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Ian I have to say you are born to do this and a million other things I’m sure but this, for sure! Most informative, no bull, cram packed presentation(s) available on RU-vid. You are the model for all other testimonial/tutorials. Thankyou and keep on truckin on!!
Hi Ian just a small note, the 2007 model does not have servo brakes. Only 2005, 06 ran this system. So I feel if you are an enthusiast and wanted to dodge the electrics and possible servo issues the 2007 model might be the go to model. Personally I love the analogue gauges. Perhaps it’s an old man thing but as your reflexes slow and sight dwindle etc it’s nice to look down and perhaps through familiarity etc you spot rpm and speed fairly instantly.
Yup...just bought a 2007 with 25000km's on, I'm the second owner, and I asked the previous owner about the servos, he confirmed and have a note from BMW that the 2007 is servo free, look for the big holes on the slip ring on the left disc, servo brakes have small holes
Hi Ian great video. Owned several GS the first was a 2009 then I exchanged it for Honda CrossTourer DCT as I wanted a newer bike. Big big mistake because it was so heavy and after only a few months of ownership I exchanged it for a 2008 GS. Yes BMW really do need to make sure they don't make their bikes too heavy. So I had in the space of several months ended up with an older bike. But the advantage with that was I now had a bike without ESA and no Tyre Pressure Monitors. One of those cost me £250 to replace because of incompetent tyre fitter. Yes its great to have all the fancy technology but boy if it goes wrong your talking lots of money to get it repaired. Thats probably why so many still love the 1100cc & 1150cc.All that said after over 50 yeas of riding bikes tw0 three & four cylinders its the Boxer motor for me every time. Stay safe.
Great summary BUT the 2010 to 2013 cam head bikes had a lot more important updates than outlined here. The clutch was updated to over one a common problem with the thrust bearings on earlier models. The gear shift was also much improved and could be called slick - certainly MUCH better then the later liquid cooled bikes. Also the rear final drive unit got 2 updates (the last being the 2012 model year) which over came many of the weaknesses of earlier models. Finally, the troublesome fuel strip was finally replaced with a good old float in 2012 I think…although BMW have just released a fix for the strip. So, if you can go for a 2012 or 13 for a GSA. Folks also commented on the cost of shock replacement which is high. BMW will tell you they cannot be reconditioned which will rubbish. There are any number of shops in the US/UK and Europe that I am aware of which will rebuild and ESA shock for about £150 and give you a better valves shock back.
I'm just looking at a 2011 model 27k miles in the UK. It doesn't have ABS. So am I right that it was optional. My 1150 which has now done 91k Miles doesn't have ABS and it's not an issue for me.
Yes ABS was an option BUT I have never seen a later twin cam without it. I assume you don’t have ESA (electronic suspension) etc as well….so very basic bike. Nothing wrong with that at all.
@mac22011964 Ive not test ridden it or scrutinised it yet I've only seen it in the showroom very quickly. I'm not sure about the electronic suspension. I like basic, but if I'm stepping up from a 2000 registration gs1150 should I go for one with abs and electronic suspension...that's the question I keep asking myself. I do like basic bike though, that's what has always put me off the 1250. Too much tech. It's the twin cam oil cooled engine I like, the same as I have in my R nine T. Such a sweet engine.
I love my 07 1200 gs. I know I would appreciate a 1250 if I tried one, but the lower weight, and significantly lower cost of the used 07 I purchased makes me happy 😊. Thanks for making the videos, Ian. We appreciate the time and love you’ve put into creating them 👍🏼
I’ve had both. An ‘07 oil cooled like yours and a ‘14 liquid cooled. Nothing wrong with the LC but I sure wish I’d held on to the ‘07. Other than not being as fast, I liked it better in every way. It just had a certain intangible je ne sais quoi. Felt like it was carved out of a single block of Teutonic alloy. The ‘14 does everything right but just feels like a soulless Japanesque appliance thing.
