I like mine simple. Cruise, heated grips and quick shifter. The rest to me is superfluous to requirements. I hate the electronic suspension. I'd prefer to have the standard stuff. If I could get them without traction control and ABS I would.
Regarding your phone running out of battery. On my R1250 R I “snaked” a small diameter rubberized tube (off old hydration backpack) from the USB connection on left side and up under tank and secured it to frame near handlebars. Had split it open first and placed the USB cable for iPhone through it and wrapped the tube in electrical tape about every 6 inches. Then routed the remaining cable through handlebar mount and zip-tied in couple places near right brake and mirror housing. Quad-Lock in middle. Put iPhone on and plug it in.
taking delivery of mine this weekend .. exact the same as yours except for the cruise control and has the std pipe .... i love how utilitarian it looks
Thanks for your input on the R, Mark. I am looking at a '24 R model now. Although it seems to have almost every option on it what I am sorting through are the accessories which I am generously adding such as a windscreen (essential) and cylinder protection. The adaptive headlight greatly reduces the number of screens that are currently offered so I appear to have but one choice (Puig). I can probably make due with it since I will not be using the R for long distance touring. At least not yet. I currently have a Yamaha set up for that purpose. You are a bit taller than me so our approach to the seat is slightly different. I prefer a low seat setting if there is an option. The seat on the R I am considering is not the best for me though I may become accustomed to it. Time will tell. Cheers.
Got virtually the same bike & specs this year but 2019 model, used one with ridiculous low mileage. I got some extra lights in front of the cylinders. Looks fabulous. Have a small screen. Will get a smaller one. Would like to know your experience with wind buffeting and such. Love the bike. It’s a dream come true.
I did go with the adaptive headlight and totally digg it! I knew it was something I'd love after having one on my K1600. I was wondering if the Gear Shift Assist Pro I got is the same as the quick shifter you were talking about on yours? I havent tried shifting without the clutch yet but would love too :) Just hit 1600 miles on her today!
On the TPM. One thing I have found is that my Dewalt Air Compressor digital readout, vs a standard mechanical “pen” size pressure gauge vs the TPM all report different pressures and the range can span up to 4-5 psi. Which is right? Who knows.
how does the phone adapter thing workout? see I think I probably would have optioned it if I knew that the cradle could be adapted to fit a phone... hindsight is a beautiful thing I guess.
What an excellent video! BMW options packages can be such a maze and although a lot of them sound tempting, not all of them are essential. I've got a previous gen R, with pretty similar options. Wholeheartedly agree with the quickshifter, cruise control, and of course the Akra exhaust. Combined with the electronic suspension, it makes the bike so versatile. In town, put it in Road mode for the suspension and shift with the clutch, smooth and restrained. Once reaching the alpine twisties, flick it into Dynamic, open up the throttle and bang up and down the gears, all while listening to the mesmerizing pops and gurgles. The adaptive headlight does sound nice, I think this upgraded headlight is a massive improvement over the version my model has. I've got factory auxiliary lights, they help a lot. Tyre pressure monitoring is indeed very much just a nice to have. I've ridden over 50k on my bike and only once did I get a puncture, the alert was very welcome then of course. And it's just peace of mind checking the pressure on the dash instead of having to check it manually. The GPS cradle is indeed an eyesore. I bought a smartphone cradle converter for it off of AliExpress and it's been very nice. It also has 2 charging ports and takes the power from the cradle. It does get in the way of my tankbag at slow speed manoeuvring. Another piece of the touring pack that you don't get is the topcase rack. Which is not a tragedy, the factory top case is very small, doesn't even fit a helmet. It is very practical though, so I keep it on all the time. It does take away from the look of the bike a lot though. I like your tailpack solution better. What do think about adding a windscreen? Handguards? And some kind of protection for the cylinder covers, if it tips over when stationary (happened to me more times than I want to admit)? Also, what tyres will you be getting when the factory ones wear out?
Superb bike and it sounds like you got it spot on. I have a 1250RS and a 1250GS as well. It's my third bike with TPMS and I have found it quite useful, particularly on tour where I ended up with a slow puncture. I have an Akro for the GS and have to confess for me it was a waste of money as the standard can doesn't look and sound that bad. I have the standard can on the RS and it's not the best looking and I wish my GS Akra fitted. I am going for the flat bar conversion for the RS as it just looks and feels better. The RS and the R are much more refined and sporty than the GS particularly the handling and the quickshifter. The GS is much more agricultural but great for multi day trips.
