I rode one today, if you want a bike between a GS1250 and a husky 701, this is it. Plush ride, lovely build quality, fast and rides lovely. Honestly, test ride one, you’ll thank me later .
Love your commentary. I got that very bike spec’s the same. I talk to myself just like you do.This was the absolute best review of this bike from a real world perspective. Keep up the great work Kate!
you have to be one of the most competent vertically challenged riders out there! (and this is coming from a short rider so I can say it lol), seriously impressed how you tackle this seat height, you inspire me!
Great review Kate. The on bike commentary and full detailing of the various specs and options naturally delivered whilst riding in convoy at spritely pace was pretty cool!
Oh it's a good looking bike that! 😎👍 Recently bought an F850GS & blown away by the sheer selection of seat heights that are available & been riding mine with the regular & also the comfort, which is a bit taller, but being a 30" leg owner myself, I'm waiting on my low seat arriving any day now!!! 🤣👍 Great vid by the way, although your waaaaay better on the dirt than you think mate! 😉✌️
Good job Kate! Yes sometimes the trail switchbacks can surprise you, but you handled it great! I just rode one for about an hour, it was a bit taller than my old GS ha. But it is fun to ride - mine had an Akropovic pipe full of great sounds. Totally worth the price, I’d even consider the GS for the bigger tank.
That's a very decent bike - same power as my Africa Twin but 16kg lighter. Not to be sniffed at. I think if I was looking for an expedition bike it would be something like this.
I own the F900GS and have owned an African twin, the F850, as well as the Triumph tiger rally pro, and I like the F900GS best of all. Fantastic bike. Money well spent.
@rohallahhaidari2968 if you plan on doing 90% on road, the new F900GS adventure will take you anywhere you want comfortably. The motor run much cooler between the legs than the Honda and the Triumph, and the seat is much more comfortable than both.
Very Good Review as usual Kate :) very informative quite good package for the money thanks and keep safe all :) very well done kate on your riding way up there wow !!! ❤🤟✊
Love your transparency on the corners and loose gravel. I feel the same and I live on a dirt road so it’s almost every time I’ve the same thoughts. The Karoo4’s are great. Expect 3500 miles tops on the rear.
Again, always impressed with the way you handle a bike built for much taller folk! I would be off that and eating dirt/tarmac the first time I had to pull up sharply, hit a sharp turn with gravel or found an adverse camber....Kudos!
Love the F900GS but I'll stick with my older F800GS which is just as tall, well balanced, came standard with heated grips. Like the rear tank which makes its weight distribution better than the modern ones. Only thing I miss is tubeless tyres.
Loved your honest review, thx! Expanded your comfort zone in your typical hilarious way. Good job. However, made me realize that I'll enjoy my Tiger a while longer. Will keep on following your adventures!
I like it quite a bit. Saw one in person a couple of weeks back. It would be tough to justify buying it over one of the Teneres or Tuaregs if off-road riding is truly your focus, but it looks so sharp and has everything you could want on it.
I just love your great practical reviews Kate and it's great to see you go at your own pace as I do as a newbie off-road rider 👍best wishes Karl in Oz 👍😊
This was an amazing ride UNK and you did very well for yourself. Those views were spectacular. Oh, your commentary while riding was hilarious. :) Thanks for posting/sharing. Cheers!
I hate to say Kate, but I prefer these BMWs to the boxer engine ones, like your own bike…. I get my coat…….😂 But we both have Tech 7s…so we have something in common at least
Looks like a decent bike! Not too heavy - I think we don´t need to argue that it is well over engineered for anything, but that´s just the way all modern bikes are. It reminds me a little bit of my Tuareg 660... just a bit ;) Great review BTW
Hei Ka Excellent test drive of BMW in Portugal.While watching your video I felt the roads and town layouts are Similar to that of Goa in India.Portuguese stayed in Goa until 1961 and influence of Architecture of Buildings,Roads,Houses, Churches in Goa are still there.I liked your video
Kate when your going around a right or left hand corner which is tight or fairly tight plant your bottom on the seat. On a right hand corner put your right leg out and vice versa. This applies to off road riding.😀
@@noahnitikman2436HI NOAH SORRY ABOUT THE CAPITALS BUT MY LAP TOP IS PLAYING UP. YES I HAVE INSTRUCTED MANY A TOP RIDER IN MOTO X. BUM ON THE SEAT GOING AROUND CORNERS. LEG OUT TO COUNTERBALANCE YOUR WEIGHT AND OF THE WHEELS SPINNING. IF YOUR ABOUT TO GO DOWN WITH YOUR LEG OUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE STANDING UP IS WRONG. ITS HARDER BUT SAFER.
