Aside from the happenstance and timing of having the cash at the time, the real reason I finally pulled the trigger on my GS/A was the dealer experience. They are the only dealers in my area that care at all that a customer has walked in or that have any interest in liberal test ride offers. Had I not ridden a GS on a test ride, I likely wouldn't have bought mine. Once I rode it, I was done for, I had to have it. I've paid less for cars, but truly for me, the GS felt like the bike I was seeking out for years with other rides I've had, just the best feeling bike I've been on. Maybe it's because I'm 6'5" but nothing else I've ridden has come close to the feeling of balance I get on my GS.
The giant tank is just so handy, even if you aren't on huge long trips, just nice and lazy not having to fill up every ride. Also the big tank gives some added wind/weather protection. Mine has the full LED package the headlights and driving lights, and it's stunning, better light at night than some cars I've had. Also the brakes...holy cow what awesome brakes.
Great stuff Chris thanks - I agree re the BMW dealers (which one did you use I wonder?) and also the cost! My standard GS is definitely the best bike I have ever owned, so I'm with you on the general brilliance of these machines....
I'm in the U.S. so it was Max BMW in New Hampshire. I just had to shuffle my bikes around in the parking garage here and I have the GS/A and a KTM 690 R and the GS/A though twice the weight nearly, doesn't really feel that bad when walking it around. Though the KTM does feel a bit like a bicycle by comparison. I think you also have a CRF250L, which would be a similar weight contrast.
Good to see the BMW dealer service thing extends across the globe! ...and yes, jumping from the CRF onto the GS is always a giggle - in fact each of my bikes is very different so it keeps my riding quite interesting....cheers!
Over here most Japanese dealers are indifferent at best towards customers, and it is a unicorn if they ever offer a test ride on anything at all. Triumph and Ducati are supposed to encourage tests but my local franchises do not offer them at all. The BMW dealer handed me the keys and said "Well, we close at 6pm, just be back before closing". Nobody following me, no nonsense about miles put on, just go and ride it. When I was shopping I had two Hondas, a Suzuki, two Triumphs and a Ducati on my radar, but no way to try them out.
I have the GSA and love it! Sure the bike body is wide but the handle bar width is pretty standard so filtering is not an issue for me and I ride it all year round doing 10km of filtering per work day and also with a double givi top box. The big tank gives great weather protection on the cold mornings and wet days! love this bike hence watching a review on a bike I own!!
I've done 4000 miles on my 16 plate GSA and your review reflects the bike perfectly. Crap screen, silly speedo, handles great, lovely engine, super comfy and great suspension. Who cares if it's designed for 'adventure' riding, I use mine 100% on the road, it's the best commuter money can buy!
+Mark Edmondson Cheers Mark, glad you agree - change of screen (cheap) and the satnav (expensive) fixes those two issues and on you go! Completely agree about this being a great commuter, in the same way as a Range Rover is a fabulous touring car.....may not be what it is designed for but does the job better than anything else.
Hi My Flyer : Absolutely love ALL your revews, VLOGs etc :-) Regarding the GS Adventure, I have the following comments - I currently own a 2016 GSA... 1) I did over 500 miles whizzing around London the other week, with full panniers on!! This bike is a dream through London traffic - Addmitedly, you can't fit through all(!!) the gaps available, with the panniers on, but the bike is so relaxing to ride, you don't really care :-) You soon catch up with all the mopeds that DID get through the gaps!! Just don't use your bulk to block up the gaps :( 2) I love the Keyless Ride - No key required to get the bike moving, or to open the fuel filler :-) I now find it a pain to get the key out to remove the SatNav, or to open the luggage!!
Another great review. Delighted to see us 5 foot 8'er can manage a GSA! I picked up a 2013 GSTE last week and while I had initially decided on a low seat option I'm not sure I need it. As you've said before, once these bikes get moving the weight is unnoticeable.
Hi, TMF. My 2015 R1200GS came with the heavier flywheel, one reason I waited for it and opted for new. It also has the keyless ignition, which works fine. Just pull up on the little tab on the filler cap to open, and pull up on it again to close. I went with the GS rather than the GSA primarily because the mudroom I built for my previous motorcycles has a 42" door, 40" clear opening...and the GSA with the aluminum side cases would have been a bit wide. As it is, my GS just makes it in and out through that 40" opening.
I p/x'd my lovely Honda VFR1200F 2 weeks ago for a 2014 GSA LC (with all the extras and in white..!). I have to say, it is a revaluation in biking. The protection it gives against the elements and with that presence on the road, it's difficult to see what other bike can come close to it. Like you, I too had a go on a RT a while back, very comfy but those that already have one, don't want to sell it. Looking forward to some long adventures in the Spring time and putting some short videos together for memories.... keep up the great vlogs, enjoying them all.
Shall I say that I've heard "The Call" ?... BMW should really thank you for their sale made yesterday because, in fact, THIS REVIEW here (yes, yours) gave me the push to finally make my mind and drive through snow to my local dealership. I own several motorcycles, mostly pre 1980's, I restore them for the fun of it, and I must confess that my initial curiosity for BMW (turned later into passion) was triggered by a much older bike, practically a dinosaur, a 1938 R35 model. That old rag made me wonder how would I feel riding on a newer BMW and, blimey, it felt amazing. Soon after, I've purchased my R nine T, my first boxer engine. Wow! What a difference. The R nineT model is beautiful, is nimble, is cool, is robust, is powerful, is "wise", is forgiving, is reliable but it isn't practical at all on long-distance trips, and that for obvious reasons: it's a bloody cafe. It shouldn't be. The moment I decided to search the market for a proper tourer, in my mind I had a long list of motorcycles, some of them actually with an excellent reputation but there was one particular tiny "thing" which always pulled me back to BMW, and that was: the boxer engine. It's something special about that engine, I can't say what exactly, but in my opinion it feels great as opposed to the four cylinders setup. Why GSA and not an RT? Well, it's the poor roads, the high mileage autonomy, its ruggedness and...your review. Anyways, for next Monday, BMW has scheduled the delivery of my brand new & fully equipped R1200 GSA Arctic White. Now, looking back it doesn't make sense; I dunno what I was thinking when I wired the money because it's bloody January, outside it's minus 10 degrees Celsius and the snow is 1 metre high. In this minute I'm pretty sure that I'll be chewing my finger nails eyeballing my bike like a crazy person 'till March... My only comfort is that I'm not the only weird guy out there. The sales agent confessed to me that BMW sold four GSA's since NYE... 5, including mine. Who knows, maybe BMW should be grateful to you for those as well... Thank you and safe ride
Hey congratulations GorillaProduction38, a fabulous bike and exciting times for you waiting for delivery eh!? You're not the first to say my reviews have helped make the decision to buy a BMW - if only I was on commission!! Thanks for watching and for stopping by, all the best - TMF.
Update to my previous post. R1200 GSA - first impression after 50km inside the city. First of all I would like to apologise to all of you, native speakers, for my questionable English. I never owned an adventure bike before so I can't really compare my brand new GSA with any of the previous models, nor with any of its competitors so, please, bare in mind these tiny details all the time whenever I criticise (or praise) a certain feature. Like I have stated in my previous post, I'm not a spring chicken anymore, I'm over 40 and my dirty little secret is my passion for two wheels, motorcycles in particular. So, here we go...This January, I purchased my GSA. Never rode one before. Last year I took a GS for a quick spin, 20 minutes or so, and it felt good. Never touched the GSA because it was too damn scary to me. It looked beautiful, agreed, but I never thought I'm gonna actually buy one. That, until I watched TheMissendenFlyer's videos and...I don't know... outside was snowing.. I wasn't thinking too clearly so I went straight to BMW and I got carried away. Anyway, I got my fix, I was happy so I brought her home and I waited for weeks till the snow melted away. Last Sunday, finally, it did. Now the fun begins. We all know it takes at least 5 km to "make the proper introductions" to a brand new vehicle; it takes a little bit of skills, a little bit of courage, a little bit of this, a little bit of that...you know, the whole nine yards: familiarising with the commands, with its computer display, its countless setups, learning the tachometer and the speedometer, first brake, first emergency brake, first corner, first acceleration...Things are usually going on this way if it's a car, right? But if you reduce the number of wheels by two, you replace the steering wheel with a +900mm long handlebar and the thought of you trying to keep your shit together constantly being aware that this mechanical creature you're about to climb on is a baby elephant and you're its 80kg mahout..erhm... you kinda lose it a bit and the whole "first experience thingy" will become a little bit harder. Well, I guess it's never easy for anyone, maybe it is, I can't say, but as far as I know, to me, certainly, it isn't. I've descended to my garage with great excitement planning to take my newest acquisition for a spin, I walked around her a couple of times and with every complete turn, my enthusiasm was fading away more and more. It's a BIG MAMA. I warned myself staring at that white whale... _It's "huge"! No, trust me, it's enormous_ to quote a living legend. Just looking at it R1200GSA could be extremely intimidating; in the darkness of my garage, my GSA looked like Planet Saturn and all my other bikes were its natural satellites. My R9T, parked next to it was a bloody leprechaun. A circus midget, almost half its size. I'm 192 cm tall (_or at least I used to be when I was younger_) and 80kg in weight...so anyway, I'm not short, that's what I wanna tell you. Well, all these features weren't helpful at all; nor my height, and in GSA's case, most certainly nor my weight. Trying to stretch my leg to reach to the other side I found myself wondering if I could get some ballet lessons somewhere; only a Shaolin monk or a fuckin' gymnast could climb the Bavarian 5XL adventure vehicle standing with one foot on the ground. All I got were cramps in my leg muscles. _"No problem, use the foot peg"_ I said to myself and so I did. Easy... One foot on a peg and I climbed Big Helga. Now...the bike was on its central stand and I looked like a 5 years old sitting on a bar stool with both my legs hanging in the air like a pair of sausages. I stretched my feet, I managed to touch the ground and I started to move the damn thing back and forth till it caught a momentum. After seconds of bizarre air fucking, finally, I saw the Titanic leaning forward and...That moment, the only thought in my mind was: _"The central stand will retract and there's no turning back from that point; You either make it or you fall and it will crush one of your legs"_ It turned out I handled the situation rather well. Nothing happened, I managed to hold it straight. Being an enthusiastic chap I was extremely excited by the achievements made so far so I've turned on the ignition and there you go. Oh, man, at 0km/h the bike is a huge concrete block. It's frightening, but once it moved I was shocked by its nimbleness. It may sound crazy but it's true: the way it moved had reminded me of my first sex. Smooth and reassuringly wet. BMW R1200 GSA flows like a slow river. It's incredible powerful and humble at the same time. There were moments when, by accident, I twisted the throttle too hard and its nose got up in the air signalling me that it's ready for a wheelie...wow, a wheelie on that huge bitch was a frightening prospect so I quickly changed the suspension setup from "normal" to "hard" and the bike went stiff. A piece of advice: try to get familiar with your computer BEFORE you take it out on the streets, NOT after, like I did. I'm joking with ya. Of course no man will ever do that... All the information that us, men, we'll ever need is embedded in our DNA. In motion, R1200 GSA excels in every aspect, you name it. Manoeuvrability, speed, safety, comfort. It is bloody confusing; right in front of your eyes is this huge whale and yet all your other senses will contradict your sight, swearing on a Bible: _"No it's not. It's a tiny little harmless motorcycle"_ You're riding this "lorry", things are going on, you expect it to act in a certain manner and yet every prediction you'll ever make will be shattered to pieces by the way GSA handles them, no matter the circumstances. You'll be constantly amazed by how wrong were you. It is way beyond better. It is superb. GSA is like butter. GSA it's packed with computers and it performs majestically but actually, that is quite worrying in my humble opinion. You see, what it does to your ego could be rather dangerous 'cause if immediately after you step down you pick another bike, a "regular" straight-forward motorcycle for another ride, my educated guess would be that you'll be heading towards a brick wall. Don't. Perhaps you're way better than I am. In my case, I needed some post-GSA-decompression-time before I took another bike for a spin. GSA made me think that I'm a way better rider than I'll, probably, ever be. It's like a big-tittie-German-mama-bear looking up for its cub rider. Braking into corners? No problem. Big pothole in front of you? Go straight into it, no problem. You get me, right? It's everything you've ever wished from a bike...except for it's size. You almost forget that your riding on a bloody 12 tones truck on two wheels... but don't worry, the first traffic light will bring you back to reality immediately after you make a complete stop. Prepare your legs muscles in advance to compensate its weight otherwise it's gonna crush you like a bug. Tilt it more than 5 degrees and you'll start to feel its tonnage. Keep always in mind that GSA is a big lady and, like every big lady, she deserves a little bit of respect. Pay her the respect she deserves and you shall be rewarded ten folds. Ignore her and she'll crush you under one of her butt cheeks. My advice for inner city riders: Let's say your destination is 10 km away and you ride your R1200 GSA. If don't wanna end up with a couple of groceries bags, 3 or 4 car bumpers, a Bobby hat and a bicycle hanging precariously in the rear of your motorcycle please DON'T install the aluminium cases! Trust me, you don't wanna do it. Huge problems. Yep, trust me. With the cases mounted on your bike forget about lane splitting! No lane splitting at all! Avoid them at any costs. I wish someone would've told me that the day before yesterday... With no aluminium cases on it's almost perfectly acceptable to ride inside the city limits. Good view ahead, comfortable seats, heated grips, highly manoeuvrable, surprisingly fast for its 5XL size... anyways, like I've said, I didn't have the opportunity to ride outside the city but I'm extremely positive that it will perform outstandingly, no worries there. Owning several motorcycles I don't regret purchasing my R1200 GSA. It is a dream come true, I've always wanted one, at least since Charlie Boorman's trip around the world. I absolutely love this bike. It is perfect for what it was designed to do: adventuring on long distances in style and comfort... On the other hand, if I had the money only for one bike, well...eeerm... I don't know... I already fell in love with it. I guess it's a question of what does your heart say. I hope my thoughts were helpful to anyone looking to purchase a GS. Cheers from Romania
TMF, thanks for a great review of my all-time favorite bike. I own a 2016 in Australia, and have a 2007 and 2014 in the USA specifically for Iron Butt Rallies. A couple of things. Yes, you can open the tank without the key, if you have the key-less locking. 2. Your dealer should have lent you the GPS - the integration with the control wheel on the left handlebar is amazing, plus access to some other neat features like the Tire Pressure Monitor. 3. I am 6 feet tall and have added the MRA fin screen, and the ride buffet-less for me now. 4. I find the seat quite hard and my LDR bikes in the US have modified seats - the Australian one is original and has made some 1500km days, but is not perfect. 5. Try this bike off-road on good gravel, and while standing on the pegs, counter-steering is perfect (I have a small riser on my bars, I should add). 6. Lastly, try riding on an open road - no hands for a short distance, to test how perfectly balanced this bike is, to ride - you can steer quite well on a smooth surface with your knees. And yes, it will run 420 miles on a tank without an issue.
