2023 BMW R1250GS - The Amazing & the Truly Awful
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 เม.ย. 2023
- I recently purchased a 2023 R1250GS after nearly five years on a Triumph Tiger 1200. There were a few surprises in store for me! This machine was never going to blow me away, that might be reserved for those trading up from smaller machines, but I wasn't prepared for what I found. There is a lot to like about this bike, but it has its faults too.
My height is 6' (182cm) with a short 29" leg (74cm). I weigh 18St 5lbs (116kg or 257lbs). The bike is a new 2023 R1250GS with stock Anakee Adventure tyres correctly inflated. It is factory stock with zero modifications. I had its first service and there are no issues with the bike. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I have owned both and they were/are the current generation. I’m not even considering going back to Triumph. You do have some legit points but your Triumph bias is impacting your perspective. I have yet to find anyone say the suspension on the BMW is bad. That is out of left field for myself and any other rider I know out here. Triumph is a good bike, but GS is still king when it comes to Adv.
My Triumph bias is only from my recent Triumph ownership but I have owned more Hondas and Suzukis than Triumph so I'm not their no1 fan or anything. Most people don't say they think their suspension is bad because they think what they have is normal not having sampled better they are non the wiser. The GS is till king of course because the sales numbers say so 👍. Cheers Joey.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I would love to read or watch they plethora of folks complaining about the suspension. I think and agree with just about everything else. You at the fist and only person I have have read or watched complain about the suspension. Sorry… one person is not indicative of a problem.
@@joeymartinn1 as the yoof of today say, “it is my lived experience“.
I got the gs adventure.. with the electronic suspension... man it's awesome for crunching miles.. trail braking sucks with that front suspension..
Comments on quickshifter - Downshift with throttle closed, Upshift throttle in acceleration state. Cruising at steady state - don't get your hopes up. So in short - more use in spirited ridinng than day to day. It's a shift assistant, not an autoshifter.
Good review just found your channel and subscribed. Look forward to the suspension videos.
Thankyou Dazmpower.
I’m shocked at the review of the suspension. I find the suspension the best quality of my GS . It soaks up all the bumps and never gets out of shape (maybe because I’m a 10stone rider?) . Apart from that, it was a great review 👍
Thanks Rick, yes, I'm 18.5st, I think that is having some impact alright.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff After 55k km on a 2020 1250GS I am surprised about the critical suspension review. Well, I don't have the comparison to a Tiger, but the GS is not limiting me on BADLY damaged roads. I have it always on Dynamic Pro and switch it often on the left handle between Dynamic and Road. Accidently, i was 15 stones when I bought the bike and reached 9 stones a year ago. (96kg to 58) I could say the bike is a bit less mushy, but not by much. More impressive is the positive impact to the experienced power output. Less weight is making the bike nimble af. xD
Maybe I am missing something better, since I am satisfied with the existing. Thanks for your experience exchange.
Btw:
Big compliment to your review. Either you're a hell of an actor or you just simply shared your honest, direct, personal impressions. Obviously without influences of any mainstreams. 👍
@@Basalderalder Many thanks for your kind words and documenting your experiences with the GS. This was a totally unbiased review, I have no bad feelings towards the BMW brand at all and I am enjoying the many positive parts of my GS. I plan on doing a more in depth review focusing purely on the suspension to try and explain it more from my perspective and why I think it may be like this. Some comments have highlighted a few things. Take care👍.
I am 19 stone and mine is perfect suspension. He must have a faulty bike.
What the heck is a 10stone rider? Is it some kind of off road riding ?
Great overview, thanks for sharing.
Thanks John
What lovely scenery, a brilliant looking route. David and I are planning on doing this in June, we will do it over 2 days so that we can visit lots of coffee establishments and “goo steady” (fen talk) safe riding and keep the vids coming.
Excellent, enjoy the trip. Be sure to include the Glendalough Green Cafe in the Wicklow Mountains for a coffee and cake stop (or a salad lunch), always a few bikes parked up there. Goo Steady!
Thanks for making this eye opening video! Where I ride, there are no roads. This really put things in perspective for me when it comes to my next purchase.
Glad it was of some insight. If you have no roads you will definitely benefit from a bike with much more suspension control and adjustment.
I have always owned GS’s and I switched to the new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro as I was getting bored with the GS. Sorry I couldn’t wait to go back to a GS. You comment a lot about the wonder wheel what about that silly toggle switch on the new Triumph? Trying to use it on the fly you have to take your eyes off the road to look at the switch to make sure your not hitting the blinker switch. Secondly don’t try using the Toggle switch while on a bumpy road that almost is impossible. The 21” front wheel on the Tiger 1200 gives you a little bit of insecurity feeling while going around bends especially when there is bumps.
Yes your review was honest but found it hard to believe it all when you were wearing a Triumph Jumper 😂😂😂
I will agree I fell out of love with 21" wheels on my Africa Twin over the winter of 2016/17 and decided I would never go back to that size. The Tiger 1200 Rally would not be for me either with its 21". The Triumph jumper was actually my mid layer, made for Triumph by "cold killers", great bit of kit. I did wear it on purpose though 😜
Terence, I have watched a thousand reviews of the 1250GS, I have owned the normal height and the lowered one. This is the first review that has correctly called it out on its failings. The suspension on a bad road and the quick shifter are woeful. Thanks for your honesty.
Glad I'm not the only one, I was beginning to feel like the odd man out here. Since then a good few comments echoing mine & your thoughts too. Thanks.
Will suspension swap fix it?
I’ve only had my Triumph GT Pro a few days but you’re right about the suspension, it’s something you notice immediately very plush. I’ve never owned a GS but I have test ridden one, the instruments and switchgear I thought were actually better in my opinion.
I love your approach / reviews something dead honest about your delivery, and of course never a truer word spoken when you see some YTubers missing out the bigger problems. It’s clear they’re just acting like paid shills, keeping an eye on the relationship with the dealer /manufacturer so they nurture a steady stream of rides enabling them to produce content and earn revenue. Fair enough…….but it does smack at being fake and some people buy into that.
Congratulations on the GT Pro Andrew, enjoy. Yes, I’m just not convinced we get the full story from most road tests at all for the very reasons you state. You even have to be weary of overly glowing owner’s reviews as that testosterone inside us doesn’t like to admit something might not be right with our purchasing decisions 🫣😲😀.
Total agree regarding, what you said .
One of the best reviews I’ve seen, thankyou for your hard work 🙏
Many thanks Michael 👍
Congrats on a very detailed and insightful review. Can’t say I agreed with some of your inputs but great respect for your intelligent video.
I’ve had five GS’s and now have a wonderful RS and RnineT. Love Boxers!
Thanks for watching and the kind words 👍.
Love your honesty❤
Actually my quick shift works nice for anything 3rd gear plus if you know how to use it. Suspension I have no idea what you talk about.
I stick to my 22 1250GS 😂
“ QS works nice for anything 3rd gear plus if you know how to use it.” That basically is how to describe a shitty quick shifter……
There are bikes with quickshifters that work through all gears and require no special knowledge on how to operate them.
