2020 BMW R 1250 GS Review | Daily Rider
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- Опубліковано 21 тра 2021
- 2020 BMW R 1250 GS Review | Daily Rider
Read Spurgeon's review: rvz.la/3ucplZA
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BMW’s flagship GS takes on the Daily Rider route. Where will it land on the DR Leaderboard?
SPECS:
MSRP: $21,900
Engine: 1,254 cc horizontally opposed twin
Measured weight: 565 lb. / 256.3 kg (no saddlebags)
Fuel tank: 5.2 gal. / 19.7 liters
Seat height: 33.5 or 34.3 in. / 850 or 870 mm
Claimed power: 136 hp @ 7,750 rpm
Claimed torque: 105 foot-pounds @ 6,250 rpm
Zack’s gear:
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Read Spurgeon' review of the R 1250 GS here: rvz.la/3vbHCYi
Dude you´re overstepping every stop line at every Stop Light you meet!!! Lucky there are no cops around. Anyway nice bike but very bad driving from you sir
@@josecarlosavendano5431 are you in CALIFORNIA?
Are you going to do a daily rider on the new fireblade cbr1000r
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The reason everyone hates on the 1250gs is because of "long way 'round." That tv show sold the bike as dirt focused. It's not, it could never be with a drive shaft instead of a chain. You can't repair it unless you have a fleet with you. The 1250gs is a sweet bike for people who don't like cruisers or sport tourer, just not what is associated with an off-road focused adv.
Good to see he's not using signals like a true bmw owner
If you are ever feeling useless at your job remember there are people who install turn signal systems at BMW lol
@@ron_grimes yeah.....they do include auto off
@@ron_grimesWho even needs that feature? I learned how to turn of the turn signals on my first year of riding. I just press the button repeatingly when i feel like they're on 😄
@@ron_grimes yeah the repeated pressing is just a tick that many riders have. At least many i talked too. It cancels after 300m cause in Germany it's common practice to start the turn signal when 200-300m before the exit on the Autobahn. But I'm pretty shure it's also dependant on the lean angle and general direction, maybe your system is just not working right?
I hope you review the R1300GS SOON after it hits the showroom floors.
Zack always finds new ways to impress me. What a rider. Him and Ari are the best journalists in motorcycling right now. Definitely my motorcycling heroes.
Agree they are great -- but honestly so far I haven't been bowled over by the content they have been doing with Revzilla. It seems too much like a re-do of their older work but under a new badge, and comes across as a bit formulaic and unenthusiastic at times.
As for the best, I just love Ryan F9's work -- writing, content and production is on a whole other level.
Currently, it's Ryan F9 and zack and eri. Zack and eri were always legends, they always will be.
Seth Richards from Motorcyclist/Cycling world writes beautifully. Haven't seen anything on video from him however.
@@TeslasSecret hmm ,there are many people who do great motorcycle reviews, but might not have the chance to tape it, they prefer blog writing, like i do.
@@p.chakraborty4453 Indeed ! Besides, written reviews have a very distinct charm to them. Still, when Motorcyclcist went away I didn't really get on with cycle world for some reason and ended my subscription. That Seth Richards is great however, though his reviews are of a more literary, perhaps ultimately less informative kind.
"you could 2, maybe 3 versys 650s"
That was hilarious. I went with a Versys 650 as my first street bike 5 years ago and I look at other bikes like, "Oh... that's like 2.5 Kawasakis."
Seeing that speedo spin up to 70MPH in the dirt section had me worried... and then Zack and that porky GS pull an effortless wheelie. Pretty damn impressive for both Zack and the GS.
High speed on big ADV bikes is easy. Because they're so heavy they just mow down small things that are in your way. I've run over bushes and small trees with my Super Tenere and if you give it throttle it just keeps moving.
Because they have so much power you can easily get into 70 mph in 4th gear and feel like you have room. I've gotten up to 100 mph on a soft dirt road and that's when the bike starts swaying... other than that they just keep wanting to go faster.
So you've covered the GS.. you better do the new 1290 SAR when it comes out!
If Zack got pulled over for doing a wheelie, would his bosses be mad, or give him high fives? I'm guessing high fives.
the bigger question is does his employer have to pay the fines since he has to do it for work
It'd be hi-five with the cop, I'd wager. 😉
Something that taught me a lot about how tickets are truly not that big of a deal (of course to your financial stability they are) but you can get a ticket in a friends car/bike and they don’t get negatively influenced. I can’t imagine he’d even have to tell them, unless he wanted the high fives!
I have a lot of experience with the 1250 GS from playing PUBG. The jumps this thing can do are insane. The suspension can handle 100 foot vertical drops without any damage to you or the bike. If you can keep from falling off the bike, then just about anything is survivable. This video just scratches the surface of what this bike can do. It can also take a lot of hits from an AK47 before it blows up. Handling is compromised a little if a tire gets shot out.