Watched nearly all reviews from TMF...I spent the day today at my local dealership (Atlanta, GA) test riding the new '17 GSADV and a '16 k1600gt...Long story short...The sky fell out while riding the GT and I did not feel safe.. I rode the GS and the difference was nothing short of astounding, Although I loved the specs and styling of the GT... the GS ADV just had too much versatility, comfort and features to pass on. A nearly 12 hr buying process ended with a notification from my service adviser that the new GS ADV had a safety recall and could not be ridden home....I was offered a loaner to which I agreed however disappointingly. Big thanks to TMF!!! love the reviews
Hi, great review as always. Just got my first BMW, an r1200gsa and am very impressed with it. At 5'8" I was a bit concerned about the size of the bike but I have bought the low framed model, don't know why more people don't order it, no problems what so ever. Manouvering at slow speed is easier than any sports bike and stopping causes no concerns because my feet are almost flat down on both sides. I have read that some people question if the handling is affected by the low frame, having test ridden the larger model I can only say that if it is then I didn't notice it, handling is surprisingly good on both, I have no problems keeping up with my mate's whatever they ride. Anyway just subscribed to your channel, keep up the good work and ride safe.
Picked up a 2017 "Triple Black GSA" last Saturday after owning a GS for 2 years and I have to say I love the extra size and the engine seems so much smoother than my GS, just completed the first 600 miles so once it's had the service I can start to ride it the way I'm used to, no regrets here... :)
Hi TMF, another great video as usual. Glad you got the opportunity to try the GSA; I don't have the keyless option or the Gear Shift Assist as I felt they were unnecessary. As you pointed out, the clutch is so light that it's no effort at all; you can still clutchless shift up of course, just have to close the throttle. Also agree about the screen, I transferred the MRA Vario unit I had on my GS, as I did various other accessories as they all fit. Also agree about the smoother gearbox, no clunk when I put it into first. I just love the bike and feel very secure riding it. Look forward to seeing your GS/GSA comparison video. Cheers, Andy
I have the 2014 GSA LC... pannier width is no wider than the front so if you can get the front end through you're probably ok. I have no problem filtering through most traffic.
Great review I am 175cm and have the standard seat on low setting both balls of my feet are comfortably on the ground while stopped so hopefully that won't be a problem, I have just bought the 2017 GSA 1200 and so far I am loving it. The height concerns me still but so far I am ok with it.
Hi TMF! The keyless Ride is actually the one option I would really recommend. You don't need the key even for fill up. You just open the flap after you've shut down the engine. That's it. It's locks after a few minutes or if you engage the handle bar lock, (by pushing the button for a few seconds). I'm never getting a BMW bike without it anymore.
Excellent feedback thanks Tetsakaru, I did wonder about that fuel filler as you saw, so not having to faff for a key actually makes life easier in this case (can you do it gloves on I wonder?)....cheers - TMF
Gloves on...? Sure you can! I'm not sure what type of petrol pumps you have there in UK but I assume you actually have to pay for the petrol at some point (or is it free there!? ;o) of the fill up routine. So basically the only time you need to take you gloves of is to get to your wallet. Seriously, the only time you need to take the key fob out of your pocket is when you want to lock or un-lock the panniers or top box. If you have the BMW cases, that is.
We have the contactless tech here (in Finland) at every cashier (only up to 20 or 50 EUR I think which is enough for most fill-ups) but not at gas pumps. At least I haven't noticed. Have to check that! I stopped using smart watches. I'm sick of having to constantly charge stuff... The tech geek in me is not what is was ten years ago. :o) Anyway, my fill-up routine is still fairly faff-free since I don't have to play with the key.
The best all round bike available.You can tour carrying lots of luggage,you can do proper off rd,you can drop it and there is likely to be very little damage(parking lot fall over),you can ride it on a track flat out and it handles like a dream.You can remove wheels in 5 minutes to fix punctures,change brake pads etc.No chain mess to worry about.Thats my take on the bike.Thks for the video,happy xmas.
Cheers Bruce, I agree the GS is the best all-rounder I've yet found, fabulous bit of kit. Thanks for watching and for stopping by and have a great Christmas yourself - cheers - TMF
You've hit the nail on t' head!! Theyre a master class in engineering and quality. Gimmicky keyless gadgets etc are detracting from what i consider the best bike for adventures (and im not middle aged and over weight... at least thats what tell myself :P)
Great review and keep up the good work TMF!! You inspired me to get my 2014 GS TE and not another GSXR! Have to say its by far best bike I have ever owned. I really enjoy all your videos and often see my old neck of the woods in some of them as I lived near Aylesbury up until 18 months ago. Take care and thank you for informative and entertaining reviews. Alan
Screen buffet....I found one of those nifty clip on screen extenders worked brilliantly, look cool too. You can also remove it in a jiffy when it's warm and then lower the screen for loads of cool air. :-)
Look forward to your "picking up new bike" video. I was lucky enough to borrow one for a few hours from BMW Norwich and fallen in love with it. Everything I want from biking. Fun, stable, reliable and awesome looking. I am saving the pennies and ready to chop my MT09 which I thought was the bike of my dreams until I had a 2 hour ride to the NEC bike show and it was 6 degrees. Love your videos, ride safe.
TheMissendenFlyer it's on Ber Street next to the Harley dealership and a few doors along from infinity motorcycles. It's a great dealership that's just had a refit. Nothing is ever too much trouble as despite the fact that I haven't spent a penny in there YET they treat me like I've been buying from them for years. Always a coffee on the go and a decent chat to the excellent staff. I took out the GSA full of fuel had it for most of the day and a fell in love with it. All the panniers on in full adventure dress I think it's something to behold.
Have not been there yet but drive past it a lot. I work in sales and have a real chip on my shoulder about customer service and buying experience which to me means everything. I have been in to look at clothing and didn't feel loved lol.
Thanks TMF another great video - its was your GS videos that pushed me towards test riding and purchasing mine a few months back - but was interesting to hear your thoughts on the larger adventure. The comparison vid would be good to see - oh and don't forget the 3 year GS review - looking forward to that too - only if you have spare time of course :-) cheers
Hi Gary, I wish I had a pound for everyone that has told me they bought a GS because of my videos!! ...better still commission from BMW!! They are great machines and glad you like 'em too....and I haven't forgotten my 3 year anniversary review. I have a new front tyre being fitted next week so that will be my final cost of the year and then I should be good to do that update (technically the 22nd is my bikes birthday!). Thanks for watching and for the kind comments - all the best - TMF
Nice review as all your vids are , thanks for making them ;) I bought a GS last year from the Alton branch loved the bike done 7 k on it but always fancied the GSA so bought a new one 2017 model Triple Black end of September Great deal was cheaper to buy brand new than a year old one, and no one got close to the price from Bahnstormer's Alton. The 2017 model is much nicer to ride as i got the low chassis model being only 5 5" and can now get flat footed this makes a big difference when you ride a big heavy bike . The new big has now got me doing the Advanced riding course as i want to put a few miles on the new bike . I have heard the 2018 model will come with 150BHP which will be interesting. Again thanks for all your great reviews Brian
Thanks for stopping by Brian and letting us know about the Bahnstormer deals ;0) ....I did love the big GSA but my "standard" GS isn't too shabby so I'm thinking I might wait until the revamped GS is revealed mid next year and assume 6 months after a new GSA will follow....will be due a new bike by about then :0) Thanks for the kind words, all the best - TMF
Another great review, TMF. The keyless ride makes most sense (on my RT) when all the luggage is on, as it locks the cases, top-box, stash compartments and the fuel filler. I agree with your assessment of the instrument cluster - my old GS700F was also poor due to short needles and small fonts. The issue of sub-optimal screens is perplexing and affects so many bikes. - the screens on the F-series models do a great job of keeping rain off the speedo, but no much else. At this price-point it should be far better out of the box. And the last thing a serious off-roader wants is a heavy tint. My son recently fitted the Madstad to his XR and reports it to be hugely more effective. Looks great too. Regarding the changes to the '17 model - apparently there are internal changes to the gearbox and an addition of output shaft mass-damper, aimed at reducing the chunkiness, especially into first. How did this compare with your current GS? The other notable change was Euro 4 compliance. Same power/torque quoted, but did you note any differences in power delivery?
Didn't notice any difference in power Chris but there is no doubt the gearbox is much improved on this 2017 model - none of the agricultural feel that I'm so used too!
Like always very precise on your comments and it'll be my next bike, I actually have 2012 GS Adventure (previous model) and I'm so happy with it. Keep as inform. Cheers
I'd agree that dealer experience is extremely important. In Czech Republic, I've been to a KTM, Yamaha and Suzuki dealer. Customer service in this part of the world is still quite Soviet and makes me want to purchase a vehicle from the UK and bring it over.
...but I imagine that would be a much more expensive option (and somewhat inconvenient when it comes to the first 600 mile service!)....interesting what you say though, thanks for stopping by - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Yamaha motorbikes have cheaper new list prices in the UK than in Czech; e.g. 2016 XSR 900 is priced at GBP8.6k in Czech whilst 2017 XSR 900 in UK can be got for 8k.
filtering no problem i've a 2015 gsa and filter regularly when commuting. its even been off road too and no issues and i am no off-road expert but great balance.
Oh absolutely, someone once described it as a "jekyll and hyde" bike. As you can cruise around big miles in all day comfort, but if you want to be a hooligan and throw it around you can do that too. As big as it is the size and weight disappears once you get going.
Great bit of kit. Whats not to like. Oh yeah the cost.Ticks all the boxes for the applications it's intended for. Tried and tested globally. I've owned 5 BMW cars bit of a fan boy when it comes to the old spinning propeller. When it comes to engineering they don't get much wrong. My only reservation is its sheer size. And im 6ft, even so a big bike, adverse camber stopping need to be watched and of course dropping it cuz its heavy especially fuelled. Thanks TMF great little glimpse at the bike. You certainly got lucky weather wise doesn't look like winter.
+Sleepingdragon 1 Cheers SleepingDragon as ever - I was a BMW car fan (I've had two) and then discovered Mercedes....if only they made motorcycles! Crikey, I really have turned into an old man....!!
Great review! Got a a 2016 early April, just 1600km on it, with all possible options and extras. Thought about the 2017 but there wasn't really much difference, or not enough to justify the £3.5k price difference. Now done >6,000 kilometers on it, and it's great. Had a R1200RT so was a bit worried I'd have to accept less comfort but don't really miss anything. Maybe heated seat but feel the material in package seat works very well, even at around 0C :) Replaced the screen with a Puig Touring screen (standard is really useless, at least for tall guys), with visor/spoiler (recommended!). Also acquired some Wunderlich extras. Done quite a bit of gravel & forest roads. Fantastic stability and handling. Quickshift in enduro mode is VERY nice. :)
Great review TMF, having owned a GSW for 2 years, like you I've often wondered about the GSA and hope to borrow one as a loaner next time mine is in the shop - although it's the size of that mahoosive tank that puts me off a bit! Pretty much the standard bike at my IAM group. Great to see my old neck of the woods as well, I used to live in Taplow. Keep up the good work!
+david hippo Thank you David, once you're on the move the additional size isn't a factor, rides basically the same as the standard GS - this being a brand new machine was just a tad more refined in the gearbox and engine smoothness department (but I have a sneaky feeling even the standard GS is like that too now). Thanks for watching - TMF
Around town, fill up only 1/2 of fuel and the bike feels as nimble as the regular GS. Long distance, fill up the tank and ride until you need a break to stretch. This tank will outlast anyone's tolerance to sit on a bike without a stop ;) With regards to the speedo, I don't really look at the numbers that much in detail. A glance is more than enough as to when the needle is at 8 o'clock the speed is 35 to 40 mph, 9 o'clock is 60 mph and 10 o'clock is 75 mph is all I really need to know. I found the Nav unit to be distracting and got rid of it.
Yes good point on the fuelling part - have to disagree about the Nav unit though, I think it's brill! (except at actually navigating, where it's rubbish)....
I just got a 2018 BMW GS1200 R with 20k miles on it, not a great start as on the 1st week of ownership it had an oil leak through one of the head gaskets and the gauges aren't reading the engine's oil temperature. Coming from a Kawasaki z900 (no issues at all) it's a little bit frustrating. It's on the BMW dealer now under repair, luckily I did purchase aftermarket warranty despite everyone telling me that the boxers are solid and reliable engines. If issues become frequent, I will trade it and go back to the naked world, likely it will be a Ducati Streetfighter V4 S.
Thanks for another pleasant review. Your "real world" evaluations are always welcome. Like you I got a host of bikes in the garage to ride, but there is something about the pleasure that comes from the newer boxer(s) Test rode a new R1200RT and think Im leaning that way to appease my pillion, otherwise the standard GS would be on my Christmas list. Cheers!
