I beg to differ. Some even buy them to place them in a garage and not touch for the next years. I believe that it could be great for mountain roads. Actually, I cannot imagine a motorcycle that would be better for those conditions to suck up all the twisties and utilize that awesome torque way down low. R1250GS would be my first choice there simply because of its great handling there.
@@VToldsMotoShow Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm not saying the GS doesn't handle as I have surprised myself (and others) in this respect and horsepower is just a number. I think we buy it for the overall package. After all, if you live in the UK you have to travel to get to those mountain roads!! This is where the attraction of the package becomes clear and the GS comes into it's own. Thanks for your videos!!
Hi Vtold, I would like to make a few comments with regards to this video. 1) The power on the GS is available at a much lower rpm than the competition, which means it saves you on fuel. For some other competitive bikes the rpm is much higher where you get the HP and the torque you dream for. The GS is not a racing bike and doesn't need to be pushed to the limit 2) I am just 5'7" and I am very much comfortable riding my 1250GS. With a boxer engine it's very easy to ride compared to a Multistrada or an Africa Twin which are more taller. And then you have a lot of low seating in options available for a GS. 3) I would choose a tried and tested formula over a new generation motorcycle which is still in its infancy. Also adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring take away your attention from the most basic riding skills and make you complacent which can be more dangerous than helpful to you. 4) Looks as far as an adventure motorcycle is concerned can divide opinion and that cannot be a basis to shy away from a magnificent machine like the GS 5) Price again is a factor which goes up exponentially when you start adding features like adaptive cruise control etc which none of the bike manufacturers offer as standard. To sum up you cannot just write off a bike like a GS just for these reasons you mentioned in your video. Offcourse it's your opinion which I don't want to contradict but it came as a surprise to me that it came from you when in all your previous videos, most of which I've watched, you were all praise for the GS.
Hi, thanks for sharing this. Point number 1) it totally valid - the torque is right there from the bottom and boy, this thing pulls! I believe that it may positively influence the fuel consumption but I'm not sure if it's a specific reason for it. For me personally, the style of a bike doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I like it to provide performance. I believe this is why all top brands provide more power with newer generations of their motorcycles. Adventure bikes including. 2) is awesome - the balance is perfect, and I'd say that it's the easiest and the most encouraging motorcycle ever, also considering other classes. It would be my number 1 here too. 3) I'm not sure about that. I've gone through ACC, BLIS, cameras, parking sensors, lane keeping systems and to me they all have been a blessing. I like having them. In psychology it's likely as you say - the more I can do, the more I do. The safer the bike, the more recklessly one would ride. I'm still on a side that likes to have that. 4) I'd say it depends. I couldn't ride or drive something that I wouldn't like the looks of. As long as all those points are emotional, and they all are, they will set a boundary in different places for different people. The reason for making this and other videos of this type is to list all the things that may influence everyday journey with a particular motorcycle and so to be able to take them into account. There are things about the GS that I personally adore while some I don't like and they could be deal-breakers for me or others. All in all, I believe that there isn't a better motorcycle in this class today than R1250GS, as it does the most of the most important things the best in my opinion. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@VToldsMotoShow Hi, I really appreciate your eleborate reply to my comments. I know your reviews are to make people choose the right bike for themselves and again each will have their own opinion. Anyway thanks again and keep posting, will be watching them as always 👍
The real reason to buy a 1250 GS is that you’re looking for a seriously good touring bike with moderate off-road chops, which probably will never be used. The real reason not to buy a GS is that you’re looking for a serious long distance off-road bike that can handle technical terrain. The GS is just not made for this use in the way that some other bikes are.
I see that there are really totally opposing reasons for almost anybody. Some think that a GS is a perfect long distance, comfortable off-roader, yet some others think that this is exactly what GS wasn't meant to do as it's too heavy, too pricy when damaged, and has telelever front suspension. But hell yeah, I'll just add that I totally agree that there are motorcycles in this class that might've been meant for this use more than R1250GS and so if that's the priority, it may be a reason to looks somewhere else.
You summed it up very well. Maybe one thing to add is handling GS on technical terrain with mere mortal skills. I have seen crazy stuff being done on the GS with hard box panniers. So it can be done but in the right hands with high degree of skill. For most riders, use the concept of horses for courses. A light dual sport for technical short on/off-road riding and touring for just long distance paved. Or GS for little bit of both.
There is not much sense comparing peak power of BMW and Ducati (134 vs 170). Ducati's power at BMW's redline is around the same 134 hp. The "power issue" is actually not related to power, but gearing and redline. Looking at the power curves, up until it's redline, BMW has more (or at least not less) flywheel torque (and power as a consequence) than Ducati. If BMW had the same gearing as Ducati, it would actually be faster, but would have the lower top speed because it's redline is lower.
If you compare a bmw r1250r (138hp) with a bmw s1000r (165hp) up until the red line the boxer is making more power and torque everywhere. In the real world its probably faster. Until speeds that should never be seen on roads are exploited.
Still, it's the power that everybody understands and that tells us a lot. Torque is more tricky and adding gearing to that may require a solid excel file. Now what you mentioned is very significant as simply saying, the GS has its capabilities available earlier than Ducati while the Ducati has a "broader portfolio" in the performance area, so it can push further than a GS and wins there. I think that in order for what you described to work, GS would have to be able to rev much higher than currently. I've compared R1250GS to Multistrada V4 head to head here: ua-cam.com/video/kPAURf-Bri0/v-deo.html One is stronger in some areas and the other in some others.
@@VToldsMotoShow > Still, it's the power that everybody understands and that tells us a lot. I dunno, K1300R has 173 HP, is way faster than the GS, but is even more boring :) I don't think that GS will be more enjoyable fun-factor-wise if it's power get bumped to 170+ range, it will just become faster and that's probably it.
People get caught up in power figures so much. I watched the Revzilla video comparison to the Pan America. The GS literally just gets up and runs away in a 6th gear/60mph rolling test. Thats the beauty of torque for you... ua-cam.com/video/28BnphAq4Cg/v-deo.html
Have you ever ridden long distance on a 1250GS fully loaded with luggage and a pillion? It is where the GS excels. Unless you have done this you will not fully understand the GS. If you only ride solo, or short distances , or just like racing around then I agree with you other Adventure bikes would be more suitable.
I asked as I wasn’t sure what you meant. Thanks for clarifying. I’m myself not that much into long highway rides or multiple-day journeys now but I’d still enjoy riding a GS in the city. This is where I mostly ride nowadays and I also rode this GS here for a large amount of time and loved it. Except for the sound… So I wouldn’t personally write it off in such conditions at all. Answering your question - no, I’ve never ridden a GS with a pillion and luggage. I managed to mostly successfully avoid doing this on any bike. Cheers!
If exhaust sound is that important to you then you are looking at the wrong class altogether. Look at the Harley Davidson’s for exhaust mods. The variety and aftermarket options and differing sounds you can get are staggering. I own both the BMW R1250 GS and an HD Street Glide. There is simply no comparison in the sound. I like both bikes for different reasons. But for sound HD is the only way to go…….good luck.
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H-D is the only way to go IF it's an old carburated engine with that sweet "potato potato" sound... Other than that it's just another V-Twin and even that potato note can be achieved with a Honda Shadow for instance.
Thanks for pointing out Harley but the adventure class is the segment of motorcycles that I personally like the most and I wouldn't want to ride anything else at the moment. I don't think that there's a conflict between adventure motorcycles and a nice engine/exhaust sound. What about the amazing V2 sound of a V-Strom 1000, old Varadero, Multistrada 1200, 1260, KTM Super Adventure, Super Duke GT, Aprilia Caponord or Moto Guzzi V85? I'm very sure that this is exactly the class of motorcycles that produce awesome sounds. Check this crazy V-Strom 1000 from 10 years ago sounding like a thunderstorm: ua-cam.com/video/Ha8xrYWKZ2Q/v-deo.html
i was VERY close to test riding a V4 Multistrada but every bike magazine and online review stated poor fuel economy, down to mid 30s in some riding conditions. My experience with my last two GSA 1200s is around 50 mpg average across all riding conditions and the 1250 is 4% higher. That was the dealbreaker and my 2022 GSA Rallye arrives first week of March. Great review man, very honest and yeah the flat twin drone does not do much for me either, thanks Bill
I'm glad you found it useful, Bill. Boxers have been known for outperforming all their competitors in terms of fuel consumption. The "why" stays a mystery but I've experienced it repeatedly myself and that's for sure an advantage. I hope you're already happy with your new GSA. Cheers!
Only one reason in my book for not buying a 1250 GS in 2022, and that is due to the fact that the 1300 GS is in production as you stated.The GS in my opinion, set's the benchmark that other brands strive to attain. Don't get me wrong, I think the Ducati Multistrada V4S and the new Triumph Tiger 1200 are no doubt going to do really well in this particular market. Always appreciate your perspective on all bikes brother. Stay safe.
Thanks for sharing this. I agree that there are definitely reasons for GS to be a benchmark in the category while Multistrada V4 and Tiger are very interesting indeed. All the best!
Don't need more power, you're young and obsessed with speed, that will change as you get older, don't like the sound, get a different exhaust, not tall enough...get the lowered suspension...sorry but you just sounded like someone nitpicking things just for the sake of making this video. No bike is perfect and you can always find things that need improvements. No insult intended, I subscribed. I did watch the other video and enjoyed it. I'm glad I watched your videos because I am interested in the 2022 GS1250 Adventure but I wasn't aware there might be a newer version coming out so I'm going to hold off. Thank you, be safe.
