BMW R 1200 GS reviews

I personally LOVED owning and riding my 2016 R1200GS. I never initially considered buying this bike and was going to buy something else. I thought that I wanted something more pretty, less unique or more powerful...but then I took it for a test ride and understood the hype about BMW GS bikes. The BMW build quality is just awesome. They do it the best direct from the factory with high quality components throughout: Adjustable Sachs suspension, Brembo brakes, braided stainless coated hydraulics, LED lighting, Bosch electronics and tech that surpasses all others. The handling is second to none with a circle turn radius of less than 8 feet . The braking is amaizing, where there is NO dive due to BMW lever suspension system. The bike squats upon hard braking instead of diving from traditional telescopic fork tube suspension. The low center of gravity and torque from the boxer motor is more than adequate and reliability is off the charts. There are more BMW boxers are on the road eating up greater miles compared to others. The torque and HP are enough that I never had to disable the default traction control to get more out of the 1200 engine. It truely is enough and I'm not a small guy. The only downside if it's even considered negative is the tall riding stance and wind protection, but these minor shortcomings that can be solved with greater wind protection mods and lower seat/suspension mods. Touring with the GS is just amaizing too. I could safely stand, stretch and change into so many different comfy riding positions that I would run out of fuel before growing fatigued or uncomfortable. I would honestly implore. Yes, IMPLORE you to try out a GS. If haven't rode a BMW GS, don't wait it will most likely be the one you buy. Also, the different and unique look of the GS is something that will grow in your heart throughout ownership. IMHO it's one of the best looking motorcycles made. After owning my GS for 8 years, I now understand why they will forever be cemented as icons amongst motorcycle enthusiasts. Show less

Incredible performance motorcycle, purchased brand new from Irv Seaver BMW Motorcycle Dealership in Orange County California. Thus is the only place it’s ever been taken to for any reason. It’s been garaged its entire life. Show less

I have ridden them all, Triumph, Honda, Yamaha and a few Harley's. This is my first BMW. I'm loving the R1200 GSA. I tested the GS800, very nice and fast, but I kept thinking that would not be long, I would wish that I bought it bigger (knowing self...) This bike is a little intimidating. It is tall and heavy, but when moving, even at 5 mph., it is a cat. It rides great, feels nimble and you can go everywhere with it. This is the first motorcycle that I have owned that I could do off road. I love the fact that I have been riding in the middle of nowhere, exploring roads that I would never go on a Harley, and just have so much fun with it. It is so much more than just a bike to commute, go out at night, or traveling. This is a bike that you can go off road and go highway 80 mph. and does great either way. It is very ergonomic and has a fantastic sitting position. Your back will not hurt, plus it is one of the few bikes out there, that you can stand straight up, riding full standing at 45 mph., rest your back and legs, then sit and continue on. It's just amazing. I would buy a GSA, or Triumph Tiger 1200, or Super Tenere. All of these are fantastic bikes, but BMW is the only one with an awesome club and support from dealer and other riders. Plus it is the coolest, most expensive and has as much poise out there as riding a "Harley". Cheers. Show less

A V-Star cruiser has been my ride for the past 11-1/2 years. I grew up riding dirt and eventually street motorcycles. It was mostly the on/off style of bike and riding for me. Ever since I first became aware of the GS line of BMW's, in the mid 1980's, I've been amazed by the go anywhere/anytime attitude and culture it inspired. Well I finally rejoined the on/off party yesterday afternoon thanks to Rick and all the kind folks at the dealership. I'm currently the overjoyed owner of a black 2011 R1200GS, with ESA, ABS, heated grips, hand protectors, on board computer and a top box. It's a great beginning to what eventually will become my very own set-up on an ultimate go anywhere/anytime machine. Show less

The decision to buy a bike wasn't hard; which bike to buy was tough. It took me a year of reading, test driving, and asking around to narrow it down. Lastly, I made a list of everything that I wanted to do on a bike, and one item was that I wanted to ride in the dirt, which meant "Sorry, Harley". don't get me wrong, Harley's are nice bikes, I wanted to play in the dirt and explore. There are so many dirt roads in every state that to ignore them just wouldn't be right. First the negative; the seat is uncomfortable, so plan on stopping and walking around every 150 miles. Now for the positive; it drives as well on the pavement as it does on the dirt. There is an almost endless reservoir of power, great torque, agile, light, and shaft driven (low maintenance). The gas mileage is awesome as is the eight gallon tank. On the interstate, I was passing cars and trucks with ease; on the dirt, the handling was amazing. If you have a little extra cash, get a top case. I bought mine from the dealer in Longmont Colorado and was really impressed. They treated me well, were professional, and wouldn't let me leave until they showed me the essentials (how to check the oil, where to hang my helmet, how to remove the side and top cases, etc.). They also worked with me on the price. In closing, if you want to ride on the streets, that's fine, but real men play in the dirt. And this bike will get you where you need to go and to those places where you wish you could go. Show less

