My 'adventure' bike that I bought brand new in March this year cost £4000 otr. In my view it's better looking and more practical than the new GS which probably costs four, or five, times as much. I'm very happy with my Himalayan 411, it's not perfect, but it's a simple, uncomplicated bike that is easy to like and does a job.
@@WyreForestBiker yes, in fact, I sold the Bullet today, I’ve just got to sell the Meteor 350, and then I might be able to get my next project underway. I am hoping I might get hold of a BSA 650 for my next bike.
@WyreForestBiker Well although I never owned a G Wagon, back when only farmers drove Defenders I had loads. Then when they started to be driven by footballers and Cheshire wives I stopped owning them and went mainstream! I like it when designers stick their fingers up to fashion and take a punt. Seriously though I think it'll be as big a success as any motorbike will be allowed to be in the next 5 years and become a bit of an icon. Unfortunately I'm a 5'10 shortarse and the wrong side of 60 so not for me!
Let's face it owning a GS has never been about looks it's become a cult, many owners don't even see themselves as " bikers" they're on their own private adventure. The boxer engine is a hundred years old now, well past it's sell by date. My thoughts on it's looks 🤔😮, it's like a CZ on steroids mated with a 60's ice-cream freezer. I note it's fitted with crash bars, why? The riders knees are going to splayed like a spatchcock chicken. Looks like they might have squeezed forty litres into that tank, size matters when your looking for a protuberance extension. If I see one I'll stop it and ask for a 99 with two flakes and strawberry sauce 😂
It loox like the bike Kryten from Red Dwarf would ride! I'm sure people will get used to it and it will sell well. I wonder if they'll do it in Marmite's colours 🤔🤗
I don't generally strongly disagree with you about things but on this I have to. I'll ignore the "rear wheel drive car bit but the bit about a boxer twin off-road? really? the GS pretty much dominated the Dakar in the 80's but BMW's history of off-roading boxer twins goes way back to the 30's with 6day trials etc. As for this new bike I am not a fan but I don't think I'm meant to be. You are right I think to compare BMW's situation with Harley because like traditional Harley buyer, GS buyers are also all getting older and either retiring from bikes or moving to smaller machines. The younger generations are leaning more towards KTM or Ducati. I think Chris from 44 Teeth hit the nail on the head when he mentioned the game Halo because this thing looks like it was styled by the same people that styled all the sci-fi weapons and vehicles for that computer game. I think BMW have squarely aimed this at the generation that grew up with Playstations and Computers not those of us who grew up with rotary dial telephones and TVs with tubes in. Do I like it? no I don't but is it a smart move for BMW? I think it might just be genius but time will tell.
@Grumpy-Goblin you might well be right ,it will sell no doubt but some traditionalists buyers will be put off... I take it about the Dakar bikes, but my point was really any engineer would agree a boxer twin is not an ideal configuration for off road use just as a flat six is mot the ideal supercar engine ( I think we can all agree with that ) yet BMW marketing have overcome that brilliantly .... thanks for commenting 👍
I had the first of the modern generation GS and it was always ugly. I liked the bike, but at that time it was a rare beast on the road and other riders tended to turn their noses up at it. Dealers told me it was such an ugly oddball they wouldn’t part exchange it. The latest GS road bike has tried to make it more aesthetically pleasing, but customers moaned that it wasn’t as nice as their big ugly bikes, so BMW likely took that onboard and created another minger 😂 I’d be fine with it, but really it’s no longer in a class of one as it was in 1990. It’s engine isn’t the big, grunty thing which had more torque than power, now it’s morphed into a slicker, faster, more powerful, sports oriented machine trying to retain its uniqueness. The question I have to ask is ‘does anyone really need this bike’ ? The answer is no, but that doesn’t stop thousands buying them to ‘adventure’ on. I was in Spain in May on a Tuono 660 - a tiny bike, fitted with one Ventura tail pack amongst a mass of aluminium clad, spotlight bedecked GS mammoths. I was asked several times whether a 660 and very little luggage was sensible for a couple of weeks touring😂. Looking along the line of bikes I happened upon one guy with an AJP 250 single trail bike heading for the TET in Portugal- he had minimal luggage and was camping too, now that’s a proper adventure rider, it’s also not at all aesthetic.
