Nice job as always Zack! As for the GS being expensive, it's true. But... consider a new H-D Road Glide is about $32,000, can't go off road, can't hang with sport bikes, weighs hundreds of pounds more, and doesn't have the tech of the GS. Actually, for $25k I think the R1300GS is a great purchase. Just my two cents.
Yeah sure it's expensive but compared to what is out there it kind of ... Isn't? Like if you want pretty much the best do everything go anywhere bike out there, that's it.
I never thought I'd be lucky enough to own a GS until I had a 2021 with only 800 miles fall into my lap for under $17k. Its the best bike ive ever ridden and im in love with it. I DO daily it when it isnt over 110F here in Arizona. I will never get rid of it
Very nice! I picked up my 2022 Triple Black (571 miles) from a HD dealer last year for $14,500. I couldn't believe it. They were just about to send it off to auction. What an awesome bike. So easy to ride in a relaxed way to truly enjoy the ride. Very quick and capable in every way.
I think all the hate against the big GS are from people who have never ridden it. They're simply very capable on and offroad. and dare i say easy to ride.
Owned a '22 GSA for close to 2 seasons. Unquestionably a capable bike.... Also sort of forgettable though. If you want a bike that has "personality" (and that is a terribly subjective but important part of bike ownership), the GS isn't going to scratch that itch. They're utilitarian almost to a fault... very good at a lot of things, not great at any one thing. Still, for a lot of riders that is the ideal solution.
@@headwinded1948 Is character something you always want, depends how you use a bike, you might enjoy it on the weekend, but not grinding through traffic, or in pouring rain, on along a motorway.
@@headwinded1948I love my gs but your correct. Some people don’t like how smooth it is. It lacks that raw attitude that Ktms exude. It doesn’t bother me but I totally understand how some riders would not like that. Just preference.
R1250 gsa owner here. Went from s1000rr/R1 track runner to the 1250. It has been and feel like it always will be the best bike I've ever owned. It's a jack of all trades, master of none type of bike. If I want to bring it to the twities and have some fun, it's no problem. If I want to cruise cross country, it does that amazingly well. For the small amount of off road I have done on it, it was surprisingly sturdy. Love the bike and where it has gone
I finally got a bmw after almost 50 years of riding, not sure I would have love it before, but now i really enjoy my R1200. Maybe it's an age thing! Lol
I second this, I sold my Z900rs for a super tenere but if I had the room I would have kept the Z for sure. Such a good bike and a lovely engine. Engine is so nice I weighed that heavily as I almost bought a versys 1000 just to have that same family of engines.
@@jtwu8931 hyper? The main reason no one likes it compared to the other bikes in the class is that it’s too tame. I would never call the Z hyper. Wry mellow smooth predictable engine which is what makes it so great. It’s not a twin by any stretch of the imagination but for a I4 it’s perfect.
It’s been a while since I sat through a single episode on Netflix and I can watch your video strait to the end and always end up refreshing with an update in the fast moving bike world. Wonderful job on the ride and review as always.
I really like how BMW threw in a few lines of code so the blind spot indicator doesn't light up when you're the one doing the passing, only when someone is coming up on you. That's thinking rather than just checking a box off a checklist - blind spot? Ja, fertig. They thought it out how it's used and I like that.
.... That's how works on all wehicles. If it didn't, it would be defective. Stop praising the minimum. If it has a feature, it should work, not be half assed
@@LukaS-iy1gs You might want to have a conversation with my car then. It works as stated - if there is another vehicle coming up beside me or already beside me or me passing another vehicle, it lights up. And if you need more proof than that Zak himself even commented on how the GS1300's blind spot works so if anyone has more experience than you or me on how it works, it'd be him. As to thinking about how things work - on my last car if I changed the volume of the stereo on the stereo screen/unit itself, it would show the volume bar on the screen only. If I changed it using the steering wheel control, it would show up in my digital instrument cluster only. That's thinking. On my new car (same brand), it works the same except when I change the volume on the steering wheel, then it shows up on both the cluster and the stereo screen. No idea if they changed it because of customer feedback or oversight but personally prefer the way it worked on my last car.
What if you are ....say...changing lanes on a multi lane highway and a car 2 lanes across also decides to change into the same lane where you are heading? I see that happening all the time. Can't replace eyeballs but that warning would sure be handy.. That being said I'd not be without blind spot radar now that I've got it.
Instagram Question: "If you could only change one thing?" Zack: "Literally remove everything!" That was hilarious. Was kinda hoping the KTM would hang on to #1, but can't really argue with the leaderboard. Great review as always!
Really comprehensive review as normal, such a talented rider but also talented reviewer. He is able to articulate and breakdown all the facets of riding a bike under all circumstances, allowing you to take out of it what is important to you; so eloquent but at the same time entertaining, great job Zac.
Yo-yo to all the "REV" Bros .....you guys are completely professional at what you do you should be very proud of the product you make and the consistency of it because I am and I love watching my shows
I really like BMW's GS series and BMW in general. BMW also has a impeccable warranty and roadside service. You are literally one phone call away for help!
Just got back from a trip in the alps. I rode the 1300. It was fantastic. The adaptive ride height function is great. The downside is that you can't get the adaptive ride height feature if you opt for the "sport" (off road) suspension.
With over 10,000 miles on my R1300GS Trophy edition in the first 3 months I have really enjoyed it. Mine does have the higher sport suspension because I do ride it off-road. I have also owned a 2018 R1200GSA, 2020 S1000XR and a 2022 R1250GSA. In my opinion it is better in every way. The thing that I notice the most is how good the new Evo Telever suspension is off-road. It feels way more planted with better feedback. It almost feels like my XR and my 1250GSA had a baby. It is not perfect but it is so dang good at pretty much everything.
