Best Motorcycle for TOURING ? BMW k1200GT In-Depth Review. 

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Very honest and accurate review. I've owned my 2007 for over 12 years with few issues. It is a very comfortable long-distance bike and performs in the twisties admirably. But if you are not a DIY owner it is a costly bike to own (if you take it to a dealer).

I had one , same colour! Beautiful. My friend had a red one. We did an Iron Butt Ride from the East Coast of South Africa (Durban, Indian Ocean Coast) leaving at exactly sunrise as the sun appeared on the horizon. Our destination was Port Nolloth on the West Coast (Atlantic Ocean) a distance of 1696km. Mostly riding between 220 and 240kmph we did the trip non-stop (except for fuel) in 12 hours with daylight to spare! Our average speed was 164kph. The bikes were perfect, lovely to handle. Next day we rode home! 😂👍

Excellent review. Yes, the earlier GT's had solenoid controlled ABS. This was removed on the 2007 and 2008 models With regard to the gearbox, yes there were some production issues early on. I recently purchased a 2008 GT via long distance transaction (I live in Pennsylvania[USA] and found the bike in Michigan [USA], about 500 miles away. Upon receiving it, I noticed some clunkiness from what seemed was the shifter. Expecting this problem prior to purchase, I order an upgrade from Koenigsberger in Germany that replaces the plastic shims with a bearing set much like the K1300GT received when released. This makes a very substantial improvement in shift precision. There is no uncertainty that you have shifted and shifts are now fast, smooth and virtually silent. Regarding the suspension settings, you may not notice the differences on smooth roads, but you will notice the difference on very rough roads. I initially set my suspension to sport, because what is a 'Sport Touring" bike if the suspension isn't "sporty"? After about a week of riding, I decided to be a little kinder to my tailbone and tried the 'comfort" setting. That's where the setting has remained. The bike still glides through the twisty bits with ease, but now with slightly more comfort. Of concern to me was the kickstand, which has a very pronounced lean, and the foot is marginally adequate to do its intended job, even on pavement. I immediately replaced mine with an enlargement device. There are many to choose from, but mine came from Ilium and it does a great job of keeping the bike vertical while parked. Some other points that should be mentioned: The availability of a "Low" seat option for riders who are of shorter [normal] stature. I am included in this elite group of everyday riders, and this option affords a flat footed stance while stopped. The seat sits about an inch lower and also has a narrowed area near the front of the seat to allow for less obstruction for your legs to find steady foot placement at a stop. The exceptional Xenon lighting. The exceptional heated grips and heated seats with multiple levels of heat. The coldest I have ridden this bike has been down to 10 degrees {F}. The windscreen did a wonderful job moving air around me and the heated accessories were most appreciated. Had I been joined by a passenger, she too could have selected her own level of heat from the separately controlled rear heated seat switch. This model is a bargain when comparing the level of refinement, performance and enjoyment. Of note for anyone looking to purchase, the fuel strips have been a problem... forever. Also check all of the fasteners that attach the fairing and trim. Make certain none have been broken off with threads stuck in the fasteners. There is plenty of material to read on the many forums.

Lovely bike👍🏻 I’m currently looking at buying the K1600gt, just have to wait to a see what next years models are doing. I’m touring at the moment on the Yamaha Tracer9 GT, nice and light, fast and nimble. Thank god for motorcycles....! Life isn’t worth living without them 🤣

This is cool, great work man,

Great work Roland! Cheers

Very nice review - thanks for sharing this!

Nice bike and a very good video! I do like the way you're presenting the characteristics of this particular BMW's model. Looking back in my own life on 2-wheels, I recall the period of time when I was owning a K100 LT. With that bike, I covered up much mileage towards many destinations in and out of my country( Greece). What I mostly recall from that period was the comfort of riding that bike was offering. What I disliked though, was the continuous and large oil consumption and its moderate braking quality. And the noisy gearbox, that too. Hearing you facing a similar situation, makes me wonder why the hell BMW's R&D hasn't looked deeper into this function yet.