It seems to me that all prestige brands of transport are being made FUGLY as its the only way to get them off the road. The days of good looking bikes are gone..
I worked as a porsche and bmw tech and both the 911 and the gs are flawed designs that the germans have managed to engineer their way to overcome their flaws but gs is not the worst bmw design remember the c1 bike with the roof can't be as bad as that but it is ugly
Thanks Stephen , I do remember the C1 yes! ... it was weird for certain but at least it was trying something new ... the GS is just plain ugly ! ...Thanks for the comment.
Very difficult to put words to the look of the new GS. To me i think maybe the BBC have smashed up a load of second hand Daleks and Cybermen, then put some gorilla glue on the debris and thrown the pieces at a bike frame from about 50 paces.
Hi wyre forest rider, I think you are so right about the new bmw gs it's badly designed and I don't like the gs all together sorry to any one who do and I heard the problems that happen to the gs later down the line which solo moto UK got ride of his for and got a kawersaki ninger. Thanks for you help with were to take my triumph street tripel rs for service it is most helpful
Let’s be honest. GS riders are, on average, tasteless posers and this caricature takes it to the next level. It might actually do well in these decadent times.
Bit harsh, i have had a 1150gs for 10 years and now an 08 1200, along side a vfr750 and cbr1000 i am a biker not a poser, the gs just fits me well, my knees dont fit sport bikes these days and i do like the agriculturalness of it. People used to say the same in the 90's of the race rep riders, just trying to be foggy or schwantz etc, always thought that was a load of bollocks, I have always loved biking because we are no better than each other when we have our helmets on and there were no divisions, blade owners would chat to a young lad on his tzr125 etc. Maybe things have changed but i will still nod to any bugger on any bike. Thats my rant over, cheers.
@@cbrboy76 You are off course right and I apologize for taking the easy way out for maximum effect but there also is some truth in what I say. More subtly put: Many GS riders express in their nonverbal behaviour a measure of overbearing elitism and “see what I can afford” machismo. Many don’t even greet back. Furthermore: How many GS riders actually use their bikes for what they are advertised for? But it is of course a generalization to say all are the same. I will however NOT take the remark back about it being a caricature. A lot worse even then a Suzuki Hayabusa pretending to be a real sportsbike. 😁
@@marcbrasse747 same can be said for harly riders, i am not a fan of flashing the credit card and buying HD or branded jackets right down to the underpants, there are loads of blokes who are not "bikers" in the true sense, they have the shiney GS or fatboy in the garage for a sunny day or holiday trip to 5 star hotels in europe but there are more of us out there who are the frank thomas jacket and ride it to work type riders. I dont think there are any of us who use our bikes for their intended purpose, no way would i take my gs off road but then i would not take a dt125 off road as i am shite off road. Just enjoy riding and remember we all dont have elitist views cos we have a GS. We ride cos its fuckin fun😁
a total cock up by BMW, I think the original GS was parts bin 800. looks like found a scrap skip to raid, a bit bit like the new Land Rover Defender, were left no room in the boot so borrowed a couple of panniers for the rear windows, or in other words Designers can't Design!!
You'd better tell the 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985 Paris- Dakar winners that their horizontally opposed BMW's weren't suitable for off road riding. Clearly they should've listened to you.
I was waiting for that well done ! 😊"The Exception that proves the rule" I'm saying boxer twins would not be used in a ground up design to compete today , which was the point I was making ..It was BMW using what they had available at the time, I might be wrong , but I don't mind betting KTM are not currently designing a boxer twin so they can compete with the GS 😁
@@WyreForestBiker Indeed but KTM are now making offroad motorcycles with the fuel tanks down low in order to keep the mass low down. It's almost as if they looked at a certain other manufacturer to copy their succesful handling traits.😁
The boxer engined GS is pretty good off road for its size and the balance is confidence inspiring too. Just don't go down any deep ruts because you'll end up marooned on the cylinder heads!
@@dieppe182 Exactly, I recently watched a vid of the ABR festival and two motorcycles were stuck in the deep mud. One was a large GS the other was a KTM with the low fuel tanks.🤣
I can buy 2 looking good Africa Twins for the price of this monster, this is how ridiculous BMW has become. The Chinese must be thinking that never has been a better time to take the European motorcycle market, is going to happen like with the cars.