Excellent review. These are some of the best reviews on you tube. Much appreciated. I rode a 1300gs recently and didn't like the weight and agree that it's not much lighter than any earlier GS. This made riding in slow moving traffic a pain and much harder work than a significantly lighter bike. I agree with you about the brakes, which don't have nearly enough initial bite. For me brakes are 50% of the ride and this coupled with the weight made it a deal breaker for me. Agree it's still a very good bike for all the other reasons you mentioned but not that it's the best daily rider. For me a daily rider needs to be 220 kg/ 485 lb or less.
Since the 2013 R1200GS: Weight: +5%; HP: +20%; Price: +36%. It’s always been a great, unique bike. Unfortunately as a former BMW fanboy/owner, there’s just zero chance I’m personally paying $30K or more out the door - esp given the alternatives. If pressed, I’m more apt to pick up a used R1200GS if I go back to BMW.
I got a 2016 (water cooled compared to the 2013) for about 12K. It had all the riding packages, 3 original cases with carrying bags and a gps. It also only had 9000 miles on it. If you don't want to pay premium. Just wait for the new model to be old. I'm pretty sure it's at least another 5 years until my gs is worth below 10K.
I agree with most points you have. I don´t understand people complaining about the hill hold. The frist 3 starts with it switched on are strange, than it becomes second nature. You can disable it by pulling the brake lever or using the rear brake. If you don´t want to use it, switch it of. Even though I don´t know why you would do that. It is an incredible feature. The only thing I am not sold on is the comfort. I am 190 (close to 6 ft 3 in I guess?) I have the enduro package, so maybe the footpegs are positioned different than the standard footpegs. But I can´t sit on it for a full day. Not even a full tank to be honest and I am 34 years old and an active, trained guy. I will most likely look into a different seat and/or footpegs. That is the one thing I am actually not happy with. Especially if you think about what this bike is supposed to be. On my old F800ST I would be sad that the tank is empty and I had to stop.
I turned off the hill hold on my Jeep, just because I wanted a bit more of a genuine experience, which gets lost with every new piece of technology. I don't even think about it when I'm off roading. And yes, I'm also the type that doesn't like quick shifters and such unless I'm racing. Even then my track bike has zero tech (still a carburated 2 stroke) 😂
A lifetime on top of boxxers makes you one of the best presenters to explain this bike . I would love to see this one with the bare minimum of additions .That suspension looks like a nice home for this 73 year old body .. As I have said before I wish they made an R80 version with this suspension and brakes ... I knew where it was going to be on the podium from the moment you swung a leg over that bike ... All the best , Guy
Thank you for the expertise and technical wisdom along with your experienced impressions about this bike and I truly agree with the classification on your board of daily rider’s evaluation. The 1300 GS has its merits like on the predecessor generations, maybe it isn’t the best on any category but it is very good on almost every of those categories. So, I truly agree with your statement here. Fantastic!
Great Daily Rider! Not what I expected with this Gen 8.0(?) bike. The only thing I missed was that I wanted to hear more about those off-road Swayzies shown at the end? You nailed it, the GS is king because is does EVERYTHING adequately. It's the motorcycle SUV in my garage!
Extremely sensible and and pragmatic review. Its a great bike so easy to ride super low centre of gravity with the gearbox new position just does everything that little bit better than previous model.
I just spent 12 days with the R1300GS in Sardinia, Corsica and mainland Italy. I own a 1250GS. To me, the new GS is less comfortable, more cramped, the boxer clatters at idle and sounds worse than the 1250 (which is not saying much). While it has more power and torque, it was not vastly different to me in daily riding nor when riding it aggressively. There are other tests on YT where the old and new bikes are basically side by side in a drag race and at roll-on. So much for a better power to weight ratio. Low speed handling is still wonderfully light and balanced. It is still a fabulous all round motorcycle. It was great on the Stelvio. But returning to my 1250 there was nothing that made me want to head to the BMW dealer to trade, and a few things that would keep me from doing so. That said, we had the following bikes to ride on that trip: Ducati MS V4S, Ducati Desert X, Triumph Tiger 1200, Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, BMW S1000XR, Honda AT 1100 DCT (there was supposed to be a Suzuki GSX-S1000 but it was crashed, and a KTM SAS1290 but it had engine and electrical issues and had to be returned for warranty work…which appears to be a KTM thing). Out of all of those, if you could have only one bike, the GS was the best all rounder for me. As Zack says, you may not agree, but you would be wrong 😁.
I really like the feel of my MTS1200 as an all rounder bike, but everything has a weakness, and the Multi is unreliable. The bottom end had to be rebuilt at 29k which I think is unforgivable, and the piston rings appear to be shot as well, which would have been nice for the mechanic rebuilding it to have noticed. As it is now it's barely worth repairing, since I suspect the oil system is inherently flawed.
@@aluisious There is a video of an owner of the MTS 1200 with 80,000 problem free miles. "Trevor mould MTS long term review". I would be interested in the GS1300 as a base model, there is just so much silly technology, that makes it so silly expensive it has become more of a "Flash my cash" bike.
Actually the R1300GS is the same weight the R1200GS was 11 years ago, and the inflation-adjusted price is about the same too. They are holding the line.
I got a 1250 GSA new last year,best bike I've owned and I've had a few, comfortable,all day, torque laden engine,great size for bigger riders,but the new 1300gsa is out and I love the looks,so ill be upgrading soon 👍🖤
Why do I feel that if BMW took your advice and did a bare bones "Pro" version of the bike, it would cost more than some of the lower spec models. "Ah yes, you would think it would be cheaper without all the electronics but the black paint we used contains "doesntexistium" which adds $4000 onto the price"
I sold a 2017 1200GS Rallye a couple of years ago. You can pick that bike up now for somewhere between £7k and £10k depending on condition/mileage. As good as I’m sure it is I very much doubt this new 1300GS is significantly better to warrant three times the money.
