Greetings from greece, i ve owened 17 bikes, last one was f750gs and now i own the f850gsa. I had the money to buy even the 1250 gsa, i ve ridden both and the justification of my decision to buy the f850gsa is the following : 1. Two up and three cases, i can go everywhere with ease, smooth and even fast. 2. Costs like maintenance, insurance etc is lower and the local dealer also gave me 5 year guarantee. 3. I chose chain rather than drive shaft, problems with the gs drive shafts are well known and if you have it when out of guarantee, you have to pay really a lot money to fix it... 4. 1250 is a better bike and the big money difference between them is justified, but i see no real point in paying them, i can do everything i want with the 850gsa. 5. Changed the original suspension front and back to hyperpro progressive springs, major difference for not much money, really makes the 850gsa a way better bike. 6.f850gsa great road presence, really a beast. 1250gsa is i believe too much... 7. Great touring ability for 850gsa, the air cover is very good. 8.both bikes are not for off road, they are beasts, buy something like Honda crf 300 to have off road fun.
I would also switch to hyperpro's, I think they are well worth the money. I've driven the 1200 and I also this it's way too much but also, I don't like the fact that it feels like a cloud. I'm really thinking of buying the 850 GSA, I'm very curious about how it will ride in comparison to the 1200.
@@henkondemand no, i dint think so. If you want more connection to the road, go to s1000xr. The f850gsa with the hyperpro springs is better connected. I chose also the hyperpro springs with the kit that lowers 2,5 cm and its wayyy more road connected
and after the first couple months with the 850, you will start thinking about the 1250 every night before you sleep and you will feel the envy every time you scroll your phone and see an 1250 video. there is only one justification to buy a cheaper option: the money - you can't afford the more expensive option. it's interesting how people believe that reasoning and rationality can dictate our behavior. they just making constant efforts to convince themselves to continue believing so. and most will fail.
Thanks for the review and comparison. I love my 2021 F850GSA. It's a true step-up from the previous F800 models. My only gripe is that BMW and the after-market partners have completely forgotten about the F850GSA. There are barely any after-market parts (can we get some durable crash bars?). Ordering parts from BMW is a complete mystery. I just feel they built this great bike and NO ONE wants to pamper or maintain it.
I wanted a r1250gs, i bought a Moto Guzzi v85tt. Oddly enough that little Guzzi just won over my heart with its character and simplicity - that emotional connection you mentioned. The specs say I’m out to lunch with my choice, but my heart said don’t listen to the specs. Great review man!
It took me decades to realize I can’t have one bike for everything. It’s too much of a compromise. I’m very happy (currently) w a 1250GS and a little Honda CRF300L. And to be honest the GS is easier at very slow maneuvers believe it or not.
This is perhaps in of top 3 of the best bike comparisons i have ever read/heard. Absolutely bloody brilliant! Its a very valid comparison & one that every potential BMW owner should consider when buying in this category. Have to admire the way you did this...........Nice, Thanks Cape Town, S.A.
Another excellent video, thank you for all the effort you put into these informative videos. I ride a 2021 BMW R1250GSA, and my riding buddy has a 2021 BMW F850GSA, and your observations very closely parallel our own experiences. My BMW R1250GSA seems like it makes for a bit better road bike, and the BMW F850GSA is clearly better off-road with its telescopic forks and 21 inch front wheel. Even with decades of motocross racing and off-road riding experience, my BMW R1250GSA can be a real handful in deep gravel or sand or more technical trails. On harder surfaces the BMW R1250GSA is great, and it always surprises me how capable it is, but its extra size, weight, 17/19 inch wheels, and Telelever front supension put it at a disadvantage when the off-road going gets more technical. I love my BMW R1250GSA, and I know my riding buddy feels the same way about his BMW F850GSA. Great motorbikes!
Well said and and I appreciate, how you worked out the differences between both. Having ridden both and owning a 850GSA, I fully agree with what you said. I decided on the 850GSA, because of it is more focused to the offroad side and that's my focus, too. Nevertheless, BMW is no champion in selecting lightweight components and there is a lot of iron attached to this bike with is decided by cost and not with the target to get the weight down. I simply removed a lot of this stuff. Get a LiIon Battery, -4kg. Remove the carrier, -4.8kg. Remove centerstand. -2.8kg. Just some examples which are not a compromise for me (you might be different). Thanks for your very useful and trustworthy reviews, sir.
I ride a 850 gs rn and rode a 1250 gsa off road. I can say hands down a good rider should be able to ride the 1250 gsa better offroad. I would get a 850 if you're not good and plan on dropping the bike a lot
I've had a 2015 standard 1200 GS and now a 850 GS Adventure, and your comparison was perfect! Great work. I agree with everything you said. For me the 850 is almost perfect, the only point that I don't like is the seat. I even buy an alternative confort seat, but it is still painfull after 300 km in a day.
again, well done....my thoughts on the weight of the 850, is comfort on the open road, its all I can think of why bmw made it heavier then the competition. in short, if I am going with the midsize, and I do a lot of highway, the bmw has to be my choice over the competition. not to mention the high end features, fit and finish etc....the others just dont compare. Iyou mention the dealers and how they demo, mine is awesome, they just toss you the keys and tell you, see you whenever you get back. so I did spend 1 day on the 850, and 1 day on the 1250......the 1250 just felt big. I felt more comfortable on the dirt with the 850...they have a state forrest across the street of the dealership, so of course I had to go in and ride the beat up logging and fire roads.. I am not going to lie, if the price was a couple thousand dollars less on the 1250, I probably would have bought it, but after 5000 miles on the 850, it does everything I need it to do. no regrets...the big test will be in July when I do my 8000 mile trip. I might feel different, I will let you know how I made out
100k not far away! Still feel your the most honest reviewer on TH-cam. I appreciate the fact you include “feelings” because your “feelings”are the crux of a real review. Many guys only use numbers and specs. I can read those myself- it’s the “this might sound stupid parts” I like the best.. keep up the great work and I’m challenging the folks that have been with you since the beginning to send along recommendations to their friends to help get you to that 100k and beyond. 👍🏻
I considered both and got the 850 and a 310GS for the price of a 1250. I do wish BMW would do an 800-900 cc boxer GS that weight about 100 lbs lighter than the 1250. I would be the first in line to buy it. Yet I am very happy with the 850. Sure it's a few pounds heavier than the competition but by the time you add "stuff", it makes no difference and the 850 has a really wide range of capability from mile munching to gnarly trails. Keep up the awesome work! Love your videos.
