I happened to have the r1250rs for a week during the riding tour in France last month. It was long enough for me to fall in love with it completely! Now I’m getting my own here in the US😊
That was a good honest review. I think it's an underrated bike. I've owned the 2021 RS (SE model) for 18 months now and love it. I'm 5'6, in my 60s and it fits me perfectly. My wife rides shotgun everywhere and we can run up 1000Km in a day and still walk at the end of it. I added a small after-market clip-on screen and it's now silent at any speed. The lights are awesome BTW. I only use the quickshifter/blipper in 4th, 5th and 6th and it's fine.
I got mine after a H2SXSE, THE most uncomfortable bike I've owned ( ZZR14 prior to it , best big bike from Kawasaki ) and fancied a change from in line 4's. I can't say I'm disappointed with my RS, it's a really great bike, comfortable, quick & easy to ride either quick or in town. Covered 4k this year in Europe and enjoyed every trip. I've tested the GS 1300 and it is awesome, can't wait to see that motor in a RS. Last trip , ferry from Harwich at night in a torrential downpour in the A14, didn't faze the bike at all, lights were awesome , handled superbly and the rain protection surprised me...definitely a convert, this is the undiscovered BMW
This is the bike I bought in '22, no regrets. I rode it up to the far north of Norway last summer, no issues, as you say, low down centre of gravity, lower riding position, easier to handle than the GS (in my humble opinion). good review, thanks.
I too have gone from a 1250GS TE to the 1250RS SE in the Motorrad sports colours with the tubular bars as I was finding the GS to be getting a bit of a handfull pushing it about as I get older. The RS isn't much lighter, but it's more compact and has a lower seat and as I don't take a pillion touring anymore it makes a lot of sense to me being vertically challenged, especially at the price as that also keeps things like insurance to a reasonable level too being well under £20k. It does look nice in the sports colours too. The screen is crap , but you can fit either the Puig touring plus or MRA Vario screens and relocate the satnav with the moto mate bracket. I've no regrets getting the RS, it's nice to be different for a change but still retain the boxer engine which for the road is hard to beat and as you say being able to feel the front end again after 3 GS' is another positive and the suspension doesn't dive under braking like Tom Daily either. I have ridden the Z1000SX and that was more a sporty riding position, but preferred the RS as it's a better all round package IMO as I like to keep my licence clean but all that torque still means you can have some fun out of the bends and makes overtakes a doddle, plus the 60 plus MPG I get is another reason to love the boxer over it's 4 cylinder rivals. Oh and there's no chain either 👍it's a very underrated bike.
Coming from a lifetime of sportsbikes I decided Id caught old age and started looking at BMW … so I bought a K1200s and at 170bhp I enjoyed the practical side with things like shaft and heated grips but I wasn’t a fan of that paralever front end … so I looked around and decided upon a R1200RS with a handlebar riser kit … okay it’s only 125bhp but it will keep up with friends when asked yet is so comfortable for weekends away with pillion … I think it’s my ‘forever bike’
Great little review that. Like "iFixThings" below, I'm in my 60's and only 5'6" too. Having originally been planning a new GS, I just wasn't comfortable on the lowest possibility so went for the 2023 RS SE with the 760mm seat. Even I can flat foot it and feel comfortable in all conditions. I've got the Moto Mate Raised Nav Mount for my Chigee which is much safer. Has been "all day comfortable" even with the obviously less padded low seat option and even the standard screen is ok for me (and the wife on the back) - "normal" sized folks might need to change it.😆 Anyway, thanks for a great review in such a wonderful setting!
Thanks for taking the time to post. My local BMW dealer came up with a good comment the other day, he said that he wished people could blind test a bike , rather than being swayed by brand/looks, to feel how the bike felt .Hoping to try the 1250R in the next few days.
I’m on my second RS after five GS’s. It’s the one with the wider bars. Love it and I don’t have an issue with the screen. Did two European Tours this year.
