2014 BMW R1200GS Long Term Review
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- My long term ownership review of the 2014 BMW R1200GS TE (water cooled) model. I've had the bike for just over a year now so I think I know the machine pretty well - so time for my "warts an' all" review....
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My current motorcyles are:-
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BMW R1200GS
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You are most welcome. I'm 62 years old now - been riding since I was 17. The older I get, the more cautious I'm becoming. When I can't see "what's there" it makes me anxious and "on edge" ...not a bad thing on 2 wheels. I also race a vintage Velocette but it's so much better on a track where there is no chance of a 4 wheeler pulling out in front of you. Ride safe! -Chris
I have exactly the same bike and find your review spot on. My previous bike was a 2005 BMW 1200rt and I always found it rode beautifully when it was loaded with luggage. The 1200gs is exactly the same that way. I'm a retired automotive instructor and love doing my own work, I find these bikes very easy to work on. I wouldn't want to pay dealership labor prices! The switch gear doesn't have a good feel, doesn't bother me as long as it keeps working, so far so good. Enjoy your work, keep it up and cheers form Canada.
Cheers Sarah!
I've owned both the original 2013 water cooled and now the 2014 water cooled and have clocked up over 30,000 miles on them in just over 2yrs on all sorts of roads and conditions ....it is a fantastic do it all bike
+Kryten L Yeah agreed - I love mine, definitely a keeper. Thanks for stopping by and commenting - all the best - TMF
I have owned this bike for almost a year, the suspension settings make a huge difference if you are riding the bike without the panniers, the panniers and the back box weigh quiet a bit, and when they are all fitted the ride becomes softer and smoother, either way, I absolutely love it, there is no way I will change it to anything else out there
Gokhan Kismar Hi Gokhan, you must be more sensitive than me ;0) Glad you like the bike, I'm with you - definitely a long term keeper, great machines....
+Lokalna "Dwiescie Dziesiec" F. Yes I'm still loving the bike - coming up to my ownership anniversary around Christmas so I'm sure I'll post an update review then...stay tuned!
Well, as a direct result of your eulogising I have today slapped a deposit down on a 2015 GS LC TE. Your clarity & enthusiasm won me over.. Thanks.
Steve H Congratulations Steve (must have a word with BMW about commission, you're about the 5th person to say that....). Exciting times looking forward to a new bike, hope she lives up to expectations!! Let me know how you get on....all the best - TMF
love the review. Real world and honest. I test rode a liquid cooled GS, and loved it. However when it came time to change, I went back to the old model. I had a K1300GT, with all the bells and whistles, but longed for something simpler, with the old style indicators, less tech to go wrong, and something I could work on myself.
It was nice to read a review from someone that has spent real time on the bike and is prepared to point out flaws as well as the good points.
Cheers,
Neil
+Neil Murray Thanks Neil - the K1300GT is a lovely machine, ride safe and thanks for stopping by...TMF
+Tixall House Well I never owned the pure air-cooled version but all the electronics aside the newer water-cooled engine is I understand a vast improvement on the older unit both in terms of outright power and smoothness, so even without the electronics package the new bike is still considerably improved over the old. BTW it's only the suspension settings/riding modes I was indifferent about, things like ABS, traction control, heated grips and the superb Nav V with its remote control are all excellent electronic aids.....thanks for stopping by and commenting, all the best - TMF
+TheMissendenFlyer Thanks - good points. Enjoyed the videos. I was born just outside Princes Risborough and now live quite close to the Peak District so lots of interest!
+Tixall House Nice one - stay tuned for more soon! Cheers - TMF
Ive done 200 miles on one of these, rain mode is very soft throttle response ,dyna is very instant and road is somewhere in between ..yes i agree with you on the suspension settings not alot of noticeable difference between soft ,normal and hard...but you can also adjust for 0ne rider two riders with luggage etc which does make a difference ...great review cheers mark
Thanks Mark for your kind words - ride safe, TMF
Great review. Had mine since Feb last year and by October she had 20 K Kms on the clock. Ridden her once this year to the hanger for the 20 K service.You will notice a difference with the ESA and Ride Modes on hard riding track days and especially if you go Off- Road/ Gravel in Enduro mode....huge difference and how it works is simply amazing.longest trip so far was 5600 K trip to Oshkosh WI ( EAA convention ) and back from Calgary,AB.Some legs were 12 hrs plus and night time 200 Kms in the dark to Kenora,ON with plenty of wildlife on the road , well those LED lights do work...kind regards.
Thanks zubtf - Wow I'm very jealous, I wish I could get to EAA Airventure some day (by aeroplane or bike)! Thanks for watching/commenting, all the best - TMF.
I'm still riding R1200 Adventure frequently, over 40K miles. Runs and drives like new. No mechanical issues what-so-ever. I've thought about trading it in, but the new bikes are no better built and really have nothing of value to offer over the one I have. A very well engineered and built bike.
I agree - mine is still going strong at nearly 30,000 miles
didnt eat own cams? heard sooner or later all early watercooled do
A great review, thanks. I wish I'd seen it earlier! My GS was the first to be sold in South Wales. It's had it's share of negatives. The first thing to be changed under warranty was the exhaust as the 'EXUP' flap valve had seized. The next change was a big one. I'd been complaining about corrosion in way of the joint between the cylinders and crankcase. At 15000 miles BME replaced the engine under warranty. At the same time the 'beak' which had started to delaminate, was replaced along with the switchgear. Like others I find the bike noisy when warm, both engines. I find that the ESA works well, in fact it seems to get better as the miles go on. The changes between the different modes are most noticeable when the bike is loaded up rather than just me on it. Also if the preload is increased the difference between modes is less noticeable. I usually leave the bike in Road mode as I've noticed a huge difference in fuel consumption when it's in Dynamic. There's a noticeable step in the power curve I assume when the 'exup' valve operates when in Road mode but not in Dynamic which gives a smoother throttle response. A big difference between the modes especially Rain as the power difference when loaded up is quite dramatic come to a steep hill. I've added a steering damper which helps the steering, or maybe I'm just trying to justify the cost. I've also fitted a Mudslinger to prevent my legs getting covered in muck every time it rains. New rear disc fitted at about 18000 miles and I'm now on my third set of brake pads. I'm pretty happy with the bike overall, thanks to the dealer service with the warranty claims else it would have been an unmitigated disaster. Next bike? I'll keep this for a while yet :-)
+Alan Edwards Interesting reading Alan, thanks for that. I too have a rear mudguard fitted and I agree on the engine modes being more noticeable when loaded up. Interesting that my 2014 model has a steering damper as standard....I too will be keeping mine for a good while longer yet. Thanks again - TMF
Thanks for the honest review on the "old girl". Been thinking about getting another one after getting rid of my 06 GS 1200 Adventure in 2008. The only problems I had on my was corrosion problems in the electronics and front engine bolts. Great video's and keep them coming.