Hi, Thanks for the Comparison of the 2 Bikes. I actually Ride a 2006 R1200GS and Love it. It’s a lot Lighter than the newer Models. I don’t have all the Electronics of the new ones but that’s less to worry about. I just get on it and Ride. The only I really have to do as for the Suspension is manually set the preload and damping. But it’s easy to do. The Maintenance on the 1200 is so easy also. I really like the Telelever Front Suspension, it’s all the difference in the World compared to any other Adventure Bike. I’m Disabled so I can’t afford a newer one, but with the proper Maintenance I feel like this Bike will last the rest of my Riding Career. Thanks for all the work you put into these Videos. Watching your Videos is what convinced me to Trsde my Harley for the Gs. It’s such a lot better Bike. I also don’t hurt when I ride the GS👍👍❤️
Excellent explanation. Makes a lot of sense. I'm going to opt for the 850 Adventure because I plan to use it mostly on dirt roads. Your video helped define what I was imagining. Above all, you need to understand the purpose of the bike. Thanks, friend.
I hear you on all of the points. Of course having two bikes or one do it all bike isn’t really feasible. I have owned a tiger 800 and it was heavy yes… but man the fuel range and comfy ride was absolutely fantastic. I can only imagine how comfortable one of these machines would be. Thank you for covering the price point. That’s the biggest difference here. Personally if I’m getting a bike as capable as the gs1250 I prefer a large tank. It might seem excessive at first but I’m sure those using these as intended appreciate every last drop. As I daily my current motorcycle having to fuel up constantly is a major pia.
One key point that might worth adding in regards to F850/F750 is the engine of this generation is outsourced to a Chinese motorcycle company called Loncin in cooperation with BMW in contrast to the Rotax-made engine in last F700/F800 gs model, and the boxer engine of 1250 is still Made in Germany by BMW itself. So if you have a concern with MIC products, this might make a huge difference.
The 850 engine is designed by bmw and its made in China to bmw specifications and rigid bmw quality control, it's a very high quality engine very well made and reliable and has shown zero problems in manufacturing defects. Bottom line is this engine will have the same longevity and quality and reliability either way if manufactured in China or Germany.
Excellent video. I had a 2015 F700 GS and a 2016 R1200 GS, both low suspension because I am short. For touring, the R1200GS is so comfortable and does everything so well. It’s a phenomenal motorcycle and I really enjoyed it on long trips. I can’t comment on off road because I never took them out. You cannot go wrong with the 1200/1250 if your are traveling, they are beautifully made and are equipped with many great features.
You do the most thorough reviews on TH-cam. Well done, then! PS - Both the 850 GS and 1250 GS will be updated in the next model year. The 850 GS in particular needs to up its game to compare more favorably with the competition. It would be really awesome if BMW were to replace the parallel-twin in the 850 with a 1000 cc boxer. Most parallel-twin engines have very little character IMO.
I totally agree a 1000cc boxer engine would be awesome. When BMW comes in mind you instantly think ahh boxer engine so why not do it. If they do that without the radar stupidity I’ll buy one in a heartbeat!!😂
What they really need to do with the 850 is go back to the F800gs and make it lighter and more competitive with the t700 and other mid weight bikes. My 2011 F800gs is excellent as a mid size adv bike.
What happens when the 850GS is supersized every few years until it's 1100cc, where the current 1250GS (soon to be a 1300GS) began? 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300.... Bigger isn't always better. Many older riders are downsizing to a more manageable bike that's safer and more fun to ride off road. There's a reason Yamaha can't make the Tenere 700 fast enough to meet the demand.
@@DirtRidingLarryI say, go one better, make a 600cc boxer, around 50 bhp with all the torque BMW engineers (torque over bhp). Sort it out to get weight very close to 400 pounds. Make it a competitor to KLR and DR650 with easy highway cruising of 70+++ mph.
I owned the 850 and now I have the 1250. As much as you think that 1250 is too big, you're probably mistaken. The bike is absolutely amazing. Better riding, more comfort. Its the best thing I've ever riden. If you can afford the 1250, you wont regret it. With that said, if all you can afford is he 850, you'll have a great time. I loved it too.
Excellent review/comparison. Your videos are top notch. I love the way you described the unique, cloud-like feeling of riding the 1250GS. It was right on.
Your advice to test ride these babies in order to determine the subjective and emotional connections with the bikes makes a lot of sense. As predominately a road rider with only occasional off-road plans I'm still leaning toward the legendary 1250 GS.... Thank you for the objective information! I was in Europe for the past 3 weeks and I saw a lot more 1250s than 850s.
One thing that viewers may need to know is how the shaft drive and chain drive respond differently under acceleration... one lifts the front, one lifts the back... same importance as the front suspension 'feel' to many riders... a noticeable difference and possibly a thing that would sway a decision to one bike or the other...
In the same day, i've tried F850GS Adv, R1250GS Adv, F900R and F900XR... I know these two last are not in the same category, but i'll say why i put them here. As for the 850GS, i like the bike, but the engine and the weight didn't impressed me. But i've found myself with the best position to go on a big trip (i'm 1,90m). Even more confortable than the 1250GS, in ride position department. The 1250GS, great engine for sure, confortable, but not being used to shaft transmission, felt a bit strange. But i got to be honest.... i'm not a guy for great speeds or crazy cornering. I just want to enjoy the ride, onroad, and offroad. I like some fast sectors, but for me is more about cruising speed and having a punchy engine right from the bottom. Having said that, i must say, there was nothing in the 1250GS that would make me spend 26000€. Maybe one day, with a used one or something. But 26000€... Not crazy about it. Is just a motorcycle and no one need to spend this kind of money to have fun on a motorcycle. Is just an personal opinion, and please don't take this like i'm saying "the guy who buys a 1250GS is crazy". Not like that. Just filling my needs. I know that the 850GS would be the right choice, but the engine is a let down for someone who likes to have engine from the 2000-3000rpm... No way i'll spend that money to. Now, as i said, i also tried the F900R/XR. And that engine.... Awesome. Of course, the 850GS is heavier than a F900R, but i just wonder how would be to put that engine from the 900 an adventure bike like the F850GS.
