I do everything on my 2016 R1200RS, it’s got 100.000+ kilometres on the odo, never let me down. Some mods required, the screen, I chose the Wunderlich Marathon, bought the Sports Seat, highest one, and moved the sat nav up above the instruments are the big ones. I do track days, touring, commuting as well as weekend blasts, so it gets used for sure. Cheers from Sweden - and yea, I guess I will upgrade to the 1250 eventually!
I've recently swapped from a 1250GS to the RS. The main reasons being I'm not carrying a pillion anymore nor do I do any off road stuff at all. The RS is also considerably cheaper than an equivelently spec'd GS here in the UK too and with the launch of the 1300 that gap has only widened. I found the RS easier to manage at low speeds and to filter on and have opted for the Tubular bars as I'm only 5'7" short so found the stock bars a bit of a stretch. The screen isn't as good as the GS's but a MRA Vario will sort that. I did try the 1250R too but found riding a naked bike too tiring, even though it had the sports screen fitted. The RS is certainly worth a look if you want a bike that isn't as common (or hated by certain sections) as the GS is but stillnwant the BMW Boxer experience
I’ve just ordered one of these and so has my dad. We’ll be picking them on the same day. Your story about your dad calling you up to go for a pie run sounds a lot like myself. We both take our wives with us frequently and still like to ride spirited at times so found these bikes to be the perfect middle ground.
I've occasionally taken my R1200rs lightly offroad during trips, it can handle unpaved roads and tarmac without issues you can ride standing like you would do on a GS, it's the best road bike I've owned. Now I'm looking for a GS Triple for long travels since my RS is a city queen
I purchased a 2023 Triple Black R 1250 RS and it is a very good bike! It came with Tubular bars. At first I did not think that I would like them but I do. This bike is probably one of the best bikes in this category and overall I would rank it very high. If you can only have one bike to commute, daily riding and weekend to occasional fun this is it. I only wish that the Telelever was on this bike as the older version and a electronic windscreen like the GS.
It is a smart decision for a fuel cap to have a key, a manual lock is always the best option as you will never have a problem opening it and you definitely don’t want to lose the ability to refuel far from home.
The whole key thing needs a rethink. On my bikes I have always replaced the keyed cap with a simple twist and open fuel cap. No key, no fuss. Never had an issue. @@BikerTorque
Agree with all your comments! Add the aerosports windshield and bar risers to make comfortable. Have 3 other bmw's, and it's the sleeper of the group. Cross country and coastal rides. Perfect for solo riders. The rear is no place for a passenger. Shame I chucked us into the woods!
@BikerTorque have 3 bmw's..sorry. an Rt, which is a wonderful touring bike but a bit of a handful with feet down. I'm 5'9", and the placement of the pegs blocks my feet and causes my legs to be spread wide on tip toes. The RS is substantially lighter and much easier to move about. Also, an older K12. Fun and enjoy but top heavy. Easy foot down but no comparison in handling and ease of use to the RS. Rented a GS on a mid west tour, and the beast almost killed me every time I stopped. Tiptoes only and if the road was crested, it was worse. The RS is the only one that you can just forget under you, always feels good and light in comparison. A perfect bike. And don't get me started on the S series! Terrible engine, heat, and very rough, like marbles are bouncing about in the engine. Worst of the bunch.
Neglected to point out that it has upside down shocks instead of the GS's (and previous generation RS's) Telelevers. I've had a R1100RS, a KR1200RS, and feel my R1250RS is the best damn BMW nobody's ever heard of.
Excellent review! I enjoyed the story about you and your father. What a memory! I hope you review the new moto guzzi 100 because I am looking at that bike and the RS. I just test rode a RS last week and it was awesome!
Thanks for watching, glad to hear you liked the personal touch with the story about my dad. He’s the reason I got into riding and definitely the inspiration behind the channel. Unfortunately he never got to see the RUclips channel as he passed away in 2014, but I reckon he’d be chuffed. Yes we will be doing a review of the V100, just need to wait our turn to get a hold of one, should be mid October
@BikerTorque Thanks for responding! So do you recommend the 2023 RS right now compared to other bikes? And do you think the RS is a bike that can be easily ridden around town in spite of its weight? Finally have you heard anything about the 2024 RS model regarding updates and changes? Thanks
I got one back in April and after 7500 km I really appreciate this bike, I don’t think I’ll be pulling away from this model: I used to ride naked but due to age my time with this kind of bike has come to an end and the RS really fulfilled my needs. It’s strange that thing about the fuel cap: it’s keyless on my bike, maybe it’s an option but I don’t remember.
Great looking bike mate 👍 Not the biggest bmw fan but yeah i respect the machines. My favorite part about your channel is the interviews.(your onto something there mate).. and the production is stellar. Keep it going i am sure you will have great succses on youtube and beyond. Was good to meet you today at mcas i knew i saw you somewhere before...(youtube) Cheers Stu (enfield guy)
Hey Stu, great to meet you also. Yes it’s the rider stories we love producing, it’s the reason we started the channel. But must admit it’s fun getting to ride all these new bikes. Thanks for the support
Great review of a great bike. I own a UK spec 2021 RS Sport and the fuel cap is also keyless. The screen was the first thing I changed and I installed an MRA screen, which is a great improvement. Other than that the only other essential was to fit a mud sling to protect the rear suspension.