@ Yeah, probably about right. The cost of new bikes is laughably high but presumably the knock on effect of that is to inflate used prices. You can only compare what the asking prices are. I keep being told no one is buying bikes, that prices are crashing but I don’t see much evidence of that.
Great review! Would you put a note in description for what all the icons mean? I think it is a nice addition & quick reference to the bike model tags for the board. A list of definitions on the board or in the description would be handy though. Thanks Zack, love ya buddy! Tell Ari howdy!
Departing this and the new GS900 - don’t think I’ll be doing much off-road, but am tall and both really appeal to me, took a GS1250 across Africa and really liked it, even though it was GSA
Totally agree with your Zack! a raw R1300GS "PRO" matt Black without any gizmos with the bare minimum of electronics would sell like hotcakes. Take note BMW 😎
good video. that adaptive seating.... nice that it opens the door to short riders. my bmw guru said that it will be on all bmw models in the future. that's exciting for me. my 750 gs was lowered and put on low suspension AND i got the low seat, and i'm still on tippy tips of the tips of my toes, and the slightest bit of gravel at a stop sign or an oily slippery gas station ground is terrifying. and it's the only time i've dropped my bike is when i'm just stopped. so embarrassing. i love sitting up high, but i can't handle any higher of a bike! my 750 is only my second bike and i'm not sure what will be my next. all the bmws are too high (except for the r12 but cruisers are boring). i trust the brand the most, and this bike (while WAY too expensive for me) makes me optimistic that i could stay bmw but still go bigger. thanks for the video and the drool.....
Thanks for a proper review on the big 13 , I love the looks if I could change one thing it would be the lack of a brake light,, that’s it really, if and when I get one I’d get the base model 👍👍
I think if I was on the design team I'd have similar thoughts to you when it comes to stripping it down. I'd want them to basically make a modern HP2 enduro. I'm so sad that bikes like the HP2 enduro and the 950 super enduro R didn't stick around for very long. I know they're sort of impractical and a lot of people probably wouldn't want or use them. But there's something magical about them.
This is definitely probably my favorite review. And not just because of the Content, but because of what the bike does and the features it has the mirrors, the Cell Phone holder and the extra glove compartment. The range is good. Adjustable windshield. I would definitely say this would be the Bike that I save to get. The only thing I’d be worried about is the maintenance of the bike. I don’t know if it’s true or not. But it has been said that BMWs. In general are such a pain in the ass. For maintenance and part replacement. I don’t know if that’s just cars or if that’s just a silly thing in general. But I would still love to get this bike. I’m apprehensive if it is the case that the maintenance would be a pain in the ass, because I ride about 300 to 400 miles a day.
Depending on my mood, I think the GS either peaked with the R1100GS (the purest expression of an "analog" GS) or the late model 1200s (just enough tech and weight to justify themselves) -- will be curious to see how the 1300 evolves though, and if BMW figures out how to get it right with time
On hill hold, I do think BMW do themselves a disservice shipping bikes with it on and in automatic mode. If you’re not used to it, it’s a weird intervention on the stops you particularly don’t want weird. Learn to use it in manual mode for a bit first and the auto mode becomes a nice convenience and aid
Having owned a GS and GSA, the GS is the better "daily rider." It's hard to think of an exception, unless perhaps your commute is in consistently cold weather. The benefits of the GSA are all for longer trips and rougher roads, and are if anything disadvantages for riding around town. And then we get to the looks of the new GSA...
@@JS-nf1sn OK, gotcha. It seems like it’s the gold standard by which all other ADV bikes are measured but there are definitely better bikes for other purposes. I actually really like the flat twin (I have a 1250R and love it), but I feel like the GS’ reputation puts a lot of people off from even trying out that engine configuration, which is a shame. They’re pricey as hell new, but you can find some great deals used.
@@ejd8711 I don’t know of anyone that actually hates BMW. I look at them the exact same way I do Harley Davidson. They both make good bikes but I can’t justify spending that much on a toy. Especially when there are bikes that do the same thing for less than half price. Will they look as nice or be as fast? Probably not, but that’s ok.
Great as always Zak, i must tell you that this bike in Italy starts from 23k € without any extras so you have much better price also regarding € to $ difference, but also to said that here gs 1300 had some electronics -handle bar reley problem . But generally nice toy!
I found it interesting that you assessed the GS as more or less the same bike as the 1250 but everything is different. I'd love to see a Daily Rider of the R1250RS (or perhaps a 1300RS) when it comes - I think this is an often overlooked quality ride in the BMW range - especially for those who have no intentions to go off road.
What determines what bikes you evaluate? I noticed there are no Honda's on your list. I also agree with you on BMW producing a simple basic version of a GS without all the bells and whistles. Not only would the reliability increase but maybe the average guy could afford to own one.
You can easily tell its not a CFMoto when you go to sell it, it will be worth nearly all you paid for it, unlike the CFMoto which will worth the price of yesterday's newspaper!!
Nice review, Zack. Thanks for a straightforward review of what the bike is like to ride. I am on a 2016 KTM 1290 SA (8 gal. tank) and have started looking for a new ride. The Ducati is thirsty, so the Rally version appeals more to me, but $30k! I "built" a 1300gs and it was about $1k less. Figuring range isn't dramatically different to the Ducati. Maybe go Adventure? Looks don't matter to me, as my KTM is not exactly a looker IMO. Shaft drive is appealing, but 36k valve checks on the Ducati is REALLY appealing.... Then there is the Triumph.... I like Triumph! In other words, 1st world problems! Can't wait to see which way I go.
