Can’t believe this fantastic legend of a presenter has so sadly passed away, a true professional and informative and funny with it. Great loss to motorcycle journalism thank you for everything Matt, ride on Sir , ride on 😥
I bought one in March because I wanted a bike that is more manageable in the city than my Ducati XDiavel. I kind of came across it by accident, but when I read the 105 lb. torque number it really got my attention. It’s now my favorite bike ever. It does everything so well. It’s comfortable, safe, and fast AF on real world streets.
@@rexdaledave I have an R1250RS. I bought it a year ago and have put 4400 miles on it. No problems at all. Mine has Brembo calipers and the Hayes shown in this video are known to have issues. Other than that, I haven't heard of anyone having significant problems with the R, RS or GS.
I ride a 2020 1250R , before buying it, I tested literally all 1000-1300 nakeds, this is the best for the road (except for quick shifter’s up shift) This bike should really get more attention😇
Your thoughts about the r1250r missing when you were riding the s1000r.... amazing!! The best focused and mature comment I have ever heard by a motor journalist. Great video!
Great review! I have a 2015 R1200R. You covered all the bases on this bike. They are smooth as butter and enough torque to climb a wall. Extremely comfortable. I'm 5'9" and can easily flat foot it. It's like it was custom made just for me. It can be equipped with all kinds of luggage for touring. Cruise control and heated grips. Yes, it does need a sport screen for wind blast.
@@bennytilkens8251 Interesting. I've got a 1200GS but had the 1250R as a loan bike and it blew me away. Only hesitation is wind blast, and wind noise on the helmet as I have tinnitus. The clean air was fine around town and up to 60/70mph but I only had it for an hour around town. A big screen doesn't look great but is worth it if it makes the ride quiet(er). How is the Madstad working out?
@@GS-xg4nz Really interesting feedback from a GS owner ... how did the R blow you away? How would you compare it with your GS? I also have tinnitus so I would have to do a screen as well, but that's fine.
If you're looking for a sport screen then there's the R1250RS. I have one, love it. Still get air to the helmet, but I want that ventilation. Others opt for a barn door replacement or go further to the R1250RT which is a much bigger touring lump in comparison.
Superb review - you have nailed the essence of that machine spot on. I bought one of these in April this year: it came with the touring package, driving modes pro and the quick shifter. It is an awesome crusing/touring bike and that engine is a torque monster - I do small roundabouts in third gear and it will effortlessly pull away. And with the shaft drive you get engine braking on an absurd level - you have to try it to understand. For a bike this size it is surprisingly agile and flickable - I use it also for city commuting with no problems at all. I could go on and on about this machine but suffice to say: take one for a spin for a couple of hours on country roads, highways and in towns. You will not regret it.
Thanks for that great review Mat. It's good to know someone with a lot more experience than me thinks it's a good bike. Glad I bought one now - I love it!
Nice bike, lived with a 2017 model for a month and loved every minute of it. Enough torque and the quickshifter, heated grips and cruise control were the very nice. Despite the weight, the low hanging boxer engine makes it feel agile for it's weight.
I had an S1000R and a friend with one of these. On Victoria Road in Cape Town he could always just about keep up with me even if I was caning it. Good bike.
On road conditions a Bike with much horsepower can not use its full potential like these 160hp of the s1000r but the high torque of the r1250 is awesome out of the corners
Finally a program has covered this bike. I think the R is overlooked because this bike has no real competitor and therefore it never features in comparative tests.
Competitors Ducati scrambler 1100 & moto guzzi griso…. It’s more of a standard bike than a super naked…. Big heavy, comfortable, predictable, yes plenty of power but you would never care to ride it like a tuono anyway….
I test rode a 1200R some years ago and was impressed, its been on my mind ever since 😉 If I ever buy another road bike the 1250R would be in serious contention. One of its most attractive features, at least for me, is the the shaft drive.
