This is why I like to watch Yammie's clips. This unique combination of prejudice, divisiveness and incompetence never fails to make me feel better about how I ride, where I ride and what I ride.
This channel continues to fail to understand the advantages of a boxer engine. Boxer engines have low centers of gravity and make heavy bikes feel light and nimble. Goldwings have flat six engines. That is why everyone who ever rode a Goldwing for the first time says "oh my God how does a motorcycle this big feel this light and maneuverable". I own and R1150R. It weighs like 480 pounds. It is a big house frau of a motorcycle. It is, however, nimble as hell in traffic. That boxer engine gives it a low center of gravity and makes it handle better than any bike it's weight should. The same is true of a GS. They handle great. Do they do as well in the dirt as a real enduro or a duel sport? No. But it is an adventure bike and no adventure bike does. Yammie just doesn't know much about motorcycles.
People forget experienced riders let the bike do the work and fight the weight less and less. Small bodied individuals can rock the 1250 with the right technique. Granted picking up 600lbs off its side is still 600lbs of difficulty.
I own an Africa twin and yes it’s heavy but get it moving and it lightens up. This track would be bread and butter for someone with experience on an adv. chugging along slowly in first in the friction zone is harder riding on any bike. Get it moving and it will just roll over the broken terrain. We ride adv’s so we can do 200km of this kind of track then stop set up a tent and have a hot dinner and a coffee sitting in a chair, after changing into shorts and a singlet. Then fly a drone around and take some awesome shots. Then do the same the next day. Too many people focus solely on the weight of the bikes. Sure a dirt bike will skip over this stuff without the rider breaking a sweat (I own an enduro too, love that kind of riding) but it’s a different tool for a different job. All that being said, the innovations in the mid weight adv range will, I believe, eventually make the bigger bikes redundant.
@@duemoto1683 great points. We aren’t fooling ourselves into thinking we have motocross 250’s. These adventure bikes are a jack of all trade type bikes. Decent at sport riding snd touring. Capable of minor off roading. They can hold a ton of gear and deal with crappy road surfaces. Kind of like buying an SUV. The weight is actually good while riding on the highway. I’ve ridden 650 dual sports on the highway and it can be challenging.
@@AndenMowe-hh5qk well, because of the cylinder heads, the bike can’t fall on your leg. What do sport tourers weigh? Does a 450-500 pound bike falling on your leg feel any better?
My dad, having had zero previous experience riding on dirt, tried to take his 1250GS adventuring, and within 45 minutes of going off the pavement, dropped it. The metal sidecase landed right on his leg. Took 3 people to get the bike back up. After he got home and the swelling went down, he put street tires back on it.
Yep, there are some good options for cheap full feature/size ADV bikes that are cheap to repair if you are learning offroad.. Benlli TRK 502x, CSC RX4 and RE Himalayan come to mind.,.. everything you want and need is stock (not a cheap bike + expensive addons like bars and bags that increase the price)
@@PetrolJunkie I’ve switched to soft cases and can’t see myself ever going back. If I was doing a trip where I was never going off road I would use the hard cases again but we always target long stretches of dirt and sand on our trips. I’ve bashed off the hard cases on two occasions on tight tracks, never been an issue with the soft panniers.
@@AndenMowe-hh5qk It depends on the type of dirt, the skill of the rider and how far he has to travel on the highway to get to the dirt. It’s all about balancing the trade offs. I just think that Sam’s father chose a bad combination.
Have you watched the GS trophy and seen what those guys and girls do with big bikes? The difference is they know how to ride!!! My hubby and I both own BMW's - he's on his 3rd 1200GS, now 1200GSA. I'm on a 750. We just returned from a 5300 m trip. We're planning our next BDR trip. He has done Australia, Syria, KSA, Morocco, Spain on his GS. We've explored the deserts of UAE and Oman on our GS bikes. We own other bikes, but our GS bikes are our long distance travel bikes. Yes, you have to be fit, you have to do training. You do not need to be big/muscular.
@@verlinswarey507 , I know 75 year old men who love their gs 1250’s . Once you get to understand the bike , you can let it work for you . You also need to know your own limitations , it is not a dirt bike , if you try to ride it like one you will end up whining like these guys do . Sure some professional riders will ride it single track and do jumps , however this bike is best as a transcontinental tourer , paved road and dirt roads .
Good video. I am 68, short, not particularly strong - and ride a 1250 GS, mostly on “light to medium Offroad”. It’s a heavy bike but, as you get used to it, learn to trust it and relax, riding becomes a lot less tiring and very enjoyable. Whenever I drop the bike, I ask for help picking it up, so that’s that. On pavement, it’s a spaceship. All in all, an awesome bike.
F850 is definitely the way to go. I have one, got an amazing deal on it, came with all the bells and whistles. In my opinion it just works like clockwork. I've owned it for nearly two years now, and I've had absolutely no problems with it. I feel it is the better version of the 1250 than the actual 1250
Good to hear 😁 is bought an 850 gsa in July but the missing chips from china delay the delivery. Mainly went for the 850 becase it was priced very good vs the tenere, triumph and honda here in switzerland. The 1250 was 10K more fully loaded. Looking forward to getring it.
@@maxflight777 I've never had any problems with it's weight. I've only dropped it once and that was because I zoned out for half a second as I hit something during a turn. It's still a beast of a machine, and one I am very comfortable with both on and offroad. Granted, I am 6'3" and 250 lbs, so it is possible that I have more of an ability to control it's weight better than most, however with my experience riding the 1250, I found it to be more difficult offroad. On road though, that's where it shines, you feel like the king of the road with the 1250 between your legs, and that wind protection is much better than the 850. I certainly enjoyed riding the highways with the 1250, but the 850 is not far off it at all. I could always just get a bigger windscreen for it and it'll perform just as good.
FFS! It’s not a bloody trail bike. It’s a mile munching adventure bike. Lighter and smaller the bike the more extreme you can go. R1250 is not expected to be a single or extreme track dirt bike. And as you note…if it starts to tilt…it’s over, as there is no way you can hold it. But for a cross continent trip you cannot beat it. 😁
I have a 2014 F800 GS, it's about 450 lbs wet weight without any accessories. I have some metal panniers, carry gear to go camping with on trips, extra fuel, water, and such. But I have to say, it really does feel like I'm riding a really big dirt bike. I have some of the Motoz Rallz tires on them, and they perform wonderfully offroad, and not too bad on the road as well. I've taken it into some pretty nasty terrain as well, and it's handled everything I've thrown at it. Honestly, the limiting factor to this motorcycle is me in some areas, mostly when it comes to a trail a motorcycle was never meant to be on in the first place lol. It's comfortable for the long trips, the furthest I've ever done was about 800 miles in a day, and it's very capable offroad if the rider has the experience and strength, I'm about 6'1 and 220, so the motorcycle is perfect for me. But I would never dream about taking a 1200 or 1250 GS into some of the places I've been, it's just too big for the riding I do and my skill level.
I have a GS and yes it's kinda miserable in those conditions, a crf 450 is much better but, you are there with a GS, not with a 450, because the 450 cannot go there except in a trailer. The GS is almost too good, scooter-like in the city, that's why everybody uses it to go to starbucks, it's the 21st century vespa.
@@Emily-ou6lq It seems that way until you actually travel with one. I have 60k km on mine, the cylinder heads are a lifesaver. They not only save your legs in almost every fall, but they never get damaged (they have a big ass solid slider for that) and the bike is easier to pick up because it never goes horizontal. Picking up the 1200gs is about the same effort (for me) as picking up my old gsxs750, perhaps a little less.
@@Emily-ou6lq seriusly? the point of Itchy boots is that she did all that with a shitty bike, men do all those roads routinely with GSs or even harleys.
@@aao331 Absolutely. I hit a 60 kg Warthog in Africa at 120kph. Walked away with one broken toe & a dead Piggie. Boxer motor intact & did a further 13000km & 47 days before seeing a doctor.
It’s all about where you’re riding, how far, tire choice, fuel capacity, and does it fit you. I’ve ridden all over the mainland US, Canada and Alaska. Most people will never need a GSA 1250, but if you’re an experienced and serious touring rider, it’s one of the very best. Smaller frame riders or those not experienced, need not apply.
@@ivanbrasla imo yes , bc of the torque and the size of the bike that makes you feel secure , but the f850 which is lighter is a far more capable offroader
@@ivanbrasla don't be lied to. Too much ego talk. 850 gsa is a better touring bike simply because it's lighter and if 850 torque is not enough. Begin to question everything about your reasoning.
@@expatbiker6598 I don't think that's a fair argument to say that an 850 GSA is objectively better. I'm a heavier rider and ride with a pillion/gear and the extra power and beefier suspension does help. Not to say that you can't do it on the smaller bike but I prefer to ride on bigger bikes when 2 up. I think it just depends on what you value in a bike.
Owned a 1250 gsa for 6 months got rid of it . Too big heavy and stressful to ride off road . 650 lbs with 8 gals of fuel loaded with bags . If you drop the bike on an incline game over .