+Robert Wilson They are great bikes, I've now had her 2 years to the day (goes in for a service tomorrow) and no sign of any corrosion :0) Thanks for the kind words, all the best - TMF
great video I have the 2015 adventure and to answer a few of your questions , yes I notice a lot of difference between rain mode and the rest of the modes, I do a lot of off road work so the endure mode has a lot of free spin on the rear wheel that you would not have on road mode, and as to the suspension if you try some off road or dirt roads you will start noticing the difference in handling great video thanks
lower valley ralley Hi there - thanks for your kind words, glad you enjoyed the video. I don't tend to use the big BMW off-road so bow to your greater knowledge on that one....don't get me wrong, I do notice a difference between say Rain mode and Dynamic and Soft v Hard suspension, it's just not as marked as I would have expected. Great bike though, love mine more every time I ride it. All the best - TMF
My suspension modes work very well indeed, living in a rural location and the roads not being the best smooth surfaces I can see no issue with mine, as for the riding modes the bike had a recall to the ecu and I now notice that from normal to dynamic it is certainly more responsive, my GS also after 1300 miles had to have a new water pump as the ceramic seals went and this I am told was down to a faulty batch, but overall very satisfied with the bike...best I have owned.
+Darren Banks Hi Darren, Interesting that you had a recall for the ECU - what year is yours and what country are you in? I've not had such a recall and it might explain the difference we have described! I love the bike, the riding modes thing is a minor issue as far as I'm concerned, but if mine isn't working and there was a recall, I'd like it sorted! Cheers and all the best - TMF
Great review and very accurate. I do notice the throttle response differences on my 2014 TE. To the point that I normally slip onto rain mode in heavy traffic to stop the "lurching" at slow speeds. My main grumble is the ratting and "pinging" form the right cylinder once hot. I have been told this is the decompression valve.This is my only complaint and I suspect part of this is me coming from inline fours and triples to more of a agricultural engine and gearbox which you touched on.
Hi Owen, thanks for watching and commenting - I've not noticed any rattling from the cylinders, that doesn't sound right to me? .....and I agree, the engine modes do make a difference, just not as marked/great as I expected (having come from "simple" bikes). Cheers for now - TMF
Bought the LC TE back in May 2013. 2 years later and 30,000 miles....still impressed. I live in Spain and do a lot of distance riding, UK and Europe. The bike just eats the miles, switchgear I agree, had the left hand cluster changed under warrantee (couldn't engage cruise). Suspension changes do make a difference from fully loaded with kit to bare naked in the mountains around here, dynamic mode makes a world of difference both with throttle response and suspension feel. Agree about the Speedo; easier to read the sat nav. At this time wouldn't dream of changing, only to an adventure TE early next year. Nice vid Sir............
+Steve Pape Thanks Steve and glad we are in agreance on the bike - great bit of kit and I grow more impressed with mine as time goes on. As you say, can't think of anything else I'd rather have, except another......
I'm going to tell you, semi activ suspension adds a good amount of safety margins. I don't know what the outcome in the certain situations I had could have been without it, but it definitely helped me to get out of them.
Good stuff!
I had a ride of a gs 1200 from Braintree the other day.Its my first big bike ,I did think it was rather smooth.Although the road was wet and rain mode came in very handy.Great review......
Thanks Rodders....
I finally took one for a test ride yesterday and found it good but a few little niggles which I hope would pass over time such as can't reach indicators (kept pressing the wheel or horn) side stand difficult to find & move, very twitchy throttle although Rain mode helped to get more used to it. I found it good 2 up and very stable with suspension a lot better than I'm used to. Overall good and will need a bit more time with it to see for sure. Great videos by the way, keep up the good work.
Cheers JJ
The33JAYJAY Thanks for the kind words - I did get used to the indicators and again the side stand does get easier with use, I now find mine naturally without having to look (thanks to the little lug thing they put on 'em). Really is a great bike, you won't be disappointed........
Very good review, both content and delivery. I have owned a 13 GS and now a 15 GS. I pretty much agree with all of your comments and views. Well done.
Thanks Voz - These are great bikes aren't they, but they are not flawless and it takes a while to get to know any bike really well - glad you concur with my views :0) Thanks for watching - all the best, TMF.
Another great video, I am hoping by the summer I'll be back on the road, back surgery recovery taking longer than expected. Still got you vloggers keeping me entertained. 😜
Cheers 125SM - sorry to hear about the back, doesn't sound like fun at all - wish you a speedy recovery matey....TMF
I hope your Recovery goes well. I also have a bad Back. That’s why I chose the GS. It’s the only Bike I can Ride and not hurt.
Will be interesting to see how the current generation of Beamers are fairing, when they're 20 or so years old - particularly as they come with so much electronics. I appreciate that much of it is 'solid state', and whilst rare, failures aren't unheard of - and can be *hugely* expensive (keeping up the Warranty payments seems a good idea!). Friend of mine, clocked up 270k on his 1150 - I wonder how these WC variants will stack up.
+kwakkers68 ....good point - I'll let you know, mine's defo a keeper :0) Thanks for watching and commenting - all the best - TMF
I am very happy to find an honest review of this bike. Surprised to hear the negativity with quite so many flaws, little problems, and disappointments. You say you like it in spite of all those things, but fully dressed the way I would buy one it would cost about $30k, not to mention tax and fees, plus the maintenance costs... not that I can't afford it but for that kind of money I would expect better. Like you said, features aside, the lack of quality in some of the parts and design (especially compared to "lesser" bikes) is really a shame for the price. I've been considering one of these for my next bike but as of now I'm really reconsidering.
Best thing is to take a test ride and see for yourself whether you can live with the negative points I've highlighted - even with the negatives I've found the big beemer is still the best bike I've ever owned...thanks for stopping by, all the best - TMF
Thanks for the feedback, yeah I still definitely plan to try it out. But a long-term review like yours is very helpful!
Glad to be of service! Would love to hear how you get on....
Thank you, MissendenFlyer - very nice review. I have a US R1200GS purchased in July 2014. I'm in love with this machine. However I'm in love with anything on two wheels. I very much appreciate the review and the tour through beautiful Jolly Old!
Cheers Matthew, glad you enjoyed the video and are enjoying the bike!
19:38 ''If I go from fully soft...and go to fully hard, there's not a whole lot of difference''
They have pills for that you know...
Chivas6 LOLs - Thanks for that, I'll have a chat to my doc!!
Lol
Mr missenden, great set of videos, nice to see you mentioned the running costs of the gs1200, which are substantial. I would like one but my current gt800 is much cheaper to run, keep up the good work and I will keep watching! Ron
rontheretiredone Thanks Rontheretiredone glad you liked the videos -and yes, the running costs of these bikes are significant but then probably not too different to other bikes of the same type/class. The gt800 is a great bike, ride safe and thanks for watching/commenting....
A good review, points positive and negative situations, in that case, you are spot on.
And as with all "expensive toys", it doesn't mean that it's "heaven" all around. A GS is indeed a good machine, with maybe the well know BMW negative points, as you speak about the GS, many say it in the same way. Good work!!!
Thanks Joppie...
Great review! Good and kind comments on both the +'s and -'s.... Didn't cover the comfortably of the seats. - I had to purchase "Sergeant Seats" both front and back (to make a matching pair looking good) to turn this thing into an "all day" bike.... Also purchased an after-market windscreen to keep turbulent air off my shoulders...
