Off road in dynamic pro. So you have no clue what you are doing then ? You are the noobs , sorry I misunderstood your channel as one advising noobs, as opposed to being the noobs. So, Not the first idea - and then you say “adjust the suspension at a stand still”. No , wrong again. A fountain of incorrect information. Consider that in what is a massively more motorcycle centric culture than in the US, the bike sells in massive numbers across Europe. And then wonder , all those people want un-playful bikes that are just heavy gadget toys. Geez this is killing me, you talking about how good the “tech package” is working off road, all the while you sit there in dynamic pro, ignorant and oblivious.
Not a bmw fan, dont own a gs. But to say the bike doesn t handle spirited riding, it s just ridiculous! You just need to get used to the suspension. I have seen guys riding these bikes insanely fast on twisties, knees dragging and full blast. Overall the review feels more like a rant..
I own a 2022 gsa and (hayabusa and tigers1050 and 2004 r1 and speed triple before this) It’s the easiest bike to flick from side to side. I don’t think it’s the suspension you need to get used to. It feels very natural. I believe it’s the tires they’re using.
I'm actually super glad you guys did this, because I never realized that I could book adventures with a bike out west! You've definitely sold me on it, ill be booking for my birthday next year!
BMW must be doing something right to have all these haters telling people to get anything other than a GS which often isn’t even in the same category of motorcycle. Haters gonna hate but riders are gonna ride. Cheers to those like me enjoying whatever they ride and ignoring the haters
Earlier this year, in March as I was thinking which adventure mc I wanted to gift myself, it came down to realizing how everyone else compare their bikes to BMW's GS. Just like how many manufacturing companies compare their off road vehicles to Jeeps and Toyotas. Nearly 8000 miles later, I love my 750GS. Have pushed my GS on the Million Dollar Hwy and onto rocky and sandy trails here in Colorado. I am impressed by the nimbleness, torque, speed, and suspension, and especially abilities to push through sand, rocks, and water. It is dependable and reliable. A few months later, my honey went from a 07 to a 2021 1250GSA, no regrets and may love his GSA more than me. Hey, vice versa too! LOL! The majority of your opinions were opposite of what my honey thinks of his bike. Maybe it is his personal preference after riding over 20 years on dirt bikes, cruisers, and adventure. Have fun!
After 2 years on dirt bikes, this was my first street-legal bike. The GS is pretty damn dreamy. For tech-y off-road, a smaller bike is going to be better, but when I have to crank out 200 miles to get to another 50 miles of dirt to my campsite a big ADV (with no chain) is fantastic. It's basically a 2-wheeled Land Rover.
I’ve ridden this thing once. Hands down best allround bike. Only disadvantage is the impossibility to lane split in tight situations (like we have in European inner cities).
I ride mine in Bangkok traffic, you can lane split as long as there's width for the handlebars and guards. No doubt a small scooter is better, but its very manageable. As soon as you're out of the traffic its amazing!
I'm an ADV dad, and I enjoy riding my Africa Twin to work, Starbucks, on the hwy, and on dirt forest roads. If I want to single track I wouldn't take a litre bike and if was going to a racetrack I wouldn't take a Harley. When you want to cover a couple hundred miles of gravel, for 5 days in a row,, or 50 days, who you gonna call??
Hi, Have been driving bikes for a lot of years now, and have "landed" on a BMW 2021 GSA. That is my fourth BMW(2018 1200 GS, 2019 1250 GS, 2020 1250 GSA, and the last one 2021 1250 GSA) and i,m VERY satisfied. In 2017 i had a KTM 1290, and in the beginning of 2018 i bought a Triumph Tiger1200. Both great bikes, but in my opinion, the BMW is a step "up", and clearly the most versatile of them. Not as fast as the KTM, and not as comfy as the tiger on the highways, but in "all" a better bike for variable use. A heavy bike, but i feel that the weight is placed low, so it feels very easy to handle. The swing radius is also impeccable. I,m retired(firefighter), and i,m using my BMW daily. Bought it in July 2021, and have been driving 6700 km so far. My longest trip with it was 680 km in one day, and that was a plasure ride from the start to the end. I coose the Michelin Adventure tyres, and are very happy with them. We have a lot of gravel roads in the mountains i Norway. I,m 195 cm tall, 95 kilos, and for my size the GSA suits perfect. I have no plans for replacing it for the next years. Greetings from cold Norway : ))
why? Rayen F9 is on another level… or dimension… He uses bikes like this, as others use small dirt bikes. He is extremely good off road, and think he have taken one on a single tracks.
You were in Dynamic Pro mode, which is a sports mode meant for the highway - with suspension and throttle matched for high speed riding. I'm wondering why you didn't use Enduro Pro mode, which is designed for off road riding. Perhaps your experience may have been different?
Yip, what I expected from you! GS is an extremely capable machine both on and off road. Single track?...no not really but I've seen skilled riders make it look easy. I ride my R1250GS on some pretty gnarly tracks/jeep trails/SxS/ATV tracks/Mtn passes in CO and afterwards put it back into Dynamic Pro and soak up the slab roads back home. Very well balanced bike in slow maneuvers. This is why I subscribe to Bret Tkacs' videos. GET TRAINED and DO NOT GO blasting off into the unknown roads on your first ride, on a new bike, and in a new area. This, in itself, show how irresponsible you are and set the tone immediately as to where this "review" was headed. For those really wanting to watch & learn, watch videos from Bret Tkacs, Dusty Wessels/Mototrek, and some others. Sorry, but you guys do NOT have the schema and rapport to do this type of review!!
K1600 has about the smoothest quick shifter I have ever seen from any gear to any gear. The quick shifter and the rear brake and the weight are the worst parts of this bike.
Lol, I was on a ladies dual sport ride just last weekend with a petite 60-ish year old woman, maybe 5'4", riding her 1250GS. She handled it just fine over rocky hill climbs, drainage ditches, and more. Props to that lady
At 53 years old. my GSA is my 2nd bike, my 1st bike ( for 3 month) was a Yamaha FJR 1300 that I loved and got used to. But I find my GSA a lot easier and pleasant to drive on the road. Whatever at low speed or high speed, I prefer a lot my GSA to the FJR 1300 ( I have the GSA, the larger configuration of the GS, with the big tank).
At my last track day one of the instructors had one of these GS's. That guy was dragging a knee, lapping everybody, and was carrying passengers. So I think you guys are whining about the weight, and handling.
Yes. It’s clear they don’t like anything BMW & will find fault where there is none. I have been waiting for their GS ride so I could hear there whining & complaining.
An instructor, someone who is very good at track days and riding. Youre telling me he did something impressive on an objectively heavy machine. And that invalidates these guys opinions on their channel which is clearly directed at general or new riders. Not track day instructors. Good one.
Ah really loving this on the channel. Great choice of music. BMW guy here, but I like mostly all of your stuff. I have a BMW R1200 CLC, it's 18 years old and going strong. Thanks for this post made this old guy's day. Stay safe.
Nice review, boys! The GS/GSA is not for everyone, however, I find it to be the best all-round bike and it will be my next (and probably last) bike. Having done all sorts of riding over decades and gotten over all my extreme on- and off-road riding “desires”, I’m selling my current sport touring and cruiser bikes for a GSA. I’ve had the privilege of riding many parts of the world, with thousands of miles on Ducatis, Aprilias, KTM’s, and BMW’s (including the GS), among others. For my expected future riding of 70/30 street/light off-road mix, the GS/GSA is perfectly suited for me. I find it extremely comfortable (6’1”) for short commuting and long touring, and it will definitely out-perform my capabilities in all technical situations I’ll put myself and the bike into. The GS/GSA, as you noted, definitely grows on you the more you ride it. Once you “figure out” how to “throw” it into curves, it will hang with most bikes out there no problem, with a special sweet-spot of running 60-90mph sweepers all day (and night) long! Keep the rubber-side down!
