BMW GS1250

[Stone Cold]

I’m sure this has been done to death, but…….

Really as good as all the reviews?

Better than the new Multistrada V4S?

I’ve had the big V-Strom which was fine, but it really was a bit gutless and I got bored and got rid, would the GS be the same and the more powerful MS V4S be better?

I’ve tried to get off Sportsbikes but can’t quite do it yet (GSXR1000R) so this would be in addition too that and would replace a Ninja SX1000 which again is OK, quick enough, but just a bit dull really.

Or maybe it’s just me and I want what I don’t currently have

Any views appreciated, even if it’s to tell me I’m lucky to have what I’ve got and get on with it

[Chipchap]

FWIW I came very close in Dec to swapping my R1250GS TE Rallye for a Multistrada V4S. It was a great deal on a 7 month old Ducati. My GS is now 13 months old.

I carefully studied the dyno curves from both bikes and gearing etc and came to the conclusion that the rev range I ride these type of bikes in would mean that I rarely accessed the extra 40 bhp that the Ducati offered. As well as that the Ducati is 15 lb ft short on the BMW and the torque peak is at higher revs. Conclusion being that the GS is or would be just better or easier to ride over distances for me.

I have had sports bikes and just this week sold my K7 1000. I won't miss it.

When I went to North Oxford to ride one of the two used V4S the first question I asked the salesman was. "What did they trade the Duke in against ?" The answer was R1250GS Adventures. Both customers had sold GS's to buy the Ducatis and 6 months later they each took pain and returned to a GS.

Ideally you need to have extended test rides on a V4S a KTM 1290GT and a GS. A short 30 minute ride will leave many questions unanswered.

An Adventure Bike needs a different mindset to a Sports Bike.

Have fun trying them.

[LosingGrip]

I've got a 2012 1200GSA. I love it. I had a GSXR600 before (but had a bit of a break between the two). Words apart for obvious reasons.

Good points
Size - suits me due to being 6ft4.
Comfy - doesn't hurt my back/wrists/knees after a long ride.
Tank size - 250/300 miles to a tank (use it for commuting).
Doesn't make me want to drive like a knob.
Easy to ride.
Fun to ride.
Top box etc are a decent size.

Bad points
Insurance - £800 fully comp, but I didn't have any no claims due to being off bikes for a few years.
Size - Its fking huge (I know I've said thats a good point!). Took a bit of getting used to. Going to be hard to park in the new car park at work as not much room for bikes. I'm on tip toes.
Services are around £500.
Pain in the arse to clean.

I don't think I'll get anything else to replace mine other than a newer one.

[Stone Cold]

Cheers fellas, I’m 6’ 2” so size hopefully not an issue.

Chipchap, good point on power/torque, I wouldn’t have thought of it that way, I’d have been sucked in by 170bhp.

Appreciate it’s a different mindset to the sportsbike and I’m ok with that, the GSXR gets limited use now but can’t quite part with it yet.

Just really wanted some real world views from here as most of the reviews on YT for example are quite gushing about the GS

Oh I’ll never take it off road intentionally either so I assume the standard GS is a better ‘road bike’ the the GSA

[TT1138]

Stone Cold said:

I’m sure this has been done to death, but…….

Really as good as all the reviews?

Better than the new Multistrada V4S?

I’ve had the big V-Strom which was fine, but it really was a bit gutless and I got bored and got rid, would the GS be the same and the more powerful MS V4S be better?

I’ve tried to get off Sportsbikes but can’t quite do it yet (GSXR1000R) so this would be in addition too that and would replace a Ninja SX1000 which again is OK, quick enough, but just a bit dull really.

Or maybe it’s just me and I want what I don’t currently have

Any views appreciated, even if it’s to tell me I’m lucky to have what I’ve got and get on with it

Yes, they really are as good as all the reviews. The 1250 is a genuinely quick bike (although temper your expectations, it isn’t a sportsbike) and it handles well. Absolutely superb road bike, and because it’s so stable and confidence inspiring it goads you into riding fast (again, for an adventure bike).

