I have a KTM 1290 Adventure R and love it but the GS 1250 is the only bike that has made me so happy that I started singing while riding it. I can agree that it is far more capable than people think. It carries it weight very low and is so well balanced. And the torque! Wow! This bike will never stall whatever you throw at it. It just has one big problem! It costs too much 😭
Interesting, Ragnar. I would think if there’s one bike that would make one sing it’s the SAR! To be honest, all bikes I’ve ridden I’ve found myself singing inside the helmet, but I understand what you mean, the GS truly is a great place to be 😊
I just bought a 1250 GS triple black. I traded in two bikes that I loved, a Triumph Speedmaster and a triumph scrambler 1200XC. Rode them constantly. However now I am doing even more miles on the highway every day and the extra wind protection, the suspension, tank size, how nimble it feels. I was sold. Luckily I had two bikes to trade in because you are correct, they are expensive. But an incredible machine! Enjoy your channel 👍
Thank you for a well thought out first impression. I’m moving to a 2021 GS from a 2016 RT, similar in feel, but the 1250 motor is significantly more powerful feeling. I can’t wait to park my GS at my nearby Starbucks for some pics!
I swore I'd never buy a GS, I just didnt get what they were about. I test rode one for 'laughs" when i went to my local dealer with a mate who was looking at the new 1300GS. I jumped on an r1250GS triple black ex demo and was so suprised at how 'sporty' it felt on the road. you sat in it like a cruiser, yet it could go off road and still felt sporty , putting a smile on my face. Long story short but I bought it and i'm now eating my words hunting out gravel roads.
Just to add on GS as owner, this bike is much easier to pick up than your t7 because it never falls flat. I was at training in Hechlingen enduro park and we were droping bikes left right and center, 1200gs was much easier to pick up than f850. Also never had an issue with broken clutch and brake leavers or bent shifters, which flat 850 had very often. And about expensive and therefore being scared of droping it - dont be, during that training all gs were with 0 protection, not even the simplest crashbars - once we even had to pull one down from top of very steep and high hill on its cilinder head and nothing all were just picked up and continued the abuse of these beautiful machines. And you cant believe what these machines are capable of we did a lot of scary stuff there which i did not believe this machine was capable of, but it did all and above it ;)
Good honest 1st impression. I had the exact same experience with a 2009 1200GS that was bought by one of my old bosses. That experience converted me to the GS. I have had plenty of riding experience both on road and off and it is my honest opinion that you can not find a better bike that effortlessly offers basically the perfect compromise between the 2 riding disciplines. I bought myself a 2014 1200GS and of course, I ended up looking at the increased power the 1250GS offered. I toyed with the idea of a GSA but felt the extra fuel capacity would be wasted as unfortunately I use the bike majority of the time commuting to and from work so I picked up a new, fully loaded 1250GS exclusive. I did explore other options but the GS always came out on top each time. sure some have more power as in the Ducati Multistrada and others had a 21 inch front wheel and weighed less such as the KTM 1290 and Yamaha Tenere 1200 but as a complete package I could not go past the GS even though it was also the most expensive option, both in purchase price and coast of ownership.. 20000km service was over $800 au, as an example Love the bike. its bloody comfy with ample power up top and plenty of torque. The wife loves the comfort seat on the new one over the 2014 too so she is always ready to jump on for a cruise, even if it involves some graded gravel roads. When we go out I generally stop at a pub, not Starbucks 😂😂😂😂
Bought my first ever GS three years ago and since then it taken me to Norway and most other western Europe countries. Now off to Croatia. I love this bike, its the swiss army knife of bikes.
I’ve been ripping my 2000 r1150gs for 17 years(60k miles or so) with nothing but great experiences. I’ve learned how to hit the throttle on all types of off-road trails. It’s not a big fan of sand though. Great big city bike!
We love our his-n-hers F800GS. We’ve had them for 12 years now. When people ask me what bike to buy, I always tell them that they should ride them all, and buy the one that put the biggest grind on the face. That’s the bike for you.
Great vid, I have literally just got my first GS on Monday after also being a skeptic about the bike, I took the plunge went out on a test ride and was blown away, very happy I have one now in my stable!!!
I am a GS owner ... on my 2nd one now, the 1250 GSA (i wanted more range with a bigger tank, and interestingly the GS spec'd up to the same (OEM pannier rack, aux lights, etc.) actually came out at near £1000 more expensive! I love the bike ... I hated the pre-LC models, but the newest has grown on me. Most importantly, I love the bike for its versatility, comfort and handling. I use it to commute into London city centre weekly, as well as going out on tours. I do intend on taking the big GSA off road, but it is still very new and work/life balance has not permitted this adventure yet - not even a short road tour. I upgraded as my previous GS was an early LC with the very clunky transmission which I hated, but it is much more refined on the new ones. My kids love riding pillion - my son on his first ride even noticed how much more comfortable the suspension is on the new model. I have ridden a few other bikes, but all round the GS/A ticks the most boxes for me.
@@kloppskalli naaa, the issue is the poxy pandemic lockdowns and stupid rules on border crossings. So when things opened up, wife insisted on taking care of family vacations which meant no time for yours truly to bugger off on his adventures. 🤣
I own a 2021 triple black, and i love it. Got rid of my yamaha tracer 9gt, for it. I believe a lot of the GS haters is jealousy, it is an expensive bike, but it is the best all rounder available. The weight is consideration but you can pick them up easily if you use the right technique as the engine bars stop it from going all the way over. I think the reason a lot of older people have them is the cost mainly, most 20 year olds cannot afford a 20k bike. i do a bit of off roading but the bike is capable of much more, it is my limitations not the bike, just watch the GS tours on youtube and the competitions, good review though, you need a long term test off someone and get some 50/50 tyres on it
The GS Adventure was my dream bike and 5 years in and 80.000 km later I’m still very happy with it. It has seen off-road, too, but nowadays I would take my 32 year old DR650 into the hard stuff. Try the R Nine T, as well. That is another bike I lusted for and I really like, too. Granted, I’m taking about the “classic”, Euro4 version. Are these perfect bikes? No, but they do bring me joy. Would love to ride the T7, but it keeps eluding me. The T7 and the Touareg.
2007 GS, rode for 44,000 miles. 2+ years. Swiss army knife of motorcycles. Love that motorcycle. Once it did not start up, 19 degrees Fahrenheit got it out of shed and in direct sunlight and fired right up
Just bought a new '23 RT. And as I will be riding it on the road, I love it for all the same reasons you speak about the GS. I am already making plans to purchase a GSA next Summer to keep my RT company in my garage. Also in the future, I can see an RS in my garage as well. To say I love BMWs is an understatement
Thanks for another great video! It was interesting seeing the area around the dealership as well. Hopefully one day I will get to Norway, but its a long way from Vancouver Island!
I enjoyed the video, im 66 years old and have several health conditions, i still ride, a SX kawasaki 1000 absolutely brilliant bike, Its in the last few weeks ive been looking at alternatives, The GS is one Triumph is another , Need to get down to my BMW an Triumph dealer in Cardiff to see the bikes ,
Owned a 2017 1200GS Rally before i bought my T7. It was a great bike, i rode it almost everywhere, but i do not want to go back again. The T7 is a awsome bike. It wil do the same as the GS, and more. The weight is esential for me too.
I have a 09 gsa. It really suits my riding. I like to ride long distance and not much offroad. I like forestry and gravel roads but not single track or anything like that. I have been looking at buying another bike, something totally different like the Indian pursuit or a goldwing or even a k1600. But I keep coming back to the gsa. I am thinking of buying a second gsa now. I like the ride position, the flexibility to go a little offroad, and the smoothness of the ride. And I have actually never been to a Starbucks on my current gsa. I should maybe get on that 😂
About to order my 3rd 1250gsa, incredible machine that can do just about anything. Totally brilliant. When you own one, you understand why they are everywhere now 🙂
At the age of 58.. Bought a brand new 2020 1250 adv..Gs... Loving every bit of it. Just clocked 10000km A few days ago.... What a lovely bike for the open road....and fuel consumption excellent......Will try and put another 10000km in a year or so..
Believe it or not, I love lane-splitting with my GS. The addictive torque and the massive breaks gives you the kind of confidence that I never got on another bike.
Charley and Ewan did their trip fully supported more than 15 years ago and broke shock absorbers and a frame. Times have changed but having owned 4 GS’s, they are the best all purpose tourer including for 2 up work and easy dirt roads. Once you are older, you will want light weight at the top of the list.
Charley and Ewan were heavily underprepared and packed the bike with a ridiculous amount of crap. There was something like 20kg too much stuff in the cases. That was the reason KTM declined them, but somehow they made it and established the name of the GS. The moaning about the support is nonsense. It's a television show, so you need things to look good on TV and you don't need problems. That's why thay had fixers everywhere to help them out. But lots of other people went around the world on a GS and they didn't break their bikes and they didn't have support. It's possible.
Nice vid man. I was like you, wondering what the fuss was about with a GS. So I also tried one, now I own one, and honestly speaking, I doubt I will ever not own it ! Fully converted, they are a stunning bike.
I have a ‘22 GSA and agree that it’s very capable and fun off road. You just adjust to the size and realize that it’s super capable in more gnarly conditions.
