Well, you've done it again. Made a video which is informative, amusing and a damn good watch. Thank you. Please keep them coming. So much better than the shouty rev and swear merchants who post inane crap hourly. If there is anyone out there thinking of making top gear for bikes, here is one of your presenters! Thanks and I hope you enjoy the beemer.
Enjoyed your video as well as the many different points of view between the two. At the end of the day, it all boils down to what ticks the boxes on your list. My 07 GS ticks all my boxes, a group of us ride every weekend through old abandoned passes that would require a 4x4, forests and dirt trails and only use the tar roads to get us there. In our group there are GS’s, AT’s and KTM, all very capable to be taken anywhere. What makes the biggest difference is the riders level of skill. I live in Southern Africa and we blessed with 12 months a year riding. Best regards and ride safe.
Great commentary, you should have your own TV show! Excellent points of view, informative, entertaining and funny. You have gained a new subscriber from Colorado, keep up the excellent videos!
From what I saw of your AT, you had an Offroad type tyre on, those will never make the front end feel great. I’m doing the opposite to what you’ve done, I’ve had 3 GS’s and am now buying a 2018 AT. There’s no such thing as a adventure bike, you can have an adventure on any bike, but at our age 😉 comfort and fun are a priority. In my younger days (80’s) we toured on GT bikes, but this type of bike has been replaced by the big ADV bikes and brilliant they are. But bikes are like women, once you’ve got the perfect one and had some fun, you soon start to get irritated by their little quirks and before you know it, you start looking at the next best thing 😄, when really you should just be happy with what you’ve already got and learn to live with the good, the bad and the ugly. Enjoying you vids, keep em coming 👍🏻
Atwin is a, challenge! This bike call you for next step, tempting you to try another steep hills and trails on top of your road travel! GS just bring you around and give you relax feeling!, this is different spirits of adventure!
On your AT “it’s Gone” video, I suggested you had made a grave mistake, but joking aside, you’ve done what was right for you and that’s all that matters. I enjoy your videos, like your attitude and sense of humour and will continue to look forward to your next videos. 👍😉
I wanted to show this video to my Africa but it turned off the lights and started crying ! Seriously, I look anxiously the next videos around the world with your new Bike !
Since I hold both a 1200 GS 2007 as well as an AT 2016 manual. I clearly belive that they are both very good bike with a clear advantage for the BMW for paved road while the AT is more off road oriented. Practically, there are no place you will not manage to reach with either bikes. What will matters is only how large your smile is while driving. Hope you can enjoy the roads there and there and with you the best adventures. ;)
Motoeuro I like having some of the fancy gadgets...admittedly ...in fact I’m selling my R1200GS for an Africa Twin..less maintenance costs, more dealer channels and you can’t seem to kill a honda. Where as most of the long trips on and off road it’s always the BMW’s that have issues.... We’ll see how Honda’s newest offerings fare!
You just changed from one of the most reliable bikes (Honda) to one of the least (BMW). Hope this one will work fine for a long time!!! About that cornering felling it is correct. It is a felling. It works perfectly when you prepare correctly the turn. But just try to make a small correction on a turn. You will see how the weight of the bike will not help you on this maneuver. Wile on the Africa Twin this would be easier to do. I've tried both forcing this situation. But you are absolutely correct, the 1200GS is a great road bike. Any way I'm done with heavy bikes for adventures (I have a KTM1090). For now I will be waiting for the new releases on middle weight bikes, maybe the T700 from Yamaha.
Bang on, I’m on my 2nd GS now and unless you have a bottomless pit of money they aren’t really for off road use, European mile muncher yes, comfortable, great weather protection etc. Hence the reason why I’m buying a CRF 300 Rally to do the fun stuff 👍🏻
Nice narration , you have a lovely way of speaking in you Gordy twang lol but in your title you have GS 1200 vs Africa Twin ?? so for all around adventure riding am i to take it you are voting Africa Twin ?? apologies if im a bit thick and have missed something ??
Hi, if you're going to tackle forest drives, light fire trails then the AT is the bike to have. However, if you are staying to the road only, the GS is a better road bike. The 21" front on the AT is a little vague on the road. Thanks for watching! :D
What a great vid !! Loved the "comparison" ... but to be honest, I'm still crying over the Africa Twin, though !! But you did point some weak points about the BMW that are so true. I have sold my GS 1200 to get a Kawasaki 500 ... and you know what? Should have been the first choice from the beginning !! I swaped the status bike for the capable one ... LOL ...Cheers
So, you sound like you are not completely satisfied with it, or I understood wrong? Did you get any problems with the points you highlighted? (i.e. rain going through your seat to the battery?). Thanks for your thoughts anyway, about to buy one, all feedbacks are good to hear. 👍🏼
Thank Jean 👍 I went from top to bottom of Spain (see video) the GS burnt oil like it was free, it stopped going into neutral when hot and gears got very clunky. But, it did the job well and was comfortable, never broke down. I sold it when I got back - just not for me. A good bike but I realised I wanted a lighter bike for the trails. Cheers 🍻
Probably, I really liked it - but, my heart tells me it's too heavy :( Its on this list, but with the T7 coming in at 205kgs and at £8,600 (ish) that might be better for me, thanks :D
Good video- the GS is the bike of my dreams, but I find it to be a worth while cause to be critical, dissenting opinions are usually more informative than those that are only agreeing.
Very interested to hear the follow up, I picked up an 05 GS last year for similar reasons. Looking forward to hearing your view. Who knew it came in orange?!!
Loved the video. I personally think the AT is over rated. The seat height for a lot of people will be an issue. The new 18 AT bike I threw a leg over was so tall that I literally was on my tip toes. I have had two Triumph Explorer 1200s that I put well over 33K miles on them and I replaced them with a Yamaha Super Tenere and love the thing. I think the AT is a good bike but I agree it was designed to live in the dirt. All of the adventure bikes do the job.
