I agree with the review of this bike. I've owned my RS for a year and a half. Over the years I've owned many different brands and styles. There is nothing I would change on it. Plenty of real world, useable power. Huge amounts of torque, Brakes & suspension are great. For me, this bike puts the FUN back into riding. You can't put a price on that.
Had one of these before for about 15 months before it was stolen recently..My first boxer engine and was impressed. Did about 220 miles on a full tank. Did find the pegs a bit high and the numbers on the speedo a bit small (possibly my eyes). Great bike for commuting and progressing through traffic. Grin factor 8/10.
A useful factual video which covers some important details. Not convinced that the riding footage conveyed the spirit & dynamics of the bike... I accept that legal compliance & safety concerns may have been significant factors. Whilst have not yet ridden an R1200RS, I have ridden out with a skilled rider who owns one. Thanks for sharing.
Hi guys, really good review of a very nice looking motorcycle. It wouldn't replace my GSA at the moment, but who knows what my requirements will be in the future. Thanks as always and ride safe, Andy
Good review but you were saying you had the screen in the low position you actually had it in the raised position !! One other point you mentioned about bar height and being in a slightly sporty position, I have bar risers on my 2016 Granite grey SE Sport and that makes the riding position excellent and takes all the weight off my wrists and doesn't affect the handling of the bike at all.
Great review as usual. We bought the XR instead of this bike. I reckon the XR is a better tourer purely because the seating position on the XR is so much better. But I prefer the boxer engine.
RiderCamTV Wouldn't you say the GS sits in between the two? In other words, if you prefer the XR's riding position and the engine from the RS, then surely the GS is the best option? CubanRider who has a UA-cam channel and owns an XR, doesn't feel that the XR is an ideal tourer, but perhaps the Brit will disagree.
+Kyle De F. From my point of view the GSA is the perfect all rounder but I am biased. Haha. I love motorbikes and the fact that there is something for everyone, but the XR. Wow what a bike but for me not one I'd tour on, but that cause I have my perfect bike already. :)
I'm in the market for this sort of bike. However I think the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure range has just surpassed the R1200gs - as long as your ok with a chain. I've organised a weekend long test ride in about 4 weeks so will know for sure then. Great review - thank you !
With all due respect to your experience and evalutation, I rode one of these when they first came out and found the low speed handling to be downright truckish. Have you ever ridden the R1200R? It is far more nimble than the RS. In fact, even the R1200RT is far more nimble at low speed than the RS. The RS is extremely stable and goes through sweepers like it's on rails, but it refuses to turn in quickly at higher speeds and is slow to transition. I don't know why this should be the case as BMW specs. for both the R1200R and R1200RS are identical except for the wheelbase which is listed as being 1/2 in shorter on the R1200R. Do you think there may have been something amiss with the RS sample that I rode? Thanks for posting, and ride safe!
+Dean Love hey mate thanks for the comments. I have ridden all of those bikes you mention and didn't feel anything out of the ordinary with slow speed turning. I quite liked the bike. Not sure why the one you rode had this issues, I wonder if the damper was set up right or even faulty perhaps :)
Having read a few reviews of these, I think they tend to be quite sensitive to even slightly squared off tyres which negatively affects low speed steering. Certainly I found the one I tried to be nice handling on a decently long test ride. For comparison, I'm used to a Street Triple which has ridiculously sweet handling.
R1200R is built to offer better manouvering at lower speed, wheelbasis, difference at lower part of fork, RS handling perfect for me, good aerodynamics at higher speed, Great reliability, over 50k kms, only light bulb failures. It still makes me smile!
How was it compared to the GS Toby, especially the ride quality and visibility? I've got a TE GS and it's out of warranty soon, so I'm thinking about replacing it, but to get another TE GS would cost me nearly twice what swapping it for the RS Sport SE would cost. I got the GS with the intention of going 2 up touring but the wife hasn't been on the back for 12 months so much as I like the GS I'm thinking a change to something that won't cost as much rather than spending far more for something more or less the same might be the answer. Have you ridden the Z1000SX Kawasaki as that's another option I'm exploring too. The XR isn't an option as I'm only 5'7" tall. Cheers Ade
+adrianbarrie13 hey mate. The RS is a fab bike and we regularly have people on tours with us that are on RS’s and they love them. The comfort is good and the seating position is great although the panniers aren’t as good as they are smaller and the tank range isn’t nearly as good as the GS. Haven’t ridden the Kawasaki yet but may be a good choice although I would go for the GS. Although more expensive, when touring abroad the roadside BMW assistance is incredible and there are far more dealers aboard for BMW than other brands so is easier to fix etc. Shame about the XR but it is a tall bike unfortunately.