I traded my Harley for a BMW GS 1250 Adventure a month ago and haven’t thought twice. The ride is so comfy and I think while it is off-road capable the bike is probably more of a sport tourer that can go down some clay roads. My passing power on large country roads and freeway is phenomenal with the GS, and if I miss my turn and I need to take a back clay road, I know I can handle it just fine. Another feature worth mentioning is that when I have to fill up the 7.9 gallon tank, it gives old men enough time to come over, gawk at my bike and tell me tales of yore when they rode a GS to ____ forest or national park.
no offense but, harley is overpriced, and more of a status symbol, still using ancient technology to keep the sound? modern engines are liquid cooled, and make more power with less displacement? never been a fan. I can think of many bikes I would prefer, and in some instances, I could buy 2 of them for less than 1 harley cvo. ps congrats on the gs
Haha... I bet your much happier now not riding a boat anchor .. I sold my Harley and bought a KTM 1290 . I can still wear my open face helmet and ass less chaps and do warp speed in comfort around corners !
Yes. I own one and a Yamaha Tenere 700. I love them both. But the GSA is not a European mountain pass bike. It’s a wonderfully comfortable American Highway bike which can go off well paved roads for occasional exploration. But it’s a bus compared to the Tenere. You cannot stall the tenere. The GSA has no torque low down.
I have had a GS 1200 now for 3 years. I have had my bike on that exact trail & parked right were you ended up @ the end of the video. The route you took was really super easy on my GS & when I did it my bike was fully loaded with camping gear. The GS is a fantastic bike as long as you can maintain traction on hard surfaces. It's the deep silt, the deep sand & slick mud is where the GS performs the worst. I just switched to a KTM 990 & there is literally no comparison to what the 2 bikes are capable of. That's like comparing a Cadillac & a Sand Car out @ the dunes.
But it's one of the few bikes that you can ride 1000 miles to your adventure and then go onto some pretty difficult trails. Just what I wanted. And I'm 65 years old, 5ft6 and150 lbs and lifting it isn't a problem!
The windscreen is supposed to have lock tight on the bolts and the navigation holder shouldn’t be able to come off like that. If there is anybody to blame here isn’t the shop that delivered / maintains the bikes and not BMW. Sincerely a BMW Motorad Dealer employee
After owning and riding many, many bikes in my 24 years of riding, the GS1250 is the BEST motorcycle I have ridden in my life! Waiting for the 1300GS which will be my 43rd birthday gift!
I think most of GS owners are not aware of how hard is managing the overweight on some particular dirt routes. Most of them end up disappointed on the difficulty of riding on big rocks and muddy traces. On the other hand there really skilled pilot that can handle any gs like many handle a dirt bike.
I always viewed the GS Adventure 1200/1250 as the bike made for riding on any road you may encounter. The key to that is road. The fact some good riders, like Brett T. and them, take it down the switch back is just ADV porn. On the roads, even gravel ones, they are probably really nice.
a great rider can do single track on a goldwing if he wants to, a bad rider is going to find a well maintained fire road challenging even on a ktm 250 four stroke enduro bike
I have a 2015 GSA 1200. I take it on roads tougher than what they are showing here. Not sure what they are complaining about in terms of working the bike. Plus I don't even see a load of gear, camping, etc on these bikes! With nothing on it they are easy in these conditions. Just know you've got that high center of gravity and you need to keep speed and balance (don't go too far to a side or it's going over). Plus I've dropped on rocky mountain sides and fortunately no damage. Thankfully I ride ADV with a bud and we can help each other pick up when someone goes down, and you will go down if you're truly back in it. Plus the reality is your going to ride 100s of miles of super slab to get to your back country so that big GSA with the fuel and speed, is a pleasure. And stop with the rattle complaints! That's just ignorant.
65, been riding 41 years. This summer I traded my Kawi W 800 in on a 310GS. Absolutely love it! Daily rider. Great on freeways and trails. Thanks for the vid guys!!
As an older rider who is interested in ADV bikes, the exhaustion the dude on the 1250 was feeling is a red flag to me! If I ever get an ADV bike, it will either be a middleweight or I will never ride a big one on anything tougher than a fire road.
My solution was a KTM 690 R, I love it, maybe 330 pounds wet, it will take me about anywhere I want to go and has a most favorable horsepower to weight ratio. I though long and hard about the various GS flavors as an owner of two BMW bikes, but the KTM was the answer.
I don't have a ton of dirt experience on which to base a strong opinion, but the huge ADV thing always had me scratching my head. Just.. why. Only thing I could think was it was for people who were looking for the ultimate challenge in motorcycling, but that doesn't actually seem to be who is buying them.
@@TheBigdutchster same have 21 enduro r. Love it. But I also have the gsa which is also a 21. Love em both. Thing about the gsa is you can go farther on a tank of gas than the Ktm. Those euro guys have no issues with the gsa in fact they do a lot of thing I would do
Thank you two for finally doing something off the beaten path. However you sounded like a couple little girls wining. I hope that you guys get more adventurous in the future but with more spirited riding.
BMW should build the HP2 enduro line again. Weight was 196kg wet, and with the modern LFP battery and new exhaust i had it down to around 187kg wet, with 122hp. That was sold in 2005 ! ! !
I have had a 1985 R80 G/S PD for the last 15 years and riding the dirt roads of South Africa it hasn't missed a beat. Going into those areas it helps having lo-tech something you can fix with a hammer. OK it also means that every 500km I am going through roughly 1/2 a litre of oil too. Like an old Land Rover take it easy and stick to 80km/h on the gravel and it just carries on. Handles like a plate of jelly but you're only going 80. The 1250 G/S is just so complicated - I would like to see how they are fairing in 30 years.
When I moved to Spain from Austin I had to ride a power restricted bike for the first two years. I found a very clean old R1150 GS. One day out riding TomTom told me to turn right even though the pavement tuned left. I followed it's directions and the road took me up and down 20km of dirt, gravel and rocks. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman made me think that one of these big GS will go anywhere and do anything. Maybe not so much or maybe better than a street bike but not so much better. The big BMW is heavy and while it's torque is a blessing keeping it upright can take talent and some luck in slippery conditions, especially on a steep downhill. After the two years were up I got my A license - no more restrictions. It took me about three days to plop down €20k on a 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. The new European one. If you want an adventure bike why screw around with old, slow and heavy? Go for the gusto.
Only a masochist would take the GS properly off-road. I think most people's idea of an adventure bike is tackling a trail down from the tarmac to the beach or from the tarmac up to a hot spring or similar. Especially as long-distance riders are going to have all their luggage with them. A proper off-road bike is around 300 to 500cc and will weigh about 250 to 350 lbs. Go too far from this formula and you're in for misery. The down-side is that proper off-road bikes aren't comfortable for long distances on the tarmac but you CANNOT get the best of both worlds in one bike.
I've ridden BMW GS's (1200 and 1250's) around Alaska, New Zealand, Spain, The smokey Mountains, all the American West, including all the Parks, went to Sturgis...Daytona.. Anyone that has done Alaska or New Zealand, or the Mountains in Southern Spain, probably has endured strong winds... Good luck with a lighter bike...
so you are telling us that 230kg on a 850 feel better than 260kg on a 1200 - even with a better lower point of gravity of the boxer? also lifting the boxer should be easier because it won‘t lie flat…
I was already wondering why nobody did that math, but you saved the day mate! If a 12% weight difference takes the fun out of your adventure biking, all you need is a good bit of allroad training. The End.
If you ask me the “real” adv bikes are way too much to handle off road and unless you ARE Brett Tkacs it’s not worth the slightly more comfortable on the highway. IMO. Plus complicated bikes are harder to wrench on out in the middle of nowhere.
When the R80GS came out in 1980 everybody laughed at it. It was 400lbs. A real turd in the deep sand whoops for sure. It wasn't anywhere near capable as an XL500 or XT500. Throwing an extra 100hp and 200lbs at it like it was a McD extra value meal didn't help... Since then, though, most riders just putter around so they could probably throw in another 100hp and 200lb and nobody would notice.
@@PetrolJunkie Yeah, and the Dakar crew makes use of them nicely. It's a narrow band of guys that can do anything more than plonk around on the street with them. Dakar guys are racing and need speed (power), and lots of gas or they'd all be on YZ450's like the Baja guys. I could ride a 1250 in the swamps of New Jersey, but then that's just me. As for the mere mortals out there, I have no idea why anyone would ride a barge like that.
@@PetrolJunkie Like I say, I could get an Interceptor through the woods with my skill set but it doesn't mean the bike is particularly competent at it. I think the GS is BS unless you have a very unique sort of situation...maybe you do.
@@PetrolJunkie Facts, opinions...looks like you need a dictionary. Anyway, I do think it's encouraging that someone like Yammie is drawing attention to absurdities in the bike world. Absurd adv barges, the silliness of running literbikes on the street etc.
These two yahoo’s don’t know what they are talking about. The big guy crashed his rented GS going 90mph in the dirt in dynamic pro mode. Now he’s trying to make it seem like the parts just fell off… Also, the f850 is nothing like the Tenere 700. It’s almost 100 pounds heavier. If anyone is interested in any of these bikes, go watch some professional reviews.
I actually think Honda is on the right track with their Africa twin. They need to work on the frame to try to get some weight out of it still but it seems more nimble than the GS which is exactly what I think the segment is lacking
I'm probably not the guy that would ever go down a trail like that, ... at least not for very far. I'm sure here in the mountains of BC that you might need to go through a bit of that for a viewpoint, but 99.9 percent for me would be highways and good gravel roads. An ADV bike for me would probably be more like a tall sport tourer. Either a V-Strom 650 or 1050 would be my choice.