Gordon McCoy Thanks Gordon - did I not mention the seat?? I have the low seat and find it perfectly comfortable, only issue is the ease of fitment of the rear seat (which I did mention - a real pain!). Thanks for your kind words, all the best - TMF
Thanks for the great review. I have a 2014 R 1200 GS Adventure, and like you, I love the bike overall. The boxer engine design, as you pointed out makes the cylinder heads vulnerable, particularly if used off road, which I do for about 5% of my mileage. Regarding the ride modes, suspension settings, etc. The changes are subtle. This is the first bike I've owned that has electronic suspension and engine adjustment, so I can't compare. I will say that when the roads are actually wet, traction control is much more likely to kick in, say during an uphill start on wet asphalt. Not surprisingly the reduced torque in rain mode makes it less likely. Yet, because it does have traction control one isn't likely to leave any graffiti on the road anyway. Finally, as to the suspension settings, only on very twisty mountain roads do I feel the hard setting really comes in to its own. Otherwise normal or soft provide great comfort and a stable ride for daily use.
Thanks for the kind words and taking the time to comment, I'm glad we're largely in agreement about the bike! Ride safe, TMF
Nice and informative, as usual! Enjoy your very thorough reviews mate. It seems it's been winter for ever here in the UK, I'm desperate for spring to arrive and to get back out. My bike is all in bits at the moment, having a good old deep clean & service. Upsets me seeing her like that! haha
All the best
RV
...best get the spanners, sun is going to shine tomorrow! (well maybe a bit)....thanks for your kind words, hope you get out soon....TMF
Mflyer, located here in Virginia just shy of Washington, D.C.
So, the 495 beltway is my playground when riding for work and getting around. I currently ride a 2014 FJR1300. Love the bike, it has been good to me. I can totally understand why people have several bikes in their stable! You have great vids and I totally enjoy your commentary and views of the UK!
Shawn Kuse Hi Shawn - you are too kind sir! Glad you enjoy my videos.....lovely bike the big Yamaha, it was on my list when I was looking for the GS but in the end the big BMW just tipped it for me (I love gadgets too much!). I love the US as you will have noticed and Washington is one place I've not yet been that I'd love to go too, one day I will get to the Smithsonian!! All the best from Blighty, thanks for watching and ride safe - TMF
Really enjoying your reviews, the videos are excellent quality, not only content but also presentation.
I'm thinking I need another GS after a drought of a few years, had two 1100 gs's put over forty thousand miles on both. The new version seems to have improved vastly on the the earlier examples. Enjoying your channel by the way.
Ride safe
All the best
cheers
tony
antonoat Thanks Tony - glad you're enjoying the videos - welcome along! Do test ride a current GS - the new water cooled boxer is a brilliant engine, I think you'll find it vastly improved over the older machines.....all the best - TMF
Great review. Better than any of the "professional" reviews I've seen. Thanks!
Thank you for saying so! :0)
Awesome review mate. I am thinking about adding one of these to my garage to give me other options. Owning a HP4 is great; however, i would love to do some touring. And you just gained a new subscriber. Ride safe mate.
War Machine Motovlogs Excellent, a great stable mate for the HP4 and a brill tourer...go for it! ....thanks for the Sub, welcome along! - TMF
Nice good video, had my s1200 the now for 18months love it, a few flaws has you have pointed out. But can't see me getting rid of it as it has all the good bits from every bike I've ridden and put it into this one fantastic machine. keep up the great reviews.
Cheers Plymouthbikers, I'm glad we concur! ride safe - TMF
my bike history:
Hornet 250 -> CB1300 ->CBR900->Ducati Monster 1000ie->Ducati 999->CB1300F->Sportster 48-> BMW R 1200GS :)
Expensive to run yes but you can do so many things with this bike, the only problem is that you cant go back to traditional bikes after a while.
The electronic aids and stability controls are very much addictive.
great video, constructive comments, Thank you good sir!
Thanks arale2k, I agree theses are great all rounders, if I could only have one bike this would defo be it....a keeper for sure! Ride safe - TMF
Splendid review mate, I've been thinking on the bike, it looks a joy to ride. Thanks again great review!!
Thanks Fred, glad you found my review of interest. All the best - TMF
Another fine review TMF, I have now had my GS LC for 7 months and can agree with all you say. Just had my 6.5k service and my rear pads were worn 80% which I found very hard to believe as I hardly ever use it. I read in the manual that with hard braking the rear will automatically assist braking with the front, so may be this explains it, but still £89 for new pads is a bit on the pricey side! To say I was disappointed is an understatement! Design flaw from BMW? Well it looks like twice a year I will have to factor this cost in. Apart from this side issue I'm over the moon with the bike. Keep up the good honest reviews. Cheers MG
Thanks MG - at least I'm not the only one who had to pay for the prematurely wearing rear brake pads (I have heard BMW have replaced others under warranty)! Thanks for your kind words and for watching - TMF
Great video as always TMF - very interesting review and really good to get such an honest insight into the big GS. Thanks for posting!
Cheers cbuzz6000 - glad you approve! :0)
When I test rode the GS I also was buggered about the speedometer. I frikkin could not see the tiny numbers at all. I am sure we are not the first ones to complain about this! The advent of the NAV device resolves this, so you can read the speeds, but at a huge cost! Like you said, for a premium bike this could of been handled much better by BMW.
MFlyer, keep up the vids. I sure do enjoy them here in the USA!
Shawn Kuse Hi Shawn, Thanks for watching and for your kind comments. Glad we agree on the speedo issue, unreadable! As you say the fabulous SatNav fixes that but at cost. All that said these are such great bikes I can forgive all that (and mentally right off the cost!!). Whereabouts in the US are you??
I'm a big fan of your videos, especially your reviews of various machines. I'm a Suzuki Bandit 600 rider but want a BMW now! Have you or would you consider reviewing the BMW F800GS? Keep up the great work!!
I haven't but would love too! I'm at the BMW dealer soon...will ask what the chances are...
The main difference in the settings is from street to dirt. On the street you won't notice a whole lot. But you will off road. If you leave it in dynamic in the dirt the rear wheel will try to swap places with the front rather quickly. Same with the suspension. Soft, to medium, to hard is more noticeable in the dirt. Don't forget to mess with the presets too. Off road I ride it set on driver with luggage and soft. Gives me the ground clearance and ease of absorbing the bumps. Street I set to just driver on medium or hard. Depending on how hard I'm hitting the curves.
Michael Morrison Cheers Michael, I just can't yet bring myself to take this big heavy beast off road to test your theory! ....so I'll take your word for it. Thanks for watching - all the best - TMF
I'm just learning to. It's intimidating, but it handles a lot easier than I thought it would.
Michael Morrison Yeah the low CoG no doubt helps.....until I get the courage though I'll stick to off-roading on my little Honda - IMO a much better bet on the dirt!!!
It's my only bike. My off road toy is a quad.
Thanks for a very thoughtful review, TheMissendenFlyer. It's especially nice to hear a balance of positives and negatives. As a fellow 2014 R1200GS owner, I concur with almost all of your observations. I personally experience more disgust with the gearbox than you; it's top of my list of gripes. Loud, clangy, rough. My last ride was a Triumph Tiger 800XC (2013) and the gears were butter smooth. The GS has a tractor transmission. Overall, though, you arrived at the same conclusion as I did: brilliant motorcycle that's a joy to ride. I'm at 9,000 miles after 11 months, and every mile gets better and better. Many safe miles ahead to you. Cheers.