Cheers Toby. I think it'll come down to the test rides though as I could get a new Kawasaki for more or less a straight swap for my GS that will need to be considered. I'm expecting the engine and gearbox to be better on the SX, but the RS will have more creature comforts and I'm expecting the comfort and wind protection to be better on the RS which also has things the SX doesn't like ESA, a Quickshifter, heated grips, cruise control, a centre stand, shaft drive and sat nav prep but at a cost. decisions decisions LOL
Riders returning to riding?? Interesting statement. I do however see it as an intelligent option for those of us, who have outlived { and survived }, our boy racer days, and are looking for something more sensible, to sustain our riding into the future.
RCTV nice review. Your thoughts please. R1200 RS or S1000 XR. Usage: Long touring days (8/9hrs), short touring days (4/5hrs), twisties and 2 up riding. Presently own 2018 R1200GSA and I lean toward the "Shaft Drive". I'm relocating to Europe so I'm ready to attack the mountains. Thoughts??
To be honest both bikes would suit you down to the ground and offer no problems. The XR is more powerful and we have guys tour with us on them and they have no problems at all. I think the XR aid more of an upright position like the gsa whereas the RS you lean forward ever so slightly more. The luggage is much the same on both but I like the XR luggage more as it is colour coded wears the RS isnt (unless you do it yourself). In essence, both great bikes and people would argue both ways, but the XR looks and feels more fun :) Good luck with your choice as neither will disappoint :)
I'm an 'R rider thinking about swapping to an RS. So I've been watching reviews from a cadre of terminally boring morons who should not be allowed out of the house, let alone be placed in front of a camera and microphone. Your review was much better than that so well done. You correctly identified that - for what it's got - this is a light bike. Most of the numb-nuts regard it as heavy - compared to what I wonder? A moped? Full-on tourers are 40 to 65 kilos heavier, cruisers up to 100 kilos. 1000cc sport bikes are about 35 kilos lighter and are regarded as the pinnacle of motorcycle development. But they don't have shaft drives or centre stands, so the RS is not a bad deal weight-wise is it?
I too have an R and like it so much i have also bought an RS ...and i agree , for its weight it doesn't feel that heavy - it is easy to move around the garage and as soon as you are moving it feels much lighter than some other bikes I have had which weighed less . Also nicest gearbox of any of the other BM's i have owned ( all older ) and it is also smoother than any of them.
Now you people have got me thinking real hard! I like the R as well but the headlight is my only complain. But having heard from both of you I am slowly but surely leaning towaerds the RS now. Thanks for the honest feedback.
@munawir5302 Well, my post was made three years ago. Update: I bought an RT 1250 from 2019. I live in a cold & wet part of a cold & wet country (UK) so I decided to go for max protection. I haven't been disappointed, I love the RT. It's gorgeously comfortable, fast and nimble: sure it's a lot heavier than the R, but I'm a strong guy and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm 63, an age when comfort and practicality count for a lot. But if I was 30 I'd sacrifice some of this and go for the RS because it's so handsome.
I owned it for a little over a year and traded for the GS. Breaks and the sitting position bothered me. Sporty riding position for a so-called touring bike. Breaks are fantastic but the way they work is not ideal. Lots of front dive and no stopping until the last portion of the lever is pulled. Very happy with the GS though.
Sport Touring bike.. It's suppose to be sporty enough to do a few track days on, but comfortable enough to tour more than your standard supersport bike...