Thanks Mark - I was very impressed with the RT when I rode it, but as you say pretty much all these current liquid cooled boxer powered machines from BMW are great bits of kit. You can't really go wrong with any of them in my view...thanks for the kind words and for stopping by - TMF
I have a 2014 GS LC 1200 with 70k on it. I love this bike but have just returned from 10 days in The Flinders Ranges (5,000kms) with a riding mate on a 2015 Super Tenere ES. I rode the Tenere for about 30% of the trip. We both wanted to compare the two. We ride a lot together and both run Conti TKC 70’s. There’s a few things we had different opinions about - but this list is what we did agree on. DIRT RIDING - The Tenere was a clear winner. Just feels more dirt orientated, and gives more confidence in steering from the rear. HIGHWAY TAR - Yamaha feels more stable (marginal) - BMW offers a little better wind protection(marginal) ON TAR IN TWISTIES - BMW seems a little better handling the tight stuff. ELECTRONICS - Similar - except can’t turn off ABS for dirt on the Yamaha. (Apparently an easy mod - which my riding mate has done) RELIABILITY - BMW a couple of minor warranty issues, and a shaft drive issue not covered. The Yamaha has had no issues at 55k. ENGINE PERFORMANCE - Torque is the most important and both machines are similar. The BMW has more power, but for our needs you just don’t find yourself redlining everywhere! The Yamaha has more torque in lower revs which is right where you want it. We have had numerous drag runs on dirt and tar, and you can’t really split the two. The BMW will only just start to get away after 140kph though. CENTRE OF GRAVITY - The engine centre of gravity seems better in the Yamaha surprisingly. Comparing engines, the Yamaha bottom end is lower in the frame. The BMW pots are not as low as you might expect in comparison - almost the same height of the Yamaha. GROUND CLEARENCE - BMW slightly better, but with base plates there is no issue. CARRY CAPACITY - Even, except we both agree Yamaha panniers locking system is not good. I feel I might be caught in the “buy what’s in vogue” cycle - which has been the GS. We both agree the Yamaha is a better off road bike, and I actually like the Yamaha engine better. The Yamaha geometry is closer to a dirt bike design in the swing arm arrangement and fork rake. I'm having trouble ignoring Yamaha's success in dirt bikes, and they seem to have added this to the big Tenere. Long range touring on tar we think the BMW could be slightly better. As my time is spent mostly exploring on dirt roads in Australia, and only on tar to get to dirt roads - I think I’m going the Yamaha direction. I can ride this bike faster and harder on dirt then the GS - so why wouldn’t I?
Wow - thanks for that lot Gary, must get me a go on one of those Tenere's - I only hear good things about them, but personally I don't like the Dakaresque looks...
You'd have no problem filtering with this bike once you got used to it. I used to ride into central London during the evening rush hour on my 1150GS Adv and had no problems filtering. I even had the pleasure of filtering the Paris Périphérique during the rush hour returning from the Paris bike show, the Mondial Du Deux Roues in 2005 which was an eye opener. My only problem getting out of the way of the locals filtering at unbelievable speeds. The GS ADV was and is a great bike and my one regret was listening to my wife and selling it after 11 years and regretting it to this day.
But 6 months later I bought a K1300R which hacked her off even more. And now after 5 years exchanged it 10 months ago for a R1200R LC. She's now hinting at 75 next month I should be giving riding up, but I've definitely gone deaf to that idea.
Great review and at a perfect time, im taking a few BMWs out for test rides in a few weeks, i may need to add this to the list as my summer is going to be a euro tour! Thanks for the review. Top bloke
i was excited to see your review about my bike 😉 i missed some comparisons to the standard GS. but you promised this video is about to come. great review anyway. the akrapovic is a bit louder when the panniers are on. i also replaced the windscreen. the original one was too short. in my opinion the display is not too bad. i don t like digital instruments. i prefer needles. Unforunatelly the sat nav does not use needles 😣 cheers Tom
Yeah I'm with you on needles versus digital...stay tuned for that comparison with the standard GS in the next few days or so...thanks for watching and for stopping by - TMF
nice review as always, agree on keyless ignition, I had it on a gtr 1400, bit of a gimmick " and a pain sometimes". it is a lovely looking bike, love the tank range, I've got a touring screen much better than standard, might be pricey but you do get a lot for your money, when you compare to other motorcycles.
Some facts about the keyless ignition from a 2016 GS owner with that option: - You don't need the key to open the gas tank. It's opened with the built in latch and only works if the fob is in reach. - With keyless you get a single fob (battery powered) and a spare smaller non powered key that can be used with a contact patch underneath the seat only. - The only reasons I use the actual flip out key is to remove the seat or the GPS. - You have to be really close to the bike to have it pick up the key and in some very rare conditions (like electronic badge systems) it won't pick up your key even when sitting on the bike. - You can arm the alarm system from a distance with the button on the key fob. The alarm won't be triggered when you move the bike while the key is nearby, even not when already armed. - You wake up the bike with a first press on the start/stop button and shut it down with another press. Starting engine is still done with the switch on the handle. - You long press that same start/stop button while the handle bar is in full L/R position to engage the steering lock. When locked the first press on the start/stop button will only unlock steering, not wake up bike yet.
Thanks for that Hans - I did get a demo before the ride but failed to mention things like the steering lock etc, so thanks for writing that lot down. Overall I take it you're a fan of keyless ignition then?
Thank you for the great content! Big fan of your work. About keyless; to be honest I just picked a full option bike so it came with that. I wouldn't pick it if I had to choose between options. It's convenient in a way that you don't have to look for the key, I just have it in my riding jacket all the time. But I wouldn't mind having to put a key in the ignition, I have to reach there to press the button anyway. My previous bike (a 2005 R1200RT) had to stay outside all night and as a daily rider I sometimes had trouble to get the key in the ignition or tank lock because it was frozen. That's really the only moment I think I would be glad having keyless :-). And to be honest most people don't even ride in those conditions. Well and this bike goes inside all the time... really stretching it here I know. Watching the video also reminds me you can turn off the engine with the start/stop button and that is even the recommended way. I think I saw you reaching for killswitch first. If I have to believe my dealership using killswitch registers something in the onboard computer so is best avoided if not really needed. No proof of this though.
Great review as with all your bikes I am glad I moved from thr twin can GSA to the 2017tb lc Yes you have hit the nail on the head the screen needs to be wider and taller but if that is all that is wrong then I can live with hat till I find a screen that dose a better job glad that you enjoyed the experience as much as I do
Hi TMF, great review as normal. Your,e a better man than me, I had 2 hours on the GSA and was talking to dealer about chopping my 13 plate GS before my helmet was even off my head! Absolutely love my 16 GSA, did Dubrovnik on it this year and it was the perfect bike for a long trip like that As you say though not cheap, would still like an in line 4 of some description parked next to it in the garage but the misses is not open to discussion at the moment about that, unbelievable really! she gets her hair done once a month and I can't have 2 bikes
Great channel and as always a great review. I always look forward to your vlogs. I have had a japanese bike but i think BMW will be my next bike , just love that engine tired of a frantic 4 , it must be my age 😀. I need to test ride one i am 5'8" and was pleased to here you say you had no issues with height. I think Santa will be getting a request shortly , what a fantastic present that would be 😉 Keep up the good work Sir .
Thank you Paul - glad to hear you have found my efforts of interest. You sure you've been good enough all year for Santa to bring you a new GSA???? ....I know I haven't.... :0(
Hi, love your videos. Coming from a sport bike and looking to do some tours through Europe on a comfy sporty tourer or sporty adventure. What would be your top three to look at please? Also would love a video on comparing these. Thanks for the videos. Craig
Yes I know, I'm now in training for another challenge next year so must sort it lol. Ps that bike you were riding is identical to my one. Kind regards mate
Thank you - nice video. I am about to buy a used 2017 GSA with premium touring package and 21k miles - not even fully broken in with that mileage. Can you give hints what I should check in addition to basics before buying it. It has the service record - all BMW maintenance- thanks, Matt
I had the same problem with the speedo. My eyes these days I just couldn't see it. That's my next bike. I was so impressed with it. I would have the clear screen on it. You will get one lol.
Easy (but expensive) fix for the speedo is having the BMW navigator mounted. It can show speed in several ways. One option is full screen. I use it on 1/4 on the screen when splitting lanes since filtering itself is allowed where I live but only up to a certain speed so I really need to watch it.
That screen looks good but it's a bit dark ,, would you see a brick in the road at night through it or can you easily see over it ? Either way your normal high quality clear to the point review ,,, and also stay safe have a nice Christmas and happy new year to you and yours Shane
Thank you Shane, and thanks for all your words of encouragement and support this year - much appreciated. I agree on the screen but in reality you look entirely over it (although in this case I'd swap it our pronto as there was some horrible turbulence off the top of it)....
I'm fortunate enough to own one of each, both 2016 LC's. The GSA is in regional north Queensland (suited for dirt road touring and plenty of sealed road riding) and the GS is in Sydney for more sealed road touring. Living in Australia fuel range is important. With fuel stops The GSA (around 580km's) refuelling is more like a Car whereas the GS (around 380km's) is more typical of a bike. Apart from that I still can't find a real favourite between the both. I agree, the GSA gearbox and engine is marginally smoother than the GS, but that aside I love both of them. The aluminium luggage on the GSA is better for long range touring whereas the GS Vario luggage is more like a 'suitcase' design and easier to remove if doing it daily. That said, I also have the soft bags for the GSA with all the connecting straps that worry really well. If you need extra luggage fitted for longer touring the GSA panniers with soft bags leave the GS Vario's behind. Like I said, I'm very fortunate to have one of either, so I'm lucky I don't need to make a choice. If I had to then I would have to put the GSA marginally ahead of the GS...oh, I also have spoked wheels on the GS as well......P.S. I do like the bulky look of the GSA.
TheMissendenFlyer I'm actually looking to purchase and base a GSA-LC in the U.K. for summer touring throughout the U.K. and Europe. Planning to do annual 3-6 week summer trips over a number of years. Do you know of anyone near you who can help in purchasing locally and also house/store bikes? I've found a chap in Ireland who does it but would prefer a location in the UK... my email is jim.m.bradley@gmail.com if you want to email ..cheers.. Jim B
Lovely beast, i really like what they did with the clutch's placement on the LC engine right at the front(finally accessible by anyone w/o splitting in half the bike and being a BMW Tech). Always liked it but the clutch on the air cooled models kept me at a distance. Maybe I'll swing a LC one of these days. 😈 Fine review, as usual.👌
I have recently changed the normal LC GS for the GSA, bit of doubt first because also of the S1000XR ( THAT engine), the GS handles better especially with a full tank, but the GSA is more comfortable - I use my GS for long trips , 1600km a day is ok for me - and I feel the engine is also smoother maybe because of the heavier flywheel. Yes, costs quite a lot but then the normal GS is no bargain either. Oh, and the looks.....despite the Ducati's and KTM's, the GSA will always be the standard that other compare with.
Glad we concur! I don't think the GSA is sooo much better than my standard machine to warrant me changing (yet) but maybe when the next generation comes around I may be tempted to chop my GS in for a GSA. ....although that RT still calls to me!
The RT is a great machine, but in BMW are kinda weird sometimes: you can't have the LED headlights on the RT, just the DRL. Low and high beam are simple and ugly halogen bulbs.
Great review TMF lve got a street trip R like yourself toured a bit but looking for real tourer and think GS is the way but can't give up my triumph ha. have to SNEAK it into garage when wife's not looking 👍
Yes I did, forgot to mention it but it will feature in my standard GS v GSA video that I'll edit shortly...the gearbox is slick on the 2017, not something you could really accuse my gearbox of being...more of a clunky affair....
Yes mine is also a bit clunky. I have the 2013 lc. But with a 2016 gearbox, which is a lot smoother than the 2013 one. But as it was (broken) I don't know if that was the reason. bmw payed for the new gearbox, ewen after the warenty period was over. Keep the video's comming, love the presentation and onnest epions. Brg from denmark
Hi TMF! I would like to thank you for the job you are doing with all the reviews. your reviews are one of the best in the world wide web! I would like to ask you one short question. If you would buy the R1200GSA new would you buy it with all the electronic packages or rather a basic version? The reason why I am asking this is that I am a guy who keeps the bikes several years (actual bike in my ownership 10+ years) and the BMW would be also at least that long in my garage. Are the electronics reliable over such a period of time? wishing you a lot of success with your channel. greatings from Ingolstadt Germany
+Martin Blazko Good question, I've only had my GS three and a half years and so far so good! Personally I'd go for the best spec you can afford but that's just me....
Like you I had a go on the new GSA just to compare with my 2016 GS really. Not a lot in it, I also agree I prefer the slightly thinner profile of the GS. I have the keyless and love it, although a bit worried about the electronic steering lock packing in😬 plus no need to manually unlock the fuel cap. Excellent review as always 👍 try and get your hands on a African twin Cheers Stan
Hello,sorry for the late comment on this particular video.Have watched and thoroughly enjoyed all your videos from touring to cleaning tips and now having been ten years without a bike I am seriously considering going back to all year ridding again on a 2017 adventure xc model (depending on the nice lady at the bank).One question you could maybe answer for me? In your video you say you are around 5'8" as am I and you had the low seat fitted .Would you recommend that over the low chassis version as I've heard many conflicting reports ?
Hi TMF good video. I too have been thinking about a GSA since my 2016 GS was stolen a couple of months ago but having sat on one with a standard seat I found it too tall for me as I'm about your height. Did you use a low GS seat or just a standard GS seat? I don't know if they are any lower than GSA seat. I just don't know if I could cope with the look of a different seat on a GSA but maybe there are ways to alter its standard seat. I'm looking to take one out this weekend for a trial, I'm in love with the red bike with black engine and black framework. As regards keyless I found it very easy on mine and petrol cap very simple with less messing about. All the best. JJ
Bad news re the bike theft The33JayJay - where did that happen? London per chance?? Lot of this happening of late......I rode with the low seat on the GSA, no issue at all... you're going to love the GSA :0)
Thank you very much for your videos. Simple and clear, with particular attention to the details. I mean, I haven't seen any video around saying the GS's speedometer layout is too small , and yet it is such an obvious thing. I really would like to know your opinion on the Ducati Multistrada Enduro. I am now in a fierce debate between the GSA and the DUC-ENDURO. :)
...yeah I would like to have a go on one of those I must admit - the "Old" Multi I rode back in 2013(ish) was too top heavy and performance focussed for me, this new endure looks interesting though...Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by - all the best - TMF
Lovely bit of kit but my experience of BMW dealerships does NOT mirror your own. In the market for a new bike this year and the S1000R was high on the list so I popped into my local dealer for a look see.......spent twenty minutes looking at the bikes on display while the sales team completely ignored me and carried on with their conversation about a previous customer who apparently "doesn't know shit" needless to say the BMW has been removed from the list and I will be heading off to my local Triumph dealership for a test ride on the Speed Triple and the new Street Triple.