I recently bought a 2007 1200 GS with 85,000 miles on it. It runs like new, and I actually prefer it to my buddy's 2021 1250. It's simpler, and I have never felt like it needs more power.
Ian, thanks a million for this video, I just bought a 2014 low mileage (22k miles) R1200GSA following your advice! I was really worried by the weight and size but the bike handles so much easier than I expected on and off-road! Unless you do rock climbing or single track trails this bike is great, even an amateur like me can take it almost anywhere! Thanks again for the advice!
Hey there! Just to let you know, I Just bought a 2007 GS to replace my '04 with 80k. One of the reason I picked this year is that it does Not have servo brakes. Just FYI.
Great video Ian! The definitive guide that everyone has been waiting for. I took weeks to do all my research and decide on a lightly used 2017.5 GS. I did consider the 1250, but a lightly used 2017.5 is the best value at the moment. I was able to buy one with thousands of dollars worth of accessories, on-road use only and only 10,000 miles for about $7000 less than a lightly used 2019 with no options. Keep up the great work! Another easy way to check if a 2017 model has the 2017.5 upgrades is that colored circle inside the speedo and tacho is blue.
Great content, Ian! After a 25 year break in riding I got back into the game on a BMW650GS. Loved it and it convinced me of the BMW two wheel quality. It was a great bike, but I wanted a little better off road capability for my skill level (low). After trying to find an ADV/Dual Sport through most of 2021 I finally gave up on the idea and decided to have a dedicated road bike and an off road MC. Am now the proud owner of a 2007 R1200RT and a 2004 KTM 200 two stroke for $6500 combined. The RT is amazingly comfortable, and concur that cruise control and adjustable windscreens are the bomb! As for the KTM… it still scares the crap out of me and I love it.
This is a great buyer's guide. I learned a lot about the GS. I feel that a GS or GSA may be in my future. This is also an interesting historical piece. Bravo!
Thank you Ian for the effort put into this video. I own a 2010 camhead and always look to the newer R1200/R1250 but didn't figure out the exact differences with them. My GSA is in the limit of the weight I can manage comfortably so I guess I'll stick to it for a while. Cheers from Spain.
Really appreciate the work you put into this. I must however note one factual error: you said that the use of the servo braking system extended to 2007 when in fact the use of that system ended in 2006. I own a 2007 and it uses standard ABS braking. The brakes are linked, but they do not use the servo system.
That was a very interesting Video. Yes, I have the 2017.5 model. So, I’ve still got analogue clocks (thank goodness), but the GPS gives me too much information and it’s also available on the dash too with the prod of a few (or a few too many) buttons. I’ve ridden motorbikes for 51 years & I have to say, this 2017.5 model is the dogs bollocks. Fantastic. Technology ruined the modern cars, but imporved the modern motorcycles. I love the Modes, Rain (we live in Europe) is great, Drive is my default setting, loads, luggage, tyres pressures etc, what on earth more can you want for, so for me the 2017.5 is my bike. The 1250 no doubt has it’s tweeks, but we are talking tweeks and I hate the dash!.(same dash as on a BMW Scooter!!). Kind of lost the plot? Give me clocks, a rev counter that goes up to the red, I can understand that, although I’ve never pushed (or needed to push) the 1200 much beyond 6000 rpm. It’s a waist of time. Shift assist is brilliant once you master it, hand brake control I use almost all the time, (another brilliant idea (stolen from the scooter world). I am living with this bike, day in,, day out, and in all honestly, I can NOT fault it. So, when I see a 1250, I’m glad to have chosen the 2017.5 last edition with real clocks but with pretty well all the upgrades, save the wiggly cams!