Hi Jim.. Confused here.. The Super 10's seat height is the same as the AT. Like most bikes you can obtain a lowered seat if being a munchkin is the thing. I love the super 10 but struggled with the height which was no different from the AT BUT the DCT made the AT a must have. Like the previous observations, tyres maketh the man. and a less aggresive tyre will tame the vagueness out of any hardcore bike. I agree with you however that these new gen bikes are suited for tall peeps but the ground clearance is needed. Ive even thought feck it.. sell the lot and buy a Himalayan. Ive money to spare then and can indulge on my other hobby of ferret breeding. Best Wishes.. :-)
Well i had a 2010 GS for 20k kilometers and now an Africa twin for a year. On the long road and large highway corners GS is stable, got great leaning angle for an adventure bike. But on village twisties AT is more fun. At commuting and traffic they are almost the same. If you get on and off sidewalks or your roads are rough, AT has a little bit more advantage. But GS feels a little bit lighter. I didn't try to do serious enduro with both because you know they have both expensive parts. On gravel etc. both feels the same with good tires. So I feel like they are no proper enduro machines. But on long journeys I prefer GS and probably sell AT and buy an old one again. Oh one more point; GS craftsmanship, general parts quality feels lot more better than AT.
I just recently test rode the current range of BMW GS's and I can honestly say that I can ride them just as fast off-road as I can on road, they just eat dirt roads up for breakfast. People I know are having a lot of warranty issues with the Hondas at the moment too.
Great video, I agree the GS is more road oriented than the AT but where do you spend most of your time? The GS is still a very capable off road bike & more so the adventure model with its spoked wheels. With regards to the boxer engine using oil, maybe they do use a bit but as long as they are serviced regularly they will do over 100k miles without needing an overhaul. That cannot be said of most makes including the AT in my opinion. Keep the videos coming, the more you ride it the more it will grow on you, I know from experience.
I look forward to it. I never thought I would like the boxer but after test riding one in 2007 I loved it & bought one. I kept it 8 years & have now bought a brand new LC version. I love the character of them, they are not as smooth & refined as a Japanese bike but that's what make them different & why so many people love them. Enjoy
Excellent video, I'm on the lookout for a used GS right now, and I've found a few examples of the TU locally (County Durham), 35000+ miles but with full service history.im sorely tempted. Mind you, I'm moving from a Harley so it's more clear cut than the choice you made. Subbed.
pgod1960 cheers for subbing :) don’t be put off by 35k miles, a FSH is essential. Go for a GS with extras like heated grips, luggage etc. Best of luck, all the best.
Its get a full vario pannier set, full BMW service history, heated grips crash bars. Seat height is perfect for me (lower seat) and looks to be a very clean example with no marks on it as far as I can see. Looks a good buy for £6400 with 12 month warranty.
Sounds good to me! AT this time of year, you should get this well below £6k if you walk in at the end of the month and have the cash. All dealers need to hit targets for the month end and November is a poor time for all sellers. Try to get the next big service thrown in too or at least fresh tyres :D
Good advice, if i do decide to proceed I'll try to find some leverage somewhere. I'm grateful for the pointers and looking forward to seeing your time with the GS unfold. I'm approaching things from the touring perspective, have no off road ambitions as such and certainly have no Africa twin axe to grind!
Cheers and best of luck! For touring the Alps with luggage full-up, you cant go wrong on this bike. Bear in mind, whatever age the bike is, it will be a 'year older' in 2 months. Make sure you throw that one at them too! Regardless of V5 date, 2018 is only weeks away...... his Glasses Guide will have the bike at least £400 cheaper early next year. All the best!
Was going to comment about "Why would you buy a 10 year old bike then complain about all the stuff that folks have been writing about for 10 years for that bike"... but I get the point (contrast that it's flawed but still good). But... at the end of the day this IS still a comparison where you look at the GS vs. the AT. IMO you touched on the truth when you mention that they're really different bikes (Beemer more road biased, AT more dirt biased)... however... you then show yourself riding on a dirt road that is clearly in the Beemer wheelhouse (having put many miles on the GS and some miles on an AT... IMO the bmw is the better bike on that sort of dirt). Put the Beemer on real dirt (offroad) and I'd agree with the idea of the AT being the better choice. The current gen GS is a fantastic bike, and other than reliability (you don't buy European bikes if you're worried about reliability and I generally buy European bikes so I'll admit that it's not a big pull for me) it's clearly a better choice for riders who have a more balanced dirt/tarmac ratio (if you're more road biased like I am then you might lean toward more performance like the Ducati or BMW XR). The AT is for riders who are clearly dirt biased or are REALLY worried about reliability... if you wanted a reasonable comparo for AT you'd have been better matching it to the late 00's KTM 990 ADV. In the offroad biased sweetspot of the Africa Twin I'd say the 990 is as close to a match as you're likely to find to the excellent Africa Twin (I'm sure some out there would actually suggest that the KTM is better... I'd not go that far).
Interesting video , difficult to compare the 2 bikes as you mentioned, nearly 10 years between them !..The new W/C GS would be a fairer comparison. Can l ask where you are located maybe the NORTH-EAST!. those video shots look like somewhere near HAWICK , ST MARY'S LOCH AREA ? BOB
Motoeuro Was that the KEILDER FOREST DRIVE ?. I was thinking of changing my CBF 1000 for a A/T earlier this year , but opted for the HONDA CROSSRUNNER . My first adventure bike , very happy with it so far..we are in North Tyneside. BOB
Interesting....how much playing with the front end adjustment did you do on the AT? I've 50k on mine in two years and would say it's a better alround bike than the equilvent BMW 1200....so much so that I'm looking to buy another!!
I played a little with the front, but it was really in wet conditions and when riding fast the front just seemed 'guesswork' at times with compared to the GS - This was true from the stock tyres and the Mitas E07's. The AT is a great bike, I do like it. Enjoy yours and I hope you're getting the new AT ADV Sport in those new lovely RD03 colours! Cheers :D
Cheers Roadrunner! Will it ever end? Oh god no! Just wait for the T7 and the KTM790ADV in 2019, a whole new category opening up! Thanks for commenting!