@yammienoob you are spot on at 23:40. I just got the 2023 gs and I dropped that bike 8 times the first day. It was raining and where I live it's muddy, sandy and very slippery when wet. Worse time I have had on a bike. I have a T7 too and I don't think I would have suffered as much on it. I still avoid going out on my bikes when it rains here cuss it's a nightmare. You are guaranteed to fall
I had most GS bikes, from R80GS to R1200GS, and ended with the R1200 HP2 Enduro. Dry weight 175kg (385lbs) With some mods like a 2.5 lbs LFP battery and Titanium exhaust. With a larger gastank and paniers it was still below a wet weight 430lbs, and 125hp + 120nm tq it has been the best adv bike ever build. BMW should make more HP2 based bikes, but they lost a lot of $ on every HP2 they sold 🤣
@@chrishart8548 Do you mean this 1250 Adv? Or the 2005 HP2 Enduro that i spoke about? Coarse the HP2 was planned to build only 1000, but by huge demand the build 1000 extra and after that they made 3000 extra, due to high demand. But they lost money on every bike, so they stopped after 5000 bikes build. Today, the price of an old HP2 can pas $25.000.
With much respect to you both. I gotta say there's a reason why BMW and Ducati offer adventure bike training clinics. Because without a doubt there's a bit of a learning curve associated with this class of bike. Just like riding your liter bike on track days it takes time to develop the skills. And with that said, could I possibly make a suggestion as to a future alternative giveaway bike being a Ducati Multistrada 1260. Its on my dream bike list second only to a MV Agusta F3. Thanks , much appreciate your channel.
Please guys you do nothing but insult the bike and it’s loyal owners You say you don’t know how it wants to be ridden makes no sense I’m older than you guys and have ridden every type of motorcycle for 40 years I owned everything and this bike is the best I’ve ever owned It’s the best DO IT ALL BIKE PERIOD ! And does it very well & refined If you can’t afford one don’t knock it Your reviews are very crotch rocket biased but then again what would you know anyway
Several things. I'm a BMW owner. - You learn to shift a BMW. No, it's not buttery smooth by any stretch of the imagination, but you have to learn to make it work. - The motor. It's not supposed to be high revving. This is different. It makes smooth, controllable power below 6000 rpm. This is as it should be. If you ride racer replicas, you won't understand it. - Telelever helps keep the front end from diving. I am not a GS fan. I wonder what would have been the result had you included an R1250r with 60/40 rubber on the same test.
I love the idea of a motorcycle that can do it all. ADV bikes are like SUVs. I got into it with a small adventure bike. Even then I did not end up enjoying the dirt aspect of having to constantly clean the chain and being careful and uncomfortable at the same time. That said I still love the idea of an ADV bike not for the strict purpose of going off roading, but of having an on-road machine which, if you have to go off road, you can.
This review in no way represent how capable the GS / GSA is. Neither does the riders. All road riding, although some gravel roads. This is in no way off road 🤣.
I was just there! Beautiful area. I looped my bike on Kane Creek Trail because I was tired riding sloppy and cracked my engine casing. Gotta love my DRZ. Held enough oil to get out with no engine damage.
Plus, using a dab of JB-Weld to patch the case of a DRZ is a perfectly acceptable fix! If you want to do the permanent repair you might just slap a case-saver over the crack. 😜
went from KTM 1290 SAS -17 to BMW R1250GS and at first i liked it alot but now..... I LOVE it!...... Even tried the new KTM 1290 and thought of maybe going back but NAH, was'nt as good as the GS.
It's fine if you've got money, only plan on hitting dirt occasionally, and don't mind a 500-600 pound bike when its loaded up for a real adventure. I've ridden all over SE Asia on dirtbikes - Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam - that's what you want for a real off-road, go anywhere trip. Most ADV riders I've met in the forests and mountains of Asia who actually do long trips, especially solo, do not ride heavy bikes you can't easily pick up yourself. The one time I ran into some GS guys, they had been bushwhacking through the jungle and readily admitted that they'd never do it alone and would have been totally fucked on their own when they dropped bikes at low speed in the mud, sometimes on themselves.
If it wasn't for sponsoring Owen McGregor and Charley Boorman"s "Long Way Round" documentary, the BMW ADV bikes would never have gained so much attention. If one can get past their fantasy of being like Boorman & McGregor, there are several ADV class bikes that are better by almost any subjective comparison of things that matter most (starting with reliability and maintenance costs.) If your looking for the right "image bike" for trips to Starbucks however, any model of BMW with GS - ADV in the name is probably going to be what you want. 😉
Great video guys. I am in the process of trying to decide which adventure bike to buy and this one tops my list. If this is not a voiceover video, then it’s a very good testament to the suspension on the GS. Your dialogue seems to be very smooth, considering the roads you were riding on.
Spent a few days in the Mojave on some GS with my 2 20 something sons. I the sand I was wore out and they looked like it was nothing. Finally had to listen to my kids. Just let the bike do what it wants to do in the sand don’t fight it. The bike wants to stay up right. After taking their advice it was much better.
I’ve ridden a GSA Rallye for the past few years. They are great bikes, and are true mile pounding machines for adventure touring. They handle great on the road. Definitely agree on the comments regarding the quick shifter. It’s not as smooth as I thought it would be. Even in the optional RPM shift range it’s very noticeable and not as smooth. The KTM 890 ADV R quick shifter actually beats the GS one. Another draw back is weight. Regardless of the low center of gravity… 600 lbs wet without luggage is heavy when dropped. I dead lift and I am very athletic, but it’s a lot to pick up, especially on slopes off road. Any technical stuff worthy of merit shows the GS limitations, including small consistent bumps and the tele lever suspension. I grew up on dirt bikes and will be moving to a KTM 890 ADV R for next season. In my opinion these bikes are limited off road for gravel and dirt roads, nothing more. If that’s all you’re doing off road and mostly do road miles/ cross country travel, and looking for a very refined bike, the GSA is perfect for you. It really depends on what you’re looking for. Im moving for more dirt capability, 150lb weight cut, and still maintaining low center of gravity. A GS can do it all, but very few can do it all on a GS, especially a GSA.
I have one of these and I have a decent level of training and experience…nothing to boast about. I don’t think you were really riding them. At the speeds you mentioned they are dull. I can tell you from experience that if you up the pace and trust the engineering these bikes can really move on a road. The GS makes a great upright sports tourer. My knees don’t like a smaller bike but this thing will still go with most bikes unless they are being piloted by a very talented rider. These bikes are hard to beat. That said, I miss my KTM! 😂
1)Peg throttle! kick it up, that shifter is silky smooth when you know what you're doing!! It's like a supercar paddle shifter when done right. 2) throttle through that sand! No need to drop that pig man. Stand up! 3) Single track is fun, catch air. (I'm 5'8" FYI and that bike is very manageable, see chick vids on YT) 4) sell me that busted bike cheap please ;-) I sold mine & regret it. 5) Burr trail, classy ride! Thanks guys
I have a r1200gs. I agree with Yammie. It is a very heavy bike. It's cumbersome for hardcore off-road. I like it because it's comfortable on long trips and will easily do light off-roading without issues.