@@Colin-ci5ll yeah so not the best advice. Like I said, unless you’re an off-road instructor, best to leave the coaching to folks who get paid to teach, as in certified off road instructors.
Great review Kate. I have a F750GS 40 years model, but you’ve made me want to go test ride the 900. Great accent by the way, you sound like a fellow Yorkshire lass, I’m in Australia for 50+ years now.
That’s a smart looking bike and the colours suit it very well. It looked like an amazing place to ride, I’d love to have a go off road at some point. With regards the price, I know it may seem steep but some old work colleagues who had BMWs for years before swapping to KTM recently always said you’re paying for the bike and the dealer network. When they were in Africa, a broken wheel was replaced within 24 hours. I’m not sure how many manufacturers have that kind of dealer/service coverage. If you’re buying the bike for the looks and to use primarily on the road then you pay that premium. If you’re buying the bike for off road/touring/adventures you know you have the dealer network behind you.
Wow - fantastic review Kate. I have also just watched your review on the Himalayan 450. With the speed you were all doing on the road section and the tricky off road part, I wonder if you would have had just as much fun on the Himalayan - ha.
Nice review. I don't know if you prefer ADV bikes, but for someone your height and inseam, I recommend the KTM 890 ADV, the relatively new Honda Transalp, or the new Royal Enfield Himalayan, or even the Aprilia Toureg with the lower seat.
That’s a big bike which even scares me even though I used to ride a 1700 V-Twin that weighed over a thousand pounds. I ride a KTM 890 ADV now which handles rather easily off road due to its relative lightness when wet and its low center of gravity. I have never dropped it yet.
Me: 'Hello, I'd like to buy this bike.' BMW salesperson: ' Aah yes, before we begin, we need to discuss packages' Me: 'Whaa?' BMW salesperson: 'For example, would you like your motorcycle painted?' 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm sticking wi me 'busa! Black paint and WHAAHEY! fitted as standard.
Nice bike and loved the location for riding. Good speed on some of those roads!! Kate, would it be possible to have a video on your current bike gear (what you like about it, what its like for various weathers and warmth). Also just a thought, a behind the scenes video on the lead up to filming for a video such as this one - imagine you have to organise flights, find a hotel and a lot more than us viewers are aware of. Enjoying the videos 👍
I’ve been on an 850gs for 3 years now and it’s been a great bike. I am considering an upgrade to it and for the price here in the US I can get a fully loaded Triumph tiger. The GS is awesome but I had to add quite a bit aftermarket to get the features that the Tiger comes stock with. Might be switching. We’ll see after the test rides at the end of this month.
I've owned the F850GS and the Rally Pro, the F900GS is best than both. The Tiger has nice features and build quality, but too many issues. The new firing order ruined the smoothness of the triple and the bar vibrations are painful. The speedo being off by 6 mph and no way to fix it will drive you nuts. And having to take it to the dealer to clear the oil change light is a pain (there is a hack, but can void the warranty).
@@mikemcmurray2506which year was your Rally Pro ?? Iam on tiger xrx absolutely zero issues …I’ve heard the vibes 0n the 2024 are considerably less than the previous years
First time viewer. Have you ever considered doing an adventure riding course? I know BMW offer great courses with wonderful instructors. I know there are a few non-affiliated ADV instructors in the UK who are brilliant. I can personally say as a beginning ADV rider, doing the Country Trax courses gave me great confidence and helped me immensely on dirt roads.
This is not a bike I would have thought about, but you have peaked my curiosity. Great stuff Kate! Oh, and I like the Knox jacket! I’m considering. I hope Knox are looking after your ;-)
Great Review. Loved the video as I spent my teens in Cabanas and Tavira and know the area well but not the twisty's you were on but that was 40+ years ago!.