BMW R 1100/1250 is great TOURING bike,forget serious off road. Africa is better for off road but still too heavy cow. BMW F 800/850 and YAMA 700 Tenere are capable multi cylinders bikes for off road and also long distances on road.
Your production quality is excellent, the sound quality in particular. They've changed some of the items you've mentioned on the later beemers. Bottom line vs the AT is as you've pointed out, the former is a lazy boy tourer (that can do the twisties just fine as well); the AT is an adventure bike in the 'traditional' sense of the word.
Hopefully you have enough internal organs to sell to pay for servicing - couldn't wait to get shot of my GS. This and KTM are well down the list for a cross planet trip.
He he. Before I have bought my AT I had a test ride on GS1200 ADV. Very nice bike, looks clunky at the front but is surprisingly easy to maneuver. There were 3 thing that made my decision: price, strange approach to water and electricity vs very complex electronics (hard to repair in the middle of nowwhere), a lot of things that I will never use for sure (for example ignition maps). I think GS1200 is very good bike for roads, for dry roads. ;-))) CU on the road, I hope.
Cheers Moto Troter! Yes, the electrics frighted the crap out of me - so over complex for no reason. Lets see how Bob manages in my incompetent hands! All the best, enjoy your AT :D
I think you will, perhaps have the decision made for you. Some day. When the clutch starts to slip and a dealership gives you a quote. Make sure you are sitting down.
I would never exchange the quality of Japanese for Bob Marley & Wailers ....Haha.. Keep in mind that 2018 model has heated grips and alot of improvements vs AT previous model. Anyway, the only major reason I believe you did that exchange was money saving especially if you bought the BMW in an attractive price tag.
Not an off roader as adventure bikes should be, but very comfortable on tarmac. When the time to choose a big adventure bike to replace my cruiser, I opted for the Buell instead of BMW, Super Tenere or KTM.
Ha ha, cables and battery 😉 you know what, I shared the same thoughts as I get my beemer, but nevertheless, I never have had any issues even if I covered them in dirt and washed them on a good 150 km/h hourlong trip through really heavy rain. Or get it parked outside during rain pouring out of the clouds like nothing else 😉 Well, if you ever found your taillight not working, check the cables of the taillight, not the bulbs. Remember to pack a small toolset containing torx bits. Hey BMW, you provide a Philips screwdriver and use nearby only torxheads, how crazy is that? Looking forward for your next vids 👍🏽 Btw. gloves are stored best behind the windshield, that's the place where they don't fall off 😉
Go off-roading? Don’t forget to add some crash protection for you b’ mer... I got a Bob ‘08 too... waiting you to send new videos w/ your comments to compare ... enjoy the ride!
Is it allowed in GB to drive off road? In Germany (where I live and produced BMW) is not. So, there is nothing to compare about off road adventure, if it is the same in GB. If there are some countries in southern Europe (Greece, Turkey for example) where off road biking is allowed, you have to drive 3000 miles on road, change to off road tires there, to live finally the off road adventure there. If you go further (Asia, Africa) none of them GS or AT, is the proper bike for that. (Only Charly Borman with Ewan McGregor and 500 others support companion did that "successfully") For something like this you need a small 250-450cc Enduro from the '90 with simple technology fixeble almost everywhere in the world. So conclusion one: It depends on the definition of adventure, as you also said in the video, which bike is the best for it. It is different to each of us. But what BMW has achieved with the GS, is to compromise in a high level the most of that parameters. Conclusion two: I think your thoughts in your video are in a wrong basis and some technical issues that you mentioned are also explainable and most of them aren't issues but i can't type it all now to answer all of them here. (100.000km GS owner) But although the different point of view i give you a thumb up because you did it nice and with humour. 👍😉
Hi Y K - Yes, there are areas you can ride off road in the UK, but the longest I have found is about 12 miles. In the USA or parts of Europe, you can ride for a long time off road. The AT is an ADV bike not a dirt bike. It would be good on dusty trails for miles, but not in harder conditions when a CRF250L or KTM EXC300 would be perfect. However, the Trans Euro Trail is available for free to ride of road over Europe - see www.transeurotrail.org - I think the GS would be a good ADV bike with spoke wheels and a 21 Inch front, but still too heavy for serious off roading. Thanks.
Motoeuro both are available as an option for GS. Spoke wheels from BMW and 21inch front from Wunderlich. They are both expensive but available. There is no light bike in this category. Actually GS is one of the lightest among the others (theoretically) If you see the potential of the GS from the right point of view you will love it, like a warm cup of tee it keeps your hands warm in the winter while you holding it😋 (see heatgrips) Thank you for the link. I didn't knew it.
GS is a great bike, but GS ADV 1200 from 2009 to 2013 is the best one for tourism. In Europe, we don't have streets like Australia or Asia and bikes like Africa Twin are great bikes, but for european streets, GS is better
Thanks Massy :D Yes, in the UK there's not many long off-roads for the AT. All land is owned by someone and no-one likes bikes on it :( The GS works for me so far! All the best :D
Instead of asking these questions rhetorically, like they are problems, couldn't you have researched the answers? Some of the things you pointed out are very much not problems with the GS.
You don't sound very positive about the bmw and I hope you don't regret your decision😐Adventure riding can be done on any bike imo! Adventure riding doesn't necessarily mean you have to go off road does it? Love you videos and I hope you have just as much fun on the bmw as you did the africa twin! Ride safe & piece out✌
The B'Em is actually really good so far! I had so much more to say but camera fell in a stream (dont ask). I spend 90% of my time on roads, but the GS 'feels' better - an off road test is coming soon - that'll be either fun or horrific!!! All the best, 'go canny' Mikee :D Cheers!
I got a 2005 GS and at 35,000 mi I had clutch/transmission failure! Quality product, BS. Any japanese motorcycle will last decades longer than the GS. BMW = Buy Motorcycle Wrecker!!!
why don't you compare it with a new 1200gs while the AT is still fresh in your mind, just go and get a test ride,come on that can be the next vid,all the best mick
Yes it is, but please see my previous videos as to why I sold the AT. I wanted a cheaper bike and this vid was a comparison - they were 8 years apart. The new GS looks like a spaceship compared to mine! Cheers :D
Adventure…. 33,000 miles on an ‘03 BMW R1150R from 2004 to 2015. All over Europe and only 500 yards of gravel roads in all that time… Do I feel like I missed anything? In all honesty no!