I just bought a GSA and after about 5 minutes with it I had the telelever figured out and just rode it up a 8200 foot mountain on rocky and gravel road and had zero problems with the shitty 90/10 Bridgestones it came stock on. Maybe try taking the bike off Dynamic Pro (road) mode and switch to Enduro or Enduro Pro in the dirt, helps to read the manual or play around with the mode buttons. I would consider myself entry level with less than 500 miles off the pavement and most of it on a Tiger 900 GT Pro. This was pretty weak, you guys might want to stick to those "twisty" Texas roads instead.
Not sure why you are riding in Dynamic Pro mode while off-road. (You should be in Enduro.) It does explain to me why you have your hands full while traversing a little sand. These bikes are very capable off-road. I would suggest an adventure riding class such as Rawhyde Adventures to learn how to properly ride these bikes in the dirt. Due to their size and weight, it’s good to get some riding tips from the experts.
You can thank Gaston Rahier, (who was actually really small to mount his GS during the Dakar back in the days) for this bike. This is where this bike came from, and the heritage is enormous.
The bike is the "best" at what it is designed for...if you take it to the extremes ends of road and off road use then you are right, it is not the right bike! Good job at living up to the hate and continued bias for a great motorcycle. ...you think it videos like this as to why you can not get to one million subscribers?
Yup.. you can easily find on youtube, skilled riders using these big bikes doing very techincal things. just like I can find thousands of videos where people are doing the type of offroading you see here on smaller dualsports. Doesn't matter if you are on a 250lb DS or a 600lb ADV.. rider skills makes all the difference offroad
I am 6'3" 240lbs and I ride a f850gs. I believe that yeah the r1250gs are over glorified with it's "the best adventure bike" scene. Just like all the flaws you guys mentioned in this, I wholeheartedly agree. It's why I went for the 850 instead. Much lighter, comes with all the right features you could ever need, pretty much exactly the same as the 1250, and you get the benefit of it being on a lighter bike that is cheaper and just as offroad capable as the 1250, if not better. I love my 850, and I will continue to enjoy every mile I put down on it cause it really is something amazing
Before my 2017 KLR 650 was totalled in an accident, I'd take it up to the GA mountains every weekend. I concur with Yams statement about "slowing down to enjoy the sights" especially on trails like that. That was on of the biggest selling points for me to get into ADV, even though I've been riding and racing dirt bikes for over a decade. There were times where I would take the pig on single track and it wasn't easy, but possible if you maintained momentum. Definitely get a dirt bike if you wanna be a dirt rossi.
I love my ADV.. while most of the people around me are only doing "highway runs" on a sports bike I can do the same, and comfortably ride urban, don't care about pothole, do hooligan things like jump rail tracks/bumps enter a construction area ,cut through fields/ grass/dirt medians etc..and I have the legs to cruse the hill country comfortable all day. Experienced riders can and do single track these kind of bikes, it depends on rider skill. You can find vids of (skilled) people hopping rocks with Africa twins and KTM 1290s on YT.. where as plenty of medicore riders are using 250lb dual sports on the type of light off roading shown here too.
Thanks for the video. Although you made plenty of sense in your review regarding the cons of the bike, some points of yours were actually incorrect. I think it’s safe to mention that you were wrong about the bore/stroke of the 1250 engine. There actually is a lot more BORE than STROKE on that engine. It’s a work of art.
An honest review from 2 ‘non-GS’ guys. A ‘Busa and Cruiser guy no less.. I think just jumping on a GS all willie nillie and going for a ride doesn’t really give the GS it’s best chance. I looked at the GS, and went with the XR because of it’s sportier demeanor. My next bike very well may be a GS, because for touring in it’s weight class, I don’t think it’s all day comfort can be beat. As you get older, appreciation for comfort becomes more prevalent. I do appreciate Yammie giving the GS a ‘fair shot’ so to speak on the channel.
I'm stuck between the gs and xr. I love the xr1000s 4 cylinder, but I like the size, comfort and offroad capabilities of the gs. Luckily tho, it seems like the lines between the two series are blurring, and hopefully soon we can get a R1000gs adventure
@@Agent001 The XR can 'dual sport' to an extent, but I didn't have much fun in sand. My reason for the XR was a compromise of comfort and handling. Coming off an '06 Concours (ZG1000) the seating position was similar, power and handling bumped up 1000%, and losing 170 lbs was a huge bonus. I do miss the Connie's weather protection, Hard to beat that. The XR is a great canyon carver, it excels on the tarmac, where I'll gladly stay. 😄
@@Agent001 I think the torque of the GS for many practical, everyday applications suits me better, but of course each to their own! Roll on 6th gear very decent with the GS when cruising 110ish kmph.
In sand, speed is your friend, sit farther back and let the front tire essentially glide Let the bars wiggle alittle, loose elbows Speakin from years of experience Once that front tire digs in, your fucked lol
Rain Mode.. will control the torque. If you are having an issue with the rear wheel;. The HD doesnt have the leg room that the GS has. Once they come out with a lowering kit for the pegs,, then maybe ill try it again
Might want to put it into offroad mode instead of dynamic pro when u go offroad on those things... Instead of bitching about the torque. Actually do your homework on it.
That's probably THE most infuriating thing about this "review". Don't complain about the performance when you have configured the bike completely wrong! What a bunch of gimps.
In the end the best bike is the one you feel at your best when riding it and like it a lot. Ranting and criticizing brands while pushing other brands for a “reason” or just because YOU like it is irrelevant. However riders have different opinions about the same bike, and it is still interesting to watch those videos.
Great video, but what size bike do y’all ride? The GS is not that big. I guess I’m used to bigger bikes, because to me my Africa Twin felt tiny and my GS feels kinda small too. My Harley touring bikes and Goldwing felt big. Anyway, great video! I really enjoyed it.
Hatchet job. Before he gets on the bike: "GPS b/c they want to know their exact route to Starbucks" Ef ew I've never been to starbucks in my life. Pre-judge much? Oh, and spoken by the guy who crashed the bike in his first five minutes riding. I've also seen dozens of GS reviews over the years, and no one has ever complained of the weight or agility in motion. Standing still, yes it's a heavy bike and might fall over on yamm, but in motion it's light as a feather. And don't let this be your first off-road bike, like our fine reviewer here, but in the right hands it is a blast.
That's it! You know (as well as I do, cause we've actually ridden one) as soon as you're moving the bike weighs nothing.. So wtf is YN cruising down the road around 50 mph saying "man this bike is just so heavy"!? Talk about blowing your credibility.
Interesting video. But while watching I wondered if you guys had ever taken good adventure bike riding classes. Classes that taught how to handle sand etc? A big bike like the gs takes some special skills it seems to me.
Sorry guys, but I would have to say this is by far the worst review of this bike I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot. They are ridding on Dynamic pro “which is the most aggressive mode” on an off-road and says the suspension is very smooth. Go for a test drive and you will get what i am talking about.
Yammie it would be AWESOMEE if you coul add conversion units for kilos and km per hour. You have many international subscribers! Thanks great videos always
I worked at a BMW Shop for 6 Years and NEVER has anyone so accurately depicted the general GS rider. I did know a few guys who did single track and some killer things on them but most barley hit forestry roads.
Depends on your area it seems. I laughed at the sentiment 'Look at us, we're using these things, few people actually use them'. Because in Boise we're doing these rides all the time. I just did it too!
@@donarmstrong4166 Indeed. Most people buy these bikes as comfortable, solid tourers that are as capable on gravel and side roads as they are on the asphalt, not because they have pretentions of using them off-road. We have other bikes for that.