I'm not getting an R, but an RS, so the options are much the same. I went for the SE version which includes the dynamic pack, for the same reasons you did. It also includes the Touring pack so heated grips, centre stand, pannier mounts and Nav prep (I already have a Nav5) I didn't bother with the Akro simply because I thought it was over priced Seat wise, I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum at 5'7" so went for the low seat so I can get my feet down, plus I like to sit more in the bike than on it. I also spec'd the chrome exhaust and headers and heated grips. I didn't bother with the keyless ride as having had 3 GS' 1 without it and 2 with it's a nice to have but not something I wanted to pay extra for, similar with the TPMS, had that on all 3 GS' but never used it. One other thing I picked was the tubular bars so I sit a bit more upright. The fact you can really tailor the bike to suit you is one of the reasons I've bought 5 BMWs over the years, to me it really makes them stand out from the rest as the same bike can be configured to fit such a wide range of riders with things like different seat heights etc.
nice on Bazza... I really do love mine, can't get enough of it really... superb build quality can be felt... having ridden a good few other motorcycles now I'm genuinely not sure where this boxer engine fits... it's a strange one because I think it's great but those high revving sports engines are quite infectious... I think in every day riding you would constantly get the jump on those sort of bike and keep it right unto 100... what are your thoughts on it ?
@@marksgaragestuff Here in the UK my feelings are IL4's are not the best option because the roads are so congested and with the speed cameras and mobile vans riding one is licence limiting. Infectious as you say but if I compare the RS to the Z1000SX from Kawasaki I rode a few years ago the Kwaka liked to be spanked and in less time than it takes to say sorry officer you're into automatic ban speeds as it pulls harder as it revs. I actually think a twin is the best bike for the road becauae of it's superior torque right across the rev range as it drives out of corners so much quicker than an IL4 of similar HP which means I can still have fun, but retain my licence. It does depend on your riding style to some extent though. If you're an on the trottle and brakes rider then maybe a twin isn't the best for you, but if like me you're a smooth rider then that flat torque curve that provides instant drive anywhere and loads of engine braking too means you can ride at pace for miles just using the throttle and hardly have to use the brakes, which in turn keeps the bike balanced and it's less tiring for the rider too. The slightly lower final drive gearing on the R/RS compared to the GS also means overtakes are so easy too, just a roll on/roll off of the throttle and you're past and back in again matching the next car in front's speed. Add to all this that fuel consumption on the twins is much better than the IL4's (my 1250GS regularly shows 60mpg on the trip) means you don't have to look for fuel so often too, which is something else that's important on a sports tourer. Finally for such a relatively heavy bike (which helps with stability) the low COG thanks to the boxer twin means not only is it flickable through thr turns but it's also earier to handle at low speed. But keep it a secret as they'll all want one and BMW will hike the price just as they have with the GS.
I currently have an R1200GSA 2019 TE. I am in the process of selling it. It's too big for my needs, boring and pretty pointless for solely riding on the road. Whilst i like the 1250R, i didn't on that much of a difference from the 1200R 2017 to the 1250R 2019 other than the TFT and £3k price difference. Picking up a 2017 R1200R Sport with full luggage for £6000, 13k miles, this will be my new touring bike. There is no need for these big, expensive adventure bikes. Also left a deposit on a 765RS to be ready in March for the summer months 😁
I like mine simple. Cruise, heated grips and quick shifter. The rest to me is superfluous to requirements. I hate the electronic suspension. I'd prefer to have the standard stuff. If I could get them without traction control and ABS I would.
bit hard to hear everything, volume seems down on your other vid's. Love bmw so will be watching for other vid's. U keep them short -_- great.
Cheers Bruce
Regarding your phone running out of battery. On my R1250 R I “snaked” a small diameter rubberized tube (off old hydration backpack) from the USB connection on left side and up under tank and secured it to frame near handlebars. Had split it open first and placed the USB cable for iPhone through it and wrapped the tube in electrical tape about every 6 inches. Then routed the remaining cable through handlebar mount and zip-tied in couple places near right brake and mirror housing. Quad-Lock in middle. Put iPhone on and plug it in.