The PUBG totally-not-a-BMW-1150GS-for-legal-reasons is really fun but LORD is it icy as heck to control sometimes
I'd like to see that 100 foot drop! And it wouldn't survive one magazine in an AK-47 if I were aiming and pulling the trigger!
@@papatorr3669 PUBG is free to play now, so just download it and go for a ride on the GS. Then come back here and admit that I'm 100% correct about what this bike can do. PUBG is ultra realistic, so I'm sure the developers are showing what the GS is truly capable of.
4:04
"No GPS, I think I know where I am going."
And he was never seen or heard from again...
Some say the GS gets too much credit. I say it doesn't get enough. I'm on my fourth one. A 2021 GSA. I agree with Zack about getting a GSA over a GS.
100%. I have to agree with this comment.
I love your channel!
I’m on my 7th
Had sports, tourers, street and cruiser bikes. Ridden for over 40 years continuously. Raced for several years and have a 2019 Hypermotard 950 also. But, these are the best bikes in the world. Not even the 1290 adventure s beats it - the beemer is more poised & composed. I get 300 miles from my 2020 GSA tank. The weight disappears once you’re rolling.
The rally variant is where it's at for me. You get the "lightness" (lol) of the regular GS with the much nicer and longer suspension of the GSA
I guess it's a great bike if you have 25k laying around to drop on something you can safely ride only 6 months out of the year.
The merging of entertainment and enlightenment done to perfection as usual. Great job Zack!
i got a GS a couple years ago and this made me fall back in love with it all over again
Love your work Zack. Very fair and honest. And if you want to put the GS on the top you go for it. If others gonna hate let them make their own leaderboard.
kinda neat how you can see the rev limit (the red area in the rev counter) getting higher the warmer the engine gets, this bike really thinks for you, cause we germans trust nobody xd
M series cars had it for some 20 years.
@@klakier19901 It’s been on the bikes for a while too, the early waterboxers with the LCD rev counter and analogue speedo do the same thing
It’s programmed to change according to temperature, and uses existing sensors! But yeah it’s good for dummies (people with more money than sense lol) !!
@@darylclifford you can argue this about any feature......jesus....I love that everyone perpetuates the cliché about BMW owners being snobs but read this comment section and the true snobs are people butt hurt AH's who shit on the owners.....Anakin...you've become what you hate the most.
@@jnault6441 I'm inclined to respond in a reasonable, sensible and logical discussion over my comment, except you seem to be the "butt hurt" one who took personal offence so I won't engage in a slinging match with you !! Have a good life..👍🍺
Best, most complete, informative, review I’ve seen on this bike. Also, you are a great rider.
"Zat is what I will give you!" 🤣 Zack is the best bike reviewer! Informative with a good dose of humor!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you Zack! I was able to watch you reviews every bike that I considered. I am 64 years old and have had 9 bikes. Currently still have three bikes and am picking up my new BMW 1250 Adventure in two days. Maybe my last bike - maybe not, but being close to my last I spent a lot of time making my decision. Your reviews were of great value to me and although I will not be in the market for a new bike in a while I will still be watching your reviews. Best Regards, Boomer.
I've got a 2013 GS-A and it's the best bike I've ever owned out of over a dozen. It's my keeper. Glad to see the new ones are just as good!
Great review Zack! I loved how you were so engaged with the bike, so entertaining and comfortable with us. A thought. .. maybe the "Balance test" doesn't determine how good a bike is at slow speed, more that it shows only one aspect of that equation. By the way, I own a Triumph Scrambler XC - no axe to grind here. Cheers!
That the aging Versys 650LT is even mentioned in the face of the competition listed on that board is amazing. That it's in the top three is astounding. Every now and then I browse the classifieds for the Versys. There's something about it that appeals to me. Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Love your upbeat and energetic reviews Zach!
Keep ‘me coming please.
😂 😬
Great vid Zack. Agreed with the pick. I ride an older oiled cooled GSA and it is a great bike. The only item that I miss from the newer one is the cruise control. Throttle lock is good but not as comfortable. I used it for everything including daily commute, I like the view over traffic and still can lane split where allowed. For the no foot down stop I get better luck with only rear brake :)
Great review as always Zack! The stop sign test of balance, WTF, it is a boxer! You must’ve been having an off day as these bikes are so well-balanced it is all but effortless. But a man with your experience I’m sure you know that. Great review regardless. You and Ari are bar none the best motorcycle Video guys out there
If BMW's maintenance cost wasn't so high here in Brazil, I'd say "I DAMN WANT IT!" right away. It seems delightful do ride, good size, good weight, shaft drive, and I simply LOVE that boxer twin sound - almost as much as I love a straight-four purring, actually. Thanks for another excellent video, Zack!
So glad to hear Zack point out the overdrive issue. I have a '15 1200GSA, and it's high-revving at 90mph, which seems insane. I also have a KTM 1290 Super Duke GT (w stock gearing), and they got it right... you don't even shift into 6th until like 80mph, that 6th gear is TALL. I love it, and sure wish BMW had done the same, especially since there's nothing you can (easily) do to change it.