Great series of bikes. My daily ride is one of its predecessors, the R1200R from 2012. I have a nice screen on it made by MadStad engineering of Florida. I also have the BMW rack and rails and recently bought the hard panniers (secondhand for 300 quid) to go on them. Thinking these bikes are heavy is ridiculous, mine weighs 237 kgs. If the ultimate 1000 cc sports bikes are about 200kgs, mine is 37kg heavier and for that I get shaft drive, a centre-stand and Telelever suspension. All of these I greatly appreciate. I've bought so many chains and sprockets over the last 40-years I never want to buy another - and if I stick with this series I'll never have to. No fork dive is a pleasure and the centre stand is ace for maintenance jobs or parking the bike on poor surfaces. The flat engine design means the weight is really low, the bike feels like a 250 to me and produces a gyroscopic sensation when going through twisties fast. The pillion seat is comfortable and the bike can be toured quite easily or just used for going to the shops, it's equally happy whatever. Mine "only" produces 110 bhp but - a bit like diesel - it's got massive torque: 88.5 lbs/ft, in fact. So you can enjoy riding the torque wave rather than trying to rev the balls off it like an embarrassing teenage hero. Why is this series overlooked? Because of two celebrity wankers who rode GSs around the world for television (supported by uncle Tom Cobley and all). Subsequently, everyone wanted to look like them so they bought a GS and pretended they were about to cross Africa or South America on it. The vast majority of them would have more fun on the R series (but don't tell anybody it'll keep secondhand prices down for me).
Great comment. I have a GS 1200, but had this as a loan bike and fell in love. I agree, it feels small and agile due to the boxer, the actual KG's can be forgotten about. Very easy bike to get on with.
@@alanbriggs7177 Rumour has it that the move to water cooling meant there was no longer room for the telelever - the radiator was in the way. Don't know if this is true. I know how you feel about the panniers though, I was looking at £600 for a new pair before I found a secondhand set on E-bay. The seller showed me how to recode the tumblers to fit my ignition key.
Motorcycles can't be bought from a spec sheet, cars often can, but bikes are about the feel they give and where the weight and power are. I guess the empty tank weight would be 224 kg, less oil and water 218 ish - a bit heavy, but not that bad.....the big old shaft drive must weigh a bit. Good review Matt 👍
I really love this bike! Waited 2 years for it to come to the US, was advertised as $14k and went to a dealer to find out they start at around $18k. Too much for me. I’m 6’5” tall, find them very comfortable and one day will pull the trigger to get one.
Yeah this bike would suit most GS riders, (edited) the only thing I could think of is the extra leg room and the additional versatility of jumping a curb or something. I do like the sport bike front end.
Great bike - I went from a 2010 1200R with a screen and panniers for touring to a 2015 GSA for more room, more protection and a screen. The GSA is a better tourer but the R a really fun day to day bike. Lot cheaper and lighter than a GSA too!
Matt I can't agree with you more my K1300GT was in for service and due to covid some parts would take a few days to arrive so I had the pleasure of riding the R1250R for a couple of weeks I liked the bike so much I sold the K1300GT and like you thought I missed the screen so opted for the R1250RS a litle more sporty position but a bike for the alpine switchbacks two up the engine is ample for more than legal speeds and it offers more comfort than most naked bikes for the wife, and we all know how important it is to have a happy wife on a road trip.... thanks for sharing and love the show
Having owned 6 boxer engined BM’s, 3 which I still own, I’ve always found them to be underrated & under the radar. Yet they all do the job I want & have surprised many mates on their European sports bikes. I still have a 1980 R100s fully restored, a 2003 R1150R Rockster & the First Edition R18. In between I had the S1000RR, absolutely manic, then the S1000R, mad, but not quite insane. A mate of mine currently has the R1250R shift cam model & loves it! Having ridden it, I 100% agree it’s a bloody terrific bike! Cheers from “Down Under”. 🇦🇺🍻😎👍🏼
Great review Matt, thanks mate. I will take a serious look at this bike as my last one. Shaft drive, comfort, and the ability to go play every now and then should suit me just fine.
So Glad to see this positive review. You have echoed so many of my points I’ve made whilst getting to know the 1200 and now the 1250. Great review and to my mind, this is the best naked bike out there still, that can do almost everything you would ever need it to. Definitely not a track day bike but I’ve done everything else on mine and it’s been the perfect travel companion. Cheers and all the best….
Bought one thanks to this fantastic review by Matt...(I bought a R Nine T thanks to his review) The R1250r is a fantastic B road weapon, the fuelling, the suspension, the torque, This bike replaced my GSX-S1000F and r-Nine T....The only miss is the beauty of the R-Nine T. What a machine, the ultimate fast and comfortable road bike. Matt's review as usual was spot on. So sad he is gone.