…. . There’s little improvement only a weight gain as usual. Variable valve timing sounds cool, but as a Wbx engineer, ( I am a world famouis WBX Builder!!), it’s doesn’t wear. Nothing wrong with the fixed set up and the 1200 pulls immaculatly even when doing U turns at idle speed! (try it if you think you are cool, feet on pegs!!, full lock). It can be done, the engine never lets you down!. Yes, you need engine bars, everyone should fit them, you never know, it CAN happen, or rather it WILL happen. I’ve followed the GS for it’s whole life since the introduction of that weird GS800, my children are now grandchildren, but the bike survives, but I hate it. The 2017.5 really was the pinicle of this model because I followed it from the beginning as a senior techi. I’m afraid that from here, the GS will slowly sink down into a competitive electronic nightmare of what?……… This is my LAST bike (I’m 62) and I got my 2017.5 with 2500 miles for a bargain price, totally brand new. A typical executive toy, it never saw the rain, or much else. I’ve doubled the mileage in very few months, have recorded 100 MPH (once) and don’t intend on repeating the exercise, but the bike is far stronger and faster than I am at my age.90 mph is my safe limit and that’s fast enough. In life, you have to end somewhere!………. and if you make 62, you will probably think the same. I want the best as the last and in this, I know I have chosen the right bike. Thank you for the reviews, the love and dedication to this legend in motorcylce history. This is my last stop and I am loving it, every single day, come rain, sun or soon enough winter!. I know the GS 2017.5 will do the job perfectly!……………. and yes, it drives SO much better than any Africa Twin, even the new version, you can not compair. Ducatti or KTM?, the same thing, no comparrison. BMW have got the GS right at this point!……………. it’s a Wbx. I build them for a living, only the 4 cylinder versions!. Thank you and drive safe!……………..This is ‘the’ Bike.
I think the servo brakes were only 2005-2006. This is why the 2007 is special. The GSA camhead carried thru until 2013. LC GSA started in 2014. Big drawback to 2010 and earlier is the fuel strip for the gas gage. 2011 they changed to a reliable float. Thx for bringing this together.
Thank you from Australia, your guide helped me select a model with confidence. Picked up a 2010 R1200gs with under 50,000Ks on the clock in near pristine condition.
Great video. I am going to keep riding my ‘05 gs. It has plenty of power and performance for me. I did the ‘abs-ectomy’ when my servo started to fail. The older ‘17.5 model with analog gauges is most appealing to me of the newer bikes.
I purchased a 09 R1200 GS in 2017 well aware of the 2010 “upgrade". It's to heavy and complex as it is and I saw where it was heading and continues to go. I have NO plans to "upgrade". Watercooling a boxer defeats it's raison d'être and makes no sense to me. 100 H. P. Dirt bike,... Really? Plenty, thank you. Want to impress me? Make it under 400 pounds and 100.h.p...... Oh, wait. Is that a KTM Dealership up there?
I ride a 13' GSA. The last oil cooled GSA. Does not have ASC (traction control) but never felt I needed it. I do miss the cruise control, but have the Kaoko throttle lock which is good enough. I love the grunt on the low revs. I have never felt under power on the street. Must agree with the crank case quite rough . I am still keeping this one for several more years before upgrading. The ESA works very well. Nice weight, lots of service history. The best bike I have owned so far.
Not bad and well explained overall. I have a 2017 BMW R1200GS Rallye here in OZ (Developed here in OZ for our Fink River Rally by BMW Melbourne) However you seem to have forgotten about in 2013 when they fully upgraded to the 1200cc water cooled engine that they also relocated the shaft drive to the LHS of the bike in an attempt to opposed the centrifugal forces in the engine so on power up or down the bike tends to "rock" much less due to the Boxer engine configuration disadvantage. From the Land of OZ
Amazing comparison between the models. New rider here, currently dreaming about getting a GS. Seriously looking at recents 1200 (2017.5) and also at 1250 as my second bike, both Adventure, so your video is welcomed. I would had appreciate to hear a little more between cons or issues related to each models/generations. For exemple, I read that 2008-2010 had gaz gage issues, or starter relay problems. I will use that motorcycle for expeditions and reliability is a main concern.