Johannes new subscriber. Very enjoyable! I am at the other end of the GS family. I have a 310. My 11th bike in 52 years of riding. Daily rider so I need a light frugal ride. Ticks all the boxes plus it has great road 'presence'. Cheers!
Welcome aboard Patrick! The ‘baby’ GS is an interesting bike - I haven’t ridden one but would love to test ride it when I get the chance. Happy to hear you’re enjoying yours. Ride safe!
Honest and nice first impression. My *by far) best drive ever, my route to and in Norway, with my GS. Yes, just the two of us. Off road, also, but not more than 75km. But man, did i enjyod that. I did not see any startbucks by the way…
Hi. Totally agree, have a T7 and try the GS last week, a rally version, and love the bike, so easy to drive, feel nimble as the T7, love the silence above 100 and the torque. The only two things I did not like, the engine noise and the drive position, when you stand up it fell cramped. I’ll put some risers and a new can. It is a strong contester for my next bike (gone wait for the 1300GS)
That was a great first impression video Johannes, I love the analogy you did with your fingers of the center of gravity. My first adventure bike was the r1150gsa, until this day it was the most comfortable bike I ever rode, then later I had the r1200gs, and it was such a nice bike as well and about and about 60lbs lighter than the gsa and now I have the f800gs that I really love as well, Here in the USA the used market is very big and usually the GS is a bike that most people take very good care of them, so is not hard to find a good one that fits your budget and that's what I did, besides what kind of damage can you put on a bike if it is sitting outside Starbucks Jaja... Cheers 🏍️
Thank you for the kind words! Happy to hear you’ve been enjoying these GS’s over the years. I haven’t ridden the 800gs, but will as soon as I get the chance. Haha that’s true, all used GS’s are spotless and week taken care of 😁
Hi Johannes, I got a BMW 1150GS Adventure new, back in 2005, been an amazing bike, other than servicing I have put fork seals and 2 starter motors on it, yes its heavy but once its rolling its fine. I looked at the 1250 and felt it had a bit to much tech on it so going to stick with the 1150 which was the bike Charlie and Ewan took on long way round. All the best from Scotland and keep the videos coming, I enjoy them.
You should try an older GS. I have a 2006 oil cooled/air cooled. Nothing but abs (switchable). It has all the good from the new without anything you don’t need. Great bike for everything except single track.
Good review, Thanks! I have this very bike, Triple Black 2022. Having had several bikes in my 64 years, I have to say, it's my first BMW. I told myself years ago...some day I will have a GS. I bought it without ever having rode one. Every time I ride it, it gets better. Far and away the best bike I have had. I suspect it will be my last bike given my age, but I will say, as long as I can swing a leg over a motorcycle, I don't see myself having anything else. If something were to happen to this one, I will buy another just like it without hesitation. It really is the perfect motorcycle for me. Heavy? Yes. Expensive? Ridiculously so. But the handling, ride, torque, overall comfort, ergonomics, fit and finish...all top shelf. I could care less about how it is perceived by some, all I know is BMW built the perfect motorcycle for me.
I have an ‘08 1200 GS air& oil cooled - low mileage when bought - I am changing that. Was 110% Honda guy before, but now… I have to admit even the older GS are exceptional bikes (and have tested a few 2022 bikes from different brands this year). Great bike, not for everyone, but the engineering & quality is outstanding. Love it, can stand the dentist jokes - it is about the ride and if someone laughs at you - who cares?
It's a perfect tourer bike. The suspension, the transmission, it's just perfect for long road trips. I would like one just like the one in the video, base model with plastic luggage, and minimal engine crash bars, this way the bike stays light. I will never be able to afford one though, so i'll just stick to my AT 1000 lol.
I ride my GS 1200 to Starbucks occasionally. I prefer smaller local cafes. Most of my rides are less than 20km for coffee and cake. I've Also ridden my GS to the Arctic Ocean and back. Mine is a few years old I don't mind getting it a bit dirty. Beautiful place your ridding. Looks very familiar.
Thanks for the honesty. People often refer to the R12XXGS as the GS, but depending on what you value in a bike, there are other, potentially better GSs. As a small man, I found my 2010 R12GS to just be too big, heavy, and powerful to be fun. It’s definitely made for large people (I know there are many small people who can ride these off pavement, but not the average rider). The only thing I liked about it (and all R bikes), is that it was relatively easy to pick up after taking off all the luggage. My go-to GS models since 2011 have been the F650GStwin and now the F750GS (low suspension-even better). (Glad they discontinued the 650 singles-had one-dreadful, imo). The 650/750 twins are better all-around bikes than the big ones, from my perspective. If you haven’t already, it would be more interesting to me to get your take on an F850GS since you look like a large man, and it’s much more similar to your T7; another big person bike.
I LOVE my f650gs Dakar Single Rotax engine...Im hoping BMW brings back a 650 with 21 inch front wheel, lighter .... im going to check out the 310gs with a rally raid kit next, as I'm heading to Australia for a 1 year solo tour...
Nice and Honest First imprission Video Johannes. I own a 1250 GSA, and after 3 years of riding it, i am getting more in love with this Machine. That's my 16th Bike since 1997. Most of my bikes were on-off, so i suppose that i have a good judgment criteria. For big trips, the bike works amazing and Frankly, it works even better when it's loaded with stuff or a passenger. Last year we've been to Nordkapp with my wife, starting from Athens. We crossed whole Europe vise versa and not even a single moment we felt that we'd rather prefer a different bike (Ok, my wife eventually, should definitely pref being in a car, but that's another subject). The shaft for traveling long distances is magical, the suspensio and the seat keeps both rider and passenger un-tired for longer distance than the normal and the fact that that machine has a giant torque, you hard 3rd gear in the city and work the bike like a scooter. For me it's phenomenal. It's the second Gs i bought since 2009 and by replying to your question.... Yes my bike is shining, as i am not riding it off-road. Besides, who wants to off-road with a bike or 25.000 euros, and 260 kg weight? Trust me... the bike is capable, but the cost of a possible drop is rather huge. I still own from the 90's a Yamaha DTWR 200 (2 stroke), which i use for off-roading and i am happy with it. People claiming that GS is a bad bike as you said.... likely they never tested it. It's good for off-roading? Yes, the bike can do a lot more stuff than it's riders but the real question is, it's worth it? Does a rider of a KTM 1290 or a Ducati Multistrada seriously consider taking regularly those bikes off road? If not, why a GS owner should consider it? Anyhow.... long discussion!! Thanks for the video buddy.
Thank you for the kind words Andreas, and sharing your story. It makes me happy to hear that the GS is serving you well. From Athens to Nordkapp, sounds absolutely fantastic! The whole Starbucks and GS thing was just to spark some initial interest 😁 Ride safe and enjoy your bike!
I really want one. Would be ideal for going to work, picking up groceries or taking my kids or wife on the back when needed. But i want to keep my 701 as well, so will have to wait until i can have 2 bikes 😁
Actually some other reviewers, including Iain @ Big Rock Moto (watch Don't buy a Yamaha Tenere 700 without watching this first), argue that a GS is easier to lift than a T7, because the T7 falls flat to the ground while the GS will rest on the cylinder.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all. The hardest part in a deadlift is off the floor. Start the deadlift on 20cm tall boxes and one can deadlift 50-60 kg more easily. Guess that can be translated to lifting these bikes as well. T7 is like from the floor, GS like a deadlift on boxes.
In a perfect world that is true, if you drop a GS in the car park at Starbucks then yes it is easier to lift but if you drop it on a muddy off camber hill with the handlebars on the low side, good luck trying to lift that. Very seldom do you see reviewers and the like showing how easy things are to lift in real world scenarios.
You don’t even have to drop it, just park a fully loaded GSA with the front tire against a wall in a step hill with cars on each side and you are in trouble😊
I also did test ride one this summer, i had some thougths about it beeing heavy and unwieldy so i did the test ride "just because i could", but man, now i get why there are so many of them. What a bike. So nimble for it size, silky smooth engine and great power. Fit and finish is on another level compared to my Ktm 1190 and the new Ktm 1290. Absolutely blown away by this bike. I have now test riden most of the big adv bikes and this is one of the ones that left a really amazing impression. Makes me think long and hard about a R1200/1250GS or a smaller size Aprilia Tuareg 660.
Interesting, thanks for sharing your experience. I found the 1290 to be a lot more raw - not necessarily a positive thing, but definitely not a negative either. Have you ridden the Ducati V4s? Gotten a few comments about it and how good it is.
@@JohannesDalen The new 1290 is pretty wild yeah, seems a lot faster than my 1190, but probably is not. The torque come on way sooner. I did NOT like the new switchgear, especially the turn signal button... I also found it a bit cramped for me at 1,78cm. Probably an easy fix with some lower pegs and higher seat. I do not need THAT much power to be honest. (I thougth the 1290 adv was fast, until i took the 1290 SuperDuke for a spin after, jesus crist, lifting the front wheel in 3d gear at 1x0km was nuts.) No, the Ducati is the one that i have not test riden, since the dealer is not that close to me instead of all the others in Oslo.
My 2022 gs Rallye, arrived 3 weeks ago. Difficult to articulate how wonderful it is. I had a 2017 Gs Rallye. This is similar looking but completely improved and amazing. I had a 2014, so yes, I'm a fan.