So happy to see and hear the r1250r getting its proper due. I have been a fan of this solid road companion since 1994, having the 850, the 1200 and lastly the 1250. It is a capable touring maschine with wind screen and pillions,but also fun on on the weekend twisty jaunts. Yes , there are prettier, faster bikes but hardly one so well-rounded like the roadster. The gentlemanˋs beast! 🧐. Thank you for a fresh look upon an old friend..great review….
I had a R1100R (black and silver) for many years and it was one of the best and most useful bikes I have ever owned. Did everything - commute, tour, weekend fang. Mega reliable and shaft drive 🥰 Moved to GS so I can do even more 😁
Lovely review! One of few that talk about the bikes soul and rider experience instead of reading spec sheets. I have a 2015 r1200r and ride it on track, its very much at home there too. :)
Two comments from my tens of thousands of miles with the R12xxRs (a 2011 and now a 2020): 1) factor in the shaft drive and no messing with a chain every few hundred miles and I'm loving life on this bike; and 2) in my humble opinion no wind screen is necessary. I once rode 11,000 mile trip without one and loved the open-road feel - no issues with wind. Like another commenter below, fits like a glove (with risers and slight setback for me :)
One more thing. I picked it up on a Friday afternoon in New Jersey, rode it through 30's-50's F and rain and got home to Florida (1300 miles) on Sunday eve. No sore rear or anything else for that matter. Great ride despite the weather. Gearing up for another longish trip around Lake Michigan, with some loops in Alabama on the way up and probably some North Carolina/Tennessee loops on the way back.
I’m handing down my old 2002 R1150R to my son! Still runs great! I’d love to have the new one - so much improved. Great tourer, fire road capable, and the twisties!
the performance curve of the 1150R isn't great. My dad had one and got a new exhaust system plus chip tuning and now it runs how it should be. He was struggling in the mountains due to a power dip in the mid RPMs
I love riding this Machine, I needed to get used to the weight and the side stand is harder to reach for my short legs , but it’s the best bike I’ve ever had. It is simply superb in every respect, the arm wrenching torque really does try and pull my arms out of the sockets ! Ride it easy and it’s a great commuter or dial it up and it delivers awesome performance and handling, it always feels like it’s glued to the bitumen. I will disagree with the reviewers opinion on the looks of the bike.... it has PRESENCE ...looks muscular and solid, I never had a boxer before but i simply love the look of this machine from all angles. Great review.... may we have more please !
The thing about all BMW’s is that you know they’re gonna have good features, be familiar and easy to use, fueling will always be exquisite, and will just be easy to ride and always have strong performance. When faced with a car park full of bikes, you know you can hop on any of the BMWs and you’re not gonna go wrong.
I bought this one to move away from the Adventures (GS, Caponord) and I don't regret it for 1sec. With a fly-screen it's great, the blipper is a butter, comfort is really really good, and that boxer is a jewel that makes you go easy as well as push hard. I got an old one in white/electric blue and it makes me smile every time I look at it
@@munawir5302 man I loved my 2015 Capo Rally to bits! But the R is a little jewel. Look for the series before the 1250 and with luck with some extras too. Hope you will enjoy it. Ride safe
You know what ? The R1250R is not just for old men! It’s a very fun bike and it’s power is just amazing. Only too much if you ask for much. Coming from an F800R and the extra power definitely makes it awesome. Pops wheelies whenever and the weight is not a problem as long as you won’t push or try to manhandle it. An awesome bike I’ll be getting cuz the testride left me waiting more of it.
I demo rode a few bikes last month and the first one I rode was the new R1250R. As far as rider experience, there is nothing that comes close to it. It’s comfortable, extremely torquey, and very refined. It is a superb machine. I ended up going with a 23’ S1000R even though it is not as comfortable, mainly for looks preference. But the 1250R would put a smile on any riders face
Great review. Traded my R9T in for one in April. Love it for all the reasons you mention, for me 136hp is enough for the road and it’s the massive torque figure that makes it so easy to ride. The low centre of gravity means it never feels as heavy as it is either. I also thought the hill hold was a gimmick but use it all the time now 😊
How much do you prefer the R1250 over the R9T? I've had short test rides on both and am a bit torn. 9 looks sexier but the R1250 is more versatile and loaded.
@@GS-xg4nz you’re right, The R9T is a much cooler looking bike and definitely has more character, but the R1250R is just a flawless road bike. I always said the Honda Blackbird was the best bike I’d ever had, but the R1250R beats it hands down.