However, as I’ve written on here before, I bought the KTM 1290 SA-R. It’s not as refined, but out of the two I thought it was more exciting, more focused, and the engine is sublime. Build quality so far much nicer and was a lot cheaper for the same spec.

[Dr Jekyll]

GSA fans reckon it's a better road bike than the GS, they like the big tank and apparently there's a bit of extra weather protection.

[hiccy18]

I took the view if I wasn't taking it off road why get a GS? I've got an R1200RS and it grows on me with each mile, was great for two up touring last summer.

I don't really like adventure bikes as a rule though, however must admit I was sizing a GS up at the dealers last weekend. What I noticed was one has a seat at a sensible height and another model (GSA?) had it a good couple of inches higher; no thanks! The lower of the two, hmm... maybe one day, looked comfy!

[Dr Jekyll]

hiccy18 said:

I took the view if I wasn't taking it off road why get a GS? I've got an R1200RS and it grows on me with each mile, was great for two up touring last summer.

I don't really like adventure bikes as a rule though, however must admit I was sizing a GS up at the dealers last weekend. What I noticed was one has a seat at a sensible height and another model (GSA?) had it a good couple of inches higher; no thanks! The lower of the two, hmm... maybe one day, looked comfy!

I thought about an RS because I've no intention of taking my GS off road. But U couldn't cope with the riding position. Too head down and insufficient legroom.

[Mr Dendrite]

Dr Jekyll said:

hiccy18 said:

I took the view if I wasn't taking it off road why get a GS? I've got an R1200RS and it grows on me with each mile, was great for two up touring last summer.

I don't really like adventure bikes as a rule though, however must admit I was sizing a GS up at the dealers last weekend. What I noticed was one has a seat at a sensible height and another model (GSA?) had it a good couple of inches higher; no thanks! The lower of the two, hmm... maybe one day, looked comfy!

I thought about an RS because I've no intention of taking my GS off road. But U couldn't cope with the riding position. Too head down and insufficient legroom.

To add to this and yet again thank you to Hiccy18 who helped my decision with his posting about his r1200rs. I bought an r1250rs last year. I’m 6’1” I don’t find the riding position cramped, I prefer to be slightly lent forward. In no way is it head down. The c of g is much lower than the GS I posted a picture last year showing the difference in height of the cylinders, I’ll see if I can find it.
I test rode both. The GS is excellent but it is massive, I don’t like the sit up riding position and, in my opinion, the lever front suspension is not as good overall as a conventional set up. The RS works for me. I would recommend trying both and see how you feel.
The only issue I have had is that the screen is wrong in either position for my height. I have just bought a higher screen but haven’t fitted yet.

[Steve Bass]

Had a 1200GS in Vietnam which was OK.
Got a 1250 in SA and couldn't get on with it. Was sold with a few thousand km's on but never felt right to me.
For reference I took an 1190 Adv up East Africa for 2 years and she was fantastic.
GS (for me) just has zero character. Rides like a white goods product, just doesn't engage.
Other old people love 'em..... Dementia will do that

[LosingGrip]

Steve Bass said:

Had a 1200GS in Vietnam which was OK.
Got a 1250 in SA and couldn't get on with it. Was sold with a few thousand km's on but never felt right to me.
For reference I took an 1190 Adv up East Africa for 2 years and she was fantastic.
GS (for me) just has zero character. Rides like a white goods product, just doesn't engage.
Other old people love 'em..... Dementia will do that

I’m fked then…I’m 32 and love them ha.

[Drawweight]

I’ll tell you on Tuesday

But seriously I had a 1200 for a few weeks and absolutely loved it. It was probably going to be my last bike but unfortunately a car driver decided otherwise.

Okay it’s big and heavy but as the cliche goes once it’s moving it’s great.

The only problem I found was seat height but I’ve specced mine with a low seat and hopefully the extra few mm will make a difference. I’d be wary about buying privately unless you know your way round a bike. Repairs can be eye watering.

My choice of bike was partially governed by the pillion comfort and it gets a thumbs up from my wife. Much better than the Sprint GT I had previously.

[GriffoDP]

I went from a k1300s to a 1250gs. These legs meant I went for the low chassis version, and the low seat helped too. My first test ride had me laughing at how easy it was to fling it about. I had however already sold my K1300s and was part exchanging an s1000rr, so the 'on the day' decision was much easier, for my then-use case of commuting.