@@samsara3694 Weirdly, I would have thought someone literally working in a BMW shop for SIX YEARS would be aware of that... Makes me wonder how his sales career is going.
95 mph in gravel? SOLD! Seriously though, it's an _interesting_ bike, but I don't know if it would be my second bike. But this was an excellent departure of content, and it was most enjoyable.
Great video - love hearing y'all's thoughts and as a GSA & 250cc dirt bike rider, I hear you on the unusual front end feel and less than stellar top end power. Went from a '15 Monster 1200s back to my GSA over the weekend, and was reminded of the ... girth ... too. Just curious - did you try the Enduro/Enduro Pro mode off road? Or did Southbound tell you not to go to Enduro Pro since you weren't on knobbies, or did you try it and decide it was ...uninspiring? :)
Its mad how many people buy and own these, when I working at Hilltop Motorcycles, we would get 2-3 GS' a day and its not the kind of bike youd expect to remap the ecu, but they were the most popular by far
Adventure touring is all about going slow and smelling the roses. They're made to go the distance and go most places comfortably. A lot of range and being reliable are key. That said, I'm not sure that a 1250cc is necessary. More like a waste of money? For BMW, the 850cc seems like the sweet spot for adventuring. Just enough power to move along the higher speed freeways comfortably. Even my own $7000 CB500X is more than enough, as long as I stay away from said highspeed highways. I typically set the GPS to avoid highways, anyways. Maybe one day Honda will make a 650 Adventure bike in the CB500X frame with better suspension and find their sweet spot too.
A few thoughts: 1) you guys commented on the comfort - is the bike you can ride the most the best bike? 2) an advantage of the boxer engines is if you have engine bars, when you drop the bike it doesn't fall all the way over so recovery should be easier! 3) it would be really sweet if BMW did a RnineT GS Adventure that uses the older oil cooled engine, is a little lower and lighter and skips on all the electrical trickery (other than cruise control) and just has twin dials and maybe really basic optional nav (a compass and Beeline style 'next turn' directions).
I have a 1250 GSA and like it but I took my preferred Honda 2021 Africa Twin to Bear Tooth Pass MT, Custer SD and Moab Utah this summer. Corners better, feels lighter, more single trail capable.
Yammie you are the only person to review this bike and say it is so slugging on the twisties , maybe you are just a whiny hater who wanted to hate this bike badly .
Seems like your Sled could handle everything in this video. In your opinion why go for a GS when the lighter and more nimble scrambler (or maybe even an africa twin) can do all of this for substantially less cost?
Because this is a more comfortable bike over long distance than any of those bikes and has a low maintenance shaft drive and all kinds of technological doodads. It's not the optimal bike for off road riding but it can do it and also can munch miles like no other. You are paying more for more.
@@Geshmaal you’re not wrong but you can crush miles on the Ducati too. Definitely not as maintenance free but chains are simple. My icon weighs in at 410wet (not sure about the sled but I’m sure it’s a little heavier) and handles sand and whoops like they aren’t there. I’ve done a couple of 4 digit days on it. Sure it’s not a rolling lazy-boy recliner like the GS but it’s plenty comfortable. They also lack all of the electronics that feel like a ride ending failure point for the bike…. Really I’m just bitching about how I dislike the complexity of bikes these. The only electronics I want on there is EFI and maybe abs. Keep it simple and let me be in control of the machine.
@@michaellesko3594 Fair comment, but I think what you're saying is this bike just isn't for you. In many ways, a bike this size NEEDS all the tech. Why did I buy one? It ticks more boxes FOR ME than anything else. And after your comment, I can see why you'd prefer someone completely different, and that's fine! I'd love a DS too (as an example), but my needs are daily commute, long-trips (often 2-up), and some offroad safari type stuff (without going enduro level), and I only want ONE bike. That's why I say this ticks more boxes for me than anything else.
"Using the wrong tool but still getting it done" is exactly what you guys did by not being in either of the two Enduro modes (standard or Pro)!! You were riding off road in the mode designed for the best on-road handling. You should have never even posted this, and instead redone it in the proper mode. Or am I the first to point this out????
Too many people racing to slag the GS without realising YN and Spite had no idea what they were doing in the first place. but hey.. gets a few clicks.. right!?
This was a refreshing ride to watch. Having comms off road is a must as you guys shown & great for bonding on solo bikes More off-road riding if possible w/ scramblers even, perhaps?
Thanks again to southboundadventure.com/ for the awesome ride in Utah! We’ve got more videos coming soon so stayed tuned
You need to start an Australian channel, you could even call it Yabbie Noob!
Off road in dynamic pro. So you have no clue what you are doing then ? You are the noobs , sorry I misunderstood your channel as one advising noobs, as opposed to being the noobs. So, Not the first idea - and then you say “adjust the suspension at a stand still”. No , wrong again. A fountain of incorrect information. Consider that in what is a massively more motorcycle centric culture than in the US, the bike sells in massive numbers across Europe. And then wonder , all those people want un-playful bikes that are just heavy gadget toys. Geez this is killing me, you talking about how good the “tech package” is working off road, all the while you sit there in dynamic pro, ignorant and oblivious.
Not a bmw fan, dont own a gs. But to say the bike doesn t handle spirited riding, it s just ridiculous! You just need to get used to the suspension. I have seen guys riding these bikes insanely fast on twisties, knees dragging and full blast. Overall the review feels more like a rant..
this gs is one of the best all around bikes ever made, for those that can handle it.
I own a 2022 gsa and (hayabusa and tigers1050 and 2004 r1 and speed triple before this) It’s the easiest bike to flick from side to side. I don’t think it’s the suspension you need to get used to. It feels very natural. I believe it’s the tires they’re using.
Spite channeled his inner cruiser boy and HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LAY HER DOWN BROTHER
I'm actually super glad you guys did this, because I never realized that I could book adventures with a bike out west! You've definitely sold me on it, ill be booking for my birthday next year!
Hope you make it to the next bday then bro 👍
@@RRRRefuelRideRace ok bro, you got it.
@@jtec99 Really appreciate it man. :) Thanks.
Yep - lots of companies doing tours and training weekends out west
BMW must be doing something right to have all these haters telling people to get anything other than a GS which often isn’t even in the same category of motorcycle. Haters gonna hate but riders are gonna ride. Cheers to those like me enjoying whatever they ride and ignoring the haters
Look it’s no dirt bike. But it’s a truly amazing machine. Make fun of the GS riders all you want but I am going to keep mine!!!
Earlier this year, in March as I was thinking which adventure mc I wanted to gift myself, it came down to realizing how everyone else compare their bikes to BMW's GS. Just like how many manufacturing companies compare their off road vehicles to Jeeps and Toyotas. Nearly 8000 miles later, I love my 750GS. Have pushed my GS on the Million Dollar Hwy and onto rocky and sandy trails here in Colorado. I am impressed by the nimbleness, torque, speed, and suspension, and especially abilities to push through sand, rocks, and water. It is dependable and reliable. A few months later, my honey went from a 07 to a 2021 1250GSA, no regrets and may love his GSA more than me. Hey, vice versa too! LOL! The majority of your opinions were opposite of what my honey thinks of his bike. Maybe it is his personal preference after riding over 20 years on dirt bikes, cruisers, and adventure. Have fun!
After 2 years on dirt bikes, this was my first street-legal bike. The GS is pretty damn dreamy. For tech-y off-road, a smaller bike is going to be better, but when I have to crank out 200 miles to get to another 50 miles of dirt to my campsite a big ADV (with no chain) is fantastic. It's basically a 2-wheeled Land Rover.