BMW recognises that the 1250 shift cam actuator is a liability and are working on the GS1300, to be released in 2022. If you can find a GS1200 2018, buy it! Otherwise wait for the GS1300.
Now I'm wondering to spend my life savings for 2016-18 africa twin or 2013 gs ; Have first gen vstrom 1000. AT would better Complement vstrom, both adventures with vstrom being very road oriented and AT for more adventerous adventures :) With gs i know I would have to turn around in some terrain and onroad it would be prolly even better than vstrom and wouldn't make sense to keep old suzi. Hmm ;
I watched this video back in the days and now I am rewatching it as I am about to buy 2010+ R1200RT (RT & GS are really similar when it comes to engines and technology). 13:00 - the picture shows 'hexhead' engine (OHV) not 'camhea' (DOHC).
I love how some of your takeaways in this video are that you wished you held out for the 1250, and to see how much you ended up loving your 1250A, and one of the biggest reoccurring comments was the weight needs to start going back down, which is has on your new 1300! Thank you for this video explaining the evolutions of the GS!
Motorcycles absolutely do not need variable valves! It and all the electronics is more bs to fail like $2000 shocks what! I'm a firm believer the best tool we have is us developing skills just saying
Great job on this overview.. yes, once you have had the cruise control- you just want it again. I currently own the R 1200 GS WC 2013 - it is super, now with 68.0k on it. I’ve done 1,000 miles in a day traveling to Idaho & Canada from the country of Texas. I had a 2003 K 1200 GT before this bike - it got me hooked on the cruise control & was a great bike - put 80.0k on it but started to get uptight about the servo - jumped into the GS in 2014. I almost got rid of The 2013 R 1200 GS WC because of the stalling at low speeds - very dangerous. I found out it was just too lean a mixture at low RPM’s - installed a device for about $100.00 the makes it a little richer at low RPM’s & the bike has been great. Thanks for your good reviews - good job on the trailer reviews too! I’m looking at a Big Foot or Escape - did you consider those two? Thanks
Porsche 911 went to a WasserBoxer in 1999. More Power, Better Mileage, Less Emissions. Porsche fans still adore the aircooled Luftgekühlt cars, but all the Benefits of liquid cooling could not be denied. Like when they added lights at Wrigley.
Is there an updated version of this video explaining the difference in the last 4 years? Still trying to navigate this jungle, been thinking about an Africa Twin, but there are just so many more GS1250s on the market here.
Informative video! For 2013 dynESA and ride modes were NOT standard. I think you should make that clear in video. Those features ONLY came with the premium package. The base and standard models did not come with those options. Buying used can be confusing enough without "The Complete Buyers Guide" giving incomplete information.
to complete the set of realistic buys: nobody is buying r100 or older to ride. gs 1100 start of production-96 has a weak transmission, many replaced in period but not all of them. 97-98 briliant strong 5 speed with short gears to make the best of 80hp, slightly buzzy on hiway. oem brake setup is straight up inadequate, bypass the ancient abs with braded steel lines at a minimum if you want to live. alien technology for motorcycles at the time it was introduced abs and fuel injection on a early 90s bike. looks like a harley panamerica. rare as hens teeth because they weren't cool. amazing streetbike still people picking these up and hitting the canyons. gs 1150(long way round bike) inconsequently more power but way longer gears and hevier. very long final drive and way taller 6 speed transmission, so tall that top speed is achieved in 5th. even with more power it feels slower. common modification at the time was to swap the final drive of an 1100gs or 850 or gt really anything was the right direction to get the gearing more in line with reality (though in current year this modification just isn't feseable with BMW spare parts price hikes). longer swingarm effects the dynamics in sport touring negitivly. fairly common because they were cool. both take large amounts of straight weight oil and most everything is interchangeable.