I had a GS1250 for three years and it took me all over Europe, but it started to get too heavy for me and was always a little tall so I decided to change to the RS1250SE as I didn't like the GS1300. The only changes I made to the RS were fitting Bar risers and moving the sat nav to above the tft.
I had the 1200 R lovely bike but I found I was squatting rather than sitting on it long rides my legs kinda went numb 🤣 so I bought new one like yours 👍👍 I love my 1250 gs triple black toooo ! 💪🏼nice colors tho . Great vid Paul 👍
The best thing about buying an RS compared to the GS is the price, they can be a tough sell used and sometimes the dealers just want to move them on. I really dont understand why as I think it a great bike so I took advantage of this and bought one at the end of last year. I kept the GS as I prefer it for longer multi day trips as I find it way more comfertable but the RS for everything else. The RS feels quicker as it has sligtly different gearing and has a smoother quickshifter. Although the tank is 2l smaller than the GS i get better range from it.
I recently traded my 1250GS for a 1250RS - so similar and yet so different. I loved my GS but I was (am) getting too old for its height and weight - the RS is a more manageable bike with most of the positives of the GS, assuming no intention to off-road. My only 'concern' with the RS is the screen and the amount of noise it generates.
Looks like a fantastic bike, but I have a question, I noticed that you had the tubular handlebar instead of the stock one, what difference did this make and would you recommend it, I have to be careful with my right wrist as it was broken several years ago and never really recovered. Cheers David :)
Apologies for the late response . I found the tubular version fine and you can easily attach items to it. I am not sure of the RS comes with "clip ons"?
Good review, I’ve been looking for an upgrade wondering how much different the forward lean on the wrists, in comparison to the Kawasaki SX 1000, getting on now at 67 and struggle considerably with the Kawasaki, but it’s been a brilliant bike not sure about the 1250 GS or the Tiger 1200 I’m just over 5/ 9 may Bea bit too tall,🏴
I wish I could try the sx1000 but as yet my dealer hasn't got any in for demo. I did have a gpz900r way back in the day in '86, loved it. The tiger 900 I tried was really good.
Hey great video. What is the vlog setup you have for the helmet mounts? I have the AcePro and a wireless mic like the DJI. trying to figure out a good setup like yours for it.
Absolutely. I’ve never met a GS rider who doesn’t swear by telelever suspension. Makes you wonder what the WSBK and MotoGP engineers are playing at speccing that telescopic rubbish.
I noticed you have the GS-like handlebar. Normally this model comes with a clip-on like handlebar. Do you know if that handlebar was special ordered for the RS in your video?
I sold my 2016 R1200RS this year because it had got too heavy to move around in the garage. I rode it sea-to-sea across Canada in 2019 and did a track weekend in 2018. I did 70,000 km and only had two problems:blown headlight bulbs! What a machine! Oh yes, I’m 78. I’m told the 1250 is even better: get one!
i have just bought one , exactly the same spec, its seems there may be an issue with the 1250 engine and upcoming euro engine spec update ( euro7?) so , i was told by a motoradd employer. Fully spec'd like the one you tested, 350 miles from new, £14k..i love it , so refined after my SDGT, and no slower! And to cap it all, i also have a GSD!!
They are less of a reach than the standard bars, my mate has risers on his and says its about the same ( with risers) however the additional leverage of the tubular bars ( wider) makes the bike turn more 'sweetly' , imho. An RS rider i met at dealership with the same tubular bars had added wunderlich risers as well and said it gave the RS the same riding position as his previous GS. Hope that helps anyone?
@@richardmorton5650 - Thanks. I already have risers (from China haha) but am thinking of getting the tubular bar as well to give that GS armchair riding position. It may require lengthening the brake line but it's all doable. It might even help with the wind buffeting issue although I am considering getting the ZTechnik Windscreen which is supposed to help in that regard.
What's missing in the BMW line-up (same goes for Ducati) is a R1250RS SE looking bike with the M1000XR engine. I.E a true SuperSport. I'm getting tired of the ADV look.