I'm just outside Chester. I should have known better really. I went to the same place for a Harley 'family night' with my son and was told to keep "that child" away from the bikes. The difference in attitude between these guys and the Triumph dealer I bought my Streety from is remarkable. Still, lesson learned, if I do decide to try the S1000R I'll travel further afield to find a dealer worth dealing with.
Yep. I wasn't mad keen on the Harley option but the guy we spoke to a week or two previously had sold my Mrs on the whole 'Harley Family' thing. She was even talking about getting herself a Sportster to go with a Forty-Eight for me. That's eighteen grands worth of bike sales they lost.......plus the obligatory Harley branded helmet, gloves, jacket, beer glass, mug, coasters, towel etc etc etc that many Harley riders seem to think are compulsory......and I can guarantee my Mrs would have been all over that stuff!!!
If you got the lowered suspension model, with the lowered seat, you would be fine (you might even get away with just the low suspension and standard seat)....give one a try, you'll love it!
My mate has one. I find them a bit tractor-like, a bit too agricultural for me. Much prefer the 800 adventure but you have to be a minimum of 6 foot to ride em.
Thank you Sir, yet another interesting video. I was wondering when you were going to get around to riding the beast! It seems BMW dealers in general offer great service. I also own a Yamaha and the BMW dealer beats them hands-down. On my 2015 GSA I get a safe 600km's on a full tank. That's one of the main reasons why I chose the GSA: I travel long distances here in southern Africa and sometimes the next village is out of fuel, or they don't have the correct octane, or the quality of fuel is questionable. I might have mentioned this before, but the speedo on our models is calibrated in km's only, making the text larger and therefore easier to read. I assume yours are calibrated both in km's and miles? Correct me if I'm wrong but that might be unique to the UK? The 2017-spec GSA (which I rode a few weeks back) has an improved smoother gearbox. It's certainly noticeable, especially when knocking it into 1st. Didn't you notice that in comparison to your GS?
Oh yes, and one more thing: I've done hundreds of km's on gravel roads on the GSA. You DO NOT want to exceed your limits as it slides for nothing, and once down (damage aside) you'll struggle to lift it. Honestly, from my perspective as a GSA owner, this isn't really an off-road machine. If that's your thing you're better off with a KTM.
Yeah I agree re the off-road/dropping thing. Having dropped my standard GS once (at standstill on gravel about a month after I bought it) I know how hard these things are to pick up! You are right about the UK speedo, it is dual calibrated and that is the key to the issue, too many small numbers on the dial! ....and yes, that gearbox, much improved, smooth even!
I love my gsa the keyless ignition can be a puzzling when you pull up to refuel....the first time I did it I took off my helmet took off my gloves then spent 10 mins wondering why the hell I couldn't get the petrol cap open, reason ? you only;y have 30 secs to open the cap before the thing shuts off other than that they are a beast heaps of grunt though so much more refined than the KTM 1190 adventure r but one and you won't be disappointed :-)
Cheers Black Hawk - good to hear some feedback on the keyless ignition, I'm still yet to be convinced using a key is a problem but maybe I'm getting old!! Thanks for stopping by - TMF
Hello TMF, thank you so much for the time you put into these reviews. I know this review is a bit over 3 years old but I do have one question for you: what's your take on the jerky throttle issue many have complained about? I've owned the older version: bought it new in Feb '13 and sold it in Sept of the same year because I just couldn't get used to riding with the clutch partly in when the rev counter was just above idle (be it when letting go of the throttle or just giviing it an ever so light twist ). Thank you again for your work and keep it up with the Bonnie and the RE. Cheers
Hi MF, great review as always. I test rode the GS and GSA back to back. Both really good but the GSA was just more planted, felt safer, felt as nimble, if you can call a GS nimble that is, so I bought one back in Sept. so they are not cheap but after 3,000 miles I have tried to sum up how good the bike is and the best I can come up with is that is was worth every single penny I paid for it. Keyless is fantastic, I was sceptical at first but love it now,, gear shift pro is also very good, my theory being if I am ordering one get everything you can fitted. Also love the Aluminium panniers and topbox expensive but please I went with BMW ones rather than aftermarket. Agree re filtering but you do not notice the size after a while and light as a feather when on the move.
I love your vids and being an aussie it's great to get an idea of what roads are worth a look when (and if) I ever make it over. I am curious about the low seat, like you I am around the 5"8' mark and was wondering if it's just the low seat option or the low frame as well ? I currently ride a K1300GT that I have no problems with seat wise with the seat in a the low position. And have ridden a stock GS1200 2016 with problems.
Hi Ray - thanks for your kind words, the GSA I rode (and indeed my "standard" GS) was fitted with the standard height suspension but the low seat in the low position - that way I can get my feet basically flat on the floor....
I filter my adventure through traffic everyday to work. I'm far from an expert as you can be but its so well balanced it makes it easy. Time for an upgrade ;)?
It's a gorgeous looking bike. Did you try out the cornering ABS TMF? ;-) I'm already looking forward to seeing a GSA in your garage, we all know you will...... Thanks for sharing.
I don't think I used the ABS but these electronics are so darned good these days you don't necessarily know!! ...so you think one of these is for me then do you??? ;0)
To my eyes the GSA is the best looking bike out there right now (I'm not a sports bike fan). When I win the lottery I'll get one of these, a Ducati Scrambler Sled and a MSX125 :-) You should PX your GS while the PCP deals are so low.......
...with the properly new GS likely April 2017 and a new GSA following a few months later I think I'll hang around until then before I make any expensive decisions!
Hi MissendenFlyer You may want to stop overtaking with them junctions on your right hand side, if that silver transit connect had turned on you it may just of hurt a bit. Only tying to help. Good review stay safe.
Thanks A Simms - you're the second to mention that - I have learned something useful - thanks for that, much appreciated (do keep the tips coming!)....
I'm waiting to see the video comparing it to your GS MF! I too don't like the speedo on my 2016 GS and the latest one doesn't look that different? I tried using the Nav5 but when accelerating the screen on the Nav5 doesn't keep up so you get no speed showing at all until you reach a more constant speed which I found was worse. I ended up trying to look at both and gave up in the end and got a new pair of varifocal glasses with an intermediate prescription at the bottom which now means I can see the speedo more clearly. The cockpit layout still needs a redesign though. Cheers Ade
Hey MissendenFlyer, Been watching your videos for over a year now and love them, great quality and content. My next bike is the GSA as I was so impressed with it (not the dealer experience from my local though) when I took one out on a test ride a month ago. My question is you are the same height as myself and just to clarify that that was indeed the standard suspension GSA with just a low seat? Not the lowered suspension model with a low seat? Did you get any leg cramps with the low seat or anything? Many thanks, Darren
Thanks Darren - good to have you along. That was indeed standard height with the low seat (which is the same set up as I have on my standard GS) - no issue at all re height and weight.....cheers - TMF
Hi TMF,s I have a GSA low. It's a heavy bike but I do like it. Handles loverly but in the car parks and on slopes and gravels its a handful. Maybe the xr is the bike at a full 5.5 stone lighter. What do you think?
Ed Holmes The S1000xr is indeed lighter but carries the weight higher due to the 4 cilinder construction, I found a boxer easier to ride the Stelvio which I also did with the S1000xr. Furthermore, the clutch of the S1000xr is really heavy. Both are comfortable enough though, but the s1000XR engine eats the flattwin for breakfast.
If you're going to test the K1600, go for the GT and not the GTL. The GT is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It doesn't look fast or sound fast, unless you open the throttle real good. Then it very fast and sounds like a racing machine that'll bring you up to 250 kph.
Given I can't find a demo K1600 to ride at all I'm not sure I can be that choosy!! But thanks for the advice, I didn't realise there was a big difference performance wise between the bikes.....
Does anyone know when the new GS 2017 will start to be sold? And the question of a ten million euros: when will a new ADVENTURE 1200 come out? I'm starting to get crazy ... But, another fantastic video, as always. All the best from Portugal.
Cheers Sergio - I think BMW officially keep tight lipped about this stuff, the current 2017 is I understand an interim Euro 4 compliant tweak, with a truly new GS due to break cover around April of 2017....probably means it will be 6 months before we can buy one and then another year before a new GSA is on the scene (so time to save up!)...
I am also of the opinion of waiting for 1 or 2 years, a completely new model always takes a while to become operational, but, the truth is that I was to buy the bike that today puts on the video in the summer, and I sold what I had , Result, I DO NOT HAVE A MOTORCYCLE! And that makes me crazy ... Eh eh eh eh, and the new model of GS (2017) is beautiful and the mechanics is well tuned, when you come to spend a vacation here in Portugal with your GS?
To be fair the wind/weather protection is great on both of them - the RT is slightly better due the large frontal area but the GS is not very far behind, I wouldn't let that decide any choice you may be weighing up! Thanks for the kind words - TMF
lord! the first bike that NEEDS a car parking space...think you would have to be doing alot of cross country/continent stuff to justify this over a standard GS. cant't wait to pick up my 2017 GS next week!
Exciting times eh? The new GS is a beautiful machine to ride, I'm sure you'll be very happy with her for years to come (once you get through the tedious running in period!). All the best - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer I am ashamed to admit..I actually can't sleep I'm that excited! a friend of mine is currently speccing the same white GSA TE you are on, and there is a few of my boys on MT10s and Tracers..should be a GOOD summer! keep up the good work!
Aside from the happenstance and timing of having the cash at the time, the real reason I finally pulled the trigger on my GS/A was the dealer experience. They are the only dealers in my area that care at all that a customer has walked in or that have any interest in liberal test ride offers.
Had I not ridden a GS on a test ride, I likely wouldn't have bought mine. Once I rode it, I was done for, I had to have it. I've paid less for cars, but truly for me, the GS felt like the bike I was seeking out for years with other rides I've had, just the best feeling bike I've been on. Maybe it's because I'm 6'5" but nothing else I've ridden has come close to the feeling of balance I get on my GS.
The giant tank is just so handy, even if you aren't on huge long trips, just nice and lazy not having to fill up every ride. Also the big tank gives some added wind/weather protection. Mine has the full LED package the headlights and driving lights, and it's stunning, better light at night than some cars I've had. Also the brakes...holy cow what awesome brakes.
Great stuff Chris thanks - I agree re the BMW dealers (which one did you use I wonder?) and also the cost! My standard GS is definitely the best bike I have ever owned, so I'm with you on the general brilliance of these machines....
I'm in the U.S. so it was Max BMW in New Hampshire.
I just had to shuffle my bikes around in the parking garage here and I have the GS/A and a KTM 690 R and the GS/A though twice the weight nearly, doesn't really feel that bad when walking it around. Though the KTM does feel a bit like a bicycle by comparison. I think you also have a CRF250L, which would be a similar weight contrast.
Good to see the BMW dealer service thing extends across the globe! ...and yes, jumping from the CRF onto the GS is always a giggle - in fact each of my bikes is very different so it keeps my riding quite interesting....cheers!
Over here most Japanese dealers are indifferent at best towards customers, and it is a unicorn if they ever offer a test ride on anything at all. Triumph and Ducati are supposed to encourage tests but my local franchises do not offer them at all.
The BMW dealer handed me the keys and said "Well, we close at 6pm, just be back before closing". Nobody following me, no nonsense about miles put on, just go and ride it.
When I was shopping I had two Hondas, a Suzuki, two Triumphs and a Ducati on my radar, but no way to try them out.
Wish they still do the army green and orange, really suits it.
I have the GSA and love it! Sure the bike body is wide but the handle bar width is pretty standard so filtering is not an issue for me and I ride it all year round doing 10km of filtering per work day and also with a double givi top box. The big tank gives great weather protection on the cold mornings and wet days! love this bike hence watching a review on a bike I own!!
Yes it's a lovely bit of kit - it's good when you know you've made the right decision eh! Thanks for watching - TMF
What's filtering ?brother ..
I've done 4000 miles on my 16 plate GSA and your review reflects the bike perfectly. Crap screen, silly speedo, handles great, lovely engine, super comfy and great suspension. Who cares if it's designed for 'adventure' riding, I use mine 100% on the road, it's the best commuter money can buy!
+Mark Edmondson Cheers Mark, glad you agree - change of screen (cheap) and the satnav (expensive) fixes those two issues and on you go! Completely agree about this being a great commuter, in the same way as a Range Rover is a fabulous touring car.....may not be what it is designed for but does the job better than anything else.
Hi My Flyer : Absolutely love ALL your revews, VLOGs etc :-)
Regarding the GS Adventure, I have the following comments - I currently own a 2016 GSA...
1)
I did over 500 miles whizzing around London the other week, with full panniers on!! This bike is a dream through London traffic - Addmitedly, you can't fit through all(!!) the gaps available, with the panniers on, but the bike is so relaxing to ride, you don't really care :-) You soon catch up with all the mopeds that DID get through the gaps!! Just don't use your bulk to block up the gaps :(
2)
I love the Keyless Ride - No key required to get the bike moving, or to open the fuel filler :-)
I now find it a pain to get the key out to remove the SatNav, or to open the luggage!!
+Kevin White Cheers Kevin - re1 good advice and re2 fair enough! Thanks for watching and for the kind words - TMF
Another great review. Delighted to see us 5 foot 8'er can manage a GSA! I picked up a 2013 GSTE last week and while I had initially decided on a low seat option I'm not sure I need it. As you've said before, once these bikes get moving the weight is unnoticeable.
...I have the low seat on mine and it does give me lots of confidence...
just bought a Bmw r 1200gs adventure 2014 and now looking at all your old vids
Congrats!
Hi, TMF. My 2015 R1200GS came with the heavier flywheel, one reason I waited for it and opted for new. It also has the keyless ignition, which works fine. Just pull up on the little tab on the filler cap to open, and pull up on it again to close. I went with the GS rather than the GSA primarily because the mudroom I built for my previous motorcycles has a 42" door, 40" clear opening...and the GSA with the aluminum side cases would have been a bit wide. As it is, my GS just makes it in and out through that 40" opening.