Chiming in years after and having just lost my girl to a storm this year. Mine was 2008 K12GT and we've been together for 320 000 km with next to zero mechanical issues, mostly with two up plus luggage (this is when you feel the ESA in action) and endless smiles. Best bike I ever had. Got a K13 as a replacement, let's see how she holds.

very very useful reviews. Thankyou.

I bought a used k 1200 gt 2006 motorcycle six months ago in fantastic condition . My opinion is that she is the best bike that I ride in my life.

I have a 2007 1200gt. I have owned for 2 years and no problems yet - only 50,000km on it. I would suggest a good service record and thorough inspection before purchase. I have had plenty of bikes and I rate this bike the best. It handles like a dream - It gives me the most confidence in the twisties - it drops in beautifully. It has the telelever suspension on the front - which I think is fantastic - I don't understand why BMW discontinued it. The motor is fantastic - incredible power - I can't imagine needing more power. I love the comfort and the wind protection. I don't find the gearbox any problem apart from a bit of a clunk from neutral I to first - never miss gears or have false neutrals. I find comfort mode too bouncy on B grade roads and normally ride in normal setting. Rarely use sport mode. I agree with your comments about GS - infact I don't really understand the whole adventure bike thing. I n Australia most of the riding is long distance on bitumen. If you want dirt roads and off road buy a smaller bike. I can't really think of a comparable alternative to the K1200GT. The FJR and ST are heavier and no where near as well appointed (no cruise control, heated seats or grips,. electronic suspension, traction control, ). Fuel consumption - my computer tells me only 4.9litres per 100km ???. But 98 octane is expensive. I get well over 400km per tank when touring - and out last all the other guys on their bikes. Nice review.

This is an excellent review of a beautiful bike. I bought mine in 2015 (2007 K1200) and had to replace the ABS pump which cost me almost $3,000 Cad. However, I have not had any mechanical or electrical problems ever since. The one big problem I have is the cost for servicing the bike as only BMW dealers can work on it, charge a lot of money ($2.00/ min) and the only shop available in my province is 8 hrs away from home. With all this said, I still love my K1200. Thank you again for the review . Please keep up the good work!

Very good Review. Danke schon. Greetings from Brasil 👍🏼🇧🇷

Great to see a review of such an old bike. Lots of people either cannot afford the latest model, or just want a cheap winter hack so this review fills the void. Many thanks, Bib, England.

After i've watched your Video, i have decided to buy a BMW K1200 GT. Many thanks for your detailed documentation!

nice video thanks

Great video! Which tank bag am I seeing?

Get ECU flashed and u will notice difference in modes the flash will unleash the behemoth s furnace 😎

Good review

Hi! Very good review, good info. And good photography. I am looking forward to buy one of this big ladies. Used of course. Could you make a review on how to buy wisely one of these big bmw bikes please? Kind regards. G.

I have this bike. ZERO mechanical problems. Very fast and smooth.

My K1200GT is also from 2006, and had about 80.000 km on it now. The ESA is working as it should, in all modes, so I don't have any problems with it, and I can feel when I changes between modes. Particularly when I go over speedbumps you can feel the difference. It's fast and agile, but also a tall bike. I'm 177 cm, (5.10) - and I have to have the seat in the lowerst position, otherwise I almost can't reach the ground on flat food. Maybe a seargent seat or something simillary could do the trick... But I'm very pleased with mine, and will have it for many years to come :)

Interesting review! I've just bought one second hand (2008) and hoping (praying!) that reliability will not be an issue! I'll try and give you an update about the different suspension settings ;)

Hoi, leuk verslag. Vorig jaar ging mijn ABS stuk en katen repareren voor €750,- bij een zaak in Zelhem. Viel mee. Bij de BMW dealer zou ik meer dan het dubbele kwijt zijn geweest. Het is een fijne en betrouwbare machine, ben er zeer tevreden mee. Dank voor het verslag. Er is ook een FB pagina van de BMW K1200GT Groet, Joe

This is a great bike, I have been on many long distance tours with it. Do the proper maintenance and it will be good to you.

