1250 review, GS variant.

[sanemancured]

I rode the 50 miles up to Carlisle on Friday, to take a R1250GS out for a spin. I was interested in how the 1250 motor compared to the 1200 and I also wanted to check out the modified drivetrain (my bike is a 2015 that frightens primary school children when I select first gear).

I came away with thoughts that were nothing like I expected. I did see the R1250R’s in the showroom. They weren’t yet available.

Having ridden the RS North on the A6 in a ‘spirited’ manner I had an RS smile when I arrived. I love how that a little bit of upper body positioning on the RS balances the front end neutrally in a corner. The RS is a joy in terms of feedback if you have a gentle touch and relax….

So the GS. First impressions weren’t brilliant. I was half wondering if the ride would change me (back) into a GS owner. I immediately felt ‘plonked’ on the thing. Footrests too low and too far forward to easily take my weight, far too much weight on my arse and the bars seemed overkill in terms of width. The engine was definitely smooth and the selection of first when cold was quiet!

Onto the motorway to get down to Hartside. The screen was as high as could be and there was a lot of buffeting. I’m very tall in the body so I sit high on the bike. Suspension seemed okay, set to Road with Auto for preload. I do like the TFT display but I’m not so keen on the Menu system over the one button for each item on the RS.

Once on the more interesting A6 the bike seemed a little vague. I pulled in, set the screen to its lowest setting, a worthwhile improvement (I have a standard height screen set to low always on the RS). I put the suspension to Dynamic too and the suspension now made the bike a bit less ‘woolly’.

Heading off to the The Village Bakery in Melmerby for lunch the GS did its job well but in a less engaging way to the RS. I felt sat on as opposed to in. The GS needed more effort to turn in and didn’t respond as well to body position. I gave the motor some work to do but nothing jumped up at me saying ‘Wow’. It was smooth, the gearbox once moving was just like the RS as was the gearshift assist.

If I were looking to ride over 300 miles in a day yes, the GS would probably be more comfortable.

After a fine lunch of pie (very Northern) and salad with Jersey potatoes (very not) my favourite local road Hartside beckoned. The GS could be bossed around with those bars and the motor was impressively smooth and responsive going up but again it didn’t feel ‘night and day’ over the RS. The GS style of riding, perched on, a bit vague and lots of countersteer, worked well but the RS feels like a scalpel by comparison.

The new brakes have a little more feel I thought but the RS ones work well enough for me.

So I came away realising how good the RS is for me. Getting back onto mine it felt tiny and ever so cramped for a few minutes. The 1200 engine in my RS also feels more visceral than the 1250 which is definitely smoother. I don’t ever ride with a WOT so I could argue that the 1250 motor does nothing for the roads and riding that I do. I gave the RS motor some work to do and it was great. More power is fine but if the power you have does the job???

When hot the GS still makes a fair old ‘clonk’ when you select first stationary. It’s not as bad as the earlier RS though.

The day just showed me that there’s not actually a huge drive in ‘upgrading’. Yes the new motor is better, smoother and more tractable but it’s not the leap I was expecting.

As far as changing to a GS? It just showed how much better for me the RS is. The difference in rider feedback is the thing. The GS is the mainstay on UK roads. I felt that it was certainly a bit blancmange. It did its job a bit like a Toyota.

Peter

[Grumpy Goat]

Peter - I am so glad you are back and posting. Thanks to the above review it was as if I was on the bike doing the rest ride. You rode it for me and the feedback you have provided is EXACTLY what I would likely have said. It is uncanny; we are of the same mind, I think.

Your review also showed me why I should continue to avoid the temptation to test the 1250GS "in the meantime" to assess the drivetrain and transmission, since it appears that the RS is still some time away from making its debut in show rooms on this side of the pond. I expect the powertrain to be smoother and perhaps feel more powerful but I don't expect I'd love the handling as I do the RS, and that is largely due to the telelever vs conventional suspension.

I test rode a GS once (a 2017) and came away with the feeling that it was a nice "swiss-army" type of bike that was "adequate" - did everything right (I suppose) but did not stand out in any sort of way. Of course by test ride was a joke - a guided "ride around the block" and nothing like you did, which was a proper test. Wish dealers here would be more progressive like dealers in the UK when it comes to letting the customer test a bike. They just may get more sales!

[Lee]

Of course by test ride was a joke - a guided "ride around the block" and nothing like you did, which was a proper test. Wish dealers here would be more progressive like dealers in the UK when it comes to letting the customer test a bike. They just may get more sales!

Do the dealers in your area not let you take a bike out by yourself?

[Grumpy Goat]

Do the dealers in your area not let you take a bike out by yourself?

It depends on the salesman I guess. I have had instances where the salesman did that and others where they simply get ready and came along. The one that let me "take the bike for as long as I wanted" (with no special knowledge of me) ended up selling me the RS that is my present ride. He has since moved on from that dealership after spending some time as a service advisor (purgatory?) although he was a very nice fellow / salesman. They have since changed sales management and other salesmen have moved on. So much so that I don't feel as familiar there anymore and any sense of loyalty has gone.

The dealership I go to now seem to be a decent lot and I did take one bike out on a test ride from them (2018 BMW R310R) and it was by myself.

[Blackshirt]

The new engine is excellent, as it met the standards of western environmental requirements yet still bumped up the horsepower. I've never been much of a horsepower-monger, so I still think of my RS1200RS as a pretty peppy ride. I suppose that expecting another game-changer like liquid-cooled heads is unreasonable, but a 9% gain is still pretty substantial.

The GS is heavier and taller than the RS. It also sports Telelever and Hayes brakes. Combined, these differences account for your conclusions. I happen to agree. The RS does everything well on any paved road. It even holds it's own on well graded dirt/gravel roads. I'll be putting the Beemer to the test this year as it will get most of the touring assignments this season. I'm pretty optimistic that this will be a blue ribbon year.

[Duccrazydave]

That is a great review. Most demo rides I've ever taken were with a salesman along leading (It's nice when that happens to be a "spirited" ride). The exception being the 2 visits to my local dealer. 1st a Ducati 1098 SF, and then a '15 RS. Spent about 30-45 minutes on each, riding were I wanted to.
Looking forward to meeting up with you all, in June!