Haha this was one of those rare videos where Zack's biases show through. I do remember in a HS LS episode he did say, he doesn't care if everyone says the next GS is crap, he would still love it. And here there were a few times when he is like "oh it does this and that, but hey who cares right?" :D Or the stop sign challenge where he says ''amazingly balanced" then it turns out to be a sketchy set of stop signs xD. Good review though - as usual :DD
I like the idea of a boxer engine, I also think it's funny that engines just keep getting more CC's. It sounds a bit like a wave runner. They should do a radial engine like an old war plane sometime, lol. Torque for days. J/K It just seems a bit too comfortable for me. I'm putting a nice windscreen on my Scrambler 1200 XC, and should be good, but with more motor character and style. This wouldn't fit on the sidewalk in front of my work either. Perhaps someday when my body's even more shot. This seems like the adventure version of a Goldwing. Almost reminds me of the Judge Dred bike a little bit, ha. I think a trellis frame would look cooler. The whole ride I wanted the phone holder to not be blocking the view through the windscreen too.
It is expensive but in the end AS expensive as the bikes it relates with (not even the most expensive - and being the king, it could be). They called them mega on-off, travel enduro, crossover... to me GS is just the best wildcard on two wheels, on planet Earth and this is its best version, even returning to some of the original values it seemed to have lost along the way. (this is why its worse critics are 1250GSA owners - why is a big other discussion but I am GLAD it doesn't appeal to them - kudos BMW, it takes balls to do that)
Hey Zack, greetings from New Zealand..love your reviews and appreciate your honest thoughts on the bikes you ride... While the BMW (Triumph, Ducati) would very likely be on my buy list if (WHEN!!) i win the lottery, would you be able to do a review on something like the CFMoto 800 MT?? Cheers mate..keep up the great work!!
Read more about the 1300 GS on Common Tread: rvz.la/4bWa8Sm
Check out all of the newest motorcycle gear available: rvz.la/4cT5pCs
Looking forward to your review of the GSX 8R PLEASE
15:17
Nice job as always Zack! As for the GS being expensive, it's true. But... consider a new H-D Road Glide is about $32,000, can't go off road, can't hang with sport bikes, weighs hundreds of pounds more, and doesn't have the tech of the GS. Actually, for $25k I think the R1300GS is a great purchase. Just my two cents.
Compare anything to a Harley and it’ll seem like a good deal😂
@@maximusDAbiker 🤣👍👍
Well Said!
Yeah sure it's expensive but compared to what is out there it kind of ... Isn't? Like if you want pretty much the best do everything go anywhere bike out there, that's it.
Y'know...I never thought of it that way. That's absolutely true
I absolutely love your non-absolutist attitude towards different types of motorcycles.
Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
@@Wattorok A very absolute statement in of itself
I never thought I'd be lucky enough to own a GS until I had a 2021 with only 800 miles fall into my lap for under $17k. Its the best bike ive ever ridden and im in love with it. I DO daily it when it isnt over 110F here in Arizona. I will never get rid of it
@@dookieshoes141 famous last words hahah until a used gs1300 falls in your lap a few years from now . Weve all been there
Very nice! I picked up my 2022 Triple Black (571 miles) from a HD dealer last year for $14,500. I couldn't believe it. They were just about to send it off to auction. What an awesome bike. So easy to ride in a relaxed way to truly enjoy the ride. Very quick and capable in every way.
Also loving my 2018 I picked up last weekend, all round amazing bike. All the bike you would ever really need
Too old to ride so I watch your channel and relive my youth.😅
Go small exclamation point how about a scooter or a versus 300X
How old? Ill? Plenty of riders around are in their seventies.
@steamixion 63, havent ridden since 30, suicide ?
Zac & Spurgeon, & Revzilla team - you are my favourite people on YT. You bring much joy. Love you guys. From Australia.
I think all the hate against the big GS are from people who have never ridden it. They're simply very capable on and offroad. and dare i say easy to ride.
Owned a '22 GSA for close to 2 seasons. Unquestionably a capable bike.... Also sort of forgettable though. If you want a bike that has "personality" (and that is a terribly subjective but important part of bike ownership), the GS isn't going to scratch that itch. They're utilitarian almost to a fault... very good at a lot of things, not great at any one thing.
Still, for a lot of riders that is the ideal solution.
I personally think they hate gs is because of the stigma it gives out. Same reason why everyone hates bmw drivers as alot of them are assholes
@@headwinded1948 Is character something you always want, depends how you use a bike, you might enjoy it on the weekend, but not grinding through traffic, or in pouring rain, on along a motorway.
@@headwinded1948I love my gs but your correct. Some people don’t like how smooth it is. It lacks that raw attitude that Ktms exude. It doesn’t bother me but I totally understand how some riders would not like that. Just preference.
R1250 gsa owner here. Went from s1000rr/R1 track runner to the 1250. It has been and feel like it always will be the best bike I've ever owned. It's a jack of all trades, master of none type of bike. If I want to bring it to the twities and have some fun, it's no problem. If I want to cruise cross country, it does that amazingly well. For the small amount of off road I have done on it, it was surprisingly sturdy. Love the bike and where it has gone
I finally got a bmw after almost 50 years of riding, not sure I would have love it before, but now i really enjoy my R1200. Maybe it's an age thing! Lol
Love your choice for the camera angle. Both a wider view of the bike and a much better forward view. Just gorgeous. Thanks for putting in the work.
"But unfortunately those people are wrong" LOL! You tell 'em, Zack. Let's see a Daily Rider on a Z900RS or a R 12 NineT
Z900rs!
I second this, I sold my Z900rs for a super tenere but if I had the room I would have kept the Z for sure. Such a good bike and a lovely engine. Engine is so nice I weighed that heavily as I almost bought a versys 1000 just to have that same family of engines.