A really informative video that nicely summarizes the nuances between the model generations. Could you make a video about the options and trim level packages for the 17.5-2020 bikes?
R1200GS 2007, bought 2012. Why no mention of issues??? Corrosion on engine,fuel cap, wheels. 3 fuel pumps, rear drive bearing, alrm key switch, tyre pressure sensors,abs, front suspension seal AND leaking front shock, one ECU, balancer shaft seal , reliable????? My bottom!!!!! now only 50000 km, I wonder what is next....
When I first drove my GSA I was astonished how easy it was to drive it, like a bicycle!! When stopped it's like moving a dead whale, but when you start moving... Unbelievable!👍
God Ian, you sound really flustered and depressed on this one. Taken at a romp - too much info - too little time. Needs a Valium. I suffer from MH issues myself and I’ve seen your vlog on that, so I know one has “bad days”. Thanks for all the info on the GS, I have an RS 1200, but will be considering a GS 1250 next time I change. All the BEST x
Interesting watch. I'm in the process of trying to trade my 1250 backwards to a 1200. The 1250 motor sounds terrible. There's an issue with the left cylinder that seems to have been left for dealerships to sort out with all sorts of haphazard attempts at assuaging owners' concerns. Also the changes to the fueling to meet Euro5 regs have some complaining of detonation and it's just not as simple as changing the map anymore. You can't do that with the 1250. I might look again at the 1250 in a few years but right now I wish I'd gone with the better understood 1200.
Hi Ian - Big fan. Do you think you could do a r1150 GS adventure comparison to the 1200 and 1250 adventure? That would be cool to discuss the bikes and bang for buck. As the R1250GS/R1300GS - the prices are getting ridiculous - it would give insight to those of us who actually tour on these bikes.
Agree / Disagree Thanks for doing these videos! Owned 2014 R12GS is the best GS for fastest revving and lightest weight - Greatest bike if you can live without some of the newer refinements on late 2017 pluse! Owned 2019 R1250GS HP Very nice pretty bike with noticeable power and torque and yes shiftcam is smoother but there are issues BMW is well aware of ie: 2014 GS 220 miles to a tank consistently and often 240 or more miles, 2017 GS 210 miles to a tank, 2019 1250 sucking fumes at 185 miles - serious change! Also at highway speeds a minor hesitation between some RPM ranges, and the TFT as pretty and good as it is still needs work. I found as much a pain as it was cool. Hopefully by 2021 the third year of production BMW will have it dialed in nicely as they usually do. The best all around year for the Great Boxer GS is the late 2017 model. So good I've had three of them. Nice!
Darius-Christian Dickison It’s a BMW. Although these bikes are best in class in looks, they are finicky. Like a Harley Davidson. If it were a Japanese or British machine many if not all of these issue would not be an issue.
the servo brakes in the late 1150 and early 1200s are complete garbage. The servo can crap out even with routine brake fluid changes. When it takes a crap, the best solution is to just bypass it, but then you lose your ABS as well. Terrible system.
If I don't care about a TFT dash and a few extra HP...why should I spend $12k more for a 2023 1250 GSA instead or a used 1200gsaif they're both premium packs?
I found the electronic brake system to be ok but bleeding the system is not a job for novices. The ABS unit has separate circuits that need bleeding as well as the brake circuits. The latter, post electronic systems are simpler as mentioned.
I bought my first GS a month ago. A 2013. Love the bulk of it, but hate certain aspects of it. This video is great for differences between model years (thank you), but does not address differences between 'trim' levels. Plain GS, Adventure, Premium(?), LC(?). I'm learning that there are very significant differences between them (and not just bolt on items like bars, etc.) I've seen videos from others that are supposed to be explaining the differences, but they clearly don't know as much as I do, and I don't know anywhere near enough.
Excellent video! Super helpful. I will be watching it again and taking notes this time. Sounds like if it's affordable, the 1250 is the way to go. I'll ask my wife for her opinion, ... or maybe not. :-). Thanks again!