Seriously. There’s no excuse to have that much power and rev high at freeway speeds. I don’t understand why all powerful bikes don’t come with a super tall 6th gear. Even if the rest of them are short and close together, just give me a tall 6th.
The KTM had to do that cause the KTM is vibby at anything above 4250rpm.
I am glad we finally get a mention of cost and value at the leaderboard segment, I think that needs a much bigger component! The Versys 650 LT has got the be like the best appliance definition daily rider on the market!
Loved this Zack. Very honest, inclusive of all common questions mentioned. Sliding the back out man, I think every GS rider has to do that as a right of passage.
I was glad to see that you and Ari are still making great videos! 👍
I was feeling trepidatious at the outset of this video because there is so much to this bike: its storied history; its evolution; the seeming complexity of its dash and systems; that I didn't know how on earth you could sum it up in a relatively brief Daily Rider review. Well, you did it! As someone who has owned multiple iterations of the GS and GS-A as well as of the Multistrada, I think you did a great job of hitting the highlights of the riding experience of the GS (especially the comfort over distance and the unexpectedly good cornering and general handling capabilities). I haven't owed the KTM equivalents and so cannot speak to them, but I think it is fair to say that the Ducati Multistrada vs the BMW GS comparison has now come down to brand loyalty or emotional response (which bike speaks to you, or which one you feel most at home on). They are different for sure, but genuinely solid, sophisticated, highly evolved machines, easily capable of globe trotting as well as having way too much fun on your favorite regional twisty roads. It is also noteworthy that both makers have done great work in preserving character and performance while complying with the increasingly stringent Euro standards. I think we should appreciate the richness of choices we have during what may be the last phase of ICE powered two wheelers. (I grew up happily making engine and shifting noises while daydreaming about sports cars and motorcycles and feel sorry for future generations who will be limited to making humming/whooshing sounds.... They will doubtless have much better hearing in their later years, but with not a lot to listen to!)
Another great review, thank you Zack. This is the best bike I have ever ridden in my 24 years of having a motorcycle license. Its understandable why people consider this the best bike in the world. I'm holding out for an updated model as this will most likely be my last bike. Safe rides!
Been waiting for this one! I love when Zack makes a video it gets a thumbs up before I even watch
this video made me understand that all the bad things attributed to the gs are actually about the owners.
cause seeing it in Zach's hands looks like it can really do everything
rrc
Yes. Here's the thing: I ride a Super Tenere, Yama'as 1200cc ADV bike. I ride it 80% off road. One thing I hate? The weight. it's heavy (obviously) at around 600 lbs after the crash bars and tools. However, it's fast and it just plows through everything.
You can easily get these things up to 60 mph off road and it just hauls out there. Power for ages. When you're on the road it's almost like a Goldwing. You just sit back and cruise. Handling is awesome, fuel efficiency is awesome, and standing up is more comfortable than sitting down.
You can drift corners, go 100 mph, anything you want and there's no cops, nobody around cause it's the middle of the woods and you're on a dirt road with no speed limit. ADV bikes are amazing and the only people who hate on them a) have never ridden them, and b) don't have the skills to ride off road regardless.
You can easily see how much fun Zach has on the off road section. Dude hit 70 mph like it was nothing. NOTHING. Huge air on the jump too. Laughing the entire time. People don't get that and hate on random things, or pick on people who don't ride their bike that way.
ADV bikes are the best, and this is coming from a guy who also has a GSXS750 who tracks that.
Whoever says “bad things” about the Gelände Straße doesn’t know bikes.
@@YSPDJapan Agreed, well said.
Nothing but respect for the gsa. A dream bike for me for sure. Have also yet to talk to an owner....
0:25 “Some people say it’s the Best Motorcycle in the World” 🤣 lol that’s what BMW stands for
I Like that 🔝😂😂😂
I like that the leader board covers a broad spectrum of manufacturers (11). I want them all!
Perfect frank review and lovely evaluation. Thanks for this video. Keep on doing what you do Zack.
Thanks for an informative and low-key review. (And thanks for not having any music in the background.) if I could have only one bike, it would be my GS. But luckily I’m not so limited.
I have an identical bike. I watched your review after getting home from a 90 minute ride: freeways, heavy traffic, high speeds, with rain and drizzle. I don't know any other bike that would make me feel as confident and comfortable in those conditions. I was one of the cynics until I made the mistake of test riding one. Now I keep looking for excuses to go on long rides. Nice review.
I have my GS for 1 year now (and it's my first bike of this kind). I recognise myself in a part you just sayed . "I keep looking for excuses to just go " on this bike ... It is amazing , every time again . I never understood the reflection on 'FortNine' over this bike and al the hate comments on it ... Just make the same mistake I did , and just testride it ... and find out for yourself.