What a Beautiful country. Not saying this in a bad way but for a woman that is short you do fantastic on a bigger Bike. Thanks for the great video. Please be careful on those cliffsides.. just stay safe. Thanks
Great review Kate. I’ve had a couple of 850GSAs as loan bikes when my 1250 has been in at the dealer. Hands up, when I rode the 850 I did think that if I only rode solo I’d have one. I was really impressed. Seemed more fun to me. New 900 looks like it’s moved the game on even further. Do think I prefer the original “GS” look lights though. You’ve probably guessed what I think of the front of the new 1300🤮
People that complain about the R1250 not being enough of a dirt bike forget that they also make the F800-900 which is much more of a dirt bike vs the tourer that the R1250 is.
Hi Kate, great review! The Karoo 4's are an awesome tire on the road. I can really have some pace on them in the twisties and leave my mates on their sports bikes scratching their heads..and thats on a KTM 790 Enduro R! They're also cracking off road too.
We really want a GSA 900 with the “Ride Pro” package but we are not alone, they command strong money even above list. We hope to pick one up in a year when all the crazy prices have gone down
Integrated rear light, brake and indicators are dangerous in my opinion. Behind a GS the other day who was breaking and indicating. You could barely see the flashing orange of the indicators.
Yep, they could've easily designed an LED optic that 'joined' both sides and then disabled the red portion of the indicator when indicating. It was hard to see the indicator under braking here (and I was looking to see if they were the same as the 1300GS). It's probably even harder at night with glare from oncoming, glare from the brake lights, etc.
@@_Steven_S I also don't like the way Honda run both the front indicators at full brightness and then one will flash when tuning,. I would expect them to run at a lower brightness as DRL's. The one staying on is more visible than the one that keeps going off when indicating. BMW should have kept a small brake light in the middle and made the extra brake lights/indicators turn off the brake light element. I would have to change things a bit if I owned one of these models. It's really not safe.
Congratulations Kate. You really did the loose stuff like a pro. Totally getting there. By the way. Just picked up an interesting term a few days ago. Barrophobia = the phobic fear for gravity. Sounding familiar? 🤣
Always nice to see you getting your leg over. Handsome bike. My solution for short-limbed riders is for a motorcycle boot manufacturer to make a range of boots with platform soles and heels, about three inches high. Imagine how much more secure you would feel wearing these. It's a better remedy than the low seat option, because the latter usually involves taking a lot of the padding out, making it a bum-killer over longer distances. The knobblies were fine because the tarmac & trail was bone dry. (Hence the Portuguese launch venue). North Wales or North Yorkshire in the winter would be more of a test. Cheers!
I would never dream of taking the big GS bikes off road. However, I would love to take that over the sand dunes back in Wales and nail it up the 7 mile long Cefn Sidan beach racing seagulls in the winter off season. Hey Kate take heart in the fact you took the tall thing off road and all was ok. I remember reading when I was young that the hardest sports on your entire body are Boxing, Motocross and downhill slalom ski racing. Luckily you do not look like a boxer
What a brave lady you cope very well at difficult times like your outlook enjoy the ceanary what is the rush good outlook why rush don't seem the point great RUclips as always bet m8ke would like it .I would be having kittens you are one fast lady and beautiful. Sorry Mike look forward to the next one 😂❤
@@richardbarton2709 awesome! I live between London and Porto!! I can't wait to ride in Portugal - can any more info be shared on the specific location or tour provider?
I do like the look of the new models. Both the 900 and the 1300 GS models. I don't like the idea of the tail light incorporated in the indicators though. That would probably be a deal breaker for me, specially in the 900 GS if I was going to do much off-road riding. Another thing that I don't like is the gold coloured wheels. I would much rather have silver rims any day of the week.
Kate, loved the video and your commentary as well. Anyone watching needs to know you are riding a 900cc bike…it ain’t small! LOL. I ride a KTM 300 xcw so plenty easy but watching you manage those switchbacks…good on ya and a great attitude too! Love this bike BTW! I think I will go visit my BMW Dealer this weekend!!!