First rode the GS in early 2019., 6 months later I bought 2014. GS, I just couldn't stop thinking about it, the way it rode, almost like a scooter. I can tell you this, picking it up is not that big of a deal, I dropped it in middle of sandy woods where I rode it on basically street tires. Low center of gravity and boxer engine will not let this bike drop all the way which makes it far less easy to pick up than similar adv bikes that are top heavy. The seat at first feels great but it's actually not IF you are a tall rider with long legs. After couple of hours it can get uncomfortable, looking to replace it soon with some comfort gel seat. Don't care what anyone says, this is the best all around bike in the world, at least for me and I wouldn't consider anything other then the GS. Yes, it's expensive, yes some of the parts are expensive (but regular maintenance is actually cheap and can be done by yourself easy), but what you get for the money is far more then what you paid. Biased? I sure am and I don't care, I LOVE IT! 😄
10:00. It is absolutely weird how in the last few years, it seems that the GS1250 has become the number #1 adventure bike. I was watching motorcycle reviews 2 years ago and there weren't many videos about the GS, it was considered a very good bike, but a few others like the Tiger and the Pan America were making the spotlight, along with everything scary from KTM, because everything they build is absolutely terrifying and it's not clear if they using a time machine to travel into the future to pickup engine secrets (71 horsepower out of one of their newest 690cc single cylinder bikes... how is that even possible for a road legal engine to produce 71 hp out of a single with Euro 5 emissions compliance?). But now the BMW GS is all I see in any comment. I'd have to say that the BMW GS is now the most popular ADV bike, period. Nothing else even comes close. And now, because of the glowing praise, I actually want one. I've strongly disliked the boxer engine design, mostly because of the weird sound. With that said, I might consider the Tuareg or the Transalp 750, because of how beautiful they sound. But the BMW seems like the best, most comfortable commuter bike, for actual street driving.
I Love my R1200GS. It may be a 2006 Model but it is the most comfortable Bike I have ever Ridden. It checks All the Boxes for me. I never go to Starbucks. Why would anyone Pay so much for a Cup of Coffee. I do like the T7 also.👍
I had a BMW S1000R until I had a test ride with a 1250 GSA. The gsa is amazing and I’m happy with it. I was 31 when I bought my 2022 GSA. I felt it was an old man’s bike, but I think it’s a bit because it’s pretty expensive. I ride off-road with it and can rid as sporty as I did with the s1000r. Just now I’m not in pain after a 2 hrs ride 😂. It’s just a beast. And I love to park next to my sisters boyfriends MT-09, cuz it just looks like a pocket bike next to the GSA 😂
I have test road the 1250, 850 and 750, and funny enough I bought the 750, if a 1200 comes up for sale I will probably buy that, as it is said the older one's are better with less issues, my 750 has been heavily modded, and will soon have stiffer wunderlich springs in the front to reduce the diving on breaking, and spoked wheels are on order, prefer having the 19 inch front wheel than the 21, even for offroading, not had an issue with the 750 for what I use it for, great refined bit of kit and totally undervalued.
You’re right it’s expensive but that’s why I decided to buy a 2014 R1200GS and to this day it’s been the best bike I’ve owned, and it wasn’t that expensive being a 7 year old bike, as it was in great shape. I’ve done 40000kms with it in a year and a half, so it has now 115000kms in the odometer, and still running perfectly good, even in the mud (I’m a mud lover); with proper 50/50 tires this bike can go literally anywhere, and because of its boxer engine its so easy to pick up as it never touches the ground completely. Great review anyways
I have a 1250 GS and I really love the bike. I've only had my license for a little more than 2 years and I bought the GS (1200, 2013 year model) straight away and last december I bought a GS 1250, 2020 model. I've come to learn that I reallt like going off-road (not hard core, muddy style but rather gravel roads and worse) and I like tight, technichal challenges where my balance and clutch control skills really are put to the test. I can take the bike on gravel roads and to to places I like to ride but it also handles so well on tarmac. All in all, really happy with the bike BUT... I went to an event where I was able to test a lot of bikes (Tenere 700, Husqvarna 901, KTM1290 Adv and TIger 900 Rally Pro) and it really got me thinking. The GS is really expensive to buy and everything about the GS costs way more than for other brands and that really bothers me. I can buy 2 bikes ( other than 1250 GS), one for adv touring and one more suitable for off-roas, gravel and worse for the same amount of money. Also, service and parts are really expensive when it comes to BMW. The Tiger 900 and the Norden 901 really tickled my bike bone and I seariosly considered selling my GS for a while. Now, I've come to the conslusion that I will keep my GS just because it is a good match for what I'm looking for and the way I like to ride and THEREIN LIES THE TRUTH! Each and everyone really must ask themself, "what am I looking for, what is important for me?" (just like you did). Stop being judgemental about this brand or that brand, try them all out and make up your own mind, be it on other riders or bikes. It's the same like with pretty much everything else in life, if everyone would be completely honest, they would admit that there are good and bad with that comes whatever you buy, have, vote for or believe in. Bikes are no different! Isn't that one of the best things with the bike community, the discussions, the going back and forth, discussing tires, bikes och gear...:) Thanks for providing good bike content, keep it up!
Thomas, that was an interesting comment! I am currently riding a Tiger 800 but have been thinking of the big GS a lot, as I would love the torque and the fact that it hardly ever stalls. That is a great feature on off-road passages that I miss on my Tiger. But many of the thoughts you mentioned are circling in my head, too. So, do I really need the heavy & expensive GS? I guess I will be contemplating for a little longer... Safe riding!
Thank you Johannes for your thoughts. I had many bikes, but I do love my GS for many reasons you have mentioned. The GS inspires love; you either love it or love to hate it 😅. It is despite its’ size and weight pretty nimble and extremely comfortable. For hard core off-road it is too heavy but on gravel roads it is fine. I saw that this GS had annakee tires. Aren’t they for off-road and street? Some people complain they are very loud on pavement. Once again , thank you for your open mindedness and honesty. Greetings,Jim
Hey Jim, thanks a lot for your kind comment. The GS is a truly unique bike, it shouldn’t really be so nimble and capable when you look at its size and weight, but it is. And its incredibly comfortable too. I’d love to own one, but it is out of my budget by a long shot 😅 All the best, Jim 😊
I think you were very fair. It is great, and amazing how such a big can feel so nimble. I had to try one myself before deciding what to buy, and loved it. Rode it back to back with a multi V4s, and the V4s won the day, because it was just that bit more exciting. Whilst incredible handling, good brakes, and good torque, when it’s pushed it does start to become overwhelmed quite quickly, and I found the engine quite “asthmatic” when passing at motorway speeds. Maybe that’s unfair, but for a 1250? When they release the GS1300 or 1400, I think it’ll be a step ahead of everything.
Thank you Alan! I haven’t ridden the V4s, but I can absolutely imagine that being a bit more exciting for sure 😁 In the end, we do ride for fun most of the time and choosing a bike that puts a smile on your face should be high up on the list.
@@JohannesDalen if you are ever in the south of France then let me know, and you can ride mine 👍 I haven’t taken it off road in real rough, but it copes with tight mountain tarmac and fast sweeping canyons very well. The 701 is perfect for these roads too……it is very fast on the mountain tarmac, even on the dual sport tyres.
I have a 2021 GS Rallye, my first adventure bike. It was my first big bike and I found it so very much easy to ride though it's so heavy and I'm just 5'7". Try it to judge it.
Good (short) review. I wish more people tried a GS for themselves instead of repeating other people (who didn't ride one themselves either) and keep going on about the weight and Starbucks. The thing about Starbucks has more to do with jealousy than the capabilities of the bike/rider. I never heard complaints about people who ride a Yamaha R1 and don't go out on a circuit every weekend. So, if I ride a GS, am I forced to go offroad? No, the GS is a very versatile bike and in a way maybe a better touring bike than the RT. And like you noticed yourself, the handling is great, the engine is amazing and all the electronics can help you on- and offroad. Picking up the bike is easier than you think. Because of the boxer engine, the bike is never flat on the ground. I dropped my 1200GSA in the mud in Spain, and I just removed the topcase and one of the side cases (I was travelling fully loaded) and put it on it's wheels again. A bit slippery, but it worked. Obviously, a smaller bike is easier, but it is doable. BMW made an amazing bike, and all the people commenting on the weight and size should try one for a bit. They'll change their mind. They may not go out and buy one, but they'll know now how this bike feels.
Hi Johannes, as you know, I've referred to GS's and have a 1250 gsa and recently bought a 2005 gs. The 1200 weighs 199kg dry (225 wet), so it puts it close to the T7. In fact i like it's simplicity so much the 1250 is going. Other bikes can do peak power better, but for all round ability, hard to beat and the 1200's are cheap. Try one
I love my 2007 GS. It was the year before they came out with some of the electronics like suspension and stuff. It's one of the easiest bikes to work on and maintain that I've ever had. It's pretty much the same as your 2005.
I have a 2008, 1st bike I've had that's not a sports bike and I was surprised at how much I love it. It's no fun to pick up bit when it's moving it's nimble as anything.. Just wish it sounded a bit less dull. Can't have it all I suppose.
@@cliveadams7629 Those pops and burbles from the exhaust on downshifts keep me pretty entertained as far as sound goes. If you time it just right(the down shifts), you'd swear that you're on a sport bike the way the exhaust pops and gives feedback.