Good to hear from you again Harold - thanks for stopping by as ever - all the best - TMF
I p/x'd my lovely Honda VFR1200F 2 weeks ago for a 2014 GSA LC (with all the extras and in white..!). I have to say, it is a revaluation in biking. The protection it gives against the elements and with that presence on the road, it's difficult to see what other bike can come close to it. Like you, I too had a go on a RT a while back, very comfy but those that already have one, don't want to sell it.
Looking forward to some long adventures in the Spring time and putting some short videos together for memories.... keep up the great vlogs, enjoying them all.
Thank you sir! ...you can certainly see why the GS has been so popular for BMW can't you, brilliant motorcycles...
Shall I say that I've heard "The Call" ?... BMW should really thank you for their sale made yesterday because, in fact, THIS REVIEW here (yes, yours) gave me the push to finally make my mind and drive through snow to my local dealership. I own several motorcycles, mostly pre 1980's, I restore them for the fun of it, and I must confess that my initial curiosity for BMW (turned later into passion) was triggered by a much older bike, practically a dinosaur, a 1938 R35 model. That old rag made me wonder how would I feel riding on a newer BMW and, blimey, it felt amazing. Soon after, I've purchased my R nine T, my first boxer engine. Wow! What a difference. The R nineT model is beautiful, is nimble, is cool, is robust, is powerful, is "wise", is forgiving, is reliable but it isn't practical at all on long-distance trips, and that for obvious reasons: it's a bloody cafe. It shouldn't be.
The moment I decided to search the market for a proper tourer, in my mind I had a long list of motorcycles, some of them actually with an excellent reputation but there was one particular tiny "thing" which always pulled me back to BMW, and that was: the boxer engine. It's something special about that engine, I can't say what exactly, but in my opinion it feels great as opposed to the four cylinders setup. Why GSA and not an RT? Well, it's the poor roads, the high mileage autonomy, its ruggedness and...your review.
Anyways, for next Monday, BMW has scheduled the delivery of my brand new & fully equipped R1200 GSA Arctic White. Now, looking back it doesn't make sense; I dunno what I was thinking when I wired the money because it's bloody January, outside it's minus 10 degrees Celsius and the snow is 1 metre high. In this minute I'm pretty sure that I'll be chewing my finger nails eyeballing my bike like a crazy person 'till March... My only comfort is that I'm not the only weird guy out there. The sales agent confessed to me that BMW sold four GSA's since NYE... 5, including mine. Who knows, maybe BMW should be grateful to you for those as well...
Thank you and safe ride
Hey congratulations GorillaProduction38, a fabulous bike and exciting times for you waiting for delivery eh!? You're not the first to say my reviews have helped make the decision to buy a BMW - if only I was on commission!! Thanks for watching and for stopping by, all the best - TMF.
Update to my previous post. R1200 GSA - first impression after 50km inside the city.
First of all I would like to apologise to all of you, native speakers, for my questionable English.
I never owned an adventure bike before so I can't really compare my brand new GSA with any of the previous models, nor with any of its competitors so, please, bare in mind these tiny details all the time whenever I criticise (or praise) a certain feature. Like I have stated in my previous post, I'm not a spring chicken anymore, I'm over 40 and my dirty little secret is my passion for two wheels, motorcycles in particular.
So, here we go...This January, I purchased my GSA. Never rode one before. Last year I took a GS for a quick spin, 20 minutes or so, and it felt good. Never touched the GSA because it was too damn scary to me. It looked beautiful, agreed, but I never thought I'm gonna actually buy one. That, until I watched TheMissendenFlyer's videos and...I don't know... outside was snowing.. I wasn't thinking too clearly so I went straight to BMW and I got carried away. Anyway, I got my fix, I was happy so I brought her home and I waited for weeks till the snow melted away. Last Sunday, finally, it did.
Now the fun begins. We all know it takes at least 5 km to "make the proper introductions" to a brand new vehicle; it takes a little bit of skills, a little bit of courage, a little bit of this, a little bit of that...you know, the whole nine yards: familiarising with the commands, with its computer display, its countless setups, learning the tachometer and the speedometer, first brake, first emergency brake, first corner, first acceleration...Things are usually going on this way if it's a car, right? But if you reduce the number of wheels by two, you replace the steering wheel with a +900mm long handlebar and the thought of you trying to keep your shit together constantly being aware that this mechanical creature you're about to climb on is a baby elephant and you're its 80kg mahout..erhm... you kinda lose it a bit and the whole "first experience thingy" will become a little bit harder. Well, I guess it's never easy for anyone, maybe it is, I can't say, but as far as I know, to me, certainly, it isn't.
I've descended to my garage with great excitement planning to take my newest acquisition for a spin, I walked around her a couple of times and with every complete turn, my enthusiasm was fading away more and more. It's a BIG MAMA. I warned myself staring at that white whale... _It's "huge"! No, trust me, it's enormous_ to quote a living legend. Just looking at it R1200GSA could be extremely intimidating; in the darkness of my garage, my GSA looked like Planet Saturn and all my other bikes were its natural satellites. My R9T, parked next to it was a bloody leprechaun. A circus midget, almost half its size.
I'm 192 cm tall (_or at least I used to be when I was younger_) and 80kg in weight...so anyway, I'm not short, that's what I wanna tell you. Well, all these features weren't helpful at all; nor my height, and in GSA's case, most certainly nor my weight. Trying to stretch my leg to reach to the other side I found myself wondering if I could get some ballet lessons somewhere; only a Shaolin monk or a fuckin' gymnast could climb the Bavarian 5XL adventure vehicle standing with one foot on the ground. All I got were cramps in my leg muscles. _"No problem, use the foot peg"_ I said to myself and so I did. Easy... One foot on a peg and I climbed Big Helga. Now...the bike was on its central stand and I looked like a 5 years old sitting on a bar stool with both my legs hanging in the air like a pair of sausages. I stretched my feet, I managed to touch the ground and I started to move the damn thing back and forth till it caught a momentum. After seconds of bizarre air fucking, finally, I saw the Titanic leaning forward and...That moment, the only thought in my mind was: _"The central stand will retract and there's no turning back from that point; You either make it or you fall and it will crush one of your legs"_ It turned out I handled the situation rather well. Nothing happened, I managed to hold it straight. Being an enthusiastic chap I was extremely excited by the achievements made so far so I've turned on the ignition and there you go. Oh, man, at 0km/h the bike is a huge concrete block. It's frightening, but once it moved I was shocked by its nimbleness. It may sound crazy but it's true: the way it moved had reminded me of my first sex. Smooth and reassuringly wet. BMW R1200 GSA flows like a slow river. It's incredible powerful and humble at the same time. There were moments when, by accident, I twisted the throttle too hard and its nose got up in the air signalling me that it's ready for a wheelie...wow, a wheelie on that huge bitch was a frightening prospect so I quickly changed the suspension setup from "normal" to "hard" and the bike went stiff. A piece of advice: try to get familiar with your computer BEFORE you take it out on the streets, NOT after, like I did. I'm joking with ya. Of course no man will ever do that... All the information that us, men, we'll ever need is embedded in our DNA.
In motion, R1200 GSA excels in every aspect, you name it. Manoeuvrability, speed, safety, comfort. It is bloody confusing; right in front of your eyes is this huge whale and yet all your other senses will contradict your sight, swearing on a Bible: _"No it's not. It's a tiny little harmless motorcycle"_
You're riding this "lorry", things are going on, you expect it to act in a certain manner and yet every prediction you'll ever make will be shattered to pieces by the way GSA handles them, no matter the circumstances. You'll be constantly amazed by how wrong were you. It is way beyond better. It is superb. GSA is like butter. GSA it's packed with computers and it performs majestically but actually, that is quite worrying in my humble opinion. You see, what it does to your ego could be rather dangerous 'cause if immediately after you step down you pick another bike, a "regular" straight-forward motorcycle for another ride, my educated guess would be that you'll be heading towards a brick wall. Don't. Perhaps you're way better than I am. In my case, I needed some post-GSA-decompression-time before I took another bike for a spin. GSA made me think that I'm a way better rider than I'll, probably, ever be. It's like a big-tittie-German-mama-bear looking up for its cub rider. Braking into corners? No problem. Big pothole in front of you? Go straight into it, no problem. You get me, right? It's everything you've ever wished from a bike...except for it's size. You almost forget that your riding on a bloody 12 tones truck on two wheels... but don't worry, the first traffic light will bring you back to reality immediately after you make a complete stop. Prepare your legs muscles in advance to compensate its weight otherwise it's gonna crush you like a bug. Tilt it more than 5 degrees and you'll start to feel its tonnage. Keep always in mind that GSA is a big lady and, like every big lady, she deserves a little bit of respect. Pay her the respect she deserves and you shall be rewarded ten folds. Ignore her and she'll crush you under one of her butt cheeks.
My advice for inner city riders: Let's say your destination is 10 km away and you ride your R1200 GSA. If don't wanna end up with a couple of groceries bags, 3 or 4 car bumpers, a Bobby hat and a bicycle hanging precariously in the rear of your motorcycle please DON'T install the aluminium cases! Trust me, you don't wanna do it. Huge problems. Yep, trust me. With the cases mounted on your bike forget about lane splitting! No lane splitting at all! Avoid them at any costs. I wish someone would've told me that the day before yesterday... With no aluminium cases on it's almost perfectly acceptable to ride inside the city limits. Good view ahead, comfortable seats, heated grips, highly manoeuvrable, surprisingly fast for its 5XL size... anyways, like I've said, I didn't have the opportunity to ride outside the city but I'm extremely positive that it will perform outstandingly, no worries there. Owning several motorcycles I don't regret purchasing my R1200 GSA. It is a dream come true, I've always wanted one, at least since Charlie Boorman's trip around the world. I absolutely love this bike. It is perfect for what it was designed to do: adventuring on long distances in style and comfort... On the other hand, if I had the money only for one bike, well...eeerm... I don't know... I already fell in love with it. I guess it's a question of what does your heart say. I hope my thoughts were helpful to anyone looking to purchase a GS.
Cheers from Romania
Great video as usual. N.b. Filtering is no different to any other bike I still constantly do it
TMF, thanks for a great review of my all-time favorite bike. I own a 2016 in Australia, and have a 2007 and 2014 in the USA specifically for Iron Butt Rallies. A couple of things. Yes, you can open the tank without the key, if you have the key-less locking. 2. Your dealer should have lent you the GPS - the integration with the control wheel on the left handlebar is amazing, plus access to some other neat features like the Tire Pressure Monitor. 3. I am 6 feet tall and have added the MRA fin screen, and the ride buffet-less for me now. 4. I find the seat quite hard and my LDR bikes in the US have modified seats - the Australian one is original and has made some 1500km days, but is not perfect. 5. Try this bike off-road on good gravel, and while standing on the pegs, counter-steering is perfect (I have a small riser on my bars, I should add). 6. Lastly, try riding on an open road - no hands for a short distance, to test how perfectly balanced this bike is, to ride - you can steer quite well on a smooth surface with your knees. And yes, it will run 420 miles on a tank without an issue.
+Olaf Moon Thanks for taking the time to write that lot down Olaf - all the best - TMF
Watched nearly all reviews from TMF...I spent the day today at my local dealership (Atlanta, GA) test riding the new '17 GSADV and a '16 k1600gt...Long story short...The sky fell out while riding the GT and I did not feel safe.. I rode the GS and the difference was nothing short of astounding, Although I loved the specs and styling of the GT... the GS ADV just had too much versatility, comfort and features to pass on. A nearly 12 hr buying process ended with a notification from my service adviser that the new GS ADV had a safety recall and could not be ridden home....I was offered a loaner to which I agreed however disappointingly. Big thanks to TMF!!! love the reviews
+FitnessZombie365 ClearandSteerGear Wow, congratulations on the new bike (hope you get it soon) and thanks for the kind words - TMF
Thanks for the review, I bought a GSA TE 3 weeks ago and am delighted. Treated it to a good wash last Saturday curtesy of your excellent video.
I cleaned mine only today...this time of year plays havoc with my clean bike OCD. Glad you're enjoying the bike, good aren't they? ;0)
Hi, great review as always. Just got my first BMW, an r1200gsa and am very impressed with it. At 5'8" I was a bit concerned about the size of the bike but I have bought the low framed model, don't know why more people don't order it, no problems what so ever. Manouvering at slow speed is easier than any sports bike and stopping causes no concerns because my feet are almost flat down on both sides. I have read that some people question if the handling is affected by the low frame, having test ridden the larger model I can only say that if it is then I didn't notice it, handling is surprisingly good on both, I have no problems keeping up with my mate's whatever they ride. Anyway just subscribed to your channel, keep up the good work and ride safe.
Congratulations Jim and welcome to the fold!
Picked up a 2017 "Triple Black GSA" last Saturday after owning a GS for 2 years and I have to say I love the extra size and the engine seems so much smoother than my GS, just completed the first 600 miles so once it's had the service I can start to ride it the way I'm used to, no regrets here... :)
Lovely - enjoy and ride safe...TMF
Hi TMF, another great video as usual. Glad you got the opportunity to try the GSA; I don't have the keyless option or the Gear Shift Assist as I felt they were unnecessary. As you pointed out, the clutch is so light that it's no effort at all; you can still clutchless shift up of course, just have to close the throttle. Also agree about the screen, I transferred the MRA Vario unit I had on my GS, as I did various other accessories as they all fit. Also agree about the smoother gearbox, no clunk when I put it into first. I just love the bike and feel very secure riding it. Look forward to seeing your GS/GSA comparison video. Cheers, Andy
Thanks Andy (as ever)....
I have the 2014 GSA LC... pannier width is no wider than the front so if you can get the front end through you're probably ok. I have no problem filtering through most traffic.
Great stuff StallyMan - lovely machine - enjoy!
Great review I am 175cm and have the standard seat on low setting both balls of my feet are comfortably on the ground while stopped so hopefully that won't be a problem, I have just bought the 2017 GSA 1200 and so far I am loving it. The height concerns me still but so far I am ok with it.