R9t. Lots of character. Clunky and kinda slow but I love it.
The Zed is too hyper even they change the gearing and timing. The wind buff is another reason you don’t want to go over 75 MPH.
@@jtwu8931 hyper? The main reason no one likes it compared to the other bikes in the class is that it’s too tame. I would never call the Z hyper. Wry mellow smooth predictable engine which is what makes it so great. It’s not a twin by any stretch of the imagination but for a I4 it’s perfect.
Awesome video! When I purchased my GS 1250 it had the hill hold assist. I didn't think I would ever use it. Now after 2 years - I love it. Best!
40+ years of refining the platform. Continuous improvement. Boxer motor gives a huge head start for engineering a bike like this. Love my 1250GS!
I was just thinking it's about time for a new daily rider episode!
Lmao I don’t have an instagram. But I went on instagram to see what the holdup was 😂
It’s been a while since I sat through a single episode on Netflix and I can watch your video strait to the end and always end up refreshing with an update in the fast moving bike world. Wonderful job on the ride and review as always.
I really like how BMW threw in a few lines of code so the blind spot indicator doesn't light up when you're the one doing the passing, only when someone is coming up on you. That's thinking rather than just checking a box off a checklist - blind spot? Ja, fertig. They thought it out how it's used and I like that.
.... That's how works on all wehicles. If it didn't, it would be defective. Stop praising the minimum. If it has a feature, it should work, not be half assed
If you need more and more electronics to drive or ride just give up.... It doesn't make you a better driver/rider
@@LukaS-iy1gs You might want to have a conversation with my car then. It works as stated - if there is another vehicle coming up beside me or already beside me or me passing another vehicle, it lights up. And if you need more proof than that Zak himself even commented on how the GS1300's blind spot works so if anyone has more experience than you or me on how it works, it'd be him.
As to thinking about how things work - on my last car if I changed the volume of the stereo on the stereo screen/unit itself, it would show the volume bar on the screen only. If I changed it using the steering wheel control, it would show up in my digital instrument cluster only. That's thinking. On my new car (same brand), it works the same except when I change the volume on the steering wheel, then it shows up on both the cluster and the stereo screen. No idea if they changed it because of customer feedback or oversight but personally prefer the way it worked on my last car.
It feels the same.... almost like BMW owns Ducati
What if you are ....say...changing lanes on a multi lane highway and a car 2 lanes across also decides to change into the same lane where you are heading? I see that happening all the time. Can't replace eyeballs but that warning would sure be handy.. That being said I'd not be without blind spot radar now that I've got it.
Zach, your summation of how you placed the GS at the top is so good. Well done!
Instagram Question: "If you could only change one thing?"
Zack: "Literally remove everything!"
That was hilarious. Was kinda hoping the KTM would hang on to #1, but can't really argue with the leaderboard. Great review as always!
Really comprehensive review as normal, such a talented rider but also talented reviewer. He is able to articulate and breakdown all the facets of riding a bike under all circumstances, allowing you to take out of it what is important to you; so eloquent but at the same time entertaining, great job Zac.
Yo-yo to all the "REV" Bros .....you guys are completely professional at what you do you should be very proud of the product you make and the consistency of it because I am and I love watching my shows
The Saturday is saved. Zack is on!
I really like BMW's GS series and BMW in general. BMW also has a impeccable warranty and roadside service. You are literally one phone call away for help!
So, they DO break down, huh? 50,000 km on my 1090R and never broke down.
@@seabiscuit726142 Yep the do break down Scooter !Try putting 250k miles on one then come talk to me!
“R1300 GS Pure” would be consistent with BMW’s branding for stripped down R9T. And wow yeah that sounds like a great idea!
Just got back from a trip in the alps. I rode the 1300. It was fantastic. The adaptive ride height function is great.
The downside is that you can't get the adaptive ride height feature if you opt for the "sport" (off road) suspension.
Glad you finally got to ride it Zack. I'm so happy with mine. Best moto I've ever ridden.
Congrats!
When I hear 'daily rider' I would think a new bike/video everyday. More of Zack please! Great job and personality!
Any description Zack Courts is worth a thumbs up.
I Rida a GSA 1250 as a daily year around Commuter and I love it.
I love your refined and unbiased appraisal, much appreciated.
With over 10,000 miles on my R1300GS Trophy edition in the first 3 months I have really enjoyed it. Mine does have the higher sport suspension because I do ride it off-road. I have also owned a 2018 R1200GSA, 2020 S1000XR and a 2022 R1250GSA. In my opinion it is better in every way. The thing that I notice the most is how good the new Evo Telever suspension is off-road. It feels way more planted with better feedback. It almost feels like my XR and my 1250GSA had a baby. It is not perfect but it is so dang good at pretty much everything.
Excellent review. These are some of the best reviews on you tube. Much appreciated. I rode a 1300gs recently and didn't like the weight and agree that it's not much lighter than any earlier GS. This made riding in slow moving traffic a pain and much harder work than a significantly lighter bike. I agree with you about the brakes, which don't have nearly enough initial bite. For me brakes are 50% of the ride and this coupled with the weight made it a deal breaker for me. Agree it's still a very good bike for all the other reasons you mentioned but not that it's the best daily rider. For me a daily rider needs to be 220 kg/ 485 lb or less.
Since the 2013 R1200GS: Weight: +5%; HP: +20%; Price: +36%.
It’s always been a great, unique bike. Unfortunately as a former BMW fanboy/owner, there’s just zero chance I’m personally paying $30K or more out the door - esp given the alternatives. If pressed, I’m more apt to pick up a used R1200GS if I go back to BMW.