I've got a feeling that you skipped essential parts of the video like the conclusion and the whole introduction presenting the idea and reasons for making the video.
A couple of potential issues if you decide to wait for the 1300GS are it's going to be even more expensive, especially if the front and rear radar comes as standard and of course as it's a new bike you'll become one of BMW's Beta testers 😨
Personally I’d be more in the market for either the R or RS, but I was thinking of holding out for the 1300 for the presumed power bump, but you’re totally right, there are likely going to be little gremlins present until BMW can iron them out in future generations. Same with Triumph’s new Tiger 1200, that bike looks amazing but I’m not so sure with their reliability and of course, being such a brand new bike.
@@benwells2338 I've tried both the R and RS but preferred the GS but each to theirvownbas it'd be noring if we all loked the same things in life. Compared to the GS the R doesn't have the telelever suspension or the road prescence and the RS was too much of a reach to the bars for me as I'm a shortie and I didn't like the resulting lack of all round visability either which was a shame as I quite fancied a change and the RS is a really nice bike to ride. One issue any Triumph owner will find out if the new 1200 is the same as its predecessors is that bought new the residuals are poor, great if you're buying used of course but no fun if you're not and you don't find out until trade in time by which time it's too late.
+1 for the beta tester comment. Someone at work, a few years ago, got a company bike to ride for work, a R1200, if I remember correctly. He told me about the dashboard powering off randomly while riding... On the plus side, BMW is pretty good with warranties.
@@Bazza47 those earlier tiger 1200 explorers were a lot new and on the used were less than a new 800 tiger in no time. And even then a new 800 is probably a better buy than a used 1200.
@@chrishart8548 I remember owners on the Explorer forum being very dissapointed with their trade in offers which together with it's weight and top heaviness was enough to point me toward the GS. The 800 wasn't a bad bike, in fact I preferred it to the 1200, but SWMBO gave it the red card as she didn't like the pillion seat and found it cramped by comparison to the BMW.
Who needs radar on a bike! The current GS/GSA has plenty of power. It you need more power to cruise the interstate buy a KLT, etc. I don’t buy anything for the exhaust note. Note that any after market exhaust will make routine maintenance more time consuming because you have to remove part of it to complete several tasks. Even if you buy a lowered suspension GSA, you can crank the ride height up if you so desire. I am happy with the GSA in its current form. Go try sitting on the Ducati. It is much higher and can’t compete with the GS/GSA off road.
Actually, Multistrada V4 has a lower seat than a regular R1250GS. GS's seat is at 85-87 cm while Multistrada's is at 84-86 cm. The V4 comes with greatly improved ground clearance comparing the the previous 1260. Now there's 22 cm while before it was below 17 if I remember correctly. R1250GS is at 18,5 cm and GSA at 22 too - just like the V4. I'd say that GSA and V4 seem should benefit from it quicte nicely off the road. Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying the GSA and that's the conclusion I'm wishing for everyone.
I think the only reason not to buy the GS 'now' is to wait and see what the new 1300 and its newest closest competitor, Tiger 1200 will turn out to be.
@@VToldsMotoShow Yes, but BMW has a winning formula perfected over 40 years. Triumph although they tried hard has had only lack luster success. But looking at the Tiger 900, I am sure they must have improved the 1200 way past the previous gen. In 18 months, the sales chart will show.
156 Horsepower.....less than the XR....well of course it is mate. But I will put it in perspective for you, my car has 150 horsepower and weighs 1.2 tons, and still goes as fast as I would like. Therefore the power to weight ratio of the GS is bloody awesome in my books. If I wanted a race bike I would buy a race bike. I just seems to me that maybe you should have grown up in the days that bikes had no more power than 50 or 60 BHP at best, that would make you appreciate what a torquey 156 BHP bike has to offer.
GS/A are great bikes, great reputation, earned through many years of experience. I am an RT rider myself, but the GS/A would be my next choice. Only problem I have with the GS is there are so many of them where I live, LOL! Almost every grey haired, beard growing guy of my age and/or older has one (50 years). Or a Triumph Tiger or something. And there's only tarmac in The Netherlands, so... But great travelling bike, some even say the GS/A is even more comfy than an RT. But I am not sure about that. Should test it out myself in near future.
Thanks for your input. On one hand they're popular, on the other this means something. And NOT that they're available for the masses. If a premium product does so well with sales, then there must be something more to it. And there is! About the comfort levels, especially in regard to GSA, this may be related to knee angle that's much more relaxing on GS motorcycles as they're taller, which in turn enables the seats to be higher in relation to the foot pegs. This is an advantage in general and I can confirm that. This also help you feel the bike better. Not such a huge asset for shorter riders though. Cheers!
@@VToldsMotoShow GS would suit me, I am 1,82 mtr tall. Seat of my RT is already in highest position. For me, boxer engines are the max. Totally in love with the brand, if you maintain them well, they'll last you almost forever. High mileage isn't any problem. My Rt has now 134000 km's and still runs like new. I ride the whole year. Thx for the info and answer!
HI Vtold, I am new to motorcycling (passed my full license in November 2021) and I am confused by the power issue in reviews, not the technical aspects but the real world use. I have what is considered by many reviewers as a "low powered Bike" and I found myself doing 120MPH on the highway without even realising. In 6th gear it rolls on to overtake almost anything on the road. I'm 57 and don't have the back or indeed the backbone for a sports bike. So Looking these things up top speeds do not vary that much anyway on adventure bikes and if your bike can achieve from 80MPH to over 100mph in a few seconds then that should be enough for anyone outside of the track. Or am I missing something?
If you mean speed, then likely yes - they would be similar mostly in the category. If we'd be considering how quick they are in terms of acceleration, then here the differences will be very significant. If you're fine with your current bike and term "lots of power" doesn't excite you, then I believe that there's no point analyzing it further. If you really wonder what riding would be like on a more powerful bike, then just test ride one and that may answer a lot of those questions for you. That's what I would do.
I’m on a 2014 GSA and love it even with my 5’8” height. I’ve been pondering alternatives but can’t justify a massive chunk of money for anything out there (1250, KTM 1290, Africa Twin, Multistrada etc).
Yep. It’s ALL Harley baggers here in PA. When I see any other bike I’m like a little kid when it’s riding towards me “OHH WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?!?”
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"Top reason to buy a GS " - Because it's a GS Top reason to *NOT* buy a GS" - Because it's a GS 😝😝😝 I would also like to take offense in the name of the Fiat 126. The poor little thing did nothing wrong.
In fact Fiat 126p made driving a car available to soooo many people - it surely deserves the respect for this. Despite being a piece of crappy engineering ;)
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@@VToldsMotoShow I'm Portuguese and the Fiat 126 is still a beloved machine to this day for that exact reason.
Enjoyed your videos. I can add a few more reasons to want to buy the BMW R1250 GS rather than not. GS stands for Gelande/Strasse which means off-road/on road. That is the category that it should be reviewed in. It is the best bike for long distance, off-road riding. And it does pretty well in technical off-road riding as well. Did you mention the ShiftCam technology? I am 5'4" and my arms reach without any strain to do so. As for the height, there are techniques to put your feet down. I agree with your comment on the 'barking dog' sound. This is a beautifully balanced bike even for ladies.
Yup, the engineering of the GS truly delivers a lot of benefits and "best in class" titles in regard to certain areas and features. Balancing is one of them. ShiftCam may enhance the performance but I'd prefer to mention it as "enhanced performance" rather than getting into technical details of how ShiftCam technology works. I suspect that it's mostly interesting to BMW's marketing people to mention or to those that dig deeply into the "whys". I myself wouldn't be interested too much but right, this is one of the reasons why the bike feels even better than before for sure. Thanks and all the best!
I'm not sure I understand what your comment means. What context is missing here? The video is about the potential reasons that may cause anyone to be willing to look for a motorcycle other than GS, if certain characteristics of a GS might not suit them. I was convinced that this would be very clear.
You are absolutely spot on about the 1250 GS I have a 22 model is difficult to put it away and have to wait till my next ride yeah the expenses there just cut back a little bit on what does not blink bring you pleasure that was well done
You, Sir, are right there in the "comment of the week" contest! It's going to be even more exciting once I start providing some exciting prizes for the winners ;). Cheers!
OK, I didn’t like the boxer engine sound to begin with (not big enough to prevent me from considering a purchase though) but now I’m going to reference that nasty Fiat clip whenever I hear the exhaust…which MIGHT actually prevent me from buying a GS or one of the other boxer bikes. Thanks dude….(haha kidding, but that clip is not a good visual to have with the bike for sure!)
Sir, you're right there on top of the game of "top comments of the week" - yours definitely made my day! And hey, Fiat 126p is a legend in fact! Great offroad vehicle with very low weight, narrow tires and RWD ;). All the best!
Very well-said. Actually I lost my hope too, but that's normal I guess. It's about getting as close as possible to perfect in some certain areas that are the most important for you (every single one of us). One true deal-breaker for me personally would be the exhaust sound while for others this matters as much as what mr. Igor Stachyra had for breakfast today - it's the last thing on the list. So yeah, it differs and understanding ourselves is the key. Cheers and all the best!
