I Used To Make Fun Of The BMW R1150GS… 

Nice video and a beautiful machine. But you missed an important fact. Long before the 1150 or even Charlie and Ewan, there was a fantastic rider from Belgium. Gaston Rahier won the Paris to Dakar in 1984 and 1985 aboard a BMW R100/GS. The GS has always been a capable machine of everything you want to throw at it.

There's a big, big difference between the GS of then and the GS of now. Then, it was novel, innovative yet reliable and simple bike. Now, it's an incredibly expensive electronics laden gadget that has multiple recalls on launch that no one takes on long off road tours. Yamaha could have sponsored Boorman and McGregor with a pair of XT660s and the ride would have been easier and less stressful.

😊😊GREAT VIDEO 🎉 I purchased by GS in August 1999 and went straight down to Spain then North Africa, road, tracks, desert, mountains it handled it all with no fuss and it STILL does! Of all the bikes I have owned I still have the GS, one owner just me and nearly 25 years of great adventures together. Zero tech, not even ABS as I specced it without! Classic.

Through 40+ years of riding and having owned 20+ bikes, my favorite was my 2002 R1150GS. While not actually outstanding in any one area, it was so well rounded and overall competent. Always pleasing, never disappointing. My personal motorcycling GOAT.

I used to have reservations about BMW motorcycles, but after planning a cross-country motorcycle trip for two years, I stumbled upon a BMW R1150GSA within my budget. Despite its high mileage of around 215,000 miles, a test drive assured me of its excellent condition. Drawing from 15 years of riding experience, I could confidently say it's ready for another 100k miles. I pressed the button and embarked on a complete Route 66 tour and cross-country trip, documenting the journey with videos. This machine proved to be an absolute "Tank"

At 23 years old I decided an R1150 GS was the bike I wanted. Best thing I ever bought. Might add an R1250 to the mix, but going to hold onto the R1150 for many years to come.

i just returned yesterday from a 2600+ km trip to the swiss alps on my R1100GS! no faults! awesome machine

Mid life crisis biker, divorce and realising all my effort and money went to the family. Did direct access to get my license, and bought a 2001 in 2008. I’d never sat on one, let alone ridden one. Love and contentment at first sight. Ride home was enlightening, and gave me a sore neck from the biker nod. Rode it from Geneva to Bath in a day last year…..you should have seen my grin!! Probably the best GS, although my 1200gsa is nice.

You are killing it with these videos! Well filmed, well edited, really well produced. Keep 'em coming!

There are 2 well known “dad bikes.” The HD FatBoy and the BMW GS/A. 😂😂 I own both! And they are both two of the best riding bikes I’ve ever owned since 1972! Great video. Thanks!

Well said. Like Leonardo Da Vinci said "Once you have flown, you will walk with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have once been and there you long to return." That's exactly how I felt when I "discovered" the GS. Riding other bikes, compared to it, it like comparing walking to flying.....

Awesome video. I always made fun as well about these bikes. It was ugly goose for me. Until I accidentally drove one. And after some 100 km suddenly everything changed. I bought 1100 GS and still own it. Its very very charming motorcycle. Ride it everyday and the more I ride the more I love it.

I see so many people on You Tube and other sites who have kept the bike for many many years. I'm one of them. Had an 1100 GS for a few years and was so impressed as soon as the 1150 came out I ordered one in 1999. And I've still got her. I've had a lot of other bikes since but Big Gee still lives in my garage (with just a Monkey to keep her company). When I had the 1100 I lived in Philippines when I got the 1150 I was in Laos and Thailand and these bikes were just brilliant on rubbish roads and sometimes worse fuel. Now I'm back in the UK and the 1150 still just a great bike to use every day.