I do not get it. The love for the boxer. The boxer engine was OK till about the R75, after that they simply lack 2 cilinders... I owned a few Beemer boxers, older models, and they are rough. A mate of mine has a recent RT LC. It is still rough. A lot less than the older ones but still anything but sophisticated. It still shift gears as if you are driving a tractor. And I do know how to shift. I had a GS and the seating position did not suit my aging body. I always buy cheap... I bumped into a 2005 R 1200GT. The 'brick' model. Traded my GS, I do prefer a sporty seating position. Now this bike is a revelation... It shifts as if it came from Japan, the engine is even smoother than the one of my VFR 750... To me the boxers are BMW's Porsche 911... They should have been discontinued ages OK. BMW tried to do that (as did Porsche with the 928) with the K's. For reasons that I will never ever understand clients continue to want boxers... If you want to ride a really sophisticated bike try a K 1200 RS or K 1200 GT made from 1997 till 2005. You will be amazed. The concept with the in-line 4 on its side is quite brilliant. The best part: they are not well liked so relatively cheap. The downside: it was the best BMW could master at that time so proper maintenance is still quite expensive.
Do you also struggle to understand why people like foods that you don't or clothing styles that you don't? Isn't it a good thing that we all like different things? I have owned most manufacturer bikes and most engine configurations, V-twins, triples, inline 4s, parallel twins etc. I have just bought my 1st BMW with a Boxer engine and i absolutely love it, it's slightly agricultural, but it's torquey low revving engine just suits the bike (GS) and my style of riding. It is simply a difference in personal taste. Ride safe.
@@jonno94 Sorry, from a pure technology point of view a large 2 cilinder engine is not a good idea. Like a Porsche 911, with this lump of an enigine behind the rear axle, is a fundamentally flawed design. BMW was quite aware of this, as was Porsche. Both tried to advance, in both cases with rather good designs. And in both cases the new design was less succesful than expected because clients stayed with the old design. And commercially you can only do one thing: let the old stuff continue to live. I get that. But the original K, the 'brick' as it is usually referred to, is quite a good concept. After all BMW strength is building in line engines. And the idea to mount it flat to overcome top heaviness is quite smart. Man handling the K is a lot easier than the GS, even though the K is about 60 KG heavier than my previous GS. And you said it, the boxer is slightly agricultural. I understand people may prefer that, but that is not to say it is the best solution from a technical point of view.
@@carsyoungtimerfreak1149 Well the GS with it's boxer engine is BMW's biggest seller and one of the top selling bikes around the world! Is it nostalgia or is it because people really like this design of engine for many reasons or are all these people simply wrong?
I have the R1250RS SE. Best money I have ever spent. Love my bike sooooooo much.
I happened to have the r1250rs for a week during the riding tour in France last month. It was long enough for me to fall in love with it completely! Now I’m getting my own here in the US😊
That was a good honest review. I think it's an underrated bike.
I've owned the 2021 RS (SE model) for 18 months now and love it. I'm 5'6, in my 60s and it fits me perfectly. My wife rides shotgun everywhere and we can run up 1000Km in a day and still walk at the end of it. I added a small after-market clip-on screen and it's now silent at any speed. The lights are awesome BTW. I only use the quickshifter/blipper in 4th, 5th and 6th and it's fine.
Thanks for posting.Ride safe and enjoy many more miles.
I just loved my 2017 1200RS. Still miss it.
Needed a change from several GS’s. Changed to the S1000XR 2024. Best decision ever. Never go back now.
I got mine after a H2SXSE, THE most uncomfortable bike I've owned ( ZZR14 prior to it , best big bike from Kawasaki ) and fancied a change from in line 4's. I can't say I'm disappointed with my RS, it's a really great bike, comfortable, quick & easy to ride either quick or in town. Covered 4k this year in Europe and enjoyed every trip. I've tested the GS 1300 and it is awesome, can't wait to see that motor in a RS. Last trip , ferry from Harwich at night in a torrential downpour in the A14, didn't faze the bike at all, lights were awesome , handled superbly and the rain protection surprised me...definitely a convert, this is the undiscovered BMW
This is the bike I bought in '22, no regrets. I rode it up to the far north of Norway last summer, no issues, as you say, low down centre of gravity, lower riding position, easier to handle than the GS (in my humble opinion). good review, thanks.
