2005 bmw reviews

This is the only motorcycle I have ever owned and started riding at 47 years old. This is the bike that drew me to really getting a motorcycle. I wanted a bike capable of riding reliably in third world and fourth world countries and getting me back in one piece. (I visited 6 of the 7 continents in our military and want to go back via motorcycle). I love the 7.9 gallon fuel tank and the BMW luggage system. The engine guards are superb. This is a HEAVY bike with a high center of gravity and not really meant for serious off-road but I hope to get a class for off-roading on it around Christmas to increase my confidence and capability off road. This is not a road racer but it can do 80mph up hill with a 100 pound passenger on back and still can roll on the throttle! The weight makes it ride smooth and reliable on the roads and handles poorly maintained roads with ease. I wish the first gear was even lower than it is but that is a snivel, not a significant complaint. The seat is high so I have the low seat. It rides very smooth and the knobby tires "lean" surprisingly well. Sitting high on this bike is great for seeing in traffic and being seen by others. Selectable ABS is awesome. I love the display information (tachometer, speedometer, oil, temperature, gas, gear and 24 hour clock). The Spousal Spending Unit (SSU---wife) likes the quiet operation so I do not wake her when I leave the house at 0530 in the morning unlike our Harley neighbors. This bike gets a lot of looks from others on the road and easily took me from getting a Harley. I got this shipped in from from Daytona (Florida) via the Internet. I ride this bike 6 days a week, often with a passenger or loaded panniers and it has been a dream Adventure. I cannot wait to cross a few dozen borders with it. The 600 mile check up went smooth in San Diego. To date I replaced a single tail light bulb. I have had it since May 2005 and am 30 miles short of 5,000 miles. It is now October 2005. I was holding out for the R1200GS Adventure but since it never came out I grabbed one of the 43 of these that come into the country this year. It gets about 43 miles per gallon in day to day driving. Absolutely NO regrets. My daughters are already conspiring to get it from me. Show less

After 1 year with a R1200GS I traded for a 2005 R1150GS ADV. This is the bike I should have bought last year. My 1200 was a shop queen so down the road she went. The 1150 has not disappointed me in any way so far. My 1200 had more top end power but the 1150 runs way better all around. The lower 1st gear is very useful and the closer 6th gear is nice for the real world. So far it's used very little oil (I have not added any). Hope to have a long relationship with this one. Show less

After my R100RT, I wanted something smoother and more powerful and went to the K12LT. I rode that for 5 years and was looking for something with the same power but more nimble on back roads. (35% of the roads in the US are unpaved.) The new 1200GS has exceeded my expectations beyond belief. It's powerful and quick, and very light. I've had it up faster than the LT and yet the GS stays smooth. The stock windshield is fairly good at deflecting the wind, better than the stock shield on the 1150GS. I have ridden an 1150GS with the Aeroflow shield, and that seems to give a little more protection on the 1150 than the stock shield gives on the 1200. Keep in mind, I'm coming from the K12LT. Generally, I think the 12GS stock shield is good for many riders. The servo braking only took me about 10 minutes to get used to and now it's not a problem. Looking ahead, I plan to add the following accessories: throttle lock, tail bag or trunk. Bottom line - this is a great bike with a high smiles per mile ratio! Show less