Having owned a 1250 GS, a Tiger 900 and a Tiger 1200 and currently owning a 1250 GSA, I know the difference between a good and a bad quick shifter.
I hadn't had a quick shifter before, but I find the one on my 2022 GSA works really well, especially off road when I'm standing and going between 1st and second on more moderate tracks at lower speeds. At higher speeds on the road, I think of actuating more like putting in 'a request to shift'...if feel like you don't get the shift until the bike speed/rpm are within some range, i.e. it won't shift until you are in a situation where you would normally shift with the clutch. That said, winding through the gears on a straightway (like a highway on ramp) works great as does coming to a long straight stop. Like others have said, you could have talked more about the suspension, but overall a good solid review, thanks!
Thanks John. I was of to of had another video just on the suspension alone and unfortunately my hard disk crashed while I was editing it which trashed a lot of the files and editing. I hope to have it redone soon. Thanks for sharing your QS experience.
This is why I love owner reviews. An excellent, honest, and at times funny review. I'm considering a move from an MT10 to something more upright and sensible. Certainly food for thought here.
Glad it added to the info gathering. The new GS must be so close I think I would bypass this one for now and see what comes of the new bike. But there will be a pile of the 1250's up for sale at bargain prices once the 1300 gets released. Cheers Banditmanuk 👍
thanks for your analysis. i share the same conclusions but just love the boxer motor❤
Yes, the motor and the bikes weight distribution are incredible, cheers Dimitri.
Well done thank you.
This video is a good example, why one should form an own opinion. The screen adjustment is overly complex? You cannot adjust at the screen at 120 kph? This is a plain lie. Its totally possible and not a problem. Did you ever ride a KTM or Africa Twin for example? There you have complex mechanisms with screws and what not. I don´t have any issues with the screen. No noise, no wind tubulence.
This video was my experience, I purchased the bike, it is not a demo. My screen would not adjust at 120kph, that is a fact, why would I lie? If I slow down it adjusts. It is also considerably noisier than my last bike but this is quite common on a lot of bikes until you find one that suits your frame. Yes, I owned an Africa Twin, 2016 where the screen does not adjust, I mention it in the video? Many bikes now though do have a much simpler screen adjust mechanism, it is just my point of view, you can form your own opinions.
Thanks for this vid Terry. I was thinking of trading in my 2018 tiger XRT for the GS as I have very similar ergonomics to you. (6ft tall long body and short 29”legs) if I have the seat on low my knees suffer after long distance so I keep the high seat on for distance and use tip toes.
Having heard you talk about the suspension and quick shift tho I’m def having 2nd thoughts.
It may be a bit top heavy but the tiger is planted and smooth as silk through the gears quick shifting up and down and on any surface. Ta!
Cheers Dan, I was the same, a little too cramped with the seat in the low position on my XCa. The GS suspension is a very backward step to my mind going from full control to virtually none, it’s just not good enough for a premium bike. Thanks for posting.
Owned latest Triumph Tiger 1200 pro for 2months but it was so rubbish was glad to get rid ….. now a proud owner of a proper bike BMW 1250GS Tophy👍…….. and the dealer was happy to shag the Missus on a Sunday morning so I could go out on breakfast run. Result😊
What did you not like about your Tiger 1200?!
@@richardmagnusson6419 Why so concerned about negative comments about Tiger? ……. you’re s BMW GS owner not Triumph employee
You should hear what your Missus said about yer man. If she starts suggesting you trade in your bike every week you know there's trouble ahead 😆
The missus doesn't need you dunk in the slightest😅🤣😂.
Yea, I had a GS1250 for 2 weeks, it was crap! Traded it and the missus in for a Tiger 1200, now my life is pure bliss! 👍🇬🇧
I have the same inside leg 29" and have the standard height frame with a low seat. I then set the the suspension to a low setting and have no problems. As far as the quick shifter, I never use it in 1st -2nd - 3rd. It's fine to 4,5 &6. I have however had some instances when the downshifter does'nt want to play ball. No big deal. The Hill Hold took a bit of getting used to but all good now. The brakes on mine are exceptional I've always had RTs in the past but find the GS much more comfortable. Some of my previous steeds....Kawasaki 440ltd, Honda 250 superdream, Honda 750F2, K100, K1100lt, R1100rt, R1200rt and now R1250GS. This is by far the most comfortable of all.
Thanks for the detail. I like the ergos and seat, very comfy. My QS has the same issue, sometimes on the downshift I just doesn't want to change, as you say, if you allow for it it can be dealt with. I came from a Triumph Tiger 1200 and the GS hill hold is a lot better, the release is much lighter so happy with that. My brakes still just average, tried a 2023 BMW S1000XR with non Brembo brakes, they were awesome in comparison to my GS.
Thank you, very helpful
Glad to hear that!
good info thanks terry......never considered a tiger but will take a look
I think the GT & GT Pro are the sweet spot in that range. Not sure the Explorer versions could compete with the weight distribution of a GSA. The Tigers are a breath of fresh air though, I thought I was on a 900 the first time I tried the 1200 GT Pro.
I had the gen 3 t1200 and then for 5000 km the rally explorer and now i am owner of the gs 1250 triple black . Gs is by far hands down the best suspension i have ridden in any bike with pillion / luggage on and off . I dont know what have you done with your bike but the telelever and paralever works ultra smooth . The centre of gravity and the way the bike handles through corners is fantastic and non comparable also with rhe tiger . Gs can be driven sporty and has more friendly feeling to curve and lean through the corner vs the rally explorer which I was really afraid to lean or drive sporty . The wind protection could be better i have to say but it can be fixed with an aftermarket windshield like wunderlich . The fit and finish is a little bit terrible and you dont expect that from bmw . I have to say terry and keep in mind that the plastics are REALLY REALLY EASY to scratch so keep in mind that ! After all , the engine is really spot on. Very smooth non vibey when touring , smoother than the triumph but when tou are idle 1000 rpm you will feel some.vibes . I personally dont mins because you feel the bike alive in the other hand the bike works very VERY smooth on highways. The gs is the best bike ever made
Thanks for your experiences Aldvex, we agree on an awful lot and that is why the handling of the bike (on a good road) was in the amazing category, it really is to be experienced. I think the tall, 21" wheel Rally Explorer from Triumph is not selling as well as the GT range as witnessed by free luggage options being offered (in the UK at least) but only on the Rally models. I think the GT & GT Pro are probably Triumph's best bet. I'm not convinced the Explorer's tank layout can compete with the GS Adventure without that boxer twin to offset it. I'm OK with the GS vibes and haven't found them intrusive at all. The engine note on the GS is addictive too. I have a two up trip planned for Europe later in the year, it will be great to see how it fares. 👍
Enduro mode will do what you need on this roads and that works amazing well
some others have stated the same.
I have a 22 Rallye lowered edition.