GSs never were pretty. GSAs even less so. People buy them because they're competent machines and because they feel like coffee sipping supervillains when they park them outside their local starbucks. For both of those missions the new design is great. First bike to channel waste heat completely around the rider and looks like a steampunk tank. They will sell millions and the corresponding offerings from Ducati, Triumph and KTM will bad-assify their lineups accordingly.
RE: The BMW GS's fantastic following: Jim Jones had one too and look what happened to him. Guess what, I'm not a fan either. They are useful if you want to munch the miles on fast roads with your partner and the kitchen sink on the back and then spend a lot of money at the dealer. At lest you don't have to look at it when you're onboard. Each to their own eh.
That BMW actually makes my wife look pretty 😂
LOL Brilliant ... I literally laughed out loud to that Mark ! Pass on my apology to Mrs Percy!
My 'adventure' bike that I bought brand new in March this year cost £4000 otr. In my view it's better looking and more practical than the new GS which probably costs four, or five, times as much. I'm very happy with my Himalayan 411, it's not perfect, but it's a simple, uncomplicated bike that is easy to like and does a job.
Thanks David ... i think more and more people agree with you that a smaller lighter machine makes more sense for the task .
In a bid to blend in with the modern world , BMW designed the latest iteration of their flagship bike to look like a mailbox!
LOL spot on ...lets hope they don't bring out a red one 😅
Just coming from my tour with my CL500 - today a Rebel came across
🏍️🙋🏻♂️🙋🏻♂️🏍️
Fantastic 👍
I agree completely, absolutely awful. It’s almost like their arrogance is to think how ugly can we make a bike and still sell a bucket load. 😂
Well something is going on that's for sure😊
BMW boost the sales of Pan-American LOL😂😂😂😂
You might be right !! ... Any luck with selling the bikes yet ?🤔
@@WyreForestBiker yes, in fact, I sold the Bullet today, I’ve just got to sell the Meteor 350, and then I might be able to get my next project underway. I am hoping I might get hold of a BSA 650 for my next bike.
I love it. But being a 5'10 short arse I'll never have one unfortunately. A future classic. Think the old Defender and G-Wagon.
Interesting view , and good point about the G wagon/Defender ... You're seeing a certain 'Brutalist' charm maybe ?🤔
@WyreForestBiker Well although I never owned a G Wagon, back when only farmers drove Defenders I had loads. Then when they started to be driven by footballers and Cheshire wives I stopped owning them and went mainstream! I like it when designers stick their fingers up to fashion and take a punt. Seriously though I think it'll be as big a success as any motorbike will be allowed to be in the next 5 years and become a bit of an icon. Unfortunately I'm a 5'10 shortarse and the wrong side of 60 so not for me!
The boxer engine has it's flaws for off road use. Given that most GS bikes only go across cotswold stone driveways.
Very true Gary 😊
Let's face it owning a GS has never been about looks it's become a cult, many owners don't even see themselves as " bikers" they're on their own private adventure. The boxer engine is a hundred years old now, well past it's sell by date. My thoughts on it's looks 🤔😮, it's like a CZ on steroids mated with a 60's ice-cream freezer. I note it's fitted with crash bars, why?
The riders knees are going to splayed like a spatchcock chicken. Looks like they might have squeezed forty litres into that tank, size matters when your looking for a protuberance extension. If I see one I'll stop it and ask for a 99 with two flakes and strawberry sauce 😂
It loox like the bike Kryten from Red Dwarf would ride! I'm sure people will get used to it and it will sell well.
I wonder if they'll do it in Marmite's colours
🤔🤗
Yes that's so true ! they had the same designer I think ... thanks Simon
To give the GS an Australian spin, it resembles an esky (ice-box) without any beer inside! Kind of pointless.
I agree with you, the bmw is not a ‘looker’ the cl500 is not one either, all subjective of course, to one’s taste in aesthetics.
A photocopy machine 😂😂🤣🤣. I think that they looked at the Mk1 Himalayan and went down that road in Germanic style.
Thats a thought I've had since I made the video ..the square pannier rails on the Himmy have that look .