I ride a DRZ 400 and a BMW F800GS. The GS is too heavy for rough tarrain for me. Deep sand, mud, anything over 450 pounds is no good for the majority of riders. Are there people who can handle the 1250 GS as well as all the other 600 pound monsters, yes but most can’t and are fooling themselves. On pavement and easy dirt roads they are fine. Most will not be able to handle them on single track. For me the Yamaha T7 is the best choice. I tip my hat to those who have the skill to handle the big 600 pound ADV bikes on rough stuff like the Lockart Basin on the Utah BDR in Canyonlands.
They don't call it the ultimate 'dad-bike; for nothing. I see all these GS/A's looking like they were made for the Dakar rallye, but most of them never leave the tarmac. They kinda look cool-ish, but not my cup of tea. That is why I ride BMW RT. Don't need all that pretentious sh*t.
What is the context for comparison? I have owned the 2022 R1250 GSA for just over a week now and it has been an awesome experience so far. I have dropped it on myself a few times already experimenting with things. Learned I need taller boots when the right peg sliced up my right leg on a fall to the left. Picking up the 600 lb bike hasn't been an issue yet just using a straight forward lift. Getting caught under the bike hasn't been an issue either. The boxer engine actually makes these two issues less of a problem. I even had each of my kids lift it using techniques found on the internet. Different angles would make it far more difficult for sure. For me I just wanted a road bike for commuting to work and about town that can also take some gear. Being a larger guy the BMW 1250 just had the higher weight capacity that it could handle compared to other Adv bikes. I also wanted a bike that could handle more diverse terrain than the typical road bike. Extreme off-roading just hasn't been in my plans for this bike and most street legal bikes wouldn't be the best option for that in any case.
I'm going to give you guys points for doing something different. But you're not helping yourselves with how poorly the cockpit is set up on the 1250. Not an uncommon problem to see on the big Bimmers. And it's actually easier to lift the 1250 than the 850 because of the cam covers. It's a 'feature'... Would I buy either? No. But they're a bit misrepresented here.
@@applenuggets662 As with any bike it depends how hard you wanna go. It does not have wire spoked rims and the bash plate should be upgraded if you're going through some gnarly stuff at high speed. As stock, it does perfectly fine on gravel and dirt roads even if they're not in the best condition (unmaintained). Check out Knox Armour's YT channel with the vid they did with the 390.
The biggest difference for me was not the weight but the 10k price difference when fully loaded with all extras. In th end, mony is an isksue for some of us 😉
Back in the ancient times when I bought my boke, I just bought a naked R. It does everything I need it to do. How often do most people really ride off the tarmac? Not often And if it is often enough to justify 10K, just buy a dirt bike.
@@johnkluge3421 my current bike does not even have ABS...did 35 K on it. But as I ride all year round, heated grips, ABS, TCR and stuff like that makes Swiss winters more bearable 😉 my other bikes came without all these helps not out of choice but because bikes used to be simple. Now that I can choose... Gimme warm finger at below zero temperatures. Still, the 850 is 10K cheaper with almost the same extras as the 1250.
Glad to see this video. Planning on the F850GSA for my second bike and everyone (who doesn't actually ride offroad) give me shit for not wanting the 1250.
i would give you shit for wanting the GSA over the regular GS, sure those two extra galons of fuel can come in handy but i dont think the extra weight is worth it especially if you like getting into the harder stuff
honestly if you want to commit to the heavy bike lifestyle the 1250GSA carries his weight better than the 850GSA, the story is different with the non adventure models since the weight difference is much bigger and off road every pound (or kilogram depending where you are from ) counts
I have the BMW R1200R, the naked version of the bike. Fully specced out, around 250kg. I was on very steep, narrow and curvy mountain roads (most asphalt) and it was very hard to manouver. Before I had the F800R for 6 years but now with all the tech stuff, the big one is a wonderful upgrade for me.
Yammie-surprised to hear your little “GS850 is better than T7” comment. I figured being a desert sled rider, you’d take to the T7 much more than the GS. Much lighter, much more nimble. Perhaps not as comfy long distances but I would take my T7 to places I wouldn’t dare taking any GS.
I feel your pain. True story: Im 72 but am in greart shape and have been riding a long time. Mostly BMWs and Triumphs. Bought an RT for major touring. Did one 3000 mile tour and another 2500 miles out and about. Conclusion? Greatest touring bike ever but way too heavy for me. Replacing it with a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro 200 lbs lighter and more nimble. Best of luck to him.
My dad started with a gs as a 2nd bike from a 1970 r75/6 , never been scared of the weight of the bike , he always told me something with cars and bikes " the bigger you lean with the easier it gets with the smaller one" so yeah i personaly have ridden the gs (im 17yo) heavy? Yes but not the scary heavy but definitly wont offroad that boy id rather a tenere 700 or just an mx and leave the gs for the tourinf stuff
Just because a person can afford and like to ride a big adv bike does not mean the person can ride it in gnarly trail right away. After understanding the bike, install the proper tires, the next big requirement is skill and that comes with learning and practice. There's even a proper way to learn to lift the beast up from laying down position (which rider will have to do eventually) without hurting your back (laying on the left/right side, on pavement/sand/gravel/mud, on an incline/flat surface, gosh...unfortunately I experienced all of them). Please learn from experts (MSF classes, TH-cam, etc) and practice a lot. The better the riders, the saver the road for all of us. O yes, know what TC, ABS, UBS (unified braking system) if your bike have them and what happen when you actually use them on different surfaces. Happy and safe riding every one!
The big GS/GSA is not really meant for rugged off-roading. Instead, it's a dirt road bike, not an off-road bike. With good tires (TKC80s, Anakee Wilds) it will handle dirt roads, Jeep roads, and two-track just fine. A good rider can take it on reasonable single-track across open land... it's not going to handle tight single-track through woods or on the side of a mountain. It's a great long distance tourer... I've taken mine up and down the US West Coat (from Whistler to San Diego), on interstate and two-lane highways, and on well-packed gravel forest roads. When I go to ride the forest roads here in WA state, it's the CRF-230L.
I’ve put 74xx miles on a 1250 in the first 111 days on and off road - everything but single track. I find it no harder off road than my Honda CRF300. In fact in small speed maneuvers the heavier BMW is much easier because it’s so well balanced.
There is a very good youtube channel in Spanish of a guy who's going round the world in a GS 850. He's called Charly Sinewan, and his dilemma as he goes down Central America (and tougher roads) is whether to stick to his BMW GS 850 or start using a BMW 800 for increased lightness. He does carry about 80 kg of equipment with him.
For me its middleweight but just between the t7 and the ktm 790/890. The 850 gs is way heavier, almost 60 pounds heavier tahn the 790 while carrying less fuel, and let´s not toalk about center of gravity (ktm is amazing in this). Have not had the opportunity to test the t7 but without a doubt it should be amazing offroad
I’m over 60 and not near as strong as you young guys, and I can (and have) pick up my R1200GSA. It is all about technique. But I would not want to get pinned under it, solo.! It is a heavy bike., no doubt.
Ive ridden a fair share of light through heavy adv bikes, bit brutes like the gs are more built for the highway but you can take them on surprisingly technical stuff IF you are already experienced. I learned on a klr650 and could keep up with weekend warrior two stroke riders on hard single track after about a year of riding almost every day. Big bikes are worse off road, i prefer a real dirt bike on the dirt to a touring cross. But the reason people doubt them is because most adv buyers are road people first and just want something that wont fall apart on a dirt road. Edit, in this video, these two are riding these gs's at about 5% of what the bikes themselves are capable of. Nothing wrong with that, but with enough practice they could triple their speed or just ditch the road and blast straight through that desert.
I see GS as more of a touring bike...but if I have to go to all different types of terrain with limited access to nice roads then I will take African twin...its a perfect balance for good roads and off-road but if I have to travel the world I will take the goldwing it's already proven while holding a word record
Try 8-10” deep soft sugary sand roads with ruts. That separates the men from the boys. You can do it but if you don’t gas the hell out of it those heavy bikes will just plow and drop.
IMO adv is just marketing. Too many people think they can just get on one of these and rip up the dirt. These are not trail bikes. Dry dirt, gravel or rough toads are about all you're going to do without any serious off-road experience. If you want an actual "ADV" get a dr650 and build it up.
If you want to relax and enjoy off road riding and scenery...the T7 is the biggest bike that you should consider. It will get you down the interstate to the dirt and the weight will be reasonably manageable off-road. Bigger than that is going to involve wrestling with the bike as much as riding it. And sooner or later we all hit sand or baby heads. (I dont do mud) And that is when a 1200 cc bike is too big for even a pretty good rider. I watched a guy burn the clutch out of an 1190 trying to get up Ophir Pass this last summer. Helped him pick the bike up once. Rode passed him on a CRF300L Rally. Lovely day for me. Difficult and expensive day for him.
I own a gs and a crf 250l. They are two completely different off roading tools that both have compromises. I plan on getting rid of neither. Don’t take big bikes places they shouldn’t go. That still leaves a lot of scenic off-roading to be had even on a big adv tourer like a gs.