I rode both. I like the road performance of the 1200. The 850 feels a bit like a rockinghorse compared. I did not try it offroad but i am sure the 850 is better there. It feels more nimble too. The weight for lifting it from the ground is no factor for me 120kg myself.
For me chain drives are deal breakers...the 850 looks like a wonderful bike but needs shaf-drive. Always enjoy your videos, keep up the good work & stay safe!
Honestly I don't understand the "hate" for chain drive. They'll last (chain sprockets) at least 15k miles. The maintenance/cleaning is very minimum on them. What is the average mileage a person do before selling his/her bike ? 20k ? 30k miles ? When I had my zzr1200 I sold it at 82k miles, had it for 8 years, changed the chain/sprockets 4 times so that's about every 2 years. Not saying shaft drive is bad I just don't understand why it could be a deal breaker having a chain drive.
@@Loiczzr It's just a personal preference for me...I had chain & sprockets for most of my life. I'm just tired of chain maintenance and like the fact shaft drive requires much less service.
I always have these big plans for buying a new bike, lots of research, methodologies and tactics about negotiating, promises that a new bike does not mean I need a whole set of riding kit, etc. ^ Then I get there and all that goes out the window as I fall in love with my next motorcycle and get taken advantage of ^ I know, I know, its a problem, I am in therapy!
I was at my local BMW dealer today and they put me on the F750, F850 GSA & R1250GSA. It was quite a wonderful first experience with the brand. How have I overlooked the market leader? I get it now. You have to experience it to understand. I’m glad I did. I was surprised that the 1250 actually felt similar if not lighter tipping it on and off the side stand than the 850. In motion the 1250 was far more nimble than it should be.
Good job Ian. Some subtle but real differences. To me the low Boxer motor cylinders are like the pole of a high wire artist. Such balance it feels infinitely lighter at low crawling speeds.
As someone who used to work on BMWs, I personally would pick one of the previous generations of the 1200GS. My reason is simple, ease of maintenance. Valve adjustment is a simple screw/locknut and it can be done on the fly. Every oil change just pull off the valve covers and check/adjust your valve lash. If you change your gear oil at the rear wheel at the same time, the bike can run pretty much forever, and you don’t need to worry about any electronic failures for the variable valvetrain that comes on the new models.
Very nice review. Thank you for putting it together. I had both bikes and my two cents on the story: for going far, rural areas like NT, AK, OR, MT, North Cali where you have easily 100mls to a gas station and be primarily on the road, take the R1250 GSA!!!! For driving around, some more off the road, want lighter bike -F850GSA. That's it. I totally enjoyed the big 8Gal tank, as for one, you do not have to stop as often for gas. It's annoying for me. Even when go to work with it, I thank it like once in a couple of weeks, vs imagine x2,x3 more with other bikes. No one comes close to bmw GSA on this parameter and this is why I am getting again this same bike, just latest model. Good luck to all. Drive safely.
I am 198 cm tall and weigh 135 kg. I would rather buy the 850GSA than the 1250GSA, the reason being the combination of driving in the city and outside the city, and it seems to me that it is more agile.
It helped a lot...the 850 was my choice because of money and the fact that I am not a big guy...and to be fully honest...I have riden for 30+ years on pavement and now aiming for a little adventure...not full 100%.
I must first say you channel has become my number one for motorcycle reviews. Great job and keep up the good work. And my question would be - Can you please review the the BMW GS 750 as an adventure/of road capability machine? I really think this is a bike which has been left out of the scene. If we had a full review on how it performs off-road, it could become a real player in the mid-sized bikes (especially with that price) Thanks
I rode both on the street and in the dirt. The 1250 GS works better everywhere. If you don't need the whole capacity of the Tank, you don't need to fill it completely. I didn't realize much difference regarding to fuel consumption. If you can afford, take the 1250. Most of the extra money you'll get back, when you sell it.
Hello from Russia! Thanks for your review. Yes, the twin moto bike maybe a little better for off-road, but I like the opposite engines, so I choose the opposite one with different feelings as you absolutely right had said.
Thanks so much. The big unit wins. As they are assembled next door in Thailand they are very cheap in Cambodia. We run a rental business and love to take off but the roads in Cambodia are... underdeveloped. Can't wait to take tours to the back country jungles.
I ride a 2009 F800S. Testrode both R1250GS & R1200GSs a few months back. Blown away by how easy to ride and 'ride in the cloud' comfort. +2up travelling ease potential. However I'm hoping to one day test ride the 1250RS then maybe win the lottery & upgrade 😅
TBH what is really like to see from BMW is a rally raid style adv bike built around their R9T (not unlike Guzzi's v85tt). They came out with the urban G/S but it doesn't have the suspension chops for it. They previously did the HP2 Enduro which was great but extremely expensive and strange looking. With "new retro" being cool atm, money to be made capitalizing on it. e.g. Ducati's new Desert X.
Hey Ian, very informative in depth review, i am glad u r reporting all the problems with ur 901, reliability for anything KTM is still poor. Let me know if u disagree.
Great comparison. Thanks. I wish BMW would make a simple lightweight ADV single in the 450 to 600 cc class, but with a 6 gallon fuel tank. I love my little G310GS and it's probably all I need for the ultralight solo back road trips I take, but there's a gap in the BMW ADV lineup, and no, the 750GS that's a lower powered 850GS doesn't count.
@@AarPlays - A G450GS the same dry weight (or less) with a 6 gallon tank would be my perfect bike. Maybe tubeless spoke wheels for the serious off road guys and upgraded suspension with preload and rebound damping adjustments front and rear. Maybe road-rain-trail riding modes. Really fancy, give it that dynamic stability control that can take over and magically upright a bike heading into a low side. No fancy crap like GPS integration, Carplay, etc. But I'd be super happy with just a 450 cc version of the G310GS with a 6 gallon tank.