Went to the 1250r from a CB650 (detuned to 47hp here in Australia for learners) when I got my full licence 2 years ago. Didn't appreciate how serious an upgrade it was until I got back on the Honda today.
I had a 2007 R1200R and most of these characteristics were there as well. The new model has more power and lost the Telelever, so it should be a bit sportier. I traded my R1200R for a S1000R. The S1000R is much sportier, but the R1200R is probably one of the best all-around bikes. Good for touring, sportier than a GS and even good for commuting.
I bought a 2021 R1250R this year. No regrets. Superb bike to ride. Designed for the road, total torque at low revs. Into track speed, don't buy, but for the road, hard too beat. The boxer is agricultural, but it talks to you, and you have dialogue with he road.l, and you are right, no need to over EV it. Excellent handling. I ride in dynamic all the time. Dynamic pro is for set up mode, but dynamic is fine. I am getting 64 mpg, and that is not because I do not use it.
I would like to own one, or even the R 1250 RS. I don't see many where I live, but they seem to have all the features I want, plus more. I like the subtle looks.
I’ll never understand the incessant chase for more horsepower over the last 52 years of driving/riding…….but anyway, I’ve learned that ‘torque’ is the holy grail for me for all riding/driving conditions. I guess some people get their kicks out of max HP - good luck to them. But for all day, all conditions riding, this type of machine is still fun and makes sense. 😎👍
I had a 2007 R1200 R. At 5’9” this bike felt like I was riding a mini bike. I usually had my feet on the rear foot rests, just way to small. I ended up putting a larger windscreen, and added saddle bags for touring. I finally came to my senses and bought an RT. Fortunately the bike found a new home with a 5’ female.
Thank you for this great review Mat and I hope you are doing well. Based on your enthusiasm for this bike. I just agreed to buy 2020 model with less than 4k miles on the ODO! I am super excited to pick it up later this month. Thanks again and best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Good review. I'd consider buying one. I moved from an S1000R to a GS to slow down. I've come to quite like the boxer engine. When I get tired of the Adventure thing I'll look at the R1250R. The GS had reminded me how fun it is to ride an understated bike fast... and surprise the sports bikes! 😎
I've owned my 2020 R1250R for two years and have to say, I'm glad not everyone finds it appealing. I personally think it's a brilliant moto. It's a bike that's happy just poking along or ripping up the canyon curves. True, the wind blast can get annoying at speeds exceeding 80mph,..I prefer to think of this machine as a roadster more so than a naked. Give the R1250R a test ride,, decide for yourself,,, Cheers
I went on a tour of Tasmania with my KTM 1290 SDR. There was a bunch of blokes with those BMW's on the tour. I was quite impressed with how capable they are and versatile. Cheaper than a KTM also.
I have NEVER been a Boxer fan ! You are correct with HP....most people, most people, cannot handle more than 120-130hp....I have proven this over and over again.
I had a 1200r LC it was a great place to be. Bit short on ground clearance if you really start scratching, but its such a good bike, its hard to say why, it just is.
I have always admired the 'Roadster' with my all time fav being the R1150R. This line of model has like you said have now gone under the radar but I am so glad BMW still continues the line. Thanks for giving this bike its due! Lovely review! Cheers! Also, I think its a great looking, handsome, bike!
thank you Matt, much appreciated your review on the r 1250 r....I had a s1000 r last year, now riding a S 1000 xr 2021, but yes probably next will be the r 1250 r....thank you so much for this current review, as one gets 'younger" one has to appreciate the finer bikes outside all the main stream media commercial hype, cheers from Still Bay, SA😁
I just picked up this bike and it’s absolutely brilliant, it’s torque is incredible it’s comfortable fast smooth, you can ride at 30 mph in 4th gear at 2000 rpm and it just purrs along no problem at all, I absolutely love it, what a bike 🎉
For me R1250R is the best pick out of the R1250 range(as long as you don't want to do any off-roading) same engine smallest weight! Add a little fly screen and bellypan and You got a bike that can do anything and is super fun on the road thanks to that big torque curve!