I bought my GS 1150 back in 2002. I've toured half of Europe with it. I still got her and I'll never selll it. It is reliable, it was reasonably expensive back in the days, you can't confuse it to any other bike from 100 meters away and it was the last "manly" GS. Heavy, dorian, with character and made of metal. I love my "Gudrun". Greetings from Athens GR

You're totally correct in the marketing. BMW did it earlier with the R90S. Portray a bike as what people THINK they want, but know enough about the customer so it's actually the bike they REALLY want.

Totally agree with you there are a lot of misconceptions and representations, ultimately as a rider we need courage to face the facts, and to be honest and clear about what we really intend to utilize bike for, but that really only becomes evident with experience and wisdom.

Having owned an 1150gsa for almost 15 years I really laughed when you compared it to a Saint Bernard. Such a good analogy.

Nice video thanks for making this, well done! I have a '99 1150GS and it's, as the adage goes, the bike that does everything well, but nothing extraordinarily! It's easily the best bike I've owned: reliable, tough, powerful, EASY to work on, long rides are comfortable (instead of torture if you do over 5 hours on a 660!) for bike and rider, it can handle seriously rough terrain with aplomb if you know how to ride her properly, and fuel efficient! I would say the only downside is the mass -- again, if you know what you're doing, you can make her go where others fear to. It's heavy, but she's very surprisingly nimble when upright and technique is everything when picking her up (if it's not in a ditch or in mud!). If you skill set is lower: learn more skills or get a smaller bike. HOWEVER, and I would say this is the biggest factor in determining what you ride, or your opinion of a machine: it all depends on WHAT you want to do! If you want short weekend rides where you're more into caning the bike over much rougher terrain (kind of scrambling), then this ain't the beast for you. If you're not skilled enough to turn the bike around on the steering stop, standing on the pegs, on dirt or tar, as above. If you have some good skills, or learn some, this bike is awesome for almost everything else! It does what it says on the label, amazing machine. The 1200 is more refined, but too much electronics and plastic for me -- but guys take them very far and through hell and back here in Africa, they survive surprisingly well.

Just picked up an 02 GS. Hoping for some great adventures. Thanks for the video.

KTM was wise to not showcase their reliability issues.

I think that KTM was more concerned about their unreliable bikes failing than it was about Ewan and Charlie failing. We all would have watched week after week as one thing after another broke on the KTM's, so it was probably a smart move to refuse them.

My boy bringing the heat on the GS :)) I can still remember when I said I hope that liking a GS won't be part of my pleasures for the next couple of decades, but here I am and my thoughts are, GS is a pretty nice bike...these videos get better every time!

i've been to BMW's Off Road Skills many times and also been to KTM's Sweet Lamb training, my understanding about the 2 big adv brands is they have very different philosophy. the BMW bikes are not very aggressive, but reliable travel machine, the same philosophy applies to their ORS school, they teach their pupils how to get out of nasty situations: if you can't pass through, at least you will be able to turn the bike around and find the other way to go. While KTM makes very agressive machines that you will ride it up the most difficult hill and then realised the side stand sensor has just failed so you can't shift into gear anymore. When I was in Sweet Lamb, the instructors were pretty much like: "if in doubt, full throttle."

I love my '08 GS. Perfect blend of modern w/o excessive tech that will cause issues. I bought a GS911 diagnostic tool, and so far have been able to do all the maintenance required. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to tackle the clutch plate if/when that goes even though breaking the bike in half looks daunting.

Another cracking video with great editing and narration. Fair play 👌🏼

I love the GS and not afraid to admit it. I did purchase one. Next to my r1100rt. I love the old oilheads.

Could you do a video on the old BMW F650 Funduro? I think it doesn't get the attention it deserves.

Pulling out of L.W.R. was, I think, a genius move for KTM. The 950 Adv was the bike that was to take KTM out of the dirt bike world and into the mainstream. It was to be KTM's future. It was brand new when Ewan & Charlie came calling... I had one. It was a fantastic bike...WHEN it was working!! It had some serious reliability issues. Had KTM let it die again and again on a global TV show it may well have killed KTM.

Yep. I was one of those that bought the first 1150 back in 99 and adventured outback Oz before Long way round happened. Did 140,000km on that bike.