Great stuff Craig - you have good taste....enjoy!
Hi TMF! The keyless Ride is actually the one option I would really recommend. You don't need the key even for fill up. You just open the flap after you've shut down the engine. That's it. It's locks after a few minutes or if you engage the handle bar lock, (by pushing the button for a few seconds). I'm never getting a BMW bike without it anymore.
Excellent feedback thanks Tetsakaru, I did wonder about that fuel filler as you saw, so not having to faff for a key actually makes life easier in this case (can you do it gloves on I wonder?)....cheers - TMF
Gloves on...? Sure you can! I'm not sure what type of petrol pumps you have there in UK but I assume you actually have to pay for the petrol at some point (or is it free there!? ;o) of the fill up routine. So basically the only time you need to take you gloves of is to get to your wallet.
Seriously, the only time you need to take the key fob out of your pocket is when you want to lock or un-lock the panniers or top box. If you have the BMW cases, that is.
You telling me you don't have contactless payments where you live? I pay for stuff using my Apple Watch.....
We have the contactless tech here (in Finland) at every cashier (only up to 20 or 50 EUR I think which is enough for most fill-ups) but not at gas pumps. At least I haven't noticed. Have to check that!
I stopped using smart watches. I'm sick of having to constantly charge stuff... The tech geek in me is not what is was ten years ago. :o)
Anyway, my fill-up routine is still fairly faff-free since I don't have to play with the key.
Sounds good to me....
The best all round bike available.You can tour carrying lots of luggage,you can do proper off rd,you can drop it and there is likely to be very little damage(parking lot fall over),you can ride it on a track flat out and it handles like a dream.You can remove wheels in 5 minutes to fix punctures,change brake pads etc.No chain mess to worry about.Thats my take on the bike.Thks for the video,happy xmas.
Cheers Bruce, I agree the GS is the best all-rounder I've yet found, fabulous bit of kit. Thanks for watching and for stopping by and have a great Christmas yourself - cheers - TMF
You've hit the nail on t' head!! Theyre a master class in engineering and quality. Gimmicky keyless gadgets etc are detracting from what i consider the best bike for adventures (and im not middle aged and over weight... at least thats what tell myself :P)
Great review and keep up the good work TMF!! You inspired me to get my 2014 GS TE and not another GSXR! Have to say its by far best bike I have ever owned. I really enjoy all your videos and often see my old neck of the woods in some of them as I lived near Aylesbury up until 18 months ago. Take care and thank you for informative and entertaining reviews. Alan
Glad to be of service Alan, unless you are feeling flush, don't ride a GSA whatever you do!! ;0)
TheMissendenFlyer I wouldn't dare, the wife would kill me if i spent more than 10k on a bike.
..does she have to know every detail???
Screen buffet....I found one of those nifty clip on screen extenders worked brilliantly, look cool too. You can also remove it in a jiffy when it's warm and then lower the screen for loads of cool air. :-)
Yes they work a treat - I always fit the MRA Vario screens to my bikes - much the same thing. Thanks for watching and stopping by - TMF
Look forward to your "picking up new bike" video. I was lucky enough to borrow one for a few hours from BMW Norwich and fallen in love with it. Everything I want from biking. Fun, stable, reliable and awesome looking. I am saving the pennies and ready to chop my MT09 which I thought was the bike of my dreams until I had a 2 hour ride to the NEC bike show and it was 6 degrees. Love your videos, ride safe.
Thank you Down4First - where in Norwich is the Beemer dealer then? (I know the City well)...
TheMissendenFlyer it's on Ber Street next to the Harley dealership and a few doors along from infinity motorcycles. It's a great dealership that's just had a refit. Nothing is ever too much trouble as despite the fact that I haven't spent a penny in there YET they treat me like I've been buying from them for years. Always a coffee on the go and a decent chat to the excellent staff. I took out the GSA full of fuel had it for most of the day and a fell in love with it. All the panniers on in full adventure dress I think it's something to behold.
Must check that out next time I'm "up the city" - see you there! Have you been to the Ducati dealer in Newton Flotman??
Have not been there yet but drive past it a lot. I work in sales and have a real chip on my shoulder about customer service and buying experience which to me means everything. I have been in to look at clothing and didn't feel loved lol.
Yes, pretty amazing set up they have but I agree, they aint no BMW dealer!
Thanks TMF another great video - its was your GS videos that pushed me towards test riding and purchasing mine a few months back - but was interesting to hear your thoughts on the larger adventure. The comparison vid would be good to see - oh and don't forget the 3 year GS review - looking forward to that too - only if you have spare time of course :-) cheers
Hi Gary, I wish I had a pound for everyone that has told me they bought a GS because of my videos!! ...better still commission from BMW!! They are great machines and glad you like 'em too....and I haven't forgotten my 3 year anniversary review. I have a new front tyre being fitted next week so that will be my final cost of the year and then I should be good to do that update (technically the 22nd is my bikes birthday!). Thanks for watching and for the kind comments - all the best - TMF
Great review as always. Traded my gs 2005 to a GSA 2015 and I love it!
Keep up the good work.
Good reviews TMF!
Cheers from Croatia from a GS Adventure 2017 owner.
Thank you Vladimir - cheers back at ya!
Nice review as all your vids are , thanks for making them ;)
I bought a GS last year from the Alton branch loved the bike done 7 k on it but always fancied the GSA so bought a new one 2017 model Triple Black end of September Great deal was cheaper to buy brand new than a year old one, and no one got close to the price from Bahnstormer's Alton.
The 2017 model is much nicer to ride as i got the low chassis model being only 5 5" and can now get flat footed this makes a big difference when you ride a big heavy bike .
The new big has now got me doing the Advanced riding course as i want to put a few miles on the new bike .
I have heard the 2018 model will come with 150BHP which will be interesting.
Again thanks for all your great reviews
Brian
Thanks for stopping by Brian and letting us know about the Bahnstormer deals ;0) ....I did love the big GSA but my "standard" GS isn't too shabby so I'm thinking I might wait until the revamped GS is revealed mid next year and assume 6 months after a new GSA will follow....will be due a new bike by about then :0) Thanks for the kind words, all the best - TMF
Another great review, TMF. The keyless ride makes most sense (on my RT) when all the luggage is on, as it locks the cases, top-box, stash compartments and the fuel filler. I agree with your assessment of the instrument cluster - my old GS700F was also poor due to short needles and small fonts. The issue of sub-optimal screens is perplexing and affects so many bikes. - the screens on the F-series models do a great job of keeping rain off the speedo, but no much else. At this price-point it should be far better out of the box. And the last thing a serious off-roader wants is a heavy tint. My son recently fitted the Madstad to his XR and reports it to be hugely more effective. Looks great too. Regarding the changes to the '17 model - apparently there are internal changes to the gearbox and an addition of output shaft mass-damper, aimed at reducing the chunkiness, especially into first. How did this compare with your current GS? The other notable change was Euro 4 compliance. Same power/torque quoted, but did you note any differences in power delivery?
Didn't notice any difference in power Chris but there is no doubt the gearbox is much improved on this 2017 model - none of the agricultural feel that I'm so used too!
Nope - smooth as you like now...
Like always very precise on your comments and it'll be my next bike, I actually have 2012 GS Adventure (previous model) and I'm so happy with it. Keep as inform. Cheers
Cheers Omar - how many miles on your GSA now??
She have 20,000 miles and it look like new, never drop....yet, I love it but the new is a dream, thanks for shear your experience with as
No worries Omar - and agree, that current bike is a beaut! Ride safe my friend and thanks for watching and stopping by...TMF
I'd agree that dealer experience is extremely important. In Czech Republic, I've been to a KTM, Yamaha and Suzuki dealer. Customer service in this part of the world is still quite Soviet and makes me want to purchase a vehicle from the UK and bring it over.
...but I imagine that would be a much more expensive option (and somewhat inconvenient when it comes to the first 600 mile service!)....interesting what you say though, thanks for stopping by - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Yamaha motorbikes have cheaper new list prices in the UK than in Czech; e.g. 2016 XSR 900 is priced at GBP8.6k in Czech whilst 2017 XSR 900 in UK can be got for 8k.
filtering no problem i've a 2015 gsa and filter regularly when commuting. its even been off road too and no issues and i am no off-road expert but great balance.
These beasts are indeed the perfect all-rounders then in your experience?
Oh absolutely, someone once described it as a "jekyll and hyde" bike. As you can cruise around big miles in all day comfort, but if you want to be a hooligan and throw it around you can do that too. As big as it is the size and weight disappears once you get going.
Yeah, that's what I love about these boxer engine bikes - a lot to be said for a low COG.....
Great bit of kit. Whats not to like. Oh yeah the cost.Ticks all the boxes for the applications it's intended for. Tried and tested globally.
I've owned 5 BMW cars bit of a fan boy when it comes to the old spinning propeller. When it comes to engineering they don't get much wrong.
My only reservation is its sheer size. And im 6ft, even so a big bike, adverse camber stopping need to be watched and of course dropping it cuz its heavy especially fuelled. Thanks TMF great little glimpse at the bike.
You certainly got lucky weather wise doesn't look like winter.
+Sleepingdragon 1 Cheers SleepingDragon as ever - I was a BMW car fan (I've had two) and then discovered Mercedes....if only they made motorcycles! Crikey, I really have turned into an old man....!!
Great review! Got a a 2016 early April, just 1600km on it, with all possible options and extras. Thought about the 2017 but there wasn't really much difference, or not enough to justify the £3.5k price difference. Now done >6,000 kilometers on it, and it's great. Had a R1200RT so was a bit worried I'd have to accept less comfort but don't really miss anything. Maybe heated seat but feel the material in package seat works very well, even at around 0C :)
Replaced the screen with a Puig Touring screen (standard is really useless, at least for tall guys), with visor/spoiler (recommended!). Also acquired some Wunderlich extras. Done quite a bit of gravel & forest roads. Fantastic stability and handling. Quickshift in enduro mode is VERY nice. :)
Great stuff - thanks for watching - TMF
Great review TMF, having owned a GSW for 2 years, like you I've often wondered about the GSA and hope to borrow one as a loaner next time mine is in the shop - although it's the size of that mahoosive tank that puts me off a bit! Pretty much the standard bike at my IAM group. Great to see my old neck of the woods as well, I used to live in Taplow. Keep up the good work!
+david hippo Thank you David, once you're on the move the additional size isn't a factor, rides basically the same as the standard GS - this being a brand new machine was just a tad more refined in the gearbox and engine smoothness department (but I have a sneaky feeling even the standard GS is like that too now). Thanks for watching - TMF
Good review. Having seen the r1200r review as well, that does seem to be a little more fun while being nearly as practical.
Al I would say is ride them both if you're interested - I'd take the GSA any day!
Around town, fill up only 1/2 of fuel and the bike feels as nimble as the regular GS. Long distance, fill up the tank and ride until you need a break to stretch. This tank will outlast anyone's tolerance to sit on a bike without a stop ;)
With regards to the speedo, I don't really look at the numbers that much in detail. A glance is more than enough as to when the needle is at 8 o'clock the speed is 35 to 40 mph, 9 o'clock is 60 mph and 10 o'clock is 75 mph is all I really need to know. I found the Nav unit to be distracting and got rid of it.
Yes good point on the fuelling part - have to disagree about the Nav unit though, I think it's brill! (except at actually navigating, where it's rubbish)....
I just got a 2018 BMW GS1200 R with 20k miles on it, not a great start as on the 1st week of ownership it had an oil leak through one of the head gaskets and the gauges aren't reading the engine's oil temperature. Coming from a Kawasaki z900 (no issues at all) it's a little bit frustrating. It's on the BMW dealer now under repair, luckily I did purchase aftermarket warranty despite everyone telling me that the boxers are solid and reliable engines. If issues become frequent, I will trade it and go back to the naked world, likely it will be a Ducati Streetfighter V4 S.
Oh dear - sorry to hear of your troubles!
I didn't buy the Adventure! But I did buy R1200GS Touring. This was purely down to all your superb videos!
And do you like it Trevor?
I have only had a test ride so far. Pick the bike up on 15 Sep. You have a lot to answer for! Keep the reviews coming they are excellent!
Wonderful report. Love it and confirms all I feel after 17,000 miles on that bike
Great - glad we concur!
Thanks for another pleasant review. Your "real world" evaluations are always welcome. Like you I got a host of bikes in the garage to ride, but there is something about the pleasure that comes from the newer boxer(s)
Test rode a new R1200RT and think Im leaning that way to appease my pillion, otherwise the standard GS would be on my Christmas list.
Cheers!
Thanks Mark - I was very impressed with the RT when I rode it, but as you say pretty much all these current liquid cooled boxer powered machines from BMW are great bits of kit. You can't really go wrong with any of them in my view...thanks for the kind words and for stopping by - TMF
Looks like a great bike! wouldn't mine riding one of them round the Scottish Highlands!!! 👌 Great video! :)
Cheers Cameron - me neither (in the warmer weather mind you)...
TheMissendenFlyer Haha I love Scotland in the snow tho! So much more beautiful! 👍
I have a 2014 GS LC 1200 with 70k on it. I love this bike but have just returned from 10 days in The Flinders Ranges (5,000kms) with a riding mate on a 2015 Super Tenere ES. I rode the Tenere for about 30% of the trip. We both wanted to compare the two. We ride a lot together and both run Conti TKC 70’s.
There’s a few things we had different opinions about - but this list is what we did agree on.
DIRT RIDING - The Tenere was a clear winner. Just feels more dirt orientated, and gives more confidence in steering from the rear.
HIGHWAY TAR - Yamaha feels more stable (marginal) - BMW offers a little better wind protection(marginal)
ON TAR IN TWISTIES - BMW seems a little better handling the tight stuff.
ELECTRONICS - Similar - except can’t turn off ABS for dirt on the Yamaha. (Apparently an easy mod - which my riding mate has done)
RELIABILITY - BMW a couple of minor warranty issues, and a shaft drive issue not covered. The Yamaha has had no issues at 55k.