Cheers Jeff - glad you agree with my conclusions, and many more safe miles on the GS! All the best - TMF
Thought I'd add a couple of points. The Rear Seat Pad!. I took a look at mine, the same as yours. I unlocked it, checked the mechanism and put it in the forward position is no problem at all, a kind of down and forward movement, clunk click!. Must more comfortable to ride now. Also, those Modes, Drive, Rain, Etc. Pissing down today, set the system on Rain, very different feel. The Suspension is much softer, definitely a difference. Didn't push it, but was aware of it. I'm now about to attack the dreaded drive shaft dry splines issue!.....Ouch....
Thank you for the insightful review! I have 2014 as well 15k and i agree with most of your points ... there is a trick with the passenger seat to lock it in correctly, and my perception of the Ride Modes + Suspension have been totally different. When I put the bike in Dynamic for instance one thing I noticed I'm hard pressed to get better then 36mpg when I'm in Road or Rain where the throttle softened torque seems to be less at least initially I get avg 40-42mpg normal riding. As for Suspension when I'm in the canyons I keep it to single rider, hard works well 500+ pound beast ... when I'm in the city or freeway Im usually on soft + bag. I've noticed comfort advantage especially on rutted roads or fire roads it does an amazing job soaking up the bumps vs anything else I've ever owned. On my bike cost of ownership also been high (Front and rear Rotors and pads) 12k only bike I experience that on was a Supermoto ... Cheers still my favorite bike
Thanks for the kind words and feedback jnk10 - I think the suspension adjustment is much more marked if riding off road ( not something I do on this bike). What's the trick with the rear seat you have? I've found using the key helps......
Just bought the 2015 R1200GS and I love it, however I share the same "cons" as you...the seat gap, and the small speedometer is difficult to read. I opted for the keyless ride feature, very well worth the additional money. I agree with you on riding modes, very neat, but not too noticeable. Come ride your GS in the mountains of New Mexico USA...you'll love it.
Ford2011NM Glad you like the bike Ford2011NM - and count me in on the New Mexico ride!! ;0)
You are completely right ... That seat is a pain in the neck to adjust!
Just bought one the same... Great review well detailed... Went from r1200r to this as doing long runs r1200r lc was a fantastic bike but the gs just seem to top it.
To test whether the ABS is working, apply the front brake hard at speed over a steel manhole cover, or whatever you all call them. It'll slow the front wheel by sliding the tire for a fraction causing a mismatch in front to rear wheel speed, and you'll feel the front suspension rise as the front calipers release ever so briefly. Then it'll reapply the front caliper. If it has some odd interlocked braking system, I doubt this will show anything. Best wishes with your gearbox! Hope they've improved them.
+Justanoldguy '46 There's no issue with the ABS - I certainly know that's working! :0) ...and the gearbox is a little agricultural but I've had much worse...thanks for stopping by, all the best - TMF
Thanks a million for this informative review. It is by far the best and the most informative review I came across for the water cooled 1200GS. Sure wish you all the best. Keep up the good work ;-)
Thanks for the kind words Mohamed, glad you found the review of interest....I tried to be as honest about its foibles as possible....overall it is a great machine though, rode it for 150 miles in the sunshine today.....lovely!! All the best - TMF
In fact all the thanks should really go to you :-)
Currently I'm riding a 2012 K1300R and I'm having some lower back disc problems that lead to undergoing surgery last month. From your experience do you think the comfort level on the R1200GS is worth switching from the K? Really appreciate your opinion. Cheers :-)
+Mohamed El Sayad Well I've never ridden the K1300R so all I can say is the GS is very comfortable, in fct the most comfortable bike I've ridden - just finished another 100 miler and I have no aches or pains...my guess is it would be a little more upright than the K1300R....best thing of course is to book yourself a test ride. Enjoy! - TMF
Thanks for a good review. No bike is perfect and a lot depends on the subjective feel the ownership provides. Must say the 1200 RS out later this summer looks tasty. Price is the drawback for me, with all the panniers and accessories its a tad too much!
Nice review, I have the same machine, this time a half way 2017. The very last of the GS's with Analogue Clocks (which I love). Now it has an ipad stuck in the place of the original dash!, doesn't do anything for me. Your comments are clear, gearbox is notchy, even more with shift assist, (that's a nack, but it still fails me now and then). Lights, brakes (love the handbrake hold) etc are all good. Certainly feel the difference on my bike with riding modes, or more precisely, Ride Mode. When my mate gets on the back, I press a knob and the back raises to compensate for his weight, same for luggage etc. Works well. Mode, Between Drive & Dynamic, I can feel the bike stiffen up, never tried the endurgo buttons, never go off road!. Seems to run on air, uses very little fuel. What I can't work out is (is the gearbox separate from the Engine or now Part of it?). Using Shift Assist, my gut reaction is to change the gearbox oil more frequently, but I'm no longer sure whether is is separate with it's multi plate wet clutch?..... In a sentance...... Fabulous Bike, one of the very very best I've ever driven & I'm 62!, Excellent!
Thanks for the great video and review!!
Totally agree with your comment on the speedometer….it is so hard to read. I started using the amazing GPS unit to check the speed. try it out.
What an amazing bike.
Hi George that Is exactly what I do too - the GS would be a lesser bike without the fantastic Navigator V. Thanks for watching - all the best - TMF
Good honest review!----------- since buying mine in December i have only done 200 miles!--Fell on ice in work 5 weeks ago and fractured a few ribs !--gutted.
Bad news! Hope you're on your way to getting fixed up and will be back in the saddle soon. All the best - TMF
I'm from Aussiland. I bought my 1200 GS in December 2014 new. The first thing I noticed when riding back home from dealership was a vibration. Felt like it was missing a decent top gear. At the 1000km warranty service I raised the question about the vibration because my 1150GS didn't have it. It turned out when the 1200 GSA was available 6mths later it had an extra 980gms on the flywheel or Crankshaft? I bought a 1200GSA in 2016. Different feel to the motor, much better. I still have the 2014 GS with 218,000kms on the clock. It doesn't miss a beat. Still has full torque and power. I had the fork seals replaced at around 160,000 kms but no other problems. Yours Sincerely Hodgie from Scone NSW
Nice review and I really like your "Everyone is entitled to their hobby" respect for other road users.
villho Cheers villho.....of course it does rather depend on the hobby!!
hi Vstm
I have had the Ohlins on the bike for the past 6 years. I put it on the bike to enable me to better adjust preload on various surfaces -particularly gravel roads ( I live in Australia) and to ensure consistency of damping over time with Ohlins being able to be serviced/rebuilt etc. Initial difference against original ? Limited on road ( as far as I can recall) and to be honest I was at the stage where , like many of us, I was looking for accessories to improve the bike and this was a " nice to have" but not essential. I would add that of the many other improvements, the most important were the Sergeant seat and a touring screen . The Sergeant was IMHO absolutely essential after the plank that came with the bike.
Hi Steve, thanks for that, I'm not sure upgrading the suspension is an option on these new GS models, I think the semi-active set up is pretty optimal for the bike (that said I'm so insensitive I probably wouldn't notice a difference!). Interesting what you say about the seat....cheers for watching, ride safe - TMF
A good real world review of your bike and what you personally think about it let's hope that someone from BMW watches. I too have recently brought a BMW motorcycle but not as new as yours,it's been somewhat of the departure from the usual Japanese machines I'm use too and is still taking a little getting use to. Like you there are things in simply love about it and others in find frustrating
Hi Peter, thanks for the kind comments - I love owning European bikes (even if they are from an ex Messerschmitt factory) but there is no doubt the Japanese know how to do quality too! I'd say my Triumph (sadly not from a ex Spitfire factory) is at least as good quality as the BMW but not up there with the Japanese firms......