I own a 2018 R1200GS Rallye and a 2022 R1250GSA Trippel Black. I use my bike in rain :-) The Rallye have 50/50 Tires. I use it on gravel roads. The bikes is for all kind of driving. Perfect multi tool!
Moving a bike about a garage is a litmus test for me. I loved my old BMW R90/6 and the low center of gravity made it an easy bike to ride but pushing it up the slight rise in my garage was a chore. Even my Tuareg 660 is a challenge as I'm an old man. If a power lifter like Johannes thinks a bike is heavy, it would likely kill me. Still, the GS is a lovely bike.
thats an important criterium for me too, I dont feel comfatable taking my Tenere off road in the mountains because i cannot push 200 kilogramm uphill ín case something happens .. or control 200 kg on soft sand downhill .. my 158 kg dry 170ish with fuel KTM 640 ADV is enough for me
Im about to downscale from the 1200 GS to a T7. I'm fine about loosing all the electronics, but one thing I will miss, which sounds like you are not aware of Johannes, is the BMW Connected app. It's really a great feature, collecting all data from your rides. It's a digital ride diary, which I highly enjoy! And for some reason, it's a feature that no one mentions when they review the GS and GSA
No matter which bike you’ve been riding, a T7 will never be wrong - such a capable allrounder at a great price. Thanks for telling me about the app, I’ve never heard of such thing. I’m sure there’s apps for android that can do the same, so you could do it on a Samsung tablet or similar?
Well, I'm going to be honest and I'm just catching this video. I recently had the chance to ride a 22' R1250 GSA at a BMW demo ride. Now this was only on a short street ride that they had set up and I found two things about it that I didn't like. Mind you that I loved the comfort, handling and center of gravity of the bike. I was expecting that. But the quick shifting of the bike had me looking down at as if the bike didn't have it. It was very notchy. So I shifted the bike with the clutch and didn't have a problem afterwards. I used to have a 20' Yamaha MT-10 that I made into a sport touring machine and loved it but wasn't that comfortable after a long ride. Plus the gas mileage was terrible. The second thing on the GS was acceleration. The bike just didn't get up and go for me. Or it wasn't what I was used to on a bike that is over 1000cc's. It was boring! LOL! Sorry, it just was. Other than that, it's a great bike. But if I'm going to spend over 25K for a motorcycle, it better have some kick in the power department. I rode the 22' BMW S1000XR afterwards but didn't like the ergo's on it. Small for me at 6'1 205 lbs. But that bike had kick in acceleration like the MT-10! I want a bike that's comfortable like the GS but have great acceleration like the S1000XR! I don't know what to do! LOL!
Picked up my GS after a four month wait. That was 146 days and 85xx miles ago. It’s completely brilliant, but expensive. Wish I bought one sooner in my life!
Rode the 40 years Anniversary model and it really is a hi-tech machine, very comfortable and stable. For more, you can check my test ride. Drop by when have time. p.s. You got my like here. Thanks for sharing this. Just keep up.
Hi Johannes, a other Nintendo-Bike 🙂. For long Travel on Pavement top. But costwise (Bike and Maintanance) way to high. Many thanks for share your impressions. Best Regars, Alfred
For what’s it’s worth, I rode a 1975 r75 bmw for a few years. I was much younger then and took it on power line roads, climbed some hills, and rode it off-road and it was good! The wide low engine made the bike very balanced, and it was easy to rock up if dropped because of the crash bars around the cylinders. Great bike. It did get some rear end suspension rise when applying throttle as the driveshaft climbed up the hub gear but they prob. Fixed that by now! That bike was as basic as a drz400 technology wise, very reliable. Not sure about these newer bikes. Lots of sensors. But there is a line you are dancing around; consider your first mud puddle t7 issue. You will either accept that you will have a bike you cannot ride alone in the woods (most likely) or continue to sacrifice street comfort for those edge cases where you do venture out alone and may get stuck. The journey is the point. Africa twin 750?
Thanks for sharing Stephen - I Google’d a 1975 r75, what a beautiful thing! Yes, the new GS’s are packed with electronics, and more things that can fail when you don’t want it to. I don’t know how reliable these bikes are, but my impression is that BMW in general aren’t the most reliable ones. What you say about electronics and weight of the bike is exactly why I went with another T7 - reliable, no fancy electronics and a bike that I in 999/1000 situations can pick up myself. Have a great day sir.
@@JohannesDalen actually, I was only 15 yrs old at the time and used to sneak the bike out to ride around with my girlfriend. It belonged to my stepfather who was never the wiser! If you power shifted into second gear and tugged, the front wheel would come up a couple of feet. Enjoy your journey.
I have the oil cooled GSA and the new GSA, and I prefer riding the oil cooled one. It has a bigger tank, less electronics, comfier seat and doesn’t have that annoying wind noise coming up from between the fork’s.
most of the people I ride GS with have never taken their GS in the dirt... only 1 other guy I ride with has gone some of the places off-road with me. The T7 would be a much better bike for more serious off-road. The GS is good for what it can do. My fun ride is my Honda CRF250M. My crazy off-road bike is KTM450 (I hate the valve intervals) and I do not like heavy bikes. But my pure love and passion is mountain biking. lol. Ride ride and ride.
I've test driven a couple GS models for my wife's pillion comfort. I know at 6'3" ergos are great, but I kept not getting excited about it. Engine was not inspiring...but I know it would be the correct choice for long distances. Maybe its because I already have a comfortable cruiser. Or I don't want to pick up such a heavy bike.... I keep going back and forth between this and the cheaper Norden 901. Maybe the tiger 1200, but the Triumph would be the 3rd choice.
Fine First impression review. I'm fresh owner of 1250GS ADV from this June. I made a small personal competition before I decide to buy one (Africa Twin 1100, fresh new Tiger 1200 in the top version and GS) . I wasn't an adventure or off-road rider before, so it means I'm not skilled enough in this area. My first bike is Honda CB1000R, completely different bike. Now I have to say CB1000R is my second bike today. When I sat on the test GS at the seller I was really nervous. What a weight, very expensive, powerful... So in a short I was really scary to open the throtle so much, I was breaking hundreds meters before it has to be... 5 minutes after I had to scream in the helmet by emotions. What I was scary of became to be fascination. The best decision in rider's life I made to buy one 1250GS. Feelings of safety and power at the same time is very unique. But I can recommend to spend at least one day at some kind of "offroad school" or basic offroad training. Handling of the GS become much easier. I never realized I'll write any reaction on YT but I have to due to my GS impression.
Thanks a lot for sharing, it makes me so happy to hear that you are happy with your GS. It’s a fantastic bike no doubt about it. I’d absolutely love to go to a GS offroad event of some sort and get to properly ride it off road. I can imagine it being much easier to handle than what the specs say. Heavy and powerful, but in reality it’s nimble and impossible to stall. Enjoy your new bike and thanks a lot for the kind words!
@@JohannesDalen Thanks for your reply. It would be great to join your band during your trip across part of the Europe you wrote about. 😎 I think it takes also some portion of free time reserved. I have family, school kids, work, you know...
I've made a second video about the GS: th-cam.com/video/CndJVLYHjxQ/w-d-xo.html
I have a KTM 1290 Adventure R and love it but the GS 1250 is the only bike that has made me so happy that I started singing while riding it. I can agree that it is far more capable than people think. It carries it weight very low and is so well balanced. And the torque! Wow! This bike will never stall whatever you throw at it. It just has one big problem! It costs too much 😭
Interesting, Ragnar. I would think if there’s one bike that would make one sing it’s the SAR!
To be honest, all bikes I’ve ridden I’ve found myself singing inside the helmet, but I understand what you mean, the GS truly is a great place to be 😊
The GS will make you sing… but the Super Adventure will make you scream… that’s the difference 😉
@@takisanast9855 SAR will leave you at the side of the road.
I just bought a 1250 GS triple black. I traded in two bikes that I loved, a Triumph Speedmaster and a triumph scrambler 1200XC. Rode them constantly. However now I am doing even more miles on the highway every day and the extra wind protection, the suspension, tank size, how nimble it feels. I was sold. Luckily I had two bikes to trade in because you are correct, they are expensive. But an incredible machine! Enjoy your channel 👍
Thank you for a well thought out first impression. I’m moving to a 2021 GS from a 2016 RT, similar in feel, but the 1250 motor is significantly more powerful feeling. I can’t wait to park my GS at my nearby Starbucks for some pics!
I swore I'd never buy a GS, I just didnt get what they were about. I test rode one for 'laughs" when i went to my local dealer with a mate who was looking at the new 1300GS. I jumped on an r1250GS triple black ex demo and was so suprised at how 'sporty' it felt on the road.
you sat in it like a cruiser, yet it could go off road and still felt sporty , putting a smile on my face. Long story short but I bought it and i'm now eating my words hunting out gravel roads.
Just to add on GS as owner, this bike is much easier to pick up than your t7 because it never falls flat. I was at training in Hechlingen enduro park and we were droping bikes left right and center, 1200gs was much easier to pick up than f850. Also never had an issue with broken clutch and brake leavers or bent shifters, which flat 850 had very often. And about expensive and therefore being scared of droping it - dont be, during that training all gs were with 0 protection, not even the simplest crashbars - once we even had to pull one down from top of very steep and high hill on its cilinder head and nothing all were just picked up and continued the abuse of these beautiful machines. And you cant believe what these machines are capable of we did a lot of scary stuff there which i did not believe this machine was capable of, but it did all and above it ;)
Good honest 1st impression. I had the exact same experience with a 2009 1200GS that was bought by one of my old bosses. That experience converted me to the GS.