I reckon I’ve made a mistake with that, may have mixed up my bike review notes regarding the fuel cap. Yes, new screen is a must. Thanks for watching, glad you like the video
I get that with modern fairing structures and components, it would be an engineering nightmare to make this possible, but I wish there some sort of add-on fairing that just sort of bolts onto the RS to convert it (within say 15-20 minutes) into an RT. I absolutely love my RT for tours from the Midwest US out to the coasts or the mountains, but would really love an RS for commuting and riding around town. I'm with you on the character of boxers, though I don't think the modern bikes compare to the airheads in that regard. Great video, I've not stumbled across your channel before but this was an easy sub, I'm looking forward to checking out your catalog.
Hey, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the video. Agree that the modern liquid cooled boxers don’t have the character of an airhead (or an oil head), but still not bad. Have just had the Moto Guzzi V100S for a few weeks, wow what a bike, will have that video up on the channel in a month or so. And just about to get an RT from BMW Australia for a 10 tour from Sydney, to Melbourne and around Tasmania. WIll have that video up on the channel in as soon as we can get it edited.
What is it with BMW screens? You would think that they would have a motor and be far more effective than what the standard ones are. I love my GS and can see why the RS would be a good option if you had no intention of venturing off tar roads. I recon it would go well on a track day too.
Nice and detailed video. Enjoyed. I agree about the screen, it works better in the lower position. I test rode the R1250R too and I felt that the R is more comfortable for a taller rider. Overall a very good BMW. Will see what they will do with the 1300 cc new boxer engine in the R range.
Yes, I also think the R is more comfortable, and probably the better bike. Very much looking forward to both the R1300R and R1300RS when they are released. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
@@BikerTorque Thinking about buyin' an RS. But I don't get it: how can you say the R is more comfy? She got almost no windscreen. I guess it's just about the higher handlebar.
@@Dav998 higher bars and better leg position for me, plus I owed a R1200R that had a couple of aftermarket screens, a taller one for touring and a much shorter one for everyday use.
New review. Yes, BMW dropped the ball when it came to the screen. The Puig Touring screen is a pretty good solution for that. The quickshifter isn't great, but I use mine a lot and if you're on the throttle, upshifts aren't bad IMO.
Yes the quick shifter is ok, I think I’d been spoilt by the one on the S1000RR. We have an M1000R at the moment and the quick shifter on that is excellent also
2 Cylinder big engines struggle with quick shifter syncing (sadly) agree screen is pants, those would be my only two gripes. great review..... Time for Pie
My KTM 1290 Super Adventure's Quick Shifter has no issues at all. The fact that BMW improved it vastly on the new 1300GS indicates that the issue is not the 2 cylinders, but probably more to do with the Quick Shifter design on the 1250s.
Great Review, Are you planning on doing a V100 review anytime soon? Both bikes are great, The BMW has a bigger engine and is faster, though the V100 from my subjective view looks better and has that italian flair. As usual MG is not the fastest in the range, but then again it does have an electric screen, and probably better for 2 up riding, not to mention the integrated panniers (does the BMW have that?)
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Yes we are planning on doing a review of the V100 as soon as we can get one from Motoguzzi, which is looking like late October. We have to wait until the “real” journalists have finished with the press bike before we can get our hands on it. But from what I’ve seen so far, it looks the goods, yea the R1250RS has more power, but as we all know, it’s not all about the horsepower.
FJR's are ancient and belong in the overweight sport tourer class of twenty years ago. Yamaha never bothered to make anything new sport touring wise sadly.
I think ( quite unfairly) that many riders consider the boxer engine to be a bit slow and for old blokes. Personally I think that those who think that way are missing the point. The other thing that seems to be a criticism is the obvious torque reaction
Hello Team - this is a nit pick, but every review I have ever seen/read on any review doesn't cover the usefulness of the head light. I work 12hrs shifts and for a major portion of the year I'm riding under streetlights/ in the dark. with new led projectors do they stack up ? cover the road ? e.g. my 2014 mt09 headlight is total garbage unless your are straight and level. if your not, the headlight is in the weeds on the side of the road, not covering where your actually headed.
From memory the headlight was pretty good, but thanks for the feedback, it’s a good point we should mention things like that. We have on a few reviews but will try and make it a more regular mention
Brother owns the BMW R1250, I own the Moto Guzzi V100. Each to their own. Brother does want to try out the V100 but after recent accident on his BMW his "Trouble and Strife" (Wife) does not want him to carry on riding. Too bad. I have ridden his type of bike (The BMW) and think the V100 is a better fit for me.