Should mention that the brakes are interlinked, so you only ever need the front brake lever, and very little pressure

Great machine , mine is the 2008 model which I purchased new. It’s Joy to ride, but have had quite a few recalls 😩 My fuel strip gave up recently though which is a bummer. But overall this will be my last bike as I’m in my 60’s now.

Great video, these are very nice bikes when you are young ( my choice was the YamanaFJR 1300) but as i get older 70 years these bikes are just too heavy, i downsized to the BMW F800 gt which i halted with a passion i now have the Royal Enfield Interceptor which is a brilliant bike which i will be taking down to Southern Spain when lockdown is over

You failed to mention that the BMW R1200RT is the best sport touring bike. HaHa! Yes! The gearbox is a bit clunky but it’s very strong. Also, I notice no difference between the riding modes or suspension settings. I was thinking that mine didn’t work properly until I watched your video. Good job again on the video! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Thank you I also don’t feel the difference in ride modes

Super technical.... Very big bike....it not make any noise..but you dont notice .. but like with every bike..I guess...LOL!

Anybody care to comment on how this compares to the K1200 RS? I know they're totally different engines and the GT has a lot more electronic smarts (like suspension control, etc., ...) but keen to hear people's thoughts on a) reliability / maintenance (i.e. higher / lower ongoing costs and any major nightmares to avoid?) b) weight and manoeuvrability - mainly in town (with that weight is it actually a problem at low speed in town or is that just paper-statistics that doesn't apply in real life)? I'm assuming that at speed it just cruises BUT keen to hear if there are any huge issues / worries around drifting off-line on wide corners at speed c) I'll also be using the bike for work-commuting and camping / touring (ease of carrying laptop and also adding tent and "stuff") - i.e. does this make the weight issues even worse? Alternatives I'd consider are things like Triumph Tiger (lighter but less power and finesse?). As a point of reference and for comparison, my current daily is a Gen 5 2001 Honda VFR 800 (i.e. cam-driven)... prior to that was / is a Ducati Monster S4R and prior to that again is the Buell XB12S. All different bikes but hopefully gives people a bit of an idea of what I've been riding for comparison.

I have 2009 K1300GT. Bought new in 2009. Have ridden all over the US including from Florida to California coast to coast trip, so it is built for long distance and built for big power. These bikes do not have the old BMW Servo brakes as you mentioned at least the 1300GT does not and don't think the 1200GT did either. I did have my ABS unit go out. Very pricey to have replaced!

Hoi Ronald, Ik heb dezelfde K1200GT. bevalt mij prima. Vraagje. Ik zag dat jij een Garmin Zumo XT op het dashboard hebt gemonteerd. Welke onderdelen heb je daarvoor nodig gehad? Kan jou windscherm ook helemaal naar beneden? Er is namelijk niet heel veel ruimte meer als de garmin zumo xt daar gemonteerd zit?

I got a used one that I plan to use for Sunday rides with my wife. The one thing I noticed is vibrations at about 130kph. They are somewhat uncomfortable. It seems like the bike could use taller gearing. After a lifetime of Japanese bikes I've had two BMWs now and don't think I will get a third one. Both have felt heavy and become tiring to ride on winding roads.

Good comprehensive review, just a suggestion, keep the camera more on the road rather than on your face/helmet. A bit more engaging watching the ride rather than a helmeted face>>>

You asked for comment on suspension settings...I do not notice any difference UNLESS I am riding solo and switch to sport mode. I notice a stiffer, more road hugging sense. Other than that, no. I have had my wife on with empty panniers, full panniers - no difference I can tell. As far as maintenance, I have not had any issues with cooling, oil changes...I dispute your "6" for reliability.. Do keep in mind I have my own shop (amateur) and do my own service work. The pricey part is the tools and parts.

I had a 2007 with just 11 thousand miles on the clock, full BMW service history and every factory extra you could get, the only thing missing was the sat nav which the previous owner and first owner had removed.Ergonomically the bike was great and to ride was great BUT......the thing was made of recycled milky bar wrappers. Over my three years of ownership everything you could think of went wrong , starting with the ABS module,then the hot start, the radiator and a plrfora of other things and finally the final drive at just 22 thousand miles ( I have had chains do more than that ) add into the mixture BMWs hideous parts and labour costs and the sheer BS of Ocean Plymouth here in the UK ! I got rid of it to we buy any bike, taking a huge hit but regaining my sanity. I did not buy it from a BMW dealership and when asking them for some sort of goodwill gesture, all I got was " we never recomend buying a BMW outside of the official network and never without a BMW warranty " This was hands down the worst bike I have ever owned, and its not just me, start looking it up on the net and you will see failure after failure, this was my first and last BMW.

