General topics » 1250RS v 1250GS Dilemma

A first world problem if ever there was one, but I would welcome any advice on this topic. The background to this is that I had ordered a 1250RS last December expecting delivery in March or April, but as most of you will know, the bike was delayed until September. Having had a test ride on the 1200RS a couple of years earlier I was fairly confident that the new version would be OK for me. For various reasons which I won't bore you with it was not economic or practical to hold on to my 1200GS for another summer riding season, so I cancelled the RS order and bought a 1250GS instead at a significantly higher cost despite the dealer being very helpful in trying to give me a good deal. At the time I complained to BMW about this and was given the assurance that they would make a fair assessment, if and when I decided to change to the RS once available, of what support they may be able to provide. They were not specific but I would hope that they would make a realistic contribution towards the cost to change.

With this in mind and having completed two trips this summer, to Spain and Italy, clocking up just over 5000 miles to date on the new GS, I am now exploring the possibility of changing to the new RS. I am also aware that if I am going to do this, with a possible no-deal Brexit looming and 10% tariffs on bike imports, then now is the time to do so. So far as my use of the bike goes, I am not much of a weekend scratcher, and although I'm a reasonably sedate rider in some respects, I am also very much into using the bike's performance for overtaking slower traffic wherever I find it. I also never go off road if I can help it so that part of the GS's capabilities is not essential to me! Overall I'm more into long European tours which involve a fair amount of motorway/autoroute travel to get to my touring destination, where my wife usually flies in to meet me rather than do the boring part of the trips on the bike, but once there it is planned around taking the scenic back roads and avoiding major routes.

Anyway, I took an RS demonstrator out today for an extended test ride, riding it solo for about an hour and with my wife as pillion for about half an hour. The first impression was that it was tiny compared to the GS, despite it being almost identical mechanically apart from the front end. For the first ten minutes or so I pretty much hated the RS. My legs felt too bent on the pegs, and every time I had to put my feet down my trousers snagged on the pegs as I lifted my feet back up to the relatively high pegs. I have the low chassis GS and can flat foot that with my legs straight and could flat foot the RS with legs bent even though I only have a 31 inch inside leg, so it did feel very manageable, and as I got used to the riding position I started to enjoy it. I was concerned about the forward lean, and although at the end of the ride I could feel that my wrists had been taking some weight, I think some bar risers or a set of R bars would make this pretty acceptable. Handling wise I found it felt nicer and a little more planted than my GS which I always think feels a little too light and twitchy at the front, especially at low speeds. As far as the suspension goes, I was surprised to find that the RS has a much harder and less comfortable ride than the GS, comparing both in ROAD mode. Although the RS soaks up small irregularities well, any bigger bumps in the road produce a jiggling and sometimes jarring ride, occasionally almost jolting me out of the seat. I was surprised by this and it is certainly not the magic carpet ride of the GS which transmits much less of this to the rider. The test bike had done less than 500 miles so maybe this would improve. I thought this might be a deal breaker for my wife, but it wasn't quite, although she certainly noticed it. I was also surprised at how much better the gearchange was than my GS. They are all supposed to be the same so this might just be a random variation rather than 1250RS specific, but the gears snicked in much more slickly on the RS than the GS which is more clunky, especially in the lower gears. However, one problem with the RS I tested was that neutral was extremely elusive and it would slip multiple times between 1st and 2nd and 2nd to 1st without ever landing on neutral. With the GS 1st to neutral almost always misses and goes into 2nd, but most times I get it on the first 2nd to 1st direction move.

My biggest problem with bikes is that I am over 6 ft, and my height is disproportionately in my upper body so I have real problems with bike screens being too low. This proved to be the case with the RS. In the high position the screen only reached mid-chest, and because it is closer to the rider than that on the GS there is no chance that the airflow would go over my head, so from about 40 mph it got very noisy and just got worse and worse as the speed increased, though there was no buffeting. To me this was essentially pretty much the same as riding a naked bike. I have fitted a larger screen to my GS, with a secondary Givi AirFlow screen attached to it and realise I have been spoilt by that as it has low noise levels at any speed and I can ride with my visor open at all times if I want.