100% agree…it’s not a trail bike, it’s a mile munching adventure bike.
I’ve ridden this thing once. Hands down best allround bike. Only disadvantage is the impossibility to lane split in tight situations (like we have in European inner cities).
I ride mine in Bangkok traffic, you can lane split as long as there's width for the handlebars and guards. No doubt a small scooter is better, but its very manageable. As soon as you're out of the traffic its amazing!
I'm an ADV dad, and I enjoy riding my Africa Twin to work, Starbucks, on the hwy, and on dirt forest roads. If I want to single track I wouldn't take a litre bike and if was going to a racetrack I wouldn't take a Harley.
When you want to cover a couple hundred miles of gravel, for 5 days in a row,, or 50 days, who you gonna call??
Hi, Have been driving bikes for a lot of years now, and have "landed" on a BMW 2021 GSA. That is my fourth BMW(2018 1200 GS, 2019 1250 GS, 2020 1250 GSA, and the last one 2021 1250 GSA) and i,m VERY satisfied. In 2017 i had a KTM 1290, and in the beginning of 2018 i bought a Triumph Tiger1200. Both great bikes, but in my opinion, the BMW is a step "up", and clearly the most versatile of them. Not as fast as the KTM, and not as comfy as the tiger on the highways, but in "all" a better bike for variable use. A heavy bike, but i feel that the weight is placed low, so it feels very easy to handle. The swing radius is also impeccable. I,m retired(firefighter), and i,m using my BMW daily. Bought it in July 2021, and have been driving 6700 km so far. My longest trip with it was 680 km in one day, and that was a plasure ride from the start to the end. I coose the Michelin Adventure tyres, and are very happy with them. We have a lot of gravel roads in the mountains i Norway. I,m 195 cm tall, 95 kilos, and for my size the GSA suits perfect. I have no plans for replacing it for the next years. Greetings from cold Norway : ))
This would’ve been a great excuse to team up with Fortnine if the border was open
why? Rayen F9 is on another level… or dimension… He uses bikes like this, as others use small dirt bikes. He is extremely good off road, and think he have taken one on a single tracks.
You were in Dynamic Pro mode, which is a sports mode meant for the highway - with suspension and throttle matched for high speed riding. I'm wondering why you didn't use Enduro Pro mode, which is designed for off road riding. Perhaps your experience may have been different?
bump
bump
These guys don’t know what they are doing. Worst review I have seen in a while. I hope they paid the rental agency for the damage.
They didn't read the user manual, clearly. Newbies to big adventure bikes clearly - not impressed.
by far the worst review ever, dynamic pro on off road. LoL!
Yip, what I expected from you! GS is an extremely capable machine both on and off road. Single track?...no not really but I've seen skilled riders make it look easy. I ride my R1250GS on some pretty gnarly tracks/jeep trails/SxS/ATV tracks/Mtn passes in CO and afterwards put it back into Dynamic Pro and soak up the slab roads back home. Very well balanced bike in slow maneuvers. This is why I subscribe to Bret Tkacs' videos. GET TRAINED and DO NOT GO blasting off into the unknown roads on your first ride, on a new bike, and in a new area. This, in itself, show how irresponsible you are and set the tone immediately as to where this "review" was headed. For those really wanting to watch & learn, watch videos from Bret Tkacs, Dusty Wessels/Mototrek, and some others. Sorry, but you guys do NOT have the schema and rapport to do this type of review!!
Agree. I actually unsubscribed from this nonsense because of a few videos like this.
Talking about their asses
He really is a clown.
As for the quick shifter clunkiness, You don't use it from 1st to 2nd. From 3 on up it is smooth as butter with full throttle.
K1600 has about the smoothest quick shifter I have ever seen from any gear to any gear. The quick shifter and the rear brake and the weight are the worst parts of this bike.
I’ve seen so many reviews on quick shift, the reason for the the Clunk between first and second is your shifting past Neutral.
as a Bavarian watching all i gotta say is:
zis makes me very häppy tu see
Build in Berlin i think.
@@sebastiangeorge7714 it's a BMW tho
@@redo1dr I want one in Hamburg
@@sebastiangeorge7714 then get one? idk what you're trying to say
@@redo1dr I think the BMW bikes are actually built in Berlin not München. Atleast i've seen the stamp on BMW bikes "Built in Berlin"
I own a gs1250 and I love it idk what you say it’s the Best Buy money can buy I’m 5’8 140 lbs and I can daily ride this bike with no problem
Lol, I was on a ladies dual sport ride just last weekend with a petite 60-ish year old woman, maybe 5'4", riding her 1250GS. She handled it just fine over rocky hill climbs, drainage ditches, and more. Props to that lady
That's the truth, I've seen the small and the old handle bikes offroad great; Just need experience.
591 pounds is the wet weight of the bigger GS Adventure, the standard GS weighs a little less at 549 pounds wet.
At 53 years old. my GSA is my 2nd bike, my 1st bike ( for 3 month) was a Yamaha FJR 1300 that I loved and got used to. But I find my GSA a lot easier and pleasant to drive on the road. Whatever at low speed or high speed, I prefer a lot my GSA to the FJR 1300 ( I have the GSA, the larger configuration of the GS, with the big tank).
At my last track day one of the instructors had one of these GS's. That guy was dragging a knee, lapping everybody, and was carrying passengers. So I think you guys are whining about the weight, and handling.
Yeah but it's meant to be an adv bike not a track racer.
Yes. It’s clear they don’t like anything BMW & will find fault where there is none. I have been waiting for their GS ride so I could hear there whining & complaining.
I’ve heard stories about these old timers on their GSs running circles around the sport bikers when the mood strike.
An instructor, someone who is very good at track days and riding. Youre telling me he did something impressive on an objectively heavy machine. And that invalidates these guys opinions on their channel which is clearly directed at general or new riders. Not track day instructors.
Good one.
@@PetrolJunkie yes.
Ah really loving this on the channel. Great choice of music. BMW guy here, but I like mostly all of your stuff. I have a BMW R1200 CLC, it's 18 years old and going strong. Thanks for this post made this old guy's day. Stay safe.
Nice review, boys! The GS/GSA is not for everyone, however, I find it to be the best all-round bike and it will be my next (and probably last) bike. Having done all sorts of riding over decades and gotten over all my extreme on- and off-road riding “desires”, I’m selling my current sport touring and cruiser bikes for a GSA. I’ve had the privilege of riding many parts of the world, with thousands of miles on Ducatis, Aprilias, KTM’s, and BMW’s (including the GS), among others. For my expected future riding of 70/30 street/light off-road mix, the GS/GSA is perfectly suited for me. I find it extremely comfortable (6’1”) for short commuting and long touring, and it will definitely out-perform my capabilities in all technical situations I’ll put myself and the bike into. The GS/GSA, as you noted, definitely grows on you the more you ride it. Once you “figure out” how to “throw” it into curves, it will hang with most bikes out there no problem, with a special sweet-spot of running 60-90mph sweepers all day (and night) long! Keep the rubber-side down!
@yammienoob you are spot on at 23:40. I just got the 2023 gs and I dropped that bike 8 times the first day. It was raining and where I live it's muddy, sandy and very slippery when wet. Worse time I have had on a bike. I have a T7 too and I don't think I would have suffered as much on it. I still avoid going out on my bikes when it rains here cuss it's a nightmare. You are guaranteed to fall
Starbux? You really can’t get more creative than rehashing the most hackneyed GS joke on all the web? Talent.
