BMW R 1150 GS reviews

I have a 2004 R1150GS and this is one of my all time favorite motors. I have been riding for 35 years and have owned 44 motors including my current 2003 Harley Ultra Classic and the GS. This machine provides a great ride for wandering throughout the country and also handles interstate riding well too. The roughest terrain I ride is an occasional dirt road as the bike is primarily intended for highway use. At 5'7" I am probably one of the shorter riders but I have never felt that the bike is too big. You either accept to get on it and handle it or don't. I like the big size and the way it handles. Seems like the heavier that you load it (with luggage for trips), the better it rides. This is a great machine and gives one the feeling that he is indeed riding a man's machine. I would definitely purchase another

Traded my '86 Airhead for this bike. Bike is large but well balanced at all speeds. Almost intimidating to get on with my Stitch, but super ride once moving. I use regular gas for smoother operation. Premium fuel does not run as smoothly. This is just my opinion. Have ordered larger windscreen, as stock screen does have buffeting. Will play around until I get 'right' screen for me. Seat good, can move around, use bicycle pants for longer (300 mile) trip. Jesse bags have high utility, can hold helmet. Plush but not mushy ride. Brakes nicely modulated. 70 MPH VERY smooth in 6th gear. Engine seems most comfortable around 4000 RPM. No shifting issues. Love telelever. No bad effects from rear shaft drive. Mirrors usable. I like to ride and plan to commute and travel with this bike. See you around.

Before I had the chance to ride the GS I was very put off by the looks of the bike. Since buying the bike, it has become my most used and favorite bike. I currently have four bikes including a 600 sport bike(F4i) and an RT. Pros: great seating position, good two up, good wind protection, excellent handling, reasonable power, and shaft drive. Cons: only reasonable power, oil consumption (should stop by 10K miles), and cost. If I could only have one bike, this would be it. I would buy another one.

The BMW R1150 GS is without a doubt, the most versatile motorcycle on the planet -- period. You just can't go wrong with it. No, it's not a babe magnet per se, but that's about its only draw back. It's a bike for every season and every reason and I have found mine to be completely reliable, agile and capable. Great balance, great brakes, significant load carrying ability, at home on the super-slab or quirky mountain dirt roads, it's a serious world-class machine built to provide miles of fun and adventure.

I purchased my 2002 1150GS Adventurer in August of 2002. Prior to buying the bike, I extensively test drove a 1150GS. When I carried the bike back to the dealership, I noticed the Adventurer and commented how tall the bike was. The owner of the dealership told me to test ride the Adventurer and make a back to back comparison of the two bikes. I'm only 5'9" tall, but once mounted and rolling, I fell in love with the bike. I liked the gear ratios of the transmission better than the regular GS and the overall handling suited me better. It had better wind protection, better suspension, and even though it is a mountain of a bike, I liked the seat better. I bought the bike and 11,000 miles later, I have installed a Corbin Seat, bar backs, motolights, throttlemiester, magnetic tank bag, SP III, Givi top case, Aeroflow windscreen, and a radar detector. I have owned several bikes in the past 8 years, sometimes as many as 5 at one time. Harleys, Hondas, Aprilias, Yamahas, Suzukis, and other BMW's, but I have never owned one bike that I liked or enjoyed more than this wierd looking bike. If I had 4 bikes in the garage, I would ride the Adventurer 90% of the time. The power and torque is fine. It's suprising how well it cruises on the interstate, how long it will go without refueling it's 7.9 gallon tank, how well it handles in the twisties, how much time you don't spend washing the bike, and how easily you can wander down a dirt road you are curious about. It's not a dirt bike, but the bike will not have any problems with most fire roads. I have gone with my ridding buddies on long distance rides and it seems they are forever stopping for fuel. When we finally arrive at our destination, I have no particular aches and pains above what you would normally have after 12 hours in the saddle on a Goldwing or Road King. I know, I've owned them both. While traveling down the interstate you can stretch your legs over the top of the engine guards and have the same feeling of highway pegs on a cruiser. The BMW luggage in conjunction with the Givi trunk provides more space than I will ever use. The heated seat and heated grips are so nice to knock off the early morning or late evening chill. The 3 year warranty is also nice. BMW's are expensive to service, but the GS is one of the least expensive to maintain. I don't notice any engine surging, the transmission is BMW clunky, the bike is stable at speed, and it uses about 1/2 quart of oil between 6000 mile services. I have not had the first problem with this bike. In my opinion, this is an excellent motorcycle that can truly do it all, if you can handle the seat height.