Overall I really liked the bike and think I could adapt to the riding position, with a riser or bars from the R, and maybe adjustable footpegs, though a 300 mile day might disprove this theory which could be a bit of a problem on my fairly frequent long trips! I could also put up with the harder ride in return for the generally more enjoyable handling, but the screen issue is the biggest problem. What do you taller RS riders do about this, and any recommendations on after market solutions? I got back on my GS to come home from the dealer's and it immediately felt like riding a comfy armchair compared to the RS, so I recognise that the GS is not going to be beaten for overall comfort, but I'm still strongly attracted to the RS. Any opinions and suggestions welcome, especially from people who have owned both RS and GS.

Fred

There's no shame in riding a GS

Thanks - some good points to consider there, and to answer your question, the bike had ESA. You are right that I don't hate the GS, and have got it well adapted to my requirements, to the extent that I have fitted a lowered exhaust and alternative panniers, as well as the customised screen.

I'm not sure if any contribution from BMW (as compensation for having to cancel my original RS order) would still be forthcoming if I delayed a change until spring, but then I'm not convinced I would get anything from them anyway!

An interesting question. Forgetting the engine size, the bikes are relatively similar 1200 to 1250.

I've had my RS for over 3 years. I'm long bodied but short legged. I owned a 2004 1200GS for over 3 years.

I enjoyed the GS but for me the RS is many times more involving from a riding perspective. I rode a new demo 1250GS to get a feel for the engine difference between 1200 and 1250. I came away preferring the 1200 for the more visceral power delivery and saw the 1250 as smoother but not noticeably stronger.

The big thing that was reinforced for me was how much the GS perches you on a motorcycle relatively isolated from what's going on. Getting back onto the RS was a very welcome return. I also believe that, even at 65, with good posture and technique the RS is very comfortable whereas the GS typically places too much weight on your butt.

With all that said, I'm thinking of getting a GSA as my next bike. I am slowly realising that the draw of the Tonka Toy is more fashion than form perhaps.....

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #5

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An interesting question. Forgetting the engine size, the bikes are relatively similar 1200 to 1250.

I've had my RS for over 3 years. I'm long bodied but short legged. I owned a 2004 1200GS for over 3 years.

I enjoyed the GS but for me the RS is many times more involving from a riding perspective. I rode a new demo 1250GS to get a feel for the engine difference between 1200 and 1250. I came away preferring the 1200 for the more visceral power delivery and saw the 1250 as smoother but not noticeably stronger.

The big thing that was reinforced for me was how much the GS perches you on a motorcycle relatively isolated from what's going on. Getting back onto the RS was a very welcome return. I also believe that, even at 65, with good posture and technique the RS is very comfortable whereas the GS typically places too much weight on your butt.

With all that said, I'm thinking of getting a GSA as my next bike. I am slowly realising that the draw of the Tonka Toy is more fashion than form perhaps.....

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Fred, speaking to the potential back and numb hands. I think you'll find a decent compromise with Heli bar risers. They move the bars up and back, alleviating some of the pressure off of your wrists and maybe giving your back a more forgiving angle while riding. I have them on my '16 RS and they actually give the steering a lighter feel, which is enjoyable on the open road and the twisties

Good review of the RS...thanks.

I had a similar problem with a December order for a R1250RS for April delivery for which I'd traded in my old R1200RS. The dealer in January offered to return my old bike and compensate me CHF500. I told them I was happy with the delivery date provided by BMW's order system and that absent an agreeable solution come May they would be in breach of contract and then things would get messy. Long story short after getting BMW Schweiz involved I got a brand new R1200RS as a seasonal rental for CHF600 (which they haven't charged yet) for which I cover operating costs and agreed that if the R1250RS arrives too late the dealer will hold it for first registration in 2020.

Last week learnt my new bike is dealer's first delivery, available to me 1st week October and I've said I'll take collection next March earliest. Yesterday they called offering next week near identical fully loaded model absent alarm system which I assume was destined to be their demonstrator. Decisions, decisions!

Zitat von fred_jb im Beitrag #6

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Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #5

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An interesting question. Forgetting the engine size, the bikes are relatively similar 1200 to 1250.