The handling is why I bought the machine, lower center of gravity. Justin road mode it is springy but absolutely floats down the road like a Cadillac. If that bothers you then go to another mode. Yes electronic sucks because you don't know how to adjust it but most people don't know how to adjust their suspension anyway. Concerning the quickshifter going up is just a hoot. Pin it and bang the gears up yes going down it does not want to and the dealership said that. If that little bit makes you get a 1300 more power to you
I'd get the S1000XR over the GS after a test ride, the QS is sublime on that. I will have to stick with my choice for now though, trading so early will see me lose my shirt! I do ride in Dynamic suspension bias now and Enduro for the rougher roads even though they are not "off-road" lanes, that made a big difference.
I have 4 versions of gs 22-23: standard, lowered, sport suspension, and adventure. Lowered and sport suspensions are not suitable for bad roads. It works the way you are talking about. And it's really hard to ride on small old roads, especially with a pillion. Standard and adv are different.
Thanks for that concise statement Serj.
Two votes that it's the lowered suspension. I have a GSA and I don't have issues with the suspension being underdamped.
Great review...really enjoyed it. I have a 2019 GSA Rallye and agree with all the feedback (especially the difficulty of changing screen height and the wizzy-wheel) but don't have the same experience with the suspension. I absolutely love mine and genuinely have never found it other than great. I wonder if BMW did anything different for the later models?!
From what some posters are saying I'm slowly coming round to a consensus the low chassis models may act differently to the standard models Oliver, hmm?
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff As I read through the comments , I suspect so too.
Watched your video yesterday and thought about your suspension issue I think that you must have a problem bike because the two gs bikes I’ve had and got have been perfect
It’s been back to the dealer for it’s first service and given a clean bill of health. I specifically said I wasn’t impressed with the suspension and they said they were surprised and all was well with the bike.
I have owned tons of spirts bikes and nakeds all engine types and the gsai own now is by a country mile the very best. I have owned 2 hexhead 1200rt bimes and an xr the r bikes are the only bikes i have ever owned that were cimfy out of tbe box. Needing very few alterations
I thought that was a great video, Terry. It's good to see the GS subjected to such scrutiny. My two cents, having had the full-height suspension 2018 and a reduced-height 2019 is that the full-height is much better on a bumpy road. Unfortunately that means the bike works best for the taller rider. Because of this and the difficulty I found with heaving it around while parking etc, I no-longer have one, preferring the R (which still has its own issues; too harsh in dynamic and too under-damped in Road). Overall, you're dead right in your observations and BMW need to sort out their suspension damping, quick-shift (on the R-series) and put the thing in a wind-tunnel to control wind noise. Apart from that, it's a brilliant bike and I'm looking forward to seeing what they have done with the forthcoming R1300.
Thanks for the feedback re the two different chassis styles Julian. After most of the comments I was wondering if I was a) exaggerating it or b) imagining it? Given the competition from others, KTM, Triumph, Ducati etc I can't believe they will run with this system on the next bike. I will be in line for that test ride. I wonder if the difference between a GS1300 & GS1400 will be conventional forks and a different suspension setup?
Nicely presented.
My R1250GS has Wilburs installed. They work with the ESA setup. On Dynamic it works very well. Not harsh like you are describing. On Road in Road mode, it is floaty but with the suspension in Road mode and Dynamic Pro riding mode chosen it is quite good. I see you had the bike in Road mode and Road suspension...yes way underdamped, but I never ride in Road mode and have found much of these issues go away when choosing Dynamic pro as suspension settings are quite different in all the riding modes. One big advantage of changing to Wilburs is it also has the standard clicker adjustments for damping as well to fine tune the electronic choices. Also, it was built for my weight and is much higher quality suspension and not really that expensive. My 2 cents.
Thanks for the comprehensive detail. I like Wilbers as a brand and have a Wilbers custom monoshock on my Daytona 1200 and absolutely love it. I do ride with the suspension in Dynamic 95% of the time now and only switch to road damping in town where there are a lot of speed bumps etc. I tend to switch to Dynamic on the suspension bias button and leave the rider mode in road, that way I get to keep full traction/ABS and have that better performing damping. I have been on to the Wilbers agent here and it doesn't look like they have a solution for the low chassis GS. They do a lowered suspension kit for the regular bike and same height replacement suspension for the regular bike but nothing for the factory lowered as far as I can tell and enquired about. Cheers
THANK GOD it’s not just me. I have ridden GSs of one king or another since 1984 (I still have my g/s). I love boxer GSs…I have my 2012 GSA which I love. I thought it’s about time I upgrade and spoil myself with a 1250 as a retirement present. Having had one for half a day I couldn’t believe how crap the suspension was. I felt like I was on a bloody trampoline in road mode so decided dynamic was the only option but boy, it that stiff over the potholes…..as for the quick shifter BMW should be ashamed of themselves charging good money for a virtually useless bit of kit. ……BMW have sold tonnes of these things and thought….surely it can’t just be me who think a great bike has been ruined by the damping. My 11 year old (non ESA) Wilbers suspensioned GSA is much better damped giving far greater control and hugely more comfortable. The current electronic set up is a joke….I was genuinely saddened that that amazing engine and chassis was sol let down and that for the first time in 39 years my main bike will not be a GS.
Phew, you are one of the few to concur, I am not the flavour of the day here as you can imagine! I have a Wilbers on my 1995 Daytona and it does a brilliant job too, chalk and cheese in the ride quality from a 28 year older bike.
Great vid Terry. Was thinking about selling my 2020 Tiger 1200 Desert and getting a GS but as you said I love the suspension and ride on my Tiger. You may have kept me from making a mistake. Think I’ll wait to see what the 1300 GS will be like. Thanks!
I think that is a wise choice, keeping the WP suspension of the Desert Edition compared to this silly ZF system. The GS has a draw, I cannot deny sales figures but when you have had better suspension you don't want to go backwards. Cheers Bob.
I have the first Triumph 1200 GT Explorer in the states from 7/22- middle January 2023. NEVER looking back. The new Showa suspension kills the 2020 1200 XCX I traded for the new one. Choose wisely...
@@ttrguy9952 do you have the 1200 Rally? If so, any issues so far? That’s another option I’ve been contemplating.
@@bobholley6202 No, I have the GT Explorer like I stated. Zero issues and I love the bike!👍👍
The Rally versions are tall and here in New England we don't have the off road terrain.
@@ttrguy9952 good deal. I live just south of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia. Great twisties and a lot of off road gravel and dirt roads open on the national forests. Great to hear no issues. I’m pretty tall so I was thinking about the rally.
Excellent review, useful to make an educated choice. Thx
Cheers 👍
Love my Tiger 1200 Alpine SE Terry, delicious suspension and I can push the front end into oblivion with no worries, W.P at it's best, great honest video mate, well done!
Cheers Andrew, WP is brilliant stuff and KTM owned of course. 👍
Thank you for this! I'm a 750 GS owner and into upgrading to 1250 next month. I think I should try Triumph then (never tried it).
Good luck whichever way you go. Test ride is your friend on the types of roads you use most.
There was also a software update recall for the quick shifter that I’ve heard helps it out tremendously.