Thanks, I've got some already. I'll simplify my thinking process: you're getting much more less of a product/material here for often the same price, which in turn looks like an unjustified price. You know, 4 wheels vs 2 wheels, approx. 250 kg of a product vs approx. 1500 kg of a product and their purpose is to move people around.
@@VToldsMotoShow Or would it be: mostly handbuild in small quantaties vs mass production by mostly robots. There is simply very little the same in production processes here.
Cześć Witold! W zeszłym roku nabyłem BMW r1200rs. Kupiłem używany z gwarancją w salonie bmw (podobno największysalon motocyklowy bmw w UK). Podczas wypełniania papierów uciąłem sobie taką krótką pogawędkę ze sprzedawcą. Rozmowa dotyczyła tego jak zmienia się punkt widzenia i preferencje ludzi którzy kupują nowe motocykle (bmw) I po krótkim czasie zamieniają je na inne modele. Otóż istnieje ciągła rotacja pomiędzy właścicielami GS, RT, R, RS... czyli np... kupują nowego GSa i po 2, 3 latach przesiadają się na RT lub inny boxer. I teraz... ciekawostka taka, że gdy dotrą do RS'a... to są happy! I zostają z nim na dłużej! Dlaczego? Bo tak jak wiesz większość użytkowników GS nigdy nie zjeżdża z asfaltu. A motocyklem o wiele bardziej zorientowanym wyłącznie na asfalt jest.. RS. Oczywiście nie mam jakis statystyk dostępnych, gdyż tak jak pisze... to było po prostu wspomniane podczas rozmowy. Ale forum FB właścicieli RS potwierdzą tendencje zmiany w tym wladnie kierunku. Poza grupa szczęśliwców którzy po prostu mają kilka moto.. np GS i RS czy R... A przy okazji... bardzo fajne te filmiki robisz! Well done 👏
Dzięki za podzielenie się tym. I może być tak jak piszesz! RS to coś relatywnie nowego w BMW i innego, a jednocześnie nie tak strasznie skoncentrowanego na jednym celu. Ja miałem okazję pojeździć trochę R1200RS i to było ciekawe, ale RT lub GS są dla mnie wygodniejsze ze względu na bardziej wyprostowaną pozycję na nich. Ot taka moja preferencja. Mam nadzieję, że Twój RS będzie się dalej doskonale spisywał, bo to kawał dobrej maszyny!
@@VToldsMotoShow dzięki za odpowiedź. 3 moich kolegów ma GSy... tylko ja się zdecydowałem iść inna drogą. So far .. so good! Jestem happy z wyboru! Pozdrawiam!
i found a 2019 1250 gs for sale with 50K kilome. in good shape , very good price, checked from mechanics on bmw dealer. do you recommend buying it? i will keep this bike for years , the deferences from the 2021> are the lights i guess
Do you have any opinions on on the LOW version of the GSA for shorter folks? I have a BMW K1600 GT now but was told the GSA is actually more comfortable in touring suspension. I ride with my wife as well, so its got to handle bumps well for her. Thoughts?
Perception of comfort may differ and it may also be greatly influenced by the roads you ride on. I they're super harsh, then a GS may feel more comfortable as it could stay more composed thanks to larger front and rear wheel travel. K1600GT might in the same spots be using all the travel that it's got and that might not even be enough in some cases making it feel quite rough. In simple words that's how it can work sometimes and it does also when people compare a big GS and an RT which have a very similar suspension setup. It's just that a GS can take way more. I've got no experience with a lowered version but I'd assume that its capabilities are accordingly lowered and some of that composure may be taken away. On smoother roads though, the weight difference may act as a benefit for a heavier K1600GT and make it feel more like a cruise ship. GSA has taller suspension than a regular R1250GS so it's kind of against its original idea (one of).
The GS or the GSA is a serious touring bike, far better than any other cruiser made by Harley or any of the Japanese brands. It can also go off road, the suspension is awesome and durable. The bike is reliable and with proper maintenance it can last forever. The only ugly thing.....is the price. These bikes fully loaded are close to $30k and services are extremely expensive as well. This is not a poor mans bike or something that you buy as a novice rider. If you want touring on the cheap...maybe a Honda, Kawasaki and the likes are for you.
I agree that the prices have been elevated to pretty ridiculous levels. They've never been cheap but in the recent years... well, BMW is simply charging as much as they can. Looking at it this way, it means it's fair pricing.
@@VToldsMotoShow BMW is asking for a lot but there are plenty of people who are willing to pay it. I have an F800ST BMW and it is a very reliable bike BUT I absolutely hate everything about it. Some say that it is the best thing in the world. I don't understand how, I think the R9T and the large GS series are excellent even though they are over priced.
Yup, there isn't the best but there may be something that suits somebody the most in certain areas and then as a whole package. So there may be single reasons to go with a certain bike and there may just as well be singular reasons to avoid them. I hope this explains my point of view better.
I definitely would and I actually would expect quite a few guys to do the same. Percentage-wise perhaps not many as there are many, many GSes on the road, but in raw numbers, I guess more riders would know how to take full advantage of the big GS.
Hi V-told, trying to decide between the rallye color or the 40th anniversary. I see that the 40th in your video has a valve cover guard on the crash bars. Can I ask which brand that is and what you had to do to make it fit? It looks like the yellow bits that come on the valve cover on the 40th protrude out a bit interfering with putting a plate over that spot.
Hi, this is a dealer's bike, so I'm assuming that whatever there was on the bike, it was fitted by the dealer using official BMW accessories. I'd even expect them to order the test motorcycles with no further mods or accessories. That would be my assumption.
@@VToldsMotoShow thanks for the reply. I looked closer at the bike in the video and there wasn't an additional guard that I was thinking about. I picked up mine on Tuesday, such a great bike. Your videos were very helpful.
@V-Told your absolutely right. Someone once told me that when you own a BMW. Any bmw. Always have about 10 grand in the bank for just in case you have to get the vehicle fixed. Especially when it's out of warranty
I’m 183 cm tall or 6 feet tall. Once you set off it doesn’t really matter. Most of the rest you may test in a dealership and I’d try that if I were you. However, at 180 cm tall, you should still be able to deal with anything as long as you don’t have super short legs. And of course if you prefer an Adventure for some reasons and are dedicated to going for it.
Well, if a new model will arrive in 2023, then maybe it's worth waiting until then, to buy the 2022 model at a discount... assuming there will be any left.
That could make sense indeed, especially if something about the next generation may not be as good as one might expect. We've seen such stories in the past and recently too, so why not to stay alert and watch for good deals.
@@VToldsMotoShow it would. Wonder if the T-plane crank ruins the bike. Have you seen the strange wheel sizes. 150/70/18 rear 120/70/19 front. Looks like a real miss match.
Very right about the rear wheel. I've got to say that it's a strange choice but there are tire choices in this size, so it shouldn't be that big of an issue after all. And they don't seem to be more expensive than 17" ones. I wonder what was behind this decision.
And I think that you maybe didn’t mentioned the high quality standards of service to customer that BMW (at the similar price range of the other manufacturers- premium segment products) in average terms, offers to each and single person who owns a bike of their brand, which is for some people a controversial argument, but not for me. If the bike doesn’t make the difference facing all competition, that fact makes it for me. It’s in the motorcycle world the only brand that when I had a justified claim, they fixed the issue and assumed that they had committed a mistake and made a money restitution to my account. In context to that, without any law suit threat or even the need of a lawyer intervention. That institutional posture only happened twice, in my whole adult life, and one was with a BMW Motorrad brand Dealership. Correctness is a major asset for a company as big as they are. That’s better than any awesome discount that some other brand can offer you at the moment that you’re prepared to close the buy of an expensive bike. But hey! I am all a favor to a competitive market and when I make this statement I’m not trashing any of the other brands or saying that they aren’t Ethical Companies, so please don’t read my words sideways. I’m only sharing a true event of substantial meaning for a costumer that in fact took place with me on that customer quality. Just to say, that when you buy a durable asset , frequently you are taking a step into a durable relationship with the Company that owns that brand and that is supplying you the machine. Is important how they treat your machine, but there is also relevance on the way they treat yourself.✌️✌️
So you mean customer care. That's how brands can win customers and make them loyal or they can lose them in 1 second. Yup. This video is only about the downsides. In the other point of view here: ua-cam.com/video/Bex9L1zwtIo/v-deo.html I don't think I mentioned it exactly. However, it very often also depends on a specific dealership. Thanks for bringing that up! Dealers talk is super complex though ;)
@@VToldsMotoShow Your last phrase here, is definitely a fair assessment to that type of relationship. It can vary, and that’s the reason why I only share my own and personal experiences and non of what others might think and not ever of material based on what come up on the social networks. I take into account the general information, but my opinion is only firmed when I have a direct intervention on those situations. I have already watched the other video that counters this one and that is full of relevant arguments. And yes, customer care is exactly what I mean. It’s a central aspect of the buying decision concerning a machine of this price tag. Thank you for your kind and assertive response. ✌️✌️
I’ve swapped my 1250gs now because of a weight issue because I’m getting older. I loved the comfort, power and shaft drive. I hated the engine noise rattled like it had done 150,000 miles and had only done 10000 and customer service was appalling. I was going trade in for a smaller bmw but trade in value was at least pathetic with loads of extras. Goodbye bmw.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. So what have you decided to go with? I'm surprised to hear that it seems that in your market the R1250GS lost a lot in value (still, that may be a matter or a perspective too).