I bought a new one in 2005, the Ltd Edition in white, I still have it and I love it, great machine and still brings out the hooligan in me, great video, thanks.

I bought my first adventure bike June 2024, the 2003 BMW R1150GS was double the engine size l was looking for but l found one for sale and went to look , it rode nice ,it felt good ,so l bought it and rode it 250miles home and loved every mile of it , l think this one is a keeper 😊👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I love my GS 1150 and am not even thinking about buying a new model or a new bike. I've now covered 92,000 km and the only things I've had to change are fluids, brakes and tyres - that says a lot about this GS. And then there's the good handling.

when I was young I thought like you and figured BMW's were for old men, now I am one and I love my 2000 GS, and no I haven't toured the world, my longest ride was on a KLR, but when looking at the electronic features of new bikes where you have to turn off the traction control to even think about going off road, I return to how I can make by GS last longer, and I know how to button my shirt too

I have a 2004 1150gs and just came back from my first BMW MOA rally. Did 6,000 miles no problem. Did a similar trip last year. It’s hard to go back to certain motorcycles.

This is an excellent video. Very well written. His choice of words makes it that much more interesting than the next review. I wonder if anyone else notices. Well done.

I have taken my BMW R1100R off-roading… yes that’s the cruiser model… she’s a BEAST on dirt tires!!!

The GS was built proper back then in my opinion. Solid machine. I had the 1150 and sold it but regretted it and bought an 1100 which I think was better.

I grew up riding and racing dirt bikes (enduros/Motocross/trials/flat track) and then moved on to liter class SuperBikes (I just bought a '24 Ductai Panigale V4R a few weeks ago). I had planned to buy a BMW R1150GS a few years ago but when I went and looked at them and sat on one (I am '57" 148 lbs). It was just enormous and I just couldn't see going off road with one.

Great film, thank you. I was the same as you and then I bought a 1150GS five years ago, I now get it. I love it.

I owned one, a bumble bee yellow. Had come from Honda Transalp. 20 odd years later I still ride GS and have now added a KTM 790 then 890. If you love travel bikes, GSs are almost essential

I have a gs1150 2001 model. It has now 120k km and I love the bike. Was considering to sell it and buy something else but it grew on me.

I always liked this model. For touring around europe and some occasional dirt road this looks to mz like a good choice. Plus i like the sound of the flat twin.

If I remember correctly Ewan McGregor wanted to do the trip on the GS from the start but he let Charlie make the final decision to go with the KTM. I've only had my 1150GSA for 4 years but I'll never forget the first time I rode it, it looked so tall, heavy and intimidating but I climbed on board let the clutch out and it just effortlessly glided away. With the correct tyres it is genuinely good on the loose stuff too.

KTM didn't give them bikes because they knew they would breakdown. If it was on film they wouldn't be able to deny the warranty.

I don't know what he said but I love that motorcicle.

KTM knew their bikes would not make it, not that Ewan and Thingy could not make it.

Thanks for another great vid. Some people were put off by the fact that those two jerks used a BMW. I was adventure riding on a KLR 650 back in 1988, well before that version of the GS existed. The KTM 950A is much, much more fun. BMW struggle to make shaft drive reliable. Currently they're replacing shafts on R-series bikes made between 2013 and 2024 with 60,000 km on them. They were having problems with the shaft drives in 2006. They quote that the new 1300 GS's shaft has a service life of just 80,000 km. Yamaha don't have these problems.

another top gear vibe motorcycle video from Krankit! Love the balance between informative, aesthetical and storytelling levels!

I had 2 BMW oil heads. First an 1150RT. Nice bike for touring but oh, all that plastic eventually turned me off. The second was a brilliant 1150GS. I'm not the off road type but the GS was a much more pleasing touring machine. I could ride 6-700 miles a day, day after day and always ready to go another day. I wish I still had that yellow beast, maybe another one is in my future, who knows.