You need to consider inflation though. How much more expensive has it gotten in real terms?
I got a 2016 (water cooled compared to the 2013) for about 12K.
It had all the riding packages, 3 original cases with carrying bags and a gps.
It also only had 9000 miles on it.
If you don't want to pay premium. Just wait for the new model to be old. I'm pretty sure it's at least another 5 years until my gs is worth below 10K.
Well it's going with the trend of everything becoming more expensive
Nice review Zach. Thanks again for another great daily rider!
I agree with most points you have. I don´t understand people complaining about the hill hold. The frist 3 starts with it switched on are strange, than it becomes second nature. You can disable it by pulling the brake lever or using the rear brake. If you don´t want to use it, switch it of. Even though I don´t know why you would do that. It is an incredible feature.
The only thing I am not sold on is the comfort. I am 190 (close to 6 ft 3 in I guess?) I have the enduro package, so maybe the footpegs are positioned different than the standard footpegs. But I can´t sit on it for a full day. Not even a full tank to be honest and I am 34 years old and an active, trained guy. I will most likely look into a different seat and/or footpegs. That is the one thing I am actually not happy with. Especially if you think about what this bike is supposed to be. On my old F800ST I would be sad that the tank is empty and I had to stop.
I can see the possible benefits , but I switched mine of after a hour will look back into it when I get time
Mine cane with a "tall comfort seat." Maybe it has more squish/fluff than yours? I can ride afilltank no prob, just like my prior 1250.
@@KalJoao I have the tall comfort seat as well.
@gordanmoran4549 maybe try it in a parking lot and see how much throttle you need to give and get a feeling for it
I turned off the hill hold on my Jeep, just because I wanted a bit more of a genuine experience, which gets lost with every new piece of technology.
I don't even think about it when I'm off roading.
And yes, I'm also the type that doesn't like quick shifters and such unless I'm racing. Even then my track bike has zero tech (still a carburated 2 stroke) 😂
I may not like all the motorcycles you review !... But I love all your review`s 👍
Long awaited gs1300 review finally arrived ❤
The most uncomfortable motorcycle you will ever ride. Very disappointing BMW
Great review Zac, really enjoyed it and it was a great review
A lifetime on top of boxxers makes you one of the best presenters to explain this bike . I would love to see this one with the bare minimum of additions .That suspension looks like a nice home for this 73 year old body .. As I have said before I wish they made an R80 version with this suspension and brakes ... I knew where it was going to be on the podium from the moment you swung a leg over that bike ... All the best , Guy
What an incredible mind-blowing machine. I think I've just seen the best motorcycle ever created in the history of everything.
Thank you for the expertise and technical wisdom along with your experienced impressions about this bike and I truly agree with the classification on your board of daily rider’s evaluation. The 1300 GS has its merits like on the predecessor generations, maybe it isn’t the best on any category but it is very good on almost every of those categories. So, I truly agree with your statement here. Fantastic!
You can see from the video how great this bike is. I don't even like sport touring bikes, but this one is incredible no doubt.
Great Daily Rider! Not what I expected with this Gen 8.0(?) bike. The only thing I missed was that I wanted to hear more about those off-road Swayzies shown at the end? You nailed it, the GS is king because is does EVERYTHING adequately. It's the motorcycle SUV in my garage!
Extremely sensible and and pragmatic review. Its a great bike so easy to ride super low centre of gravity with the gearbox new position just does everything that little bit better than previous model.
thanks your reviews are great especially because your ride in has its trusty consistent format meaning all the bikes can be fairly compared
Yup. Prior 800GSA and 1250RT owner here, and that’s really true about this bike “feeling” lighter, even if it isn’t. I don’t know how they did that.
I just spent 12 days with the R1300GS in Sardinia, Corsica and mainland Italy. I own a 1250GS. To me, the new GS is less comfortable, more cramped, the boxer clatters at idle and sounds worse than the 1250 (which is not saying much). While it has more power and torque, it was not vastly different to me in daily riding nor when riding it aggressively. There are other tests on YT where the old and new bikes are basically side by side in a drag race and at roll-on. So much for a better power to weight ratio. Low speed handling is still wonderfully light and balanced. It is still a fabulous all round motorcycle. It was great on the Stelvio. But returning to my 1250 there was nothing that made me want to head to the BMW dealer to trade, and a few things that would keep me from doing so. That said, we had the following bikes to ride on that trip: Ducati MS V4S, Ducati Desert X, Triumph Tiger 1200, Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, BMW S1000XR, Honda AT 1100 DCT (there was supposed to be a Suzuki GSX-S1000 but it was crashed, and a KTM SAS1290 but it had engine and electrical issues and had to be returned for warranty work…which appears to be a KTM thing). Out of all of those, if you could have only one bike, the GS was the best all rounder for me. As Zack says, you may not agree, but you would be wrong 😁.
I really like the feel of my MTS1200 as an all rounder bike, but everything has a weakness, and the Multi is unreliable. The bottom end had to be rebuilt at 29k which I think is unforgivable, and the piston rings appear to be shot as well, which would have been nice for the mechanic rebuilding it to have noticed. As it is now it's barely worth repairing, since I suspect the oil system is inherently flawed.
@@aluisious There is a video of an owner of the MTS 1200 with 80,000 problem free miles. "Trevor mould MTS long term review".
I would be interested in the GS1300 as a base model, there is just so much silly technology, that makes it so silly expensive it has become more of a "Flash my cash" bike.
Ninja 1000sx. Never wrong.
I’m saving my $100,000 for the 950 pound R 1900 in 2028!
I'm saving $120,000 for a 2028 1100 pound Hercules Airlander 2200RX. It's arms race, my friend, and by arms race I mean my feeling of inadequacy.