If I was going from Patagonia to Alaska, the R1250GS would be my choice.
I had most GS bikes, from R80GS to R1200GS, and ended with the R1200 HP2 Enduro. Dry weight 175kg (385lbs)
With some mods like a 2.5 lbs LFP battery and Titanium exhaust. With a larger gastank and paniers it was still below a wet weight 430lbs, and 125hp + 120nm tq
it has been the best adv bike ever build. BMW should make more HP2 based bikes, but they lost a lot of $ on every HP2 they sold 🤣
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
Bmw made the bike every one said they wanted then know one bought it. They were heavily discounted and even came with 2 sets of wheels.
@@chrishart8548 Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
@@chrishart8548 Do you mean this 1250 Adv? Or the 2005 HP2 Enduro that i spoke about? Coarse the HP2 was planned to build only 1000, but by huge demand the build 1000 extra and after that they made 3000 extra, due to high demand. But they lost money on every bike, so they stopped after 5000 bikes build. Today, the price of an old HP2 can pas $25.000.
@@BMWHP2 I mean the 2005 hp2 like Chris rides in the awesome players TH-cam channel in Canada.
With much respect to you both. I gotta say there's a reason why BMW and Ducati offer adventure bike training clinics. Because without a doubt there's a bit of a learning curve associated with this class of bike. Just like riding your liter bike on track days it takes time to develop the skills. And with that said, could I possibly make a suggestion as to a future alternative giveaway bike being a Ducati Multistrada 1260. Its on my dream bike list second only to a MV Agusta F3. Thanks , much appreciate your channel.
Please guys you do nothing but insult the bike and it’s loyal owners
You say you don’t know how it wants to be ridden makes no sense
I’m older than you guys and have ridden every type of motorcycle for 40 years I owned everything and this bike is the best I’ve ever owned
It’s the best DO IT ALL BIKE PERIOD !
And does it very well & refined
If you can’t afford one don’t knock it
Your reviews are very crotch rocket biased but then again what would you know anyway
Several things. I'm a BMW owner.
- You learn to shift a BMW. No, it's not buttery smooth by any stretch of the imagination, but you have to learn to make it work.
- The motor. It's not supposed to be high revving. This is different. It makes smooth, controllable power below 6000 rpm. This is as it should be. If you ride racer replicas, you won't understand it.
- Telelever helps keep the front end from diving.
I am not a GS fan. I wonder what would have been the result had you included an R1250r with 60/40 rubber on the same test.
The classical music you usually go for is a lot better than the royalty-free EDM music
Probably did it for the Germans that are gonna flood in. Those people love EDM
Lol it seems like something you'd hear in a parody
While we Euros like our EDM, royalty-free EDM is a whole different level of cringe :')
I love the idea of a motorcycle that can do it all. ADV bikes are like SUVs. I got into it with a small adventure bike. Even then I did not end up enjoying the dirt aspect of having to constantly clean the chain and being careful and uncomfortable at the same time. That said I still love the idea of an ADV bike not for the strict purpose of going off roading, but of having an on-road machine which, if you have to go off road, you can.
This review in no way represent how capable the GS / GSA is. Neither does the riders. All road riding, although some gravel roads. This is in no way off road 🤣.
I was just there! Beautiful area. I looped my bike on Kane Creek Trail because I was tired riding sloppy and cracked my engine casing. Gotta love my DRZ. Held enough oil to get out with no engine damage.
Plus, using a dab of JB-Weld to patch the case of a DRZ is a perfectly acceptable fix! If you want to do the permanent repair you might just slap a case-saver over the crack. 😜
went from KTM 1290 SAS -17 to BMW R1250GS and at first i liked it alot but now..... I LOVE it!...... Even tried the new KTM 1290 and thought of maybe going back but NAH, was'nt as good as the GS.
It's fine if you've got money, only plan on hitting dirt occasionally, and don't mind a 500-600 pound bike when its loaded up for a real adventure. I've ridden all over SE Asia on dirtbikes - Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam - that's what you want for a real off-road, go anywhere trip. Most ADV riders I've met in the forests and mountains of Asia who actually do long trips, especially solo, do not ride heavy bikes you can't easily pick up yourself. The one time I ran into some GS guys, they had been bushwhacking through the jungle and readily admitted that they'd never do it alone and would have been totally fucked on their own when they dropped bikes at low speed in the mud, sometimes on themselves.
If it wasn't for sponsoring Owen McGregor and Charley Boorman"s "Long Way Round" documentary, the BMW ADV bikes would never have gained so much attention. If one can get past their fantasy of being like Boorman & McGregor, there are several ADV class bikes that are better by almost any subjective comparison of things that matter most (starting with reliability and maintenance costs.) If your looking for the right "image bike" for trips to Starbucks however, any model of BMW with GS - ADV in the name is probably going to be what you want. 😉
Im 5'8", and ride a GSA low suspension, love it offroad!
Great video guys. I am in the process of trying to decide which adventure bike to buy and this one tops my list. If this is not a voiceover video, then it’s a very good testament to the suspension on the GS. Your dialogue seems to be very smooth, considering the roads you were riding on.
Spent a few days in the Mojave on some GS with my 2 20 something sons. I the sand I was wore out and they looked like it was nothing. Finally had to listen to my kids. Just let the bike do what it wants to do in the sand don’t fight it. The bike wants to stay up right. After taking their advice it was much better.
I’ve ridden a GSA Rallye for the past few years. They are great bikes, and are true mile pounding machines for adventure touring. They handle great on the road. Definitely agree on the comments regarding the quick shifter. It’s not as smooth as I thought it would be. Even in the optional RPM shift range it’s very noticeable and not as smooth. The KTM 890 ADV R quick shifter actually beats the GS one. Another draw back is weight. Regardless of the low center of gravity… 600 lbs wet without luggage is heavy when dropped. I dead lift and I am very athletic, but it’s a lot to pick up, especially on slopes off road. Any technical stuff worthy of merit shows the GS limitations, including small consistent bumps and the tele lever suspension. I grew up on dirt bikes and will be moving to a KTM 890 ADV R for next season. In my opinion these bikes are limited off road for gravel and dirt roads, nothing more. If that’s all you’re doing off road and mostly do road miles/ cross country travel, and looking for a very refined bike, the GSA is perfect for you. It really depends on what you’re looking for. Im moving for more dirt capability, 150lb weight cut, and still maintaining low center of gravity. A GS can do it all, but very few can do it all on a GS, especially a GSA.
Great job trashing Ducati Multistrada V4 first and then this. Can we get a KTM 1290 Adventure review next?
I second the KTM SUPER ADVENTURE 1290 request
Videos on YT showing the GS walking away from the PanAm which tells you everything you need to know about the shift-cam on the 1250
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
I have one of these and I have a decent level of training and experience…nothing to boast about. I don’t think you were really riding them. At the speeds you mentioned they are dull. I can tell you from experience that if you up the pace and trust the engineering these bikes can really move on a road. The GS makes a great upright sports tourer. My knees don’t like a smaller bike but this thing will still go with most bikes unless they are being piloted by a very talented rider. These bikes are hard to beat. That said, I miss my KTM! 😂
1)Peg throttle! kick it up, that shifter is silky smooth when you know what you're doing!! It's like a supercar paddle shifter when done right.
2) throttle through that sand! No need to drop that pig man. Stand up!
3) Single track is fun, catch air. (I'm 5'8" FYI and that bike is very manageable, see chick vids on YT)
4) sell me that busted bike cheap please ;-) I sold mine & regret it.