I've had my RS for over 3 years. I'm long bodied but short legged. I owned a 2004 1200GS for over 3 years.

I enjoyed the GS but for me the RS is many times more involving from a riding perspective. I rode a new demo 1250GS to get a feel for the engine difference between 1200 and 1250. I came away preferring the 1200 for the more visceral power delivery and saw the 1250 as smoother but not noticeably stronger.

The big thing that was reinforced for me was how much the GS perches you on a motorcycle relatively isolated from what's going on. Getting back onto the RS was a very welcome return. I also believe that, even at 65, with good posture and technique the RS is very comfortable whereas the GS typically places too much weight on your butt.

With all that said, I'm thinking of getting a GSA as my next bike. I am slowly realising that the draw of the Tonka Toy is more fashion than form perhaps.....

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I think you've hit the nail on the head with a the comment that the RS is a more involving ride. That is what I am looking for, after two years on an R1200GS and the last six months on an R1250GS, which I have enjoyed, but as I said, is like piloting my favourite armchair. I am coming up to 65 in a few weeks time, and my only concern about the RS is whether I'm up to the increased physicality of riding that style of bike. I'm reasonably fit and not overweight, but I do have some old back problems which flare up from time to time, and also a tendency to get numb hands if my shoulders get too hunched up, which usually only happens in stressful riding situations.

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Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #10

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I've written an article on, amongst other things, posture for my local IAM Group. If you think it might be of use I can email you a copy.

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Zitat von sodapop im Beitrag #11

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Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #10

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I've written an article on, amongst other things, posture for my local IAM Group. If you think it might be of use I can email you a copy.

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I'd love to read that. Would you be able to post it on this forum?

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Speaking of the R1250RS: I stopped by my BMW dealer today and asked when they would be getting one. He said that he had no idea if they were ever going to get an RS. However, he also mentioned that they were almost impossible to sell over the past three years, other than the Lupin Blue model, so no R or RS might be a self-fulling prophesy. He said that he had one on the showroom floor for almost a year before someone bought it. However, the GS and RT models go flying out the door as fast as they can get them in.

FWIW I stopped by my BMW dealer, the only small dealer in a rural state, and asked about the RS. He said he passed on the initial order which mandated 2 be taken demanding payment as the RS is a slow seller and it is fall (snow mobile time not motorcycle). He seemed to indicate opportunity for the next RS in the manufacturing queue would be late winter or early spring.

Hi VTBob
Long time since we exchanged posts.
Today I paid a deposit on a new Blue "Exclusive" with all the bells and whistles except the alarm.
My Lupin has been written off by the insurance company. Given a choice I would not have traded up, but I had no choice.
In all of Oz there were only 6 RSs for sale 2nd hand. None in Victoria.
The 1250 is costing an arm & a leg change over. Quite appropriate since I fractured my left ankle and fractured (displaced) my left collarbone.
From what I see, the changes are as follows (pure guess based on on-line info and visual inspection)
Colour - blue us best of bad bunch.
Headlights-good improvement.
DRL - may be even more visible
Dash - Great improvement, colour, size, wonder wheel integration, phone integration, Garmin integration.
ABS - for the RS they are still Brembos and have cornering ABS, hill start control and dynamic brake light
OBD-II Port - full 16 pin, not the 10 pin
Front frame - the lugs for the crash bars seem to have changed and gives a bit more room for recounting my dual FIAMM horns
Rear mudguard- the Aussie mudguard is gone. The thing will spray muck. There is a new small deflector on the rear spring unit.
One handlebar button is re-labeled as "Menu" but does the same type of work on the display, otherwise buttons are unchanged.
My gripes on the 1200 were the horns (same fix required), headlights (solved), display (solved)
All other 1200 fixes still work for USB port, garage door opener, Vortex GPS relocation, helmet lock and Muddling.
New Xheads are on order. By the time it gets here I will be able to swing the spanner and get it sorted.
Oh, AND 11 more horsepower. I couldn't use 125, 136 isn't any real world improvement in the Police State, Robocop world of Victoria Australia.