And again: it’s definitely one of my favourite bikes, if not t h e most favourite in that “roadster”-section, even hasn’t got a real competitor - maybe the better looking Moto Guzzi 🥰 … drove two 1200Rs, then this wonderful shiftcam 1250R, fantastic feeling all over beside the little too soft suspension (even in dynamic mode), but honestly for most drivers no reason, to resist - forgotten 2-Zylinder naked with style (the more you look at it in the garage, the more you see the beautiful design). Ok: the exhaust isn’t a beauty, but sounds good - especially while driving bit more sporty. The 143 nm (feels different to the same torque of the SD1290R 🤣), but is so relaxed in every situation. Gives you plenty of confidence ! Love it ❤️ Thx for your perfect view on the real interesting bikes 🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I think the S1000R is also a decent option from BMW that also often gets overlooked because it doesn't have eye watering Streetfighter v4 hp or arm stretching Super Duke torque.
Look at this bike as a torque monster cruiser and it changes the story. Cardan, torque based twin, seating ergonomics, weight distribution low down,… This is what a modern cruiser should be. If Harley would’ve come out with this bike, but differently styled ofcourse, 45 plus blokes would be on it like a fly on shit. Great bike
It's not so much the BHP, it's the NM's of torque. I have the 1200r and at 125nm's and 3.3 sec to 100kms it still very rapid but taps out at approx 230kmh. I'm forever scrapping the center stand. One can have a lot fun on this and with it's low center of gravity it's fairly easy to throw around.
The pro mode isn't more firm or direct than the dynamic mode. The only advantage the pro mode offers is that you can set the throttle response and traction control independently. So you could for example go with dynamic throttle response but with road traction control. Other than that there isn't anything the pro mode does. (At least to my knowledge and what a bmw overview of the modes states)
Thanks for a great review. As a 1250GS owner of 5 years, with an aging body (me, not the bike), I’m after something a bit shorter, slightly less heavy, fun, for frequently riding twisties and occasional short tours. The lack of wind protection on the R is a concern. I found the RS riding position hard on my neck. I also had a 1200 Speed Twin, which with risers was comfortable enough for half a day, but no wind/rain protection. Do you have any advice on making the R more of a tourer? Would the RS with risers be a better solution?
My had the predecessor to the predecessor to the predecessor of this bike. He had a r1150r rockster. He sold it a few years ago but that bike was a blast.
I'm in my second BMW GS R1200, the first bought in 2008 and the second in 2012 (the last of the AC model). But I'm already starting to have difficulties with my GS now at my 62 years old, so I'm already looking at an R1200 R model. But I'm going to stick with the AC models, tradition, reliability, robustness and charm, things that only older beemers can understand. A Tnine?, yes, I think it could be.
I bought the sport-tourer version of this (the 1250RS) after trading in my 2017 1200GS. I rode that GS 20,000 miles in two years and never went off road with it, so why mess around with a physically large ADV bike when the boxer can be had in a much more compact package with the R or RS? Only thing I don't like about nakeds is the wind blast on the highway which is why I got the RS. The gargantuan torque and linear power from the boxer makes the bike super easy to ride... almost too easy, lol.
Overwhelming majority of GS owners never ride offroad. Not knock on the GS which is a brilliant bike on its own but IMO a great portion of these riders would have been happier with an RS. Not marketed by BMW and only rarely seen at dealerships, I don't blame them. I feel BMW would rather they be pushed to an XR or RT if they don't want a GS.
When you realize that 130+ Hp is more than enough, shaft drive is low maintenance, and 100 ft-lb torque means this bike is easier to ride than anything you've ever ridden before, then you'll realize what a bike like this has to offer. Still riding my 2016 R1200R because the only other bikes that seem to grab my attention are variations on this one. Upgrading to the new 2022 R1250R is a serious consideration. There is only a 90 lb weight difference between this bike and the heaviest boxer offering, the R1200RT, so they're all worth considering.
Update. Long term bike anyone? I still haven’t found a bike I prefer to my 2015R. The Mandello being the latest challenger. I’m looking forward to trying the new GS but price and unnecessary complexity are off putting. I can see myself trading up to the latest discounted 1250R and porting my accessories and luggage straight over. So if you’re tired swapping and want to ‘settle down’ this is still the bike to beat.
Owned the 1200 LC since 2015. Longest I’ve ever owned one bike and I still can’t find anything to replace it with that ticks so many boxes. Maybe this is the only option even though I’d like something different they are so damned good!
Nice review! I believe in general an overlooked bike in the range at BMW. We have a 2009 1200 R in the family. Is it a beauty? No. Is it the best tourer? No. Is it fun to ride? YES! Does it bring you places and make you smile? YES! Solid and fun bike 🏍