5) Burr trail, classy ride! Thanks guys
I think we all know the best ADV bike is the 250 GSXR 🙏🏻
Bummer I could have swore it was the turbo busa ADV edition
These are facts
@@jerryglennie5375 a close runner up for sure, its just a little too heavy 😩
hard facts
I would say the Vulcan S
I have a r1200gs. I agree with Yammie. It is a very heavy bike. It's cumbersome for hardcore off-road. I like it because it's comfortable on long trips and will easily do light off-roading without issues.
I just bought a GSA and after about 5 minutes with it I had the telelever figured out and just rode it up a 8200 foot mountain on rocky and gravel road and had zero problems with the shitty 90/10 Bridgestones it came stock on. Maybe try taking the bike off Dynamic Pro (road) mode and switch to Enduro or Enduro Pro in the dirt, helps to read the manual or play around with the mode buttons. I would consider myself entry level with less than 500 miles off the pavement and most of it on a Tiger 900 GT Pro. This was pretty weak, you guys might want to stick to those "twisty" Texas roads instead.
The title made me hope that this was just about the gixxer 250 getting thrashed on the trails
Not sure why you are riding in Dynamic Pro mode while off-road. (You should be in Enduro.) It does explain to me why you have your hands full while traversing a little sand. These bikes are very capable off-road. I would suggest an adventure riding class such as Rawhyde Adventures to learn how to properly ride these bikes in the dirt. Due to their size and weight, it’s good to get some riding tips from the experts.
You can thank Gaston Rahier, (who was actually really small to mount his GS during the Dakar back in the days) for this bike. This is where this bike came from, and the heritage is enormous.
Still waiting for my 2000 r1150gs with over 200k to kick the bucket so I can get a new one 😅 but I don't think it's going to happen any time soon.
I picked up a 1200 GSA when the 1150GS hit 225k miles.
I test rode this but bought a V-Strom 1000 instead. The BMW is 10-15% better all around but not enough to justify the price difference.
The linked brakes on a BMW only work from the hand brake, the foot brake is rear wheel only.
The bike is the "best" at what it is designed for...if you take it to the extremes ends of road and off road use then you are right, it is not the right bike! Good job at living up to the hate and continued bias for a great motorcycle. ...you think it videos like this as to why you can not get to one million subscribers?
Yup.. you can easily find on youtube, skilled riders using these big bikes doing very techincal things. just like I can find thousands of videos where people are doing the type of offroading you see here on smaller dualsports. Doesn't matter if you are on a 250lb DS or a 600lb ADV.. rider skills makes all the difference offroad
I am 6'3" 240lbs and I ride a f850gs. I believe that yeah the r1250gs are over glorified with it's "the best adventure bike" scene. Just like all the flaws you guys mentioned in this, I wholeheartedly agree. It's why I went for the 850 instead. Much lighter, comes with all the right features you could ever need, pretty much exactly the same as the 1250, and you get the benefit of it being on a lighter bike that is cheaper and just as offroad capable as the 1250, if not better. I love my 850, and I will continue to enjoy every mile I put down on it cause it really is something amazing
Finally adv bikes. Please make more bike reviews. And trust me you will have 1mil subs if you start more adv videos
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
I have a 2022 r1250gs Rallye, fully loaded. It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
Before my 2017 KLR 650 was totalled in an accident, I'd take it up to the GA mountains every weekend. I concur with Yams statement about "slowing down to enjoy the sights" especially on trails like that. That was on of the biggest selling points for me to get into ADV, even though I've been riding and racing dirt bikes for over a decade. There were times where I would take the pig on single track and it wasn't easy, but possible if you maintained momentum. Definitely get a dirt bike if you wanna be a dirt rossi.
Can one of you test ride my 2021 Africa Twin? I live in the Austin area and know of some gravel roads close by...
I just bought one 3 weeks ago! Great bike!!
I love my ADV.. while most of the people around me are only doing "highway runs" on a sports bike I can do the same, and comfortably ride urban, don't care about pothole, do hooligan things like jump rail tracks/bumps enter a construction area ,cut through fields/ grass/dirt medians etc..and I have the legs to cruse the hill country comfortable all day. Experienced riders can and do single track these kind of bikes, it depends on rider skill. You can find vids of (skilled) people hopping rocks with Africa twins and KTM 1290s on YT.. where as plenty of medicore riders are using 250lb dual sports on the type of light off roading shown here too.
They do do a low chassis version for smaller/shorter people.
Beautiful scenery! 😃👍
Thanks for the video.
Although you made plenty of sense in your review regarding the cons of the bike, some points of yours were actually incorrect.
I think it’s safe to mention that you were wrong about the bore/stroke of the 1250 engine.
There actually is a lot more BORE than STROKE on that engine. It’s a work of art.
An honest review from 2 ‘non-GS’ guys. A ‘Busa and Cruiser guy no less.. I think just jumping on a GS all willie nillie and going for a ride doesn’t really give the GS it’s best chance. I looked at the GS, and went with the XR because of it’s sportier demeanor. My next bike very well may be a GS, because for touring in it’s weight class, I don’t think it’s all day comfort can be beat. As you get older, appreciation for comfort becomes more prevalent.
I do appreciate Yammie giving the GS a ‘fair shot’ so to speak on the channel.
I'm stuck between the gs and xr. I love the xr1000s 4 cylinder, but I like the size, comfort and offroad capabilities of the gs. Luckily tho, it seems like the lines between the two series are blurring, and hopefully soon we can get a R1000gs adventure
@@Agent001 The XR can 'dual sport' to an extent, but I didn't have much fun in sand. My reason for the XR was a compromise of comfort and handling. Coming off an '06 Concours (ZG1000) the seating position was similar, power and handling bumped up 1000%, and losing 170 lbs was a huge bonus. I do miss the Connie's weather protection, Hard to beat that. The XR is a great canyon carver, it excels on the tarmac, where I'll gladly stay. 😄
@@Agent001 I think the torque of the GS for many practical, everyday applications suits me better, but of course each to their own! Roll on 6th gear very decent with the GS when cruising 110ish kmph.
In sand, speed is your friend, sit farther back and let the front tire essentially glide
Let the bars wiggle alittle, loose elbows
Speakin from years of experience
Once that front tire digs in, your fucked lol
Rain Mode.. will control the torque. If you are having an issue with the rear wheel;. The HD doesnt have the leg room that the GS has. Once they come out with a lowering kit for the pegs,, then maybe ill try it again
The way these blokes rode one of the easiest to ride machines in the world? Next time I would suggest American Airlines.
my.. that scenery is gorgeous. I can imagine cruising on a Harley or Indian with that backdrop, would be a bliss.
I lived in utah for 5 years. So nice to see you there. :) Awesome video. Cheers from Spain awesome work with the channel.
This is my dad's dream bike! Even I love it a lot! 👌
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
Might want to put it into offroad mode instead of dynamic pro when u go offroad on those things... Instead of bitching about the torque. Actually do your homework on it.
That's probably THE most infuriating thing about this "review".
Don't complain about the performance when you have configured the bike completely wrong!
What a bunch of gimps.
You did not even come close to using this vehicle to it capabilities, but glad you had fun.
In the end the best bike is the one you feel at your best when riding it and like it a lot. Ranting and criticizing brands while pushing other brands for a “reason” or just because YOU like it is irrelevant. However riders have different opinions about the same bike, and it is still interesting to watch those videos.
