I use Road mode most of the time (2023 R1250GS Triple Black) and the same with the suspension setting - I really like that floaty feeling - it makes me feel like I'm riding a magic carpet. I have Dynamic Pro set up for when I really just want to be able to spin, wheelie etc. and have some fun. For me, having all of these modes available is the bonus. I do use Rain mode when I'm dealing with wet roads. I've only ever dropped her once (nickname = "Black Betty") but the crash bars absorbed all of that and the minor scratches are not visible - you have to actually touch the crash bars from underneath to find the minor scratches. ABS is awesome - it's stopped me falling more than once on my mossy sloped driveway when wet. Greetings to all from Australia.
I recently upgraded from a 15 GSA to a 23, many of the small backroads I ride here in West Virginia are pretty rough so I use Road/Road quite often. Also if I have a passenger I'll use Road mode, I find softer throttle response is easier on the passenger.
I think dynamic adds both preload and rebound to the rear suspension. If you stand over your bike and switch from road to dynamic, you will feel the back end come up. That extra preload both adds firmness to the suspension and sharpens the steering by changing the angle. However on a bad surface like a frost heaved pavement, road is the way to go because dynamic is just too harsh on bad pavement
So, I just upgraded from a 2007 R1200GS to a 2015 R1200GS. I was out on a ride on a local twisty mountain road I know well so decided to test out the modes. Put it in Dynamic and about ripped my arms out of their sockets ;). This bike has some hooligan in there.
I had a 2017 GSA and only rode in dyna/dyna unless it was raining. Made a bit better throttle response and felt the suspension was much better handling. I miss my GSA.
@@AmericanAbroad1 Would ya believe some how I can turn it off now. I just had a software update at the dealer. Perhaps that did something. Anyway, yee haa! Thanks!
I am frustrated with my R1250 GS suspension. Dynamic on the road is the only setting that works well. There is no good setting for riding the bike moderately hard to hard in Enduro or Enduro Pro. The lack of adequate rebound damping can be dangerous in certain conditions and cannot be changed. I tested the new R1300 GS, and it is the same. BMW needs to fix this.
Interesting feedback. Have you tried adjusting the front and rear suspension independently? Not only riding straight dynamic or enduro? Normally even in dynamic it keeps the rear in road mode. Change both to dynamic and I feel a huge difference
@@AmericanAbroad1@AmericanAbroad1 My bike has ESA, so the damping is electronic. The suspension cannot be adjusted in Enduro and Enduro Pro riding modes. There are only two suspension settings in all other modes: road (it feels like a blown shock) and dynamic. I wish my bike had manual adjusters.
Please explain the Pro mode in detail, would like to know more. Do you mean you could change/alter each ride mode? As in go into dynamic and change the throttle response, preload , wheelie control, traction control etc. I am a Ducati Multistrada V4S owner and I can change everything within each mode. But when I test rode the GS I was informed you couldn’t change the basic modes and had to just use what the engineers had programmed for Rain, Road etc. Thank you. Cheers
You are correct. On the normal modes you get what you get. On the Pro modes you can customize more. Here is a great reference ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wq4eYbo6jno.html
@@AmericanAbroad1 not quite common with the Portuguese sweet rider spots yet, brought here my bike from Spain with me for a summer season. I'd say estrada Nazare and Atlantica seem fine to me so far, but I guess you are familiar with them. I was always wondering to explore Sierra de Estrela passing it by dozens of times on my way to Madrid or Salamanca. You might've seen them also aren't you?;) What's your experience with finding routes here?
@@adam.nikoliani Yes I have riden those roads a time or two. I have always wanted to hit up serra da estrela. I think I will try to this year. Its not even very far from Lisbon. only 3 hours and you can be there. Also the N222 is a must.
Thank you heaps for the kind words. I love this community so thanks for joining in. The top case is a BMW Vario case. You can pull a lever and make it bigger or smaller. I like it quite a lot.
Yes, the Vario case. I have the same - just the top box, not the panniers (yet - still considering soft panniers). The top box (Vario) is lockable using the bike key in the same way that the bike seats are programmed to the bike key as well. It fits my helmet and gloves as well as a summer jacket. Also really easy to get on and off the bike. It also has a padded back rest for a pillion passenger.