Great review my wife has had one for a year
I’ve decided to get the 2014 version in red like yours .. agree with the negatives the Speedo I have a real issue with and that’s why you need the satnav bike info .. looking forward to a Europe trip on it
Thanks for the well thought out commentary on the BMW R1200GS motorcycle. I too plan on buying a new one.
+Ken Kucel Thanks Ken, glad you approve....and you'll love the bike!
I recently went to my local BMW dealership to buy parts from my existing 95 R1100R and I saw the 2015 GS and I was absolutely in love. My wife and I are getting ready to sell our very large house as our 5 sons have nearly all moved out. When we downsize is when I'll by my new GS. I simply can't wait! Be safe my friend!
-Ken
+Ken Kucel Great plan Ken, enjoy - TMF
ABS saved me once on my R1200RT and that is all it needed to do to pay for itself a thousand times.
I just bought a new 2016 R1200GS and love it - it has all the fruit.
+vasudama Yes you can't argue with ABS on modern bikes I don't think - I wish all my bikes had it. Anything about the RT you miss? I'm thinking that may be the bike to replace my GS with when the time comes?
+TheMissendenFlyer Stick with the GS as it is the best all rounder - touring, off roading and city. If you only want to tour then by all means get an RT coz it cannot be beat on the highway.
I rode mine daily to work for 2 years and it was heavy to lug around all the time. And when I hit an occasional dirt road - yikes.
I miss the 4 speaker stereo that got louder as you sped up - lol. And the fairing/screen was like sitting in a car with the windows down - absolutely brilliant.
+vasudama Thanks for that, I don't use my GS off road (have the little Honda CRF for that) and the GS is basically my daily transport, load lugger and touring bike, I'm wondering if the RT would for the bill for that and I really enjoyed my recent test ride on one.....
TheMissendenFlyer Welcome ;)
Hi there take the bike offroad then change the suspension modes soft to hard the difference is like night to day. Also the difference in the riding modes us not that marked but I do notice a difference in overall power, throttle response and power going from rain to say dynamic.
I must agree about the switch gear and you can solve the difficulty of cleaning by purchasing frame plugs.
Great review.
Thanks Carmelo - glad you agree about the switch gear and great to hear off-road justifies the suspension (I'm sure those boffins in Munich know what they're doing!!). Cheers for now - TMF
£4-£500 insurance with 3 years ncb!! You need to ring round. I’ve recently put my GS [2013] back on the road after just over 2 years due to a long term illness so I had to start back at zero ncb. I called Bennett’s and the cost was £130 but didn’t include helmet or leathers. However for an extra £48 they covered them too, so that’s a total of about £178 including riding apparel. That didn’t sound bad. My age may have influenced the cost as I’m 60 but I did own up to having a full Akra system fitted to the bike [end can and Akra headers. I brought my bike as a demonstrator so I took purchase with those fitted. I did ask at the time how much extra the system added to the premiums and I was told that so long as the bmw dealer fitted them then the system added no extra cost. On the wheel side of the can there is legislation giving the db levels etc and which Bmw models it was suitable for. The headers are noticeably larger in diameter so I guess having the full system as a posed to end can only. may give 1 or 2 extra ponies? I’ve never seen official figures but If anyone knows the difference I’d be interested in hearing. One thing I can say with authority is that the slightly larger Akro header make the exhaust a bit louder than if the Akra end can is just fitted to stock GS headers. I imagine some might not appreciate the extra deep tone . I wear ear plugs regardless what bike I’m riding or how far, and I can still hear the meaty low tone easily.
Another great review TMF. I have owned my 09 GS for two years now having previously owned 5 Blackbirds and I just love it. The only reason I would sell it would be to buy a later one or dare I say it an RT. Well at 65 its an age thing. Hope you got away this year on yours. I did TT this year but as its got too expensive its France and Germany for me in 2016. See you on the road sometime hopefully.
+Ted Edwards Cheers Ted - I've done plenty of UK touring this year but need to get away in 2016 for something further afield....quite fancy the thought of Spain + I've yet to do the TT......
Thanks TMF for another informative review. I'm still interested in the bike. Here in New York, we are enduring the coldest winter in years and are still snowed in, so I won't be able to sell my old RT just yet. I like to think of the jugs sticking out as "leg protectors," so they aren't all bad. That gap in the seat may be partly due to your having the low seat version. With those added BMW LED's, can you set them to stay on all the time? I would use them for conspicuity and would want them on even on the brightest days. There are aftermarket alternatives as well. Thanks.
Hi Harold - good to hear from you again, hope you get some Spring time soon (seems to be turning here in Blighty, lovely sunny day today - but still cold). Good point re the leg protectors, at least the bike won't pin you to the floor if you drop her! The gap in the seat issue isn't too much of an issue, once in the forward position there is no gap - it doesn't make a difference which seat I have fitted (I have the standard seat height as well). The BMW lights are great, very integrated and flexible, I have them on Auto but you can have them on all the time (or indeed off all the time) depending on your mood. Keep warm, all the best - TMF
I am considering the purchase of a 2014 r1200gs ( having owned a 2006 model from new) I have seen most reviews of this bike on RUclips and yours is by far the most comprehensive and detailed - not least because it doesn't ignore the negatives ( unlike most journalists !) I was particularly interested in your point on the effectiveness of the ESA and mode settings in a real world situation . I have yet to read any other views on this and wonder if, one year later, you have noticed any changes in the effectiveness of the ESA with use. I changed my suspension to a full Ohlins after 20k kms on my old bike. Thanks again for a very comprehensive review
Hi Steve - glad you found my review of use. I'm no expert rider so maybe it's just me - I find the BMW uber comfortable and a very capable machine on road, just that I don't think the ESA is all that it was cracked up to be when the reviews first came out. I also rode the Ducati Multistrada with similar "Skyhook" suspension and to be honest that didn't feel any different to "normal" suspension either. Don't get me wrong, the bike has great suspension, just don't expect an order of magnitude better than anything else you've ridden.
Steve what changes did the Ohlins bring?
Great review of GS with lots of useful tips. Similar tastes in bikes with Panigale ordered. You have added every accessory known to man on most of your bikes but you haven't gone for a custom seat on the GS. I have been on a few tours on my GSA and after a couple of hours max the aches set in and I just have to stop. I think it's probably down to personal preference but just wondered if you considered a different seat. Keep the show going and see you out on the road sometime. Many thanks, Steve
+Steven Meston Thanks for the kind words Steve - My GS does have the lowered seat which so far I have found OK (and I've done up to 9 hours in the saddle in a day) and you have to keep some accessories "in the bag" for a rainy day eh ;0) Cheers for watching and for stopping by.....TMF
The new GS is an excellent naked sports bike, an awesome touring bike, a wonderful cruiser, and a brilliant dirt bike. Its a game changer...........
+Paul Thomas Agreed :0)
Glad you said that about the modes not making much of a difference, as I found the same on a Multistrada test ride ...
Hi Len - it's not just me then! Good news :0)
Great video. I appreciate the real world comments and the in depth discussion.