Great review. 2019 was the first year of the 1250. I have one an have put 40,000 miles on it. It’s an amazing bike, never ridden a Triumph. The torque it has and when it wheelies make me giggle. Quick shifter works smoother in the higher gears and when you’re ripping it. I don’t know much about suspensions but I will say the bike is a little “stiff” and doesn’t absorb the bumps as I’d like. It’s better when loaded down.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Good to know on the loading, I have a two up trip planned for the Dolomites later on in the year.
Fall 2018 was the first year of the 1250. Just for info.
As a 2019 model.@@chrisvodka2412
A good and interesting review that I would agree with to 95%. Being on the shorter side (torso) than Terence, I don't have any issues with the screen, but regarding the suspension I think he's spot on. I came from a Triumph 1200 (2017) which had fantastic suspension (W.P.) and I couldn't believe how poor the GS suspension is by comparison. On the GS I have the suspension either on "Dyna" which I use most of the time and is quite firm or "Rain" for country lanes which is very compliant if not slightly wallowy. I never use "Road" because it's neither one thing or another. But the suspension comments made by Terence made me realise how I have eventually become used to the BMW suspension.
A awful lot of comments from owners are putting this down to the fact that it is the low chassis version of the bike. Many owners have had both and the standard version is totally different apparently. It is pretty much 100% Dynamic for me too, I get seasick otherwise.
Love the no punches pulled review. Wish others would do the same. That said, I am on my 2nd GS (2022 GSA) - previous was 2015 GS. I did test ride the 2022 Tiger 1200 on the same day as test riding the GSA. Coming from another GS (with an even shittier Quick Shifter and gearbox) I was swayed by the GSA with refined improvements over engine, gearbox, Quick Shifter and suspension (even my pillions say how wonderful the new bike suspension is - even on not so good roads) over what I was used to. But also, my niggles with the Tiger were: hard to hear engine exhaust note, snatchy throttle (on a gauge of 0 - 10 it felt like it picked up at 3 - dealer said all new Tigers like that), foot peg position too far back, less comfortable riding position, and the creme de la creme was the really poor dealership experience!! To the experience - had to wait for 10 mins into test ride window to get helped. Eventually, got on the road and something did not feel right with gear changes. Stopped for fuel and noticed the gear change level was bent in towards the bike and rubbing on the frame/engine. Took the bike back. Wasted another 20 mins while they 'sorted it out', and then found out I needed to bring the bike back 15 mins earlier so they could check it over before the next test rider. No apologies or anything. I did get offered a tiny bottle of water. At BMW ... complete opposite. Have it an extra hour they said, free coffee/tea/hot chocolate and biscuits. Of course, I used the same dealer for my previous purchase and services and all have been very good with loan bikes. I guess it comes down to personal experience and preference as we all have our own tastes.
And doesn't it go to show how a dealer can balls up a sale! When I bought my Tiger 1200 back in late 2017 I had just left the local BMW dealer appalled at the attitude of the service manager. I cancelled my test ride and bought the Tiger the same day. The BMW salesman was fine, I got on well with him when inquiring about the bike. The other thing many Triumph dealers don't do is reset the bike to factory conditions. It is very common for riders to leave the dealer with the suspension damping set all over the place rather than its default level as the previous riders altered it. The throttle condition on the Tiger has been fixed now I believe with a software update. It was the flexible ergos that completely sealed the deal for me, Triumph could not compete on that front at all. Cheers Jay, thanks for a great story of how not to sell a bike!
Great Review. I Ride a 2006 R1200GS and absolutely Love it. You have to set the Damping and Rebound Manually but it works Perfect and is easy to do. I don’t have any Modes and that’s fine with me. I just jump on the Bike and Ride. The Owners Manual has suggestions for the Suspension Settings depending on what kind of Riding you’re doing and the Load you’re Carrying, and they seem to be right on Point. The Engine is a Dream, and I do all my Maintenance myself. I have No Complaints whatsoever. Thanks for the Video, I subscribed. Big Howdy from Texas.👍👍
Cheers joeybobbie1. Yes, my 1200 Daytona is completely manual too and I can adjust it manually very easily if I need to and with great effect like yourself. There is something to be said for less electronics.
Probably the best review out there. Have some differences, such as the fact I think the the whizzwheel works well, and you do indeed get use to it, as you do a joystick that sits too close to the indicators (triumph!). Also, I find the brakes excellent - much prefer the feel of these brembos over the hayes. Screen, well you either like a short screen and are happy with the trade off, or you aren't and don't. I think these aspects are neutral and depend on rider preferences.
Quickshifter, has to be used at the right revs - it's a big boxer that you are changing gear on, not a triple!
On suspension, for some reason, they seem to have set up the non-dynamic softer on this compared to the GS1200, and I really don't know why. It isn't good, though I haven't found dynamic much of an issue. But the lack of settings is a real drawback no question.
Praise be that you haven't moaned about the Honda drl indicators or the 'unsafe' rear indicators, the latter being the latest modding fad being pushed by the aftermarket guys and without able being to provide a scenario in which they are unsafe.
Yes, the aftermarket are doing a roaring trade on indicator systems aren't they! I had always on front indicators on my Africa Twin, loved them. Thanks for your feedback on the other points, agree completely. It is becoming very apparent, from other posts that the low chassis version of the bike is probably the issue with the suspension characteristics I complain of. Those that have owned both styles have no such problem on the standard height bike but did on the lowered too. Cheers samsara
Weird to hear about the damping. On my 2013 R1200GSA I can set the damping separately from soft to normal to hard, independent of the riding modes. Works perfectly, just like the quickshifter which I find amazing.
You can do that on the 2023 but just Dynamic and Road (in the road modes).
Terry
Great review Sir. Onto the seat height thing, my business partner accidentally had break fluid on his hand when he touched the seat on my new Tiger GT Explorer. Shame on him! He had to buy me a new seat and I picked the Low seat for him to order unbeknownst to him. 😂 The seat is 20mm lower and is fantastic. Just an FYI. I'm totally happy with my 2023 Triumph GT Explorer. 😍
Ride SAFE and BE safe Terry!
Cheers.
Result! That’s great the seat works out for you. I was expecting the GS low seat to be uncomfortable too and I was pleasantly surprised. Cheers TTRGuy 👋
I just did a test ride on a gs1250te felt great. 1st time on a GS. Didn't have time to really test the suspension and I was on good roads. I was really impressed with the quick shifter though. I thought it was silky smooth.. great review. Top stuff. 👍
Glad you got on with it. I think a lot of owners will stick with the GS a little longer rather than rushing to the new 1300, it is quite a departure.
Road GS's from 80's to now. Also other makes and models. Had over 200,000 miles on BMW etc. Tried my friends DR650 for a week since he needed me to do some simple maintenance. ( and had to go out of town) ... guess what... The GS is up for sale! If BMW would ever produce a 750 CC boxer twin in the 360 pound range with simple carbs, and CDI ignition... I would consider it and so would others!