@@Motoeuro Cheers Motoeuro - I was just being a bit naughty. I rode a GS1200 once and didn't like it at all. Of course everyone loves them, so they must be good. It is the only test bike I took back to the shop before I'd finished my ride because I thought I was going to crash on every corner, no matter how slow I rode. Found the weird flappy front end very strange (maybe there was something wrong with it). I'll ride another GS one day, just to see if I rode a bad one. The joke was really that if the AT handled worse on road it must be bad. Glad you didn't bite too hard - but from your excellent videos it is clear you have a good sense of humor. Cheers Campbell:)
There is no comparison between the two bikes. The AT is great for what it is and the GS is great for what it is. They stopped making the AT for a reason and They never Paused the GS ever and that should TELL you some thing out LOUD. Not many people have stories of going Around The World on the AT, but there are thousands of People who did this on the GS, and again this should tell you something.
no graphs on this video hahaha ;) well i think is almost impossible for me to let go my crf1000 but... i agree with many points :) and this videos are good and is good to here that is all good there. cheers and ride safe while i ride red :D
An africatwin in 10 years will value 3000 e. A gs 1200 in ten years will value 8000 if with 100000km too. IT' S SIMPLE. PEOPLE WANT GS 1200. THE SIMPLE FACT: EVERYONE DOES COMPARISION ALWAYS ALWAYS WITH 1200 GS. ALWAYS :)))
Love the video. Totally agree with your comments. As does Brett in his channel, have a look at his comments about the tire sizes. ua-cam.com/video/v3TId4TBhrs/v-deo.html
bmw has a fantastic reputation for build quality? LOL Never sell a honda to buy a BMW , that my friend was your first mistake. You wouldn't believe the horrors I have seen between all my buddies BMW's
Well, you've done it again. Made a video which is informative, amusing and a damn good watch. Thank you. Please keep them coming. So much better than the shouty rev and swear merchants who post inane crap hourly. If there is anyone out there thinking of making top gear for bikes, here is one of your presenters! Thanks and I hope you enjoy the beemer.
Very kind Mr Wobbly :D Thank you so much! More to come soon!! All the best :D
Enjoyed your video as well as the many different points of view between the two. At the end of the day, it all boils down to what ticks the boxes on your list. My 07 GS ticks all my boxes, a group of us ride every weekend through old abandoned passes that would require a 4x4, forests and dirt trails and only use the tar roads to get us there. In our group there are GS’s, AT’s and KTM, all very capable to be taken anywhere. What makes the biggest difference is the riders level of skill. I live in Southern Africa and we blessed with 12 months a year riding. Best regards and ride safe.
Thanks for commenting, I think skill level and confidence rule on big ADV Bikes! Cheers :D
Love my Africa Twin DCT
Great commentary, you should have your own TV show! Excellent points of view, informative, entertaining and funny. You have gained a new subscriber from Colorado, keep up the excellent videos!
Thanks Mario! :D Cheers for the Sub!
From what I saw of your AT, you had an Offroad type tyre on, those will never make the front end feel great. I’m doing the opposite to what you’ve done, I’ve had 3 GS’s and am now buying a 2018 AT.
There’s no such thing as a adventure bike, you can have an adventure on any bike, but at our age 😉 comfort and fun are a priority. In my younger days (80’s) we toured on GT bikes, but this type of bike has been replaced by the big ADV bikes and brilliant they are.
But bikes are like women, once you’ve got the perfect one and had some fun, you soon start to get irritated by their little quirks and before you know it, you start looking at the next best thing 😄, when really you should just be happy with what you’ve already got and learn to live with the good, the bad and the ugly.
Enjoying you vids, keep em coming 👍🏻
Cheers for the comment, wise words indeed :D
So true!
Came for the sarcasm but got sage wise melancholy.... now off with a drumroll 😆
Atwin is a, challenge! This bike call you for next step, tempting you to try another steep hills and trails on top of your road travel! GS just bring you around and give you relax feeling!, this is different spirits of adventure!
As a cruiser rider looking to move into the off-road/touring style bikes, I'm glad to hear this comparison.
Thanks Shaun, pleased you enjoyed this :D
My favorite motorcycle channel. Greetings from the Netherlands
You had me at *"dear Bob Marley and the Wailers"*
A new sub.
Ha ha ha!!! Pleased you enjoyed this, cheers for the sub D)
On your AT “it’s Gone” video, I suggested you had made a grave mistake, but joking aside, you’ve done what was right for you and that’s all that matters. I enjoy your videos, like your attitude and sense of humour and will continue to look forward to your next videos. 👍😉
Cheers Paul! More videos to come soon - Thanks :D
Nice to have you back here! Gd luck with your "new" GS and always enough petrol in your tank, air in the tyres and a running engine!
Cheers Michael :D
Motoeuro yvw 😉
Very good video I'm thinking of buying an Africa twin dct
Its a great bike, the DCT is excellent but 10kgs heavier cheers :D
Gotta love unbiased reviews by guys in their sheds.
I wanted to show this video to my Africa but it turned off the lights and started crying !
Seriously, I look anxiously the next videos around the world with your new Bike !
mc Biker cheers biker! Lots more coming soon 👍
Since I hold both a 1200 GS 2007 as well as an AT 2016 manual. I clearly belive that they are both very good bike with a clear advantage for the BMW for paved road while the AT is more off road oriented. Practically, there are no place you will not manage to reach with either bikes. What will matters is only how large your smile is while driving. Hope you can enjoy the roads there and there and with you the best adventures. ;)
Ok so now that the New 2020 Africa Twin Adv Sport coming out, with all the things that it was lacking...are you interested again in it?