Maybe you missed something, the G/S won the race to Dakar long bevor 1150 came up, of course she was very capable Off-road. Have been to Afrika 1990 my self with a GS, at that time 7 out of 10 Bikes which we met there, have been GS. By the way, the Black/Yellow R 100 GS startet the success, back in 1987 😇

I still have my ‘02 R1150R - not a Gelände Straße. My buddy had the Signal Yellow-Orange GS, which to me looked incredibly odd ha. I waited until the 2005 50lb lighter redesign. Still riding her too. -Gotta say I pulled alongside other motos a couple times just today - they both kinda jumped as if they saw Bigfoot / Sasquatch ha

I always laughed about BMW GS Bikers.... old men with a yellow vest and a jethelm, most of the time 50+ years old. But guess what? Two years ago I rode a 1150 for the first time - one week later I bought my own 😂 I really love this bike, its great for touring. Luckily I do have other motorcycles, its a bit big for city only rides. I can only recommend the R1150GS

I have nothing with traveling the world, I never saw this TV series. I'm a sports tourer guy. Used to ride a ST1100, decided late last year that I had to try a 1150RT, just to see what I experienced as the better touring bike. Did use the RT as my daily rider. And my VFR for fun rides. I did see a lot of videos where people were praising the GS. The GS is not to my taste, it is f.... ugly. Yet all this praise got me interested. About 1 month ago I bought myself a 2003 GS with nearly 90000 miles on the clock. And I love it. The RT is up for sale. For everyday commuting, trips to the shops, etc. I find the GS a much handier bike, compared to the RT. Not sure why... Comfort is great. And for a real fun rides I still use my 4th gen VFR, probably the best all rounder ever and, in my eyes, a beautiful bike. Nice video, thank you!

Great video, great bike. I remember my suprise when i ride first time on my 1150gs and figure out that how that elephant handle. Cornering and braking are superior for such heavy bike, and also this wierd suspension works great. Definietly suggest every one to ride once that great machine

Very high production quality and interesting narrative, thanks for sharing!

That was a fantastic video, thank you. You've earned a subscriber.

My first GS in 1999, awesome machine……….I changed 3 GS, 1150, 1200 of 2004 and my last GS from 2009!!!!!!!!!

The BMW that changed the motorcycle world wasn't the 1150gs. The r80g/s created the market - wouldn't be ANY other GS models without it...

After riding/owning R100GS/PD, 1150GS, 1200GSA oilhead DOHC and now a F800GSA I can say these bikes are awesome... drove around 800.000km with these and I would not buy anything else again. My PD and 1150 with 41 liter TT tank were the special ones 😊 plenty of good bikes out there but GS stays my favorite

Thanks from my 1150GS!)))

Great wideo.😊It was really a hit for BMW to take a chans with Charlie and Evan and it payd out well.Today the GS is still the leding Adventurebike . I have ride my GS 1250 offroad and on racetrack and it,s really good wich road you like to drive on.

1:23 Well said, Charlie. Absolutely right! 😄 Actually, KTM were afraid that their bikes would fail. Go figure.

Bought a 2010 GSA 13 years ago. Then bought a T7. I still have the GS.

I had a 2002 1150gs, absolutely loved it, even at 5'4" I absolutely loved it, best bike I've ever owned, only sold it as I became I'll and it was too heavy for me 😢

I love this, well filmed and great topic! I think the R100GSPD from the 90s would be my goto GS bike. Like others have said, they're just getting larger and more laden with unnecessary tech.

I love my 2007 r1200gs the weight isn’t an issue and it goes any where

i fell on love with bmw bikes when i watched that show.

I didn't really like Charlies reaction to the KTM situation based on Ewans retelling of the story. KTM basically were too small to spot them the bikes for free, regardless of the marketing aspect. They could've just bought them, if they were fans of the brand.

The only reason I don’t own a GS is because I can’t afford one.

I have one I love it. A 2001 with almost a hundred thousand kilometers on it and you can't stop it.