I know the feeling David. A buddy lent me his Aprilia Tuareg 660 (204kg fully fueled) for a week and I had an absolute blast on it. My favorite part was the manually adjustable suspension. Took me about 50-70km to suss it out to what worked best for me and wow what a bike. Need ear plugs though, that induction roar gets old real quick! :-)
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff YES indeed! Sad that BMW has gone the wrong direction.
I have a R1200RT and it’s an amazing bike. I have ridden the BMW is all kinds of weather and never had an issue. My RT does have hard, medium and soft suspension settings
Great looking bike the RT. I did try the ergos but it was a little too tight on the hips for me with the shorter seat to peg relationship. But I do have a dodgy left hip so that is my fault. Great that you have the more flexible control over your damping.
😂 Coming from the gen 3 Tiger with its super smooth quick shifter to the somewhat agricultural GS version I agree. Although I’ve found that under load i.e hammering up the revs, it works better and eventually you get used to it.
It does work better at higher revs but I do still find the gear lever requires some force. I have pretty much reverted to the clutch the whole time now as it does make the gear lever just click in lightly for me. Cheers for posting your experience Mark.
The quick shifter really isn't meant to be used around town. It wants you to bang through the gears at full throttle, it feels a bit stiff even then but it's a lot better.
Your the first person that has been honest about the suspension on the GS. I appreciate that!!
Thank you for that. Yes, I love many of the bike’s great attributes but unfortunately suspension isn’t one of them😬.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff your welcome 🙏. Another thing you mentioned was the pegs. I was already aware of the cylinders not lining up. But the foot pegs to?! That might drive me nuts 😆. I'll have to test ride one to see
I would disagree with a few of your findings.
First off, you want a front brake that grabs with the slightest input? That would be a dangerous situation for especially inexperienced riders. A caliper that works with a more progressive pull to stop gives you actually better control, especially in trail braking.
As far as suspension is concerned, remember, you have a modified suspension motorcycle that the little people can ride.
You have less suspension travel and also less ground clearance. This is an ADV bike, not a Goldwing. Don't expect it to ride like one.
I respectfully disagree on the brake performance, this isn’t a bike for the novice and most owners will have a good few years under their belt. The action on a better braked bike with a light two fingered touch is very relaxed because the action requires no effort. I agree it is no Goldwing and is not expected to be so, that bike whilst I admire it, is not my cup of tea either. Whilst I do have the shortened suspension version, by 30mm, this bike has significantly more suspension travel than most road bikes and much more than two of my other 1000cc plus road bikes to which I compared the ride. They were both much more well behaved with this test road. I plan to make a video focusing on the suspension some more to try and explain my rationale. Thanks for your comment 👍.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff It was a good review in all honesty. I ride a 2020 GSA HP and love this bike. Definitely not perfect but pretty damn close IMO. Especially after riding my Harley lol.
I think BMW should have done a little more refining of the GS such as backlit switches, a more precise suspension setting that would truly match the riders preference before increasing the engine displacement which I feel is just to keep up with the Jones's.
Keep up the good work Terence
The non low chassis suspension is much better with the extra travel.
This is becoming a very common answer from a lot of posters, cheers West Coast Fresh.
I’ve got the standard height gsa and I’ve not come across mine as having poor suspension I can ride it faster on poor roads in comfort than I can my 2009 speed triple. Is it because it’s a low chassis or have you got a problem with the suspension itself. Maybe worth mentioning it to your dealer. I do like the trophy colours
It could be because it has the shortened suspension and they have kept the setup from the longer suspended bike? Regardless the other two bikes have shorter suspension travel than the GS and they cope just fine. Recently had its first service and all was deemed fine.
First watch of your vids, I'll be watching some more. I found it a very objective and one of the better (honest) reviews out there and I can't disagree with too much of what you said. I'm 65, 1.7m, 813mm inside leg and 85kg and haven't really found the suspension to be an issue on my 2018 R1200 GS TE Exclusive apart from some some really crap roads in Belgium last year when my spine was dialled into the road!! Particularly agree with your comments on plotting routes and addresses into the TFT via BWM Connect on my iPhone 12. I use the Connect Cradle which is an excellent bit of kit and found a workaround was to cut & paste the address/location from Google Maps into the BMW app, works 9/10. Cheers!
Thanks for the great idea on the Nav units Andrew 👍. I'm glad you mention the pounding on your back too, many others are just telling me I am plain wrong 🤷♂but it is my truthful opinion and my experience. I did try and balance my statements and accentuate the positives too. Ride On...
Yeah that quick shifter has caught me out a few times, there does seem to be a sweet spot in revs where it shifts cleanly (on my 2016 at least) but that said, i use the clutch 98% of the time...old dog new tricks and all that.
I think that will be the same for me Billy, good job the clutch is excellent.
Billy - agreed. I only the 'quick shifter' when I need to make a point- eg from 2nd to 3rd beside some asshole car driver - my Arrow race can speaks for me!
Interesting review. The service pack is so much cheaper than in Switzerland. We need to pay 2300chf for 5 years option.
Thank you. Oh wow, that is significantly higher, the equivalent of €2384 😲.
Haha there be foaming at the mouth tonight 🤣🤣🤣Nice honest review.
Cheers Bleary View 👍😀. Yeh, I’m not going to be popular 😬.
Nice, accurate and honest review, well done!! Ive had 6 GS's/GSA's sine 2006 and have never gone off road, thats why I'e just taken delivery of a 2023 1250 RS SE in my opinion a far better road bike. lower, quicker ( i don't know why but it is) has all the same tech and because it has 17in wheels a better selection of tyres.
Cheers you Grumpy Old Git! Whenever a 2nd hand RS comes on the market round here it gets snapped up, quite unique on the road and terribly good looking. Enjoy.
i changed from a 2018 R1200RS to a 2022 R1250GSA. You are right, the RS is a really good and fast bike, but the GSA fit my needs better (and my back).
First watch of your stuff mate, very good review. Screens are personal.. I thought the tiger 12 screen was bad! My GS has made way for the KTM SAS! Now that’s a bike that suits me. I like the new tiger 12 and found it a great bike, not a GS beater but I did prefer the tiger, only be cause I needed a change. Owning a speed triple , I went for the KTM! Love it! 👍🏻
And that’s the Beaty of it all isn’t it, the absolute choice. That KTM engine is something else, enjoy!
Awesome bike!!
It is for the most part.
Also you may try to bring this bike to bmw and ask them to flash latest software and do suspension calibration. This helps sometimes
Just want to ride..not interested in tech unless it flies.
Currently 1980 R100 RT..superb
Great vid..many thanks
Good choice! Just did an 800km 2-day round trip on my carbed Daytona 1200. Suspension brilliant, didn't miss a beat.
That's the best and most comprehensive, honest, objective analysis of a bike on TH-cam, I'm leaning toward the new tiger 1200, ray in Co Cork
Cheers Ray, thanks for saying so. The Tiger is great, just too tall for me.
Hi Terrance, can I ask where you got the TomTom mount that appears to fit the existing GS navigation mount?