Thats a cool idea man - I’ll look at doing that for the summer
taking delivery of mine this weekend .. exact the same as yours except for the cruise control and has the std pipe .... i love how utilitarian it looks
Brilliant bike I think… let me know how you get on with it :-)
Very enjoyable watch I’ve just found your channel keep them coming please 👏
Thanks mate! I'm glad you liked it
I have TPS on my R1250R, I find it really useful for keeping an eye on the tyre
pressures.
Hmmm yeah and in hind site it probably option the same… not sure if it can be retro fitted
Same bike, same colour, same specs, standard exhaust,
Thanks for your input on the R, Mark.
I am looking at a '24 R model now. Although it seems to have almost every option on it what I am sorting through are the accessories which I am generously adding such as a windscreen (essential) and cylinder protection. The adaptive headlight greatly reduces the number of screens that are currently offered so I appear to have but one choice (Puig). I can probably make due with it since I will not be using the R for long distance touring. At least not yet. I currently have a Yamaha set up for that purpose.
You are a bit taller than me so our approach to the seat is slightly different. I prefer a low seat setting if there is an option. The seat on the R I am considering is not the best for me though I may become accustomed to it. Time will tell.
Cheers.
Thanks for a great review. I’m looking to buy an r1250r and I’m finding all the different packages and accessories from BMW totally baffling.
Great bike. I use my Nav cradle to mount and power as CarPlay unit.
Got virtually the same bike & specs this year but 2019 model, used one with ridiculous low mileage. I got some extra lights in front of the cylinders. Looks fabulous. Have a small screen. Will get a smaller one. Would like to know your experience with wind buffeting and such. Love the bike. It’s a dream come true.
I did go with the adaptive headlight and totally digg it! I knew it was something I'd love after having one on my K1600.
I was wondering if the Gear Shift Assist Pro I got is the same as the quick shifter you were talking about on yours? I havent tried shifting without the clutch yet but would love too :) Just hit 1600 miles on her today!
On the TPM. One thing I have found is that my Dewalt Air Compressor digital readout, vs a standard mechanical “pen” size pressure gauge vs the TPM all report different pressures and the range can span up to 4-5 psi. Which is right? Who knows.
That’s a fairly big difference - bit worrying considering I only have one measuring device haha
I test rode this bike and really enjoyed it. Proper torque monster. Packs a lot of punch. I just prefer the riding position on the GS.
hey thanks for joining the journey - have some exciting stuff coming up so possibly see you around soon ... have a great weekend :-)
Awesome machine and chat on the Specification was interesting brother!
Got an adapter for my Nav prep to charge my phone.
CC and heated grips are a must
how does the phone adapter thing workout? see I think I probably would have optioned it if I knew that the cradle could be adapted to fit a phone... hindsight is a beautiful thing I guess.
What an excellent video! BMW options packages can be such a maze and although a lot of them sound tempting, not all of them are essential. I've got a previous gen R, with pretty similar options. Wholeheartedly agree with the quickshifter, cruise control, and of course the Akra exhaust. Combined with the electronic suspension, it makes the bike so versatile. In town, put it in Road mode for the suspension and shift with the clutch, smooth and restrained. Once reaching the alpine twisties, flick it into Dynamic, open up the throttle and bang up and down the gears, all while listening to the mesmerizing pops and gurgles.
The adaptive headlight does sound nice, I think this upgraded headlight is a massive improvement over the version my model has. I've got factory auxiliary lights, they help a lot. Tyre pressure monitoring is indeed very much just a nice to have. I've ridden over 50k on my bike and only once did I get a puncture, the alert was very welcome then of course. And it's just peace of mind checking the pressure on the dash instead of having to check it manually.
The GPS cradle is indeed an eyesore. I bought a smartphone cradle converter for it off of AliExpress and it's been very nice. It also has 2 charging ports and takes the power from the cradle. It does get in the way of my tankbag at slow speed manoeuvring. Another piece of the touring pack that you don't get is the topcase rack. Which is not a tragedy, the factory top case is very small, doesn't even fit a helmet. It is very practical though, so I keep it on all the time. It does take away from the look of the bike a lot though. I like your tailpack solution better.