@@VToldsMotoShow I decided to go for the Triumph tiger gt pro. I absolutely love it, it’s around 40 kilos lighter than the gs, comfortable very easy to manoeuvre whilst stationary and so easy to put on the centre stand. 3 stage heated grips and 2 stage heated seats, cruise control etc etc and have a local dealer......no brainer. I’m not a chain fan but hey ho. I had a 1200gs which was serviced by the bmw dealer in Long Eaton near Nottingham and when I did the following service there was almost twice the amount of oil in the final drive than there should have been....Main dealer !!!!! and other issues which they could not fix. The ride is perhaps not on a par as the gs but very near. I’m happy. Have a good 2022
If I compared it to a bike with the same engine, I'd be comparing R1250GS to an R1250GS. I wonder what sense that would make. Somehow... this is not a comparison if you've got no choice, is it?
Power? It’s plenty of power for it’s purpose. It’s not a sport bike. 170hp is a liability off road and also not enough for a real sportbiike. Sound? That’s why you are buying this? Multi Strada? Ha ha…No Desmo!!! Size and Weight? Obstacle clearance and carrying capability require some of both. It’s not anyones fault if you are short. Buy a tiny bike then. 2022? No matter what bike you buy or when you buy it, it will be considered obsolete in 10 years or less. It’s not true but that’s what people think. More electronics? No thank you. Price? Do you think the new model will be less expensive? Crash? You know about insurance right? Part of the Crowd? There is a reason there are so many of them. It’s simply the best all around tourer and semi off road bike made today.
@@VToldsMotoShow That makes absolutely no sense at all. What I am saying is that you don’t know what you are talking about. It sounds like you have a lot of opinions and little or no time on any of these bikes.
the power vs the xr and the multistrada is a non starter. Silly comparison really as the gs is a adventure bike and the other two are nearer a sports tourer aimed at two totally situations. Speaking about the ducati ect ect is just pointless. I kind of see where you were heading with this but sort of missed the mark.
@@VToldsMotoShow how they are used by who? Overall the gs is a proper purpose built adventure bike. The xr and multistrada are sports tourers and by no means “adventure” bikes.
You want a real reason not to buy a GS? If you're unlucky, this is the shitty idle noise you get: ua-cam.com/video/gvcg73lB9iA/v-deo.html - It sound like junk after a few thousand KM's and BMW will say "no sir, that's not a warranty issue, it's normal they all do that (they don't)" ruins the whole experience. Also, the driveline lash can be a real disaster - see also: ua-cam.com/video/cTde47ffyCQ/v-deo.html (it's certainly not an isolated issue). I sold my 1200 GS LC for this reason and i'm now a ver happy KTM owner. They sound ace
This definitely doesn't sound too good. Looking at the comments, it seems like there might be those kinds of issues happening. I've also seen some other videos on this topic and some appear to be quite popular. However, as long as those bikes are covered under warranty and BMW representatives in each country do their job by honoring the warranty, it's fine. Now if this happens to a bike out of warranty, then... I'll leave it at that. Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying your KTM now.
@@VToldsMotoShow thanks for your comment V told. I had this issue the first year of owning my brand new 2016 1200 triple black with three year extended warranty. BMW Belgium denied the existence of any problem, so my BMW garage didn't wanna take any risk. They just confirmed all measures in the head were within tolerances (my god, what are those tolerances exactly??), so you're stuck with a "they all do that sir". Imagine the financial consequences of having to change all the heads on bikes with this noise, as compared to just saying "the engine runs sir, it's just a caracteristic of the boxer which you seem not to be able to accept (my ass, BMW...)". It's a shame because when I tried the test bikes of the BMW garage, (which I did at least four times during several hours before ordering mine), none of them had that stupid clattering and they rode wonderfully. Comfiest bike for my size at 1m90
Need your advice...I am shifting to USA in couple of months..I am planning to just sit on motorcycle and visit all states..which bike you advice me...? In terms of maintaining..resale value..reliability..I am not offroader person..yes if I get then no issue..I am 53 years old and for the past 40 years I am on bike..please advise...thanks
You forgot to mention your budget, among other things... :) Done that a few years ago in Canada. Got a KLR 650 with low mileage and sold it for almost the same amount a month later.
In terms of reliability, resale, maintenance you can’t beat the GS/GSA. Changing engine and rear drive oil is easy, air filter and spark plug replacement is easy. Plus it is shaft drive so no chain to maintain. The thing is bullet proof. Sure if you are on a budget, buy a KLR. But look for a late but well maintained, low mileage GS. You can’t go wrong! If you are sticking to paved roads, the RT and the KLT are great BMWs also. Again, go for a slightly used but well maintained unit.
@@johnnyblue4799 yes I forgot, I am planning to spend around 15000 dollars...second I use to have gs 1200 adventure 2015 model..and other Japanese 1800 cc honda f6c..I think 650 KLR will be shorter for me...
I think that bikes that have been mentioned may mak sense if you want something comfortable, with no chain maintenance and holding its value pretty well. Especially buying second-hand in order for it to depreciate as little as possible. R1250/1200GS or an RT could be a fair choice. Now since you went with R1200GS Adventure in the past, you may not be the shortest person in the world. Perhaps getting back on an Adventure would make you feel at home. And any BMW boxer engine equipped bike tends to be quite gentle in terms of fuel consumption. So the question really is what you're considering and what you like.
Skoda driver moved to the right. That's a common sign of letting a rider comfortably go. This city may be one of the places with the largest percentage of car drivers compliant with motorcycle riders. I guess I wouldn't trust other drivers in any other place. However, I understand that this may be a surprise and seem totally impossible. Yet it is. If you check any of my onboard videos, you might end up in a positive shock.
The day you can drive a GS as Tom Barrer and Brett Tkacks i will listen .I think you need to upgrade your skills.For the rest you can afford the bike or not just like bying a Porsche.
And you judge one's "riding skills" by what exactly? Likely you might need to reconsider your approach to riding and finding reasons to enjoy motorcycles. If listening or watching hurts you, just don't do it.
Your videos are normally balanced but nobody buys a GS to ride it like a sports bike and because of the exhaust note.
I beg to differ. Some even buy them to place them in a garage and not touch for the next years. I believe that it could be great for mountain roads. Actually, I cannot imagine a motorcycle that would be better for those conditions to suck up all the twisties and utilize that awesome torque way down low. R1250GS would be my first choice there simply because of its great handling there.
@@VToldsMotoShow Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm not saying the GS doesn't handle as I have surprised myself (and others) in this respect and horsepower is just a number. I think we buy it for the overall package. After all, if you live in the UK you have to travel to get to those mountain roads!! This is where the attraction of the package becomes clear and the GS comes into it's own. Thanks for your videos!!
Very good points indeed! Being an overall super capable machine is a huge asset - I believe that there's no question about it. Cheers!
Hi Vtold, I would like to make a few comments with regards to this video.
1) The power on the GS is available at a much lower rpm than the competition, which means it saves you on fuel. For some other competitive bikes the rpm is much higher where you get the HP and the torque you dream for. The GS is not a racing bike and doesn't need to be pushed to the limit
2) I am just 5'7" and I am very much comfortable riding my 1250GS. With a boxer engine it's very easy to ride compared to a Multistrada or an Africa Twin which are more taller. And then you have a lot of low seating in options available for a GS.
3) I would choose a tried and tested formula over a new generation motorcycle which is still in its infancy. Also adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring take away your attention from the most basic riding skills and make you complacent which can be more dangerous than helpful to you.
4) Looks as far as an adventure motorcycle is concerned can divide opinion and that cannot be a basis to shy away from a magnificent machine like the GS
5) Price again is a factor which goes up exponentially when you start adding features like adaptive cruise control etc which none of the bike manufacturers offer as standard.
To sum up you cannot just write off a bike like a GS just for these reasons you mentioned in your video. Offcourse it's your opinion which I don't want to contradict but it came as a surprise to me that it came from you when in all your previous videos, most of which I've watched, you were all praise for the GS.
Hi, thanks for sharing this. Point number 1) it totally valid - the torque is right there from the bottom and boy, this thing pulls! I believe that it may positively influence the fuel consumption but I'm not sure if it's a specific reason for it. For me personally, the style of a bike doesn't matter. Whatever it is, I like it to provide performance. I believe this is why all top brands provide more power with newer generations of their motorcycles. Adventure bikes including.
2) is awesome - the balance is perfect, and I'd say that it's the easiest and the most encouraging motorcycle ever, also considering other classes. It would be my number 1 here too.
3) I'm not sure about that. I've gone through ACC, BLIS, cameras, parking sensors, lane keeping systems and to me they all have been a blessing. I like having them. In psychology it's likely as you say - the more I can do, the more I do. The safer the bike, the more recklessly one would ride. I'm still on a side that likes to have that.
4) I'd say it depends. I couldn't ride or drive something that I wouldn't like the looks of.
As long as all those points are emotional, and they all are, they will set a boundary in different places for different people. The reason for making this and other videos of this type is to list all the things that may influence everyday journey with a particular motorcycle and so to be able to take them into account. There are things about the GS that I personally adore while some I don't like and they could be deal-breakers for me or others. All in all, I believe that there isn't a better motorcycle in this class today than R1250GS, as it does the most of the most important things the best in my opinion. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@VToldsMotoShow Hi, I really appreciate your eleborate reply to my comments. I know your reviews are to make people choose the right bike for themselves and again each will have their own opinion. Anyway thanks again and keep posting, will be watching them as always 👍
spot on bmw 1250 is the best period I have the low suspension and it's perfect
Hi @sameersutube, can you please tell if you have the regular GS or GS Adventure and whether it's a regular size suspension or lowered? Cheers!
