Just spent an hour test riding the GS1250. That is one awesome motorcycle and a fine machine :). Surprisingly the bike didn’t feel heavier than my Wee (Suzuki Vstrom 650, 2014), and it even felt more agile and not less maneuverable, even in traffic. Could be due to the low center of gravity and the low flat twin boxer.
You can imagine the engine, that’s quite an impressive powerplant, very smooth, pulls like a train, any gear, any rpm. Only slight vibrations at idle (not the annoying type), that disappear the moment you’re on the move. You can chose between four or so riding engine maps: Rain, Off Road, Road, Road Dynamic. I stayed with the Road mode. Throttle response at takeoff is something to get used to, as the bike tends to take off slightly faster than what you wanted it to do (COmputer raises RPM when you slightly engage the clutch), but I guess that’s part of learning the bike, not a downside.
The bike came equipped with a quick shifter which most of the times I did not use, but it did work great going up the gears and it does make the bike faster (it eliminates the need to close the throttle while shifting). Gear shifting is good, with short pedal travel. Not the clunky gear you’ve might expect from a big engine with a driveshaft. Clutch pull is butter easy and clutch engagement is more progressive than the Vstrom 1000 for example. Works great.
Front brake is excellent, with good feel and bite. I really like how the Telelever cancels diving while braking. No matter how hard you brake, the front doesn’t dive and the weight distribution of the bike is not disturbed. It’s an added active safety and contributes to a more comfortable ride.
The GS is a big comfortable bike, although the seat could be better. I’m about 90+ kg and 1.80 tall, and I felt at home on the GS. The wind protection was adequate , with the wind screen in its highest position. I did not feel any unusual buffeting, even at high speeds.
The GS comes with all the goodies you might expect from a premium motorcycle, such as a keyless start, keyless oil cap, heated grips, LCD screen. The drive shaft, in my personal opinion, saves the chain and sprockets fuss. The drive shaft is felt, hard to explain how, not in a positive or negative way, but just in general.
To sum, compared to my Wee and the last couple of bikes I tested (the KTM 1090 and the 2018 Vstrom 1000), It’s a great motorcycle, very capable and comfortable. This bike got to me for various reasons, first I like the drive shaft. Second, I like to maintain my bikes by my self, most of the time, and the flat twin should make the valve adjustment an easier task. Third, the engine is an engineering pearl, BMW engineers built a very powerful and pleasant engine fitted in a well balanced package. It was one of the easiest motorcycles to ride, all the more so, being that big (in CC and Weight).
What about my Suzuki Wee? I was happy to return to him, and I even enjoyed the ride back. I think that the Vstrom 650 can give you a lot of motorcycle, certainly in everyday usual riding situations. That being said, I could not ignore the GS added abilities, that make me seriously consider the GS as my next bike.
Update: as expected after the test ride, I decided to buy a slightly used R1200, 2017. Best choice I could do, and after riding it for 65,000 KM, I can say that now I understand why it’s the most popular and sought after BMW motorcycle. What is the most appealing characteristic of the GS boxer in one word? Balanced. It is one of the most balanced motorcycle I’ve ever ridden, in every aspect: ergonomics, engine response, maneuvering, handling.