I love my GS Adventure(R 1150 GS), I have long legs (36 inseam) and it fits better than my tailored suit. It is so balanced, I have had it in mud up to the drive assembly and it has been a faithful stead. I own a Honda RC51 and I swear it handles as well, some disagree because of the tires. I don't know because I never had a problem at speed. It gives me confidence. Also I ride in bad weather because I love pissing off so called bikers, and this is the machine that will win the world. I commute everyday and if I crash I know that the Beemers safety features will protect me. I have riden great distances and it has been worthy.

I grind my GS thru NYC rush-hour traffic every workday. This bike is basically designed for that. Generous suspension travel to soak up unexpected potholes. Dual-use tires for loose gravel, grooved and broken pavement, expansion joints and curb cuts. Plenty of power and wicked fast handling for a 'point and shoot' ride. High confidence in the handling for any crazy lane-splitting/shoulder-surfing you need to do. ABS for when some car service driver changes lanes on you while reading the newspaper. Super-tall ride height so you can see over everything up to suburbans or delivery vans, unless you stand on the pegs for a better view. Low speed handling is better than you'd think for such a tall, heavy bike, but it does require more muscle than most people would be comfortable needing. You can drop this stopped at a traffic light if you aren't fully braced. If you can't leg-press 4-500 lbs, you may want to steer clear. Maybe 10% of GS owners take their bikes offroad regularly (the argument made against SUVs), but don't forget that at least in NYC urban roads are comparable to at least dirt roads in many highly-trafficked places, and the GS makes riding these zones a dream. Also, like most (if not all) BMW bikes, it has a 6-digit odometer. How many other motorcycles have an odo that flips at 1 million miles? 1 star off because its height makes you susceptible to the wind, its weight, and somewhat mediocre fuel efficiency. Correcting these things may require the suspension of the laws of physics, but since I can't give the bike 4.9999997 stars it'll have to do :)

I have owned many different bikes over the last 20 years and this bike is one of the best rides I have owned. It handles great on the twisties and open road. I feel very comfortable with the knowledge that I can take her off road if the need ever arises. The engine and transmission are very smooth and seem to get better everytime I take her for another ride. The BMW bags are simply the best in the industry and make unloading the bike after a long trip a snap. Take one for a test ride and see for yourself.

I admit to being one of those "re-entry" motorcycle riders. Absent from the sport for years with re-entry in my mid fifties. Ugh. Living in Europe I wanted to buy a European bike. I chose BMW for several reasons: good 1970's era experience on a beemer and an appreciation for the quality and reputation BMW has in their cars and motorcycles. In addition, very strong resale value. I bought a 99 R1100R. This sportster was a good machine. Funky looking but a blast to ride. Without a fairing however at 60mph I felt a bit too challenged. BMW came out with the 1150 engine and 6 spped transmission. I always liked the look of the GS (over the R) and it had a very good reputation as well. I test drove one, noticed a significat difference in ride feel, that I liked, so I bought one. The 1150GS is a superbly balanced machine. It turns more by thought than grip pressure; in the twisties it's as nimble as anything I've ever ridden; it's got lots of grunt and carries a pillion in significant comfort. My only complaint is it is feels heavy and a bit tricky to handle at very slow pace. You must be cautious if under 6 feet tall. I'm 5'10," the bare minimum. Bottom line.....I recommend this bike without reservation. It's reliable, fun to drive, feels rock-solid underway and really holds it's value.

This is the first oilhead boxer that I have had the chance to drive. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't overly impressed. I own four BMWs at the moment, two of them are GSes; a 1986 R80 G/S PD and a 1990 R100 GS. I guess I expected more from the R1150 GS. The two most noticeable things that really stood out was the much talked about engine surging and the weight. The surging issue is real and I wish BMW would admit to the problem and solve it. The BMW mechanics that I talked to knew about it and said they could minimize the effects at best. The weight has increased as the models have changed. The best GS in the dirt is still an R80 G/S. The R100 GS and the new R11XX GS get progressively less dirt capable. Would I buy another GS. Absolutely! The GS model line is one of the best all around bikes on the market.