Great video, but what size bike do y’all ride? The GS is not that big. I guess I’m used to bigger bikes, because to me my Africa Twin felt tiny and my GS feels kinda small too. My Harley touring bikes and Goldwing felt big. Anyway, great video! I really enjoyed it.
Hatchet job. Before he gets on the bike: "GPS b/c they want to know their exact route to Starbucks" Ef ew I've never been to starbucks in my life. Pre-judge much? Oh, and spoken by the guy who crashed the bike in his first five minutes riding. I've also seen dozens of GS reviews over the years, and no one has ever complained of the weight or agility in motion. Standing still, yes it's a heavy bike and might fall over on yamm, but in motion it's light as a feather. And don't let this be your first off-road bike, like our fine reviewer here, but in the right hands it is a blast.
That's it! You know (as well as I do, cause we've actually ridden one) as soon as you're moving the bike weighs nothing..
So wtf is YN cruising down the road around 50 mph saying "man this bike is just so heavy"!?
Talk about blowing your credibility.
Interesting video. But while watching I wondered if you guys had ever taken good adventure bike riding classes. Classes that taught how to handle sand etc? A big bike like the gs takes some special skills it seems to me.
Sorry guys, but I would have to say this is by far the worst review of this bike I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot. They are ridding on Dynamic pro “which is the most aggressive mode” on an off-road and says the suspension is very smooth.
Go for a test drive and you will get what i am talking about.
Yammie it would be AWESOMEE if you coul add conversion units for kilos and km per hour. You have many international subscribers! Thanks great videos always
I worked at a BMW Shop for 6 Years and NEVER has anyone so accurately depicted the general GS rider. I did know a few guys who did single track and some killer things on them but most barley hit forestry roads.
You mean to say people buying Landrovers/Landcruisers/etc. aren’t off-roading either? Are you saying people are willing to pay for comfort and status?
...and literally most every sport bike never sees the track...what's your point?
Depends on your area it seems. I laughed at the sentiment 'Look at us, we're using these things, few people actually use them'. Because in Boise we're doing these rides all the time. I just did it too!
@@donarmstrong4166 Indeed. Most people buy these bikes as comfortable, solid tourers that are as capable on gravel and side roads as they are on the asphalt, not because they have pretentions of using them off-road. We have other bikes for that.
@@samsara3694 Weirdly, I would have thought someone literally working in a BMW shop for SIX YEARS would be aware of that...
Makes me wonder how his sales career is going.
95 mph in gravel? SOLD! Seriously though, it's an _interesting_ bike, but I don't know if it would be my second bike. But this was an excellent departure of content, and it was most enjoyable.
Great video - love hearing y'all's thoughts and as a GSA & 250cc dirt bike rider, I hear you on the unusual front end feel and less than stellar top end power. Went from a '15 Monster 1200s back to my GSA over the weekend, and was reminded of the ... girth ... too. Just curious - did you try the Enduro/Enduro Pro mode off road? Or did Southbound tell you not to go to Enduro Pro since you weren't on knobbies, or did you try it and decide it was ...uninspiring? :)
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.
Maybe if the bike had road tires instead of off road tires you can enjoy the twisties much better, it can handle curved road very well
The GS is an amazing motorcycle and will cover any discipline you throw at it. However I LOVE my KTM 990.
Its mad how many people buy and own these, when I working at Hilltop Motorcycles, we would get 2-3 GS' a day and its not the kind of bike youd expect to remap the ecu, but they were the most popular by far
I've got a v85tt and it's perfect for me and way more than the BMW. Fun channel.
I want to see a BMW 1250 GS vs Suzuki GSX250R adventure showdown when it's complete
Adventure touring is all about going slow and smelling the roses. They're made to go the distance and go most places comfortably. A lot of range and being reliable are key. That said, I'm not sure that a 1250cc is necessary. More like a waste of money? For BMW, the 850cc seems like the sweet spot for adventuring. Just enough power to move along the higher speed freeways comfortably. Even my own $7000 CB500X is more than enough, as long as I stay away from said highspeed highways. I typically set the GPS to avoid highways, anyways. Maybe one day Honda will make a 650 Adventure bike in the CB500X frame with better suspension and find their sweet spot too.
You guys were riding the GS like a bunch of Squids!
A few thoughts:
1) you guys commented on the comfort - is the bike you can ride the most the best bike?
2) an advantage of the boxer engines is if you have engine bars, when you drop the bike it doesn't fall all the way over so recovery should be easier!
3) it would be really sweet if BMW did a RnineT GS Adventure that uses the older oil cooled engine, is a little lower and lighter and skips on all the electrical trickery (other than cruise control) and just has twin dials and maybe really basic optional nav (a compass and Beeline style 'next turn' directions).
I was not expecting Yammie & Spite to just show up in Southern Utah today. Tis a shame he isn't farther north, I'd come meet them.
I just clicked based on the title of the video. I’m here to answer the question: YES!
I have a 1250 GSA and like it but I took my preferred Honda 2021 Africa Twin to Bear Tooth Pass MT, Custer SD and Moab Utah this summer. Corners better, feels lighter, more single trail capable.
Yammie you are the only person to review this bike and say it is so slugging on the twisties , maybe you are just a whiny hater who wanted to hate this bike badly .
Did you hear that? That... that's the sound of them slapping knobbies on the turbo busa
Seems like your Sled could handle everything in this video. In your opinion why go for a GS when the lighter and more nimble scrambler (or maybe even an africa twin) can do all of this for substantially less cost?
Yamaha T7
Because this is a more comfortable bike over long distance than any of those bikes and has a low maintenance shaft drive and all kinds of technological doodads. It's not the optimal bike for off road riding but it can do it and also can munch miles like no other. You are paying more for more.
@@Geshmaal you’re not wrong but you can crush miles on the Ducati too. Definitely not as maintenance free but chains are simple. My icon weighs in at 410wet (not sure about the sled but I’m sure it’s a little heavier) and handles sand and whoops like they aren’t there. I’ve done a couple of 4 digit days on it. Sure it’s not a rolling lazy-boy recliner like the GS but it’s plenty comfortable.
They also lack all of the electronics that feel like a ride ending failure point for the bike….
Really I’m just bitching about how I dislike the complexity of bikes these. The only electronics I want on there is EFI and maybe abs. Keep it simple and let me be in control of the machine.
@@michaellesko3594 Fair comment, but I think what you're saying is this bike just isn't for you. In many ways, a bike this size NEEDS all the tech.
Why did I buy one? It ticks more boxes FOR ME than anything else. And after your comment, I can see why you'd prefer someone completely different, and that's fine! I'd love a DS too (as an example), but my needs are daily commute, long-trips (often 2-up), and some offroad safari type stuff (without going enduro level), and I only want ONE bike. That's why I say this ticks more boxes for me than anything else.
For the bumper alone, thumbs up 👍
what do you use for microphone / camera - sound is amazing.
"Using the wrong tool but still getting it done" is exactly what you guys did by not being in either of the two Enduro modes (standard or Pro)!! You were riding off road in the mode designed for the best on-road handling. You should have never even posted this, and instead redone it in the proper mode. Or am I the first to point this out????
Too many people racing to slag the GS without realising YN and Spite had no idea what they were doing in the first place.
but hey.. gets a few clicks.. right!?
Love my 2021 GSA will never be without one
Use the correct riding mode off-road 🤦🏻
This was a refreshing ride to watch. Having comms off road is a must as you guys shown & great for bonding on solo bikes
More off-road riding if possible w/ scramblers even, perhaps?
Did a test ride on this bike, the 2021 Anniversary version. Go, check it on my channel.