ENGINE PERFORMANCE - Torque is the most important and both machines are similar. The BMW has more power, but for our needs you just don’t find yourself redlining everywhere! The Yamaha has more torque in lower revs which is right where you want it. We have had numerous drag runs on dirt and tar, and you can’t really split the two. The BMW will only just start to get away after 140kph though.
CENTRE OF GRAVITY - The engine centre of gravity seems better in the Yamaha surprisingly. Comparing engines, the Yamaha bottom end is lower in the frame. The BMW pots are not as low as you might expect in comparison - almost the same height of the Yamaha.
GROUND CLEARENCE - BMW slightly better, but with base plates there is no issue.
CARRY CAPACITY - Even, except we both agree Yamaha panniers locking system is not good.
I feel I might be caught in the “buy what’s in vogue” cycle - which has been the GS.
We both agree the Yamaha is a better off road bike, and I actually like the Yamaha engine better. The Yamaha geometry is closer to a dirt bike design in the swing arm arrangement and fork rake. I'm having trouble ignoring Yamaha's success in dirt bikes, and they seem to have added this to the big Tenere.
Long range touring on tar we think the BMW could be slightly better. As my time is spent mostly exploring on dirt roads in Australia, and only on tar to get to dirt roads - I think I’m going the Yamaha direction. I can ride this bike faster and harder on dirt then the GS - so why wouldn’t I?
Fuel economy for outback trip
BMW GS 5.5 ltrs/100kms
Tenere ES 5.1 ltrs/100kms
Wow - thanks for that lot Gary, must get me a go on one of those Tenere's - I only hear good things about them, but personally I don't like the Dakaresque looks...
You'd have no problem filtering with this bike once you got used to it. I used to ride into central London during the evening rush hour on my 1150GS Adv and had no problems filtering. I even had the pleasure of filtering the Paris Périphérique during the rush hour returning from the Paris bike show, the Mondial Du Deux Roues in 2005 which was an eye opener. My only problem getting out of the way of the locals filtering at unbelievable speeds. The GS ADV was and is a great bike and my one regret was listening to my wife and selling it after 11 years and regretting it to this day.
Oh dear, listened to the wife, nuff said......
But 6 months later I bought a K1300R which hacked her off even more. And now after 5 years exchanged it 10 months ago for a R1200R LC. She's now hinting at 75 next month I should be giving riding up, but I've definitely gone deaf to that idea.
That is the problem with getting older isn't it, the ol' hearing starts to give up....nice one ;0)
Pick my 1200gsa up tomorrow and its all your fault. Great review as all your reviews are. Keep up the good work👍
Congratulations!
Great review and at a perfect time, im taking a few BMWs out for test rides in a few weeks, i may need to add this to the list as my summer is going to be a euro tour! Thanks for the review. Top bloke
Thank you very much :0) ...and do add it to your list, you'll love it!
We just picked our new ones up, and have to say that we agree with you, much much smoother :)
Lucky lads - enjoy!
i was excited to see your review about my bike 😉
i missed some comparisons to the standard GS. but you promised this video is about to come.
great review anyway.
the akrapovic is a bit louder when the panniers are on.
i also replaced the windscreen. the original one was too short.
in my opinion the display is not too bad. i don t like digital instruments. i prefer needles. Unforunatelly the sat nav does not use needles 😣
cheers Tom
Yeah I'm with you on needles versus digital...stay tuned for that comparison with the standard GS in the next few days or so...thanks for watching and for stopping by - TMF
nice review as always, agree on keyless ignition, I had it on a gtr 1400, bit of a gimmick " and a pain sometimes". it is a lovely looking bike, love the tank range, I've got a touring screen much better than standard, might be pricey but you do get a lot for your money, when you compare to other motorcycles.
Nice piece of kit for sure Peter, BMW came up with a winner when they bought these current GS' models out didn't they...
Some facts about the keyless ignition from a 2016 GS owner with that option:
- You don't need the key to open the gas tank. It's opened with the built in latch and only works if the fob is in reach.
- With keyless you get a single fob (battery powered) and a spare smaller non powered key that can be used with a contact patch underneath the seat only.
- The only reasons I use the actual flip out key is to remove the seat or the GPS.
- You have to be really close to the bike to have it pick up the key and in some very rare conditions (like electronic badge systems) it won't pick up your key even when sitting on the bike.
- You can arm the alarm system from a distance with the button on the key fob. The alarm won't be triggered when you move the bike while the key is nearby, even not when already armed.
- You wake up the bike with a first press on the start/stop button and shut it down with another press. Starting engine is still done with the switch on the handle.
- You long press that same start/stop button while the handle bar is in full L/R position to engage the steering lock. When locked the first press on the start/stop button will only unlock steering, not wake up bike yet.
Thanks for that Hans - I did get a demo before the ride but failed to mention things like the steering lock etc, so thanks for writing that lot down. Overall I take it you're a fan of keyless ignition then?
Thank you for the great content! Big fan of your work.
About keyless; to be honest I just picked a full option bike so it came with that. I wouldn't pick it if I had to choose between options. It's convenient in a way that you don't have to look for the key, I just have it in my riding jacket all the time. But I wouldn't mind having to put a key in the ignition, I have to reach there to press the button anyway.
My previous bike (a 2005 R1200RT) had to stay outside all night and as a daily rider I sometimes had trouble to get the key in the ignition or tank lock because it was frozen. That's really the only moment I think I would be glad having keyless :-). And to be honest most people don't even ride in those conditions. Well and this bike goes inside all the time... really stretching it here I know.
Watching the video also reminds me you can turn off the engine with the start/stop button and that is even the recommended way. I think I saw you reaching for killswitch first. If I have to believe my dealership using killswitch registers something in the onboard computer so is best avoided if not really needed. No proof of this though.
Oops!
Really enjoy your reviews. Many thanks.
Great - I'm glad you like 'em - thanks for stopping by...all the best - TMF
Great review as with all your bikes I am glad I moved from thr twin can GSA to the 2017tb lc
Yes you have hit the nail on the head the screen needs to be wider and taller but if that is all that is wrong then I can live with hat till I find a screen that dose a better job glad that you enjoyed the experience as much as I do
Yes top bike - taller/wider may not be the answer - cleverer design will do (MRA Varioscreen??)....
And now all you need to do is trade up to the Gs adventure best make it a black one
Hi TMF, great review as normal. Your,e a better man than me, I had 2 hours on the GSA and was talking to dealer about chopping my 13 plate GS before my helmet was even off my head! Absolutely love my 16 GSA, did Dubrovnik on it this year and it was the perfect bike for a long trip like that
As you say though not cheap, would still like an in line 4 of some description parked next to it in the garage but the misses is not open to discussion at the moment about that, unbelievable really! she gets her hair done once a month and I can't have 2 bikes
...seems very unreasonable, who wears the trousers in your house? Put your foot down man and get yourself that S1000RR!
I’m coming down to bahnstormer to pick up my gsa on Saturday from Scotland
Congratulations!
Great channel and as always a great review. I always look forward to your vlogs.
I have had a japanese bike but i think BMW will be my next bike , just love that engine tired of a frantic 4 , it must be my age 😀.
I need to test ride one i am 5'8" and was pleased to here you say you had no issues with height.
I think Santa will be getting a request shortly , what a fantastic present that would be 😉
Keep up the good work Sir .
Thank you Paul - glad to hear you have found my efforts of interest. You sure you've been good enough all year for Santa to bring you a new GSA???? ....I know I haven't.... :0(
Another excellent review. Cheers, Craig
Thank you as ever Craig
Hi, love your videos. Coming from a sport bike and looking to do some tours through Europe on a comfy sporty tourer or sporty adventure. What would be your top three to look at please? Also would love a video on comparing these. Thanks for the videos. Craig
BMW GS
BMW GSA
Triumph tiger 900
Hi mate, glad you've tried one and would love to hear your thoughts in the next vlog regarding GS v GSA. Cheers mate.
I was thinking of you as I rode this beastie Beans, about time you got your videoing finger out eh???
Yes I know, I'm now in training for another challenge next year so must sort it lol.
Ps that bike you were riding is identical to my one.
Kind regards mate
...nice bit of kit Beans....new challenge????
Thank you - nice video.
I am about to buy a used 2017 GSA with premium touring package and 21k miles - not even fully broken in with that mileage.
Can you give hints what I should check in addition to basics before buying it. It has the service record - all BMW maintenance- thanks, Matt
Corrosion on engine cases / other than that you’re good!
what a lovely beast.......would like it in black myself. .....great looking bike
Cheers John - and agreed!
I had the same problem with the speedo. My eyes these days I just couldn't see it. That's my next bike. I was so impressed with it. I would have the clear screen on it. You will get one lol.
Well I was certainly more impressed with it than I expected to be...but those RT's are pretty special too I can tell you....
Easy (but expensive) fix for the speedo is having the BMW navigator mounted. It can show speed in several ways. One option is full screen. I use it on 1/4 on the screen when splitting lanes since filtering itself is allowed where I live but only up to a certain speed so I really need to watch it.
That screen looks good but it's a bit dark ,, would you see a brick in the road at night through it or can you easily see over it ? Either way your normal high quality clear to the point review ,,, and also stay safe have a nice Christmas and happy new year to you and yours Shane
Thank you Shane, and thanks for all your words of encouragement and support this year - much appreciated. I agree on the screen but in reality you look entirely over it (although in this case I'd swap it our pronto as there was some horrible turbulence off the top of it)....
I'm fortunate enough to own one of each, both 2016 LC's. The GSA is in regional north Queensland (suited for dirt road touring and plenty of sealed road riding) and the GS is in Sydney for more sealed road touring. Living in Australia fuel range is important. With fuel stops The GSA (around 580km's) refuelling is more like a Car whereas the GS (around 380km's) is more typical of a bike. Apart from that I still can't find a real favourite between the both. I agree, the GSA gearbox and engine is marginally smoother than the GS, but that aside I love both of them. The aluminium luggage on the GSA is better for long range touring whereas the GS Vario luggage is more like a 'suitcase' design and easier to remove if doing it daily. That said, I also have the soft bags for the GSA with all the connecting straps that worry really well. If you need extra luggage fitted for longer touring the GSA panniers with soft bags leave the GS Vario's behind. Like I said, I'm very fortunate to have one of either, so I'm lucky I don't need to make a choice. If I had to then I would have to put the GSA marginally ahead of the GS...oh, I also have spoked wheels on the GS as well......P.S. I do like the bulky look of the GSA.
You're a lucky man Jim!
TheMissendenFlyer I'm actually looking to purchase and base a GSA-LC in the U.K. for summer touring throughout the U.K. and Europe. Planning to do annual 3-6 week summer trips over a number of years. Do you know of anyone near you who can help in purchasing locally and also house/store bikes? I've found a chap in Ireland who does it but would prefer a location in the UK... my email is jim.m.bradley@gmail.com if you want to email ..cheers.. Jim B
I don't I'm afraid Jim but you never know someone may read this and know of someone/somewhere....wish I had space, I'd gladly look after a new GSA :0)
cheers mate
Lovely beast, i really like what they did with the clutch's placement on the LC engine right at the front(finally accessible by anyone w/o splitting in half the bike and being a BMW Tech). Always liked it but the clutch on the air cooled models kept me at a distance. Maybe I'll swing a LC one of these days. 😈
Fine review, as usual.👌
Thank you :0)
Nice bike maybe my next one after the Multi I reckon.
Both beautiful bikes but I think suit a slightly different type of riding/rider....
I have recently changed the normal LC GS for the GSA, bit of doubt first because also of the S1000XR ( THAT engine), the GS handles better especially with a full tank, but the GSA is more comfortable - I use my GS for long trips , 1600km a day is ok for me - and I feel the engine is also smoother maybe because of the heavier flywheel. Yes, costs quite a lot but then the normal GS is no bargain either. Oh, and the looks.....despite the Ducati's and KTM's, the GSA will always be the standard that other compare with.
Glad we concur! I don't think the GSA is sooo much better than my standard machine to warrant me changing (yet) but maybe when the next generation comes around I may be tempted to chop my GS in for a GSA. ....although that RT still calls to me!
The RT is a great machine, but in BMW are kinda weird sometimes: you can't have the LED headlights on the RT, just the DRL. Low and high beam are simple and ugly halogen bulbs.
Great review TMF lve got a street trip R like yourself toured a bit but looking for real tourer and think GS is the way but can't give up my triumph ha. have to SNEAK it into garage when wife's not looking 👍
...I got away with it...
Will let you know how l get on😀
Good luck!
Did you notice if the gearbox has changed from yours. They made some changes too stop the clucking gear changes.
Yes I did, forgot to mention it but it will feature in my standard GS v GSA video that I'll edit shortly...the gearbox is slick on the 2017, not something you could really accuse my gearbox of being...more of a clunky affair....
Yes mine is also a bit clunky. I have the 2013 lc. But with a 2016 gearbox, which is a lot smoother than the 2013 one. But as it was (broken) I don't know if that was the reason. bmw payed for the new gearbox, ewen after the warenty period was over. Keep the video's comming, love the presentation and onnest epions. Brg from denmark
Thank you Morten - appreciate your kind comments. All the best - TMF
Hi TMF! I would like to thank you for the job you are doing with all the reviews. your reviews are one of the best in the world wide web! I would like to ask you one short question. If you would buy the R1200GSA new would you buy it with all the electronic packages or rather a basic version? The reason why I am asking this is that I am a guy who keeps the bikes several years (actual bike in my ownership 10+ years) and the BMW would be also at least that long in my garage. Are the electronics reliable over such a period of time? wishing you a lot of success with your channel. greatings from Ingolstadt Germany
+Martin Blazko Good question, I've only had my GS three and a half years and so far so good! Personally I'd go for the best spec you can afford but that's just me....
No problem....
...very nice ride along & review, thanks so much!
You're super welcome...
Like you I had a go on the new GSA just to compare with my 2016 GS really.
Not a lot in it, I also agree I prefer the slightly thinner profile of the GS. I have the keyless and love it, although a bit worried about the electronic steering lock packing in😬
plus no need to manually unlock the fuel cap.
Excellent review as always 👍 try and get your hands on a African twin
Cheers
Stan
Glad we concur Stanley - have you ridden an Africa Twin then? What did you make of it??