I don't generally strongly disagree with you about things but on this I have to. I'll ignore the "rear wheel drive car bit but the bit about a boxer twin off-road? really? the GS pretty much dominated the Dakar in the 80's but BMW's history of off-roading boxer twins goes way back to the 30's with 6day trials etc. As for this new bike I am not a fan but I don't think I'm meant to be. You are right I think to compare BMW's situation with Harley because like traditional Harley buyer, GS buyers are also all getting older and either retiring from bikes or moving to smaller machines. The younger generations are leaning more towards KTM or Ducati. I think Chris from 44 Teeth hit the nail on the head when he mentioned the game Halo because this thing looks like it was styled by the same people that styled all the sci-fi weapons and vehicles for that computer game. I think BMW have squarely aimed this at the generation that grew up with Playstations and Computers not those of us who grew up with rotary dial telephones and TVs with tubes in. Do I like it? no I don't but is it a smart move for BMW? I think it might just be genius but time will tell.
@Grumpy-Goblin you might well be right ,it will sell no doubt but some traditionalists buyers will be put off... I take it about the Dakar bikes, but my point was really any engineer would agree a boxer twin is not an ideal configuration for off road use just as a flat six is mot the ideal supercar engine ( I think we can all agree with that ) yet BMW marketing have overcome that brilliantly .... thanks for commenting 👍
I had the first of the modern generation GS and it was always ugly. I liked the bike, but at that time it was a rare beast on the road and other riders tended to turn their noses up at it. Dealers told me it was such an ugly oddball they wouldn’t part exchange it. The latest GS road bike has tried to make it more aesthetically pleasing, but customers moaned that it wasn’t as nice as their big ugly bikes, so BMW likely took that onboard and created another minger 😂 I’d be fine with it, but really it’s no longer in a class of one as it was in 1990. It’s engine isn’t the big, grunty thing which had more torque than power, now it’s morphed into a slicker, faster, more powerful, sports oriented machine trying to retain its uniqueness. The question I have to ask is ‘does anyone really need this bike’ ? The answer is no, but that doesn’t stop thousands buying them to ‘adventure’ on. I was in Spain in May on a Tuono 660 - a tiny bike, fitted with one Ventura tail pack amongst a mass of aluminium clad, spotlight bedecked GS mammoths. I was asked several times whether a 660 and very little luggage was sensible for a couple of weeks touring😂. Looking along the line of bikes I happened upon one guy with an AJP 250 single trail bike heading for the TET in Portugal- he had minimal luggage and was camping too, now that’s a proper adventure rider, it’s also not at all aesthetic.
Great comment thank you😊👍
Looks like the Cybermen have assimilated the GS1250.
Yes I can see that !!
When did bmw build a pretty bike
It seems to me that all prestige brands of transport are being made FUGLY as its the only way to get them off the road. The days of good looking bikes are gone..
I worked as a porsche and bmw tech and both the 911 and the gs are flawed designs that the germans have managed to engineer their way to overcome their flaws but gs is not the worst bmw design remember the c1 bike with the roof can't be as bad as that but it is ugly
Thanks Stephen , I do remember the C1 yes! ... it was weird for certain but at least it was trying something new ... the GS is just plain ugly ! ...Thanks for the comment.
Very difficult to put words to the look of the new GS. To me i think maybe the BBC have smashed up a load of second hand Daleks and Cybermen, then put some gorilla glue on the debris and thrown the pieces at a bike frame from about 50 paces.
Well if the BBC are involved it begins to make sense !
@@WyreForestBiker There is also a possibility the chinese have paid them a billion quid to bring it out.
Hi wyre forest rider, I think you are so right about the new bmw gs it's badly designed and I don't like the gs all together sorry to any one who do and I heard the problems that happen to the gs later down the line which solo moto UK got ride of his for and got a kawersaki ninger. Thanks for you help with were to take my triumph street tripel rs for service it is most helpful
Thanks Paul you're welcome . I know Derek fell out of love with his GS ...the Chinese engined one I hope his luck changes with the 1000sx.
Has Elon Musk bought BMW.
The CYBERHINO.
Good one ! .. The cyber truck on 2 wheels !
Let’s be honest. GS riders are, on average, tasteless posers and this caricature takes it to the next level. It might actually do well in these decadent times.