I only ever see ADV bikes on the street, but always witth all the bags and the driver in full bodysuit cosplay. But never do I see them offroad. It's the 2 wheel version of Ford F250 deisel curb crawlers.
I've watched Long way round ( Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman) on BMW 1200 GS , loaded up to the gills , They both dropped them. It more or less took both of them to get the bike upright, to remount.
I've had a 750GS for a couple of months. At 61 and only 5'9 a 1250 or Africa Twin is out of the question. However, I'm finding that even with the low seat on the 750 I'm on the balls of my feet, but more annoyingly I'm constantly looking out for where I'm stopping and avoiding off-cambers. The kickstand even on level ground leans the bike too far imo, and it's always a bit of an effort to pull it back up. Luckily I haven't sold my honda cb500x yet, which although about the same proportions side by side, is a much easier bike to manoeuvre and stop at slow speeds. Once up to speed the GS with the extra power is much better and more comfortable, but I'm getting so stressed out by worrying about dropping it that I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for something smaller and lighter.
hard cases if you dab for a little too long it will just eviscerate your lower leg, shaping it like a toothpick. those two little ity bity bones being loaded sideways vs the 600+ lbs of momentum.
f850 is a POS compared to its competition. I would hard pass on that one. Maybe get the Triumph instead. I'm also reluctant to call those bikes middle weights considering how heavy they all are too. The 1200/1250 is the best big adventure bike on the market though. I've tried to trade it in on different motorcycles a couple of times but I just can't find anything that works as well as it does. If I could only have one motorcycle in the garage it would be a big GS. Between these two bikes though, I'd rather pick the big GS up all day long over the F. Those cylinder heads sticking out there make it a whole lot easier to pick up. Those hard bags on the big GS are a huge NO WAY IN HELL from me tho. Soft luggage all day long.
Exactly. It’s not a dual sport. However I can knock out two hundred miles of interstate to ride scenic gravel and (dry) dirt roads then head home. There’s trails I can’t go down with my skill set and tires but that’s ok. The reach and versatility is what I love. With 8 gallons of fuel I feel untethered from civilization for quite a awhile
Say whst you want. Its huge lump of technology that is total overkill. But if you happy buy it and love it. My 1985 aircooled R80GS Paris Dakar knocked spots off the new 1200. It was simple light cheap plenty of power and very light. It handled sand like a dream and could cruise at 140 all day and even 160 if you wanted. It may need a bit of a facelift but it needed no technology input. It worked perfectly and won many a Paris Dakar. Try win now on your 1200
A few months ago, two French youtubers decided to be the first peeps to rappel down a cliff with a motorcycle. They both did so on a big GS but they're the big and athletic kind so it's working well for them.
I wish you guys could just look up basic data about the bikes. The 1250 GS is not 600 lbs. It is around 550 lbs with a full tank of fuel. I am not saying that it is light, but it is not 600 lbs. Even the GSA is below 600 lbs, although not by much. So yeah, please inform yourselves properly before saying some bs...
I'd recommend a Yamaha WR250R for a dual-sport bike. It won't be so great munching the miles, but if you travel solo off-road, you'll thank me when you have to pick it up multiple times.
As a previous owner of a 250r the gs is a completely different bike. I wouldn’t even remotely attempt a interstate on a wr. The gs is not a dual sport bike it’s a adv touring bike. Completely different tools with different compromises.
Where does an adventure bike need more than 450cc? It should be enough to get any bike to 130 km/h with the right gearing, thus being highway worthy. The rest of the time, in the actual off road you are driving slow anyway, and lighter weight is beneficial. Probably better mileage too.
I agree it's a big heavy bike. But all this wining about weight says more about your capabilities then the bike's. The Tenere or 1290 for example are also heavy bikes. They are for traveling. If you want to go off-roading or dirt riding take a little dirt bike for your size. Personally I don't really see the problem, but I'm 6"1 and about 240 lbs 💪🏼 😊
Well, different strokes for different folks. I have an R1200 GSA and ride it like I stole it in what I call the same easy trails that you guys were complaining about. If you know how to ride them you do, and if you don’t know, then you don’t know. Nuff said!!!
I am sure a lot of what you guys said is aimed at getting clicks, But I am sure you guys know that these kinds of bikes except for a few usually see more touring duty than hardcore off-road duty. And for touring, they are amazing and you want a heavy bike as they are more stable. I own a V85 TT and while it could go somewhat hardcore, it is best suited for touring and light off-road and I knew that buying the bike. Same with the Liter bikes, how many actually see track duty ... =)
Quit comparing everything to the big GSs. If you want to ride lesser bikes or can’t ride the big beasts then ride what you can and quit trying to justify your pansy sensibilities. I am 5’7”, 170 wet and my R1200GS Rallye is the best bike for weekend mining road and trails exploring. Exploring with a big bike fully loaded is just stupid. I will ride all day to riding country strip my bags and excess gear then go explore. The difference on a big Beemer is I ride there comfortably and relaxed. And the safety aspect of the visibility of a big bike that can’t be tossed around by wind gusts speaks for itself. Ride what you got if it works for you, otherwise find what does work.
A Honda Monkey might do this ADV but the the GS1250 is also made for long distance highway riding …. If you only wanted an dirt bike then you should buy CRF 250 will do… the reviewers here are just forgetting why that bikes are purpose built and not all bike are good in all circumstances unless they are a few standard bikes that you need to pick and choose the mods to suit your days ride….
I just got done riding an R1250 GSA up and down Sani Pass from South Africa into Lesotho and back. Alone. And I had to pick up the bike alone twice because there are hairpin switchbacks at the very top that made me miss the 21-in front tire on The KTM 790 I have at home. So Yes the GSA is huge and the 19-in front wheel is a downside off-road. But if you know what you're doing, you can ride a GSA just about anywhere.
I get you want to talk about BMW and the Adventure segment due to it is the largest segment and growing. But dude, stick to what you know. Not knowing if the 1250 has 19 or 21 inch front wheel? Really?
They're great looking bikes, but this is exactly why I love my KTM 390 ADV. Very nimble, and I never have to worry about hitting my skid plate, because that would require both wheels on the ground.
This is why I like to watch Yammie's clips. This unique combination of prejudice, divisiveness and incompetence never fails to make me feel better about how I ride, where I ride and what I ride.
😂👍
This channel continues to fail to understand the advantages of a boxer engine. Boxer engines have low centers of gravity and make heavy bikes feel light and nimble. Goldwings have flat six engines. That is why everyone who ever rode a Goldwing for the first time says "oh my God how does a motorcycle this big feel this light and maneuverable". I own and R1150R. It weighs like 480 pounds. It is a big house frau of a motorcycle. It is, however, nimble as hell in traffic. That boxer engine gives it a low center of gravity and makes it handle better than any bike it's weight should. The same is true of a GS. They handle great. Do they do as well in the dirt as a real enduro or a duel sport? No. But it is an adventure bike and no adventure bike does. Yammie just doesn't know much about motorcycles.
@@johnkluge3421 Tell that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.
@@BoneyMB I never watched that show. Again, adventure bikes are not dirt bikes. They are all too heavy to be real duel sport or enduro
Yammie is looking for attention...nothing more...
Create an issue...and let it flows...
People forget experienced riders let the bike do the work and fight the weight less and less. Small bodied individuals can rock the 1250 with the right technique. Granted picking up 600lbs off its side is still 600lbs of difficulty.
Yeah true
Believe it or not, some of us GS owners actually know how heavy it is and are ok with it.
Its actually fun
People don't understand that the 1200 has all the weight way down, like a Harley. It feels lighter than much smaller bikes.
I own an Africa twin and yes it’s heavy but get it moving and it lightens up. This track would be bread and butter for someone with experience on an adv. chugging along slowly in first in the friction zone is harder riding on any bike. Get it moving and it will just roll over the broken terrain.
We ride adv’s so we can do 200km of this kind of track then stop set up a tent and have a hot dinner and a coffee sitting in a chair, after changing into shorts and a singlet. Then fly a drone around and take some awesome shots. Then do the same the next day.
Too many people focus solely on the weight of the bikes. Sure a dirt bike will skip over this stuff without the rider breaking a sweat (I own an enduro too, love that kind of riding) but it’s a different tool for a different job.
All that being said, the innovations in the mid weight adv range will, I believe, eventually make the bigger bikes redundant.
@@duemoto1683 great points. We aren’t fooling ourselves into thinking we have motocross 250’s. These adventure bikes are a jack of all trade type bikes. Decent at sport riding snd touring. Capable of minor off roading. They can hold a ton of gear and deal with crappy road surfaces. Kind of like buying an SUV. The weight is actually good while riding on the highway. I’ve ridden 650 dual sports on the highway and it can be challenging.
@@AndenMowe-hh5qk well, because of the cylinder heads, the bike can’t fall on your leg. What do sport tourers weigh? Does a 450-500 pound bike falling on your leg feel any better?
My dad, having had zero previous experience riding on dirt, tried to take his 1250GS adventuring, and within 45 minutes of going off the pavement, dropped it. The metal sidecase landed right on his leg. Took 3 people to get the bike back up. After he got home and the swelling went down, he put street tires back on it.