Nice idea, and yes probably - but a bit confused as the Yamaha T7 is over £4,000 less! See latest vid: ua-cam.com/video/vGtXJebl21o/v-deo.html
Motoeuro I like having some of the fancy gadgets...admittedly ...in fact I’m selling my R1200GS for an Africa Twin..less maintenance costs, more dealer channels and you can’t seem to kill a honda. Where as most of the long trips on and off road it’s always the BMW’s that have issues....
We’ll see how Honda’s newest offerings fare!
You just changed from one of the most reliable bikes (Honda) to one of the least (BMW). Hope this one will work fine for a long time!!! About that cornering felling it is correct. It is a felling. It works perfectly when you prepare correctly the turn. But just try to make a small correction on a turn. You will see how the weight of the bike will not help you on this maneuver. Wile on the Africa Twin this would be easier to do. I've tried both forcing this situation. But you are absolutely correct, the 1200GS is a great road bike. Any way I'm done with heavy bikes for adventures (I have a KTM1090). For now I will be waiting for the new releases on middle weight bikes, maybe the T700 from Yamaha.
miguel duraes Cheers Miguel, exciting times waiting for T7 👍
Brilliant! Great fun to watch. I have neither of them, still on my '95 Transalp.
Nothing wrong with an Alp! I had a 20 year old one, it was so much fun :D
"Finally getting used to the stupid indicators", LOL
Finally a Honda fan throws it back at everyone else...
Bang on, I’m on my 2nd GS now and unless you have a bottomless pit of money they aren’t really for off road use, European mile muncher yes, comfortable, great weather protection etc. Hence the reason why I’m buying a CRF 300 Rally to do the fun stuff 👍🏻
Yeah, very good plan! Thanks for watching Shane :D
Its never about motorcycle,its all about a rider
SUROJEET HALDAR
Yeah, try riding a cow vs a horse. Now let's see.
@@myownopinion6676 you are stupid gay
Nice narration , you have a lovely way of speaking in you Gordy twang lol but in your title you have GS 1200 vs Africa Twin ??
so for all around adventure riding am i to take it you are voting Africa Twin ??
apologies if im a bit thick and have missed something ??
Hi, if you're going to tackle forest drives, light fire trails then the AT is the bike to have. However, if you are staying to the road only, the GS is a better road bike. The 21" front on the AT is a little vague on the road. Thanks for watching! :D
What a great vid !! Loved the "comparison" ... but to be honest, I'm still crying over the Africa Twin, though !! But you did point some weak points about the BMW that are so true. I have sold my GS 1200 to get a Kawasaki 500 ... and you know what? Should have been the first choice from the beginning !! I swaped the status bike for the capable one ... LOL ...Cheers
Hope your 500 is good :D The B'em is rather good, but early days....... more vids to come soon on the GS and how she works out! Thanks for commenting!
So, you sound like you are not completely satisfied with it, or I understood wrong?
Did you get any problems with the points you highlighted? (i.e. rain going through your seat to the battery?).
Thanks for your thoughts anyway, about to buy one, all feedbacks are good to hear. 👍🏼
Thank Jean 👍 I went from top to bottom of Spain (see video) the GS burnt oil like it was free, it stopped going into neutral when hot and gears got very clunky. But, it did the job well and was comfortable, never broke down. I sold it when I got back - just not for me. A good bike but I realised I wanted a lighter bike for the trails. Cheers 🍻
hillarious, love this dude
Love my Africa too
Now that Africa twins are cheap as chips, would you buy another one?
Probably, I really liked it - but, my heart tells me it's too heavy :( Its on this list, but with the T7 coming in at 205kgs and at £8,600 (ish) that might be better for me, thanks :D
Cheap as chips? Hail to mighty england then, here they are priced at €16.000.
Loved it! Very nice video, enjoy your new bike! Cheers
Thanks very much! Cheers :D
Good video- the GS is the bike of my dreams, but I find it to be a worth while cause to be critical, dissenting opinions are usually more informative than those that are only agreeing.
Great video! Waiting for the off road comparison now. What suspense... ;-)
Safe rides ahead. Cheers
Thanks Shankar :D Hopefully coming soon subject to UK frosty weather! Cheers!
Great video👍
Cheers mate :D
Very interested to hear the follow up, I picked up an 05 GS last year for similar reasons. Looking forward to hearing your view. Who knew it came in orange?!!
Cheers Rufus, hope you are enjoying your bike :) Orange? Yeah, strange eh?!
Loved the video. I personally think the AT is over rated. The seat height for a lot of people will be an issue. The new 18 AT bike I threw a leg over was so tall that I literally was on my tip toes. I have had two Triumph Explorer 1200s that I put well over 33K miles on them and I replaced them with a Yamaha Super Tenere and love the thing. I think the AT is a good bike but I agree it was designed to live in the dirt. All of the adventure bikes do the job.
Hi Jim.. Confused here.. The Super 10's seat height is the same as the AT. Like most bikes you can obtain a lowered seat if being a munchkin is the thing. I love the super 10 but struggled with the height which was no different from the AT BUT the DCT made the AT a must have. Like the previous observations, tyres maketh the man. and a less aggresive tyre will tame the vagueness out of any hardcore bike. I agree with you however that these new gen bikes are suited for tall peeps but the ground clearance is needed. Ive even thought feck it.. sell the lot and buy a Himalayan. Ive money to spare then and can indulge on my other hobby of ferret breeding. Best Wishes.. :-)
That was interesting. Looking forward to more. Thanks.
Thank you Mark - More coming soon!
Well i had a 2010 GS for 20k kilometers and now an Africa twin for a year. On the long road and large highway corners GS is stable, got great leaning angle for an adventure bike. But on village twisties AT is more fun. At commuting and traffic they are almost the same. If you get on and off sidewalks or your roads are rough, AT has a little bit more advantage. But GS feels a little bit lighter. I didn't try to do serious enduro with both because you know they have both expensive parts. On gravel etc. both feels the same with good tires. So I feel like they are no proper enduro machines. But on long journeys I prefer GS and probably sell AT and buy an old one again. Oh one more point; GS craftsmanship, general parts quality feels lot more better than AT.