Bit harsh, i have had a 1150gs for 10 years and now an 08 1200, along side a vfr750 and cbr1000 i am a biker not a poser, the gs just fits me well, my knees dont fit sport bikes these days and i do like the agriculturalness of it. People used to say the same in the 90's of the race rep riders, just trying to be foggy or schwantz etc, always thought that was a load of bollocks, I have always loved biking because we are no better than each other when we have our helmets on and there were no divisions, blade owners would chat to a young lad on his tzr125 etc. Maybe things have changed but i will still nod to any bugger on any bike. Thats my rant over, cheers.
@@cbrboy76 You are off course right and I apologize for taking the easy way out for maximum effect but there also is some truth in what I say. More subtly put: Many GS riders express in their nonverbal behaviour a measure of overbearing elitism and “see what I can afford” machismo. Many don’t even greet back. Furthermore: How many GS riders actually use their bikes for what they are advertised for? But it is of course a generalization to say all are the same. I will however NOT take the remark back about it being a caricature. A lot worse even then a Suzuki Hayabusa pretending to be a real sportsbike. 😁
@@marcbrasse747 same can be said for harly riders, i am not a fan of flashing the credit card and buying HD or branded jackets right down to the underpants, there are loads of blokes who are not "bikers" in the true sense, they have the shiney GS or fatboy in the garage for a sunny day or holiday trip to 5 star hotels in europe but there are more of us out there who are the frank thomas jacket and ride it to work type riders. I dont think there are any of us who use our bikes for their intended purpose, no way would i take my gs off road but then i would not take a dt125 off road as i am shite off road. Just enjoy riding and remember we all dont have elitist views cos we have a GS. We ride cos its fuckin fun😁
a total cock up by BMW, I think the original GS was parts bin 800. looks like found a scrap skip to raid, a bit bit like the new Land Rover Defender, were left no room in the boot so borrowed a couple of panniers for the rear windows, or in other words Designers can't Design!!
Yes I was amazed when I first saw the Defender side pod ... I thought it looked like an air-conditioning unit !!
So many better bikes than a gs. Overpowered, over weight, overtechnical, over here, over priced. Over complicated.
.... and over unreliable ... if that makes sense😂
You'd better tell the 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985 Paris- Dakar winners that their horizontally opposed BMW's weren't suitable for off road riding. Clearly they should've listened to you.
I was waiting for that well done ! 😊"The Exception that proves the rule" I'm saying boxer twins would not be used in a ground up design to compete today , which was the point I was making ..It was BMW using what they had available at the time, I might be wrong , but I don't mind betting KTM are not currently designing a boxer twin so they can compete with the GS 😁
@@WyreForestBiker Indeed but KTM are now making offroad motorcycles with the fuel tanks down low in order to keep the mass low down. It's almost as if they looked at a certain other manufacturer to copy their succesful handling traits.😁
The boxer engined GS is pretty good off road for its size and the balance is confidence inspiring too. Just don't go down any deep ruts because you'll end up marooned on the cylinder heads!
@@dieppe182 Exactly, I recently watched a vid of the ABR festival and two motorcycles were stuck in the deep mud. One was a large GS the other was a KTM with the low fuel tanks.🤣
Wasn't the first winner a Yamaha xt
hold the front page the bingley wheeler just did a video and says he likes it and would buy one
I'm not surprised ...I'm finding myself disagreeing with him on almost everything lately😂
Of course, he bought a Chinese bike😂
I can buy 2 looking good Africa Twins for the price of this monster, this is how ridiculous BMW has become. The Chinese must be thinking that never has been a better time to take the European motorcycle market, is going to happen like with the cars.
GSs never were pretty. GSAs even less so. People buy them because they're competent machines and because they feel like coffee sipping supervillains when they park them outside their local starbucks. For both of those missions the new design is great. First bike to channel waste heat completely around the rider and looks like a steampunk tank. They will sell millions and the corresponding offerings from Ducati, Triumph and KTM will bad-assify their lineups accordingly.
Fantastic comment ... I must remember that phrase " Bad-assify" ... wonderful 😊
Irrespective of how ugly or overpriced they are they'll sell in huge numbers.
I think you're right Simon !
RE: The BMW GS's fantastic following: Jim Jones had one too and look what happened to him. Guess what, I'm not a fan either. They are useful if you want to munch the miles on fast roads with your partner and the kitchen sink on the back and then spend a lot of money at the dealer. At lest you don't have to look at it when you're onboard. Each to their own eh.
Good point ! ...as did David Koresh ! Thanks Stephen.