@@StevenVanLoven Where do you ride the most? On or off-road? It’s a great bike until you have to pick it up 3 times in the middle of the desert by yourself, with all the added weight of your luggage and crash bars, some people do it with a smile on their face but I personally prefer lighter bikes for off-roading.
And the “hate” comments come from the fact that 1250s are mostly used as status symbols to go to Starbucks, but people can do whatever they want with their money and motorcycles.
@@themadisreal3902 I use it most of the time on-road. I try to get a bit off-road skills . I 'm surprised by it's handling and easiness to do it all. I use every bike in the limits of my skills and hope to improve these step by step, and I admire other peoples driving skills . It is a heavy bike and a technical complex machine , but a lighter bike with a high center off gravity feels heavy to when you have to lift it to . For the real off-road thing a light bike is a must . I'm 56 now and have more bikes in my garage . And that status symbol thing happen to a lot of things these days... I let people make there own choices and try to learn from what I see for myself . My only problem I still have with the GS is a comfort problem at my seat (already a corbin) and the angle of my knees, but it can bee related to my age . However , this motor challenge me to practice tighter manoeuvres and corners. So I'm happy with this package just like it is . Thanks for your response.
Same here, wasn’t really a fan but a friend of mine convinced me to go for a demo ride with him. It was so very good and I was hooked immediately, weirdly enough I was annoyed that I liked it so much, maybe because I feared that I would and had steered clear of them for so long. Suffice to say I bought one the very next week and haven’t looked back.
That last segment of these shows, where Zach struggles to place the bikes in his ranking, is really so much fun... and it provides a bit of a personality test as well, don't you think?
I love this bike, I think it's brilliant. It can wheelie effortlessly too. Hoping to add one to the stables in the future.
How about our S1000XR compared to GS?
@@BRACHYDUDE thats a whole different story , the xr is crazy , it just has the engine of a superbike lmao
Bought mine three weeks ago, and I'm absolutely in love. Extremely comfortable (on and off road), still pretty quick, and loaded with more bells and whistles than I thought possible on a motorcycle. It carries its weight very gracefully, IMO. Feels really sporty on the road, and feels very composed on the dirt.
i was excited to see you do the GS. Zach, i met you at Laguna, I told you I got the Tracer after your review. Well i sold that for this exact GS. I am 5'6. People have to ride a GS to understand its pedigree. Telelever, paralever, boxer engine are the 3 main things that atribute to the bikes impreccable handling. Any bike can follow the recipe of power, wire wheels, etc, but it will never ride like a gs without the mechanical design that GS has. ive done lots of moderate offroad, GS is superb within reason. if u want serious offroad, go get a dirtbike. I will only replace the GS with the same or improved GS. Supreme onroad, track able bike, and it does offroad well. amen.
*ZACKO* Thanks for another fun ride along.. *PLEASE* have a crack on the MOTO GUZZI V85 TT. Thank you.
Just got this bike a week ago and already hit my first service mark. The miles melt on this bike and it's just an incredible machine. ♥
Have one, love it, drive it every day, best bike I’ve ever had. The cylinders sticking out means no heat on your legs in summer,, and good protection in winter
Hey Zack, fun review as always. I test rode and bought a new, fully loaded R1250 GS Adventure Low (as in Low Suspension) back in 2019 at the suggestion of a buddy that has ridden the big GS for years. When test riding a GS/A was first suggested to me I derisively laughed it off. I am short, 5’5” tall with a 30” inseam. That said, one test ride was all it took for me to buy the bike (and I was by no means a BMW fan-boy, almost the opposite). The handling is incredible for a bike it’s size and, very manageable at parking lot speeds. For shorter riders looking for a full size ADV bike that they can fit on, the low suspension GS or GSA (in 2019) seemed to be about the only game in town i.e. a full size ADV bike that could pass the laugh test for accessible seat height. (The HD Pan America Special seems to have changed that this year and I plan to test ride one to compare.) After two years of back road sporty riding on my GSA and, having owned dozens of bikes of all brands and sizes over many years, I have to say that the hype about the GS/A from those that love it, is (mostly) justified. That is, if one can get past the sticker shock of the purchase price and the cost of dealer maintenance. One additional thing to note about the GS Adventure vs. the GS is that the GSA’s have the “Sport” front suspension geometry versus the standard GS without the “Sport”suspension option. Having owned dozens of bikes, my GSA has lived up to it’s name as a comfortable and highly capable do-it-all bike. The closest my GSA has come or ever will come to off road has been a fire road or two but, like many GS owners I never had any pretensions about taking it off road. What I wanted was a sporty touring rig that handles well on both good roads and bad, has good wind protection, stops well and has the creature comforts I never had before on any other bike. My R1250 GSA has lived up to all my expectations and then some. For anyone considering the GS or GSA, just be prepared for sticker shock at the cost of purchase and, for pricey parts/service. The BMW “brand” does unfortunately, carry a price tag. It will be great to see how the HD Pan America Special compares to my bike once I can get my hands on one to test ride.