@@DukeJohnny Hi Johnny, I have a GS with lowered seat not the lowered suspension
The real reason to buy a 1250 GS is that you’re looking for a seriously good touring bike with moderate off-road chops, which probably will never be used. The real reason not to buy a GS is that you’re looking for a serious long distance off-road bike that can handle technical terrain. The GS is just not made for this use in the way that some other bikes are.
I see that there are really totally opposing reasons for almost anybody. Some think that a GS is a perfect long distance, comfortable off-roader, yet some others think that this is exactly what GS wasn't meant to do as it's too heavy, too pricy when damaged, and has telelever front suspension. But hell yeah, I'll just add that I totally agree that there are motorcycles in this class that might've been meant for this use more than R1250GS and so if that's the priority, it may be a reason to looks somewhere else.
You summed it up very well. Maybe one thing to add is handling GS on technical terrain with mere mortal skills. I have seen crazy stuff being done on the GS with hard box panniers. So it can be done but in the right hands with high degree of skill.
For most riders, use the concept of horses for courses. A light dual sport for technical short on/off-road riding and touring for just long distance paved. Or GS for little bit of both.
There is not much sense comparing peak power of BMW and Ducati (134 vs 170). Ducati's power at BMW's redline is around the same 134 hp.
The "power issue" is actually not related to power, but gearing and redline. Looking at the power curves, up until it's redline, BMW has more (or at least not less) flywheel torque (and power as a consequence) than Ducati. If BMW had the same gearing as Ducati, it would actually be faster, but would have the lower top speed because it's redline is lower.
If you compare a bmw r1250r (138hp) with a bmw s1000r (165hp) up until the red line the boxer is making more power and torque everywhere. In the real world its probably faster. Until speeds that should never be seen on roads are exploited.
Still, it's the power that everybody understands and that tells us a lot. Torque is more tricky and adding gearing to that may require a solid excel file. Now what you mentioned is very significant as simply saying, the GS has its capabilities available earlier than Ducati while the Ducati has a "broader portfolio" in the performance area, so it can push further than a GS and wins there. I think that in order for what you described to work, GS would have to be able to rev much higher than currently. I've compared R1250GS to Multistrada V4 head to head here: ua-cam.com/video/kPAURf-Bri0/v-deo.html One is stronger in some areas and the other in some others.
@@VToldsMotoShow
> Still, it's the power that everybody understands and that tells us a lot.
I dunno, K1300R has 173 HP, is way faster than the GS, but is even more boring :) I don't think that GS will be more enjoyable fun-factor-wise if it's power get bumped to 170+ range, it will just become faster and that's probably it.
People get caught up in power figures so much. I watched the Revzilla video comparison to the Pan America. The GS literally just gets up and runs away in a 6th gear/60mph rolling test. Thats the beauty of torque for you...
ua-cam.com/video/28BnphAq4Cg/v-deo.html
I'm 5'8 and I took the F750GS for my needs. Took it to someone from berlin to open the limitation of 77HP to 90HP, hance I now have a legit 850GS
Have you ever ridden long distance on a 1250GS fully loaded with luggage and a pillion? It is where the GS excels. Unless you have done this you will not fully understand the GS.
If you only ride solo, or short distances , or just like racing around then I agree with you other Adventure bikes would be more suitable.
You agree with what exactly?
@@VToldsMotoShow I agree that there are good reasons NOT to buy a 1250GS, e.g. if you do mostly sporty, solo, short distance riding.
I asked as I wasn’t sure what you meant. Thanks for clarifying. I’m myself not that much into long highway rides or multiple-day journeys now but I’d still enjoy riding a GS in the city. This is where I mostly ride nowadays and I also rode this GS here for a large amount of time and loved it. Except for the sound… So I wouldn’t personally write it off in such conditions at all. Answering your question - no, I’ve never ridden a GS with a pillion and luggage. I managed to mostly successfully avoid doing this on any bike. Cheers!
You don’t buy GS to race around…
Don’t you?!
I don't see a reason why not. Especially on twisty mountain roads where there is so many of them with happy riders.
I mean not to race/compete with other bikes… we are not 16 anymore 🤷🏻♂️ (unfortunately)
Yeah, racing other bikes is not really fun but I take true joy in racing supercars. Not kidding.
If exhaust sound is that important to you then you are looking at the wrong class altogether. Look at the Harley Davidson’s for exhaust mods. The variety and aftermarket options and differing sounds you can get are staggering. I own both the BMW R1250 GS and an HD Street Glide. There is simply no comparison in the sound. I like both bikes for different reasons. But for sound HD is the only way to go…….good luck.
H-D is the only way to go IF it's an old carburated engine with that sweet "potato potato" sound... Other than that it's just another V-Twin and even that potato note can be achieved with a Honda Shadow for instance.
You are the only person I know that owns a hog and bmw! Have the gsa and I would never own a hog!
Thanks for pointing out Harley but the adventure class is the segment of motorcycles that I personally like the most and I wouldn't want to ride anything else at the moment. I don't think that there's a conflict between adventure motorcycles and a nice engine/exhaust sound. What about the amazing V2 sound of a V-Strom 1000, old Varadero, Multistrada 1200, 1260, KTM Super Adventure, Super Duke GT, Aprilia Caponord or Moto Guzzi V85? I'm very sure that this is exactly the class of motorcycles that produce awesome sounds. Check this crazy V-Strom 1000 from 10 years ago sounding like a thunderstorm: ua-cam.com/video/Ha8xrYWKZ2Q/v-deo.html
i was VERY close to test riding a V4 Multistrada but every bike magazine and online review stated poor fuel economy, down to mid 30s in some riding conditions. My experience with my last two GSA 1200s is around 50 mpg average across all riding conditions and the 1250 is 4% higher. That was the dealbreaker and my 2022 GSA Rallye arrives first week of March. Great review man, very honest and yeah the flat twin drone does not do much for me either, thanks Bill
I'm glad you found it useful, Bill. Boxers have been known for outperforming all their competitors in terms of fuel consumption. The "why" stays a mystery but I've experienced it repeatedly myself and that's for sure an advantage. I hope you're already happy with your new GSA. Cheers!
V-Told: “the GS doesn’t have enough power”
*myself, riding a 23 horsepower royal Enfield: “okay”*
Only one reason in my book for not buying a 1250 GS in 2022, and that is due to the fact that the 1300 GS is in production as you stated.The GS in my opinion, set's the benchmark that other brands strive to attain. Don't get me wrong, I think the Ducati Multistrada V4S and the new Triumph Tiger 1200 are no doubt going to do really well in this particular market. Always appreciate your perspective on all bikes brother. Stay safe.
Thanks for sharing this. I agree that there are definitely reasons for GS to be a benchmark in the category while Multistrada V4 and Tiger are very interesting indeed. All the best!
Don't need more power, you're young and obsessed with speed, that will change as you get older, don't like the sound, get a different exhaust, not tall enough...get the lowered suspension...sorry but you just sounded like someone nitpicking things just for the sake of making this video. No bike is perfect and you can always find things that need improvements. No insult intended, I subscribed. I did watch the other video and enjoyed it. I'm glad I watched your videos because I am interested in the 2022 GS1250 Adventure but I wasn't aware there might be a newer version coming out so I'm going to hold off.
Thank you, be safe.
Can’t agree more!
I've got a feeling that you skipped essential parts of the video like the conclusion and the whole introduction presenting the idea and reasons for making the video.
A couple of potential issues if you decide to wait for the 1300GS are it's going to be even more expensive, especially if the front and rear radar comes as standard and of course as it's a new bike you'll become one of BMW's Beta testers 😨
Personally I’d be more in the market for either the R or RS, but I was thinking of holding out for the 1300 for the presumed power bump, but you’re totally right, there are likely going to be little gremlins present until BMW can iron them out in future generations. Same with Triumph’s new Tiger 1200, that bike looks amazing but I’m not so sure with their reliability and of course, being such a brand new bike.
@@benwells2338 I've tried both the R and RS but preferred the GS but each to theirvownbas it'd be noring if we all loked the same things in life. Compared to the GS the R doesn't have the telelever suspension or the road prescence and the RS was too much of a reach to the bars for me as I'm a shortie and I didn't like the resulting lack of all round visability either which was a shame as I quite fancied a change and the RS is a really nice bike to ride. One issue any Triumph owner will find out if the new 1200 is the same as its predecessors is that bought new the residuals are poor, great if you're buying used of course but no fun if you're not and you don't find out until trade in time by which time it's too late.
+1 for the beta tester comment. Someone at work, a few years ago, got a company bike to ride for work, a R1200, if I remember correctly. He told me about the dashboard powering off randomly while riding... On the plus side, BMW is pretty good with warranties.
@@Bazza47 those earlier tiger 1200 explorers were a lot new and on the used were less than a new 800 tiger in no time. And even then a new 800 is probably a better buy than a used 1200.