How’s the V100, we are looking forward to picking one up for review in Oct. we are also looking forward to sharing your story with the RUclips world in a few weeks time
@@BikerTorque Yes I had a V9. You did a video interview with me on that bike. My History with Motor Guzzi is quite extensive. I have owned 5 Moto Guzzi's - three at one time occupying my garage space. Often asked why I had 3 at one time, I replied that "the middle bike is there to separate the two other bikes". I am now retired and live in a small house so I can only have one bike. Recently I traded my V9 in for my new Mandello V100. A brilliant machine. Very close to riding a "magical everything". I sincerely believe that Moto Guzzi is the worlds best kept secret. Sure everybody has their preference. Mine is for shaft driven bikes - 20 billion cars can't be wrong. I have not yet made up my mind about the the Mandello being a sporting or touring bike. So far I am satisfied with just calling it a "hybrid". My first ride on the Mandello was to ride it from Moto Ciclo in Sydney to our new home in Eden - 496 Kms. A good ride - a dream of a bike - and the adaptive cruise control was a good feature during the journey. I do believe that Motor Guzzi riders are dedicated enthusiasts. Have ridden a variety of motor bikes but have been a dedicated Moto Guzzi rider for over 20 years now.
@@BikerTorque My History with Motor Guzzi is quite extensive. I have owned 5 Moto Guzzi's - three at one time occupying my garage space. Often asked why I had 3 at one time, I replied that "the middle bike is there to separate the two other bikes". I am now retired and live in a small house so I can only have one bike. Recently I traded my V9 in for my new Mandello V100. A brilliant machine. Very close to riding a "magical everything". I sincerely believe that Moto Guzzi is the worlds best kept secret. Sure everybody has their preference. Mine is for shaft driven bikes - 20 billion cars can't be wrong. I have not yet made up my mind about the the Mandello being a sporting or touring bike. So far I am satisfied with just calling it a "hybrid". My first ride on the Mandello was to ride it from Moto Ciclo in Sydney to our new home in Eden - 496 Kms. A good ride - a dream of a bike - and the adaptive cruise control was a good feature during the journey. I do believe that Motor Guzzi riders are dedicated enthusiasts. Have ridden a variety of motor bikes but have been a dedicated Moto Guzzi rider for over 20 years now.
For my young man needs, the Ninja SX straight 4 is more sporty, faster, more dealers in USA, impecable build quality, needed touring features, built in cases with 11K redline and does it at half the cost. BMW later in life.
You can’t compare a 4 to a twin. The RS is a fabulous bike, reliable (I’ve never had a problem with any BMW) and hole-in-your-pocket expensive to maintain. So yes, you need money to own a Beemer.
@@BikerTorque Nice review, again but please define "character" for me. I had two boxer powered bikes (R9T and R1250GS) and although I loved the torque, I could never bond with the exhaust sound and the mechanical noise churning inside, never mind the QS that doesn't seem to work so well on that particular drive-train layout, big boxer engine and shaft drive. As soon as I sat on the Kawasaki and felt how flexible, well-mannered and yet powerful the engine was I was smitten. I cannot find it boring or lacking "character", it's torquey but can rev as well and doesn't consume much more than the GS I had. I'm pretty sure though that the RS is a capable bike, I sat on one and found the seating position, unfortunately, too stretched for me. Regards
@@BikerTorque Forgot to add regarding the recurrent argument RS vs GS or if you frame it outside the BMW range, sport-tourers vs adventure bikes, there are people out there including me and I've got to add that I live in mainland Europe, maybe in Australia or the US it maybe different, that prefer bikes with 17" wheels as opposed to 19" (GS) or 21" (Africa-Twin) because they provide a more sporty ride when the roads get twisty, just my opinion
I think it must be user error with the key because we have an M1000R on loan at the moment, same issue with needing the key to open the fuel cap. Agree, that screen needs addressing, other than that, wonderful bike
It has a top speed of 230 km per hour, how quick do you want to go? Lol. But seriously, being a twin it probably has more low and mid range that a 4 cylinder.
As a vfr owner and having owned 5 vfr's I fail to see how this bmw is slower. Even as a v4 vfr lover the bikes lack any sort of torque below 6-7000 rpm. Below 3000 they get a big chuggy as well. The bmw would spank it low down in torque and everywhere to be honest
The keyless fuel cap should be a general recall. Mine has given no end of trouble and I carry an Allen key with me at times, it really is THAT unreliable. The quick shifter is clunky af, you got that right.
You would have got better gas mileage if you rode in 6th gear when appropriate, rather that staying in 3rd or 4th when you could easily have changed up
Actually I think it would make a great tourer. Main reason there aren’t many reviews with panniers, is that press bikes often aren’t supplied with optional accessories
I had a 1200 RS but it had the ticking timing chain issues. Then I traded that bike for a sweet triple black R1250RS that I highly recommend. I just prefer the power pulses of an inline four compared to the Boxer Twins. The S1000XR is a little more on the sportier side of the ST spectrum.