@@Liberty4Ever I agree, but I do wish they'd lower base model costs to be more reasonable. A 450 in most ADV line ups wouldn't cross 10k but with bmw... Tubeless spoked is an amazing rim and should be standard on any bike that's going off-road. I personally would want a dual inline instead of a thumper for highway and road manners, and an underslung gas tank to keep a low COG
Great script and delivery. For a viewer from Poland watching on a mobile I'd prefer you saying details also on metric units. The table with details was to small, same as the diagram at the end. I am waiting for similar comparison for tenere world raid and the regular one - based on experience , like do we need so much fuel or does it overheat easy, etc.
Great review! I ended up buying the 850 GSA and have no regrets. I love that bike! I wanted something a little more manageable off-road and wanted to have a significantly lower payment. That being said, I am interested to see what the R 1300 GS is like. If it is lighter and has radar I may make the switch:-)
Hi thanks for the great content! You don’t talk about the fact, that you need to fill on 200ml of oil every 1500km.. I think that makes a big difference, when turning and was the reason I upgraded to the 1250..
The tele lever suspension and boxer engine are very specific to BMW, this combination together really creates a different ride experience when matched together like you said. Its interesting to consider too that allot of people who have never rode a 1250GS can't really understand how different they are to ride until you actually ride one. The boxer engine acts like a secondary kick stand thats always there for you, lol. One question Ian, with the tele lever suspension, does the anti dive when braking come frome the design, or the electronic ride stiffening the front fork damping by means of the sensors and brake input? Great comparison video.
anti dive is from the design BMW said this on their site. It also reduces the force needed to turn the handle bar. Personally I prefer conventional fork with diving, It is a big plus to brake and reduce your rake turning into corners
Somebody might ask, why the telelever is not used in more bikes, if it has some advantages, or? I have spend some time with the 1250GS and to me it gives no usefull feedback from the fron end. It is heavy, needs lots of space and the anti-dive is simply not worth all the downsides. But, again it is a nice marketing feature and a some customers are are willing to take it. Wonder why, even BMW is not using it on their superbikes, if it is of any use.
Very nice and easy understanding video..I am in the moment to decide for one of these motorcycles, so I would like you to tell us how different they on twisties are, which is where Im going to use it..Thanks in advance for your opinion.
A couple of great bikes, for sure. Thanks for the comparison & review. I dream of the R1250 GS, but may never own one. That Norden 901, though, I think that’s the bike for me. Rock On
Really like your bike reviews I find them thorough and well done. I have been watching your Africa twin reviews closely as I think this might be my next bike. As much as it pains me I will be downsizing from a 1250gsa. I was wondering if you will get AT standard model manual trans. I have 2 sons that bought Ktm 890 adventure R’s and it’s pretty tough sledding to keep up with an 890 off road with a gs1250. I thinking the base Honda will be closer off road to the 890 than the gs but be a better solo tourer than the Ktm. When I’m by myself. The other option is the 890 but I find it so good off road it tricks you into thinking your on a dirt bike. Until something bad happens and all 475lbs rears it’s ugly head. I am thinking the standard model just due to weight.
Nice story, morning glory! Thanks Ian for this useful content. I would like to see the same story about the standard 850 GS and 1250 GS, but that's maybe too much to ask of you :-)
Hey, thanks for making this video! What do you think about a comparison between the F850GSA and 2013/2017 R1200GS? I think most of the people that opt for the smaller GSs do so because of the price tag. But comparing the 850GSA with an older generation big GS would bring them in pretty much the same price group right? PS: Looking forward to that F750GS video too!
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Greetings from greece, i ve owened 17 bikes, last one was f750gs and now i own the f850gsa. I had the money to buy even the 1250 gsa, i ve ridden both and the justification of my decision to buy the f850gsa is the following :
1. Two up and three cases, i can go everywhere with ease, smooth and even fast.
2. Costs like maintenance, insurance etc is lower and the local dealer also gave me 5 year guarantee.
3. I chose chain rather than drive shaft, problems with the gs drive shafts are well known and if you have it when out of guarantee, you have to pay really a lot money to fix it...
4. 1250 is a better bike and the big money difference between them is justified, but i see no real point in paying them, i can do everything i want with the 850gsa.
5. Changed the original suspension front and back to hyperpro progressive springs, major difference for not much money, really makes the 850gsa a way better bike.
6.f850gsa great road presence, really a beast.
1250gsa is i believe too much...
7. Great touring ability for 850gsa, the air cover is very good.
8.both bikes are not for off road, they are beasts, buy something like Honda crf 300 to have off road fun.
I would also switch to hyperpro's, I think they are well worth the money. I've driven the 1200 and I also this it's way too much but also, I don't like the fact that it feels like a cloud. I'm really thinking of buying the 850 GSA, I'm very curious about how it will ride in comparison to the 1200.
@@henkondemand f850gsa also feels like cloud, but if you switch to hyperpro, it stiffens, way better control and breaking, very good
@@alkistsironis5135 Does the F850GSA feel more connected to the road than the 1200/1250 in your opinion?
@@henkondemand no, i dint think so. If you want more connection to the road, go to s1000xr. The f850gsa with the hyperpro springs is better connected. I chose also the hyperpro springs with the kit that lowers 2,5 cm and its wayyy more road connected
and after the first couple months with the 850, you will start thinking about the 1250 every night before you sleep and you will feel the envy every time you scroll your phone and see an 1250 video. there is only one justification to buy a cheaper option: the money - you can't afford the more expensive option. it's interesting how people believe that reasoning and rationality can dictate our behavior. they just making constant efforts to convince themselves to continue believing so. and most will fail.
Thanks for the review and comparison. I love my 2021 F850GSA. It's a true step-up from the previous F800 models. My only gripe is that BMW and the after-market partners have completely forgotten about the F850GSA. There are barely any after-market parts (can we get some durable crash bars?). Ordering parts from BMW is a complete mystery. I just feel they built this great bike and NO ONE wants to pamper or maintain it.
I wanted a r1250gs, i bought a Moto Guzzi v85tt. Oddly enough that little Guzzi just won over my heart with its character and simplicity - that emotional connection you mentioned. The specs say I’m out to lunch with my choice, but my heart said don’t listen to the specs. Great review man!