Actually the R1300GS is the same weight the R1200GS was 11 years ago, and the inflation-adjusted price is about the same too.
They are holding the line.
^ This dude BMW's.
👏🏻
Zack’s review✅+
🕶🏍
Lang Lebe MOTORRAD!
I'd actually been waiting for this one. Great review, as always. Thanks
I got a 1250 GSA new last year,best bike I've owned and I've had a few, comfortable,all day, torque laden engine,great size for bigger riders,but the new 1300gsa is out and I love the looks,so ill be upgrading soon 👍🖤
Why do I feel that if BMW took your advice and did a bare bones "Pro" version of the bike, it would cost more than some of the lower spec models. "Ah yes, you would think it would be cheaper without all the electronics but the black paint we used contains "doesntexistium" which adds $4000 onto the price"
This comment stood out to me: "If yo get the GS Adventure, you get a much larger fuel tank... for those long rides on the highway."
💯 for the GS1300 RAW!
I agree with Zach, BMW should make a bare bones version and they would expand their market and bring more people into the brand.
good work Zach. i bought a versys 650 a few years back at your advice, it looks kile i need to buy a gs this time.
I sold a 2017 1200GS Rallye a couple of years ago. You can pick that bike up now for somewhere between £7k and £10k depending on condition/mileage. As good as I’m sure it is I very much doubt this new 1300GS is significantly better to warrant three times the money.
But the rallye was about the same money when it was new!
@ Yeah, probably about right. The cost of new bikes is laughably high but presumably the knock on effect of that is to inflate used prices. You can only compare what the asking prices are.
I keep being told no one is buying bikes, that prices are crashing but I don’t see much evidence of that.
What Zach described as the r1300 gs pro is a base model GS that u can actually buy. Go into the dealership and order it
Tried it, loved it. Much better than my 2018 1200gs. Sadly it would take a big chunk of dough to trade to the 1300. Maybe next year
Great review! Would you put a note in description for what all the icons mean? I think it is a nice addition & quick reference to the bike model tags for the board. A list of definitions on the board or in the description would be handy though. Thanks Zack, love ya buddy! Tell Ari howdy!
Departing this and the new GS900 - don’t think I’ll be doing much off-road, but am tall and both really appeal to me, took a GS1250 across Africa and really liked it, even though it was GSA
Totally agree with your Zack! a raw R1300GS "PRO" matt Black without any gizmos with the bare minimum of electronics would sell like hotcakes. Take note BMW 😎
A good balanced review, thanks!
Zack's Hill hold rant FTW! 😄
I noticed that too. And ironically I love that feature so much on my, dare I say it 23 Vstrom! The streets of San Francisco can do that to you.
@@druegeme Lucky you mate, no hill hold on my Transalp, but I support myself with rear brake 😊
@druegeme yup, SF rider here too. Hill hold helps on the heavy rides for sure!!! (Esp since cars give no room for error behind)
good video. that adaptive seating.... nice that it opens the door to short riders. my bmw guru said that it will be on all bmw models in the future. that's exciting for me.
my 750 gs was lowered and put on low suspension AND i got the low seat, and i'm still on tippy tips of the tips of my toes, and the slightest bit of gravel at a stop sign or an oily slippery gas station ground is terrifying. and it's the only time i've dropped my bike is when i'm just stopped. so embarrassing. i love sitting up high, but i can't handle any higher of a bike! my 750 is only my second bike and i'm not sure what will be my next. all the bmws are too high (except for the r12 but cruisers are boring). i trust the brand the most, and this bike (while WAY too expensive for me) makes me optimistic that i could stay bmw but still go bigger.
thanks for the video and the drool.....
Thanks for a proper review on the big 13 , I love the looks if I could change one thing it would be the lack of a brake light,, that’s it really, if and when I get one I’d get the base model 👍👍
I think if I was on the design team I'd have similar thoughts to you when it comes to stripping it down. I'd want them to basically make a modern HP2 enduro. I'm so sad that bikes like the HP2 enduro and the 950 super enduro R didn't stick around for very long. I know they're sort of impractical and a lot of people probably wouldn't want or use them. But there's something magical about them.
You're bike reviews are quite good. PLEASE do more bike reviews.
Very informative as always Zack! Thank you! Could you perhaps do a video on the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 as well?
This is definitely probably my favorite review. And not just because of the Content, but because of what the bike does and the features it has the mirrors, the Cell Phone holder and the extra glove compartment. The range is good. Adjustable windshield. I would definitely say this would be the Bike that I save to get.
The only thing I’d be worried about is the maintenance of the bike. I don’t know if it’s true or not. But it has been said that BMWs. In general are such a pain in the ass. For maintenance and part replacement. I don’t know if that’s just cars or if that’s just a silly thing in general. But I would still love to get this bike. I’m apprehensive if it is the case that the maintenance would be a pain in the ass, because I ride about 300 to 400 miles a day.
Hope one day I can get a GS. Probably gonna be a R2900GS by the time I can afford one tho lol
I loved this bike the 1300 GS...and I also loved the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro also. Both were neck and neck...prob prefered the Tiger if I had to choose.
Best hill-hold explanation ever. I mean..... exactly!
Depending on my mood, I think the GS either peaked with the R1100GS (the purest expression of an "analog" GS) or the late model 1200s (just enough tech and weight to justify themselves) -- will be curious to see how the 1300 evolves though, and if BMW figures out how to get it right with time
I put a little over 3k miles on mine and I don’t have any complaints. I was previously on a 23 HD Fat Bob.
On hill hold, I do think BMW do themselves a disservice shipping bikes with it on and in automatic mode.
If you’re not used to it, it’s a weird intervention on the stops you particularly don’t want weird. Learn to use it in manual mode for a bit first and the auto mode becomes a nice convenience and aid
On my 2018 it was horrible, on my 2021 is awesome and smooth to take off!