Yep, there are some good options for cheap full feature/size ADV bikes that are cheap to repair if you are learning offroad.. Benlli TRK 502x, CSC RX4 and RE Himalayan come to mind.,.. everything you want and need is stock (not a cheap bike + expensive addons like bars and bags that increase the price)
@@PetrolJunkie I use soft on the sides and a hard case up top. I just lock the side ones on and run a security cord through the loops for security.
Zero experience on dirt + 1250gs + side cases = bad idea. Not the bike’s fault.
@@PetrolJunkie I’ve switched to soft cases and can’t see myself ever going back. If I was doing a trip where I was never going off road I would use the hard cases again but we always target long stretches of dirt and sand on our trips. I’ve bashed off the hard cases on two occasions on tight tracks, never been an issue with the soft panniers.
@@AndenMowe-hh5qk It depends on the type of dirt, the skill of the rider and how far he has to travel on the highway to get to the dirt. It’s all about balancing the trade offs. I just think that Sam’s father chose a bad combination.
Have you watched the GS trophy and seen what those guys and girls do with big bikes? The difference is they know how to ride!!! My hubby and I both own BMW's - he's on his 3rd 1200GS, now 1200GSA. I'm on a 750. We just returned from a 5300 m trip. We're planning our next BDR trip. He has done Australia, Syria, KSA, Morocco, Spain on his GS. We've explored the deserts of UAE and Oman on our GS bikes. We own other bikes, but our GS bikes are our long distance travel bikes. Yes, you have to be fit, you have to do training. You do not need to be big/muscular.
I always like hearing from people who are able to handle these beasts. They seem like a handful.
@@verlinswarey507 , I know 75 year old men who love their gs 1250’s . Once you get to understand the bike , you can let it work for you . You also need to know your own limitations , it is not a dirt bike , if you try to ride it like one you will end up whining like these guys do . Sure some professional riders will ride it single track and do jumps , however this bike is best as a transcontinental tourer , paved road and dirt roads .
Good video. I am 68, short, not particularly strong - and ride a 1250 GS, mostly on “light to medium Offroad”. It’s a heavy bike but, as you get used to it, learn to trust it and relax, riding becomes a lot less tiring and very enjoyable. Whenever I drop the bike, I ask for help picking it up, so that’s that. On pavement, it’s a spaceship. All in all, an awesome bike.
F850 is definitely the way to go. I have one, got an amazing deal on it, came with all the bells and whistles. In my opinion it just works like clockwork. I've owned it for nearly two years now, and I've had absolutely no problems with it. I feel it is the better version of the 1250 than the actual 1250
Good to hear 😁 is bought an 850 gsa in July but the missing chips from china delay the delivery. Mainly went for the 850 becase it was priced very good vs the tenere, triumph and honda here in switzerland. The 1250 was 10K more fully loaded. Looking forward to getring it.
Still shit on the dirt though ! Too heavy
@@maxflight777 I've never had any problems with it's weight. I've only dropped it once and that was because I zoned out for half a second as I hit something during a turn. It's still a beast of a machine, and one I am very comfortable with both on and offroad. Granted, I am 6'3" and 250 lbs, so it is possible that I have more of an ability to control it's weight better than most, however with my experience riding the 1250, I found it to be more difficult offroad. On road though, that's where it shines, you feel like the king of the road with the 1250 between your legs, and that wind protection is much better than the 850. I certainly enjoyed riding the highways with the 1250, but the 850 is not far off it at all. I could always just get a bigger windscreen for it and it'll perform just as good.
FFS! It’s not a bloody trail bike. It’s a mile munching adventure bike. Lighter and smaller the bike the more extreme you can go. R1250 is not expected to be a single or extreme track dirt bike. And as you note…if it starts to tilt…it’s over, as there is no way you can hold it. But for a cross continent trip you cannot beat it. 😁
True man! My father owns gs 1200
and it's feather light ⚡ @michael scott
I have a 2014 F800 GS, it's about 450 lbs wet weight without any accessories. I have some metal panniers, carry gear to go camping with on trips, extra fuel, water, and such. But I have to say, it really does feel like I'm riding a really big dirt bike. I have some of the Motoz Rallz tires on them, and they perform wonderfully offroad, and not too bad on the road as well. I've taken it into some pretty nasty terrain as well, and it's handled everything I've thrown at it. Honestly, the limiting factor to this motorcycle is me in some areas, mostly when it comes to a trail a motorcycle was never meant to be on in the first place lol. It's comfortable for the long trips, the furthest I've ever done was about 800 miles in a day, and it's very capable offroad if the rider has the experience and strength, I'm about 6'1 and 220, so the motorcycle is perfect for me. But I would never dream about taking a 1200 or 1250 GS into some of the places I've been, it's just too big for the riding I do and my skill level.
I have a GS and yes it's kinda miserable in those conditions, a crf 450 is much better but, you are there with a GS, not with a 450, because the 450 cannot go there except in a trailer.
The GS is almost too good, scooter-like in the city, that's why everybody uses it to go to starbucks, it's the 21st century vespa.
@@Emily-ou6lq if you think a GS is terrible offroad, try a crf onroad, is much worse.
@@Emily-ou6lq It seems that way until you actually travel with one. I have 60k km on mine, the cylinder heads are a lifesaver. They not only save your legs in almost every fall, but they never get damaged (they have a big ass solid slider for that) and the bike is easier to pick up because it never goes horizontal. Picking up the 1200gs is about the same effort (for me) as picking up my old gsxs750, perhaps a little less.
@@Emily-ou6lq seriusly? the point of Itchy boots is that she did all that with a shitty bike, men do all those roads routinely with GSs or even harleys.
@@aao331 Absolutely. I hit a 60 kg Warthog in Africa at 120kph. Walked away with one broken toe & a dead Piggie. Boxer motor intact & did a further 13000km & 47 days before seeing a doctor.
@@Emily-ou6lq I've done a lot of her routes with ease on my 1200 gsa and yes some were slower. I suspect you have no experience.
It’s all about where you’re riding, how far, tire choice, fuel capacity, and does it fit you. I’ve ridden all over the mainland US, Canada and Alaska. Most people will never need a GSA 1250, but if you’re an experienced and serious touring rider, it’s one of the very best.
Smaller frame riders or those not experienced, need not apply.
Would you say that the 1250 is more of a touring bike than the 850?
@@ivanbrasla imo yes , bc of the torque and the size of the bike that makes you feel secure , but the f850 which is lighter is a far more capable offroader
@@ivanbrasla don't be lied to. Too much ego talk. 850 gsa is a better touring bike simply because it's lighter and if 850 torque is not enough. Begin to question everything about your reasoning.
@@expatbiker6598 I don't think that's a fair argument to say that an 850 GSA is objectively better. I'm a heavier rider and ride with a pillion/gear and the extra power and beefier suspension does help. Not to say that you can't do it on the smaller bike but I prefer to ride on bigger bikes when 2 up. I think it just depends on what you value in a bike.
Tell that to Jocelin Snow..
Owned a 1250 gsa for 6 months got rid of it . Too big heavy and stressful to ride off road . 650 lbs with 8 gals of fuel loaded with bags . If you drop the bike on an incline game over .
I traded my Harley for a BMW GS 1250 Adventure a month ago and haven’t thought twice. The ride is so comfy and I think while it is off-road capable the bike is probably more of a sport tourer that can go down some clay roads. My passing power on large country roads and freeway is phenomenal with the GS, and if I miss my turn and I need to take a back clay road, I know I can handle it just fine.
Another feature worth mentioning is that when I have to fill up the 7.9 gallon tank, it gives old men enough time to come over, gawk at my bike and tell me tales of yore when they rode a GS to ____ forest or national park.
no offense but, harley is overpriced, and more of a status symbol, still using ancient technology to keep the sound?
modern engines are liquid cooled, and make more power with less displacement?
never been a fan.
I can think of many bikes I would prefer, and in some instances, I could buy 2 of them for less than 1 harley cvo.
ps congrats on the gs
Haha... I bet your much happier now not riding a boat anchor .. I sold my Harley and bought a KTM 1290 .
I can still wear my open face helmet and ass less chaps and do warp speed in comfort around corners !
You haven't thought twice because you finally have a bike that was engineered this century. Any bike is an upgrade from a Harley.
Yes. I own one and a Yamaha Tenere 700. I love them both. But the GSA is not a European mountain pass bike. It’s a wonderfully comfortable American Highway bike which can go off well paved roads for occasional exploration. But it’s a bus compared to the Tenere. You cannot stall the tenere. The GSA has no torque low down.
Very well said. The gs is a adv touring bike. Not a dual sport in the least
I have had a GS 1200 now for 3 years. I have had my bike on that exact trail & parked right were you ended up @ the end of the video. The route you took was really super easy on my GS & when I did it my bike was fully loaded with camping gear.
The GS is a fantastic bike as long as you can maintain traction on hard surfaces. It's the deep silt, the deep sand & slick mud is where the GS performs the worst. I just switched to a KTM 990 & there is literally no comparison to what the 2 bikes are capable of. That's like comparing a Cadillac & a Sand Car out @ the dunes.