The Bike you like is the best Bike for you.👍
The new V100 Stelvio is AWESOME.
Great reviews! Definitely one of the best reviewers, possibly the best. Keep up the excellent work!
It took me decades to realize I can’t have one bike for everything. It’s too much of a compromise. I’m very happy (currently) w a 1250GS and a little Honda CRF300L. And to be honest the GS is easier at very slow maneuvers believe it or not.
I have 3… 1200gsa, 850gs standard and Honda 300 Crf .. too much ?
Yeah, I dont believe it 😇
@@dommotos Just right!
Totally agree.
I have a Honda CRF300 Rally, and an ‘06 Kawasaki KLR 650.
A pretty good combo, but thinking of trading the KLR in for the Norden 901.
If I lived in eua or Europe I would buy Africa twin. In Brasil it is price of 1250 gs …..
My Heart: Get a R1250GSA dude is cool!
My Brain: Naw man the F850GSA is more off road worthy
My wallet: Dudes, U can only afford a beat-up 80s KLR650
Best comment ever! I’m in the same boat dude.
the KLR is more fun anyway
Like Ryan F9 said, "the unkillable KLR"
Thank you for summarizing my life with humor. The truth hurts less when we can laugh........
Exactly
This is perhaps in of top 3 of the best bike comparisons i have ever read/heard. Absolutely bloody brilliant! Its a very valid comparison & one that every potential BMW owner should consider when buying in this category. Have to admire the way you did this...........Nice, Thanks Cape Town, S.A.
Another excellent video, thank you for all the effort you put into these informative videos. I ride a 2021 BMW R1250GSA, and my riding buddy has a 2021 BMW F850GSA, and your observations very closely parallel our own experiences. My BMW R1250GSA seems like it makes for a bit better road bike, and the BMW F850GSA is clearly better off-road with its telescopic forks and 21 inch front wheel. Even with decades of motocross racing and off-road riding experience, my BMW R1250GSA can be a real handful in deep gravel or sand or more technical trails. On harder surfaces the BMW R1250GSA is great, and it always surprises me how capable it is, but its extra size, weight, 17/19 inch wheels, and Telelever front supension put it at a disadvantage when the off-road going gets more technical. I love my BMW R1250GSA, and I know my riding buddy feels the same way about his BMW F850GSA. Great motorbikes!
good feedback thanks
Same impression here.
Well said and and I appreciate, how you worked out the differences between both. Having ridden both and owning a 850GSA, I fully agree with what you said. I decided on the 850GSA, because of it is more focused to the offroad side and that's my focus, too. Nevertheless, BMW is no champion in selecting lightweight components and there is a lot of iron attached to this bike with is decided by cost and not with the target to get the weight down. I simply removed a lot of this stuff. Get a LiIon Battery, -4kg. Remove the carrier, -4.8kg. Remove centerstand. -2.8kg. Just some examples which are not a compromise for me (you might be different).
Thanks for your very useful and trustworthy reviews, sir.
I ride a 850 gs rn and rode a 1250 gsa off road. I can say hands down a good rider should be able to ride the 1250 gsa better offroad.
I would get a 850 if you're not good and plan on dropping the bike a lot
I've had a 2015 standard 1200 GS and now a 850 GS Adventure, and your comparison was perfect! Great work. I agree with everything you said. For me the 850 is almost perfect, the only point that I don't like is the seat. I even buy an alternative confort seat, but it is still painfull after 300 km in a day.
Well just put 5 gallons in the 1250 if you want to keep top weight down?
again, well done....my thoughts on the weight of the 850, is comfort on the open road, its all I can think of why bmw made it heavier then the competition. in short, if I am going with the midsize, and I do a lot of highway, the bmw has to be my choice over the competition. not to mention the high end features, fit and finish etc....the others just dont compare. Iyou mention the dealers and how they demo, mine is awesome, they just toss you the keys and tell you, see you whenever you get back. so I did spend 1 day on the 850, and 1 day on the 1250......the 1250 just felt big. I felt more comfortable on the dirt with the 850...they have a state forrest across the street of the dealership, so of course I had to go in and ride the beat up logging and fire roads.. I am not going to lie, if the price was a couple thousand dollars less on the 1250, I probably would have bought it, but after 5000 miles on the 850, it does everything I need it to do. no regrets...the big test will be in July when I do my 8000 mile trip. I might feel different, I will let you know how I made out
100k not far away!
Still feel your the most honest reviewer on TH-cam. I appreciate the fact you include “feelings” because your “feelings”are the crux of a real review. Many guys only use numbers and specs. I can read those myself- it’s the “this might sound stupid parts” I like the best.. keep up the great work and I’m challenging the folks that have been with you since the beginning to send along recommendations to their friends to help get you to that 100k and beyond. 👍🏻
I considered both and got the 850 and a 310GS for the price of a 1250. I do wish BMW would do an 800-900 cc boxer GS that weight about 100 lbs lighter than the 1250. I would be the first in line to buy it. Yet I am very happy with the 850. Sure it's a few pounds heavier than the competition but by the time you add "stuff", it makes no difference and the 850 has a really wide range of capability from mile munching to gnarly trails. Keep up the awesome work! Love your videos.
Hi, Thanks for the Comparison of the 2 Bikes. I actually Ride a 2006 R1200GS and Love it. It’s a lot Lighter than the newer Models. I don’t have all the Electronics of the new ones but that’s less to worry about. I just get on it and Ride. The only I really have to do as for the Suspension is manually set the preload and damping. But it’s easy to do. The Maintenance on the 1200 is so easy also. I really like the Telelever Front Suspension, it’s all the difference in the World compared to any other Adventure Bike. I’m Disabled so I can’t afford a newer one, but with the proper Maintenance I feel like this Bike will last the rest of my Riding Career. Thanks for all the work you put into these Videos. Watching your Videos is what convinced me to Trsde my Harley for the Gs. It’s such a lot better Bike. I also don’t hurt when I ride the GS👍👍❤️
Excellent explanation. Makes a lot of sense.
I'm going to opt for the 850 Adventure because I plan to use it mostly on dirt roads.
Your video helped define what I was imagining.
Above all, you need to understand the purpose of the bike.