I picked up a GS in February 2009 after trading in an RT. I was hit head on in March by a driver who was interested in texting more than driving. I suffered a minor concussion and the bike was totaled (you should have seen the car!). Thought I would try out a different brand. I lasted about two weeks on that bike before I realized what I had done. I sold that bike and went back to the R1200GS. It truly is the best in its class and better than bikes in most other classes. It is a jack of all trades, and depending on how you look at it, a master of quite a few. I got the new bike on April 30 and already have 5500 miles logged. I will log another 3K this week, heading up the coast and taking a few forest roads along the way. It is one of the most well-balanced bikes I have ever ridden. I can keep up with most sportbike riders on Palomar Mt. and the bike rips up the track (I didn't even have stickies on)! The bike seems to glide over gravel and sand alike. The suspension when off road has to be experienced to be believed. I teach a sportbike riders course on this bike and you should see the faces of all those squids when I demo the course with all cases on. I would shill for this company for no money. Wait, I AM shilling for no money! Great company and a truly amazing riding experience. Next stop: Baja and then Latin America. Show less

Great bike! Handles any type of riding conditions. Does anything it is asked to do. Show less

I bought the BMW R1200 GSA brand new on the 1st of March, 2008 after a lot of soul searching. I'd recently owned a Honda VFR 800 (pre-V-Tech) which is often reported to be the best bike ever made. It isn't - the R1200 GS Adventure is! It took me a few hundred miles to settle into the GSA - make no mistake - it's a very tall bike and it carries a lot of weight high up when fully loaded with luggage and a full tank. This weight soon disappears once you get moving but it can take you by surprise when you have to stop again. I initially removed all luggage, set the ESA on single rider comfort and made a point of never filling the tank above halfway (there's still more range than most other bikes on a full tank anyway) and this did the trick. Having covered a few miles I'm much more confident now. I'm delighted with the way the bike goes and handles. It's simply a pleasure to ride and although it may not be as fast as the VFR, I believe that I can travel faster on the GSA than I ever could on the VFR. I say this because the BMW just seems to handle anything I can throw at it and never seems ruffled. The high riding position gives a fantastic view of the road ahead while the screen does a great job of keeping the wind blast off. I recently rode 350 miles in one go and it was fabulously comfortable. The boxer engine is super-torquey and delivers a good punch from any revs. There is a bit of vibration at higher revs but it certainly isn't intrusive. I've even done a bit of gentle off-road riding on the dual purpose tires. My only negative is that it's a big, heavy bike to move around at very low speeds or around the garage but if you can live with that I don't think there's anything else in its league. Show less

This bike corners, cruises and tours like all the best of everything I've owned. The only thing I could find to be critical about is the 6th gear. My 1150 had what seemed to be an overdrive 6th gear. My new 1200 seems to be geared a little lower in 6th. Still if you can afford it, I believe this to be the best bike around. Show less

After hours of research, I decided that I wanted to seriously investigate the R 1200 GS Adventure. I have been a motorcyclist since 1974. I've had everything from a Gold Wing to a 250 KLR and many in between, but never had I walked into a showroom and was greeted by such a friendly staff and awesome display and atmosphere. I scrutinized the bikes available and had every question answered with honesty and. In addition, a couple of very knowledgeable BMW Club members were present, and they, too, took the time to point out features and functionality of the GS from their own experiences. With all this friendly expertise, I was even more impressed with the bike. The financing went extremely smoothly, and within a short amount of time, I was the owner of my very own, brand new red and black 2008 R 1200 GS Adventure! And the icing on the cake was the ride! It was unbelievable! Everything from freeway to off road. This was the most incredible machine I had ever ridden! It does it all! I even took my wife for a ride on several miles of dirt road, where with previous bikes, with her aboard, it was dicey at best. With this machine, it was like she was not even back there! Then, I took us out onto the highway, and even with crosswinds blowing at 34 mph, it was like the bike was glued to the road. BMW outdid themselves when they designed this bike. The computer system was a snap to work. I must admit that when I went into the dealership, I commented that I thought it was a little 'pricey'. Now, I've changed my mind! It's worth every penny! Show less