But it's one of the few bikes that you can ride 1000 miles to your adventure and then go onto some pretty difficult trails. Just what I wanted. And I'm 65 years old, 5ft6 and150 lbs and lifting it isn't a problem!
The windscreen is supposed to have lock tight on the bolts and the navigation holder shouldn’t be able to come off like that. If there is anybody to blame here isn’t the shop that delivered / maintains the bikes and not BMW.
Sincerely a BMW Motorad Dealer employee
Spite yeeted the bike on a sandy curve at high speeds. I'm surprised it still looks as good as it does.
After owning and riding many, many bikes in my 24 years of riding, the GS1250 is the BEST motorcycle I have ridden in my life! Waiting for the 1300GS which will be my 43rd birthday gift!
I think most of GS owners are not aware of how hard is managing the overweight on some particular dirt routes. Most of them end up disappointed on the difficulty of riding on big rocks and muddy traces. On the other hand there really skilled pilot that can handle any gs like many handle a dirt bike.
This felt like the highest production shit post ive ever seen
👍👍
I always viewed the GS Adventure 1200/1250 as the bike made for riding on any road you may encounter. The key to that is road. The fact some good riders, like Brett T. and them, take it down the switch back is just ADV porn. On the roads, even gravel ones, they are probably really nice.
They need car trails haha, and what's the enjoyment not being able to go out into the woods.
a great rider can do single track on a goldwing if he wants to, a bad rider is going to find a well maintained fire road challenging even on a ktm 250 four stroke enduro bike
Ill show you a lot of roads that will make you and your GS think twice big bikes
@@manoloorz so true
I have a 2015 GSA 1200. I take it on roads tougher than what they are showing here. Not sure what they are complaining about in terms of working the bike. Plus I don't even see a load of gear, camping, etc on these bikes! With nothing on it they are easy in these conditions. Just know you've got that high center of gravity and you need to keep speed and balance (don't go too far to a side or it's going over). Plus I've dropped on rocky mountain sides and fortunately no damage. Thankfully I ride ADV with a bud and we can help each other pick up when someone goes down, and you will go down if you're truly back in it. Plus the reality is your going to ride 100s of miles of super slab to get to your back country so that big GSA with the fuel and speed, is a pleasure. And stop with the rattle complaints! That's just ignorant.
65, been riding 41 years. This summer I traded my Kawi W 800 in on a 310GS. Absolutely love it! Daily rider. Great on freeways and trails. Thanks for the vid guys!!
As an older rider who is interested in ADV bikes, the exhaustion the dude on the 1250 was feeling is a red flag to me! If I ever get an ADV bike, it will either be a middleweight or I will never ride a big one on anything tougher than a fire road.
Even as a dude in his 20s I feel that. I would much rather ride a 450 pound ADV than a 600 pound one.
My solution was a KTM 690 R, I love it, maybe 330 pounds wet, it will take me about anywhere I want to go and has a most favorable horsepower to weight ratio. I though long and hard about the various GS flavors as an owner of two BMW bikes, but the KTM was the answer.
I don't have a ton of dirt experience on which to base a strong opinion, but the huge ADV thing always had me scratching my head. Just.. why. Only thing I could think was it was for people who were looking for the ultimate challenge in motorcycling, but that doesn't actually seem to be who is buying them.
@@kleinbottled79 personally, I probably like the idea of adventure riding much more than I would have time to really do it.
@@TheBigdutchster same have 21 enduro r. Love it. But I also have the gsa which is also a 21. Love em both.
Thing about the gsa is you can go farther on a tank of gas than the Ktm.
Those euro guys have no issues with the gsa in fact they do a lot of thing I would do
Thank you two for finally doing something off the beaten path. However you sounded like a couple little girls wining. I hope that you guys get more adventurous in the future but with more spirited riding.
Boom!
Yeah, that how one feel riding that bike
This sums up my immediate thoughts on this video. What a bunch of whining.
BMW should build the HP2 enduro line again. Weight was 196kg wet, and with the modern LFP battery and new exhaust i had it down to around 187kg wet, with 122hp.
That was sold in 2005 ! ! !
I'll keep my 1250 GS, thanks
I have had a 1985 R80 G/S PD for the last 15 years and riding the dirt roads of South Africa it hasn't missed a beat. Going into those areas it helps having lo-tech something you can fix with a hammer. OK it also means that every 500km I am going through roughly 1/2 a litre of oil too. Like an old Land Rover take it easy and stick to 80km/h on the gravel and it just carries on. Handles like a plate of jelly but you're only going 80. The 1250 G/S is just so complicated - I would like to see how they are fairing in 30 years.
When I moved to Spain from Austin I had to ride a power restricted bike for the first two years. I found a very clean old R1150 GS. One day out riding TomTom told me to turn right even though the pavement tuned left. I followed it's directions and the road took me up and down 20km of dirt, gravel and rocks. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman made me think that one of these big GS will go anywhere and do anything. Maybe not so much or maybe better than a street bike but not so much better. The big BMW is heavy and while it's torque is a blessing keeping it upright can take talent and some luck in slippery conditions, especially on a steep downhill.
After the two years were up I got my A license - no more restrictions. It took me about three days to plop down €20k on a 2021 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. The new European one. If you want an adventure bike why screw around with old, slow and heavy? Go for the gusto.
Funny how 60 year old men ride the 1250s everywhere, and don't complain like the way these guys are. I can tell you who the real men are.
Only a masochist would take the GS properly off-road. I think most people's idea of an adventure bike is tackling a trail down from the tarmac to the beach or from the tarmac up to a hot spring or similar. Especially as long-distance riders are going to have all their luggage with them. A proper off-road bike is around 300 to 500cc and will weigh about 250 to 350 lbs. Go too far from this formula and you're in for misery. The down-side is that proper off-road bikes aren't comfortable for long distances on the tarmac but you CANNOT get the best of both worlds in one bike.
I've ridden BMW GS's (1200 and 1250's) around Alaska, New Zealand, Spain, The smokey Mountains, all the American West, including all the Parks, went to Sturgis...Daytona..
Anyone that has done Alaska or New Zealand, or the Mountains in Southern Spain, probably has endured strong winds... Good luck with a lighter bike...
so you are telling us that 230kg on a 850 feel better than 260kg on a 1200 - even with a better lower point of gravity of the boxer? also lifting the boxer should be easier because it won‘t lie flat…
I was already wondering why nobody did that math, but you saved the day mate! If a 12% weight difference takes the fun out of your adventure biking, all you need is a good bit of allroad training. The End.
If you ask me the “real” adv bikes are way too much to handle off road and unless you ARE Brett Tkacs it’s not worth the slightly more comfortable on the highway. IMO. Plus complicated bikes are harder to wrench on out in the middle of nowhere.
I’ve got an F800 GSA and it’s going to stay in the family for a LOOOOOOONG time…
When the R80GS came out in 1980 everybody laughed at it. It was 400lbs. A real turd in the deep sand whoops for sure. It wasn't anywhere near capable as an XL500 or XT500. Throwing an extra 100hp and 200lbs at it like it was a McD extra value meal didn't help... Since then, though, most riders just putter around so they could probably throw in another 100hp and 200lb and nobody would notice.
@@PetrolJunkie Yeah, and the Dakar crew makes use of them nicely. It's a narrow band of guys that can do anything more than plonk around on the street with them. Dakar guys are racing and need speed (power), and lots of gas or they'd all be on YZ450's like the Baja guys. I could ride a 1250 in the swamps of New Jersey, but then that's just me. As for the mere mortals out there, I have no idea why anyone would ride a barge like that.
@@PetrolJunkie Like I say, I could get an Interceptor through the woods with my skill set but it doesn't mean the bike is particularly competent at it. I think the GS is BS unless you have a very unique sort of situation...maybe you do.
@@PetrolJunkie Facts, opinions...looks like you need a dictionary. Anyway, I do think it's encouraging that someone like Yammie is drawing attention to absurdities in the bike world. Absurd adv barges, the silliness of running literbikes on the street etc.
These two yahoo’s don’t know what they are talking about. The big guy crashed his rented GS going 90mph in the dirt in dynamic pro mode. Now he’s trying to make it seem like the parts just fell off… Also, the f850 is nothing like the Tenere 700. It’s almost 100 pounds heavier. If anyone is interested in any of these bikes, go watch some professional reviews.
I actually think Honda is on the right track with their Africa twin. They need to work on the frame to try to get some weight out of it still but it seems more nimble than the GS which is exactly what I think the segment is lacking
Honda had the Africa Twin right years ago, with the 750 V-twin.
@@darkiee69 Rumors have Honda releasing an 850 Africa Twin within a year
@@darkiee69 I said this before watching the video and finding out that BMW makes a mid weight.
I'm probably not the guy that would ever go down a trail like that, ... at least not for very far. I'm sure here in the mountains of BC that you might need to go through a bit of that for a viewpoint, but 99.9 percent for me would be highways and good gravel roads. An ADV bike for me would probably be more like a tall sport tourer. Either a V-Strom 650 or 1050 would be my choice.
I ride a DRZ 400 and a BMW F800GS. The GS is too heavy for rough tarrain for me. Deep sand, mud, anything over 450 pounds is no good for the majority of riders. Are there people who can handle the 1250 GS as well as all the other 600 pound monsters, yes but most can’t and are fooling themselves.