Thanks, I hope to be trying the R model ,which sounds as though it is an often overlooked bike as well.
I too have gone from a 1250GS TE to the 1250RS SE in the Motorrad sports colours with the tubular bars as I was finding the GS to be getting a bit of a handfull pushing it about as I get older. The RS isn't much lighter, but it's more compact and has a lower seat and as I don't take a pillion touring anymore it makes a lot of sense to me being vertically challenged, especially at the price as that also keeps things like insurance to a reasonable level too being well under £20k. It does look nice in the sports colours too. The screen is crap , but you can fit either the Puig touring plus or MRA Vario screens and relocate the satnav with the moto mate bracket. I've no regrets getting the RS, it's nice to be different for a change but still retain the boxer engine which for the road is hard to beat and as you say being able to feel the front end again after 3 GS' is another positive and the suspension doesn't dive under braking like Tom Daily either. I have ridden the Z1000SX and that was more a sporty riding position, but preferred the RS as it's a better all round package IMO as I like to keep my licence clean but all that torque still means you can have some fun out of the bends and makes overtakes a doddle, plus the 60 plus MPG I get is another reason to love the boxer over it's 4 cylinder rivals. Oh and there's no chain either 👍it's a very underrated bike.
Thanks for posting about the RS 👍
Coming from a lifetime of sportsbikes I decided Id caught old age and started looking at BMW … so I bought a K1200s and at 170bhp I enjoyed the practical side with things like shaft and heated grips but I wasn’t a fan of that paralever front end … so I looked around and decided upon a R1200RS with a handlebar riser kit … okay it’s only 125bhp but it will keep up with friends when asked yet is so comfortable for weekends away with pillion … I think it’s my ‘forever bike’
Great little review that.
Like "iFixThings" below, I'm in my 60's and only 5'6" too. Having originally been planning a new GS, I just wasn't comfortable on the lowest possibility so went for the 2023 RS SE with the 760mm seat. Even I can flat foot it and feel comfortable in all conditions.
I've got the Moto Mate Raised Nav Mount for my Chigee which is much safer.
Has been "all day comfortable" even with the obviously less padded low seat option and even the standard screen is ok for me (and the wife on the back) - "normal" sized folks might need to change it.😆
Anyway, thanks for a great review in such a wonderful setting!
Thanks for taking the time to post. My local BMW dealer came up with a good comment the other day, he said that he wished people could blind test a bike , rather than being swayed by brand/looks, to feel how the bike felt .Hoping to try the 1250R in the next few days.
I’m on my second RS after five GS’s. It’s the one with the wider bars. Love it and I don’t have an issue with the screen. Did two European Tours this year.
I had a GS1250 for three years and it took me all over Europe, but it started to get too heavy for me and was always a little tall so I decided to change to the RS1250SE as I didn't like the GS1300. The only changes I made to the RS were fitting Bar risers and moving the sat nav to above the tft.
I had the 1200 R lovely bike but I found I was squatting rather than sitting on it long rides my legs kinda went numb 🤣 so I bought new one like yours 👍👍 I love my 1250 gs triple black toooo ! 💪🏼nice colors tho . Great vid Paul 👍
Had one from new for four years . Love it , not sure how i would upgrade ? The 1300 replacement would want to be very good .
The best thing about buying an RS compared to the GS is the price, they can be a tough sell used and sometimes the dealers just want to move them on. I really dont understand why as I think it a great bike so I took advantage of this and bought one at the end of last year. I kept the GS as I prefer it for longer multi day trips as I find it way more comfertable but the RS for everything else. The RS feels quicker as it has sligtly different gearing and has a smoother quickshifter. Although the tank is 2l smaller than the GS i get better range from it.