Out of 28 bikes I've had one BMW, a K1300S. Athough a beautiful machine, I found it overly-complex, not that comfortable, costly to service, (near to impossible to work on yourself).. and aftermarket options were very limited and very pricey. I sold it after a year. Why are BMW's better than Japanese again?
Interesting, I have heard that the K series are tricky with servicing, not do with the R series from my experience. Have owned 4 R series bikes and still have 2 of them
I owned 6 BMWs over my 40+ years of riding. I have a framed 500,000-mile award and medallion from BMW North America. I lost all respect for BMW when they replaced their long history of pragmatic engineering with trendy electronic gimmickry. Replacing the 1200/1250 R and RS's front suspension with common telescopic suspension(Inverted or not) rather than the clearly superior Tele-Lever enjoyed on the GS and 1200/1250 RT vindicated they had lost the faith(along with my longtime patronage).
Yes, I am not sure why they went away from the Telelever suspension, but must admit the suspension on the whole new R1250 range is excellent. What BMW’s have you owned? I have owned 4 and still have two, an 1984 R65 and a 2020 R18 First edition, love them both, and both a keepers.
I started with a 1971 R/75//5 in 1973, then a R100RS, K100RT, K100RS, R1100S, and a 2006 K1200R. Nothing has ever matched the Benefits of the R1100S Tele-Lever or the K1200R's Duo-Lever front suspensions. Screw the Gizmotronics of the R1250 R/RS. The steering head bearings will require service every 15,000 miles and the Gizmotronics DON'T defeat brake-dive near as good as Tele/Duo-lever. @@BikerTorque
@@douglaselliott8298 totally agree re brake dive on the telelever. I nearly bought an R75/5 toaster a few years ago as a restoration project, kicking myself that I wasn't quick enough with my decision to buy it and missed out. The R75/5 and R90S are probably my two favourite R series models, would love to own one of each one day. Nice collection you had.
I do everything on my 2016 R1200RS, it’s got 100.000+ kilometres on the odo, never let me down. Some mods required, the screen, I chose the Wunderlich Marathon, bought the Sports Seat, highest one, and moved the sat nav up above the instruments are the big ones. I do track days, touring, commuting as well as weekend blasts, so it gets used for sure. Cheers from Sweden - and yea, I guess I will upgrade to the 1250 eventually!
Nice one, thanks for sharing.
I just bought a 2017 R1200RS with 9000kms full extras. I'm very happy with it
I've recently swapped from a 1250GS to the RS. The main reasons being I'm not carrying a pillion anymore nor do I do any off road stuff at all. The RS is also considerably cheaper than an equivelently spec'd GS here in the UK too and with the launch of the 1300 that gap has only widened. I found the RS easier to manage at low speeds and to filter on and have opted for the Tubular bars as I'm only 5'7" short so found the stock bars a bit of a stretch. The screen isn't as good as the GS's but a MRA Vario will sort that. I did try the 1250R too but found riding a naked bike too tiring, even though it had the sports screen fitted. The RS is certainly worth a look if you want a bike that isn't as common (or hated by certain sections) as the GS is but stillnwant the BMW Boxer experience
Nice one, glad you are enjoying yours
I’ve just ordered one of these and so has my dad. We’ll be picking them on the same day. Your story about your dad calling you up to go for a pie run sounds a lot like myself. We both take our wives with us frequently and still like to ride spirited at times so found these bikes to be the perfect middle ground.
Nice one, enjoy and thanks for watching. Enjoy the time riding with your dad.
I've occasionally taken my R1200rs lightly offroad during trips, it can handle unpaved roads and tarmac without issues you can ride standing like you would do on a GS, it's the best road bike I've owned. Now I'm looking for a GS Triple for long travels since my RS is a city queen
Thanks for sharing. They really are great bikes.
I purchased a 2023 Triple Black R 1250 RS and it is a very good bike! It came with Tubular bars. At first I did not think that I would like them but I do. This bike is probably one of the best bikes in this category and overall I would rank it very high. If you can only have one bike to commute, daily riding and weekend to occasional fun this is it. I only wish that the Telelever was on this bike as the older version and a electronic windscreen like the GS.
Electronic shield would be a bonus. We have an RT at the moment, it has one and it’s excellent
It is a smart decision for a fuel cap to have a key, a manual lock is always the best option as you will never have a problem opening it and you definitely don’t want to lose the ability to refuel far from home.
Agree
The whole key thing needs a rethink. On my bikes I have always replaced the keyed cap with a simple twist and open fuel cap. No key, no fuss. Never had an issue. @@BikerTorque
Great video, awesome to see top Aussie content 👍🏽
Thanks for that, glad you enjoyed it, plenty more to come.
Agree with all your comments! Add the aerosports windshield and bar risers to make comfortable. Have 3 other bmw's, and it's the sleeper of the group. Cross country and coastal rides. Perfect for solo riders. The rear is no place for a passenger. Shame I chucked us into the woods!