Like you its on the list, they do have one at the local Honda dealer so I should get myself into gear really and see what all the fuss is about.
Love your reviews ........ keep them coming
Thanks Jimmy - willco....
Hello,sorry for the late comment on this particular video.Have watched and thoroughly enjoyed all your videos from touring to cleaning tips and now having been ten years without a bike I am seriously considering going back to all year ridding again on a 2017 adventure xc model (depending on the nice lady at the bank).One question you could maybe answer for me? In your video you say you are around 5'8" as am I and you had the low seat fitted .Would you recommend that over the low chassis version as I've heard many conflicting reports ?
Well that's what I did so yes I would recommend it! :0)
Hi TMF good video. I too have been thinking about a GSA since my 2016 GS was stolen a couple of months ago but having sat on one with a standard seat I found it too tall for me as I'm about your height. Did you use a low GS seat or just a standard GS seat? I don't know if they are any lower than GSA seat.
I just don't know if I could cope with the look of a different seat on a GSA but maybe there are ways to alter its standard seat.
I'm looking to take one out this weekend for a trial, I'm in love with the red bike with black engine and black framework.
As regards keyless I found it very easy on mine and petrol cap very simple with less messing about.
All the best.
JJ
Bad news re the bike theft The33JayJay - where did that happen? London per chance?? Lot of this happening of late......I rode with the low seat on the GSA, no issue at all... you're going to love the GSA :0)
Thank you very much for your videos. Simple and clear, with particular attention to the details. I mean, I haven't seen any video around saying the GS's speedometer layout is too small , and yet it is such an obvious thing. I really would like to know your opinion on the Ducati Multistrada Enduro. I am now in a fierce debate between the GSA and the DUC-ENDURO. :)
...yeah I would like to have a go on one of those I must admit - the "Old" Multi I rode back in 2013(ish) was too top heavy and performance focussed for me, this new endure looks interesting though...Thanks for your kind words and for stopping by - all the best - TMF
Lovely bit of kit but my experience of BMW dealerships does NOT mirror your own. In the market for a new bike this year and the S1000R was high on the list so I popped into my local dealer for a look see.......spent twenty minutes looking at the bikes on display while the sales team completely ignored me and carried on with their conversation about a previous customer who apparently "doesn't know shit" needless to say the BMW has been removed from the list and I will be heading off to my local Triumph dealership for a test ride on the Speed Triple and the new Street Triple.
Wow, that's very unusual in my experience but I guess it does vary from dealer to dealer - where in the world are you DJL68 out of interest??
I'm just outside Chester. I should have known better really. I went to the same place for a Harley 'family night' with my son and was told to keep "that child" away from the bikes. The difference in attitude between these guys and the Triumph dealer I bought my Streety from is remarkable. Still, lesson learned, if I do decide to try the S1000R I'll travel further afield to find a dealer worth dealing with.
Wow, I'd certainly give them a wide berth then, how short sighted/rude of them!
Yep. I wasn't mad keen on the Harley option but the guy we spoke to a week or two previously had sold my Mrs on the whole 'Harley Family' thing. She was even talking about getting herself a Sportster to go with a Forty-Eight for me. That's eighteen grands worth of bike sales they lost.......plus the obligatory Harley branded helmet, gloves, jacket, beer glass, mug, coasters, towel etc etc etc that many Harley riders seem to think are compulsory......and I can guarantee my Mrs would have been all over that stuff!!!
...very much their loss then....
Would love to own a GS, but at 5"6 got a problem with the seat height, but you being short also, does gives me hope.
If you got the lowered suspension model, with the lowered seat, you would be fine (you might even get away with just the low suspension and standard seat)....give one a try, you'll love it!
My mate has one. I find them a bit tractor-like, a bit too agricultural for me. Much prefer the 800 adventure but you have to be a minimum of 6 foot to ride em.
Has he got the 2017 model? I think "tractor like" is a bit harsh but every one is entitled to their opinion of course! Thanks for watching - TMF
Thank you Sir, yet another interesting video. I was wondering when you were going to get around to riding the beast!
It seems BMW dealers in general offer great service. I also own a Yamaha and the BMW dealer beats them hands-down. On my 2015 GSA I get a safe 600km's on a full tank. That's one of the main reasons why I chose the GSA: I travel long distances here in southern Africa and sometimes the next village is out of fuel, or they don't have the correct octane, or the quality of fuel is questionable. I might have mentioned this before, but the speedo on our models is calibrated in km's only, making the text larger and therefore easier to read. I assume yours are calibrated both in km's and miles? Correct me if I'm wrong but that might be unique to the UK?
The 2017-spec GSA (which I rode a few weeks back) has an improved smoother gearbox. It's certainly noticeable, especially when knocking it into 1st. Didn't you notice that in comparison to your GS?
Oh yes, and one more thing: I've done hundreds of km's on gravel roads on the GSA. You DO NOT want to exceed your limits as it slides for nothing, and once down (damage aside) you'll struggle to lift it. Honestly, from my perspective as a GSA owner, this isn't really an off-road machine. If that's your thing you're better off with a KTM.
Yeah I agree re the off-road/dropping thing. Having dropped my standard GS once (at standstill on gravel about a month after I bought it) I know how hard these things are to pick up! You are right about the UK speedo, it is dual calibrated and that is the key to the issue, too many small numbers on the dial! ....and yes, that gearbox, much improved, smooth even!
I love my gsa the keyless ignition can be a puzzling when you pull up to refuel....the first time I did it I took off my helmet took off my gloves then spent 10 mins wondering why the hell I couldn't get the petrol cap open, reason ? you only;y have 30 secs to open the cap before the thing shuts off other than that they are a beast heaps of grunt though so much more refined than the KTM 1190 adventure r
but one and you won't be disappointed :-)
Cheers Black Hawk - good to hear some feedback on the keyless ignition, I'm still yet to be convinced using a key is a problem but maybe I'm getting old!! Thanks for stopping by - TMF
Hello TMF, thank you so much for the time you put into these reviews. I know this review is a bit over 3 years old but I do have one question for you: what's your take on the jerky throttle issue many have complained about? I've owned the older version: bought it new in Feb '13 and sold it in Sept of the same year because I just couldn't get used to riding with the clutch partly in when the rev counter was just above idle (be it when letting go of the throttle or just giviing it an ever so light twist ). Thank you again for your work and keep it up with the Bonnie and the RE. Cheers
I've never had any jerkiness issues with mine!
No issues on my 2017 either
Hi MF, great review as always. I test rode the GS and GSA back to back. Both really good but the GSA was just more planted, felt safer, felt as nimble, if you can call a GS nimble that is, so I bought one back in Sept. so they are not cheap but after 3,000 miles I have tried to sum up how good the bike is and the best I can come up with is that is was worth every single penny I paid for it. Keyless is fantastic, I was sceptical at first but love it now,, gear shift pro is also very good, my theory being if I am ordering one get everything you can fitted. Also love the Aluminium panniers and topbox expensive but please I went with BMW ones rather than aftermarket. Agree re filtering but you do not notice the size after a while and light as a feather when on the move.
I like the way you roll Paul! I too can't help ticking those option boxes...good stuff ;0)
Another great review dude.!!
Thank you!
I love your vids and being an aussie it's great to get an idea of what roads are worth a look when (and if) I ever make it over.
I am curious about the low seat, like you I am around the 5"8' mark and was wondering if it's just the low seat option or the low frame as well ?
I currently ride a K1300GT that I have no problems with seat wise with the seat in a the low position. And have ridden a stock GS1200 2016 with problems.
Hi Ray - thanks for your kind words, the GSA I rode (and indeed my "standard" GS) was fitted with the standard height suspension but the low seat in the low position - that way I can get my feet basically flat on the floor....
Thx for that, I was thinking that that was what you were riding.
I meant to say I have ridden a stock GS without problems !
I filter my adventure through traffic everyday to work. I'm far from an expert as you can be but its so well balanced it makes it easy. Time for an upgrade ;)?
...like all these things I think it's a matter of getting used to the bike and I'm sure filtering would be no issue. And who knows ;0)
Love the review. How do you feel the BMW GSA compares to the competition - KTM Super Adventure and Ducati Multistrada Endure.
Very favourably! Did you see my recent review on the Super Adventure?
TheMissendenFlyer - yes. Comparing the two. Feels to me like the GSA is the most suited for long range/ multi-surface touring?
Lovely vid..quality. I've got r1200r, well said on all counts.
Thank you Dan, appreciated....
I've got the 2017 triple black model and I love it apart from it's rolled off the side stand twice I now park it in gear.
Ooh, nasty! Lovely bike, but look after her!! All the best - TMF
It's a gorgeous looking bike. Did you try out the cornering ABS TMF? ;-) I'm already looking forward to seeing a GSA in your garage, we all know you will......
Thanks for sharing.
I don't think I used the ABS but these electronics are so darned good these days you don't necessarily know!! ...so you think one of these is for me then do you??? ;0)
To my eyes the GSA is the best looking bike out there right now (I'm not a sports bike fan). When I win the lottery I'll get one of these, a Ducati Scrambler Sled and a MSX125 :-) You should PX your GS while the PCP deals are so low.......
...with the properly new GS likely April 2017 and a new GSA following a few months later I think I'll hang around until then before I make any expensive decisions!
AussieRider that's reassuring, although now I'm wondering what happened to make you test it 😱
AussieRider wow I'm impressed with your bravery 😉👍🏻
Have you thought about reviewing the Super Tenere? I'd love to see that vid.
I have indeed, it's in the can and will be published on or around December the 18th (I know I know, sounds a long way off).....
Was this the "Low" suspension model, if not have you ridden the "Low" suspension one? Thanks again for your in depth review.
No this was the standard model with a low seat - I've not ridden a lowered suspension GS....
Hi MissendenFlyer
You may want to stop overtaking with them junctions on your right hand side, if that silver transit connect had turned on you it may just of hurt a bit. Only tying to help.
Good review stay safe.
Thanks A Simms - you're the second to mention that - I have learned something useful - thanks for that, much appreciated (do keep the tips coming!)....
I'm waiting to see the video comparing it to your GS MF! I too don't like the speedo on my 2016 GS and the latest one doesn't look that different? I tried using the Nav5 but when accelerating the screen on the Nav5 doesn't keep up so you get no speed showing at all until you reach a more constant speed which I found was worse. I ended up trying to look at both and gave up in the end and got a new pair of varifocal glasses with an intermediate prescription at the bottom which now means I can see the speedo more clearly. The cockpit layout still needs a redesign though. Cheers Ade
Yeah agreed, wonder if the "all new" mid 2017 revamp that's rumoured will address that - full colour TFT would be nice....
TheMissendenFlyer I hope not as I might want one!
:0)
Hey MissendenFlyer,
Been watching your videos for over a year now and love them, great quality and content. My next bike is the GSA as I was so impressed with it (not the dealer experience from my local though) when I took one out on a test ride a month ago.
My question is you are the same height as myself and just to clarify that that was indeed the standard suspension GSA with just a low seat? Not the lowered suspension model with a low seat?
Did you get any leg cramps with the low seat or anything?
Many thanks,
Darren
Thanks Darren - good to have you along. That was indeed standard height with the low seat (which is the same set up as I have on my standard GS) - no issue at all re height and weight.....cheers - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Many thanks for the quick and detailed response TMF, keep doing what you do. :)
Darren
No worries and will do!
Hi TMF,s
I have a GSA low. It's a heavy bike but I do like it. Handles loverly but in the car parks and on slopes and gravels its a handful. Maybe the xr is the bike at a full 5.5 stone lighter. What do you think?
Ed Holmes The S1000xr is indeed lighter but carries the weight higher due to the 4 cilinder construction, I found a boxer easier to ride the Stelvio which I also did with the S1000xr. Furthermore, the clutch of the S1000xr is really heavy. Both are comfortable enough though, but the s1000XR engine eats the flattwin for breakfast.
...agreed on all points....
TMF, hope you can get your hands on a K 1600 GT/L
Yeah, sadly not one available for demo at my local dealer currently....
TheMissendenFlyer Tell them to get on the stick, the internet is waiting for a review :)
If you're going to test the K1600, go for the GT and not the GTL. The GT is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It doesn't look fast or sound fast, unless you open the throttle real good. Then it very fast and sounds like a racing machine that'll bring you up to 250 kph.
Given I can't find a demo K1600 to ride at all I'm not sure I can be that choosy!! But thanks for the advice, I didn't realise there was a big difference performance wise between the bikes.....
Does anyone know when the new GS 2017 will start to be sold?
And the question of a ten million euros: when will a new ADVENTURE 1200 come out? I'm starting to get crazy ...
But, another fantastic video, as always. All the best from Portugal.
Cheers Sergio - I think BMW officially keep tight lipped about this stuff, the current 2017 is I understand an interim Euro 4 compliant tweak, with a truly new GS due to break cover around April of 2017....probably means it will be 6 months before we can buy one and then another year before a new GSA is on the scene (so time to save up!)...
I am also of the opinion of waiting for 1 or 2 years, a completely new model always takes a while to become operational, but, the truth is that I was to buy the bike that today puts on the video in the summer, and I sold what I had , Result, I DO NOT HAVE A MOTORCYCLE! And that makes me crazy ... Eh eh eh eh, and the new model of GS (2017) is beautiful and the mechanics is well tuned, when you come to spend a vacation here in Portugal with your GS?
Another excellent review!! How do you find the wind protection on the gsa compared to the rt? Thanks
To be fair the wind/weather protection is great on both of them - the RT is slightly better due the large frontal area but the GS is not very far behind, I wouldn't let that decide any choice you may be weighing up! Thanks for the kind words - TMF
lord! the first bike that NEEDS a car parking space...think you would have to be doing alot of cross country/continent stuff to justify this over a standard GS. cant't wait to pick up my 2017 GS next week!
Exciting times eh? The new GS is a beautiful machine to ride, I'm sure you'll be very happy with her for years to come (once you get through the tedious running in period!). All the best - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer I am ashamed to admit..I actually can't sleep I'm that excited! a friend of mine is currently speccing the same white GSA TE you are on, and there is a few of my boys on MT10s and Tracers..should be a GOOD summer! keep up the good work!