I recently traded my 1250GS for a 1250RS - so similar and yet so different. I loved my GS but I was (am) getting too old for its height and weight - the RS is a more manageable bike with most of the positives of the GS, assuming no intention to off-road. My only 'concern' with the RS is the screen and the amount of noise it generates.
Thanks for sharing!
Try an MRA windscreen
I've put an MRA Varioscreen on mine, and the difference is night and day.
@@andrewrowley5463 - Which one? What size? And how tall are you?
I can assure you, the RT is much quieter with the engine fairing making the whole bike less obnoxious. I think the muffler too, is more effective.
I do enjoy your videos..but my oh, my I do lay awake at night worrying about my chain dive! 😂😂😂
Looks like a fantastic bike, but I have a question, I noticed that you had the tubular handlebar instead of the stock one, what difference did this make and would you recommend it, I have to be careful with my right wrist as it was broken several years ago and never really recovered. Cheers David :)
Apologies for the late response . I found the tubular version fine and you can easily attach items to it. I am not sure of the RS comes with "clip ons"?
Tried one a few months ago,couldn’t get on with the stretch to the handle bars,not extreme but I was expecting a more comfy ride.
Good review, I’ve been looking for an upgrade wondering how much different the forward lean on the wrists, in comparison to the Kawasaki SX 1000, getting on now at 67 and struggle considerably with the Kawasaki, but it’s been a brilliant bike not sure about the 1250 GS or the Tiger 1200 I’m just over 5/ 9 may Bea bit too tall,🏴
I wish I could try the sx1000 but as yet my dealer hasn't got any in for demo. I did have a gpz900r way back in the day in '86, loved it. The tiger 900 I tried was really good.
Hey great video. What is the vlog setup you have for the helmet mounts? I have the AcePro and a wireless mic like the DJI. trying to figure out a good setup like yours for it.
I just put the wireless mic on the inside of the helmet and then played around with the rx/tx settings until I got it right.
If I could afford it, I would buy it immediately.
Also no telelever front suspension on the front when compared with the GS.
Absolutely. I’ve never met a GS rider who doesn’t swear by telelever suspension. Makes you wonder what the WSBK and MotoGP engineers are playing at speccing that telescopic rubbish.
What is a cheekly put cheekily? Is that a phone instead of a GPS or what?
Chigee? its a screen mirroring device that lets you use CarPlay . I really like it.
I noticed you have the GS-like handlebar. Normally this model comes with a clip-on like handlebar. Do you know if that handlebar was special ordered for the RS in your video?
The dealer had ticked the handle bar option.
I sold my 2016 R1200RS this year because it had got too heavy to move around in the garage. I rode it sea-to-sea across Canada in 2019 and did a track weekend in 2018. I did 70,000 km and only had two problems:blown headlight bulbs! What a machine! Oh yes, I’m 78. I’m told the 1250 is even better: get one!
Hope that you still have a motorbike in the garage?
@ KTM 390 Duke. Not so good- but a heap of fun!
i have just bought one , exactly the same spec, its seems there may be an issue with the 1250 engine and upcoming euro engine spec update ( euro7?) so , i was told by a motoradd employer. Fully spec'd like the one you tested, 350 miles from new, £14k..i love it , so refined after my SDGT, and no slower! And to cap it all, i also have a GSD!!
oh and tubular bars are a must...
@@richardmorton5650 - What difference to the height and reach do they make?
They are less of a reach than the standard bars, my mate has risers on his and says its about the same ( with risers) however the additional leverage of the tubular bars ( wider) makes the bike turn more 'sweetly' , imho. An RS rider i met at dealership with the same tubular bars had added wunderlich risers as well and said it gave the RS the same riding position as his previous GS. Hope that helps anyone?
i would also add i think because of the lower CoG , it actually handles better than my SDGT
@@richardmorton5650 - Thanks. I already have risers (from China haha) but am thinking of getting the tubular bar as well to give that GS armchair riding position. It may require lengthening the brake line but it's all doable. It might even help with the wind buffeting issue although I am considering getting the ZTechnik Windscreen which is supposed to help in that regard.