I have had plenty of riding experience both on road and off and it is my honest opinion that you can not find a better bike that effortlessly offers basically the perfect compromise between the 2 riding disciplines.
I bought myself a 2014 1200GS and of course, I ended up looking at the increased power the 1250GS offered. I toyed with the idea of a GSA but felt the extra fuel capacity would be wasted as unfortunately I use the bike majority of the time commuting to and from work so I picked up a new, fully loaded 1250GS exclusive. I did explore other options but the GS always came out on top each time. sure some have more power as in the Ducati Multistrada and others had a 21 inch front wheel and weighed less such as the KTM 1290 and Yamaha Tenere 1200 but as a complete package I could not go past the GS even though it was also the most expensive option, both in purchase price and coast of ownership.. 20000km service was over $800 au, as an example
Love the bike. its bloody comfy with ample power up top and plenty of torque. The wife loves the comfort seat on the new one over the 2014 too so she is always ready to jump on for a cruise, even if it involves some graded gravel roads.
When we go out I generally stop at a pub, not Starbucks 😂😂😂😂
Bought my first ever GS three years ago and since then it taken me to Norway and most other western Europe countries. Now off to Croatia. I love this bike, its the swiss army knife of bikes.
That’s so awesome to hear Mike, happy to hear the GS is serving you well. Good trip to Croatia, ride safe!
Been riding a Gs for over 30 years. My favourite bike in 50 years of riding. Just need to fit a good pipe. Good to have a second bike as well.
I’ve been ripping my 2000 r1150gs for 17 years(60k miles or so) with nothing but great experiences. I’ve learned how to hit the throttle on all types of off-road trails. It’s not a big fan of sand though. Great big city bike!
We love our his-n-hers F800GS. We’ve had them for 12 years now.
When people ask me what bike to buy, I always tell them that they should ride them all, and buy the one that put the biggest grind on the face. That’s the bike for you.
Well put Jocke, happy to hear the 800 is serving you both well!
Great vid, I have literally just got my first GS on Monday after also being a skeptic about the bike, I took the plunge went out on a test ride and was blown away, very happy I have one now in my stable!!!
Happy to hear you’re enjoying it, and thanks for the kind words. Ride safe!
I’ve had mine over 2 years now and every time I go for a ride I’m still amazed by how great it rides!
then you don't ride often enough ;)
I am a GS owner ... on my 2nd one now, the 1250 GSA (i wanted more range with a bigger tank, and interestingly the GS spec'd up to the same (OEM pannier rack, aux lights, etc.) actually came out at near £1000 more expensive! I love the bike ... I hated the pre-LC models, but the newest has grown on me. Most importantly, I love the bike for its versatility, comfort and handling. I use it to commute into London city centre weekly, as well as going out on tours. I do intend on taking the big GSA off road, but it is still very new and work/life balance has not permitted this adventure yet - not even a short road tour. I upgraded as my previous GS was an early LC with the very clunky transmission which I hated, but it is much more refined on the new ones. My kids love riding pillion - my son on his first ride even noticed how much more comfortable the suspension is on the new model. I have ridden a few other bikes, but all round the GS/A ticks the most boxes for me.
thats the problem ... if you can afford the lates "LC" GS you dont have "work/life balance" :)))
@@kloppskalli naaa, the issue is the poxy pandemic lockdowns and stupid rules on border crossings. So when things opened up, wife insisted on taking care of family vacations which meant no time for yours truly to bugger off on his adventures. 🤣
I own a 2021 triple black, and i love it. Got rid of my yamaha tracer 9gt, for it. I believe a lot of the GS haters is jealousy, it is an expensive bike, but it is the best all rounder available. The weight is consideration but you can pick them up easily if you use the right technique as the engine bars stop it from going all the way over. I think the reason a lot of older people have them is the cost mainly, most 20 year olds cannot afford a 20k bike. i do a bit of off roading but the bike is capable of much more, it is my limitations not the bike, just watch the GS tours on youtube and the competitions, good review though, you need a long term test off someone and get some 50/50 tyres on it
The GS Adventure was my dream bike and 5 years in and 80.000 km later I’m still very happy with it. It has seen off-road, too, but nowadays I would take my 32 year old DR650 into the hard stuff. Try the R Nine T, as well. That is another bike I lusted for and I really like, too. Granted, I’m taking about the “classic”, Euro4 version. Are these perfect bikes? No, but they do bring me joy. Would love to ride the T7, but it keeps eluding me. The T7 and the Touareg.
2007 GS, rode for 44,000 miles. 2+ years. Swiss army knife of motorcycles. Love that motorcycle. Once it did not start up, 19 degrees Fahrenheit got it out of shed and in direct sunlight and fired right up
Just bought a new '23 RT. And as I will be riding it on the road, I love it for all the same reasons you speak about the GS. I am already making plans to purchase a GSA next Summer to keep my RT company in my garage. Also in the future, I can see an RS in my garage as well. To say I love BMWs is an understatement
Excellent video….love your honesty!
Thank you Plilip!
This video was really funny and informative, love it
Thanks for another great video! It was interesting seeing the area around the dealership as well. Hopefully one day I will get to Norway, but its a long way from Vancouver Island!
Thank you John!
Yeah this isn’t the nicest part really, huge industrial area with way too many stores. Used to be a big forest there before..
@@JohannesDalen
Sounds like here. Stores and warehouses and houses where forest used to be.
I enjoyed the video, im 66 years old and have several health conditions, i still ride, a SX kawasaki 1000 absolutely brilliant bike,
Its in the last few weeks ive been looking at alternatives, The GS is one Triumph is another ,
Need to get down to my BMW an Triumph dealer in Cardiff to see the bikes ,
Owned a 2017 1200GS Rally before i bought my T7. It was a great bike, i rode it almost everywhere, but i do not want to go back again. The T7 is a awsome bike. It wil do the same as the GS, and more. The weight is esential for me too.
I have a 09 gsa. It really suits my riding. I like to ride long distance and not much offroad. I like forestry and gravel roads but not single track or anything like that. I have been looking at buying another bike, something totally different like the Indian pursuit or a goldwing or even a k1600. But I keep coming back to the gsa. I am thinking of buying a second gsa now. I like the ride position, the flexibility to go a little offroad, and the smoothness of the ride. And I have actually never been to a Starbucks on my current gsa. I should maybe get on that 😂
About to order my 3rd 1250gsa, incredible machine that can do just about anything. Totally brilliant. When you own one, you understand why they are everywhere now 🙂
I said all the same things back in the day - you are on your way, a GS is in your future!
At the age of 58..
Bought a brand new 2020
1250 adv..Gs...
Loving every bit of it.
Just clocked 10000km
A few days ago....
What a lovely bike for the open road....and fuel consumption excellent......Will try and put another 10000km in a year or so..
Believe it or not, I love lane-splitting with my GS. The addictive torque and the massive breaks gives you the kind of confidence that I never got on another bike.
Charley and Ewan did their trip fully supported more than 15 years ago and broke shock absorbers and a frame. Times have changed but having owned 4 GS’s, they are the best all purpose tourer including for 2 up work and easy dirt roads. Once you are older, you will want light weight at the top of the list.
Infact it was upgrades shock absorbers from touratech. Not the standard.
Charley and Ewan were heavily underprepared and packed the bike with a ridiculous amount of crap. There was something like 20kg too much stuff in the cases. That was the reason KTM declined them, but somehow they made it and established the name of the GS. The moaning about the support is nonsense. It's a television show, so you need things to look good on TV and you don't need problems. That's why thay had fixers everywhere to help them out.
But lots of other people went around the world on a GS and they didn't break their bikes and they didn't have support. It's possible.
Nice vid man. I was like you, wondering what the fuss was about with a GS. So I also tried one, now I own one, and honestly speaking, I doubt I will ever not own it ! Fully converted, they are a stunning bike.
Thank you J! That's awesome to hear, I bet there's many people who initially didn't like the GS who rode it and now owns one - Enjoy it my friend!
Endelig! Har sett frem til denne episoden.
I have a ‘22 GSA and agree that it’s very capable and fun off road. You just adjust to the size and realize that it’s super capable in more gnarly conditions.
Awesome video. Thank you. Subscribed
Johannes new subscriber. Very enjoyable! I am at the other end of the GS family. I have a 310. My 11th bike in 52 years of riding. Daily rider so I need a light frugal ride. Ticks all the boxes plus it has great road 'presence'. Cheers!
Welcome aboard Patrick!
The ‘baby’ GS is an interesting bike - I haven’t ridden one but would love to test ride it when I get the chance. Happy to hear you’re enjoying yours. Ride safe!
Honest and nice first impression. My *by far) best drive ever, my route to and in Norway, with my GS. Yes, just the two of us. Off road, also, but not more than 75km. But man, did i enjyod that. I did not see any startbucks by the way…
Hi. Totally agree, have a T7 and try the GS last week, a rally version, and love the bike, so easy to drive, feel nimble as the T7, love the silence above 100 and the torque. The only two things I did not like, the engine noise and the drive position, when you stand up it fell cramped. I’ll put some risers and a new can.