On pavement and easy dirt roads they are fine. Most will not be able to handle them on single track.
For me the Yamaha T7 is the best choice.
I tip my hat to those who have the skill to handle the big 600 pound ADV bikes on rough stuff like the Lockart Basin on the Utah BDR in Canyonlands.
Gets to be less work with a little more experience. Its that death grip on the bars that wears you out. Also knowing when to stand or sit.
They don't call it the ultimate 'dad-bike; for nothing. I see all these GS/A's looking like they were made for the Dakar rallye, but most of them never leave the tarmac. They kinda look cool-ish, but not my cup of tea. That is why I ride BMW RT. Don't need all that pretentious sh*t.
What is the context for comparison? I have owned the 2022 R1250 GSA for just over a week now and it has been an awesome experience so far. I have dropped it on myself a few times already experimenting with things. Learned I need taller boots when the right peg sliced up my right leg on a fall to the left. Picking up the 600 lb bike hasn't been an issue yet just using a straight forward lift. Getting caught under the bike hasn't been an issue either. The boxer engine actually makes these two issues less of a problem. I even had each of my kids lift it using techniques found on the internet. Different angles would make it far more difficult for sure. For me I just wanted a road bike for commuting to work and about town that can also take some gear. Being a larger guy the BMW 1250 just had the higher weight capacity that it could handle compared to other Adv bikes. I also wanted a bike that could handle more diverse terrain than the typical road bike. Extreme off-roading just hasn't been in my plans for this bike and most street legal bikes wouldn't be the best option for that in any case.
I'm going to give you guys points for doing something different. But you're not helping yourselves with how poorly the cockpit is set up on the 1250. Not an uncommon problem to see on the big Bimmers.
And it's actually easier to lift the 1250 than the 850 because of the cam covers. It's a 'feature'... Would I buy either? No. But they're a bit misrepresented here.
Well said. I prefer picking up my gs 1200 to my old kLR anyway.
I have a KTM 390 Adv and I can't really imagine having a bigger bike than that the places I go...
I’m looking to get an adventure bike, is the ktm 390 adventure a good off-road bike?
@@applenuggets662 FortNine made a video about it. It's kind of street biased I guess
@@applenuggets662 As with any bike it depends how hard you wanna go. It does not have wire spoked rims and the bash plate should be upgraded if you're going through some gnarly stuff at high speed. As stock, it does perfectly fine on gravel and dirt roads even if they're not in the best condition (unmaintained). Check out Knox Armour's YT channel with the vid they did with the 390.
The biggest difference for me was not the weight but the 10k price difference when fully loaded with all extras. In th end, mony is an isksue for some of us 😉
Back in the ancient times when I bought my boke, I just bought a naked R. It does everything I need it to do. How often do most people really ride off the tarmac? Not often And if it is often enough to justify 10K, just buy a dirt bike.
@@johnkluge3421 my current bike does not even have ABS...did 35 K on it. But as I ride all year round, heated grips, ABS, TCR and stuff like that makes Swiss winters more bearable 😉 my other bikes came without all these helps not out of choice but because bikes used to be simple. Now that I can choose... Gimme warm finger at below zero temperatures. Still, the 850 is 10K cheaper with almost the same extras as the 1250.
Glad to see this video. Planning on the F850GSA for my second bike and everyone (who doesn't actually ride offroad) give me shit for not wanting the 1250.
i would give you shit for wanting the GSA over the regular GS, sure those two extra galons of fuel can come in handy but i dont think the extra weight is worth it especially if you like getting into the harder stuff
honestly if you want to commit to the heavy bike lifestyle the 1250GSA carries his weight better than the 850GSA, the story is different with the non adventure models since the weight difference is much bigger and off road every pound (or kilogram depending where you are from ) counts
I have the BMW R1200R, the naked version of the bike. Fully specced out, around 250kg. I was on very steep, narrow and curvy mountain roads (most asphalt) and it was very hard to manouver. Before I had the F800R for 6 years but now with all the tech stuff, the big one is a wonderful upgrade for me.
2:30 thats the professionalism Im subbing this channel for
Yeah, they have room to grow as journalists...
Yammie-surprised to hear your little “GS850 is better than T7” comment. I figured being a desert sled rider, you’d take to the T7 much more than the GS. Much lighter, much more nimble. Perhaps not as comfy long distances but I would take my T7 to places I wouldn’t dare taking any GS.
My dad. 50. Hasn't ridden in 25 years. Has only ridden a 125 for 5 years. Wants a 1200gs. He's fucked
I feel your pain. True story: Im 72 but am in greart shape and have been riding a long time. Mostly BMWs and Triumphs. Bought an RT for major touring. Did one 3000 mile tour and another 2500 miles out and about. Conclusion? Greatest touring bike ever but way too heavy for me. Replacing it with a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro 200 lbs lighter and more nimble. Best of luck to him.
@@ginogina4589 thanks mate. I've just showed him a klr 650 aswell. He says he likes both of them.
My dad started with a gs as a 2nd bike from a 1970 r75/6 , never been scared of the weight of the bike , he always told me something with cars and bikes " the bigger you lean with the easier it gets with the smaller one" so yeah i personaly have ridden the gs (im 17yo) heavy? Yes but not the scary heavy but definitly wont offroad that boy id rather a tenere 700 or just an mx and leave the gs for the tourinf stuff
@@fiestahimself9135 he now really likes the klr 650
@@alfiejones4253 not fan of kawas but heard its like the t7 but a bit more road oriented
I never really considered the big ADV bikes, too heavy. Happy with the Tiger 900 Rally Pro.
Just because a person can afford and like to ride a big adv bike does not mean the person can ride it in gnarly trail right away. After understanding the bike, install the proper tires, the next big requirement is skill and that comes with learning and practice. There's even a proper way to learn to lift the beast up from laying down position (which rider will have to do eventually) without hurting your back (laying on the left/right side, on pavement/sand/gravel/mud, on an incline/flat surface, gosh...unfortunately I experienced all of them). Please learn from experts (MSF classes, TH-cam, etc) and practice a lot. The better the riders, the saver the road for all of us. O yes, know what TC, ABS, UBS (unified braking system) if your bike have them and what happen when you actually use them on different surfaces. Happy and safe riding every one!
The big GS/GSA is not really meant for rugged off-roading. Instead, it's a dirt road bike, not an off-road bike. With good tires (TKC80s, Anakee Wilds) it will handle dirt roads, Jeep roads, and two-track just fine. A good rider can take it on reasonable single-track across open land... it's not going to handle tight single-track through woods or on the side of a mountain. It's a great long distance tourer... I've taken mine up and down the US West Coat (from Whistler to San Diego), on interstate and two-lane highways, and on well-packed gravel forest roads. When I go to ride the forest roads here in WA state, it's the CRF-230L.
I’ve put 74xx miles on a 1250 in the first 111 days on and off road - everything but single track. I find it no harder off road than my Honda CRF300. In fact in small speed maneuvers the heavier BMW is much easier because it’s so well balanced.
There is a very good youtube channel in Spanish of a guy who's going round the world in a GS 850. He's called Charly Sinewan, and his dilemma as he goes down Central America (and tougher roads) is whether to stick to his BMW GS 850 or start using a BMW 800 for increased lightness. He does carry about 80 kg of equipment with him.
Who are we really trying to kid here, you want a dual sport for these roads, not a GS.
Very true. For the trails that's 200 miles from my house. I'd definitely steer clear of a dual sport. I also wouldn't buy a GS
For me its middleweight but just between the t7 and the ktm 790/890. The 850 gs is way heavier, almost 60 pounds heavier tahn the 790 while carrying less fuel, and let´s not toalk about center of gravity (ktm is amazing in this). Have not had the opportunity to test the t7 but without a doubt it should be amazing offroad
Spot on! Moving the center of gravity lower like the 1250 boxer while shaving 150 lbs of weight from a GSA makes the 890 a dream to ride
I’m over 60 and not near as strong as you young guys, and I can (and have) pick up my R1200GSA. It is all about technique. But I would not want to get pinned under it, solo.! It is a heavy bike., no doubt.
Ive ridden a fair share of light through heavy adv bikes, bit brutes like the gs are more built for the highway but you can take them on surprisingly technical stuff IF you are already experienced. I learned on a klr650 and could keep up with weekend warrior two stroke riders on hard single track after about a year of riding almost every day. Big bikes are worse off road, i prefer a real dirt bike on the dirt to a touring cross. But the reason people doubt them is because most adv buyers are road people first and just want something that wont fall apart on a dirt road.
Edit, in this video, these two are riding these gs's at about 5% of what the bikes themselves are capable of. Nothing wrong with that, but with enough practice they could triple their speed or just ditch the road and blast straight through that desert.
yes it's pretty sad seeing them pussyfoot down a trail like its a big deal
Only voice i am hearing while riding a big ADV is "ohh no"
I see GS as more of a touring bike...but if I have to go to all different types of terrain with limited access to nice roads then I will take African twin...its a perfect balance for good roads and off-road but if I have to travel the world I will take the goldwing it's already proven while holding a word record
Try 8-10” deep soft sugary sand roads with ruts. That separates the men from the boys. You can do it but if you don’t gas the hell out of it those heavy bikes will just plow and drop.