I then moved to wfh, and kept wondering if I'd been too sensible. The white goods comment above is interesting, as sometimes it just felt like I had the perfect bike to get from A to B in any weather or conditions. I did wonder whether I was missing some of the fun that my rose tinted glasses told me I'd had with the K and its fun sounding 175hp.

Almost 2 years later the niggling got me to a KTM dealer and on a 20 plate 1290GT in rainy November. Which I bought. Because it sounded fun, and a bit more mad.

I need a year to really decide if I made the right decision, but I still do think about a GS again, and how stupid I'd be to have both!

[Reg Local]

My thoughts after the first couple of thousand miles on my 1250GS:

https://youtu.be/Bg2HjmJNNdw

And after another few thousand miles (probably time to do another update soon - I’ve gone over 10,000 miles now):

https://youtu.be/1gluE1QiOq8

[SteveKTMer]

I've had a V-Strom 1000 in the past and it was like a pack horse, capable and nothing wrong with it but a bit slow, heavy and didn't turn very well, needed a lot of effort. Ideal for touring with the wife sort of thing, but was very reliable and dependable.

I've tried the GS and currently still have a BMW R9T with the older 1200 boxer engine. I like the boxer engine, it's quite fun at low speeds but in the GS it's just another pack horse. More pleasant to ride than the V-Strom, steers better but still quite heavy, bit boring and being relatively expensive, doesn't tick the right boxes if you enjoy riding is a spirited fashion. Like the V-Strom, for general purpose touring it's probably great.

I test rode a Ducati MS V2 in 2019 before I bought the KTM and it's a really good bike but the engine felt very soft, like it was in rain mode. That put me off straight away. It was the adventure version of the MS so perhaps calibrated that way on purpose.

I bought the KTM 1290 GT in 2019 and it's been absolutely fantastic. It's fast, feels plush and comfortable and turns really well. Most importantly, it feels exciting. KTM's strap line is 'ready to race' which I'd never thought about before but compared to the other bikes in this class, it's by a long way the fastest, best handling, most comfortable and most engaging bike, in my opinion. When you find some nice roads you feel the bike is egging you on rather than hindering you. The active suspension makes a big difference and the electronics overall are perfect.

You really need to go and test them as they are all capable bikes, it's probably difficult to buy a bad bike these days, but their characters are very different and some people may really like the more relaxed, laid back delivery of the GS than the KTM. If I'd bought the GS rather than the KTM I'd have sold it long ago.

[Chipchap]

A few more bits to add. I toured Spain on this at a ridiculous pace in 2013.



and completed a tour of Spain/France/Italy in 2014 on a Speed Triple 1050. Then Portugal on the newer MV F4RR in 2015. All good fast fun.

In 2016 I bought an R1200RS and did a 7 day tour to Southern Spain in December and then a summer tour to Italy and the Croatian Coast etc.

That was where my respect for the big boxers started. April 2019 saw me buy an R1250 GS Adventure full size which was way to big for my short stature but I loved the brute. Put 12000 miles on it on tours to Spain. Then another of The Balkans both on and off road. This showed just how versatile the big twin is. It went in PX for a new 2021 Low Chassis R1250GS and again I have done 2 x NC500's on it due to EU travel being difficult.

At almost 64 short fat with 29 inch inside leg the KTM Adventures are too tall and also chain drive and add in the fact that dealers are sparse here in the Midlands. The 1290GT has been on my radar as it has 104 lb ft of torque too and at similar revs to the 1250 GS so if both ridden the same they will perform similarly.

However the KTM 1290GT can rev higher than the BMW and make 40 bhp more at those revs and for the 1 or 2 days on tour that you want to misbehave this could be fun. Of course when on tour you are carting a lot of st with you so the bike is now around 40kg heavier than a sports bike and it will let you know that you are not on a sports bike.

Moral here being if you want to ride fast like a sports bike can then take a sports bike. If however you want to cover distance in comfort at reasonable economy and less fuel stops, whilst remaining fairly dry/warm etc then a big Adventure bike is hard to beat.