+A Simms it's the refresh rate on the screen being picked up on the camera (much like a tv screen that's filmed). The screen itself wasn't flashing to the naked eye ;)
I can't understand how someone buys BMW bikes after seeing all the rust and paint flaking off the engine and other components within a few years..and even more shocking is that BMW is not doing anything about it !?
worldsnomad yeah my GS suffers from this (MY13), and it's at the dealers right now being rebuilt (sticking starter clutch). I do have concerns about the build quality of current BMWs and think they get away with a lot because loads of people rotate new bikes in PCP deals. Having said all that, I'm not sure what else i would buy, I've ridden quite a few other bikes and scooters and nothing comes anywhere near the way BMWs ride. Love the shaft FD, good power & torque, bells and whistles, i also love things like the hydraulic clutch which is feather light, the brakes are awesome etc.... I totally understand the hate... but I'm yet to find something I could replace it with that wouldn't feel like a significant downgrade
I'm in the market for this sort of bike. However I think the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure range has just surpassed the R1200gs - as long as your ok with a chain. I've organised a weekend long test ride in about 4 weeks so will know for sure then. Great review - thank you !
I agree with the review of this bike. I've owned my RS for a year and a half. Over the years I've owned many different brands and styles. There is nothing I would change on it. Plenty of real world, useable power. Huge amounts of torque, Brakes & suspension are great. For me, this bike puts the FUN back into riding. You can't put a price on that.
Thanks for the comments matey. Agree totally. A fab bike :)
Ride safe
Had one of these before for about 15 months before it was stolen recently..My first boxer engine and was impressed. Did about 220 miles on a full tank. Did find the pegs a bit high and the numbers on the speedo a bit small (possibly my eyes). Great bike for commuting and progressing through traffic. Grin factor 8/10.
+Michael Dignum it’s definitely a great bike at that :)
Just watched this video. Picking mine up tomorrow at my local dealer with the same colour.
I’m looking to buy one of these and have watched lots of video reviews, and this is the best review yet. Well done and thanks.
A useful factual video which covers some important details.
Not convinced that the riding footage conveyed the spirit & dynamics of the bike... I accept that legal compliance & safety concerns may have been significant factors.
Whilst have not yet ridden an R1200RS, I have ridden out with a skilled rider who owns one.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi guys, really good review of a very nice looking motorcycle. It wouldn't replace my GSA at the moment, but who knows what my requirements will be in the future. Thanks as always and ride safe, Andy
+Andrew Tofts Hey Andrew. Thank, glad you enjoyed it. It is a nice looking bike and we really enjoyed riding it too. :)
Good review but you were saying you had the screen in the low position you actually had it in the raised position !! One other point you mentioned about bar height and being in a slightly sporty position, I have bar risers on my 2016 Granite grey SE Sport and that makes the riding position excellent and takes all the weight off my wrists and doesn't affect the handling of the bike at all.
+John Siddons hehe. Thanks for pointing it out :)
I tried it in both but may have not edited it in. Eek! :)
Great review as usual. We bought the XR instead of this bike. I reckon the XR is a better tourer purely because the seating position on the XR is so much better. But I prefer the boxer engine.
Thanks for the kind words :) Have to agree, the XR feels a much better tourer out of the 2, although I prefer the boxer engine too. Ride safe :)
RiderCamTV Wouldn't you say the GS sits in between the two? In other words, if you prefer the XR's riding position and the engine from the RS, then surely the GS is the best option? CubanRider who has a UA-cam channel and owns an XR, doesn't feel that the XR is an ideal tourer, but perhaps the Brit will disagree.
+Kyle De F. From my point of view the GSA is the perfect all rounder but I am biased. Haha.
I love motorbikes and the fact that there is something for everyone, but the XR. Wow what a bike but for me not one I'd tour on, but that cause I have my perfect bike already. :)
I'm in the market for this sort of bike. However I think the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure range has just surpassed the R1200gs - as long as your ok with a chain. I've organised a weekend long test ride in about 4 weeks so will know for sure then. Great review - thank you !
+vtv8man hey thanks for the kind words. Bet your excited! You'll love it. Ride safe matey :)
Great review, my bike!