This is an early test - only 1600 miles in a month. Also let me give some background. I have had 6 bikes (Vulcan (2), V-max, Superhawk, Harley custom, R1150RS) And have test ridden literally dozens of others. I need motorcycle therapy!
The big GS is a mutant bike - it is all bikes and no bike. It has the comfort and torque of a cruiser, handling of a sport bike, cargo capacity of a tourer, off-road capabilities like a big dirt bike, and looks/power of a naked bike. As a result the looks are unique - but I think they are quite nice in the new edition. There is very little you can't do on this bike- scratch, tour, commute, dirt. All mutants create a stir - even one like this GS that won Bike of the Year.
Performance. I believe the magazines that give this bike a 1/4 mile time in the high 11 Sec range- it hauls! Roll-on acceleration (60-80mph) feels - and is very close to the V-max (!) that should say enough. I'm getting between 45-48 mpg. I have the low seat, so I can get both feet down. The seat is not super comfortable, but I will withhold judgment until it breaks in some more.
The bike gives a feel of supreme confidence - smooth, stable and no diving or lurching due to telever/paralever; a feeling you can take on any road in any condition. Surging is gone! It rides smooth at all speeds! The bike feels tall if you are used to lower bikes - but handling is effortless. In fact 'effortless' is a term used often with this bike. All the controls, clutch, gas, transmission and signals are downright "Honda" in refinement. The low-end torque is impressive and top end is much stronger then before. The front-end will come up if you want it to - but not all the time like the Superhawk996 (!). I've not done much off-road, yet, but the few dirt/gravel roads I've run are effortless. The suspension gets better the rougher the road!
Negatives: none so far. That said - the bike is much lighter and not built to the same 'gauge' as previous beemers. It appears to be tough where it needs to be, but will give more on this with a long-term update.
Overall, the 1200GS is three bikes in one: sport, tourer and dirt. I ride year-round and use it for commuting - it's very good at that, too. In fact with the commanding view of traffic, great power and brakes, it's almost too good and makes my trip to work... effortless. If you are tall enough and like looks built for exceptional function - buy it. It's the only bike you'll need. Oh, and the back seat gets high marks too, from what I'm told by the ladies. Give it a test ride...if you dare! Show less

Very good machine, it handles very nice. I can not stop smiling when I put the music very loud and people turn their head to look at it. Although the bike is heavy, it handles well even at slow speed situations. I love the electric windshield. Can't see me without the hydraulic center stand. These two things make me feel very happy to have them for safety, and the bike is exceptional. It fits me good and the Ocean Blue Metalli finish is very nice to the eye. Show less

I have never owned a sport tourer, having ridden a Honda VTX1800 and a Triumph Rocket III (the beast) previously. This bike is just as comfortable as a cruiser, but far lighter and more agile. Very smooth at speed, easy to turn through the hills, great with a passenger and the overall ride quality, suspension, etc. are superior. Show less

Before I got my '05 R1200GS I owned 2 Ducati Monsters. Being used to a high performace aggressive street bike, I was surprised at the excellent performance of the BMW. Most noticed is the >100 horses that make the bike nearly as quick as my Ducati 750S. It really is an upright sportsbike. Given that I am 5'6", the height took some getting used but I probably won't be investing in lowering the bike as the low seat is fine. Expandable sidebags are great and riding position is very comfortable. While not as loud as my Duc the exhaust note is louder than other BMWs I've ridden. Especially like the flexibility of the bike--makes it feel it can go anywhere on earth. Show less

I just purchased the bike Saturday and have logged only 250 miles. Overall I am very pleased. The bike is very responsive and turns and recovers very easily. Nimble is the word that comes to mind. The engine vibrates at idol which I am not used to. Please note that this is my first BMW so it may just be the way it runs. Once I get on the trottle it smoothes out well. I do not find the bike uncomfortable but after about 3 hours of riding my jeans were irritating my rear end :) I do prefer the lower seat position to the higher. The wind screen is not the best. Neither position offers much in the way of wind deflection unless your laying on the tank. The wind in not beating you in the face but it is not flying over you as it should in the high position. Overall very pleased Show less

The R1200GS is my 10th motorcycle and by far the best. Among the previous bikes was the K1200LT, the ultimate tourer. The GS is a great tourer as well, very nimble around town, very quick on the back roads and it is easier to ride. I am tall and I fit perfectly on this bike. The GS is for sure a keeper and maybe my last bike for a long time. Show less

I have owned this bike for 1 month now and already put up 2500 kms on it. It is a very comfortable bike, it has awesome brakes, wind protection is good with no turbulences around the helmet, the suspension is great, siting position also. But the only downside is that it had after first 1000 kms an electronics problem which needed a full reprogramming of the bike's computer. The main symptoms were: the bike stalled when opening the throttle sudden to full and the idling was irregular. The reprogramming did not solve the problem and they changed the induction coils. Apparently this solved the problem. Apart from this little problem I think the bike is great. PS: also it needs approx 250 ml of oil every 1000 kms Show less