It is a strong contester for my next bike (gone wait for the 1300GS)
Yeah, I have the 2019 GSA and love it. When they come out with the 1300 I'm getting that one too.
I have a new ‘22 GS and as you found out, it’s as good as everyone says it is! Love the video!
Thank you Bruce, enjoy your new bike and ride safe!
That was a great first impression video Johannes, I love the analogy you did with your fingers of the center of gravity. My first adventure bike was the r1150gsa, until this day it was the most comfortable bike I ever rode, then later I had the r1200gs, and it was such a nice bike as well and about and about 60lbs lighter than the gsa and now I have the f800gs that I really love as well, Here in the USA the used market is very big and usually the GS is a bike that most people take very good care of them, so is not hard to find a good one that fits your budget and that's what I did, besides what kind of damage can you put on a bike if it is sitting outside Starbucks Jaja...
Cheers 🏍️
Thank you for the kind words! Happy to hear you’ve been enjoying these GS’s over the years. I haven’t ridden the 800gs, but will as soon as I get the chance.
Haha that’s true, all used GS’s are spotless and week taken care of 😁
Hi Johannes, I got a BMW 1150GS Adventure new, back in 2005, been an amazing bike, other than servicing I have put fork seals and 2 starter motors on it, yes its heavy but once its rolling its fine. I looked at the 1250 and felt it had a bit to much tech on it so going to stick with the 1150 which was the bike Charlie and Ewan took on long way round. All the best from Scotland and keep the videos coming, I enjoy them.
Hi Mark, thanks for the kind words and support. I’m happy to hear your 1150GS has been serving you well!
You should try an older GS. I have a 2006 oil cooled/air cooled. Nothing but abs (switchable). It has all the good from the new without anything you don’t need. Great bike for everything except single track.
Good review, Thanks! I have this very bike, Triple Black 2022. Having had several bikes in my 64 years, I have to say, it's my first BMW. I told myself years ago...some day I will have a GS. I bought it without ever having rode one. Every time I ride it, it gets better. Far and away the best bike I have had. I suspect it will be my last bike given my age, but I will say, as long as I can swing a leg over a motorcycle, I don't see myself having anything else. If something were to happen to this one, I will buy another just like it without hesitation. It really is the perfect motorcycle for me. Heavy? Yes. Expensive? Ridiculously so. But the handling, ride, torque, overall comfort, ergonomics, fit and finish...all top shelf. I could care less about how it is perceived by some, all I know is BMW built the perfect motorcycle for me.
Thank you Nate!
Makes me so happy to hear you’ve found the perfect bike for you - Ride safe and enjoy!
Very smart review.
I have an ‘08 1200 GS air& oil cooled - low mileage when bought - I am changing that. Was 110% Honda guy before, but now… I have to admit even the older GS are exceptional bikes (and have tested a few 2022 bikes from different brands this year). Great bike, not for everyone, but the engineering & quality is outstanding. Love it, can stand the dentist jokes - it is about the ride and if someone laughs at you - who cares?
Nice video mate love my GSA great 2 up and loaded for touring
Very smart review
Very nice bike and great describe
I love my BMW R 1250 GS 2020 , it is an incredible bike 👌🏻
Great video and yes I do own 1200gs and will not part with it, it's has been an fantastic riding companion on and off road.
The GS will be easier to pick up than your T7.1250 is a fantastic all round bike.Easier to service than most bikes=cheaper.Cheers.
We in times where is not easy to make everybody happy .regardless of how great a product is.
Have the 2011 R1200 GS Adventure and I love it!
It's a perfect tourer bike. The suspension, the transmission, it's just perfect for long road trips. I would like one just like the one in the video, base model with plastic luggage, and minimal engine crash bars, this way the bike stays light. I will never be able to afford one though, so i'll just stick to my AT 1000 lol.
I ride my GS 1200 to Starbucks occasionally. I prefer smaller local cafes. Most of my rides are less than 20km for coffee and cake. I've Also ridden my GS to the Arctic Ocean and back. Mine is a few years old I don't mind getting it a bit dirty.
Beautiful place your ridding. Looks very familiar.
Fab honest review 👍
Thank you Tom!
Thanks for the honesty. People often refer to the R12XXGS as the GS, but depending on what you value in a bike, there are other, potentially better GSs. As a small man, I found my 2010 R12GS to just be too big, heavy, and powerful to be fun. It’s definitely made for large people (I know there are many small people who can ride these off pavement, but not the average rider). The only thing I liked about it (and all R bikes), is that it was relatively easy to pick up after taking off all the luggage. My go-to GS models since 2011 have been the F650GStwin and now the F750GS (low suspension-even better). (Glad they discontinued the 650 singles-had one-dreadful, imo). The 650/750 twins are better all-around bikes than the big ones, from my perspective. If you haven’t already, it would be more interesting to me to get your take on an F850GS since you look like a large man, and it’s much more similar to your T7; another big person bike.
I LOVE my f650gs Dakar Single Rotax engine...Im hoping BMW brings back a 650 with 21 inch front wheel, lighter .... im going to check out the 310gs with a rally raid kit next, as I'm heading to Australia for a 1 year solo tour...
Love the GS1250 Rallyeandits a dream ride everytime on road or off road..
The GS is a great touring bike and a lot of people only use it for that. However, everyone I know who has one uses it regularly off-road.
Nice and Honest First imprission Video Johannes. I own a 1250 GSA, and after 3 years of riding it, i am getting more in love with this Machine. That's my 16th Bike since 1997. Most of my bikes were on-off, so i suppose that i have a good judgment criteria. For big trips, the bike works amazing and Frankly, it works even better when it's loaded with stuff or a passenger. Last year we've been to Nordkapp with my wife, starting from Athens. We crossed whole Europe vise versa and not even a single moment we felt that we'd rather prefer a different bike (Ok, my wife eventually, should definitely pref being in a car, but that's another subject). The shaft for traveling long distances is magical, the suspensio and the seat keeps both rider and passenger un-tired for longer distance than the normal and the fact that that machine has a giant torque, you hard 3rd gear in the city and work the bike like a scooter. For me it's phenomenal. It's the second Gs i bought since 2009 and by replying to your question.... Yes my bike is shining, as i am not riding it off-road. Besides, who wants to off-road with a bike or 25.000 euros, and 260 kg weight? Trust me... the bike is capable, but the cost of a possible drop is rather huge. I still own from the 90's a Yamaha DTWR 200 (2 stroke), which i use for off-roading and i am happy with it. People claiming that GS is a bad bike as you said.... likely they never tested it. It's good for off-roading? Yes, the bike can do a lot more stuff than it's riders but the real question is, it's worth it? Does a rider of a KTM 1290 or a Ducati Multistrada seriously consider taking regularly those bikes off road? If not, why a GS owner should consider it? Anyhow.... long discussion!! Thanks for the video buddy.
Thank you for the kind words Andreas, and sharing your story. It makes me happy to hear that the GS is serving you well. From Athens to Nordkapp, sounds absolutely fantastic!
The whole Starbucks and GS thing was just to spark some initial interest 😁 Ride safe and enjoy your bike!
I remember, as a kid, getting a strange feeling when I opened up a new Penthouse or Playboy mag... got that same feeling 2:17
A funny, yet very accurate and familiar description 😁
Excellent!
I really want one. Would be ideal for going to work, picking up groceries or taking my kids or wife on the back when needed. But i want to keep my 701 as well, so will have to wait until i can have 2 bikes 😁
701 & a GS has to be best of both worlds really 😁
Actually some other reviewers, including Iain @ Big Rock Moto (watch Don't buy a Yamaha Tenere 700 without watching this first), argue that a GS is easier to lift than a T7, because the T7 falls flat to the ground while the GS will rest on the cylinder.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all. The hardest part in a deadlift is off the floor. Start the deadlift on 20cm tall boxes and one can deadlift 50-60 kg more easily. Guess that can be translated to lifting these bikes as well. T7 is like from the floor, GS like a deadlift on boxes.
In a perfect world that is true, if you drop a GS in the car park at Starbucks then yes it is easier to lift but if you drop it on a muddy off camber hill with the handlebars on the low side, good luck trying to lift that.
Very seldom do you see reviewers and the like showing how easy things are to lift in real world scenarios.
You don’t even have to drop it, just park a fully loaded GSA with the front tire against a wall in a step hill with cars on each side and you are in trouble😊
@@janinnorway9334 🤣
@@whitedrguy6503
Bret Tkacs does it: "Best ways to pick up a motorcycle"
I also did test ride one this summer, i had some thougths about it beeing heavy and unwieldy so i did the test ride "just because i could", but man, now i get why there are so many of them.
What a bike. So nimble for it size, silky smooth engine and great power. Fit and finish is on another level compared to my Ktm 1190 and the new Ktm 1290.
Absolutely blown away by this bike.
I have now test riden most of the big adv bikes and this is one of the ones that left a really amazing impression.
Makes me think long and hard about a R1200/1250GS or a smaller size Aprilia Tuareg 660.
Interesting, thanks for sharing your experience. I found the 1290 to be a lot more raw - not necessarily a positive thing, but definitely not a negative either. Have you ridden the Ducati V4s? Gotten a few comments about it and how good it is.