Great post. I have the 2018 R1200GS Rallye (with TFT). tempted to change to the 1250 when the warranty runs out in November. I had an R1250R as a loan bike and loved the engine (and the bike actually) Cheers.
@@GS-xg4nz I also test rode the R1250R in late 2020. I loved the 1250 engine on my GSA and could not resist trying it out on a roadster. Big mistake on my part...my test ride was 2 hours at speed in the twisties which clearly demonstrated the fun factor of the 1250R engine and chassis combination...I rode the bike back to the dealer and bought it. 😉
No one cares what you think
What I like about the BMW Boxer platform is I can have at least 50% of the 1250 GS’s goodness for 1/5 of the price with my 16 year old 1200RT. My 1100 RT was 1/10 of the price. Also a great riding bike. Basically, there’s something at every price point, they ride amazingly well and run forever.
They are comparing everything so when the GS is $22,000 of course it will beat a $10,000 Yamaha or Kawasaki.
As someone who never buys something newer than 15years old i disagree.
If you buying with cash, not 10years credit, there is nothing bmw can offer.
Tbh i never ever even considered anything from bmw.
Not because i hate them or anything, just they don't have any good bikes that "old'.
For me bmws were and still are - credit/lease buys only
@@Angry-Lynx these bikes are different from their cars. they are very reliable and durable
@@hotdog9262they are more reliable than cars, yes but that says almost nothing, bikes are more reliable than cars by design, they much simpler.
and yes while bmw gs etc arent very unreliable, they ownership cost is significantly higher than anything from Japan, i considered between AT or GS and financially its not even a comparison, maintenantce alone on 10yo gs would kill me. On AT its just basic stuff oils, filters, suspension oil, and i can do most myself.
@@Angry-Lynx not really due to design. many parts on the cars are designed to fail after warranty. id would be interesting to know if you talked from experience
BMW has been around a lot longer than most other brands and I’m 64 years old and they have aways have been the benchmark for leading the industry for years and years to come and love your vids thanks zack
What a great in depth review and all done in my "back yard" so I knew most of the streets you were on. Palos Verdes Drive East is one helluva fun road to ride/ drive unless you get behind a slow driver. I think this tips the scale for me to get a GS as compared to an RT. Thanks
My '21 GSA is my daily commuter. It's a fantastic motorcycle.
I just bought this bike, same color too! At 5’8 I got the low suspension model. This bike is amazing. Well balanced and I do not feel the weight. Great review!
Yeah, I just got this one also, low suspension as well and I am 6’3”. What nobody seems to mention - that lowered suspension is much better handling.
You don't feel the weight, must be super powerful yourself or in the brain.
I’m 5ft 10. I didn’t think the regular model seemed that high?
Very interresting, fun, with good mood as usual. Bravo & thank you Zag!
a real engineering machine brought with great passion and strictness by the Germans !! And thanks RevZilla for thir great video! Love from Romania!!🤗😎👊
“A GS sucks off-road.” Translates to: “I don’t know how to ride a GS off-road.”
I literally go everywhere guys on Honda 450s go. You just have to understand that sometimes you have to throttle through or use a different technique to get there.
"I literally go everywhere guys on Honda 450s go. You just have to understand that sometimes you have to throttle through or use a different technique to get there." Translates to: "I have ridden with beginner riders on Honda 450s"
@@lorenbourassa1780 Whatever you want to believe. Whatever you need to believe to protect your fragile ego.
I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult my friends just to fluff your own ego.
In short before it gets out of hand. They're big, chunky, and A LOT to push to the offroad limits but a skilled rider can and will be able to get it indeed damn near anywhere (except when it's size is just too much of course) and make use of it's plentiful amounts of power in a smart way to get through. Just because it isn't easy doesn't mean it's impossible.
Just signed the papers for an 2018 Africa Twin DCT and I for one cannot wait to show of my overgrown dirtbike with a penchant for luxery to both the roads and forests and mountains of Europe.
Good one ya mate.
And Loren? Don't be so mocking. Unneccesary at best, childish and a bit sad at worst
I mean if there is a road even a ninja 300 would work. GS is massive, heavy bike full of electronics. You had do develop/lean different techniques and have precise throttle, that is not sentence you should say about bike that is good offroad.
@@tutes0133 I out ride my friend on his Tenere 700 on my Super Tenere all the time. Once you get used to sliding the rear and knowing how hard you can push the front these machines fucking fly. Linked brakes means you just hammer the front, good ABS means you don't have to worry about sliding out, then you just enter the turn with whatever speed, lean the bike, and gas it coming out and you're gone.
I think you're going to love the AT. Honestly, off road stick it in the manual shifting and just shift with your thumbs while selling; 100% the selling point for that bike. Big bikes love throttle. Get crash bars and send it dude.
Amazing job man, may i ask you to take the new tracer (900) for a test ride?