@@chrishart8548 I remember owners on the Explorer forum being very dissapointed with their trade in offers which together with it's weight and top heaviness was enough to point me toward the GS. The 800 wasn't a bad bike, in fact I preferred it to the 1200, but SWMBO gave it the red card as she didn't like the pillion seat and found it cramped by comparison to the BMW.
Who needs radar on a bike! The current GS/GSA has plenty of power. It you need more power to cruise the interstate buy a KLT, etc. I don’t buy anything for the exhaust note. Note that any after market exhaust will make routine maintenance more time consuming because you have to remove part of it to complete several tasks. Even if you buy a lowered suspension GSA, you can crank the ride height up if you so desire. I am happy with the GSA in its current form. Go try sitting on the Ducati. It is much higher and can’t compete with the GS/GSA off road.
Actually, Multistrada V4 has a lower seat than a regular R1250GS. GS's seat is at 85-87 cm while Multistrada's is at 84-86 cm. The V4 comes with greatly improved ground clearance comparing the the previous 1260. Now there's 22 cm while before it was below 17 if I remember correctly. R1250GS is at 18,5 cm and GSA at 22 too - just like the V4. I'd say that GSA and V4 seem should benefit from it quicte nicely off the road. Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying the GSA and that's the conclusion I'm wishing for everyone.
I think the only reason not to buy the GS 'now' is to wait and see what the new 1300 and its newest closest competitor, Tiger 1200 will turn out to be.
Good point about the Triumph! It's definitely going to be interesting to see.
@@VToldsMotoShow Yes, but BMW has a winning formula perfected over 40 years. Triumph although they tried hard has had only lack luster success. But looking at the Tiger 900, I am sure they must have improved the 1200 way past the previous gen. In 18 months, the sales chart will show.
156 Horsepower.....less than the XR....well of course it is mate. But I will put it in perspective for you, my car has 150 horsepower and weighs 1.2 tons, and still goes as fast as I would like. Therefore the power to weight ratio of the GS is bloody awesome in my books. If I wanted a race bike I would buy a race bike. I just seems to me that maybe you should have grown up in the days that bikes had no more power than 50 or 60 BHP at best, that would make you appreciate what a torquey 156 BHP bike has to offer.
It's actually 136 HP.
@@VToldsMotoShow Yeh mistyped that mate, still bloody plenty.
That 's why I commissioned the newest Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer !
That's actually the only bike I've seen in recent years that put in serious question IF I should get a GS and not when.
Hopefully you will enjoy it. It sure looks like an interesting offering in the segment.
GS/A are great bikes, great reputation, earned through many years of experience. I am an RT rider myself, but the GS/A would be my next choice. Only problem I have with the GS is there are so many of them where I live, LOL! Almost every grey haired, beard growing guy of my age and/or older has one (50 years). Or a Triumph Tiger or something. And there's only tarmac in The Netherlands, so... But great travelling bike, some even say the GS/A is even more comfy than an RT. But I am not sure about that. Should test it out myself in near future.
Thanks for your input. On one hand they're popular, on the other this means something. And NOT that they're available for the masses. If a premium product does so well with sales, then there must be something more to it. And there is! About the comfort levels, especially in regard to GSA, this may be related to knee angle that's much more relaxing on GS motorcycles as they're taller, which in turn enables the seats to be higher in relation to the foot pegs. This is an advantage in general and I can confirm that. This also help you feel the bike better. Not such a huge asset for shorter riders though. Cheers!
@@VToldsMotoShow GS would suit me, I am 1,82 mtr tall. Seat of my RT is already in highest position. For me, boxer engines are the max. Totally in love with the brand, if you maintain them well, they'll last you almost forever. High mileage isn't any problem. My Rt has now 134000 km's and still runs like new. I ride the whole year. Thx for the info and answer!
HI Vtold, I am new to motorcycling (passed my full license in November 2021) and I am confused by the power issue in reviews, not the technical aspects but the real world use.
I have what is considered by many reviewers as a "low powered Bike" and I found myself doing
120MPH on the highway without even realising. In 6th gear it rolls on to overtake almost anything on the road. I'm 57 and don't have the back or indeed the backbone for a sports bike. So Looking these things up top speeds do not vary that much anyway on adventure bikes and if your bike can achieve from 80MPH to over 100mph in a few seconds then that should be enough for anyone outside of the track. Or am I missing something?
If you mean speed, then likely yes - they would be similar mostly in the category. If we'd be considering how quick they are in terms of acceleration, then here the differences will be very significant. If you're fine with your current bike and term "lots of power" doesn't excite you, then I believe that there's no point analyzing it further. If you really wonder what riding would be like on a more powerful bike, then just test ride one and that may answer a lot of those questions for you. That's what I would do.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I am enjoying all of your videos.
I've just ordered mine R 1250 GS Adventure Edition '40th Years GS' full equipment 😉
Good luck with the new bike, it sounds like fun!
@@VToldsMotoShow thank You 👊
I’m on a 2014 GSA and love it even with my 5’8” height. I’ve been pondering alternatives but can’t justify a massive chunk of money for anything out there (1250, KTM 1290, Africa Twin, Multistrada etc).
Then perhaps the upcoming, likely differently-designed big GS will be the one.
On that last point, here where I live in the US, people see my GS and ask "when did BMW start making motorcycles?"
Whaaaaaat?! Damn, that's a surprise to me!
Yep. It’s ALL Harley baggers here in PA. When I see any other bike I’m like a little kid when it’s riding towards me “OHH WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?!?”
"Top reason to buy a GS " - Because it's a GS
Top reason to *NOT* buy a GS" - Because it's a GS
😝😝😝
I would also like to take offense in the name of the Fiat 126. The poor little thing did nothing wrong.
In fact Fiat 126p made driving a car available to soooo many people - it surely deserves the respect for this. Despite being a piece of crappy engineering ;)
@@VToldsMotoShow I'm Portuguese and the Fiat 126 is still a beloved machine to this day for that exact reason.
Enjoyed your videos. I can add a few more reasons to want to buy the BMW R1250 GS rather than not. GS stands for Gelande/Strasse which means off-road/on road. That is the category that it should be reviewed in. It is the best bike for long distance, off-road riding. And it does pretty well in technical off-road riding as well. Did you mention the ShiftCam technology?
I am 5'4" and my arms reach without any strain to do so. As for the height, there are techniques to put your feet down.
I agree with your comment on the 'barking dog' sound.
This is a beautifully balanced bike even for ladies.
Yup, the engineering of the GS truly delivers a lot of benefits and "best in class" titles in regard to certain areas and features. Balancing is one of them. ShiftCam may enhance the performance but I'd prefer to mention it as "enhanced performance" rather than getting into technical details of how ShiftCam technology works. I suspect that it's mostly interesting to BMW's marketing people to mention or to those that dig deeply into the "whys". I myself wouldn't be interested too much but right, this is one of the reasons why the bike feels even better than before for sure. Thanks and all the best!
I think BMW may have pissed off "V-Told", cause this video is just out of context, GS is a GS, it is not a HP concerned bike.
I'm not sure I understand what your comment means. What context is missing here? The video is about the potential reasons that may cause anyone to be willing to look for a motorcycle other than GS, if certain characteristics of a GS might not suit them. I was convinced that this would be very clear.
@@VToldsMotoShow Its like comparing a Hummer to a Ferrari. None of the GS lines were designed to be performance oriented, NONE.
You are absolutely spot on about the 1250 GS I have a 22 model is difficult to put it away and have to wait till my next ride yeah the expenses there just cut back a little bit on what does not blink bring you pleasure that was well done
Hey, there are reasons for the bike being a benchmark globally for years, right? All the best with your '22!
I laughed; I cried, your wrong; your right…. Hit the like button! 😂
You, Sir, are right there in the "comment of the week" contest! It's going to be even more exciting once I start providing some exciting prizes for the winners ;). Cheers!
OK, I didn’t like the boxer engine sound to begin with (not big enough to prevent me from considering a purchase though) but now I’m going to reference that nasty Fiat clip whenever I hear the exhaust…which MIGHT actually prevent me from buying a GS or one of the other boxer bikes. Thanks dude….(haha kidding, but that clip is not a good visual to have with the bike for sure!)
Sir, you're right there on top of the game of "top comments of the week" - yours definitely made my day! And hey, Fiat 126p is a legend in fact! Great offroad vehicle with very low weight, narrow tires and RWD ;). All the best!
Well…i tend to agree with your earlier vdo… that 9 reasons are more sensible.
Here, i started to suspect something amiss…something ominous…
If the list of pros is stronger than the list of cons, then there is a happy conclusion!
After watching all your reviews, i lost hope in all bikes lol no body will ever find the perfect bike that can fit all,, but fit most of his needs.
I hope KTM will sometime iron out the UX to become as good as BMW and become the true king of them all :)
If someone can combine a f800gs a r1200gsa and a s1000xr I would be interested.
Very well-said. Actually I lost my hope too, but that's normal I guess. It's about getting as close as possible to perfect in some certain areas that are the most important for you (every single one of us). One true deal-breaker for me personally would be the exhaust sound while for others this matters as much as what mr. Igor Stachyra had for breakfast today - it's the last thing on the list. So yeah, it differs and understanding ourselves is the key. Cheers and all the best!
You completely lost me when you said that it's more expensive than some cars, if that's your stance: go get a car!
Thanks, I've got some already. I'll simplify my thinking process: you're getting much more less of a product/material here for often the same price, which in turn looks like an unjustified price. You know, 4 wheels vs 2 wheels, approx. 250 kg of a product vs approx. 1500 kg of a product and their purpose is to move people around.
