Is the GS1250 the reason?

Sierra1

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I don't have blind brand loyalty. If I keep buying a certain brand, of anything, that brand has proven itself to me. Sometimes my favorite brands are more expensive than the competitors. Sometimes I get lucky, and my favorite is the least expensive. I won't support a brand that leaves a bad taste in my mouth . . . . literally or figuratively.

Some of those new BMW motorcycles are boing to be "M" versions. And I'm sure, just like their four wheel "M" versions, the cost will be significantly higher, but the reliability will remain the same.
 

Donk

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In 2014 I bought an S10 over a GS because sitting on the S10 felt better for me. Did not regret the decision. The S10 was a good bike I enjoyed it but in all honesty the BMW handled better and had more power. Most people bashing BMW have no first hand experience with them. Now I ride Orange and I constantly hear stories about how bad they are. Again from people who have no first hand experience. I have had no issues with my KTMs and it has been a very positive experience. Most bikes today are pretty good. Pick the one you like, that suits you and your budget and enjoy it.
 

Sierra1

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'04 R1150RT-P, Seven years and 60k+ miles. Loved it . . . . and then hated it. But you're right, if a person is going to talk shit about anything . . . . it had better be from personal experience(s).
 

Purificator81

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In 2014 I bought an S10 over a GS because sitting on the S10 felt better for me. Did not regret the decision. The S10 was a good bike I enjoyed it but in all honesty the BMW handled better and had more power. Most people bashing BMW have no first hand experience with them. Now I ride Orange and I constantly hear stories about how bad they are. Again from people who have no first hand experience. I have had no issues with my KTMs and it has been a very positive experience. Most bikes today are pretty good. Pick the one you like, that suits you and your budget and enjoy it.
I see your point but I beg to differ. Most of the comments in this threat had indicated some sort of first experience...and the other feedback I got is from my trusted mechanic who works on BMW as well as as the other brands for almost 20 years...he has not touched the 2020 and afterwards as they are still under warranty...

In any case, my perspective so far is that GS is a better bike in terms of ergo, technology and features...but I am a simple guy or old school or purist as some may say....and as many things in life that we can afford and yet we don't because we have some sort of priorities or perspectives...the GS would fall under this category if the expected test drive is unconslusive
 

Boris

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In 2014 I bought an S10 over a GS because sitting on the S10 felt better for me. Did not regret the decision. The S10 was a good bike I enjoyed it but in all honesty the BMW handled better and had more power. Most people bashing BMW have no first hand experience with them. Now I ride Orange and I constantly hear stories about how bad they are. Again from people who have no first hand experience. I have had no issues with my KTMs and it has been a very positive experience. Most bikes today are pretty good. Pick the one you like, that suits you and your budget and enjoy it.
I hear you! I always find it a little odd how so many that have no interest in BMW (GS) or KTM, actually have so much interest, almost obsessive at times.
 

Strummer

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If you try the bike well, you will like it....
It is like ours but, and this is just my opinion, more sophisticated...
Do you need all this things?
The answer is known by you.
 

MileageMonster

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Rode the Bavarian things professionally. Many issues there. Some bikes were ok with few malfunctions. Many others had evil ghosts in them. kept going back to the workshop with electronic hickups or other troubles.
If you want one, take the gamble and hope for an ok one.
Otherwise have a big wallet that keeps the dealer smiling at you everytime you need to get the bike fixed.
Not for me, not to own one. I stick to Japanese bikes. Had both Honda, Transalp, CBF600A, ST1300 and Yamaha, XT500, XT600, XT660 and now XT1200 Super Ténéré and that one is here to stay.
Think I deserve the right to compare after more than 40 yrs Riding experience.
 
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Purificator81

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I hear you! I always find it a little odd how so many that have no interest in BMW (GS) or KTM, actually have so much interest, almost obsessive at times.
Not obsessive but driven by the general hype about it...I would say curiosity...imagine driving your S10 ans suddenly you stumble upon a huge crowd sitting around a GS (or KTM since you mentioned) and you wanna just know what is going on...in my case, I stopped to see and think....that's it...
 

Purificator81

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If you try the bike well, you will like it....
It is like ours but, and this is just my opinion, more sophisticated...
Do you need all this things?
The answer is known by you.
That is the whole point of my threat...I feel I don't need any of them but I am compelled to try and see....sometimes we may become boxed in a choice we made several years ago...it does not harm to get out and try...eventually we end up getting back to where we were at...
 