Agree, definitely a solo sports tourer. Thanks for sharing those mods. Which other beemers do you have?
@BikerTorque have 3 bmw's..sorry. an Rt, which is a wonderful touring bike but a bit of a handful with feet down. I'm 5'9", and the placement of the pegs blocks my feet and causes my legs to be spread wide on tip toes. The RS is substantially lighter and much easier to move about. Also, an older K12. Fun and enjoy but top heavy. Easy foot down but no comparison in handling and ease of use to the RS. Rented a GS on a mid west tour, and the beast almost killed me every time I stopped. Tiptoes only and if the road was crested, it was worse. The RS is the only one that you can just forget under you, always feels good and light in comparison. A perfect bike. And don't get me started on the S series! Terrible engine, heat, and very rough, like marbles are bouncing about in the engine. Worst of the bunch.
Neglected to point out that it has upside down shocks instead of the GS's (and previous generation RS's) Telelevers. I've had a R1100RS, a KR1200RS, and feel my R1250RS is the best damn BMW nobody's ever heard of.
Probably left out a few things. But agree, the RS is a very well kept secret
Excellent review! I enjoyed the story about you and your father. What a memory! I hope you review the new moto guzzi 100 because I am looking at that bike and the RS. I just test rode a RS last week and it was awesome!
Thanks for watching, glad to hear you liked the personal touch with the story about my dad. He’s the reason I got into riding and definitely the inspiration behind the channel. Unfortunately he never got to see the RUclips channel as he passed away in 2014, but I reckon he’d be chuffed. Yes we will be doing a review of the V100, just need to wait our turn to get a hold of one, should be mid October
@BikerTorque Thanks for responding! So do you recommend the 2023 RS right now compared to other bikes? And do you think the RS is a bike that can be easily ridden around town in spite of its weight? Finally have you heard anything about the 2024 RS model regarding updates and changes? Thanks
Great video!! Subscribed!!!
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for subscribing. What do you ride?
One of BMW's best kept secrets. Great job as always on the review.
100% agree Eric. Thanks for your kind words.
While I don’t own one from what I’ve seen on others the engine and TFT have to be off and the gas cap will open without using the key.
May have just been user error
You cannot open the gas cap with a key. Fob needs to be close by and engine off
I got one back in April and after 7500 km I really appreciate this bike, I don’t think I’ll be pulling away from this model: I used to ride naked but due to age my time with this kind of bike has come to an end and the RS really fulfilled my needs. It’s strange that thing about the fuel cap: it’s keyless on my bike, maybe it’s an option but I don’t remember.
Probably just me then
Great looking bike mate 👍
Not the biggest bmw fan but yeah i respect the machines.
My favorite part about your channel is the interviews.(your onto something there mate).. and the production is stellar.
Keep it going i am sure you will have great succses on youtube and beyond.
Was good to meet you today at mcas i knew i saw you somewhere before...(youtube)
Cheers Stu (enfield guy)
Thats the pegasus i was talking about
ruclips.net/video/u__bWACn4bU/видео.html
Hey Stu, great to meet you also. Yes it’s the rider stories we love producing, it’s the reason we started the channel. But must admit it’s fun getting to ride all these new bikes. Thanks for the support
Great review of a great bike. I own a UK spec 2021 RS Sport and the fuel cap is also keyless. The screen was the first thing I changed and I installed an MRA screen, which is a great improvement. Other than that the only other essential was to fit a mud sling to protect the rear suspension.
I reckon I’ve made a mistake with that, may have mixed up my bike review notes regarding the fuel cap. Yes, new screen is a must. Thanks for watching, glad you like the video
I have an R1250R and agree, it’s a great option for most riders. I do love the RS though!
Can't go wrong with either
@@BikerTorque Agreed!
I get that with modern fairing structures and components, it would be an engineering nightmare to make this possible, but I wish there some sort of add-on fairing that just sort of bolts onto the RS to convert it (within say 15-20 minutes) into an RT. I absolutely love my RT for tours from the Midwest US out to the coasts or the mountains, but would really love an RS for commuting and riding around town. I'm with you on the character of boxers, though I don't think the modern bikes compare to the airheads in that regard. Great video, I've not stumbled across your channel before but this was an easy sub, I'm looking forward to checking out your catalog.
Hey, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the video. Agree that the modern liquid cooled boxers don’t have the character of an airhead (or an oil head), but still not bad. Have just had the Moto Guzzi V100S for a few weeks, wow what a bike, will have that video up on the channel in a month or so. And just about to get an RT from BMW Australia for a 10 tour from Sydney, to Melbourne and around Tasmania. WIll have that video up on the channel in as soon as we can get it edited.
I did like that colour combo, very cool looking ride 😎🤙🏻
Yeah, the colour works well
Would be great around Tassie next year
What is it with BMW screens? You would think that they would have a motor and be far more effective than what the standard ones are.
I love my GS and can see why the RS would be a good option if you had no intention of venturing off tar roads. I recon it would go well on a track day too.