@@VToldsMotoShow Or would it be: mostly handbuild in small quantaties vs mass production by mostly robots. There is simply very little the same in production processes here.
Cześć Witold! W zeszłym roku nabyłem BMW r1200rs. Kupiłem używany z gwarancją w salonie bmw (podobno największysalon motocyklowy bmw w UK). Podczas wypełniania papierów uciąłem sobie taką krótką pogawędkę ze sprzedawcą. Rozmowa dotyczyła tego jak zmienia się punkt widzenia i preferencje ludzi którzy kupują nowe motocykle (bmw) I po krótkim czasie zamieniają je na inne modele. Otóż istnieje ciągła rotacja pomiędzy właścicielami GS, RT, R, RS... czyli np... kupują nowego GSa i po 2, 3 latach przesiadają się na RT lub inny boxer. I teraz... ciekawostka taka, że gdy dotrą do RS'a... to są happy! I zostają z nim na dłużej! Dlaczego? Bo tak jak wiesz większość użytkowników GS nigdy nie zjeżdża z asfaltu. A motocyklem o wiele bardziej zorientowanym wyłącznie na asfalt jest.. RS. Oczywiście nie mam jakis statystyk dostępnych, gdyż tak jak pisze... to było po prostu wspomniane podczas rozmowy. Ale forum FB właścicieli RS potwierdzą tendencje zmiany w tym wladnie kierunku. Poza grupa szczęśliwców którzy po prostu mają kilka moto.. np GS i RS czy R... A przy okazji... bardzo fajne te filmiki robisz! Well done 👏
Dzięki za podzielenie się tym. I może być tak jak piszesz! RS to coś relatywnie nowego w BMW i innego, a jednocześnie nie tak strasznie skoncentrowanego na jednym celu. Ja miałem okazję pojeździć trochę R1200RS i to było ciekawe, ale RT lub GS są dla mnie wygodniejsze ze względu na bardziej wyprostowaną pozycję na nich. Ot taka moja preferencja. Mam nadzieję, że Twój RS będzie się dalej doskonale spisywał, bo to kawał dobrej maszyny!
@@VToldsMotoShow dzięki za odpowiedź. 3 moich kolegów ma GSy... tylko ja się zdecydowałem iść inna drogą. So far .. so good! Jestem happy z wyboru! Pozdrawiam!
i found a 2019 1250 gs for sale with 50K kilome. in good shape , very good price, checked from mechanics on bmw dealer. do you recommend buying it? i will keep this bike for years , the deferences from the 2021> are the lights i guess
Like with a lot of things - it depends on its price and value comparing to other bikes on the market.
Do you have any opinions on on the LOW version of the GSA for shorter folks? I have a BMW K1600 GT now but was told the GSA is actually more comfortable in touring suspension. I ride with my wife as well, so its got to handle bumps well for her. Thoughts?
Perception of comfort may differ and it may also be greatly influenced by the roads you ride on. I they're super harsh, then a GS may feel more comfortable as it could stay more composed thanks to larger front and rear wheel travel. K1600GT might in the same spots be using all the travel that it's got and that might not even be enough in some cases making it feel quite rough. In simple words that's how it can work sometimes and it does also when people compare a big GS and an RT which have a very similar suspension setup. It's just that a GS can take way more. I've got no experience with a lowered version but I'd assume that its capabilities are accordingly lowered and some of that composure may be taken away. On smoother roads though, the weight difference may act as a benefit for a heavier K1600GT and make it feel more like a cruise ship. GSA has taller suspension than a regular R1250GS so it's kind of against its original idea (one of).
The GS or the GSA is a serious touring bike, far better than any other cruiser made by Harley or any of the Japanese brands. It can also go off road, the suspension is awesome and durable. The bike is reliable and with proper maintenance it can last forever. The only ugly thing.....is the price. These bikes fully loaded are close to $30k and services are extremely expensive as well. This is not a poor mans bike or something that you buy as a novice rider. If you want touring on the cheap...maybe a Honda, Kawasaki and the likes are for you.
I agree that the prices have been elevated to pretty ridiculous levels. They've never been cheap but in the recent years... well, BMW is simply charging as much as they can. Looking at it this way, it means it's fair pricing.
@@VToldsMotoShow BMW is asking for a lot but there are plenty of people who are willing to pay it. I have an F800ST BMW and it is a very reliable bike BUT I absolutely hate everything about it. Some say that it is the best thing in the world. I don't understand how, I think the R9T and the large GS series are excellent even though they are over priced.
There is nothing called which one is best because all depends on your needs and you cannot say avoid but thanks for your information
Yup, there isn't the best but there may be something that suits somebody the most in certain areas and then as a whole package. So there may be single reasons to go with a certain bike and there may just as well be singular reasons to avoid them. I hope this explains my point of view better.
Who rides a GS to race it or treat it like a dirt bike ? I do not think anyone else would either .
I definitely would and I actually would expect quite a few guys to do the same. Percentage-wise perhaps not many as there are many, many GSes on the road, but in raw numbers, I guess more riders would know how to take full advantage of the big GS.
Hi V-told, trying to decide between the rallye color or the 40th anniversary. I see that the 40th in your video has a valve cover guard on the crash bars. Can I ask which brand that is and what you had to do to make it fit? It looks like the yellow bits that come on the valve cover on the 40th protrude out a bit interfering with putting a plate over that spot.
Hi, this is a dealer's bike, so I'm assuming that whatever there was on the bike, it was fitted by the dealer using official BMW accessories. I'd even expect them to order the test motorcycles with no further mods or accessories. That would be my assumption.
@@VToldsMotoShow thanks for the reply. I looked closer at the bike in the video and there wasn't an additional guard that I was thinking about. I picked up mine on Tuesday, such a great bike. Your videos were very helpful.
The shocks on a GS cost just as much as the shocks on my BMW X5
Thankfully this part should not need replacing too often on a GS, right?
@V-Told your absolutely right. Someone once told me that when you own a BMW. Any bmw. Always have about 10 grand in the bank for just in case you have to get the vehicle fixed. Especially when it's out of warranty
I agreed the most of what you said specially for the abnormal price but is she also expensive for maintenance and services compared to others bikes ?
I'm not familiar with specific maintenance prices today, especially as they may differ market to market and dealer to dealer.
I don’t own a bmw gs.. but I have ridden one… great video editing skills… reason 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Hi, based on everything you phave presented, please tell me how tall are you? I have 1.8 m and wondering if a GSA is proper for me. Thanks
I’m 183 cm tall or 6 feet tall. Once you set off it doesn’t really matter. Most of the rest you may test in a dealership and I’d try that if I were you. However, at 180 cm tall, you should still be able to deal with anything as long as you don’t have super short legs. And of course if you prefer an Adventure for some reasons and are dedicated to going for it.
Well, if a new model will arrive in 2023, then maybe it's worth waiting until then, to buy the 2022 model at a discount... assuming there will be any left.
That could make sense indeed, especially if something about the next generation may not be as good as one might expect. We've seen such stories in the past and recently too, so why not to stay alert and watch for good deals.
Always honest,accurate and professional in your analysis.Thanks.
Agree on that. Did a test ride of the GS. Can check. :)
Thanks, I'm glad that you like it! Cheers!
Got to be 150hp with the R1300
It would match the just unveiled Triumph Tiger 1200 for 2022. It would make sense I think.
@@VToldsMotoShow it would. Wonder if the T-plane crank ruins the bike. Have you seen the strange wheel sizes. 150/70/18 rear 120/70/19 front. Looks like a real miss match.
Very right about the rear wheel. I've got to say that it's a strange choice but there are tire choices in this size, so it shouldn't be that big of an issue after all. And they don't seem to be more expensive than 17" ones. I wonder what was behind this decision.
Nice video, I hope you can make a comparative video with the BMW GS 1250 VS the new TRIUMPH Tiger 1200. Saludos.
Thanks and I'm definitely willing to examine the Tiger 1200 once the first units are available and the snow is gone.
Dude, you are Suzuki GSX guy, not a ADV Touring guy. Period
Never. Three periods…
The 1300 GS will fly like an airplane, it will have 4 wings, and landing gear !!
And will be fully electric.
Comparing the sound of a stock gs exhaust to a akrapovic exhaust in the Ducati, …. Lol
First check how that "Akrapovic" on the Multistrada sounds. It's as quiet as any stock exhaust. Lol.
And I think that you maybe didn’t mentioned the high quality standards of service to customer that BMW (at the similar price range of the other manufacturers- premium segment products) in average terms, offers to each and single person who owns a bike of their brand, which is for some people a controversial argument, but not for me. If the bike doesn’t make the difference facing all competition, that fact makes it for me. It’s in the motorcycle world the only brand that when I had a justified claim, they fixed the issue and assumed that they had committed a mistake and made a money restitution to my account. In context to that, without any law suit threat or even the need of a lawyer intervention. That institutional posture only happened twice, in my whole adult life, and one was with a BMW Motorrad brand Dealership. Correctness is a major asset for a company as big as they are. That’s better than any awesome discount that some other brand can offer you at the moment that you’re prepared to close the buy of an expensive bike. But hey! I am all a favor to a competitive market and when I make this statement I’m not trashing any of the other brands or saying that they aren’t Ethical Companies, so please don’t read my words sideways.