I have a Tom Tom and would love to fit it up the same so it feeds off thr bikes power using the existing Garmon bracket.
Cheers
Ron
Hi Ron. This is from an Italian company 3D AM and I bought it direct but I see it for sale in many online suppilers. www.adventurebikeshop.co.uk/satnav-phones/3d-am-e-nav-400500-tomtom-mount-bmw-r12001250gs-gsa-rs-750850gsaf900xrs1000xr/
Nice review, thank you. I have a 2015 1200GS I've had since new with over 40,000 miles, quickshifter works great and I love it and use it all the time, any gear, up and down. Just saying!
Many thanks. If it works for you all well and good, that is all that matters. But try a four cylinder BMW and see the HUGE difference.
Is it possible that the normal height version would perform better than the lower chassis version?
This is becoming the common answer from those who have owned both TacNipples.
good review .. Screen agreed. Suspension - I have had no issues.. it changes from my previous GS 1200 .. i was told its now automatic .. have bmw been in touch with you re the suspension ???
Dealer says suspension is normal. Owners of the std and low chassis model seem to say the std doesn't suffer anything like the low version.
Spot on! When I told the dealer that suspension on the 1250GSA is rubbish, they looked at me like I never been on a bike... The Willbers on my 1200GSA aircooled were brilliant compared to this, and they were not ESA, simple old-school knob-adjusted.. I miss them!
I also fully agree with the backlit option for the switches and buttons, I've rode at night and it's absolutely impossible to differentiate between all those buttons given the sheer amount of them.
Got a Wilbers on the back of my 1995 1200cc Daytona, cannot fault it in any way. Was on a recent 800km trip and the back end got too bouncy with my extra bags. Three clicks of added rebound on the side of the road, 10 seconds, sorted with no fuss. Take care Marian.
I was in the market for a substitution for my 2017 Tiger Explorer 2017 and I did a quite long test rider on a 2023 R1250 GSA. I completely agree with you about the quick shifter and the suspension. The quick shifter was not a surprise (it just don't work properly), but I was surprised with the suspension. Every video I see states that the suspension is magnificent. But compared with the Tiger, it is really strange. I felt disconnected from the road and the dumping was either too soft or too hard. On a brick road, it was quite off, doesn't matter what I set. With the Tiger Explorer, I can set the proper damping for a given surface, on the fly and quite easily. I am just glad that I found someone else that thinks the same. I thought I was the only crazy one out there. 😂😂😂😂
The trouble is we were spoilt by the nine damping levels on offer from the Tiger and the complete control we had over it. You might still be crazy though 😄.
You are mistaken about the mirrors.. they are superb ! You don’t need larger ones, these work well.
Agree on damping. 1200 2016 my had 3 modes for road soft medium hard and two for offroad.
Best bike review Ive seen in years.
Thanks Dave!
I test rode a 2020 GS and just didn’t like the bike. I thought the engine sounded a bit agricultural and I thought, as you do, the brakes weren’t brilliant. Also like yourself I found the latest Tigers a little tall, so I ended up getting a 2020 Gen3 Tiger 1200 Alpine with with only 2067 miles on it. I also had the lower seat the lower seat fitted, just to give me a little more confidence handling the weight at standstill. I think Triumph missed a trick not adding a low chassis version to the latest model range. Hope you come to terms with your new bike’s nuances and grow to love it.
I'll have to get used to it! 😃 The Alpine edition is probably the best value Gen 3 Tiger out there, congrats, enjoy.
I’ve loved the suspension on my 2016 GSA model. You have to figure out what rider set up (1,1+luggage,2 rider), then your rider mode, then your suspension setting. I think you’ve missed using some adjustability options on your bike because all those options are in the new 1250 models.
No, these are not options. That was the older way of customizing the suspension. Now the rear preload is automatically measured and adjusted, that works perfectly. It is the two road modes you have for damping that are the limiting factor. I get it is continually trying to optimise the damping and in "Dynamic" it does create a sharp bike for handling purposes but with poor high speed damping. In the "Road" bias damping it is like riding on waves.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff you can still opt to have it set the preload in any riding mode. Press and hold the suspension button, once the suspension settings appear, press and hold the button again until it changes from auto to either min or max - this is the new version of 1 or 2 rider set up.
@@geoloseth Hi Seth, many thanks for this info, but I do feel you are mistaken. The Auto Preload is setting the preload based on the measured SAG from the swingarm position sensor on the left hand side of the bike under that small plastic cover. Whether it is a single rider, rider plus passenger or rider/passenger/luggage it is measuring the SAG under that weight and applying the appropriate preload to compensate. It is a closed loop system requiring no human input. They have been doing this on the Triumph Tiger 1200's for many years now. This replaces that open loop manual selection process that you have where it is you making the decision about your load and applying the appropriate preload to compensate. Separately from that I do know about the min and max preload option on the switchgear you mention which affects the preload amount, hence the ride height. This is something different, not related to load and the manual suggest the low setting for convenience and the higher setting for extra ground clearance that you may want when off-road.
I know exactly what you are talking about concerning the dampening, and have recently demoed a GS low suspension and a standard height GSA. The standard height GSA dampening seemed quit good in either setting, but the low suspension GS dampening was either sponge soft or brick stiff. I currently own a 2016 Explorer 1200 XRT, the dampening settings are vast and you can easily adjust on the fly. I agree the engine layout and chassis has carried the GS for years, I was shocked how damn good the low speed handling of the GS is, but the dampening of the low suspension version needs a rework. Not sure but since it is electronic makes me wonder if an update to the electronics could solve the issue.
I ride my Explorer with suspension in rider mode with suspension in off road mode to get the height down and everything else in road mode and get by. My concern with the Explorer is it’s top heavy and tip in in the corners is to fast for my liking. I’m thinking about lowering the bike to see if that helps.
I went with the lust racing 20mm lowering kit on my 2018, you then raise the forks by 15mm should be the same for your 2016. They do a 40mm kit too. The trouble with the off road mode and lowering the rear only is that you are altering the geometry. Try dropping the forks 10-12mm (or 70-75%) of what you think the rear is dropping by in the off-road setting. That should mitigate that quick tip in. Best of luck.
Nice review; many thanks. I ride since 1982, then a Honda 750F. No talks about pre loads, suspensions, electronics etc, only decisions were 4in1 or stay with the beautiful 2 Aluminium exhausts.
For the past years I am renting mostly and all over the world. Suspension I never had to fault on the GS nor the GSA. I am 190cm and 100kg. Even with three panniers no issue. Did Hechlingen off road class twice, no issue. Did dirt roads in the Cape, South West parts of Australia and various states in the USA. Alps, no issue, even fully loaded, but always alone. Never use the quick shift, I guess after so many years riding to use the clutch is second nature.
Models were 2016/18/22. Have to try the Tiger and Ducati but feel so comfy on the GS. Safe riding to all.