My Man you have become my bike review icon! No better reviews! Thanks
Love this review Zac thanks for posting mate …… awesome bike hopefully one day would love to own one
Do a Daily Rider on the 2.gen S1000XR please!
Few things make my day like watching Zack Courts shut up GS haters with a dirt jump.
I'm not a gs hater or owner but I did enjoy that also.
If you haven’t ridden one, you need to. Just a wonderful bike, comfortable and highly capable. Thanks Zach
Love the comment about if you want a dirt bike get a dirt bike. Got a great deal on an used ‘09 GS years ago having never owned a BMW seemed like the way to go. I love it, started looking at what it takes, and costs, to make them their most capable off road and decided to just wait and buy a dirt bike, the bike in question a KTM-350, and for the cost of a new 1250 I can own both my 1200 and a 350, different tools for different jobs. Great review and insight as always!
I had a set of the Vario bags. One nice thing is that they are repairable. You can disassemble the whole bag, replace or fix any broken parts and put them back together. So while being expensive, you can maintain them pretty easily.
it'd be nice if you could show us the key/key fobs too
I was one of the haters of this bike once. But holy smokes a whole day test ride from my dealer changed it all. The bike handles so well. Smiles for miles!
I'm still partial to the Desert Sled for city rides and casual offroading, but it can't be denied that this is the king of touring.
I always used to make fun of GS’ until I rode one. I've owned 4 Multistradas. Love them too, but love my GS more. My track bike is a V4S though -
Your footless stops usually rely on the rebound stroke creating resistance against the tyre. No dive, no rebound, no help.
I don't think so. Seems to me the help he misses would be the crankshaft turning transversely insted of longitudinally. Big masses, big help. In this case, lack of help.
@@Camposr1000 I bet its the Hayes brakes. I find it hard to do as well. I'm hoping when I get the brembos it will feel normal again. The Hayes seem to brake well, but a little grabby which pulls the wheel a little at stopping speeds. That's what it feels like to me anyway.
It may be many things but now that I’m used to mine, I find that I am able to do feet up stops no problem.
@@dwaynedwayne1964 i still bet on the angular momentum NOT helping in the case of the longitudinal crankshaft.
@@Camposr1000 I just got new tires and I think that was the problem. Much easier now to come to a stop without wiggling all over the place. Went from the Anakee Adventure to pilot trail 5's. Not sure if it were the type of tire or just cause it was worn.
Love my 07 1200 GS simple and lite but when I'm ready to buy new I'm staying with BMW 1200 GS for sure.
Yeah, I’ve wanted one for years.
It’s been hard to justify, but, this review has convinced me.
For getting the Mrs., and going pretty much anywhere, this is the one.
I’m still leaning hard toward the T7, based on bang for buck.
Happy Trails
Yep that is my dream machine. I believe you’re right, the competition is super strong. In my mind the long term pedigree edged out any rival, but not by much. Would definitely have to go GSA and spec’d max. All around good and informative review. Your angst at the “leader” board looked honest. Ride Safe and Ride Often 👍🏼 😎 🇺🇸 🌎
I think the GSA being mostly the same bike underneath the extra gas only helps in a very slim portion of the way people ride. Mostly you'll want to be out of the seat of any bike within 200 miles, and all your friends will likely need to gas up sooner, anyway.
"weLL I'd LiKe tO sEE yOU Hit thAt jUmP on A GoLdwing, FrankLy."
Next Daily Rider episode foreshadowing?
I'd like to see Zach hit that jump on a goldwing. Haha!
The guys over at Dos Honduros know a thing or two about going off road on a Goldwing. It's both impressive and hilarious at the same time
Another great review .. thanks! If you’re not bashful about including $20k+ bikes, you really need to give us your take on the 2018+ Goldwing Tour DCT. There was a passing reference to it during your GS review so .. time to take one over the big jump!
Outstanding video, thanks for posting!
I wonder how a GS Adventure would be as a daily driver. Being in Texas, that bigger tank would be useful for those open roads.
I recently bought a 2020 GS 1250 fully loaded, best bike among the nearly 20 bikes i owned :-)
Great review, really interesting. Also love that GS colorway
Fantastic review, thanks. I’m 5’7, 69 years old. Ride a 1250 low chasis - mostly in light to medium off-road, on knobby tires - love it. Have taken 25 falls - only damaged the protection bars. If I can, I ask people to help me pick the bike up. I also have trouble coming to gracious stops! BTW, BMW Motorrad just had a record year. Sold 60,000 GS’s. Ducati sold around 4,000 ADV’s.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the new Suzuki 1050XT, Revzilla hasn't put out any review of it yet!
I think I understand the Versys being up there, but as a daily bike, the two behemoths that are ranked 1 and 2 seem a bit much. As a daily bike, I think I would have the Triumph 850 up there. This to say that although it must be a blast to ride on the Ducati and the GS, I think a daily bike has to be more accessible. These are specialized motorcycles, intended for specialized riding.