I reckon it would be great fun on track Matty. Yes, the screen was a disappointment
Nice and detailed video. Enjoyed. I agree about the screen, it works better in the lower position. I test rode the R1250R too and I felt that the R is more comfortable for a taller rider. Overall a very good BMW. Will see what they will do with the 1300 cc new boxer engine in the R range.
Yes, I also think the R is more comfortable, and probably the better bike. Very much looking forward to both the R1300R and R1300RS when they are released. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
@@BikerTorque Thinking about buyin' an RS. But I don't get it: how can you say the R is more comfy? She got almost no windscreen. I guess it's just about the higher handlebar.
@@Dav998 higher bars and better leg position for me, plus I owed a R1200R that had a couple of aftermarket screens, a taller one for touring and a much shorter one for everyday use.
I bought the Triple Black model (2023) to complement my 2016 R1200 R/S the difference between the two is significant!
Agree, chalk and cheese
In what way(s)?
I have the 2016 R1200RS.
@@michaelyoung4790 The power is probably the most notable.
One thing is certain, it's a beautiful machine.....
Agree
New review. Yes, BMW dropped the ball when it came to the screen. The Puig Touring screen is a pretty good solution for that. The quickshifter isn't great, but I use mine a lot and if you're on the throttle, upshifts aren't bad IMO.
Yes the quick shifter is ok, I think I’d been spoilt by the one on the S1000RR. We have an M1000R at the moment and the quick shifter on that is excellent also
i loved the Puig on my GSA. So far the stock screen on my 2020 RT seems great!
What are the requirements for intervals maintenance?
Pretty sure it’s every 10000kms for service with valves at 20000kms
2 Cylinder big engines struggle with quick shifter syncing (sadly) agree screen is pants, those would be my only two gripes. great review..... Time for Pie
Glad it wasn’t just me who struggled with that screen. Ok, what sort of pie did you have?
I’m in the U.S and I put on an Aeroflow touring screen. If i accelerate hard the up clutchless shift is good, downshift is fine
My KTM 1290 Super Adventure's Quick Shifter has no issues at all. The fact that BMW improved it vastly on the new 1300GS indicates that the issue is not the 2 cylinders, but probably more to do with the Quick Shifter design on the 1250s.
@@henryvaneyk3769 I'm looking forward to riding the new GS to see what its like.
quick shift thing is nothing to do with engines, its due to it not having a cassette type gearbox like most bikes
Great Review, Are you planning on doing a V100 review anytime soon? Both bikes are great, The BMW has a bigger engine and is faster, though the V100 from my subjective view looks better and has that italian flair. As usual MG is not the fastest in the range, but then again it does have an electric screen, and probably better for 2 up riding, not to mention the integrated panniers (does the BMW have that?)
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Yes we are planning on doing a review of the V100 as soon as we can get one from Motoguzzi, which is looking like late October. We have to wait until the “real” journalists have finished with the press bike before we can get our hands on it. But from what I’ve seen so far, it looks the goods, yea the R1250RS has more power, but as we all know, it’s not all about the horsepower.
I have a 2023 R 1250 RS and I do not have to use the key to open the fuel tank.
Not sure what I was doing wrong
@@BikerTorque It will open after you turn off the power. Must be within 10sec I think before it locks out
You geeked when you didn’t mention the Yamaha FJR1300. Super Sport Touring bike. Reliable beast
True, but did mention it in our RT review
FJR's are ancient and belong in the overweight sport tourer class of twenty years ago.
Yamaha never bothered to make anything new sport touring wise sadly.
Got an earlier keyless r1250rs and the fuel tank is keyless. Weird how yours wasn't.
Actually it was keyless, my mistake, mixed it up with another BMW press bike we had at the same time. Thanks for watching
What are the common criticisms of the boxer engines?
I think ( quite unfairly) that many riders consider the boxer engine to be a bit slow and for old blokes. Personally I think that those who think that way are missing the point. The other thing that seems to be a criticism is the obvious torque reaction
Hi, boxer rider here (R1200RS)
They're quite slow and they're very noisy (ticks, rattles etc).
Hello Team - this is a nit pick, but every review I have ever seen/read on any review doesn't cover the usefulness of the head light. I work 12hrs shifts and for a major portion of the year I'm riding under streetlights/ in the dark. with new led projectors do they stack up ? cover the road ? e.g. my 2014 mt09 headlight is total garbage unless your are straight and level. if your not, the headlight is in the weeds on the side of the road, not covering where your actually headed.
From memory the headlight was pretty good, but thanks for the feedback, it’s a good point we should mention things like that. We have on a few reviews but will try and make it a more regular mention
I like the sound of everything except the tyre pressure sensors.
I’m curious Chewie, what’s the issue with tyre pressure monitors
@@BikerTorque I have a personal beef with having to replace the whole unit on my GTR at the cost of $355 per wheel instead of a $10 battery.
"Key fuel cap" ?? Not on my RS with keyless feature.