Thanks, friend.
I hear you on all of the points.
Of course having two bikes or one do it all bike isn’t really feasible. I have owned a tiger 800 and it was heavy yes… but man the fuel range and comfy ride was absolutely fantastic. I can only imagine how comfortable one of these machines would be. Thank you for covering the price point. That’s the biggest difference here. Personally if I’m getting a bike as capable as the gs1250 I prefer a large tank. It might seem excessive at first but I’m sure those using these as intended appreciate every last drop. As I daily my current motorcycle having to fuel up constantly is a major pia.
One key point that might worth adding in regards to F850/F750 is the engine of this generation is outsourced to a Chinese motorcycle company called Loncin in cooperation with BMW in contrast to the Rotax-made engine in last F700/F800 gs model, and the boxer engine of 1250 is still Made in Germany by BMW itself. So if you have a concern with MIC products, this might make a huge difference.
So we’re gonna buy a BMW made in China now?? Hell to the no noooo!! I’d rather get a Benelli 800 TRK then!!🙄
The 850 engine is designed by bmw and its made in China to bmw specifications and rigid bmw quality control, it's a very high quality engine very well made and reliable and has shown zero problems in manufacturing defects. Bottom line is this engine will have the same longevity and quality and reliability either way if manufactured in China or Germany.
Excellent video. I had a 2015 F700 GS and a 2016 R1200 GS, both low suspension because I am short. For touring, the R1200GS is so comfortable and does everything so well. It’s a phenomenal motorcycle and I really enjoyed it on long trips. I can’t comment on off road because I never took them out. You cannot go wrong with the 1200/1250 if your are traveling, they are beautifully made and are equipped with many great features.
agreed!
Your videos are the best - thanks Ian for the time you devote.
Really well made review! Hi again from Romania!
Said & done after a lifetime of riding & 40+ bikes owned, I really love my 1250 GS in spite of its shortcomings as a dirt bike.
You do the most thorough reviews on TH-cam. Well done, then! PS - Both the 850 GS and 1250 GS will be updated in the next model year. The 850 GS in particular needs to up its game to compare more favorably with the competition. It would be really awesome if BMW were to replace the parallel-twin in the 850 with a 1000 cc boxer. Most parallel-twin engines have very little character IMO.
I totally agree a 1000cc boxer engine would be awesome. When BMW comes in mind you instantly think ahh boxer engine so why not do it. If they do that without the radar stupidity I’ll buy one in a heartbeat!!😂
What they really need to do with the 850 is go back to the F800gs and make it lighter and more competitive with the t700 and other mid weight bikes. My 2011 F800gs is excellent as a mid size adv bike.
What happens when the 850GS is supersized every few years until it's 1100cc, where the current 1250GS (soon to be a 1300GS) began? 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250, 1300.... Bigger isn't always better. Many older riders are downsizing to a more manageable bike that's safer and more fun to ride off road. There's a reason Yamaha can't make the Tenere 700 fast enough to meet the demand.
thanks!
@@DirtRidingLarryI say, go one better, make a 600cc boxer, around 50 bhp with all the torque BMW engineers (torque over bhp). Sort it out to get weight very close to 400 pounds. Make it a competitor to KLR and DR650 with easy highway cruising of 70+++ mph.
I owned the 850 and now I have the 1250. As much as you think that 1250 is too big, you're probably mistaken. The bike is absolutely amazing. Better riding, more comfort. Its the best thing I've ever riden. If you can afford the 1250, you wont regret it. With that said, if all you can afford is he 850, you'll have a great time. I loved it too.
Excellent review/comparison. Your videos are top notch. I love the way you described the unique, cloud-like feeling of riding the 1250GS. It was right on.
Thanks a ton!
Your advice to test ride these babies in order to determine the subjective and emotional connections with the bikes makes a lot of sense. As predominately a road rider with only occasional off-road plans I'm still leaning toward the legendary 1250 GS.... Thank you for the objective information! I was in Europe for the past 3 weeks and I saw a lot more 1250s than 850s.
Excellent! My favorite youtuber!
thanks!
One thing that viewers may need to know is how the shaft drive and chain drive respond differently under acceleration... one lifts the front, one lifts the back... same importance as the front suspension 'feel' to many riders... a noticeable difference and possibly a thing that would sway a decision to one bike or the other...
many riders don't even feel the difference between a good and a flat tyre so how do you expect them to feel that 😂
In the same day, i've tried F850GS Adv, R1250GS Adv, F900R and F900XR... I know these two last are not in the same category, but i'll say why i put them here. As for the 850GS, i like the bike, but the engine and the weight didn't impressed me. But i've found myself with the best position to go on a big trip (i'm 1,90m). Even more confortable than the 1250GS, in ride position department. The 1250GS, great engine for sure, confortable, but not being used to shaft transmission, felt a bit strange. But i got to be honest.... i'm not a guy for great speeds or crazy cornering. I just want to enjoy the ride, onroad, and offroad. I like some fast sectors, but for me is more about cruising speed and having a punchy engine right from the bottom. Having said that, i must say, there was nothing in the 1250GS that would make me spend 26000€. Maybe one day, with a used one or something. But 26000€... Not crazy about it. Is just a motorcycle and no one need to spend this kind of money to have fun on a motorcycle. Is just an personal opinion, and please don't take this like i'm saying "the guy who buys a 1250GS is crazy". Not like that. Just filling my needs. I know that the 850GS would be the right choice, but the engine is a let down for someone who likes to have engine from the 2000-3000rpm... No way i'll spend that money to. Now, as i said, i also tried the F900R/XR. And that engine.... Awesome. Of course, the 850GS is heavier than a F900R, but i just wonder how would be to put that engine from the 900 an adventure bike like the F850GS.
Great review - very clear about all of the important questions that we as riders might ask about these two beemers.. Thanks.
Great job on this review Ian.
I love the 1250 GSA and just could not give that up. Just wish BMW would do something about the price lol.
Thanks for what you do here Ian, great information based on real experience as always.
Much appreciated
Always enjoy your videos so informative and so technically easy to understand the way you explain things.
Thanks for all your great videos.
@4:42 OMG you called it buddy! Excellent review!