Why does the boxer has power limitations? Long stroke, difficult to cool and keep the emissions in specs, inline 3 or fours can be cooled easier and balance shaft options allow higher revs and thus power. Got it?
There is no point in TFT and brand navigators- Maps me app with a phone is better in offline mode and you can listen to audiobooks in background. I own 2008 gsa and it is the best bike for maitenance, because it uses car oil 10w60 and valve adjustments is very easy. When you travel you usually don't ride fast anyways, just watching scenery
Sory to correct you again the servo failed not because of the motor, the pressure sensor failed the whole thing was prone to leak and wreak all kinds of havoc. The German KBA deserves a death sentence for allowing this garbage go street legal.
Lol, with the water cooled engine having the clutch at the front made it easy to service. But NOW when the stator goes bad you have to pull the engine, pull the transmission and still remove the wet clutch to replace the stator. BMW needs to keep the wet clutch at the front of the motor, take out the stator (from the back of the engine) and reintroduce the alternator to the top of the engine for ease of service.
I've got a 1250 in June 2019. Over 10.000 miles later I'd say to everyone that's considering getting into GS world, give it a ride, if possible back to back with late 1200 model.
Well the guide is not perfect - although very good. For example ASC (anti-spin) came before the 2008 update, along with the death of servo brakes. Half 2007 GS are non-servo and (can) have ASC. (one of them is mine) Also it doesn't cover some changes. For example 1st generation LC, didn't have front stabilizer, which came after the death of a journalist and some people saying that the front is very "light" (and unstable). Also the guide doesn't talk about the changes that came when quick-shifter was released. It was available as add-on, but some earlier LC couldn't take it. This is something a buyer needs to know. When LC was introduced, crankshaft was lighter, but when they introduced LC GSA a year later, it had a heavier crankshaft. This change was moved back to normal LC because the light crankshaft made the bike feel more sporty but was also more "jerky" in throttle changes (something GS riders don't like). Other things missing possibly too.
Thanks for making this, it has been a big help trying to understand adventure bikes coming from super sports. I would definitely be interested in your version of a view of the market, explaining where ADV bikes came from and comparing the philosophies of the main competitors. I cant choose what to get between Africa twins, 1250GS or KTM''s and there isnt a lot of info about them compared in general.
I do wish you would have mentioned the drive shaft issues, I have an 08 that has had no problems but I know they made improvements but not sure what years. Great informative video, thanks
This is a superbly informative video, you did your research and created well-formatted tables. Those visuals are hugely helpful to punctuate your points about 1) each generation 2) all-up. I believe your pros and cons were well-balanced, too. My history with GS's is amusing: zero ownership, but a rental for 2,700 miles (!) and more than three weeks, 2K dirt and 700 pavement (roughly), in SA, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. With a group including Charley Boorman and Billy Ward, no less (a long story)...two guys you need to be with to learn how to ride this bike quickly. And ride it FAST yet not recklessly, see what it can really do on good gravel roads, marginal gravel roads, sand, and good trails. Some years later, I'm inches from buying a 1250. Your comments pretty much seal the deal. Thanks a million, Subscribed.
Hey Ian, Great video. I’ve got an ‘05 with low miles, but I’ve been thinking that if I were to come across a ‘17.5 at a good price I’d upgrade. If you decide to go with a 1250, let me know and maybe I can take your 1200 off your hands. Seriously. Again, just the video I was hoping for. Well done. Take care, AD
Great video I had a 7 gsa loved for 10 years, I didn’t even know they had a wet clutch now I’m thinking of going gs or gsa in 2021 this had helped a lot it would be great if you could do a in-depth difference video on a GS/ GSA 👍👍👍
The motorcycle generally regarded as the world's finest deserves a fantastic and ranging video like this. Terrific job thoroughly, yet briefly taking us through this history. Beyond useful for us experienced riders considering our first GS. Thank you.
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