Cheers for posting your experience Albert. Many others share your thoughts on the suspension. I have this nagging feeling the low chassis version does not work so well as the standard bikes.
great review Terry. I am from NSW Australia were we pride ourselves on having the worst roads in AU. I bought my 2nd hand 2020 GS after owning a '14 Ducati 1200 Pikes Peak Multistrada. The suspension was way better on the Ducati but otherwise the GS is I believe a better bike so much so that i went and spent $5K on new Tractive TT Experience suspension. WOW. After a few 1000km of bedding in the bike has now great suspension that compliments the great chassis and weight distribution. If you own a GS and plan on keeping it for a while bite the somewhat $bitter$ bullet and buy the Tractive. It is the same suspension that is rebranded by Touratech (+$1K) but it is really good stuff. Yeah QS is crap though
Hi Gregory, cheers for the info, I shall look them up. Great to get first hand knowledge of a user.
Super points you raise. Have to agree as GSA owner. Thanks very much sir. G.
Thanks G. As you might have guessed I am getting a panning here :-)
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Undeservedly! BTW I would be interested to hear what you make of the RT if you’ve ridden it? I tested it t’other day and was really impressed.
I couldn't afford one of these. I bought a well used 1200. I really like it. I ride on shite roads. and I ride it of road.
Maybe I just don't know any better. I've never ridded the Wicklow Mts. I did ride it over the Brooks Range.
General consensus among owners who have had both the low chassis and regular chassis versions is that the low chassis one makes some compromises on suspension and they find the two bikes quite different. It's only on certain roads and I have adjusted my riding style to suit more and use enduro mode up the Wicklow Mountains now which makes a good improvement. Cheers John.
For an average rider, there is a lot of opinion about suspension. I’ve ridden my GS around Australia on some seriously bad roads and the GS took it in its stride. To say it’s “absolutely rubbish” on a comparatively smooth road is a demonstration of bias.
Consensus seems to point at my choice of the low chassis model. A lot of people who have owned both say they had the same experience. Standard Chassis no problems. :-(
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Ah. My apologies are owed. Because the standard size works well; I hadn’t picked up on that.
I agree with the damping, Dynamic is way too jerky for bad roads, Road is way too soft and flowy. When I'm riding with a passenger, I usually set it to Road just to not upset them, and ride much slower than I normally would.
As for the quickshifter, the way I'm using it is 1-2-3 I clutch, above 3 I use the QS. I also almost always use the QS going down even to 1st, it does a good job with that.
What I found is when I took it to a track, the quickshifter is a blessing, and works wonderfully in every gear. I think since it works on the principle of cutting the ignition, in higher revs there is a finer amount of control, as there are more ignition cycles in any given period of time. No wonder it's a "race inspired" technology, and fittingly, it works best in that context.
Thanks for the insight and your experience with the quick-shifter, makes complete sense. 👍. I'm glad your experience the ride as I do, lots of people don't believe it!
Traded my Ktm 890 adventure in for a r1250gs , previously lve always had naked/sports bikes, all l can say is l ride the gs harder and faster than any other bike I’ve own. I was worried about the so called lack of feel from the tele-lever front suspension but l find it gives great feedback, certainly agree with the quick shifter comments great up shifting but down shifts are hit and miss.
You can ride this bike hard and as you say, fast. Dynamically it is wonderful and i 100% acknowledge that. It is looking like the low chassis version of this bike is the culprit from owners who have had both versions.
3 years ago I have sold my F850GS for many reasons you mentioned here too. I am shocked 2023 R1250GS is still suffering from so many poor engineering solutions. I absolutely hated level of menus and buttons interface, the crapy navigation and forcing me to buy Gamin from BMW. Connectivity? Poorest ever and not stable (forgetting devices constantly).
I was recently considering getting back to GS (from my Husky 701 Enduro, with amazing WP XPLOR suspension by the way) but your video made me want to wait for R1300GS and _your_ review of the suspension, connectivity and user interface (button functions) after a test drive.
Thanks for making this video, very informative. Respect.
I’m glad it served a purpose. Yes, I think the wait for a much needed update would be worth it. Not sure I’d want to be first out the block on the new 1300 purchase though. Every manufacturer is going to have first release problems that will take 18 months or so to sort out. No doubt it will sell very well though. Thanks for watching. 👍
Interesting review, and I agree with pretty much all of your points (I switched from a 2019 R1250GS to a 2022 Tiger GT Explorer). There are pros and cons of both bikes, and I'm surprised you didn't mention the rear lights on the GS, which are (in my opinion) dangerous where they don't show enough differentiation between braking and turn signals.
Overall, I have a few regrets about having made the switch - until I remember the GS suspension!!! You are right. It offers a choice between wallowing and shaking your fillings out, and on a poor road surface neither of them work properly. In this respect the Tiger is a clear winner.
Hi Richard. The rear lights are a deficiency as you say, cannot understand what BMW were thinking there. It was the very last item I wanted to discuss under the bad points but "the virus of unknown origin" hit me this week and I decided to get the video out rather than delay it any longer. Thanks for the feedback, enjoy the GT Explorer!
I added a Clearwater Billie light for my RT because of the joke of a taillight on BMWs. In bright sunlight you are next to invisible to traffic.
I’m guessing the root of the “suspension hatred” is the lowered chassis version you’re riding. Or personal bias.
This seems to be the overwhelming consensus by those that have owned the low and the regular chassis.
Do you have the lowered suspension model? That’s supposed to be bad.
I do. It shouldn’t be mind as it still has plenty more travel than most road bikes.
It’s not the travel. It’s a known thing the short suspension is really harsh.
I have the 2022 GSA Standard Suspension and enjoy both the quick shifter and the suspension. This is my first road bike so can't compare it to others. I would be driving a Cadillac rather than a motorcycle and jeep wrangler if I didn't want to feel the road. I do need to ride some alternatives to feel what you mean. I have had jolts with the quick shifter but far more smooth transitions even between the lower gears but again I have not had the opportunity to experience a better quick shifter experience. Definitely a couple things I will keep in mind for my next bike but I still enjoy what I have. Thanks.
Thanks for your experiences Robert. Yes, I think the standard suspension is superior by all accounts from owners who have had both. I think the new 1300 with its ride height lowering may be the key to an improved ride for shorter legged riders such as myself.
We rode this bike on Indian roads a few months back and the bike was completely out of order. Same roads we did also on the africa twin and a tiger 900 Rally, no problems. But the 1250GS felt absolute shite on those bouncy roads. Thanks for pointing out the poor suspension.
Glad you can corroborate my experience.
Coudnt agree more on the suspension! Traded in my 2021 GS for a 2022 Tiger Rally pro.
Thanks for you posting your experience George.
I am currently riding around Southern Ireland two up on my 2018 1200XRT so understand the condition of your roads! I back to back compared this bike with a 1250gs when I bought it last year and have ridden the 1250 a number of times on and off road. I didn’t get the impression you have of the suspension. My experience of many dealers is that they are unable to diagnose any problem if it doesn’t come up when they plug it in to the computer. If I were you I would ask to test ride a different bike on the roads you know to check it’s not a bike specific problem? Good luck and cheers.
