1250 GSA

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Umming and aaahing about a potential change from my 1200 TC.
This will likely be my last purchase of a big bike so I want to make sure I get it as right as possible.
I know the 1250 has been around for a wee while now and conventional wisdom says never buy an early one so I wondered whether people's experience of the early 1250s bore this out and if there would be any benefit to me in paying a little bit more for a later version?

As always thanx in advance for any help/advice comrades.

 

[Mr Bean]

Umming and aaahing about a potential change from my 1200 TC.
This will likely be my last purchase of a big bike so I want to make sure I get it as right as possible.
I know the 1250 has been around for a wee while now and conventional wisdom says never buy an early one so I wondered whether people's experience of the early 1250s bore this out and if there would be any benefit to me in paying a little bit more for a later version?

As always thanx in advance for any help/advice comrades.

Mine's a GS, not the A. It was built in September 2018 and registered as a demo February 2019. I bought it two years ago with 2 or 3k miles. It's now on 14k and the only issues were it needed a software update and was a bit sluggish turning over at the beginning of winter and would throw up error codes. I put a new Yuasa battery on and it cured the issue.

I'd have no qualms of buying another, but others experiences may be different.

 

[stever1]

I bought a new 1250GS in March 2019. It broke down in Austria in late May 2019. Back up in Europe is patchy at best. They are great designs of bikes but the quality is dropping all the time. Won’t be buying another. I’m on a Honda now.

 

[Baked Bean]

It's always a risk getting the early models especially when it's a big change in design. I've been an early adopter a few times over the last 40 years and never had any bother and i'm one for keeping them quite a few years. I've had mine since November 2018 done 17000 miles and it's been faultless. I won't be changing any time soon.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

IIRC some of the early ones had issues with the shift cam but that should have been fixed under warranty by now if it was one of the affected bikes

Many are plagued with dodgy batteries but that is even the late models and same goes for the exhaust flap thing

 

[Smartbazza]

For the flip side bought a new 1250gsa this year. Done 7000 miles so far - faultless.

Came from ATAS and was concerned about BMW build quality. It still looks fresh.

Barry

 

[RichardD]

Mine is June 2019. It’s now covered 22,000 miles.

I’ve had the headers replaced (the flap issue), the final drive replaced (tiny surface corrosion) and I replaced the battery due to occasional sluggish starting.

So, other than farkles and the battery, the only other costs have been routine services and tyres.

 

[Alan R]

Another point of view.
I changed from a twincam r1200gs to an LC r1200gsa. I found the GSA euro 4 engine had a noticeable power flat spot at about 4500rpm. It was also much more unwieldy and harder to chuck about on UK back roads and European mountain passes. I think this was due to the different length suspension travel rather than the greater weight of fuel that the bike carried. It became tiresome and was noticeable on every ride. I swapped it for a r1250gs and was immediately struck by the better handling and linear power delivery of the engine.
I bought the GSA because I liked the idea of the greater fuel range and the non vario panniers: the fuel range is really moot as I tour with mates who have GS’s and have to stop when they do so there is no advantage. I retained the panniers when I sold the bike and retrofitted the associated racking to my new 1250.
I think that I’ve now got the best set up for me and don’t regret buying the 1250.
Alan R

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Thank you all for your input. I think I've decided to stick with the 1200 for the time being thought that decision could change again 20 times in the next week or so

 

[vRSG60]

It's always a risk getting the early models especially when it's a big change in design. I've been an early adopter a few times over the last 40 years and never had any bother and i'm one for keeping them quite a few years. I've had mine since November 2018 done 17000 miles and it's been faultless. I won't be changing any time soon.

Big change in design? It looks practically identical to the outgoing R1200 bar the engine, 2 panels and software changes to me.

 

[Baked Bean]

I would say it was a pretty big change to the engine. No?

 

[Myke Rocks]

I would say it was a pretty big change to the engine. No?

Yes and no. Then major change was actually the camchain from roller to inverted tooth. In addition to stopping potential rear wheel lockups if the chain broke, it turned the engine from a bucket of bolts into a sewing machine.