@@JohannesDalen The new 1290 is pretty wild yeah, seems a lot faster than my 1190, but probably is not. The torque come on way sooner.
I did NOT like the new switchgear, especially the turn signal button... I also found it a bit cramped for me at 1,78cm. Probably an easy fix with some lower pegs and higher seat.
I do not need THAT much power to be honest. (I thougth the 1290 adv was fast, until i took the 1290 SuperDuke for a spin after, jesus crist, lifting the front wheel in 3d gear at 1x0km was nuts.)
No, the Ducati is the one that i have not test riden, since the dealer is not that close to me instead of all the others in Oslo.
My 2022 gs Rallye, arrived 3 weeks ago. Difficult to articulate how wonderful it is. I had a 2017 Gs Rallye. This is similar looking but completely improved and amazing. I had a 2014, so yes, I'm a fan.
Happy to hear the GS is serving you well Jim!
First rode the GS in early 2019., 6 months later I bought 2014. GS, I just couldn't stop thinking about it, the way it rode, almost like a scooter. I can tell you this, picking it up is not that big of a deal, I dropped it in middle of sandy woods where I rode it on basically street tires. Low center of gravity and boxer engine will not let this bike drop all the way which makes it far less easy to pick up than similar adv bikes that are top heavy. The seat at first feels great but it's actually not IF you are a tall rider with long legs. After couple of hours it can get uncomfortable, looking to replace it soon with some comfort gel seat. Don't care what anyone says, this is the best all around bike in the world, at least for me and I wouldn't consider anything other then the GS. Yes, it's expensive, yes some of the parts are expensive (but regular maintenance is actually cheap and can be done by yourself easy), but what you get for the money is far more then what you paid. Biased? I sure am and I don't care, I LOVE IT! 😄
Told you that they are good 😜. But I don’t miss mine, apart from when I have to do a lot of motorway riding lol
10:00. It is absolutely weird how in the last few years, it seems that the GS1250 has become the number #1 adventure bike. I was watching motorcycle reviews 2 years ago and there weren't many videos about the GS, it was considered a very good bike, but a few others like the Tiger and the Pan America were making the spotlight, along with everything scary from KTM, because everything they build is absolutely terrifying and it's not clear if they using a time machine to travel into the future to pickup engine secrets (71 horsepower out of one of their newest 690cc single cylinder bikes... how is that even possible for a road legal engine to produce 71 hp out of a single with Euro 5 emissions compliance?). But now the BMW GS is all I see in any comment. I'd have to say that the BMW GS is now the most popular ADV bike, period. Nothing else even comes close. And now, because of the glowing praise, I actually want one. I've strongly disliked the boxer engine design, mostly because of the weird sound. With that said, I might consider the Tuareg or the Transalp 750, because of how beautiful they sound. But the BMW seems like the best, most comfortable commuter bike, for actual street driving.
I Love my R1200GS. It may be a 2006 Model but it is the most comfortable Bike I have ever Ridden. It checks All the Boxes for me. I never go to Starbucks. Why would anyone Pay so much for a Cup of Coffee. I do like the T7 also.👍
I had a BMW S1000R until I had a test ride with a 1250 GSA. The gsa is amazing and I’m happy with it. I was 31 when I bought my 2022 GSA. I felt it was an old man’s bike, but I think it’s a bit because it’s pretty expensive. I ride off-road with it and can rid as sporty as I did with the s1000r. Just now I’m not in pain after a 2 hrs ride 😂. It’s just a beast. And I love to park next to my sisters boyfriends MT-09, cuz it just looks like a pocket bike next to the GSA 😂
I have test road the 1250, 850 and 750, and funny enough I bought the 750, if a 1200 comes up for sale I will probably buy that, as it is said the older one's are better with less issues, my 750 has been heavily modded, and will soon have stiffer wunderlich springs in the front to reduce the diving on breaking, and spoked wheels are on order, prefer having the 19 inch front wheel than the 21, even for offroading, not had an issue with the 750 for what I use it for, great refined bit of kit and totally undervalued.
You’re right it’s expensive but that’s why I decided to buy a 2014 R1200GS and to this day it’s been the best bike I’ve owned, and it wasn’t that expensive being a 7 year old bike, as it was in great shape. I’ve done 40000kms with it in a year and a half, so it has now 115000kms in the odometer, and still running perfectly good, even in the mud (I’m a mud lover); with proper 50/50 tires this bike can go literally anywhere, and because of its boxer engine its so easy to pick up as it never touches the ground completely. Great review anyways
Thank you Tomás, I’m happy to hear your GS is serving you well!
I have a 1250 GS and I really love the bike. I've only had my license for a little more than 2 years and I bought the GS (1200, 2013 year model) straight away and last december I bought a GS 1250, 2020 model. I've come to learn that I reallt like going off-road (not hard core, muddy style but rather gravel roads and worse) and I like tight, technichal challenges where my balance and clutch control skills really are put to the test. I can take the bike on gravel roads and to to places I like to ride but it also handles so well on tarmac.
All in all, really happy with the bike BUT...
I went to an event where I was able to test a lot of bikes (Tenere 700, Husqvarna 901, KTM1290 Adv and TIger 900 Rally Pro) and it really got me thinking. The GS is really expensive to buy and everything about the GS costs way more than for other brands and that really bothers me. I can buy 2 bikes ( other than 1250 GS), one for adv touring and one more suitable for off-roas, gravel and worse for the same amount of money. Also, service and parts are really expensive when it comes to BMW.
The Tiger 900 and the Norden 901 really tickled my bike bone and I seariosly considered selling my GS for a while.
Now, I've come to the conslusion that I will keep my GS just because it is a good match for what I'm looking for and the way I like to ride and THEREIN LIES THE TRUTH!
Each and everyone really must ask themself, "what am I looking for, what is important for me?" (just like you did).
Stop being judgemental about this brand or that brand, try them all out and make up your own mind, be it on other riders or bikes. It's the same like with pretty much everything else in life, if everyone would be completely honest, they would admit that there are good and bad with that comes whatever you buy, have, vote for or believe in.
Bikes are no different!
Isn't that one of the best things with the bike community, the discussions, the going back and forth, discussing tires, bikes och gear...:)
Thanks for providing good bike content, keep it up!
Thomas, that was an interesting comment!
I am currently riding a Tiger 800 but have been thinking of the big GS a lot, as I would love the torque and the fact that it hardly ever stalls. That is a great feature on off-road passages that I miss on my Tiger. But many of the thoughts you mentioned are circling in my head, too. So, do I really need the heavy & expensive GS? I guess I will be contemplating for a little longer...
Safe riding!
Thank you Johannes for your thoughts. I had many bikes, but I do love my GS for many reasons you have mentioned. The GS inspires love; you either love it or love to hate it 😅. It is despite its’ size and weight pretty nimble and extremely comfortable. For hard core off-road it is too heavy but on gravel roads it is fine. I saw that this GS had annakee tires. Aren’t they for off-road and street? Some people complain they are very loud on pavement. Once again , thank you for your open mindedness and honesty. Greetings,Jim
Hey Jim, thanks a lot for your kind comment. The GS is a truly unique bike, it shouldn’t really be so nimble and capable when you look at its size and weight, but it is. And its incredibly comfortable too. I’d love to own one, but it is out of my budget by a long shot 😅
All the best, Jim 😊
I think you were very fair. It is great, and amazing how such a big can feel so nimble.
I had to try one myself before deciding what to buy, and loved it. Rode it back to back with a multi V4s, and the V4s won the day, because it was just that bit more exciting. Whilst incredible handling, good brakes, and good torque, when it’s pushed it does start to become overwhelmed quite quickly, and I found the engine quite “asthmatic” when passing at motorway speeds. Maybe that’s unfair, but for a 1250?
When they release the GS1300 or 1400, I think it’ll be a step ahead of everything.
Thank you Alan!
I haven’t ridden the V4s, but I can absolutely imagine that being a bit more exciting for sure 😁
In the end, we do ride for fun most of the time and choosing a bike that puts a smile on your face should be high up on the list.
@@JohannesDalen if you are ever in the south of France then let me know, and you can ride mine 👍
I haven’t taken it off road in real rough, but it copes with tight mountain tarmac and fast sweeping canyons very well. The 701 is perfect for these roads too……it is very fast on the mountain tarmac, even on the dual sport tyres.
I have a 2021 GS Rallye, my first adventure bike. It was my first big bike and I found it so very much easy to ride though it's so heavy and I'm just 5'7". Try it to judge it.
I have a 2021 GS Adventure. I love it and would hands down choose it over any other bike.
Good (short) review. I wish more people tried a GS for themselves instead of repeating other people (who didn't ride one themselves either) and keep going on about the weight and Starbucks. The thing about Starbucks has more to do with jealousy than the capabilities of the bike/rider. I never heard complaints about people who ride a Yamaha R1 and don't go out on a circuit every weekend. So, if I ride a GS, am I forced to go offroad? No, the GS is a very versatile bike and in a way maybe a better touring bike than the RT.
And like you noticed yourself, the handling is great, the engine is amazing and all the electronics can help you on- and offroad. Picking up the bike is easier than you think. Because of the boxer engine, the bike is never flat on the ground. I dropped my 1200GSA in the mud in Spain, and I just removed the topcase and one of the side cases (I was travelling fully loaded) and put it on it's wheels again. A bit slippery, but it worked. Obviously, a smaller bike is easier, but it is doable.