Thanks, glad you found it of interest, all the best - TMF
Great to hear a review that doesn't involve the usual 'my BMW is ace, and can do no wrong' attitude. The reality is, the bike is fine, but massively overpriced for what it is. The cost of the luggage and satnav alone would get you a half decent touring machine! After many European tours featuring these bikes, I've been on just one when one or another of them hasn't broken down. The Ewan and Charley effect is still alive and kicking for BMW! For me, once the novelty of those features wore off, it'd just become another bike - and a very expensive one at that! Love the reviews btw, keep 'em coming!
DrummerboyUK1 Thanks DrummerboyUK1 - Yeah I tend to agree that all BMWs are overpriced! I'm obviously a fan and love the GS, but there's no getting away from the fact that BMW sting you in the pocket for it!! ...still - no one is forcing us (me) to buy their machines I suppose!! Cheers - TMF
The new Honda VFR is the same. A decent bike but waaaay too much when compared to a GSX 1250 Suzuki. Yes the Honda is a better bike, but it's not 5 grand better! Anyway, keep up the videos and keep reporting back on the progress of the Beemer. Do you intend keeping it long term?.
DrummerboyUK1 .....sure do!
Great review. I've had a 2014 R1200 GS since last May and I pretty well concur with all of your comments. I have 2 major beefs however. First is the seat. I got the standard height suspension with the low seat. In the low position the seat forces me into the tank. Very uncomfortable after an hour or so. The remedy was; high position in front and low position in the rear. With this configuration the 'family jewels' are not being crushed into the tank and the overall comfort increase immensely. My next complaint is quite serious and might be a reason for getting rid of the bike. It has to do with overall suspension compliance and the damping settings. As you mentioned in your review there is not much difference in the settings. In fact, I find it hard to tell if I'm in Soft Normal or Hard unless I look at the info panel. I find the suspension very rough and quite jolting over medium and large bumps regardless of the damping setting. As a check, I placed an electrical tie wrap on one of the sliders to see how the suspension was reacting to the bumps. What I found is that the tie wrap indicates that I am only getting a little more than haff of the available suspension travel on the front suspension, even over the hardest bumps. Looks to me like the ESA is closing the compression valve on the front shock way too early. I live in Northern Ontario in Canada and some of the roads get beat up by the harsh winters and are very rough. On these roads the ride is rough, feeding jolts right into the handgrips. This is very disappointing as I expected the GS to be pillow soft over rough roads....that's why I bought the bike. How do you find your GS on rough roads?......Cheers.... Rick
Hi Rick - interesting what you say, maybe your machine has a fault as I have to say on rough roads (and we have plenty) the big Beemer does give a very nice ride - I certainly haven't experienced the bangs and jolts you describe...may be worth getting it to a dealer for the once over?? I agree that you need to look at the panel to check what suspension setting you're on (same goes for riding mode!!!) such is the marginal difference they appear to make. Anyway, hope you get yours sorted out, thanks for watching and for the kind comments - all the best - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Thanks for the quick response. Your comments are much appreciated. Unfortunately the visit to the dealer will have to wait until sometime in May. The big GS is presently hibernating in my garage....-27C outside right now with mounds of snow all over. The only riding I do these days is in my head as I watch your videos !! Keep them coming ! Rick
Hi
I have the same bike and what you forgot as negative point that I find really upsetting is the aerodynamics. When driving above 30 miles there is a very noisy whistle due to the hole in front of the bike.
KTM is much better as is does not leave so many holes in the front. BMW should think about a better aerodynamics in the next model and trying to close some of the gaps we have on our model!
Without earplugs on the motorways after driving 500miles you get headache!
Hi Flyer
Thanks for leaving some space for the two wheelers without engines - appreciated - I frequently cycle along the same roads as you. Great reviews by the way, trust your opinions. I know quite a few people have requested this, but would be great if you did a review of the GSA, comparing it to your experience on the GS. Also, how about a review of the new Ducati Scrambler? - Ducati Aylesbury quite close to you.....you know you want to. Thanks again. Looking forward to upgrading to an engine at some point.
Cheers Patrick, thanks for the ideas (I have a few in the pipeline) and for the kind words....you got to get yourself one of these motorised bikes, so much more convenient up hill and you can supplement your lycra dressing up with leather ;0) .....TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Last bike was an R75/7 - no brakes and handled like a deckchair. That was almost 20 years ago. Now mid-life crisis beckons thoughts turn to biking again. Having a wardrobe full of leather and lycra is a bit dubious. Thanks again.
I think the rain mode is actually very well done on these bikes. On the Aprilia I owned before getting a GS the rain mode was unusable. On my GS the hp drop and more aggressive ABS are definitely noticeable but the bike is still very rideable. I think it's actually a great compliment to bmw that the rain mode is not that intrusive and does not completely destroy the character of the bike.
I also made the same observation about rear brake pads. I blame the linked brakes.
Vlad Pavlov Yeah you may be right on the linked brakes Vlad....thanks for watching/commenting - All the best, TMF
In view of your comments about the fact that all the technology does not hugely impact on the overall experience, I wondered what you thought about this model and the previous non liquid cooled bike? You can get a very very low mileage example for a bout half the cost of a new current model and I'm having a bit of difficulty deciding which way to go.
+Tixall House Unfortunately I've never ridden the previous bike so I can't compare personally - from reading reviews the new liquid cooled motor has considerably more go in it, the old one I understand was lacking a bit of excitement but it was a much loved machine - sorry I'm not much help!!
Hi, I Ride a 2006 R1200GS and Love it. If you are looking at one of these, and not worried about all the Electronics. You’ll love it. It really Rides very Comfortably, and has Plenty of Power. I wouldn’t be Racing anyone on a Superbike, but there is so much Torque and picks up Speed easily. I’m 62 and Disabled with 6 Fusions in my Back. This GS is the only Bike I can Ride and not hurt. It’s that Comfortable. I don’t think you would be disappointed.👍
My dad owns one of these bikes and has 75,000 miles on it. It is pretty stock no cylinder head covers and has been dropped many times with about 5,000 of those miles being off road. The cylinder head is fine after being dropped on cement dirt asphalt and any other material you can think of. These are amazing bikes at a pretty reasonable price for the bike you are getting.
Yeah I love mine....75000 miles eh? He’s been busy!
Thanks for review...I have a 2012...been looking at the new ones but my '12 does everything so well that I am sticking with it....that said - still a very insightful review.
+Graham S Thanks Graham, glad you liked it, plenty of life in the 2012 yet I imagine.....no rush! :0) All the best - TMF
Thanks for this review - as an owner of the previous model it's great to hear your words of experience. I sat on one ;last Saturday to check leg room etc but I thought that the mirrors looked a bit small and lacked coverage. Obviously hard to judge in a showroom but what do you think in practice?
Many thanks, Nick
Actually Nick the mirrors are pretty good, I've not experienced any better on any previous bike I've owned or ridden - so I don't think you need to worry there! Overall these are great machines - if you are a fan of the previous model, you'll love the current one....thanks for watching! All the best - TMF
Great review ,Im in the market for a bmw ,have you tried the r1200R ,it would be very interesting to hear your opinion on how it compares to the r1200gs
agree 100% about the switches , specially the turn signals. I just got my GS few weeks ago and that was my very first impression. the ones on my CB500x which cost one third the price of the GS felt so much better. with the GS, i'm never sure if I successfully switched the turn signal on or off. I have to do a visual check. not something you would expect on a BMW.
