have a 2020, great bike. However, the BMW (Hayes) front brake calipers were leaking and replacing under warranty with Brembo units. The Brembo brakes are 100% more responsive feeling and confidence inspiring. If you can chose, get the Brembos.
Too perfect for me, I owned the 2019 model (screwed one year later as they added adaptive headlights as a standard) - but the rides were like a magic carpet , sold it after 8000 Kilometers and went back to something pre ride by wire again. Not saying it's a bad choice but it lacks character ..just my personal opinion. Ah, and bolt & nuts still prone to oxidation if you're not careful to blow residual water off the bike after a wash or a ride_in_the_rain (like 90% of the time in this neck of the woods).....
Nice one! But comparing the price, you could get an Africa twin or the Teneré 700? Isn't these two better at off roading than the gs? I mean, what I'm concerned is the boxer engine. It's good, but when you drop it, and you will, isn't that the first thing that'll hit? Edit: I love your background music! The birds singing and chirping! 😄
@Stijn Spijker in North America you never see a GS used as 2 up touring. I asked the sales guy why we don’t see them here often he’s response, it’s too damn tall for anyone over 30 to climb up onto as a passenger. Most tourers over here are gold wings and Harleys. I’ve got a triumph trophy se and my wife struggles climbing up on it to the point it’s off to the gold wing store next year 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ ADV bikes are not that great for 2 up riding, for a single guy they are but asking the wife to sit on that back seat cushion for 5-8 hours a day will get you a hand delivered lawyers business card 😳😳😳
Sorry but the GS can’t compare to the Tiger 1200’s when it comes to actual capabilities. Yes GS sells more but let’s be real most of them are owned by Long Way Round wannabes who never take them further than their local coffee shop or to work. I’ve ridden them and they’re absolutely awful, my Tiger 1200 XCA is superior in every meaningful way, and I’d happily take an AT, one of the KTM’s or even a Super Tenere before I even thought about riding a GS. Even then I’d rather a Himalayan!
Calling a 1250 boxer smooth is ridiculous... Compared to a 1995 vtwin maybe... Compared to any modern bike from any japanese manufacturer the engine and gearbox might just aswel come from a pre world war 2 tractor. Shame its almost the only big bike you can rent in most holiday destinations
Hi Motobob, congrats on the excellent video. I have the 1250 GSA since 2020 and when we compare the power with another bike from KTM etc, we don´t see one critical aspect is the torque. 143 Nm at 6250 rpm is the best torque and offroad makes a huge difference. the second thing is the weight. BMW is the only one with Cardan transmission, and if you take that out and put a chain is less 20 Kg.
I currently ride a 2017 1290 Super Adventure all year round, and a 1250 GS is on my short shortlist as a replacement. Has anyone owned a 1290 as well, and can give me a comparison. Would i miss the extra grunt of the 1290 do you think? I really am attracted to the shaft drive.
if it were the ultimate adventure bike you would see it everyday in my part of Asia. I see plenty on brand 4x4 Toyota pick up trucks. But no 'ultimate' adventure BMW adventure bike. What I do see is Honda Cub Trail bikes, and the odd 150cc under bone bike. So a big part of the world think when the chips are down, these big bikes fail to deliver.
I also own GSA BMW and have own several for over 20 years. So no it's a big toy and if you really out on the dirt every day week in week out the BMW gets put away, nice movie
I remember the first time I’ve ever been on a GS. It was the R1250 GSA and my dealer said “don’t test ride it, trust me” I’m like why? He’s like “ just don’t do it,dude” So I’m out on the road test riding it. When I got back, he saw the look on my face. i said “you were right” he laughs and said “‘let me know when you want to do the paperwork, I’ll be here”
Currently have a Tiger 900 GT Pro but considering a 1250 GS, just concerned about the weight, shifting it around manually, I find the Tiger relatively easy to move, any issues?
Im a die hard honda fan....yes the gs is really that good. And i mean riding, gadgets, comfort, after market stuff and most most important riding. Its a vespa in the city, a supermoto on the twisties, a goldwing on the highway and it can do some very light off road. Reliability: you don't buy a 24k euro bike then bitch about owning a high end, high performance machine. Its like buying a Ferrari then crying about how expensive it is to keep it running. Exact same thing with the ktm and the ducati. High end machines cost money to run. Don't buy used expensive from new bikes expecting running costs to be low. For that we have honda: nothing flashy, does nothing extraordinary, not the best at anything but you can bet your bottom dollar that it wont let you stranded on the side of the road calling for a trailer to get back home and hyperventilanting about the cost of the unexpected!