Oh, you have the wider bars on that.
I like to see te review with the k1600gt!
You and me both!
could you comment on how much you like the Boxer engine?
No! 😂
What's missing in the BMW line-up (same goes for Ducati) is a R1250RS SE looking bike with the M1000XR engine. I.E a true SuperSport.
I'm getting tired of the ADV look.
wasn't a bar handle-bar before
Hi . Not sure , but the bars are not clip on style now , they are handlebars👍
What’s the meaning of SE? Is this a new model or just means ‘sport’
Special equipment ????? RS is German for travel sport.
@@gsd32i maybe I’m waiting for the R1300rs
I do not get it. The love for the boxer. The boxer engine was OK till about the R75, after that they simply lack 2 cilinders... I owned a few Beemer boxers, older models, and they are rough. A mate of mine has a recent RT LC. It is still rough. A lot less than the older ones but still anything but sophisticated. It still shift gears as if you are driving a tractor. And I do know how to shift. I had a GS and the seating position did not suit my aging body. I always buy cheap... I bumped into a 2005 R 1200GT. The 'brick' model. Traded my GS, I do prefer a sporty seating position. Now this bike is a revelation... It shifts as if it came from Japan, the engine is even smoother than the one of my VFR 750... To me the boxers are BMW's Porsche 911... They should have been discontinued ages OK. BMW tried to do that (as did Porsche with the 928) with the K's. For reasons that I will never ever understand clients continue to want boxers... If you want to ride a really sophisticated bike try a K 1200 RS or K 1200 GT made from 1997 till 2005. You will be amazed. The concept with the in-line 4 on its side is quite brilliant. The best part: they are not well liked so relatively cheap. The downside: it was the best BMW could master at that time so proper maintenance is still quite expensive.
Appreciate the input. All I can say is that I love my boxer GS. I did have a Porsche once, but not the 911. Thanks.
Do you also struggle to understand why people like foods that you don't or clothing styles that you don't?
Isn't it a good thing that we all like different things?
I have owned most manufacturer bikes and most engine configurations, V-twins, triples, inline 4s, parallel twins etc.
I have just bought my 1st BMW with a Boxer engine and i absolutely love it, it's slightly agricultural, but it's torquey low revving engine just suits the bike (GS) and my style of riding.
It is simply a difference in personal taste.
Ride safe.
@@jonno94 Sorry, from a pure technology point of view a large 2 cilinder engine is not a good idea. Like a Porsche 911, with this lump of an enigine behind the rear axle, is a fundamentally flawed design. BMW was quite aware of this, as was Porsche. Both tried to advance, in both cases with rather good designs. And in both cases the new design was less succesful than expected because clients stayed with the old design. And commercially you can only do one thing: let the old stuff continue to live. I get that. But the original K, the 'brick' as it is usually referred to, is quite a good concept. After all BMW strength is building in line engines. And the idea to mount it flat to overcome top heaviness is quite smart. Man handling the K is a lot easier than the GS, even though the K is about 60 KG heavier than my previous GS. And you said it, the boxer is slightly agricultural. I understand people may prefer that, but that is not to say it is the best solution from a technical point of view.
@@carsyoungtimerfreak1149
Well the GS with it's boxer engine is BMW's biggest seller and one of the top selling bikes around the world!
Is it nostalgia or is it because people really like this design of engine for many reasons or are all these people simply wrong?
@@jonno94 It is not a matter of right or wrong. I'm looking at it from a technology point of view. And I believe that case is clear.
Pushing a bike with the stand down😮. Anyways great video
Can any RS owner comment on the difference to height and reach that the tubular sports bar makes? Thanks.
Just looks cheap 🤔🤔 and why does it look more like every other bike but more cheaper and not as good but for more money 😂😂😂😂😂