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Five reasons why the BMW R 1250 GS should be your next bike and five reasons why it shouldn’t

Even the greatest adventure bike in the world needs a little critique, especially if you’re going to put down the money to buy it.

Earl Lee Earl Lee on Aug 11, 2022
BMW R 1250 GS

It’s the greatest adventure bike in the world for many riders, and for good reason. BMW Motorrad engineered the heck out of this bike to the point where experienced riders put their full trust in it whenever they ride it hard. To others, it’s too engineered, but that’s just a sign of its greatness. There’s a lot going on in a GS, so much so that its looks have been molded around all the tech. 

It’s either you love it or you hate it with the GS, and its functional looks are adored by many and scoffed at by others, but it still is reputed by many as the greatest among all adventurers in the world. However, there are two sides to every coin and the BMW R 1250 GS may be close to perfection on the engineering front, but is it perfect for you? Here are five reasons why it could be your next bike, and five others that you have to think about. 

Pro: The size and road presence

BMW R 1250 GS Riding

If you want to be seen on the road while on a two-wheeler, there is no other bike that’ll get that job done better than the tall and wide GS. Piloting the bike is quite literally a massive undertaking, and you have no choice but to be seen. On the road, you stick out like a sore thumb in a sea of small bikes and cars. The good thing about this is that you don’t often have to contest cars and other bikes for space when in traffic or on the highway since you’ll definitely be noticed. 

Even if you get the Triple Black variant, it’s still a huge bike that refuses to go unnoticed by car drivers and other motorists on the road. Even while parked, it commands attention and it could also be the subject of a few photos from passersby. People ask about the bike, ask you where your adventure led you, and plenty more ask you to rev it up and let its exhaust sing, but more on that later. 

Con: The size and road presence (and the weight)

BMW R 1250 GS Front

As Sir Isaac Newton once put it, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and the statement rings true for the GS. In the first pro, we mentioned that the road presence is something to aspire to and like about the bike, but not all riders crave that. Sure, you might get noticed, but perhaps you're an individual who’s a little more introverted and likes to keep to yourself. In that case, perhaps the GS might command a little too much attention, especially if you are to be associated with “wang-wang” riders, or called “mayabang.” We get that the GS is a powerful status symbol, but if you’re a more low-key rider, you have to accept that the perception comes with the territory. 

In a more practical sense, however, the GS is a huge bike, and it can be very tiring to bring out. While moving, it can be as light as a feather, but when going slow or parking the gargantuan machine, it’s quite a handful. Personally, I had a difficult time pushing the bike into its parking slot or reversing it out of its parking space. Lord knows that it’ll also be a monumental task to pick it up if ever it drops. At 249 kilograms or over 500 pounds, picking up this bike required special training, and if you’d like to receive some of that training, click the link below to find out what’s in store for you. 

Related:
BMW Motorrad Rider Training Program—Course details and information
BMW R 1250 GS Seat Height Adjuster
BMW R 1250 GS Seat Height Adjuster (High)
BMW R 1250 GS Seat Height Adjuster (Low)

However, BMW Motorrad wants more people on a GS, and they have a special lowering kit available for smaller riders to install and use. With this kit, the GS becomes very approachable with only the weight and size being the main point of concern. Though, if you’re not willing to shell out the optional extra, the GS comes with a special mechanism that will allow you to lower the seat by a few millimeters, simply take the seat off then flip the plate underneath for a more accessible seat height. 

Pro: The power of power

BMW R 1250 GS Rear Wheel

The GS’ powerful presence should be matched by a powerful engine, and it doesn’t disappoint. With 136 horsepower, it’s not a firebreathing inline-four, but it’s definitely enough to get the job done and then some. All of that power is paired to a torque figure that is actually greater, at 143 Nm, so proceed with caution whenever you whack the throttle open.

BMW R 1250 GS Side

Truth be told, the GS may be a heavy bike, but the 1254cc boxer twin makes mincemeat out of any highway or dirt track that you roll through. Torque is available almost anywhere throughout the powerband, and the bike can do 150 kilometers per hour before you know it. In fact, it holds highway speeds so steadily that you won’t even feel like you’re going fast at all. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the bike has enough power, torque, and presence to get you into a load of trouble. Think of it this way, at 80 kilometers per hour, the bike has enough power to lift its front wheel in the air if you’re not careful, and it is enough to make the traction control go haywire unless you turn it off. Also, going at that speed and with that much throttle will surely get you a speeding ticket, which leads us to our next con. 

Con: Too much power and capability?

What makes the GS great is also what makes it a potential hooligan machine. The GS can be a canyon carver, dirt ripper, or a unicycle if you want it to be. It’s almost telepathic how the bike just does pretty much anything you throw at it. That much capability is enough to get you into trouble with the authorities. 

Yep, you also read right, the GS can also corner. If you want proof then look no further than Jinno’s review of it on YouTube with our legendary coach, Toto Villanueva. Not only did coach prove to us that the GS can be a capable cornering machine, but he also did it while on dirt-focused adventure tires. We will admit that this section is more of a soft con and more of a word of warning, but trust us when we say that capability has its consequences, so ride responsibly because the GS is one capable bike. 

Pro: All roads are smooth with the GS

BMW R 1250 GS

No roads are rough on the BMW R 1250 GS, and it is all thanks to adaptive dampers and the magic that is the Telelever front forks. ZF provides adaptive dampers which can be electronically controlled to glide over bumps and potholes or give you feedback when you’re cornering hard on the bike. Everything is also electronically controlled and you can also set your sag without having to bust out a set of wrenches because the bike can easily set that for you. In case you need to take a pillion, the suspension will adjust, then once your passenger steps off the bike will go back to its normal settings. On top of that, you can also tune it for comfort or for sportier riding by pressing a single button, no clicks or spanners are required. 