BMW made an amazing bike, and all the people commenting on the weight and size should try one for a bit. They'll change their mind. They may not go out and buy one, but they'll know now how this bike feels.
simply the best
Hi Johannes, as you know, I've referred to GS's and have a 1250 gsa and recently bought a 2005 gs. The 1200 weighs 199kg dry (225 wet), so it puts it close to the T7. In fact i like it's simplicity so much the 1250 is going. Other bikes can do peak power better, but for all round ability, hard to beat and the 1200's are cheap. Try one
I love my 2007 GS. It was the year before they came out with some of the electronics like suspension and stuff. It's one of the easiest bikes to work on and maintain that I've ever had. It's pretty much the same as your 2005.
I have a 2008, 1st bike I've had that's not a sports bike and I was surprised at how much I love it. It's no fun to pick up bit when it's moving it's nimble as anything..
Just wish it sounded a bit less dull. Can't have it all I suppose.
@@cliveadams7629 Those pops and burbles from the exhaust on downshifts keep me pretty entertained as far as sound goes. If you time it just right(the down shifts), you'd swear that you're on a sport bike the way the exhaust pops and gives feedback.
I test road a new r1200gsa a couple months ago. And loved that bike. But the price damn.
I own a 2018 R1200GS Rallye and a 2022 R1250GSA Trippel Black. I use my bike in rain :-) The Rallye have 50/50 Tires. I use it on gravel roads. The bikes is for all kind of driving. Perfect multi tool!
Two GS’s? Nice!
I’ve seen the word «Rallye» pop up in talks about the GS - is it like a special edition?
Moving a bike about a garage is a litmus test for me. I loved my old BMW R90/6 and the low center of gravity made it an easy bike to ride but pushing it up the slight rise in my garage was a chore. Even my Tuareg 660 is a challenge as I'm an old man. If a power lifter like Johannes thinks a bike is heavy, it would likely kill me. Still, the GS is a lovely bike.
thats an important criterium for me too, I dont feel comfatable taking my Tenere off road in the mountains because i cannot push 200 kilogramm uphill ín case something happens .. or control 200 kg on soft sand downhill .. my 158 kg dry 170ish with fuel KTM 640 ADV is enough for me
Great video as allways Johannes 👍
I have no doubts the GS is a great bike.
Do I want one? Probably not.
Thank you Chris 😊
Im about to downscale from the 1200 GS to a T7. I'm fine about loosing all the electronics, but one thing I will miss, which sounds like you are not aware of Johannes, is the BMW Connected app. It's really a great feature, collecting all data from your rides. It's a digital ride diary, which I highly enjoy! And for some reason, it's a feature that no one mentions when they review the GS and GSA
No matter which bike you’ve been riding, a T7 will never be wrong - such a capable allrounder at a great price.
Thanks for telling me about the app, I’ve never heard of such thing. I’m sure there’s apps for android that can do the same, so you could do it on a Samsung tablet or similar?
Well, I'm going to be honest and I'm just catching this video. I recently had the chance to ride a 22' R1250 GSA at a BMW demo ride. Now this was only on a short street ride that they had set up and I found two things about it that I didn't like. Mind you that I loved the comfort, handling and center of gravity of the bike. I was expecting that. But the quick shifting of the bike had me looking down at as if the bike didn't have it. It was very notchy. So I shifted the bike with the clutch and didn't have a problem afterwards. I used to have a 20' Yamaha MT-10 that I made into a sport touring machine and loved it but wasn't that comfortable after a long ride. Plus the gas mileage was terrible. The second thing on the GS was acceleration. The bike just didn't get up and go for me. Or it wasn't what I was used to on a bike that is over 1000cc's. It was boring! LOL! Sorry, it just was. Other than that, it's a great bike. But if I'm going to spend over 25K for a motorcycle, it better have some kick in the power department. I rode the 22' BMW S1000XR afterwards but didn't like the ergo's on it. Small for me at 6'1 205 lbs. But that bike had kick in acceleration like the MT-10! I want a bike that's comfortable like the GS but have great acceleration like the S1000XR! I don't know what to do! LOL!
Picked up my GS after a four month wait. That was 146 days and 85xx miles ago. It’s completely brilliant, but expensive. Wish I bought one sooner in my life!
I’m happy to hear the GS is serving you well - ride safe!
hey bro.
its as u expect its the best bike ever I drive I HAVE 2022 BMW GSA 40 TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. ITS REALY AMAZING BIKE
Glad to hear you’re happy with yours 😁
Love it. I have no experience of these BMWS but I'm planning to do the off-road course in Wales on one next spring.
Thanks!
Hmm, is that the one with Simon Pavey?
@@JohannesDalen yes. I've spoken to 3 different guys who have done it and they all recommend it highly.
Sweet, I’d love to do that. I’m a huge fan of Simon and his son Llel.
Btw how is it with another GS on the other end of the specter next? GS310 !? Curious about your view on that.
Rode the 40 years Anniversary model and it really is a hi-tech machine, very comfortable and stable. For more, you can check my test ride. Drop by when have time.
p.s. You got my like here. Thanks for sharing this. Just keep up.
Hi Johannes, a other Nintendo-Bike 🙂. For long Travel on Pavement top. But costwise (Bike and Maintanance) way to high. Many thanks for share your impressions. Best Regars, Alfred
Cant wait for the new 900s
Amazing
For what’s it’s worth, I rode a 1975 r75 bmw for a few years. I was much younger then and took it on power line roads, climbed some hills, and rode it off-road and it was good! The wide low engine made the bike very balanced, and it was easy to rock up if dropped because of the crash bars around the cylinders. Great bike. It did get some rear end suspension rise when applying throttle as the driveshaft climbed up the hub gear but they prob. Fixed that by now! That bike was as basic as a drz400 technology wise, very reliable. Not sure about these newer bikes. Lots of sensors. But there is a line you are dancing around; consider your first mud puddle t7 issue. You will either accept that you will have a bike you cannot ride alone in the woods (most likely) or continue to sacrifice street comfort for those edge cases where you do venture out alone and may get stuck. The journey is the point. Africa twin 750?
Thanks for sharing Stephen - I Google’d a 1975 r75, what a beautiful thing!
Yes, the new GS’s are packed with electronics, and more things that can fail when you don’t want it to. I don’t know how reliable these bikes are, but my impression is that BMW in general aren’t the most reliable ones. What you say about electronics and weight of the bike is exactly why I went with another T7 - reliable, no fancy electronics and a bike that I in 999/1000 situations can pick up myself. Have a great day sir.
@@JohannesDalen actually, I was only 15 yrs old at the time and used to sneak the bike out to ride around with my girlfriend. It belonged to my stepfather who was never the wiser! If you power shifted into second gear and tugged, the front wheel would come up a couple of feet. Enjoy your journey.
I have the oil cooled GSA and the new GSA, and I prefer riding the oil cooled one. It has a bigger tank, less electronics, comfier seat and doesn’t have that annoying wind noise coming up from between the fork’s.
most of the people I ride GS with have never taken their GS in the dirt... only 1 other guy I ride with has gone some of the places off-road with me. The T7 would be a much better bike for more serious off-road. The GS is good for what it can do. My fun ride is my Honda CRF250M. My crazy off-road bike is KTM450 (I hate the valve intervals) and I do not like heavy bikes. But my pure love and passion is mountain biking. lol. Ride ride and ride.
I've test driven a couple GS models for my wife's pillion comfort. I know at 6'3" ergos are great, but I kept not getting excited about it. Engine was not inspiring...but I know it would be the correct choice for long distances. Maybe its because I already have a comfortable cruiser. Or I don't want to pick up such a heavy bike.... I keep going back and forth between this and the cheaper Norden 901. Maybe the tiger 1200, but the Triumph would be the 3rd choice.
Fine First impression review. I'm fresh owner of 1250GS ADV from this June. I made a small personal competition before I decide to buy one (Africa Twin 1100, fresh new Tiger 1200 in the top version and GS) . I wasn't an adventure or off-road rider before, so it means I'm not skilled enough in this area. My first bike is Honda CB1000R, completely different bike. Now I have to say CB1000R is my second bike today. When I sat on the test GS at the seller I was really nervous. What a weight, very expensive, powerful... So in a short I was really scary to open the throtle so much, I was breaking hundreds meters before it has to be... 5 minutes after I had to scream in the helmet by emotions. What I was scary of became to be fascination. The best decision in rider's life I made to buy one 1250GS. Feelings of safety and power at the same time is very unique. But I can recommend to spend at least one day at some kind of "offroad school" or basic offroad training. Handling of the GS become much easier. I never realized I'll write any reaction on YT but I have to due to my GS impression.
Thanks a lot for sharing, it makes me so happy to hear that you are happy with your GS. It’s a fantastic bike no doubt about it. I’d absolutely love to go to a GS offroad event of some sort and get to properly ride it off road. I can imagine it being much easier to handle than what the specs say. Heavy and powerful, but in reality it’s nimble and impossible to stall. Enjoy your new bike and thanks a lot for the kind words!
@@JohannesDalen Thanks for your reply. It would be great to join your band during your trip across part of the Europe you wrote about. 😎 I think it takes also some portion of free time reserved. I have family, school kids, work, you know...
Long live the GS !!! The only bike I aspire to own.