Really appreciate this unbiased review Ian! Thank you
such an excellent review - everything I wanted to know - thank you very much for all your hard work
Another really interesting review - thanks Ian!
I rode both. I like the road performance of the 1200. The 850 feels a bit like a rockinghorse compared. I did not try it offroad but i am sure the 850 is better there. It feels more nimble too. The weight for lifting it from the ground is no factor for me 120kg myself.
Great review. Thank you. Now I want to ride the 850. Own a 2016 R1200gsa. Love your content.
For me chain drives are deal breakers...the 850 looks like a wonderful bike but needs shaf-drive. Always enjoy your videos, keep up the good work & stay safe!
Honestly I don't understand the "hate" for chain drive. They'll last (chain sprockets) at least 15k miles. The maintenance/cleaning is very minimum on them. What is the average mileage a person do before selling his/her bike ? 20k ? 30k miles ?
When I had my zzr1200 I sold it at 82k miles, had it for 8 years, changed the chain/sprockets 4 times so that's about every 2 years. Not saying shaft drive is bad I just don't understand why it could be a deal breaker having a chain drive.
Then consider the Guzzi TT850!
@@larryvanputten4048 They are quite nice indeed!
@@Loiczzr It's just a personal preference for me...I had chain & sprockets for most of my life. I'm just tired of chain maintenance and like the fact shaft drive requires much less service.
Thanks for the review,i will go for the R1250GS
Great review...but now I want to see how the 850GS Adventure compares to the Norden 901.
The Norden 901 slays the 850GSA on weight. :-/ I wish BMW was more weight conscious on their ADV bikes.
I always have these big plans for buying a new bike, lots of research, methodologies and tactics about negotiating, promises that a new bike does not mean I need a whole set of riding kit, etc.
^ Then I get there and all that goes out the window as I fall in love with my next motorcycle and get taken advantage of ^
I know, I know, its a problem, I am in therapy!
Good stuff, Ian! Love the bloopers at the end.
Glad you enjoyed it
It’s like your reading my mind making the exact videos I search for.
great
Great video, I always enjoy watching your channel. which engine heats up more in the summer?
I was at my local BMW dealer today and they put me on the F750, F850 GSA & R1250GSA. It was quite a wonderful first experience with the brand. How have I overlooked the market leader? I get it now. You have to experience it to understand. I’m glad I did.
I was surprised that the 1250 actually felt similar if not lighter tipping it on and off the side stand than the 850. In motion the 1250 was far more nimble than it should be.
Good job Ian. Some subtle but real differences. To me the low Boxer motor cylinders are like the pole of a high wire artist. Such balance it feels infinitely lighter at low crawling speeds.
As someone who used to work on BMWs, I personally would pick one of the previous generations of the 1200GS.
My reason is simple, ease of maintenance.
Valve adjustment is a simple screw/locknut and it can be done on the fly. Every oil change just pull off the valve covers and check/adjust your valve lash. If you change your gear oil at the rear wheel at the same time, the bike can run pretty much forever, and you don’t need to worry about any electronic failures for the variable valvetrain that comes on the new models.
true, but I don't enjoy that bike, engine doesn't feel lively to me
@@BigRockMoto that is definitely a trade off!
Very nice review. Thank you for putting it together. I had both bikes and my two cents on the story: for going far, rural areas like NT, AK, OR, MT, North Cali where you have easily 100mls to a gas station and be primarily on the road, take the R1250 GSA!!!! For driving around, some more off the road, want lighter bike -F850GSA. That's it. I totally enjoyed the big 8Gal tank, as for one, you do not have to stop as often for gas. It's annoying for me. Even when go to work with it, I thank it like once in a couple of weeks, vs imagine x2,x3 more with other bikes. No one comes close to bmw GSA on this parameter and this is why I am getting again this same bike, just latest model. Good luck to all. Drive safely.
Great meeting you at AdvFest! I'm Joe and was on the KLX300...
nice to meet you!
Excellent review... As always ✌️
Fantastic comparative, excellent delivery!
Glad it helped!
Great review! Regarding that feeling, I´ll stick with the GSA. It´s an awesome machine!
Great side by side comparison. Thanks.
This was a beautiful review
I am 198 cm tall and weigh 135 kg. I would rather buy the 850GSA than the 1250GSA, the reason being the combination of driving in the city and outside the city, and it seems to me that it is more agile.
I not interested on any of these bikes, but this is so well explained that I loved to see it
Such great videos❤
Amazing reviews!
It helped a lot...the 850 was my choice because of money and the fact that I am not a big guy...and to be fully honest...I have riden for 30+ years on pavement and now aiming for a little adventure...not full 100%.
One thing I suggest is: Please smile more
You have done great reviews no doubt
Thank you for this nice review 👍
Great comparison. Thanks!
Thanks for the review
Keep up the great content!
I must first say you channel has become my number one for motorcycle reviews. Great job and keep up the good work.
And my question would be - Can you please review the the BMW GS 750 as an adventure/of road capability machine? I really think this is a bike which has been left out of the scene. If we had a full review on how it performs off-road, it could become a real player in the mid-sized bikes (especially with that price)
Thanks
I am filming that bike this week!
@@BigRockMoto that is awesome, can not wait!
Thanks , nice review.
I rode both on the street and in the dirt. The 1250 GS works better everywhere.
If you don't need the whole capacity of the Tank, you don't need to fill it completely.
I didn't realize much difference regarding to fuel consumption.
If you can afford, take the 1250.
Most of the extra money you'll get back, when you sell it.
Hello from Russia!
Thanks for your review.
Yes, the twin moto bike maybe a little better for off-road, but I like the opposite engines, so I choose the opposite one with different feelings as you absolutely right had said.
Thanks so much. The big unit wins. As they are assembled next door in Thailand they are very cheap in Cambodia. We run a rental business and love to take off but the roads in Cambodia are... underdeveloped.
Can't wait to take tours to the back country jungles.
Well thought out topic as usual. Well done Ian
Informative! I I learned a lot about these two bikes; especially when compared head to head. I appreciate you and your videos Ian.
I appreciate that!
Great review 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Good comparo. I have yet to ride any BMW yet, although I have one of their cars. But I'm definitely interested in trying out the 1250.