IMO adv is just marketing. Too many people think they can just get on one of these and rip up the dirt. These are not trail bikes. Dry dirt, gravel or rough toads are about all you're going to do without any serious off-road experience.
If you want an actual "ADV" get a dr650 and build it up.
Man just seat in your bike, and when you have really hard terrain you get up
Real life my man
I see tons of guys with loaded BMW's, no mud, no miles, all the gear, just go to Starbucks.
I see most of them in highway cruising
If you want to relax and enjoy off road riding and scenery...the T7 is the biggest bike that you should consider. It will get you down the interstate to the dirt and the weight will be reasonably manageable off-road. Bigger than that is going to involve wrestling with the bike as much as riding it. And sooner or later we all hit sand or baby heads. (I dont do mud) And that is when a 1200 cc bike is too big for even a pretty good rider. I watched a guy burn the clutch out of an 1190 trying to get up Ophir Pass this last summer. Helped him pick the bike up once. Rode passed him on a CRF300L Rally. Lovely day for me. Difficult and expensive day for him.
I own a gs and a crf 250l. They are two completely different off roading tools that both have compromises. I plan on getting rid of neither. Don’t take big bikes places they shouldn’t go. That still leaves a lot of scenic off-roading to be had even on a big adv tourer like a gs.
I only ever see ADV bikes on the street, but always witth all the bags and the driver in full bodysuit cosplay. But never do I see them offroad. It's the 2 wheel version of Ford F250 deisel curb crawlers.
I'd complete every single objective in normal difficulty first
I've watched Long way round ( Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman) on BMW 1200 GS , loaded up to the gills , They both dropped them. It more or less took both of them to get the bike upright, to remount.
That why you should ride with a buddy, unless you have a DRZ400.
I've had a 750GS for a couple of months. At 61 and only 5'9 a 1250 or Africa Twin is out of the question.
However, I'm finding that even with the low seat on the 750 I'm on the balls of my feet, but more annoyingly I'm constantly looking out for where I'm stopping and avoiding off-cambers. The kickstand even on level ground leans the bike too far imo, and it's always a bit of an effort to pull it back up. Luckily I haven't sold my honda cb500x yet, which although about the same proportions side by side, is a much easier bike to manoeuvre and stop at slow speeds. Once up to speed the GS with the extra power is much better and more comfortable, but I'm getting so stressed out by worrying about dropping it that I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for something smaller and lighter.
Explains why GS owners are serious minded people, it takes some focus and attention to ride that bike. Much respect to you guys
hard cases if you dab for a little too long it will just eviscerate your lower leg, shaping it like a toothpick. those two little ity bity bones being loaded sideways vs the 600+ lbs of momentum.
I have a BMW F750GS, and I think it's way more top heavy than the 1250GS with that boxer engine keeping all of it's weight down low.
Heavy is good in a 40mph crosswind. Weight is more of an issue for smaller folk.
f850 is a POS compared to its competition. I would hard pass on that one. Maybe get the Triumph instead. I'm also reluctant to call those bikes middle weights considering how heavy they all are too.
The 1200/1250 is the best big adventure bike on the market though. I've tried to trade it in on different motorcycles a couple of times but I just can't find anything that works as well as it does. If I could only have one motorcycle in the garage it would be a big GS.
Between these two bikes though, I'd rather pick the big GS up all day long over the F. Those cylinder heads sticking out there make it a whole lot easier to pick up.
Those hard bags on the big GS are a huge NO WAY IN HELL from me tho. Soft luggage all day long.
You couldnt add the specs of the smaller bmw in post? come on doodes!
You guys don’t get it do you? It’s a jack of all trades, master of none. Of course it’s compromised. But it’s the best compromise out there by far.
Exactly. It’s not a dual sport. However I can knock out two hundred miles of interstate to ride scenic gravel and (dry) dirt roads then head home. There’s trails I can’t go down with my skill set and tires but that’s ok. The reach and versatility is what I love. With 8 gallons of fuel I feel untethered from civilization for quite a awhile
Say whst you want. Its huge lump of technology that is total overkill. But if you happy buy it and love it. My 1985 aircooled R80GS Paris Dakar knocked spots off the new 1200. It was simple light cheap plenty of power and very light. It handled sand like a dream and could cruise at 140 all day and even 160 if you wanted. It may need a bit of a facelift but it needed no technology input. It worked perfectly and won many a Paris Dakar. Try win now on your 1200
A few months ago, two French youtubers decided to be the first peeps to rappel down a cliff with a motorcycle. They both did so on a big GS but they're the big and athletic kind so it's working well for them.
Similarly, why are guys pretending to be Rossi on race bikes riding through the suburbs. Maybe they should stay on the track.
9:03 And that's why you use soft bags, not hard cases.
I wish you guys could just look up basic data about the bikes. The 1250 GS is not 600 lbs. It is around 550 lbs with a full tank of fuel. I am not saying that it is light, but it is not 600 lbs. Even the GSA is below 600 lbs, although not by much. So yeah, please inform yourselves properly before saying some bs...
I'd recommend a Yamaha WR250R for a dual-sport bike. It won't be so great munching the miles, but if you travel solo off-road, you'll thank me when you have to pick it up multiple times.
As a previous owner of a 250r the gs is a completely different bike. I wouldn’t even remotely attempt a interstate on a wr. The gs is not a dual sport bike it’s a adv touring bike. Completely different tools with different compromises.
Where does an adventure bike need more than 450cc? It should be enough to get any bike to 130 km/h with the right gearing, thus being highway worthy. The rest of the time, in the actual off road you are driving slow anyway, and lighter weight is beneficial. Probably better mileage too.
I agree it's a big heavy bike. But all this wining about weight says more about your capabilities then the bike's. The Tenere or 1290 for example are also heavy bikes. They are for traveling. If you want to go off-roading or dirt riding take a little dirt bike for your size. Personally I don't really see the problem, but I'm 6"1 and about 240 lbs 💪🏼 😊
Well, different strokes for different folks. I have an R1200 GSA and ride it like I stole it in what I call the same easy trails that you guys were complaining about. If you know how to ride them you do, and if you don’t know, then you don’t know. Nuff said!!!
I tested the GS1250 and the S1000RR. I ride sports bike but I loved the GS1250!!
I am sure a lot of what you guys said is aimed at getting clicks, But I am sure you guys know that these kinds of bikes except for a few usually see more touring duty than hardcore off-road duty. And for touring, they are amazing and you want a heavy bike as they are more stable. I own a V85 TT and while it could go somewhat hardcore, it is best suited for touring and light off-road and I knew that buying the bike. Same with the Liter bikes, how many actually see track duty ... =)
Quit comparing everything to the big GSs. If you want to ride lesser bikes or can’t ride the big beasts then ride what you can and quit trying to justify your pansy sensibilities. I am 5’7”, 170 wet and my R1200GS Rallye is the best bike for weekend mining road and trails exploring. Exploring with a big bike fully loaded is just stupid. I will ride all day to riding country strip my bags and excess gear then go explore. The difference on a big Beemer is I ride there comfortably and relaxed. And the safety aspect of the visibility of a big bike that can’t be tossed around by wind gusts speaks for itself. Ride what you got if it works for you, otherwise find what does work.
I am excited about this adventure bike content? When is the Royal Enfield Himalayan hands-on review coming?
They hate that bike and its not a good bike it sells in good numbers in india becoz there is no other option in that price point
@@sandy99797I wouldn't be surprised if it came up on the chopping block as their next bike to abuse in place of the hobgoblin gixxer 250 lol
A Honda Monkey might do this ADV but the the GS1250 is also made for long distance highway riding …. If you only wanted an dirt bike then you should buy CRF 250 will do… the reviewers here are just forgetting why that bikes are purpose built and not all bike are good in all circumstances unless they are a few standard bikes that you need to pick and choose the mods to suit your days ride….
I just got done riding an R1250 GSA up and down Sani Pass from South Africa into Lesotho and back. Alone. And I had to pick up the bike alone twice because there are hairpin switchbacks at the very top that made me miss the 21-in front tire on The KTM 790 I have at home. So Yes the GSA is huge and the 19-in front wheel is a downside off-road. But if you know what you're doing, you can ride a GSA just about anywhere.
The mid size GS’ have 21” front wheel.
Another beautiful video, man I miss this, am back to work so life is miserable since I keep missing videos, but thanks great scenery.
The trail you are on is kindergarten compared to rocky ledges that are six feet wide in the Alps.
Let's be honest vast majority of GS bikes will never see a dirt road, maybe a little stone or two in Starbucks parking lot.
You guys made a meal out of that trail. Maybe hold off a casting judgment on ADV bikes till you know how to actually ride them?
I was out to Toroweap Overlook on my Super Tenere. It was a damn handful!! Good on both you young men!!
I get you want to talk about BMW and the Adventure segment due to it is the largest segment and growing. But dude, stick to what you know. Not knowing if the 1250 has 19 or 21 inch front wheel? Really?
Sorry. The ADV market is currently trendy and growing, but it’s definitely not the largest market segment. That’s just an ADV fantasy.
They're great looking bikes, but this is exactly why I love my KTM 390 ADV. Very nimble, and I never have to worry about hitting my skid plate, because that would require both wheels on the ground.