Thanks buddy. Indeed a great bike. Ride safe :)
With all due respect to your experience and evalutation, I rode one of these when they first came out and found the low speed handling to be downright truckish. Have you ever ridden the R1200R? It is far more nimble than the RS. In fact, even the R1200RT is far more nimble at low speed than the RS. The RS is extremely stable and goes through sweepers like it's on rails, but it refuses to turn in quickly at higher speeds and is slow to transition. I don't know why this should be the case as BMW specs. for both the R1200R and R1200RS are identical except for the wheelbase which is listed as being 1/2 in shorter on the R1200R. Do you think there may have been something amiss with the RS sample that I rode?
Thanks for posting, and ride safe!
+Dean Love hey mate thanks for the comments. I have ridden all of those bikes you mention and didn't feel anything out of the ordinary with slow speed turning. I quite liked the bike.
Not sure why the one you rode had this issues, I wonder if the damper was set up right or even faulty perhaps :)
Having read a few reviews of these, I think they tend to be quite sensitive to even slightly squared off tyres which negatively affects low speed steering. Certainly I found the one I tried to be nice handling on a decently long test ride. For comparison, I'm used to a Street Triple which has ridiculously sweet handling.
R1200R is built to offer better manouvering at lower speed, wheelbasis, difference at lower part of fork, RS handling perfect for me, good aerodynamics at higher speed, Great reliability, over 50k kms, only light bulb failures. It still makes me smile!
Tyre choice is critical. It’s anything but truckish on metzler road tech 01se tyres😉
How was it compared to the GS Toby, especially the ride quality and visibility? I've got a TE GS and it's out of warranty soon, so I'm thinking about replacing it, but to get another TE GS would cost me nearly twice what swapping it for the RS Sport SE would cost. I got the GS with the intention of going 2 up touring but the wife hasn't been on the back for 12 months so much as I like the GS I'm thinking a change to something that won't cost as much rather than spending far more for something more or less the same might be the answer. Have you ridden the Z1000SX Kawasaki as that's another option I'm exploring too. The XR isn't an option as I'm only 5'7" tall. Cheers Ade
+adrianbarrie13 hey mate. The RS is a fab bike and we regularly have people on tours with us that are on RS’s and they love them. The comfort is good and the seating position is great although the panniers aren’t as good as they are smaller and the tank range isn’t nearly as good as the GS. Haven’t ridden the Kawasaki yet but may be a good choice although I would go for the GS. Although more expensive, when touring abroad the roadside BMW assistance is incredible and there are far more dealers aboard for BMW than other brands so is easier to fix etc. Shame about the XR but it is a tall bike unfortunately.
Cheers Toby. I think it'll come down to the test rides though as I could get a new Kawasaki for more or less a straight swap for my GS that will need to be considered. I'm expecting the engine and gearbox to be better on the SX, but the RS will have more creature comforts and I'm expecting the comfort and wind protection to be better on the RS which also has things the SX doesn't like ESA, a Quickshifter, heated grips, cruise control, a centre stand, shaft drive and sat nav prep but at a cost. decisions decisions LOL
+adrianbarrie13 totally matey. Ride them and see what you think, but the shaft drive, quick shifter and comforts would get me every time :)
You're talking me into it..... you should get a job in a BMW dealership LOL
+adrianbarrie13 heheh, let them know as I could always do with the extra cash. Hahahha.
Good review but I wish the audio was so muffled..
+Jack Peters hi Jack, glad you enjoyed it :)
Jack Peters い
Riders returning to riding?? Interesting statement. I do however see it as an intelligent option for those of us, who have outlived { and survived }, our boy racer days, and are looking for something more sensible, to sustain our riding into the future.
+Kevin Brennan haha. Thought it may make people chuckle.
RCTV nice review. Your thoughts please. R1200 RS or S1000 XR. Usage: Long touring days (8/9hrs), short touring days (4/5hrs), twisties and 2 up riding. Presently own 2018 R1200GSA and I lean toward the "Shaft Drive". I'm relocating to Europe so I'm ready to attack the mountains. Thoughts??