What do think about adding a windscreen? Handguards? And some kind of protection for the cylinder covers, if it tips over when stationary (happened to me more times than I want to admit)? Also, what tyres will you be getting when the factory ones wear out?
hey thanks for joining the journey - have some exciting stuff coming up so possibly see you around soon ... have a great weekend :-)
Superb bike and it sounds like you got it spot on. I have a 1250RS and a 1250GS as well. It's my third bike with TPMS and I have found it quite useful, particularly on tour where I ended up with a slow puncture. I have an Akro for the GS and have to confess for me it was a waste of money as the standard can doesn't look and sound that bad. I have the standard can on the RS and it's not the best looking and I wish my GS Akra fitted. I am going for the flat bar conversion for the RS as it just looks and feels better. The RS and the R are much more refined and sporty than the GS particularly the handling and the quickshifter. The GS is much more agricultural but great for multi day trips.
hey thanks for joining the journey - have some exciting stuff coming up so possibly see you around soon ... have a great weekend :-)
And I like my TPS zero issues so far.
I'm not getting an R, but an RS, so the options are much the same. I went for the SE version which includes the dynamic pack, for the same reasons you did. It also includes the Touring pack so heated grips, centre stand, pannier mounts and Nav prep (I already have a Nav5) I didn't bother with the Akro simply because I thought it was over priced
Seat wise, I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum at 5'7" so went for the low seat so I can get my feet down, plus I like to sit more in the bike than on it. I also spec'd the chrome exhaust and headers and heated grips. I didn't bother with the keyless ride as having had 3 GS' 1 without it and 2 with it's a nice to have but not something I wanted to pay extra for, similar with the TPMS, had that on all 3 GS' but never used it. One other thing I picked was the tubular bars so I sit a bit more upright. The fact you can really tailor the bike to suit you is one of the reasons I've bought 5 BMWs over the years, to me it really makes them stand out from the rest as the same bike can be configured to fit such a wide range of riders with things like different seat heights etc.
nice on Bazza... I really do love mine, can't get enough of it really... superb build quality can be felt... having ridden a good few other motorcycles now I'm genuinely not sure where this boxer engine fits... it's a strange one because I think it's great but those high revving sports engines are quite infectious... I think in every day riding you would constantly get the jump on those sort of bike and keep it right unto 100... what are your thoughts on it ?
@@marksgaragestuff Here in the UK my feelings are IL4's are not the best option because the roads are so congested and with the speed cameras and mobile vans riding one is licence limiting. Infectious as you say but if I compare the RS to the Z1000SX from Kawasaki I rode a few years ago the Kwaka liked to be spanked and in less time than it takes to say sorry officer you're into automatic ban speeds as it pulls harder as it revs. I actually think a twin is the best bike for the road becauae of it's superior torque right across the rev range as it drives out of corners so much quicker than an IL4 of similar HP which means I can still have fun, but retain my licence. It does depend on your riding style to some extent though. If you're an on the trottle and brakes rider then maybe a twin isn't the best for you, but if like me you're a smooth rider then that flat torque curve that provides instant drive anywhere and loads of engine braking too means you can ride at pace for miles just using the throttle and hardly have to use the brakes, which in turn keeps the bike balanced and it's less tiring for the rider too. The slightly lower final drive gearing on the R/RS compared to the GS also means overtakes are so easy too, just a roll on/roll off of the throttle and you're past and back in again matching the next car in front's speed. Add to all this that fuel consumption on the twins is much better than the IL4's (my 1250GS regularly shows 60mpg on the trip) means you don't have to look for fuel so often too, which is something else that's important on a sports tourer. Finally for such a relatively heavy bike (which helps with stability) the low COG thanks to the boxer twin means not only is it flickable through thr turns but it's also earier to handle at low speed. But keep it a secret as they'll all want one and BMW will hike the price just as they have with the GS.
bit of a beast that bike
Yeah it’s a bullet mate
I currently have an R1200GSA 2019 TE. I am in the process of selling it. It's too big for my needs, boring and pretty pointless for solely riding on the road.
Whilst i like the 1250R, i didn't on that much of a difference from the 1200R 2017 to the 1250R 2019 other than the TFT and £3k price difference.
Picking up a 2017 R1200R Sport with full luggage for £6000, 13k miles, this will be my new touring bike. There is no need for these big, expensive adventure bikes.
Also left a deposit on a 765RS to be ready in March for the summer months 😁
hey thanks for joining the journey - have some exciting stuff coming up so possibly see you around soon ... have a great weekend :-)
How the hell do you do 10k in 6 months 😳
literally ride it everyday... commute on it and enjoy riding out to explore ... it's insane lol but the novelty is starting to ware off a bit lol
@@marksgaragestuff That’s crazy mate lol