Jimmy Yew Glad you concur Jimmy - and yes, Honda switch gear is such better quality, you know when you've activated them (not much to ask of a switch is it??!). Thanks for watching - all the best - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Thanks for the videos. I find them very useful, specially being new to the GS.Can I ask: do you know which of the Garmin Zumo's would fit in the GPS cradle? I wanted to get the Navigator V here in Singapore but they quoted me S$2000 which I find quite steep. As long as it fits in the cradle and I don't need to run any additional power lines, i'll be quite ha ppy. I don't really fancy using the selection wheel for that price. The Zumo 660 looks like it would fit nicely but not so sure about the 590 as it is bigger.Thanks in advance.
Jimmy Yew Hi Jimmy - I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. All I would say is that the BMW Nav V is specifically tailored to the GS so if you bought a standard Garmin unit you would likely miss out on all the good integrated functionality. Good luck! - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer No worries. Thanks for the videos.
Well presented and very thorough. Would love to hear your review of the K1600!
Thanks XenonOzHID - I love the looks of the big 1600, if I had a way to get my hands on one I'd love to review it!!
Cheers from Australia
I purchased my GS in May of '13 and now have over 24,000 miles. The bike is great and rides like a dream. I've done many one-day trips between 200 (around the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay) to 500 miles (San Jose, CA to Yosemite, CA and back).
My biggest complaint was the length of the break-in period for the transmission, after 6,000 it was beginning to smooth out. Around 8,000 a joy. After the 12,000 mile service...New bike
Like you stated, engine protection bars/crash bars are a must.
I ran the original Anakee III tires for 13,500. Now have the Conti Trail Attack II with 11,000 miles and about 50% gone.
The electronics are great. In the winter I select RAIN mode with a noticeable difference to DYNAMIC for not only throttle, but also suspension changes. As for ABS, have felt it through the foot brake many times. Traction Control, cuts the engine power as soon as the front comes off the ground.
But the big question: Would I buy another? In a heartbeat, but maybe the GSA
Thanks for stopping by Scot, glad you're as big a fan of the bike as I am :0) All the best - TMF
Hi TMF :-)
Well you're review can't be too negative as I've just purchased a 2011 GSA with 15'000miles in bright yellow. I've christened her 'big bird'
I love it already (only got it 4 days ago) just not used to putting my feet down at a stop. It's sooooo tall :-0
You're reviews really helped me choose. So thanks!
All the best
Richard
+Richard Sherwin Great stuff Richard, have fun on the new bike (they are good aren't they...) - TMF
+TheMissendenFlyer cheers :-) yep I'm loving it already ;-) cheers
Great review dude. Looking at getting my first Gs here in Ireland. Found 2 of them. First one is a 2007 gs adventure but it's absolutely mint condition and then a 2014 model like yours with loads of extras however the clown who owns it has pretty much left it outside and because of the weather here, it looks really rough cosmetic. However everything works and he's maintained it well mechanically as he has all the receipts from BMW. 2007 is €4500 and the 2014 is €7500.
Good choice!
@@TheMissendenFlyerI'm assuming you'd go for the newer model?
@@philipkeeling8647 Yes 100%
Good review, honest one. Cheers TMF.
6k miles is very little for years ownership, I'd love to hear your comments after having 20-30k done. I'd love to hear about reliability then coz I owned '07 RT with 36kkm on the clock and had to sell it due to problems I've had with her all the time. Wonder if these new ones are any better that way.
One thing I cannot understand these days is how is it possible that big manufacturers like BMW put a clock on the bike that is hard to read (heard that complaint more than once from few fellas) they have engineers, road testers etc. and they sell product (premium one, expensive one) with failed part on it.
Hi Vstm - yeah agreed, 6000 miles is by no means a big mileage - in my defence I do have two other bikes, 2 cars and an aeroplane to ride/drive/fly so my overall mileage is probably quite impressive :0) Seriously I agree with your point, will be interesting to see how these bikes fair after a few years of hard use and agree re the clocks, I can't believe the road testers found them easy to read....
TheMissendenFlyer I think problem with speedo reading is only affecting UK spec GS's due to the additional speed scale for km/h, for that reason I'm always using SPEED setting of onboard computer when I'm not riding with NAV V. It is small digital display, but I am able to check my speed much quickly than using analog display.
One more cons I could give for GS and for any BMW bikes I've ridden recently ( S1000R/RR, F800GS, R1200RT,etc) is the lack of user option to change bike's unit settings between imperial and metric. I had S1000RR not that long ago and when I wanted to tour in Alps, I asked dealer how to change MPH to KMH and the answer was - no, you can't unless you take bike to dealer to change it using their diagnostic computer, obviously with 0.5h charge. You can't change RDC preasures from PSI to BAR or consumption from MPG to L/100km. My 2009 ER6F would allow me to change speed and odo settings between two.
rain mode doesn't cut HP it just makes the ABS and the TC more sensitive. Turn off the TC, crack the throttle from the lights in dynamic and she'll loft the front wheel :o) The suspension settings, hard soft normal, make quite a difference if you're riding it in the twisties fast like a sports bike. With the engine running stop the bike and bounce on the seat while changing the modes, huge difference can be felt. That all said you want rider aids to be subtle so as to not take away from the riding experience. My two cents, great review :o)
+Paul Thomas Cheers Paul - thanks for the views and for watching - all the best - TMF
hi ThereDo agree with most of the comments you made great review. I have an 2013 version with 21k it was the first one into Ireland. The back brake is an issue the pads are made from chocolate I refused to pay the dealer for them. I got sintered pads from Nippy Norman. The riding modes do work very well especially two up, but to get the best from them you have to ride it hard not always possible I know. Done 800 miles in two days from Italy to Normandy in France two up fully loaded the bike was just superb.
+RMG Sounds good RMG - how have you found the sintered pads performance and longevity compared to stock??
TheMissendenFlyer great to hear you sported a STR and Tiger. Would you mind doing a compare/ contrast video between the 3? I'm on a STR now and am looking for a more long-ride/ adventure-friendly bike... thinking a 2000's Tiger.
Great video.
Cheers
Cheers Devonblaine - The Tiger I had was the 1050 - like a Speed Triple but upright and with a fairing - not the adventure machine....I already have a review of that and my Street Triple on my channel if you take a look around....cheers for watching and commenting, all the best - TMF
I've had my 1200GS since May of 2014. I completely agree with you about the switches. My start/stop switch has somewhat seized up and become very hard to press. I also wrap the switches in plastic every time I wash the bike to avoid situations like this, but it didn't seem to help in terms of the start/stop switch. With riding modes, I do notice a slight difference but can't compare them to any other bike since I'm fairly new to riding. I did expect the differences between riding modes to be more apparent than they are, though. It may be that they are more controlling of how the ABS and traction control work rather than engine fueling. I do notice a lot of difference in the different suspension modes, though. In hard, I feel much more planted and confident on twisty roads while on the interstate (or motorway as you might call it) I like to be in soft because it better absorbs bumps at high speeds.