Can't wait the review on Adventure version..
Having owned a GS and GSA, the GS is the better "daily rider." It's hard to think of an exception, unless perhaps your commute is in consistently cold weather. The benefits of the GSA are all for longer trips and rougher roads, and are if anything disadvantages for riding around town.
And then we get to the looks of the new GSA...
Rebuild the dirt jump! 🥳
I’ll never understand the hate the GS engenders. Sure, it’s become a status symbol, but by all accounts it’s really good at what it does.
@@JS-nf1sn OK, gotcha. It seems like it’s the gold standard by which all other ADV bikes are measured but there are definitely better bikes for other purposes. I actually really like the flat twin (I have a 1250R and love it), but I feel like the GS’ reputation puts a lot of people off from even trying out that engine configuration, which is a shame. They’re pricey as hell new, but you can find some great deals used.
@@ejd8711 I don’t know of anyone that actually hates BMW. I look at them the exact same way I do Harley Davidson. They both make good bikes but I can’t justify spending that much on a toy. Especially when there are bikes that do the same thing for less than half price. Will they look as nice or be as fast? Probably not, but that’s ok.
Great as always Zak, i must tell you that this bike in Italy starts from 23k € without any extras so you have much better price also regarding € to $ difference, but also to said that here gs 1300 had some electronics -handle bar reley problem . But generally nice toy!
And indeed “they are wrong”. Nice work as always Zack.
Fantastic bike
I found it interesting that you assessed the GS as more or less the same bike as the 1250 but everything is different. I'd love to see a Daily Rider of the R1250RS (or perhaps a 1300RS) when it comes - I think this is an often overlooked quality ride in the BMW range - especially for those who have no intentions to go off road.
Got curious to take a test ride on such a bike. Would be exciting to see all the luxury it gives you. Thanks for an entertaining movie.
What determines what bikes you evaluate? I noticed there are no Honda's on your list. I also agree with you on BMW producing a simple basic version of a GS without all the bells and whistles. Not only would the reliability increase but maybe the average guy could afford to own one.
Great video Zack as usual ❤❤❤.
1300 GS looks like a big upgrade on previous GS models
Wondering how it's compared to new Triumph Explorer 1200???
Is the off-road section at the very end part of another video I just can’t find? Looks like fun and I’d like to see the rest
I'd like to hear your opinion on cost and ease of maintenance on the bikes you review. Keep up good work!
Thats a pretty nice CFmoto!
😂
A bit pricey though, for a CFMoto
You can easily tell its not a CFMoto when you go to sell it, it will be worth nearly all you paid for it, unlike the CFMoto which will worth the price of yesterday's newspaper!!
@@kentishmale1969 and yet it still looks like a CFmoto
You should review the GSX-S1000 GX ...
Agreed.
There should be a mouth emoji for bikes that are fun to mimic the sound of. As soon as Zack starts that you know that bike is going high on the board😂
Nice review, Zack. Thanks for a straightforward review of what the bike is like to ride.
I am on a 2016 KTM 1290 SA (8 gal. tank) and have started looking for a new ride.
The Ducati is thirsty, so the Rally version appeals more to me, but $30k!
I "built" a 1300gs and it was about $1k less. Figuring range isn't dramatically different to the Ducati. Maybe go Adventure? Looks don't matter to me, as my KTM is not exactly a looker IMO.
Shaft drive is appealing, but 36k valve checks on the Ducati is REALLY appealing....
Then there is the Triumph.... I like Triumph!
In other words, 1st world problems!
Can't wait to see which way I go.
Haha this was one of those rare videos where Zack's biases show through. I do remember in a HS LS episode he did say, he doesn't care if everyone says the next GS is crap, he would still love it. And here there were a few times when he is like "oh it does this and that, but hey who cares right?" :D Or the stop sign challenge where he says ''amazingly balanced" then it turns out to be a sketchy set of stop signs xD. Good review though - as usual :DD
I like the idea of a boxer engine, I also think it's funny that engines just keep getting more CC's. It sounds a bit like a wave runner. They should do a radial engine like an old war plane sometime, lol. Torque for days. J/K It just seems a bit too comfortable for me. I'm putting a nice windscreen on my Scrambler 1200 XC, and should be good, but with more motor character and style. This wouldn't fit on the sidewalk in front of my work either. Perhaps someday when my body's even more shot. This seems like the adventure version of a Goldwing. Almost reminds me of the Judge Dred bike a little bit, ha. I think a trellis frame would look cooler. The whole ride I wanted the phone holder to not be blocking the view through the windscreen too.
It is expensive but in the end AS expensive as the bikes it relates with (not even the most expensive - and being the king, it could be).
They called them mega on-off, travel enduro, crossover... to me GS is just the best wildcard on two wheels, on planet Earth and this is its best version, even returning to some of the original values it seemed to have lost along the way.
(this is why its worse critics are 1250GSA owners - why is a big other discussion but I am GLAD it doesn't appeal to them - kudos BMW, it takes balls to do that)
the idea of the r1300gs pro would be a dream
Been really looking forward to this
Im going to wait for the r1300r.The r1200r 2014 was epic
R and RS are coming in mid-2025
Yeah love my R1250R.
The 13 GS should is quite rightly top of the board I love it
Great, as always. Is a R1250R on the radar for a review? I am thinking about one of those to compliment my 1250GS.
Hey Zack, greetings from New Zealand..love your reviews and appreciate your honest thoughts on the bikes you ride... While the BMW (Triumph, Ducati) would very likely be on my buy list if (WHEN!!) i win the lottery, would you be able to do a review on something like the CFMoto 800 MT?? Cheers mate..keep up the great work!!