@@UsernameKatelooking forward to more of your videos and of course will go to your channel for more. Have a nice weekend! We have one more damn snow storm this weekend and then Spring is here!!! (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Being in the same gang as you with normal size legs, I would definitely not attempt to ride the 870mm version (my confidence / skill level would set off warning bells) however I think they have definitely increased their potential buyer market by offering the two lower options. I had the tiger 900 rally pro and took it over the Zillertal pass in Austria which has tarmac so I have never attempted similar on dirt, at 850mm that was as concerning as i want it to be lol. That said, the more you ride the better you get so who knows. I currently have my sights on adding another bike to the garage, not quite sure how that will go down with the missus though. That bike is possibly the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, seen some great reviews on it and because of the lower height it would be a great learning tool for green lanes and off road (maybe the TET)
Been on the BMW configurator and whilst very easy to spec this to £14000 which I guess is very competitive against the opposition however still too expensive . Really good used r1250gs,s with 2 year warranty for the same money . Looking down the accessories I cannot find the luggage for it . Maybe Iam looking in the wrong place 😮 .
Glad you mentioned your Tech 7s. I just bought a pair and it’s like riding in ski boots! Braking and shifting down is a total chore and shifting up is nearly impossible. Any tips on braking them in? Should I drive over them a few times? I Yi Yi ! One other thing. I’m a Triumph fan with a 22 900 GT Pro who’s about to trade to the 24 Rally. Love to see you get on one. Thanks
Did you forget to take a tag off your jacket 😂 something white flapping around that was catching my eye. That looks a good contender for smaller adventure bike than the 1250/1300.
For me I think that’s the nicest looking bmw in the range.
yeah, because that's what an actual adventure bike should looks like and not an oversized, overweight, 140+ HP monster...
You're a gutsy lady, well done. I used to be braver in my younger years, but now my body don't bounce very well. You're doing us girls proud 💪
“Gusty lady” 😬
Strange how when you were younger you could just fall over when your older it takes rest of the day just to get over what happened
Would you ride it to the Alps and back? Seat comfortable, wind protection, ….?
Is it the only bike you need if you want to do on and off-road?
I rode one today, if you want a bike between a GS1250 and a husky 701, this is it. Plush ride, lovely build quality, fast and rides lovely. Honestly, test ride one, you’ll thank me later .
Love your commentary. I got that very bike spec’s the same. I talk to myself just like you do.This was the absolute best review of this bike from a real world perspective. Keep up the great work Kate!
Her vids are fun to watch. I like to listen to her reviews in real-time and bonus..., she's not bad to look at!
you have to be one of the most competent vertically challenged riders out there! (and this is coming from a short rider so I can say it lol), seriously impressed how you tackle this seat height, you inspire me!
Aww thank you so much!!
Great review Kate. The on bike commentary and full detailing of the various specs and options naturally delivered whilst riding in convoy at spritely pace was pretty cool!
Thanks Steve! Lots to remember 🤣
Oh it's a good looking bike that! 😎👍
Recently bought an F850GS & blown away by the sheer selection of seat heights that are available & been riding mine with the regular & also the comfort, which is a bit taller, but being a 30" leg owner myself, I'm waiting on my low seat arriving any day now!!! 🤣👍
Great vid by the way, although your waaaaay better on the dirt than you think mate! 😉✌️
Wow, this made my day brighter! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I always admire how handy you are with these tall bikes which terrify me 😰😅
What a brilliant film, you rode so well on such a tall bike off and on road and still gave great commentary.
Epic scenery. Love the off roads over there. Keep on doing what you do Kate.
Great review. What an epic place to ride. This bike looks "fire"....I'm smitten. I can't wait to ride one.
Your enthusiasm for riding is infectious, another informative review, thank you Kate.
Ah thank you!! 😊
Good job Kate! Yes sometimes the trail switchbacks can surprise you, but you handled it great! I just rode one for about an hour, it was a bit taller than my old GS ha. But it is fun to ride - mine had an Akropovic pipe full of great sounds. Totally worth the price, I’d even consider the GS for the bigger tank.
That's a very decent bike - same power as my Africa Twin but 16kg lighter. Not to be sniffed at. I think if I was looking for an expedition bike it would be something like this.
I own the F900GS and have owned an African twin, the F850, as well as the Triumph tiger rally pro, and I like the F900GS best of all. Fantastic bike. Money well spent.