Interesting comment, cheers Serkan :D I do prefer the GS on the road, but I had 50/50 tyres on the AT which isn't ideal for wet road use! Thanks.
Have 08 1200 with 77,000 fun miles and more to come. I have ridden the AT and would not switch.
Bruce Kennedy thanks Bruce that’s comforting!!! All the best :)
Great review. Love you accent as well :-)
I just recently test rode the current range of BMW GS's and I can honestly say that I can ride them just as fast off-road as I can on road, they just eat dirt roads up for breakfast. People I know are having a lot of warranty issues with the Hondas at the moment too.
Great video, I agree the GS is more road oriented than the AT but where do you spend most of your time? The GS is still a very capable off road bike & more so the adventure model with its spoked wheels. With regards to the boxer engine using oil, maybe they do use a bit but as long as they are serviced regularly they will do over 100k miles without needing an overhaul. That cannot be said of most makes including the AT in my opinion. Keep the videos coming, the more you ride it the more it will grow on you, I know from experience.
Cheers Andy, so far the GS is working out well - more to come soon :D Thanks!
I look forward to it. I never thought I would like the boxer but after test riding one in 2007 I loved it & bought one. I kept it 8 years & have now bought a brand new LC version. I love the character of them, they are not as smooth & refined as a Japanese bike but that's what make them different & why so many people love them. Enjoy
Excellent video, I'm on the lookout for a used GS right now, and I've found a few examples of the TU locally (County Durham), 35000+ miles but with full service history.im sorely tempted. Mind you, I'm moving from a Harley so it's more clear cut than the choice you made. Subbed.
pgod1960 cheers for subbing :) don’t be put off by 35k miles, a FSH is essential. Go for a GS with extras like heated grips, luggage etc. Best of luck, all the best.
Its get a full vario pannier set, full BMW service history, heated grips crash bars. Seat height is perfect for me (lower seat) and looks to be a very clean example with no marks on it as far as I can see. Looks a good buy for £6400 with 12 month warranty.
Sounds good to me! AT this time of year, you should get this well below £6k if you walk in at the end of the month and have the cash. All dealers need to hit targets for the month end and November is a poor time for all sellers. Try to get the next big service thrown in too or at least fresh tyres :D
Good advice, if i do decide to proceed I'll try to find some leverage somewhere. I'm grateful for the pointers and looking forward to seeing your time with the GS unfold. I'm approaching things from the touring perspective, have no off road ambitions as such and certainly have no Africa twin axe to grind!
Cheers and best of luck! For touring the Alps with luggage full-up, you cant go wrong on this bike. Bear in mind, whatever age the bike is, it will be a 'year older' in 2 months. Make sure you throw that one at them too! Regardless of V5 date, 2018 is only weeks away...... his Glasses Guide will have the bike at least £400 cheaper early next year. All the best!
Was going to comment about "Why would you buy a 10 year old bike then complain about all the stuff that folks have been writing about for 10 years for that bike"... but I get the point (contrast that it's flawed but still good). But... at the end of the day this IS still a comparison where you look at the GS vs. the AT. IMO you touched on the truth when you mention that they're really different bikes (Beemer more road biased, AT more dirt biased)... however... you then show yourself riding on a dirt road that is clearly in the Beemer wheelhouse (having put many miles on the GS and some miles on an AT... IMO the bmw is the better bike on that sort of dirt). Put the Beemer on real dirt (offroad) and I'd agree with the idea of the AT being the better choice. The current gen GS is a fantastic bike, and other than reliability (you don't buy European bikes if you're worried about reliability and I generally buy European bikes so I'll admit that it's not a big pull for me) it's clearly a better choice for riders who have a more balanced dirt/tarmac ratio (if you're more road biased like I am then you might lean toward more performance like the Ducati or BMW XR). The AT is for riders who are clearly dirt biased or are REALLY worried about reliability... if you wanted a reasonable comparo for AT you'd have been better matching it to the late 00's KTM 990 ADV. In the offroad biased sweetspot of the Africa Twin I'd say the 990 is as close to a match as you're likely to find to the excellent Africa Twin (I'm sure some out there would actually suggest that the KTM is better... I'd not go that far).
Congrats on the new wheels... I think. At least you can go places again. If the UK winter permits, that is. Good to have back !!
Cheers :D So far so good! Thanks for commenting
Hi! Do you have a link or brand/model name to where you’ve bought the windshield? Thanks!
sorry, came with bike so no idea! cheers :D
Love that sweater!
Ha ha!! Its awesome! Buy them at Sheep-Ish, Keswick, Cumbria! Nice bloke, small businesses need support!
How much more money is the BMW ?
Always Enjoy your videos
you are making some good points but what's with the smirk?
Ha ah! I literally dont know! Perhaps something happened during the take that made my laugh!
Interesting video , difficult to compare the 2 bikes as you mentioned, nearly 10 years between them !..The new W/C GS would be a fairer comparison.
Can l ask where you are located maybe the NORTH-EAST!. those video shots look like somewhere near HAWICK , ST MARY'S LOCH AREA ?
BOB
Cheers Bob! Yes, cold and wet north east! Not quite as far as Hawick, think more military ranges......(!)
Motoeuro Was that the KEILDER FOREST DRIVE ?.
I was thinking of changing my CBF 1000 for a A/T earlier this year , but opted for the HONDA CROSSRUNNER . My first adventure bike , very happy with it so far..we are in North Tyneside.
BOB
Interesting....how much playing with the front end adjustment did you do on the AT? I've 50k on mine in two years and would say it's a better alround bike than the equilvent BMW 1200....so much so that I'm looking to buy another!!
I played a little with the front, but it was really in wet conditions and when riding fast the front just seemed 'guesswork' at times with compared to the GS - This was true from the stock tyres and the Mitas E07's. The AT is a great bike, I do like it. Enjoy yours and I hope you're getting the new AT ADV Sport in those new lovely RD03 colours! Cheers :D
Great tone in the video. Got you my subscription. I know the struggle for the right bike. Will it ever end?