Strummer

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That is the whole point of my threat...I feel I don't need any of them but I am compelled to try and see....sometimes we may become boxed in a choice we made several years ago...it does not harm to get out and try...eventually we end up getting back to where we were at...
My brother in law bought a brand new 2020 BMW r 1250 r, it has the same engine of the GS 1250.
He bought it ( against my advice) full optional because they gave him a " very good deal ".
He has had a 2001 Ducati Monster S4r with nothing at all ( not sure about abs...).
He has so many optional on the bike that he doesn't know about reason why I make fun of him all the time...
The bike is as old as my S 10, I do have some thousands miles more but his bike has been trouble free until now..
And here in Italy so far his two dealers services has been cheaper than my Yamaha...
I am happy with the S10, for me it has all I needed but luckily not everyone is as ugly as me :)...
 

fac191

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I took a test ride on the GS 1250 after riding the GS 850. Hated the 850, but when I got back on the 1250 I told the sales guy, "okay, I get it now." What a fantastic feeling bike. Highly impressed.

I was somewhat reluctant getting my KTM because I really liked that 1250. The $8k price difference is what swayed me to the orange side. The rest, as they say, is history. :cool:
8k !
 

Dirt_Dad

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I did get a hell of a deal. There were still 4 more on the floor with the same price. I'll admit I'm slightly stunned these bikes sit on the floor so long in North America. People just don't understand what they are missing. Good for me when I choose to upgrade. Guess I should be helping keep it a secret.
 

Purificator81

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..... I'll admit I'm slightly stunned these bikes sit on the floor so long in North America. People just don't understand what they are missing. Good for me when I choose to upgrade. Guess I should be helping keep it a secret.
I guess we said the same thing on the S10...at least then ;-)
 

WJBertrand

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I see your point but I beg to differ. Most of the comments in this threat had indicated some sort of first experience...and the other feedback I got is from my trusted mechanic who works on BMW as well as as the other brands for almost 20 years...he has not touched the 2020 and afterwards as they are still under warranty...

In any case, my perspective so far is that GS is a better bike in terms of ergo, technology and features...but I am a simple guy or old school or purist as some may say....and as many things in life that we can afford and yet we don't because we have some sort of priorities or perspectives...the GS would fall under this category if the expected test drive is unconslusive
No substitute for first hand experience but there is a lot to be learned through observation and research. An advantage of this over first hand is that more than one single motorcycle is considered. The motorcycle reliability study seems to match my observations gleaned from friends and other research.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Bmwdumptruck