@@mikemcmurray2506which variant would you recommend for 10% off-road and 90% road and adventure? Thanks Mike
@rohallahhaidari2968 if you plan on doing 90% on road, the new F900GS adventure will take you anywhere you want comfortably. The motor run much cooler between the legs than the Honda and the Triumph, and the seat is much more comfortable than both.
@@mikemcmurray2506thanks heaps Mike
Oh then again: 14l tank? No ta. T7WR is the range king apparently.
Black, black, black. Everything is black! 🤒Thank you Henry Ford!
Much better than their other tractors imo, however it's also tested there with a few optional extras as opposed to how it comes out the box.
Very Good Review as usual Kate :) very informative quite good package for the money thanks and keep safe all :) very well done kate on your riding way up there wow !!! ❤🤟✊
Love your transparency on the corners and loose gravel. I feel the same and I live on a dirt road so it’s almost every time I’ve the same thoughts. The Karoo4’s are great. Expect 3500 miles tops on the rear.
I'm not alone 🥰 yeah I can imagine knobblys would flatten off pretty quick on the road
Enjoyed that. On the gravel you are way more representative of us majority in reality rather than the skill we fantasise we have!
Brilliant video yet again. Great explanation of different seat height options which is useful for a six footer with stumpy legs.
Stumpy leg gang 🫶
Again, always impressed with the way you handle a bike built for much taller folk! I would be off that and eating dirt/tarmac the first time I had to pull up sharply, hit a sharp turn with gravel or found an adverse camber....Kudos!
Thanks Kevin!
Love the F900GS but I'll stick with my older F800GS which is just as tall, well balanced, came standard with heated grips. Like the rear tank which makes its weight distribution better than the modern ones. Only thing I miss is tubeless tyres.
Sounds like it's everything we hoped it would be and more Kate 👌. Great vlog thanks
J.
Great lesson to all on winning the race. Cheers.
Loved your honest review, thx! Expanded your comfort zone in your typical hilarious way. Good job. However, made me realize that I'll enjoy my Tiger a while longer. Will keep on following your adventures!
Great review, most convincing I've seen yet.
Your reviews are excellent 😊
Thank you so much!
I like it quite a bit. Saw one in person a couple of weeks back. It would be tough to justify buying it over one of the Teneres or Tuaregs if off-road riding is truly your focus, but it looks so sharp and has everything you could want on it.
Great vlog Kate ....I love the bike ...fab location 👍
I just love your great practical reviews Kate and it's great to see you go at your own pace as I do as a newbie off-road rider 👍best wishes Karl in Oz 👍😊
Excellent video. Thanks Kate!
Thank you! 😊
This was an amazing ride UNK and you did very well for yourself. Those views were spectacular. Oh, your commentary while riding was hilarious. :)
Thanks for posting/sharing. Cheers!
I hate to say Kate, but I prefer these BMWs to the boxer engine ones, like your own bike….
I get my coat…….😂
But we both have Tech 7s…so we have something in common at least
Portugal😊those drop offs! Well done
Looks like a decent bike! Not too heavy - I think we don´t need to argue that it is well over engineered for anything, but that´s just the way all modern bikes are.
It reminds me a little bit of my Tuareg 660... just a bit ;)
Great review BTW
I can't WAIT to get my hands on this bike!
It's impressive, I've been on it, and I have to say if I was a solo rider I would have this over the 1250 Adventure or GS1300.
Great looking bike. Scenery great nice roads. You have great positive attitude and guts and handled the tight off roads turns well on a tall bike 😊
maybe an off-road course? itchy boots also did it in Belgium. See where she is now...btw great video 👍🏻
“Billy Bog Standard”! Love it!😂😂😂
I sold my 1200 GS and will get this. Getting old has its tributes:)
Hei Ka Excellent test drive of BMW in Portugal.While watching your video I felt the roads and town layouts are Similar to that of Goa in India.Portuguese stayed in Goa until 1961 and influence of Architecture of Buildings,Roads,Houses, Churches in Goa are still there.I liked your video
what a great bike, love it
Kate when your going around a right or left hand corner which is tight or fairly tight plant your bottom on the seat. On a right hand corner put your right leg out and vice versa. This applies to off road riding.😀
It's not motocross 🤣
are you sure about this advice? Are you an instructor?