Its then a choice:-- Do I buy the bike that sells 30,000 per year, that has the best residual value, has a solid 3 year warranty, that has an epic dealer network with good cover Europe wide.

Or do I buy a KTM 1290GT that has none of the above, haemorrhages value, has flaky dealer support but can go faster than a BMW for the 1 or 2 days on tour.
or even a Multistrada V4S that will retain good but not great value, has a 4 year warranty, great brand image, is faster than a BMW but is no lighter, is hugely uneconomical, is chain drive. It has much less torque ayt higher revs than a BMW and as such you will always be at 6000 or 7000 rpm so it can pick up.

For me I can buy any of the above but I am now on my 3rd big boxer twin for a reason. I can ride all day every day for 10 to 14 days on tour and not be sore. I can cover ground as fast as any other bike as I dont need fuel at 125/135 miles. It can go on road or off road and most of all its really easy to ride lazily using the vast torque and great quickshifter.

You know it makes sense. Not quite senile yet Mr Bass.

[conkerman]

But the GS is just so boring though.

I had a 2016 1200GS.

It reminded me a lot of the VFR800 I had. Utterly competent but uninspiring.

[Chipchap]

I would use the expression "Accomplished" rather than boring.

Again if you want exciting then take a Sports Bike.

[spareparts]

I’ve had 3 x GSes. 2 x 1200s and 1 x 1250. All intentionally the GS, and not the GSA. Why? Don’t let the ATGNI brigade who just want the biggest or ‘top of the range’ bike fool you into thinking the GSA is better for the road/tarmac. It isn’t. Especially with the 1250 where the geometry between GS and GSA is more different.
The GS is:
+ lighter (and how stupid are those comments like “just fill a GSA up half way”?)
+ narrower between the knees enabling better core control.
+ quite a bit more nimble and flickable because of different geo.

If anyone thinks the GS is boring, ride the thing with a bit more alacrity and then realise there are few bikes that can cover less than perfect (ie, interesting) ground with such overall pace, comfort, and safety over long distances. And if 105lbsft of boxer twin torque doesn’t provide enough fun/drive on a short-geared and tall adv bike, then the rider probably isn’t twisting the wrist sufficiently. And add an Akra without baffles for the full Messerschmidt effect.

Downsides? It’s still quite a big bike, and I often found myself looking for a longer 7th gear when higher speeds were maintained. The R/RS final drive is longer by 15% and all the better for it. I recently sold my 1250GS for a 1250R and also loving its compact and even more flickable and direct handling. Going back to traditional forks after the GS Telelever has taken a while!

1250GS is a brilliant bike that allows you to have your cake and eat it. Nothing boring or soul-less about it at all.

[SteveKTMer]

Chipchap said:

However the KTM 1290GT can rev higher than the BMW and make 40 bhp more at those revs and for the 1 or 2 days on tour that you want to misbehave this could be fun. Of course when on tour you are carting a lot of st with you so the bike is now around 40kg heavier than a sports bike and it will let you know that you are not on a sports bike.

Moral here being if you want to ride fast like a sports bike can then take a sports bike. If however you want to cover distance in comfort at reasonable economy and less fuel stops, whilst remaining fairly dry/warm etc then a big Adventure bike is hard to beat.

You see this is why reviews of bikes are almost pointless, because our expectations of them are so different. I ride a bike 'to misbehave' in your words. I also don't carry a lot of 'st' with me, I travel light and expect to use all the power of the bike many times a day, whereas your expectation is to travel the majority of the time with a lot of luggage and have a bit of fun just occasionally. Opposite sides of the coin.

If you plan to just travel and visit tourist places carrying a wife and lots of luggage, or just lots of luggage then you probably would prefer the GS, as that's what it does really well. It is ideally suited to that and you'd need the warranty so it's good it comes with one

The moral of the story really is buy the bike you enjoy riding, not the one that's best at doing the boring stuff. You can always carry luggage on any bike, even a scooter will carry sufficient luggage for a week in France, most bikes, even naked bikes, are tolerable in the wet with the right clothing and they all get good mpg these days. But you can't always have fun on a boring bike