I was hoping you'd mention something about the original windscreen. I still have it on mine and hate how easily scratched it is. When I first got the bike, it collected a bit of bugs on its first ride home. I cleaned it with warm water and a microfiber cloth, but the windscreen showed a bunch of micro-scratches on it afterward that show up really well when the sun hits it just right. I was rather disappointed. Thanks for your review on other options!
All in all, I think you did a fantastic job of pointing out the good and bad of the water cooled 1200GS!
Cheers for taking the time to respond oliyraincloud and for your kind words - yeah good point on the OEM windscreen, mine got scratched by a so-called professional valet that trashed the screen on my 2nd day of ownership! The after market ones do seem more robust. Sorry to hear your start/stop is causing you issues, I've heard this is a common issue on modern BMWs (mine is fine so far, guess I'm just lucky). Ride safe and all the best....TMF
Great review, honest & thorough although I thought the first negative of 'boxer engine' was a bit mean as it's kind of obvious before you buy the bike and secondly, I'd probably put some sort of crash protection/engine covers on a non-boxer IL4 e.g. S1000R so not really unique to the boxers.
Fair enough....thanks for watching and commenting - ride safe TMF
Thank you for a fairly extensive review. Undoubtedly GS1200 is an excellent tourer.Nice scenery by the way
+Shahrol azmi Thanks!
Great video. Love the way you present an honest and balanced appraisal. I have the same model GS and I agree with pretty much everything you say except the bit about the difference between engine modes and suspension set ups. I do notice a marked difference particularly between rain mode and dynamic mode (as one should expect) and I like being able to choose beteen them according to prevailing conditions.
You scared me a bit with the servicing costs. I had the initial check up done when the bike was still pretty new and they reported a surprising amount of rear brake wear. Maybe that's going to be one of the negative foibles of ownership?
I also agree that it sure is a pain to keep clean. I'm a bit OCD regarding cleaning too!
One thing you haven't mentioned and I'd be really interested to hear about from other owners, is that the engine is prone to stalling. My model is a 2013 (manufactured in Aug/Sept I think) and on occasion it has let me down by stalling. Rather dangerously this happened once whilst banked over negotiating a roundabout. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to this. In fact it can run for weeks without problem and then suddenly it will stall. It's usually in low gear and at low revs. I've tried standard unleaded fuel and I almost always now run it on the premium stuff. The dealer reckons to have checked it over a couple of times and has (allegedly) downloaded the latest software upgrade, but it hasn't solved the problem and they say they haven't encountered it on any others. Be interesting to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar.
Anyway, thanks for the video. Great work as usual. Ride safe!
Hi tyke - thanks for the kind words and interesting to hear your thoughts on the riding modes, etc. On the stalling front I've had no issue at all, I don't think it's ever stalled out on me....so sounds like a potential issue with your machine. Hope you manage to get that sorted out, sounds like a PITA. Ride safe and thanks again for watching/commenting - TMF
Hi. i have 2013 August built GS TE and my bike occasionally cuts out at low speeds as well. It has 13k miles at the moment. My box was replaced under warranty as I had many false neutrals, gears jumping out, crunching through gears, 3 clutches replaced. I can't fit QS Pro as my bike was built 2 weeks too early, so it has older ECU and missing wiring loom to connect it. I can confirm most of your cons and pros and for me gearbox is not acceptable so I'm selling it. BMW says it is the way they are, but without quickshifter and autoblipper I can't stand it anymore. I was told to blip the throttle to match gear speeds when shifting down, but recently bike misfires on blips and sometimes at low rev blips I am able to cut it out at least twice out of 10! BMW says that my riding style is wrong and advised me for my own safety to stop doing that, despite QS Pro doing blips and that is no longer bad riders technique. I love nav V and all driver aids, but I can't stand the box anymore and cut outs. No faults seen at dealers computers so they don't bother to investigate further. I decided to swap for Yamaha MT09 Tracer, but will keep Nav V and bmw mount onto new bike...will be hard to leave some nice gadgets behind...
Bad news Pawel, sounds like you just got unlucky and picked up a Friday afternoon machine....
TheMissendenFlyer my bike had switchgear replaced either before me or while owning it on one of many workshop visits. I bought it as exdemo bike at 2kmls. Dealer replaced rear pads foc at 6k service in June and that pair lasted till 12k service only, but this time I paid out of my own pocket.
I was riding recently 2015 model when my GS was in service, and I loved it, box was similar, but QS pro was softening gear changes and made downshifting very pleasant experience compared to mine. 2015 had more pulling away torque low down on small throttle opening, felt more alive than mine nowadays. I'd like to compare with someone if my bike is complete lemon or is it just my OCD kicking in.
Hi TMF
Well done that man! Great video just what I was wanting, very fair and frank I believe.
After two long test rides- I've finally put the deposit down (Saturday) for an "Alpine" (black engine & cases) model which has shift-assit fitted. I pick it up in March.
I've also managed to get the "low" seat and crash bars FOC :-) , which as you point out the bars are essential!
I also agree 100% about the speedo, I've decided to add a sticky on "dot" to the 30mph position to help me out. Probably the 70mph position too, as I don't want any speeding penalties:-(.
I'm sure the sat-nav is truly excellent -but I'm buggered if I'm shelling out £500+ for a speedo I can read??
Of course I forgot to ask about insurance while at the dealers. Sounds like I'm in for a shock.
Anyhoo I'm looking forward to getting it. TTFN
Cheers
Hi John - you will love the bike, it is a fantastic bit of kit...but I thoroughly recommend you save up the extra £500+ (I paid £600!) for the "satnav" - the thing is brilliant and adds so much functionality to the bike - exciting times ahead!!...roll on March eh? All the best - TMF
As it has dual braking the rear brake also works when you use the front brake
Indeed it does!
I like your reviews, honest & up front, and I'm thinking of getting the GS1200 Adventure. I'm a Brit in Southern California - can't get better biking weather than this! (Sorry chaps)
PS can't even see me on a Hardly Maybe some.
BM - the way to go! Thanks mate!
+granitePillar Thanks granitePillar, glad you like the reviews and I'm very jealous of your weather for riding in! I had a great time riding in LA this March (not sure if you saw those videos?) - as you say, an unbeatable place for biking....all the best - TMF
Will have to agree on the cost of running the BMW. Had recall letter and informed rear pads were in need of replacing, "yeah go ahead" ...... £85 supply and fit. Now that was only after 4100 miles too.
You had a recall for the rear pads???? First I've heard of that - surely if it were a recall I would have had the letter too (and it would be free of charge)? Somewhat annoyed I had to pay for mine as I have heard of others that have had them fitted for free at the 6000 mile service under the warranty - maybe my dealer isn't as good as I thought they were!! Been out on the bike today, they are expensive, but they are an awesome machine.....
No my bad, recall was for the right switchgear and whilst they did that they noted the rear pads were near end of life!
good honest review, thanks. I like this bike, but the 600mile service charge is a bit salty! Think I'll look for an old air/oil cooled model with the old switchgear. Keep up the good "work" !!
Thanks Mr J - glad you found it of interest - all the best - TMF
Really enjoyed your video. Leaning toward an RT but will definitely take a hard look at the GS. Thanks
Hi Patrick - glad my video was of interest, the RT is an amazing machine but defo worth riding both bikes before you make a decision.....the RT and GS do of course share many of the positive points (in particular the integrated Nav V I think??). All the best - TMF