@@noahnitikman2436HI NOAH SORRY ABOUT THE CAPITALS BUT MY LAP TOP IS PLAYING UP. YES I HAVE INSTRUCTED MANY A TOP RIDER IN MOTO X. BUM ON THE SEAT GOING AROUND CORNERS. LEG OUT TO COUNTERBALANCE YOUR WEIGHT AND OF THE WHEELS SPINNING. IF YOUR ABOUT TO GO DOWN WITH YOUR LEG OUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE STANDING UP IS WRONG. ITS HARDER BUT SAFER.
@@Colin-ci5ll yeah so not the best advice. Like I said, unless you’re an off-road instructor, best to leave the coaching to folks who get paid to teach, as in certified off road instructors.
Great review Kate. I have a F750GS 40 years model, but you’ve made me want to go test ride the 900. Great accent by the way, you sound like a fellow Yorkshire lass, I’m in Australia for 50+ years now.
Great review! I’ve been eyeing this one at my local dealer. ❤
That’s a smart looking bike and the colours suit it very well.
It looked like an amazing place to ride, I’d love to have a go off road at some point.
With regards the price, I know it may seem steep but some old work colleagues who had BMWs for years before swapping to KTM recently always said you’re paying for the bike and the dealer network. When they were in Africa, a broken wheel was replaced within 24 hours. I’m not sure how many manufacturers have that kind of dealer/service coverage.
If you’re buying the bike for the looks and to use primarily on the road then you pay that premium. If you’re buying the bike for off road/touring/adventures you know you have the dealer network behind you.
Great review Kate. This bike is commanding more of my attention. Overies of tungsten for tackling some of those off-road switchbacks …respect.
Wow - fantastic review Kate. I have also just watched your review on the Himalayan 450. With the speed you were all doing on the road section and the tricky off road part, I wonder if you would have had just as much fun on the Himalayan - ha.
Nice review. I don't know if you prefer ADV bikes, but for someone your height and inseam, I recommend the KTM 890 ADV, the relatively new Honda Transalp, or the new Royal Enfield Himalayan, or even the Aprilia Toureg with the lower seat.
I love what I have which is a BMW R1200GS 😊
That’s a big bike which even scares me even though I used to ride a 1700 V-Twin that weighed over a thousand pounds. I ride a KTM 890 ADV now which handles rather easily off road due to its relative lightness when wet and its low center of gravity. I have never dropped it yet.
Likewise, I haven't dropped my GS. I manage it just fine 😊
Me: 'Hello, I'd like to buy this bike.' BMW salesperson: ' Aah yes, before we begin, we need to discuss packages' Me: 'Whaa?' BMW salesperson: 'For example, would you like your motorcycle painted?' 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm sticking wi me 'busa! Black paint and WHAAHEY! fitted as standard.
Great bike think I'm going to get a test ride at my local, great review Kate.
Thank you!
Nice bike and loved the location for riding. Good speed on some of those roads!!
Kate, would it be possible to have a video on your current bike gear (what you like about it, what its like for various weathers and warmth). Also just a thought, a behind the scenes video on the lead up to filming for a video such as this one - imagine you have to organise flights, find a hotel and a lot more than us viewers are aware of. Enjoying the videos 👍
I’ve been on an 850gs for 3 years now and it’s been a great bike. I am considering an upgrade to it and for the price here in the US I can get a fully loaded Triumph tiger. The GS is awesome but I had to add quite a bit aftermarket to get the features that the Tiger comes stock with. Might be switching. We’ll see after the test rides at the end of this month.
I've owned the F850GS and the Rally Pro, the F900GS is best than both. The Tiger has nice features and build quality, but too many issues. The new firing order ruined the smoothness of the triple and the bar vibrations are painful. The speedo being off by 6 mph and no way to fix it will drive you nuts. And having to take it to the dealer to clear the oil change light is a pain (there is a hack, but can void the warranty).
@@mikemcmurray2506which year was your Rally Pro ?? Iam on tiger xrx absolutely zero issues …I’ve heard the vibes 0n the 2024 are considerably less than the previous years
@@awesomeagnihotrisvlog mine was a 2022. Buzzed like a weed whacker.