Great review, Zack! And wow, you surprised me placing it up above the 44hp advantage Multistrada V4 - which without riding it (it's not yet in Bali) I still find it simply the very best looking sport touring bike. Having ridden both the GS and GSA (more), the latter is clearly my choice, with its tractor gear, longer range, better front protection for weather and should shit happen. With this review, the 2022 GSA and XR getting radar and the XR especially getting a tweak considering the competition (and the GSA still in black), my dream garage now has two BMW's, rather than a beemer and a duca. Thanks.
You've got it right on the leaderboard! I have a 1200GS and never any problems. Best multi-purpose bike ever.👍💌🇿🇦
The venom is most propably envy. That is a lot of bike, and I would love one. If someone gave it to me, of course. The prices are just ridiculous...
yeah and it's a bmw as well... so expect premium prices on any accessories and maintenance cost
I've got a 2009 GS, I bought it 3 years ago with 7k on the clock. It had the vario cases, a good skid plate and crash bars, two seats, and Garmin nav, cover, and good karoo 3 tires.
I paid 8k for the bike and haven't looked back. I think it's the last of the oilhead motors and I can't begin to tell you how impressive the bike is. Don't be afraid to go find a good used one that's been well maintained, they are worth every penny.
Hi Great review. I just happened to be one of the lucky ones that own a BMW R 1250 GS HP. If I remember correctly you reviewed the 2021 Ducati Multistrada which had adaptive cruise control. I know that you mentioned that the BMW 2021 model also had adaptive cruise control however in your final summary you gave points to the Multistrada. Over the BMW for that. I felt that was harsh considering you were comparing a 2020 model with a 2021 model. Just saying :-)) now I’ve been lucky enough to also have a day with the 2021 Ducati Multistrada. The Ducati put the biggest smile on my face while riding it, so much fun. When I finally had to take it back to the dealership I was asked my thoughts on it. My response was…. The bike is a great machine for playing on the open roads, a lot of fun. However in traffic I was continually having to ride the clutch because the bike needed to rev. That was just one more thing that you have to concentrate on while lane filtering Unlike the BMW which chugs along like a tractor in the low revs. I also take my beamer off road it’s way more capable than I am unfortunately. I doubt I will ever be able to get the full potential out of my machine. For obvious reasons I did not take the Ducati off road however I imagine that it would be difficult to ride in technical sections because you need to keep the revs up so much more. At the end of the day we are talking about a daily ride and in this case I believe that the BMW wins out right. Let the hating begin. Cheers.
Everything you said makes sense, but in the end it all depends what you're looking for...
In many ways the BMW is no match for the Multistrada V4S, in others the BMW is a preferable choice. I personally would pick up the Multistrada without a doubt.
Love your videos. You are the Chris Harris of bike reviews! Can you please review the 2021 Duke 390, 2021 SV650 and 2021 Ninja 400 😁
Love this guy's presenting style. Chatty, fun and infomrative
Great review. I bought a GS a couple of years ago after owning many other bikes and everything that Zack is saying is true. The bike is that good. It’s the ultimate one bike that does it all pretty well. Traveling on it is magical though. It makes miles disappear like now other bike I have ever owned. The people that hate it have most likely never ridden one.
troll factory to try to give BMW a bad name. They dont like that BMW makes such good versatile bikes. jalousie is venemous.
Need to do the Pan America now so we can see the compare and contrast.
Good, but not as good. lol
Zach will rip it to shreds. He hates all things Harley.
@@BikesNThings That will make it a good test.
@@BikesNThings no, he does not! he is not in love with custom, chopper, cruiser type of bike, you know, the front pegs, low ground clearance, no leaning no wheeling potential bikes.... but its not a hate, just he doesnt prefeer those over the others!
I own a 2013 GS-A and an Africa Twin and recently got to ride the Pan America. It's probably as good as the Honda. It's not at the same level of the BMW. But overall, it's a heck of a first try for Harley. Nobody makes a class leading bike the first time they get into a new segment. Surprisingly, it's price competitive and the trick suspension that can lower at a stop will help get traditional Harley guys more comfortable with a bike that doesn't have a 26" seat height.
This is NOT a criticism. Watching you ride, talk technical details coherently, split lanes, ride offroad... made me tense & I couldn't understand why... and then I remembered, I ride a VN2000... pretty cool, thanks for the content.
You gotta love the quiet refinement of this motorcycle.
For the no-foot-down at stops, I find it easier to do this successfully when looking ahead and focusing on the horizon. With the high windscreen that the GS has, this may have thrown you off.
That's right and the stop needs to be quicker than what he was doing.
And not coasting to a stop in neutral
Would love to see a Daily Rider video of Super Tenere, seems like it could be a good comp for the GS!
Boringest bike I've ever ridden...Not saying it's bad or anything it just had ZERO personality.