No my mistake have addressed this in a few comments. Recorded this well after we handed the bike back and hit some notes mixed up
Brother owns the BMW R1250, I own the Moto Guzzi V100. Each to their own. Brother does want to try out the V100 but after recent accident on his BMW his "Trouble and Strife" (Wife) does not want him to carry on riding. Too bad.
I have ridden his type of bike (The BMW) and think the V100 is a better fit for me.
Hey Bruce, thanks for watching. Rumour has it you have a V9 also.
How’s the V100, we are looking forward to picking one up for review in Oct. we are also looking forward to sharing your story with the RUclips world in a few weeks time
@@BikerTorque Yes I had a V9. You did a video interview with me on that bike. My History with Motor Guzzi is quite extensive. I have owned 5 Moto Guzzi's - three at one time occupying my garage space. Often asked why I had 3 at one time, I replied that "the middle bike is there to separate the two other bikes".
I am now retired and live in a small house so I can only have one bike. Recently I traded my V9 in for my new Mandello V100.
A brilliant machine. Very close to riding a "magical everything".
I sincerely believe that Moto Guzzi is the worlds best kept secret. Sure everybody has their preference. Mine is for shaft driven bikes - 20 billion cars can't be wrong.
I have not yet made up my mind about the the Mandello being a sporting or touring bike. So far I am satisfied with just calling it a "hybrid". My first ride on the Mandello was to ride it from Moto Ciclo in Sydney to our new home in Eden - 496 Kms. A good ride - a dream of a bike - and the adaptive cruise control was a good feature during the journey.
I do believe that Motor Guzzi riders are dedicated enthusiasts. Have ridden a variety of motor bikes but have been a dedicated Moto Guzzi rider for over 20 years now.
@@BikerTorque My History with Motor Guzzi is quite extensive. I have owned 5 Moto Guzzi's - three at one time occupying my garage space. Often asked why I had 3 at one time, I replied that "the middle bike is there to separate the two other bikes".
I am now retired and live in a small house so I can only have one bike. Recently I traded my V9 in for my new Mandello V100.
A brilliant machine. Very close to riding a "magical everything".
I sincerely believe that Moto Guzzi is the worlds best kept secret. Sure everybody has their preference. Mine is for shaft driven bikes - 20 billion cars can't be wrong.
I have not yet made up my mind about the the Mandello being a sporting or touring bike. So far I am satisfied with just calling it a "hybrid". My first ride on the Mandello was to ride it from Moto Ciclo in Sydney to our new home in Eden - 496 Kms. A good ride - a dream of a bike - and the adaptive cruise control was a good feature during the journey.
I do believe that Motor Guzzi riders are dedicated enthusiasts. Have ridden a variety of motor bikes but have been a dedicated Moto Guzzi rider for over 20 years now.
I think people prefer RT to RS as a "sports tourer". It is more expensive but bmw buyers are probably not afraid of this.
Must admit, I preferred the RT also after finally riding it, surprisingly very sporty
For my young man needs, the Ninja SX straight 4 is more sporty, faster, more dealers in USA, impecable build quality, needed touring features, built in cases with 11K redline and does it at half the cost. BMW later in life.
Maybe, but I reckon the Boxer has way more character
You can’t compare a 4 to a twin. The RS is a fabulous bike, reliable (I’ve never had a problem with any BMW) and hole-in-your-pocket expensive to maintain. So yes, you need money to own a Beemer.
@@BikerTorque Nice review, again but please define "character" for me. I had two boxer powered bikes (R9T and R1250GS) and although I loved the torque, I could never bond with the exhaust sound and the mechanical noise churning inside, never mind the QS that doesn't seem to work so well on that particular drive-train layout, big boxer engine and shaft drive. As soon as I sat on the Kawasaki and felt how flexible, well-mannered and yet powerful the engine was I was smitten. I cannot find it boring or lacking "character", it's torquey but can rev as well and doesn't consume much more than the GS I had. I'm pretty sure though that the RS is a capable bike, I sat on one and found the seating position, unfortunately, too stretched for me. Regards
@@BikerTorque Forgot to add regarding the recurrent argument RS vs GS or if you frame it outside the BMW range, sport-tourers vs adventure bikes, there are people out there including me and I've got to add that I live in mainland Europe, maybe in Australia or the US it maybe different, that prefer bikes with 17" wheels as opposed to 19" (GS) or 21" (Africa-Twin) because they provide a more sporty ride when the roads get twisty, just my opinion
@@carlosalonso9866 agree the 17s are more sporty
Screen my only issue with owning the bike. I have keyless ride and no key needed for fuel cap so not sure what you mean there
I think it must be user error with the key because we have an M1000R on loan at the moment, same issue with needing the key to open the fuel cap. Agree, that screen needs addressing, other than that, wonderful bike
Great Video...!!
Glad you enjoyed it
It looks lovely, but with all those CCs and all those €£$¥ why is it slower than a vfr800?