Your confidence on dirt seems to be improving even if it’s still setting off your heart rate monitor.
First time viewer. Have you ever considered doing an adventure riding course? I know BMW offer great courses with wonderful instructors. I know there are a few non-affiliated ADV instructors in the UK who are brilliant. I can personally say as a beginning ADV rider, doing the Country Trax courses gave me great confidence and helped me immensely on dirt roads.
This is not a bike I would have thought about, but you have peaked my curiosity. Great stuff Kate! Oh, and I like the Knox jacket! I’m considering. I hope Knox are looking after your ;-)
Great Review. Loved the video as I spent my teens in Cabanas and Tavira and know the area well but not the twisty's you were on but that was 40+ years ago!.
What a Beautiful country. Not saying this in a bad way but for a woman that is short you do fantastic on a bigger Bike. Thanks for the great video. Please be careful on those cliffsides.. just stay safe. Thanks
Looks like a great bike on the road, but for off road its always much more fun on a manageable lightweight 2stroke. Ying ding ding 😊
Great review Kate. I’ve had a couple of 850GSAs as loan bikes when my 1250 has been in at the dealer.
Hands up, when I rode the 850 I did think that if I only rode solo I’d have one. I was really impressed. Seemed more fun to me.
New 900 looks like it’s moved the game on even further. Do think I prefer the original “GS” look lights though. You’ve probably guessed what I think of the front of the new 1300🤮
lets go kate amazing vid again 🦾
Thanks Swordsy!
People that complain about the R1250 not being enough of a dirt bike forget that they also make the F800-900 which is much more of a dirt bike vs the tourer that the R1250 is.
Hi Kate, great review! The Karoo 4's are an awesome tire on the road. I can really have some pace on them in the twisties and leave my mates on their sports bikes scratching their heads..and thats on a KTM 790 Enduro R! They're also cracking off road too.
Nice bike. Yet to hear a bad review. 👍
It's definitely hard to fault
Great review, I knew this was legit when i saw you enter one of the corners at about 88 and exit at about 105 ;-) that's how we ride.
Great review and seriously tempted to buy bike. 😊
We really want a GSA 900 with the “Ride Pro” package but we are not alone, they command strong money even above list. We hope to pick one up in a year when all the crazy prices have gone down
Going to north Spain and Portugal in May. Looks like I’ll love it. Bad timing though since I missed my gall being there. Means you where too early! 😁
That’s a big yin . I’ll put it into the dream bank 🙌🙏💙🌎
Integrated rear light, brake and indicators are dangerous in my opinion. Behind a GS the other day who was breaking and indicating. You could barely see the flashing orange of the indicators.
They need to change the design so the brake light goes out on the side that is the indicator
Yep, they could've easily designed an LED optic that 'joined' both sides and then disabled the red portion of the indicator when indicating.
It was hard to see the indicator under braking here (and I was looking to see if they were the same as the 1300GS). It's probably even harder at night with glare from oncoming, glare from the brake lights, etc.
@@_Steven_S I also don't like the way Honda run both the front indicators at full brightness and then one will flash when tuning,. I would expect them to run at a lower brightness as DRL's. The one staying on is more visible than the one that keeps going off when indicating. BMW should have kept a small brake light in the middle and made the extra brake lights/indicators turn off the brake light element. I would have to change things a bit if I owned one of these models. It's really not safe.
They could also fit a standard type rear light in the centre
Congratulations Kate. You really did the loose stuff like a pro. Totally getting there. By the way. Just picked up an interesting term a few days ago. Barrophobia = the phobic fear for gravity. Sounding familiar? 🤣
Always nice to see you getting your leg over. Handsome bike. My solution for short-limbed riders is for a motorcycle boot manufacturer to make a range of boots with platform soles and heels, about three inches high. Imagine how much more secure you would feel wearing these. It's a better remedy than the low seat option, because the latter usually involves taking a lot of the padding out, making it a bum-killer over longer distances. The knobblies were fine because the tarmac & trail was bone dry. (Hence the Portuguese launch venue).
North Wales or North Yorkshire in the winter would be more of a test. Cheers!
Its definitely wasn't bone dry, there were damp patches for sureee 😊 but roll on UK tests!
It got sexy because it looks like an Africa Twin!