Cheers Roadrunner! Will it ever end? Oh god no! Just wait for the T7 and the KTM790ADV in 2019, a whole new category opening up! Thanks for commenting!
BMW R 1100/1250 is great TOURING bike,forget serious off road.
Africa is better for off road but still too heavy cow.
BMW F 800/850 and YAMA 700 Tenere are capable multi cylinders bikes for off road and also long distances on road.
Your production quality is excellent, the sound quality in particular. They've changed some of the items you've mentioned on the later beemers. Bottom line vs the AT is as you've pointed out, the former is a lazy boy tourer (that can do the twisties just fine as well); the AT is an adventure bike in the 'traditional' sense of the word.
samsara thank you for your kind comment:) can’t afford a new GS but this 2008 one is strangely addicting! Cheers!
Hopefully you have enough internal organs to sell to pay for servicing - couldn't wait to get shot of my GS. This and KTM are well down the list for a cross planet trip.
He he. Before I have bought my AT I had a test ride on GS1200 ADV. Very nice bike, looks clunky at the front but is surprisingly easy to maneuver. There were 3 thing that made my decision: price, strange approach to water and electricity vs very complex electronics (hard to repair in the middle of nowwhere), a lot of things that I will never use for sure (for example ignition maps). I think GS1200 is very good bike for roads, for dry roads. ;-))) CU on the road, I hope.
Cheers Moto Troter! Yes, the electrics frighted the crap out of me - so over complex for no reason. Lets see how Bob manages in my incompetent hands! All the best, enjoy your AT :D
Ive owned gs LC for 3 yrs and swapped for AT. If the T7 comes out any soon, ill swap it with m AT. Lighter is better
Looks like typical off-road bike. We will see in 2018 how does it look like.
I think you will, perhaps have the decision made for you. Some day.
When the clutch starts to slip and a dealership gives you a quote. Make sure you are sitting down.
I would never exchange the quality of Japanese for Bob Marley & Wailers ....Haha..
Keep in mind that 2018 model has heated grips and alot of improvements vs AT previous model.
Anyway, the only major reason I believe you did that exchange was money saving especially if you bought the BMW in an attractive price tag.
Bingo! Cheers :D
Ever tried a Ulysses Buell?
I did a long time ago! Good bike - lovely engine! (as far as I can rememeber)
Not an off roader as adventure bikes should be, but very comfortable on tarmac. When the time to choose a big adventure bike to replace my cruiser, I opted for the Buell instead of BMW, Super Tenere or KTM.
Love the engine in the Buell, mate had a Lightning, it was awesome! Ride safe :D
I actually love this stupid indicator design of the BMW, once you're used to it it's great
I'm getting there! Cheers :D
Does the BMW come in automatic the African twin does?
Hi Mike, I dont think so. DCT is pretty unique to Honda. However, you can get a quick-shifter fitted to the BM for about £400. Cheers
Ha ha, cables and battery 😉 you know what, I shared the same thoughts as I get my beemer, but nevertheless, I never have had any issues even if I covered them in dirt and washed them on a good 150 km/h hourlong trip through really heavy rain. Or get it parked outside during rain pouring out of the clouds like nothing else 😉
Well, if you ever found your taillight not working, check the cables of the taillight, not the bulbs. Remember to pack a small toolset containing torx bits. Hey BMW, you provide a Philips screwdriver and use nearby only torxheads, how crazy is that?
Looking forward for your next vids 👍🏽 Btw. gloves are stored best behind the windshield, that's the place where they don't fall off 😉
Awesome! Cheers Ois, thanks for commenting :D Lets not hope too much for rain!
There is one big problem with BMW R1200GS! If you ride it long enough it will ruin all other bikes for you :) give it some time it will grow on you.
Funny you should say that...... It's really growing on me! Thanks for commenting :D
what's the brake failure message on display in the beginning?
"they all do that" apparently. Until you start moving then it goes away. Madness eh?
be happy you don't have bmw infamous servo dead traps (ABS servo brakes)...they stopped putting them on 2016 I believe.
Go off-roading? Don’t forget to add some crash protection for you b’ mer... I got a Bob ‘08 too... waiting you to send new videos w/ your comments to compare ... enjoy the ride!
Cheers Sandro, got some Heed Crash bars on there might do the job! Good luck with your B'em!
Is it allowed in GB to drive off road? In Germany (where I live and produced BMW) is not. So, there is nothing to compare about off road adventure, if it is the same in GB. If there are some countries in southern Europe (Greece, Turkey for example) where off road biking is allowed, you have to drive 3000 miles on road, change to off road tires there, to live finally the off road adventure there.
If you go further (Asia, Africa) none of them GS or AT, is the proper bike for that. (Only Charly Borman with Ewan McGregor and 500 others support companion did that "successfully")
For something like this you need a small 250-450cc Enduro from the '90 with simple technology fixeble almost everywhere in the world.
So conclusion one:
It depends on the definition of adventure, as you also said in the video, which bike is the best for it. It is different to each of us.
But what BMW has achieved with the GS, is to compromise in a high level the most of that parameters.
Conclusion two:
I think your thoughts in your video are in a wrong basis and some technical issues that you mentioned are also explainable and most of them aren't issues but i can't type it all now to answer all of them here. (100.000km GS owner)
But although the different point of view i give you a thumb up because you did it nice and with humour. 👍😉
Hi Y K - Yes, there are areas you can ride off road in the UK, but the longest I have found is about 12 miles. In the USA or parts of Europe, you can ride for a long time off road. The AT is an ADV bike not a dirt bike. It would be good on dusty trails for miles, but not in harder conditions when a CRF250L or KTM EXC300 would be perfect. However, the Trans Euro Trail is available for free to ride of road over Europe - see www.transeurotrail.org - I think the GS would be a good ADV bike with spoke wheels and a 21 Inch front, but still too heavy for serious off roading. Thanks.
Motoeuro both are available as an option for GS. Spoke wheels from BMW and 21inch front from Wunderlich.