To be honest both bikes would suit you down to the ground and offer no problems. The XR is more powerful and we have guys tour with us on them and they have no problems at all. I think the XR aid more of an upright position like the gsa whereas the RS you lean forward ever so slightly more. The luggage is much the same on both but I like the XR luggage more as it is colour coded wears the RS isnt (unless you do it yourself). In essence, both great bikes and people would argue both ways, but the XR looks and feels more fun :)
Good luck with your choice as neither will disappoint :)
I'm an 'R rider thinking about swapping to an RS. So I've been watching reviews from a cadre of terminally boring morons who should not be allowed out of the house, let alone be placed in front of a camera and microphone. Your review was much better than that so well done. You correctly identified that - for what it's got - this is a light bike. Most of the numb-nuts regard it as heavy - compared to what I wonder? A moped? Full-on tourers are 40 to 65 kilos heavier, cruisers up to 100 kilos. 1000cc sport bikes are about 35 kilos lighter and are regarded as the pinnacle of motorcycle development. But they don't have shaft drives or centre stands, so the RS is not a bad deal weight-wise is it?
I too have an R and like it so much i have also bought an RS ...and i agree , for its weight it doesn't feel that heavy - it is easy to move around the garage and as soon as you are moving it feels much lighter than some other bikes I have had which weighed less . Also nicest gearbox of any of the other BM's i have owned ( all older ) and it is also smoother than any of them.
Now you people have got me thinking real hard! I like the R as well but the headlight is my only complain. But having heard from both of you I am slowly but surely leaning towaerds the RS now. Thanks for the honest feedback.
@munawir5302 Well, my post was made three years ago. Update: I bought an RT 1250 from 2019. I live in a cold & wet part of a cold & wet country (UK) so I decided to go for max protection. I haven't been disappointed, I love the RT. It's gorgeously comfortable, fast and nimble: sure it's a lot heavier than the R, but I'm a strong guy and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'm 63, an age when comfort and practicality count for a lot. But if I was 30 I'd sacrifice some of this and go for the RS because it's so handsome.
@@trailingarm63 appreciate your valuable input, thx again.
I owned it for a little over a year and traded for the GS. Breaks and the sitting position bothered me. Sporty riding position for a so-called touring bike. Breaks are fantastic but the way they work is not ideal. Lots of front dive and no stopping until the last portion of the lever is pulled. Very happy with the GS though.
+Becker Inal know what you mean about the seating position. Although a great little all rounder, it's a gsa for us too :)
Sport Touring bike..
It's suppose to be sporty enough to do a few track days on, but comfortable enough to tour more than your standard supersport bike...
Just add risers and your problem. Is solved.
This is my type, had it not been for the price!
Wish it had two gauges instead of dorky LCD
Why was your dashboard flashing on and off like that 🤔
It was the refresh rate of the camera
Why is the dash flashing ?
+A Simms it's the refresh rate on the screen being picked up on the camera (much like a tv screen that's filmed). The screen itself wasn't flashing to the naked eye ;)
That looks like the middle seat option (16:55).
was told it was the standard seat that was on it :)
my R has heated grips OFF / too hot / and too hot to be used !
Sorry found out camera.
+A Simms lol. Just replied. :)
The front of that motorcycle looks a little like Thoothless
only if you squint, hahahha. Ride Safe
The screen is in the high position 😂
I can't understand how someone buys BMW bikes after seeing all the rust and paint flaking off the engine and other components within a few years..and even more shocking is that BMW is not doing anything about it !?
worldsnomad yeah my GS suffers from this (MY13), and it's at the dealers right now being rebuilt (sticking starter clutch). I do have concerns about the build quality of current BMWs and think they get away with a lot because loads of people rotate new bikes in PCP deals. Having said all that, I'm not sure what else i would buy, I've ridden quite a few other bikes and scooters and nothing comes anywhere near the way BMWs ride. Love the shaft FD, good power & torque, bells and whistles, i also love things like the hydraulic clutch which is feather light, the brakes are awesome etc.... I totally understand the hate... but I'm yet to find something I could replace it with that wouldn't feel like a significant downgrade
I'm in the market for this sort of bike. However I think the 2017 KTM 1290 Super Adventure range has just surpassed the R1200gs - as long as your ok with a chain. I've organised a weekend long test ride in about 4 weeks so will know for sure then. Great review - thank you !
Ian S how did the test ride go?
Ian S I