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I’ve owned 5 BMWs over the last twenty years. With various Hondas, Yamahas and one Suzuki in between.
My first was an R1100RS bought from a dealer with a years warranty. The test ride showed it was running roughly which I mentioned when agreeing the deal. They begrudgingly replaced the aged tyres, but failed to replace the just as aged valves, leaving me a slow leak that needed fixing the day we left for europe! They also failed to fettle the engine. A mate improved it while we were away. 11 1/2 months later while back in europe both head gaskets failed. They replaced them under warranty, but I’d had enough of it by then and sold it and got my first Blackbird.
A few years later I fancied a GS having wanted one when I bought the RS. The same dealer had a reasonably priced 2000 R1150GS which I bought. Again it ran rough, again they said they‘d service it, again they didn’t saying it had only done 2000mile since it last had one. When I pointed out that that was 2 1/2 years earlier they very begrudgingly agreed to have it back and do it. That day they lent me an R850R, which was a right hoot. They also managed to fit a brake pad in back to front. So back it went again for a new disc and pads. They also rebuilt the gearbox and replaced the contaminated clutch under warranty, as I’d noticed oil seeping from between engine and gearbox by then too. I didn’t keep it a year, deciding I preferred the Bird still.
A few years later a mate told me of his work colleagues R850GS that was for sale. It was only round the corner. He was keen to sell, needing money quickly for a car purchase, so I got it for trade money. If the dealer hadn’t lent me that R years earlier I probably wouldn’t have bothered.
Another few years on and another mate that had had an identical 2000 R1150GS to my first one, but from new, was upgrading to the last of the oil cooled twin cam models. I just couldn’t refuse his offer of having it for the trade price the dealer offered him. Unfortunately knowing it had been well looked after from new didn’t stop the input shaft shearing within months of buying. A year of procrastinating and by chance I found a local guy breaking a bike and bought his gearbox. Once fixed I decided to cut my losses and sold it on.
Jump forward another few years and my good friend with the new twin cam died. His wife pretty much insisted I had the twin cam as he’d always felt guilty when the gearbox went on the 1150, even though I’d said all along that it was just one of those things. I bought the TC for a decent price that was fair. This thing was fully loaded, every gadget of the day. I loved the ride, but with no warranty always feared the waiting failures, and the dealer that wanted £750 for a service. I also had my first ever off when a twat decided I wasn’t allowed to pass him and he rammed me off the road. The bike survived with minimal repairs needed, but once fixed I sold that one too. The wife wasn’t happy on it either, although she wouldn’t admit it until after it had gone, I knew.
So, I’m left with the only one thats been utterly brilliant the whole time I’ve owned it since back in 09. The R850GS, bought from the Lad round the corner, for under £2000, from which I’d also sold the factory luggage for about £400, preferring to use the givi boxes from the Bird. It’s needed nothing but basic servicing, hasn’t seen a dealer during my ownership, and has nothing much to go wrong. And I love it.
The S10 will never replace it, but it is the bike the 1150’s and the twin cam should have been. As various mates have moved onto ever newer and more complicated BMWs, I’ve seen them increasingly have more and more failures, and it’s nearly always the extra techy stuff. Starting with Brake servo failures. ESA shocks failing. Keyless fuel caps failing locked closed. Bluetooth connectivity refusing to connect. Exhaust valves seizing in the downpipes. Buckled wheels. The list goes on and these aren’t one offs, most have been repeated failures on different bikes and sometimes the same bike. I certainly don’t need to own one of the new ones to know whats going on with them.
This BMW bashing isn’t just us miserable old feckers creating, most of us have experience or first hand knowledge(mates bikes) of whats really happening with the newer models. If it wasn’t for the vast majority of issues being sorted under warranty they’d have long since gone under. I ride with guys that love them, they strut their stuff with the bike as their latest and brightest plummage, boasting about the latest features or how long before they get the next with it’s new upgrades, as if that’s all that really matters. . As I said before, it does rather leave you out of the conversations a bit.
 
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Purificator81

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There are two additional aspects that I retained so far:

1- we do value reliability a lot which is common sense as who likes to see his bike needing to got to the dealer regularly or randomly in an imptedictable manner? Yet the question is how much balance we need to strike between reliability and enjoyment...many of us indicated that the S10 was a bit boring...but at which point of time do we say this is too boring to ever value its reliability?

2- if I were to give the R1200GS its fair share, I can take out of attitude of the dealers and some owners and look at the bike itself...is there something terrifying beside reliability? I don't think so...is the reliability issue exaggerated? except if we are still referring to really old models, there should be an assumption of improvement...
 

Gerard

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There is a point where features become gratuitous and a waste of money.. most of the BMW riders I know do not use the majority of the features available. if it is not used why pay for it?

they sure are sexy looking though…for now
A couple of mates ride the 1250 and when i ask how the different riding modes are affecting the suspension, traction, ABS and like they haven't got clue what is happening. My motto is keep it simple, know your bike and learn how to set it up yourself.
 

Gerard

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I rented a 1200 GS back in 2017 or 2018 for a 24 hour period.

I did the same for my first adventure ride for 7 days. I was riding a FJR 1300 at the time and thinking while riding home from the rental place with the GS that this is going to be the longest week of my live. Absolutely hated it. Kept banging my shins on the throttle bodies, noisy, clunky like an old tractor and just as slow. But started to quite like after a week , probably a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome.
And i don't think i have ever enjoyed a bike as much as my FJR when i got back on after that week. Still, got the taste for adventure riding and bought my ST 6 months later
 

Purificator81

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A couple of mates ride the 1250 and when i ask how the different riding modes are affecting the suspension, traction, ABS and like they haven't got clue what is happening. My motto is keep it simple, know your bike and learn how to set it up yourself.
Absolutely
 

Dirt_Dad

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There are two additional aspects that I retained so far:

1- we do value reliability a lot
Which was the biggest factor for me to consider leaving my S10 behind and going to the KTM. I'm pleased to find i no longer have to concern myself with that question. Now it only a question of what is the most enjoyable.
 
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