Go for it!
I ride a 2009 F800S. Testrode both R1250GS & R1200GSs a few months back. Blown away by how easy to ride and 'ride in the cloud' comfort. +2up travelling ease potential. However I'm hoping to one day test ride the 1250RS then maybe win the lottery & upgrade 😅
TBH what is really like to see from BMW is a rally raid style adv bike built around their R9T (not unlike Guzzi's v85tt). They came out with the urban G/S but it doesn't have the suspension chops for it. They previously did the HP2 Enduro which was great but extremely expensive and strange looking. With "new retro" being cool atm, money to be made capitalizing on it. e.g. Ducati's new Desert X.
Tks for your amazing videos. I am now a new Patreon ;-) JF Montreal Canada. I am always sharing your videos on my GSA Group ( french)
Awesome review made me go and buy a Ducati 1260 enduro, thanks mate.
Hey Ian, very informative in depth review, i am glad u r reporting all the problems with ur 901, reliability for anything KTM is still poor. Let me know if u disagree.
I dig the outtakes at the end
Great comparison. Thanks. I wish BMW would make a simple lightweight ADV single in the 450 to 600 cc class, but with a 6 gallon fuel tank. I love my little G310GS and it's probably all I need for the ultralight solo back road trips I take, but there's a gap in the BMW ADV lineup, and no, the 750GS that's a lower powered 850GS doesn't count.
They should take the 310 to 450
@@AarPlays - A G450GS the same dry weight (or less) with a 6 gallon tank would be my perfect bike. Maybe tubeless spoke wheels for the serious off road guys and upgraded suspension with preload and rebound damping adjustments front and rear. Maybe road-rain-trail riding modes. Really fancy, give it that dynamic stability control that can take over and magically upright a bike heading into a low side. No fancy crap like GPS integration, Carplay, etc. But I'd be super happy with just a 450 cc version of the G310GS with a 6 gallon tank.
@@Liberty4Ever I agree, but I do wish they'd lower base model costs to be more reasonable. A 450 in most ADV line ups wouldn't cross 10k but with bmw...
Tubeless spoked is an amazing rim and should be standard on any bike that's going off-road. I personally would want a dual inline instead of a thumper for highway and road manners, and an underslung gas tank to keep a low COG
Great script and delivery. For a viewer from Poland watching on a mobile I'd prefer you saying details also on metric units. The table with details was to small, same as the diagram at the end. I am waiting for similar comparison for tenere world raid and the regular one - based on experience , like do we need so much fuel or does it overheat easy, etc.
Great review! I ended up buying the 850 GSA and have no regrets. I love that bike! I wanted something a little more manageable off-road and wanted to have a significantly lower payment. That being said, I am interested to see what the R 1300 GS is like. If it is lighter and has radar I may make the switch:-)
The 1300GSA will probably have radar, sonar, LORAN, a fish finder, HBO and Showtime, a blender... but it won't be lighter. They're never lighter.
@@Liberty4Ever haha
Very nicely explained ❤️
Glad you liked it
Comprehensive review. Thanks a lot...from KL Msia
Great video. I’d love to see the Norden 901 vs r1250gs (non adventure). Which one would you keep, if you could only have one bike?
Nice review...good job as usual...
Hi thanks for the great content!
You don’t talk about the fact, that you need to fill on 200ml of oil every 1500km.. I think that makes a big difference, when turning and was the reason I upgraded to the 1250..
Great Content...Thanks Ian . Just love the GSA 1250 more and more! Ride safe :) stone (uk)
The tele lever suspension and boxer engine are very specific to BMW, this combination together really creates a different ride experience when matched together like you said. Its interesting to consider too that allot of people who have never rode a 1250GS can't really understand how different they are to ride until you actually ride one.
The boxer engine acts like a secondary kick stand thats always there for you, lol.
One question Ian, with the tele lever suspension, does the anti dive when braking come frome the design, or the electronic ride stiffening the front fork damping by means of the sensors and brake input? Great comparison video.
anti dive is from the design BMW said this on their site. It also reduces the force needed to turn the handle bar. Personally I prefer conventional fork with diving, It is a big plus to brake and reduce your rake turning into corners
Somebody might ask, why the telelever is not used in more bikes, if it has some advantages, or? I have spend some time with the 1250GS and to me it gives no usefull feedback from the fron end. It is heavy, needs lots of space and the anti-dive is simply not worth all the downsides. But, again it is a nice marketing feature and a some customers are are willing to take it. Wonder why, even BMW is not using it on their superbikes, if it is of any use.
Very nice and easy understanding video..I am in the moment to decide for one of these motorcycles, so I would like you to tell us how different they on twisties are, which is where Im going to use it..Thanks in advance for your opinion.
Great video, thank you very much. What tyres are on the 1250GS?
A couple of great bikes, for sure.
Thanks for the comparison & review.
I dream of the R1250 GS, but may never own one.
That Norden 901, though, I think that’s the bike for me.
Rock On
Great job!
Great video, thank you.
Really like your bike reviews I find them thorough and well done. I have been watching your Africa twin reviews closely as I think this might be my next bike. As much as it pains me I will be downsizing from a 1250gsa. I was wondering if you will get AT standard model manual trans. I have 2 sons that bought Ktm 890 adventure R’s and it’s pretty tough sledding to keep up with an 890 off road with a gs1250. I thinking the base Honda will be closer off road to the 890 than the gs but be a better solo tourer than the Ktm. When I’m by myself. The other option is the 890 but I find it so good off road it tricks you into thinking your on a dirt bike. Until something bad happens and all 475lbs rears it’s ugly head. I am thinking the standard model just due to weight.
Nice story, morning glory! Thanks Ian for this useful content. I would like to see the same story about the standard 850 GS and 1250 GS, but that's maybe too much to ask of you :-)
Hey, thanks for making this video! What do you think about a comparison between the F850GSA and 2013/2017 R1200GS? I think most of the people that opt for the smaller GSs do so because of the price tag. But comparing the 850GSA with an older generation big GS would bring them in pretty much the same price group right?
PS: Looking forward to that F750GS video too!
Great video !
Great review, keep up the good work. How do you like the Dunlop trail max mission tires on your GS1250?
I love it