The front suspension of the GS is a marvel of engineering. Lesser bikes will only come with two fork tubes, but the R 1250 GS comes with two tubes and an extra Coilover in the front. This setup allows the bike to have almost no brake dive and it also lets the front stay planted and controlled. Many riders swear by this system and enjoy it on the highway or on the dirt. It takes a rather skilled rider to also take this suspension setup to its limits, so there is also a high skill ceiling for you before you max out its potential. 

Con: Not enough feedback

BMW R 1250 GS Handlebars

While some riders appreciate the buttery smoothness of the GS, others might lament that the bike doesn’t give enough feedback through the handlebars. Because the front fork and the entire suspension system are highly engineered, the bike has a tendency to feel numb in the corners and make some riders feel uneasy while leaning over. That being said, you really have to trust the bike and that it can take what you are throwing at it. 

Still, it takes some getting used to and there are plenty of riders that believe a lot in the GS’ capability. However, it is a little offputting at first especially if you’re used to the raw and unfiltered feedback from sportbikes with more conventionally setup suspension systems. 

Pro: Confidence-inspiring electronics package

BMW R 1250 GS Gauge Cluster

In order to tame that torque monster of a 1254cc boxer, BMW makes sure that the GS comes with all the bells and whistles to keep the bike rubber-side-down. The GS comes with a fully-loaded electronics package that doesn’t leave you wanting. From the aforementioned electronically-controlled suspension all the way to the advanced traction control system, and finally the Dynamic and Dynamic Pro ride modes that even allow you to switch off ABS, you’re fully equipped for any corner, wet road, or trail you may encounter on your adventure. On top of that, the adaptive headlights are more than enough to get you through the night. Sure, there are still some GS owners that slap on a few extra lights on the bike, however, trust us when we say that the headlights are enough to get the job done at night. 

BMW R 1250 GS Headlight

In order to tame that torque monster of a 1254cc boxer, BMW makes sure that the GS comes with all the bells and whistles to keep the bike rubber-side-down. The GS comes with a fully-loaded electronics package that doesn’t leave you wanting. From the aforementioned electronically-controlled suspension all the way to the advanced traction control system, and finally the Dynamic and Dynamic Pro ride modes that even allow you to switch off ABS, you’re fully equipped for any corner, wet road, or trail you may encounter on your adventure. On top of that, the adaptive headlights are more than enough to get you through the night. Sure, there are still some GS owners that slap on a few extra lights on the bike, however, trust us when we say that the headlights are enough to get the job done at night. 

Con: Maybe a little too many features?

BMW R 1250 GS Gauge Cluster

Let’s backtrack a bit with regard to the electronics package in the GS, “it’s a lot to take in.” Some riders prefer simplicity and want the tech to disappear in the background. Others love the idea of the tech being there when you need it. Objectively speaking, however, we feel that there are missed opportunities and some ceremonies that you have to undergo if you want to get the most out of the GS. 

For starters, in order to get to your fuel gauge after checking your range, you have to cycle through the whole spectrum of information from the trip computer before you get to the gauge. Even then, you can’t display your gauge and your range side-by-side. Following that, the traction control can get a little too overprotective of you and there’s a chance that the bike’s traction control can tell you to chill the heck out. If you inadvertently whack the throttle, the traction control doesn’t progressively let you break traction, but it stops the operation immediately unless you’re in dynamic pro. The added complexity of having to put it in a ride mode may be a sore spot for some, again, “it’s there when you need it.” 

Pro: Luxury Bike

BMW R 1250 GS Tank
BMW R 1250 GS Seat
BMW R 1250 GS Badge

There’s a reason why riders who saddle up on a GS are more advanced in years. Sure you have a few young guns behind the bars of this bike, but that’s a sight that is few and far between. Simply put, it’s one of the most luxurious tourers you will swing a leg over. You could even say that it puts other tourers to shame because of how good it feels to ride. It may not look super glamorous, but everything on it is functional and that’s what many have come to love about it. 

That being said, you do feel extremely spoiled on the GS. The seat’s cushy, if your hands get cold there are heated grips, power is always there when you need it, it’s nimbler than you’d expect while rolling, the windshield is exceptionally functional, the engine is surprisingly smooth, and the badge is a status symbol. If there was one phrase that we’d use to describe the GS, it’d be “functional luxury.” 

Con: Luxury comes at a price

BMW R 1250 GS Rear Riding

Unfortunately, you’d have to be very fortunate in order to afford a BMW R 1250 GS of your own. The starting price for a standard GS is set at P1,575,000 which is a big ask for a motorcycle, and that’s not even considering the R 1250 GS-Adventure which starts at P1,725,000. 

It’s no wonder that the GS is regarded as an end-game bike. Riders who’ve gone through a few motorcycles eventually or at some point get to own or try out a GS. Think about it this way, the BMW GS is the bike that you get when you just want absolute perfection. If you notice, the cons on this list weren’t totally cons, in fact, we struggled a little bit to find flaws in BMW’s most beloved adventure-tourer. If you want a highly-engineered motorcycle, and want nothing short of BMW’s brand of perfection, then be prepared to pay for it. Even we find it hard to grasp the concept of breaking the news to your family that you bought a motorcycle that's worth over P1,500,000, but even then, it's probably worth it. 

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