Thanks SP3. From the comments on this video and other owners it is fast becoming apparent that the Low Chassis variant of this bike suffers more than the regular one :-(
A very thorough review, which overall I agree with. It was good to see you loved the engine and chassis but I thought you concentrated on its layout, rather than its power characteristics. The 'quickshifter' ? Well, it's crap but can be made manageable by use, experience and 'pre-loading' the arm before changing up. The most surprising part was the suspension and how damning you were about it. It made me think and I couldn't really disagree with your comments. I think I've got used to it but it definitely performs better on those bumpy roads when you've got a load on. I've got one eye on an ohlins or touratech swap out for the future. I'm glad you mentioned the eye watering price of Triumph servicing, which is hardly ever mentioned and shocked me when I had a Tiger. Thanks for filming, editing and posting.
Thankyou for the kind words The Woodster. It is becoming more and more apparent from the comments that the low chassis version is the culprit. I did have more footage about the engine characteristics but the video was getting too long and I left it out. The engine is far smoother than a twin should be and its delivery is measured but strong, I never felt a real world usability power drop over my Tiger either.
I agree with you about the suspension 100% On road mode it is too bouncy and on dynamic it is harsh. If the road is good and a sudden bump comes along, it shatters my teeth. I don't think it is caused by the rider weight as I weigh 11 stones compared to your 18.5
Thanks for the feedback on the weight sharagan, very interesting
my sales guy told me the pegs are titanium. doesnt sound cheap to me and work brilliantly but thats me.
I know they work but they don't look like bling. BMW make no mention of this Enduro footpeg being made of Titanium, I somehow doubt that is the case but am willing to stand corrected. It is a big plus, you would think they would market that more. Part Number 77252468451 refers.
I have the 2021 R1250GSA that is fully loaded including the navigator. I concur with the most of the negatives you mentioned. The windscreen is unsafe to adjust at highway speeds if you even can do. I’m 5’10 and even the adventures slightly taller screen is to short and I get buffeting. The control wheel is not optimum and I have to rethink it every time I start a new riding year. With all of its faults it is still the bike I would have if I could only have one bike(I have 7).
You lucky thing, I have three, I have some catching up to do! Thanks for your input Papa Doug.
The quick shifter? Can you use it with power on? Or back off then shift? Looking at the footage he had power on.
This could bd the issue.
As far as the suspension is concerned my GS is absolutely incredible and no issues at all.
Upshifting is best done with power on like most quickshifters.
Finally smart reviewer!
Ooh, ta very much 👍.
So I got rid of my GS1250 due to awful suspension and bought a GT PRO, which is light years ahead with suspension and it’s just such a nice bike to ride
Well there you go, wish I had longer legs!
So you bought the lowered suspension version of the GS and are now complaining about the ride? Did you not bother to search the internet for comments about how the GS/GSA rode with lowered suspension? I'm on my 4th GSA, a 1250, all with standard height suspension and whilst the ride on any of them is not as plush as say, a K1600GT, its really not bad. And you missed one of the other major advantages of the BMW suspension and that is lack of dive under braking. As for the brakes themselves, being progressive is surely an advantage not a disadvantage? The brakes certainly work if you pull the lever hard enough. I will agree with you on the quickshifter. Its shit but then thats why God gave us the clutch and a hand to operate it with! As for your other complaints, you are missing out on one of the major functions of the whizz wheel by not having the BMW satnav because the whizz wheel can also control that. I find it particularly useful for zooming in and out on the screen when following a route. Apart from that the whizz wheel/button control is way simpler than on some other bikes and is all the better for that. I also have a Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports and the controls still fry my brain after 18 months of ownership. And one last comment. The most truly amazing thing about the 1250 engine is the smooth low down torque which means it will pull at virtually any revs in any gear
Even with ~30mm lowered suspension the travel is significantly more than most road bikes, its should have no bearing on the matter. The two bikes I mention on the same bit of road have far less suspension travel, one being from 1995 and the other from 2018. The CB1100 doesn't even have manually adjustable suspension? I tend not to suffer with dive under braking and so don't find this feature as anything unusual. On a public road and If you are observing well in advance there should be no need to be continually be using your brakes in an aggressive way at all, it is just not required. That does not mean riding slowly, brakes are for stopping at junctions unless you are using the road as a public racetrack. A bike equipped with forks needn't dive at all if you use it correctly. Any bike costing as much as a GS will have adjustable damping, if you are going to brake hard at every bend it is merely a matter of increasing the damping as you would be expected to do if riding aggressively. In summary I don't place any particular value on the anti dive feature of the GS because the forks don't dive on my other bikes either? The brakes If prefer to be more aggressive If I'm honest as I only expect to be using them with gusto in an emergency. You can two finger brake with superb strength in a hurry if needed. They are better than the brakes on my Daytona 1200 and the Nissins on my CB1000 though but not by a lot. Thanks for your input and experience Mick.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Well my Honda ATAS still dives under braking with the front suspension damping set to max so I guess it must be my riding then. I still think the lack of dive on the BMW suspension is a big plus. As for the ride I think you should have ridden the standard suspension version before damning the bike
Lowering a trail bike denatures it’s DNA. Yes it may have more suspension travel even in lowered form compared to your average roadster but it also weighs much more, it’s telelever and paralever suspension geometry makes it squat under braking or over bumps as opposed to forks compressing. The bike might by mechanically lowered but the spring rate on both shocks are the same as a non lowered bike. At the end, your short legs are penalizing the bikes natural performance.
I switched from two K16’s to a 1250GSA because it’s suspension travel is literally TWICE that of the k16. The last three years and 40000km have been like riding a magic carpet.
How is the sport suspension with its +20mm
My '22 GSA has a great suspension when taxed. I have no complaints at all except back lit switches. Power is great, carries a load really well and on a 500 mile day it doesn't wear me out. When I bought mine, I ditched the heated seat, the LED light and the quick shifter. All of this was way more expensive than they are worth. I guess I do have one complaint. I only get 38-40 miles per gallon and that happens if I cruise at over 75 mph. Wish that was better. Great video, thank you. But I can not see changing to the new GSA. To me, it isn't "better", just different.................... And advice ???? ......... Buy a Zumo XT. Best aftermarket investment ever !!!!!!! 🙂
I like the ZUMO XT, probably the best out there but got to wait for my Tom Tom Rider 550 to expire :-) Yes, long days are easy on the GS and I now use the "Enduro" suspension mode a lot more which copes with poor roads much better than any of the other two damping modes. Same for me on the Motorway, MPG plummets :-(
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff I tried "Enduro" and so far you are right !!!!!! It does do a much better job over a broader range of conditions. 🙂
@@TheAmerican1963 Excellent. Just be careful in the wet as traction and ABS are dialled down a bit.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff will do !!!!! Thanks for the advice !!!! 🙂
Use Speakon connectors for power. They are heavy duty and twist lock into place. Heated gloves & vests have their own pull-outs so you won’t be tied to the bike.
I shall look them up.