Excelente video, parabéns. From Portugal.

BMW should have just kept on producing the r80gs for as long as they could. It's a true 50/50 bike.

This is the coolest motorcycle ever built.

I’ve always been rude about Gold Wings but secretly want one! And a scooter. Maybe.

I have a 01 GS 1150 love it ! and do take it off-road. However, If I was gonna travel the world I would prefer to do it on my XT500 not as comfortable but I know I could easily keep her running and get home on her

This is a great story about an amazing motorcycle narrated by a legendary rider. Bravo

Okay im going to buy one now.... Great video

Because of it's heavy weight we call it iron pig.

"Nobody bought it" - cmon, thats absolutely untrue. Its BMWs most important model and has been since the r100GS became iconic.

It drives fantastic but the weight is the limiting factor. Exactly what you explain... you are just the pilot.

Great reminder of Long Way Around when millionaires lamented KTM not providing bikes to them for free. HUGE DRAMA! Sure enough all the rest of us buy bikes ourselves for many of the same reasons. Glad they had a great adventure and glad BMW supported them. However, MANY bikes could have done the same thing.

To me neither the GS nor LWR ignited what is called ADV riding today. I grew up with Paris - Dakar Rallye and dreamed of riding it once myself. The beak wasn't invented by BMW but by Suzuki. First bike was the DR Zeta Dakar competition bike having one and was carried over to the street legal version DR 750 Big presented back in 1987 at the Paris Motor Show. BUT credit where credit is due - BMW started the whole multi cylinder enduro thing (now called ADV) by bringing the R80 G/S to the market back in 1980 in a desperate attempt to avoid filing bankruptcy. Luckily for them it worked and ignited the success story of what is know today as ADV motorcycles. However, I still don't like the GS - not cos it's a bad bike (in contrary - the LCG alone makes it superior to most bikes in this segment) but the attitude of most owners overhere triggered by BMW marketing. On my tours i often meet these wannbe adventurers and when asked where they travel to - most of them admit to be on a short stint and never left their country due to ... reasons.

Still driving one and never selling it.

Love these videos!

idc, let the corporate mid life crisis dads buy these machines. so i can get them cheap 15 years later for off road adventures

how about older 1100gs?1150 was not a completely new concept

St Bernard only live 8 years 👀

Great vid. Great bike. Thank you. (From here to auto trader looking for an early GS 😳)

Not bad… for a GS 🤪

Love my 1150gs

KTM made a mistake, but now it is different. I like the older BMW's but I hate the look of the 1999+ GS models. The new 1300 looks better but has too much tech. I have a Pan America, I have taken it off road, it is fine on dirt roads but in the bush it is a truck. I love my Panam but it is an all roads sports tourer, more than an adventure bike.

Я, всегда мечтал об этом мотоцикле, и три года назад я его купил, 99 год выпуска, уже третий сезон на нем, мне он очень нравиться, вы правы он дружелюбен как большая собака, простой как молоток, тяжол как кувалда! Но я его обожаю и любдю❤, и он у меня надолго

Like a Porsche 911 it shouldn’t work. Its layout is weird. It looks weird. Nobody does this. But somehow it does work. And it works like no other.

I just bought one!

I’ve had one. Total disaster. Gear box, clutch, zee german engineering. Never again.

9:58 You mistake being a dad for a bad thing, it is not.

O come on ... everybody only sees the good parts of this. And the good parts are the brakes and the lightweight (for a 1150 cc. bike). But is still ugly, the engine is as smooth as a tractor (and a really old one) the front suspension make the bike turn fast, but is rubbish offroad and the turn signals switches are as far from practical as the could be. And more important ... you definitely don't need a 1150 cc bike to travel. The old Africa Twin and Supertenere still make more sense for adventure bikes in those times.

mine 196000 km and still full alive ahaha

Why do people make fun of these cars? Why, gods, why?

Ktm still couldn't do the job in 2024