They are both expensive but available.
There is no light bike in this category. Actually GS is one of the lightest among the others (theoretically)
If you see the potential of the GS from the right point of view you will love it, like a warm cup of tee it keeps your hands warm in the winter while you holding it😋 (see heatgrips)
Thank you for the link. I didn't knew it.
You should try a triumph adventure For a 3rd comparison. That might be interesting.....
GS is a great bike, but GS ADV 1200 from 2009 to 2013 is the best one for tourism.
In Europe, we don't have streets like Australia or Asia and bikes like Africa Twin are great bikes, but for european streets,
GS is better
Thanks Massy :D Yes, in the UK there's not many long off-roads for the AT. All land is owned by someone and no-one likes bikes on it :( The GS works for me so far! All the best :D
Cheers Jethro :D
+Jethro Silage super choice the Tuono
Instead of asking these questions rhetorically, like they are problems, couldn't you have researched the answers? Some of the things you pointed out are very much not problems with the GS.
You don't sound very positive about the bmw and I hope you don't regret your decision😐Adventure riding can be done on any bike imo! Adventure riding doesn't necessarily mean you have to go off road does it? Love you videos and I hope you have just as much fun on the bmw as you did the africa twin! Ride safe & piece out✌
The B'Em is actually really good so far! I had so much more to say but camera fell in a stream (dont ask). I spend 90% of my time on roads, but the GS 'feels' better - an off road test is coming soon - that'll be either fun or horrific!!! All the best, 'go canny' Mikee :D Cheers!
Uhhh... Water isn't going to short out your battery. WTF.
Why'd you buy it. All these things are obviously appearant.
I just did 4500km road trip on my AT. 80% on asphalt. I concurred GS comfort is above AT.
I got a 2005 GS and at 35,000 mi I had clutch/transmission failure! Quality product, BS. Any japanese motorcycle will last decades longer than the GS. BMW = Buy Motorcycle Wrecker!!!
Yeah, lots of VERY unhappy owners...
why don't you compare it with a new 1200gs while the AT is still fresh in your mind, just go and get a test ride,come on that can be the next vid,all the best mick
ooo! Would love to but cant get my hands on a new bike! I'd fail the 'money test' ha ha!!! Cheers!
To be fair, I think the 2018 bmw is a little different than the 2008 version...
Yes it is, but please see my previous videos as to why I sold the AT. I wanted a cheaper bike and this vid was a comparison - they were 8 years apart. The new GS looks like a spaceship compared to mine! Cheers :D
Adventure….
33,000 miles on an ‘03 BMW R1150R from 2004 to 2015. All over Europe and only 500 yards of gravel roads in all that time…
Do I feel like I missed anything? In all honesty no!
It's scary to think the Africa Twin handles worse than a GS... maybe I won't get one.
It very much depends on the use; the GS is a better road bike IMHO, but the AT is a far better ADV bike when the road ends :D Cheers!
@@Motoeuro Cheers Motoeuro - I was just being a bit naughty. I rode a GS1200 once and didn't like it at all. Of course everyone loves them, so they must be good. It is the only test bike I took back to the shop before I'd finished my ride because I thought I was going to crash on every corner, no matter how slow I rode. Found the weird flappy front end very strange (maybe there was something wrong with it). I'll ride another GS one day, just to see if I rode a bad one. The joke was really that if the AT handled worse on road it must be bad. Glad you didn't bite too hard - but from your excellent videos it is clear you have a good sense of humor. Cheers Campbell:)
100 Jahre Boxer
Serves you right.........its called bike karma : )
Consider the Moto Guzzi Stelvio!
There is no comparison between the two bikes. The AT is great for what it is and the GS is great for what it is. They stopped making the AT for a reason and They never Paused the GS ever and that should TELL you some thing out LOUD. Not many people have stories of going Around The World on the AT, but there are thousands of People who did this on the GS, and again this should tell you something.
no graphs on this video hahaha ;)
well i think is almost impossible for me to let go my crf1000 but... i agree with many points :) and this videos are good and is good to here that is all good there. cheers and ride safe while i ride red :D
Thanks Mario :D Ride safe mate :D !!
get a wet head and you'll be a lot happier, and you're right it's a great road bike/ pack mule
5:14 LOL, BMW life indeed.
Very strange video due to the fact that a non technician (must be) questions all technical stuff from a GS which has proven itself the last 20 years.
An africatwin in 10 years will value 3000 e. A gs 1200 in ten years will value 8000 if with 100000km too. IT' S SIMPLE. PEOPLE WANT GS 1200. THE SIMPLE FACT: EVERYONE DOES COMPARISION ALWAYS ALWAYS WITH 1200 GS. ALWAYS :)))
You should do a little research about horizontally opposed engines before making such a silly statement about it causing excessive wear.
Probably. But more of an observation really :D
Love the video. Totally agree with your comments. As does Brett in his channel, have a look at his comments about the tire sizes. ua-cam.com/video/v3TId4TBhrs/v-deo.html
Enjoy your new bike now get out there
NOOOOOO you sold the twin!!!!!
Gulp! Yeah :( see previous vid!
BMW pretty much in invented the adventure bike. Good effort from Honda but chalk and cheese against the mighty bm 👍🏼
Honda all day long , BMWs not as reliable.
bmw has a fantastic reputation for build quality? LOL Never sell a honda to buy a BMW , that my friend was your first mistake. You wouldn't believe the horrors I have seen between all my buddies BMW's
I was being sarcastic :D So far so good on the BM, but next vid coming soon..... Cheers!
How is your product of German propaganda? ;-)
So far so good - New Vid coming soon ! Cheers :D
What's up? My beer ends. You expose me to expenses.;-) Cheers.
I just hate the engine on the BMW. It makes the bike sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo wide.
...and, to this day, Bob Marley and the Wailers still have no clue about those niggling faults.
I just did 4500km road trip on my AT. 80% on asphalt. I concurred GS comfort is above AT.
You should try a triumph adventure For a 3rd comparison. That might be interesting.....