The new 1250 engine by the numbers

[Grumpy Goat]

Pictures show the RS and R still have Brembo brakes.

I certainly hope that is indeed the case and those are what arrives in the showrooms.

So I went to the dealership and saw their two GSs. They look like the current GSs except for the engine, new instrument cluster and front calipers. Rear brakes are still Brembo. The salesman figures that the Brembo fronts were not fitted in favour of the BMW-branded Hayes brakes because of the off-road focus of the GS not needing Brembos and as a means to keep cost down. He may be right, I suppose.

I did not take the bike for a test ride but I did have him start it up so that I could hear the engine. No clatter at initial cold startup. We let it settle and I revved it a little (it was in the showroom so I did not want to rev too much) and it sounded nice and smooth, which i would expect. Didn't even pay too much attention to the display.

He did tell me his impression of the power and said that it felt significantly different. He's a salesman (and a kid at that) and you have to take it all with a spoon of salt.

The most important news that he said was that they expect the RS in mid December. They have already started pushing the 1200s in anticipation of the 1250s taking off a bit once they start coming in more often. They already sold one. I told him I'd be looking to test ride the RS once it comes in.