Gran moto , con un sacco di problemi!!! Abs modulatore, campana frizione, tendicatena distribuzione. Se si spacca il modulatore ABS, partono 2000 euro per il solo pezzo + manodopera. Meglio la versione 07/08 , senza servofreno.

Would a BMW GSA1200/1250 be a better touring bike?

We use mph and kg in the UK bro. I don't think you can call this a sports touring bike either. I think it's a touring tour bike.

What is the name & model of your helmet please

I want that helmet where did u get it

I have a lot of trouble with the fairing. I’m 181 cm tall (so not especially tall). The buffeting on the highway is unbearable. Perhaps Roland is not very tall as the screen is rubbish in my experience. I see he’s got s flip extension on which might help but this bike , like do many tourers - is useless in stock form as you can’t ride fast on motorways without brain numbing, vision distorting, headache inducing vibration. I’ve yet to find a solution to the awful buffeting so I just thought I post as this is dreadful for its primary use - riding at speed in the highway and I’d hate to think that people bought the bike for comfortable touring and have the same unbearable turbulence and buffeting as I do. The screen is adjustable but all the settings are equally bad - in fact fully down is best as you can get more clean air to your helmet that hasn’t been messed up by the bad design of the fairing / screen in this bike. Rant over……. Dont buy unless you are very short or have a wind turbulence solution - or only ride at 50 mph!

Ciao.. Considerato il mio inglese meglio che ti scriva in italiano... Google ti aiuterà a tradurre... :). Innanzitutto complimenti. Bel video e recensione molto rispondente alla realtà. Però hai dato solo 8 al motore che secondo me è fantastico. Rispondo al tuo dubbio sulle sospensioni. C'è una piccola imprecisione. I settaggi del precarico sono solo 3. Guidatore, Guidatore e bagagli, Guidatore e passeggero. Il cambiamento è chiaramente avvertibile. Il posteriore si alza e abbassa su 3 posizioni diverse all'aumentare o diminuire del precarico. Anche i cambiamenti nella taratura dell'idraulica (comfort, normal, sport) sono chiaramente avvertibili. La posizione normal è la più versatile, va bene quasi per tutto. La comfort la uso solo in città. Fuori la moto dondola troppo. Con sport diventa rigida, precisa e veloce tra le curve. Se non avverti queste differenze probabilmete hai un problema alle sospensioni o alla loro regolazione. Ciao.

Best sport tour on the planet is the k1600gt by far by far by far

can you do k1100?

Just bought a 2006 and there is sonething off with the seat. My behind hurts after less than an hour.

So wait a second, you gave a high rating for the windshield but you added a deflector to the top of-the windshield, why? If the windshield is so good why the need to add additional deflector / height? You need to be honest in your numbering and grading. Not just tossing out numbers.

Ik zie je snel op een gs rijden

No, its got front suspension problems BMW fixed with the 1300.

So you say... Reliability is terrible, or so I've heard. Gearbox has lots of problems, not mine, but that's the scuttlebutt. Weight is HUGE and while you don't feel it while riding and is less than other touring bikes, it's not going to catch air on rolling dirt trails. Your skills could translate to mainstream media news.

Buena, pero para nada perfecta! Ése cardam, da problemas en ese modelo y los acabados... Ajaponesados... Corre más que el anterior modelo eso no la mejora. Es peor moto.

ok video i guess, but i m sureyou do know we ratherhave a look at the landscape and thebike rather than your teenager helmet ;) just saying..

Why are BMW motorcycles such lousy pieces of garbage? Beware of this, beware of that. No thanks. I’ll just buy another Concours 1400 for $4K and put 100K on it with zero issues.