It has a top speed of 230 km per hour, how quick do you want to go? Lol. But seriously, being a twin it probably has more low and mid range that a 4 cylinder.
As a vfr owner and having owned 5 vfr's I fail to see how this bmw is slower. Even as a v4 vfr lover the bikes lack any sort of torque below 6-7000 rpm. Below 3000 they get a big chuggy as well. The bmw would spank it low down in torque and everywhere to be honest
Great bike----- I have a R1250R with a screen;-).
The R1250R is a wonderful bike also, I miss my R1200R but have recently ridden the R1250R and it’s leaps and bounds ahead of the R1200
The keyless fuel cap should be a general recall. Mine has given no end of trouble and I carry an Allen key with me at times, it really is THAT unreliable. The quick shifter is clunky af, you got that right.
Yep, that’s one clunky quick shifter. Other than that, great bike
Having ridden the R1250gs, the engine makes sense on that form factor, but calling it a “sporty” engine is a bit pushing it…
It’s not sporty like an in-line 4, but I still think it’s a bit sporty
@@BikerTorque it has torque that’s for sure. It’s just a bit dead above 7k rpm.
But it’s a great engine nonetheless
Very well done review!, Thank you! But personally, I prefer the absolutely gorgeous Italian styling of my 2023 Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello “S” roadster.
Thanks for watching. Looking forward to riding the V100 when we get one for a few weeks in October
I care less about style and more on riding. The 1250 really is a great bike
You would have got better gas mileage if you rode in 6th gear when appropriate, rather that staying in 3rd or 4th when you could easily have changed up
Probably
I am ok with the mileage and it’s no fun to run it in 6th unless I’m doing over 80 mph
I love your enthusiasm but I do not like the boxer engine.
As a said, it’s either one you love or hate, I don’t think there is a any in between. Thanks for watching, plenty more non boxer content coming uo
What don’t you like?
The pillion seat and tail unit are not long enough to come close to being called "ultimate sports tourer".
I thinks it’s more of a solo sports tourer.
no it is not, the S1000XR is, because of engine-brake-gearbox and especially quickshifter
We are keen to get on the XR soon so will let you know
S1000XR loses on braking because it dives more and has the Hayes calipers.
I have yet to see this bike reviewed with bags on it. I guess it’s not much of a tourer…..
Actually I think it would make a great tourer. Main reason there aren’t many reviews with panniers, is that press bikes often aren’t supplied with optional accessories
No, the S1000XR is the best sport touring bike.
Haven’t ridden the XR as yet, but very keen to. Have heard nothing but good things about it.
I had a 1200 RS but it had the ticking timing chain issues. Then I traded that bike for a sweet triple black R1250RS that I highly recommend. I just prefer the power pulses of an inline four compared to the Boxer Twins.
The S1000XR is a little more on the sportier side of the ST spectrum.
Sporty performance with boxer 😁 There are a lot of better bikes with better engines and lower price
Agree, there probably are bikes with better engines at a cheaper price point, but they are not BMWs
I have yet to see this bike reviewed with bags on it. I guess it’s not much of a tourer……
@@BikerTorque That is true. :)
Out of 28 bikes I've had one BMW, a K1300S. Athough a beautiful machine, I found it overly-complex, not that comfortable, costly to service, (near to impossible to work on yourself).. and aftermarket options were very limited and very pricey. I sold it after a year. Why are BMW's better than Japanese again?
Interesting, I have heard that the K series are tricky with servicing, not do with the R series from my experience. Have owned 4 R series bikes and still have 2 of them
I owned 6 BMWs over my 40+ years of riding. I have a framed 500,000-mile award and medallion from BMW North America. I lost all respect for BMW when they replaced their long history of pragmatic engineering with trendy electronic gimmickry. Replacing the 1200/1250 R and RS's front suspension with common telescopic suspension(Inverted or not) rather than the clearly superior Tele-Lever enjoyed on the GS and 1200/1250 RT vindicated they had lost the faith(along with my longtime patronage).
Yes, I am not sure why they went away from the Telelever suspension, but must admit the suspension on the whole new R1250 range is excellent. What BMW’s have you owned? I have owned 4 and still have two, an 1984 R65 and a 2020 R18 First edition, love them both, and both a keepers.
I started with a 1971 R/75//5 in 1973, then a R100RS, K100RT, K100RS, R1100S, and a 2006 K1200R. Nothing has ever matched the Benefits of the R1100S Tele-Lever or the K1200R's Duo-Lever front suspensions. Screw the Gizmotronics of the R1250 R/RS. The steering head bearings will require service every 15,000 miles and the Gizmotronics DON'T defeat brake-dive near as good as Tele/Duo-lever. @@BikerTorque
@@douglaselliott8298 totally agree re brake dive on the telelever. I nearly bought an R75/5 toaster a few years ago as a restoration project, kicking myself that I wasn't quick enough with my decision to buy it and missed out. The R75/5 and R90S are probably my two favourite R series models, would love to own one of each one day. Nice collection you had.
Clearly superior my ass 😂