The BMW Africa Twin looks great
I would never dream of taking the big GS bikes off road. However, I would love to take that over the sand dunes back in Wales and nail it up the 7 mile long Cefn Sidan beach racing seagulls in the winter off season. Hey Kate take heart in the fact you took the tall thing off road and all was ok. I remember reading when I was young that the hardest sports on your entire body are Boxing, Motocross and downhill slalom ski racing. Luckily you do not look like a boxer
I am a black belt though ;)
Good job . The side of the bike have a grate look , just like you 😊
Now that your Pro Off Road.
Next you have to do the Victorian High Country on a GS
I think these rear lights look like this was the bike they were actually designed for. Although still dangerous they suit it.
Good job,thanks.(good bike by all accounts).
Thanks Bruce!
Bloody great too see a chickie talking bike👍👍✌️😎🇦🇺
What a brave lady you cope very well at difficult times like your outlook enjoy the ceanary what is the rush good outlook why rush don't seem the point great RUclips as always bet m8ke would like it .I would be having kittens you are one fast lady and beautiful. Sorry Mike look forward to the next one 😂❤
Great video! The bike looks great. Where are you riding in the UK? The off roading looked great
They're riding on the opposite side of the road to the UK if that's any help to you.
Portugal
@@richardbarton2709 awesome! I live between London and Porto!! I can't wait to ride in Portugal - can any more info be shared on the specific location or tour provider?
I do like the look of the new models. Both the 900 and the 1300 GS models. I don't like the idea of the tail light incorporated in the indicators though. That would probably be a deal breaker for me, specially in the 900 GS if I was going to do much off-road riding. Another thing that I don't like is the gold coloured wheels. I would much rather have silver rims any day of the week.
Wow cute kedicik miyav 😂❤😢😮🎉
Looks amazing take care.
Kate, loved the video and your commentary as well. Anyone watching needs to know you are riding a 900cc bike…it ain’t small! LOL. I ride a KTM 300 xcw so plenty easy but watching you manage those switchbacks…good on ya and a great attitude too! Love this bike BTW! I think I will go visit my BMW Dealer this weekend!!!
I appreciate that Grant! Damn those switchbacks were like... getting this wrong is not an option since I forgot my parachute! 🤣
@@UsernameKatelooking forward to more of your videos and of course will go to your channel for more. Have a nice weekend! We have one more damn snow storm this weekend and then Spring is here!!! (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Being in the same gang as you with normal size legs, I would definitely not attempt to ride the 870mm version (my confidence / skill level would set off warning bells) however I think they have definitely increased their potential buyer market by offering the two lower options. I had the tiger 900 rally pro and took it over the Zillertal pass in Austria which has tarmac so I have never attempted similar on dirt, at 850mm that was as concerning as i want it to be lol. That said, the more you ride the better you get so who knows.
I currently have my sights on adding another bike to the garage, not quite sure how that will go down with the missus though. That bike is possibly the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, seen some great reviews on it and because of the lower height it would be a great learning tool for green lanes and off road (maybe the TET)
I have the F850GS and must try one out to compare
Been on the BMW configurator and whilst very easy to spec this to £14000 which I guess is very competitive against the opposition however still too expensive . Really good used r1250gs,s with 2 year warranty for the same money . Looking down the accessories I cannot find the luggage for it . Maybe Iam looking in the wrong place 😮 .
You done good on that bike
Great looking bike!!!
Great vid girl an a very nice bike just one question is there any buzzing in the pegs or bars Kate looks like you had ball there 😍👍
Glad you mentioned your Tech 7s. I just bought a pair and it’s like riding in ski boots! Braking and shifting down is a total chore and shifting up is nearly impossible. Any tips on braking them in? Should I drive over them a few times? I Yi Yi ! One other thing. I’m a Triumph fan with a 22 900 GT Pro who’s about to trade to the 24 Rally. Love to see you get on one. Thanks
Hi Kate amazing as always are you looking at reviewing the f800 gs at all ?
Did you forget to take a tag off your jacket 😂 something white flapping around that was catching my eye. That looks a good contender for smaller adventure bike than the 1250/1300.
We needed to put the tags on for some reason 🤣
great review kate
I rode the F900 adventure last week