I’m only sharing a true event of substantial meaning for a costumer that in fact took place with me on that customer quality. Just to say, that when you buy a durable asset , frequently you are taking a step into a durable relationship with the Company that owns that brand and that is supplying you the machine. Is important how they treat your machine, but there is also relevance on the way they treat yourself.✌️✌️
So you mean customer care. That's how brands can win customers and make them loyal or they can lose them in 1 second. Yup. This video is only about the downsides. In the other point of view here: ua-cam.com/video/Bex9L1zwtIo/v-deo.html I don't think I mentioned it exactly. However, it very often also depends on a specific dealership. Thanks for bringing that up! Dealers talk is super complex though ;)
@@VToldsMotoShow Your last phrase here, is definitely a fair assessment to that type of relationship. It can vary, and that’s the reason why I only share my own and personal experiences and non of what others might think and not ever of material based on what come up on the social networks. I take into account the general information, but my opinion is only firmed when I have a direct intervention on those situations.
I have already watched the other video that counters this one and that is full of relevant arguments. And yes, customer care is exactly what I mean. It’s a central aspect of the buying decision concerning a machine of this price tag.
Thank you for your kind and assertive response. ✌️✌️
I’ve swapped my 1250gs now because of a weight issue because I’m getting older. I loved the comfort, power and shaft drive. I hated the engine noise rattled like it had done 150,000 miles and had only done 10000 and customer service was appalling. I was going trade in for a smaller bmw but trade in value was at least pathetic with loads of extras. Goodbye bmw.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. So what have you decided to go with? I'm surprised to hear that it seems that in your market the R1250GS lost a lot in value (still, that may be a matter or a perspective too).
@@VToldsMotoShow I decided to go for the Triumph tiger gt pro. I absolutely love it, it’s around 40 kilos lighter than the gs, comfortable very easy to manoeuvre whilst stationary and so easy to put on the centre stand. 3 stage heated grips and 2 stage heated seats, cruise control etc etc and have a local dealer......no brainer. I’m not a chain fan but hey ho. I had a 1200gs which was serviced by the bmw dealer in Long Eaton near Nottingham and when I did the following service there was almost twice the amount of oil in the final drive than there should have been....Main dealer !!!!! and other issues which they could not fix. The ride is perhaps not on a par as the gs but very near. I’m happy. Have a good 2022
The main reason to not buy a GS , because it is a GS .
And the main reason to buy it is that it's a GS too.
You compared it to a 1000xr bmw, which is a different engine and category, the title is a little arrogant for the reasons you’ve stated imo😅
If I compared it to a bike with the same engine, I'd be comparing R1250GS to an R1250GS. I wonder what sense that would make. Somehow... this is not a comparison if you've got no choice, is it?
Power? It’s plenty of power for it’s purpose. It’s not a sport bike. 170hp is a liability off road and also not enough for a real sportbiike. Sound? That’s why you are buying this? Multi Strada? Ha ha…No Desmo!!! Size and Weight? Obstacle clearance and carrying capability require some of both. It’s not anyones fault if you are short. Buy a tiny bike then. 2022? No matter what bike you buy or when you buy it, it will be considered obsolete in 10 years or less. It’s not true but that’s what people think. More electronics? No thank you. Price? Do you think the new model will be less expensive? Crash? You know about insurance right? Part of the Crowd? There is a reason there are so many of them. It’s simply the best all around tourer and semi off road bike made today.
Oh dear, it looks like you'd be left with a bicycle.
@@VToldsMotoShow That makes absolutely no sense at all. What I am saying is that you don’t know what you are talking about. It sounds like you have a lot of opinions and little or no time on any of these bikes.
You should only by a GS if you want own a really good bike ✌️
And now it's got a really close competitor in the form of the new Triumph Tiger 1200.
the power vs the xr and the multistrada is a non starter. Silly comparison really as the gs is a adventure bike and the other two are nearer a sports tourer aimed at two totally situations. Speaking about the ducati ect ect is just pointless. I kind of see where you were heading with this but sort of missed the mark.
Yet I'm convinced that the three are very relevant in terms of how they're used.
@@VToldsMotoShow how they are used by who? Overall the gs is a proper purpose built adventure bike. The xr and multistrada are sports tourers and by no means “adventure” bikes.
Excellent review, as usual. Thank you
Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Cheers!
You want a real reason not to buy a GS? If you're unlucky, this is the shitty idle noise you get: ua-cam.com/video/gvcg73lB9iA/v-deo.html - It sound like junk after a few thousand KM's and BMW will say "no sir, that's not a warranty issue, it's normal they all do that (they don't)" ruins the whole experience. Also, the driveline lash can be a real disaster - see also: ua-cam.com/video/cTde47ffyCQ/v-deo.html (it's certainly not an isolated issue). I sold my 1200 GS LC for this reason and i'm now a ver happy KTM owner. They sound ace
This definitely doesn't sound too good. Looking at the comments, it seems like there might be those kinds of issues happening. I've also seen some other videos on this topic and some appear to be quite popular. However, as long as those bikes are covered under warranty and BMW representatives in each country do their job by honoring the warranty, it's fine. Now if this happens to a bike out of warranty, then... I'll leave it at that. Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying your KTM now.
@@VToldsMotoShow thanks for your comment V told. I had this issue the first year of owning my brand new 2016 1200 triple black with three year extended warranty. BMW Belgium denied the existence of any problem, so my BMW garage didn't wanna take any risk. They just confirmed all measures in the head were within tolerances (my god, what are those tolerances exactly??), so you're stuck with a "they all do that sir". Imagine the financial consequences of having to change all the heads on bikes with this noise, as compared to just saying "the engine runs sir, it's just a caracteristic of the boxer which you seem not to be able to accept (my ass, BMW...)". It's a shame because when I tried the test bikes of the BMW garage, (which I did at least four times during several hours before ordering mine), none of them had that stupid clattering and they rode wonderfully. Comfiest bike for my size at 1m90
1m 03 the little girl on that scooter in the traffic seriously wtf, other that that cracking looking bike
Yeah, kind of worrying to see that.
Love my 1250
There's a lot of bike to love.
Need your advice...I am shifting to USA in couple of months..I am planning to just sit on motorcycle and visit all states..which bike you advice me...? In terms of maintaining..resale value..reliability..I am not offroader person..yes if I get then no issue..I am 53 years old and for the past 40 years I am on bike..please advise...thanks
You forgot to mention your budget, among other things... :) Done that a few years ago in Canada. Got a KLR 650 with low mileage and sold it for almost the same amount a month later.
In terms of reliability, resale, maintenance you can’t beat the GS/GSA. Changing engine and rear drive oil is easy, air filter and spark plug replacement is easy. Plus it is shaft drive so no chain to maintain. The thing is bullet proof. Sure if you are on a budget, buy a KLR. But look for a late but well maintained, low mileage GS. You can’t go wrong!
If you are sticking to paved roads, the RT and the KLT are great BMWs also. Again, go for a slightly used but well maintained unit.
@@petermacgregor9805 I appreciate your reply, and sincere advice thanks.God bless you
@@johnnyblue4799 yes I forgot, I am planning to spend around 15000 dollars...second I use to have gs 1200 adventure 2015 model..and other Japanese 1800 cc honda f6c..I think 650 KLR will be shorter for me...
I think that bikes that have been mentioned may mak sense if you want something comfortable, with no chain maintenance and holding its value pretty well. Especially buying second-hand in order for it to depreciate as little as possible. R1250/1200GS or an RT could be a fair choice. Now since you went with R1200GS Adventure in the past, you may not be the shortest person in the world. Perhaps getting back on an Adventure would make you feel at home. And any BMW boxer engine equipped bike tends to be quite gentle in terms of fuel consumption. So the question really is what you're considering and what you like.
Splitting the cars at 0:46 is bad.
Don’t ride like that.
Skoda driver moved to the right. That's a common sign of letting a rider comfortably go. This city may be one of the places with the largest percentage of car drivers compliant with motorcycle riders. I guess I wouldn't trust other drivers in any other place. However, I understand that this may be a surprise and seem totally impossible. Yet it is. If you check any of my onboard videos, you might end up in a positive shock.
*The best bike ever*
For some it could be.
In my opinion the weakest point in any GS is the engine sound. It's like a broken grinder!
🤣
That’s the coffee bean grinder located by the front forks.
I disagree... I think Ducati's sound like broken grinders. I love how they look but I don't like their sound one bit.
@
OK, so which engine sounds the best to your ears?
@@alithejumbo Twins... Parallel and boxer and also Triple's, especially Triumph's triple engines.
Love this bike
And you're not alone1
- Cons with GS boxer. Weight, vibrations, gearbox, engine rattle, sound, price, price for necessary accessories, ugly design. +Pros , tourqe, low center of gravity, breaks.
Thanks for sharing! I see that we've got pretty common view on the matter.
I Wonder, why there isnt BMW12500 adventures at DAKAR ??????
Likely for the same reason as no other fully standard bikes are there.
The day you can drive a GS as Tom Barrer and Brett Tkacks i will listen .I think you need to upgrade your skills.For the rest you can afford the bike or not just like bying a Porsche.
And you judge one's "riding skills" by what exactly? Likely you might need to reconsider your approach to riding and finding reasons to enjoy motorcycles. If listening or watching hurts you, just don't do it.
does your shirt say sneed?
Nah, it says "No speed limit", but close... close.