Not even close
the big thing the Super Tenere has over other ADV bikes is the hardest thing for a motojourno to capture, which is its absolute brick shithouse reliability over a very long span of time. no drive shaft failures, no known major issues, very few electronics to break, good fuel mileage, all at the cost of some personality and weight
Great review. I found this very helpful as I'm considering the purchase of my first motorbike.
Awesome and very fun review. Thanks man!
Well there you have it, the new leader, It's not surprising but I must admit that you can tell that other brands like Ducati and KTM are getting a lot closer to dethroning it.
I think the Versys is better in my mind but I'm considering it from my daily rider view where affordability and the ability to more easily filter is a bit higher on my list of qualities. I do think BMW should figure something with the exhaust so the luggage solution can be improved. No standard cruise is a point against the Kawa but for my commute it's not that important.
I suppose the GS would be something to upgrade towards if I intend to a lot more touring.
Next up in the Daily Rider, the new Busa ;) ?
Cheers
I agree 100 percent. Its a great bike period but as was said you can buy almost three Versys for one. This is a premium bike. I think a daily rider should be for the masses, maybe sub 12k? Maybe start a new play list of premium bikes? Anyway great job as always Zack.
difference is gs is an appliance.its comfortable quite fast comfortable and comfortable.KTM and Ducati both are visceral.much more than any bmw bike
For a footless stop, do you wait for 0 on the speedo or do you "sense" being stopped (0 MPH)? Any delay at all on the speedo, which could vary bike to bike, will have an effect on footless stop success.
You are right. The footless stop needs to be done very quickly to maintain balance. The laws where I am from state the vehicles wheels must become stationary, but don't say for how long.
I think the engine torque since the crankshaft is front to back causes slight tipping that may make the footless stop tricky. Personally I enjoy the bike pulling to the side slightly when I rev it.
Great video, Zach. I had an r1200gs WasserBoxer before my current 1200s Multistrada... thinking I'm about ready for another GS!
Being the owner of the 2018 R1200GSA Rally edition since December 2018, in my opinion (obviously since I put out the cash for one) this is the perfect bike. Yes the KTM may have better performance off road on paper... Why I chose this over that (I have owned KTM dirt bikes) is the well roundedness of this bike. My wife and I can get on it and ride across the country COMFORTABLY, then I can get on it and ride the Trans American Trail with a good friend (who rides a KTM 1190), I have also ridden the Mid Atlantic Back Country Discovery Route and some single track around my house. And then you have the sporty road performance. Just so people know what I have to compare this bike with I also have a 2016 S1000XR and a 2017 DRZ400SM. With the right tires (for me that is pretty much any of the Continental TKC's) I can have a blast running local twisties as well as a spirited romp down the Dragon on the GS. This, in my humble opinion, is truly a "If I could only have one bike this would be it" motorcycle.
By the way my owners manual calls for 6000 mile services (oil changes) and 18,000 mile valve check intervals. However my service manager told me when I was trying to make an appointment to get them checked that he was waiting to check his personal GS's valves at 30,000 miles because he has never seen a GS that needed adjusted at 18,000. That being said my bike with the older style engine is simpler in the top end and as soon as my warranty expires I will check my own valves. The boxer engine is much like working on a single cylinder bike in this regard, you just do things twice. I do my own services now and just follow the service manual. I will take it in once in a while to get updates on the computer and I do let them do the brake system services (not pads).
This is by far my favorite bike that I have ever owned period.
Excellent review
David Spicer
47 (and counting) years of riding off and on road.
Thank you for the great report.
Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹 I ride one of those every day, commuting, on weekends, and occasionally, off-road. It's always a great pleasure, versatile, performant, comfortable, and it's just beautiful (for my taste). Of course, it isn't cheap but do your research...you won't be paying much less for a AFT Adv, and it will cost less than a Multistrada or a KTM. Nice rides! 🖖🏻
I just cant comprehend how cylninders serving as crash pads is a good idea for a off road capable motorcycle
Better than your legs being crushed under a bike.
I think it's hilarious that people would consider this an off-road motorcycle at 600 lb!
@@grayman618 I said its off road capable. I know its not a enduro and it would be silly to use it as one but people dont buy bikes like that for tarmac only.
@@sabamacx i dont know whats worse super rare situation when you can crash your leg under a motorcycle in off road which I don't even know how you can do (you dont squeeze a falling motorcycle with your legs you jump out of it) or 6k euro or however thousand euros engine replacement
Tried the tenere and the gs
The t7 is a blast to ride good city filtering very nimble and lightweight
The gs was too heavy for me
gs is like an elephant
As a former owner of an R1200GSA, which I road many adventures in areas from Prudhoe Bay to Cabo San Lucas, I would love to see you stack the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE up on your leaderboard. Although I probably agree with your ranking here, I (currently) prefer my 1200XE , of course with slightly taller gearing than stock. Completely different bikes with similar capabilities. Thanks for doing these videos!