Newer ain't better.....

[Ross63]

I sold my 2004 R1200GS a few months ago and "upgraded" to a 2020 R1250GS Adventure Rallye TE. The 1250 is quicker but the old K25 is just a better bike in every respect as far as I'm concerned.

I'm very happy to have got rid of the 1250 and I've picked up a late 2013 90th Anniversary R1200GS Adventure. I've fondly named her "Big Annie". The twin-cam K25 was the only GS I hadn't owned so I've completed the set. This one will be staying with me for a long time. Just had valve clearances, rear diff rebuilt, an eye wateringly expensive new alternator, new tyres, and a good service. I'll work on the cosmetics, but riding her 80 miles home, the bike felt brilliant. Glad to be back on the last of the good GSs.

 

[Headtester]

That looks very tidy!

 

[littleade]

No point in sticking with a bike you're not gelling with so enjoy the swap

 

[Ross63]

That looks very tidy!

It's got some battle scars, but it'll be very tidy indeed after the winter.

 

[Santa-2512]

I did the same K25 - K50 - K25 TC

 

[botus]

I sold my 2004 R1200GS a few months ago and "upgraded" to a 2020 R1250GS Adventure Rallye TE. The 1250 is quicker but the old K25 is just a better bike in every respect as far as I'm concerned.

well tried all of them owned 3 of the 5

orig 1200GS is by far the best so long as it was made from MY2007 where it got normal ABS
the TC engine whilst pretending to be quicker, isn't and isn't as nice, the later gearbox from MY2008 isn't as good under hard riding either

the 1200 and 1250 LCs look OK and get the much needed cruise, and leany over ABS if you use dynamic mode - yet are gutless with only a bit more power where you seldom go, and of course all get modern world reliability and finish to suit the 3 year and bin it club

seat and screens on all of them are hideous like every BWM ever made up till then - traction control on all of them offend like your step mother having a pop

then came the strange noise GS1300 and aside from the hideous front light, faulty cement mixer noise, and tuck-in and lose it front geometry - its a bonkers hooligan bike, that rips fast enough for anyone, and the traction control when set up correctly finally grew up till its far less offensive - if sold for 10K would be worth owning for the 5 mins life they designed it with

and in a moment of utter madness the seat works and the screen whilst pathetic is the best BMW ever managed by 1000%

then on april 1st out comes the GS1300 Adventure with styling that makes the current crop of hideous BMW cars look very attractive - if anyone ever buys one I'll be ashamed for them for ever more, and I might even ask others to pray for their sanity...

it seems after taking magic mushrooms the stylist at JCB hacked BMWs design department

 

[Orbit]

I sold my 2004 R1200GS a few months ago and "upgraded" to a 2020 R1250GS Adventure Rallye TE. The 1250 is quicker but the old K25 is just a better bike in every respect as far as I'm concerned.

I'm very happy to have got rid of the 1250 and I've picked up a late 2013 90th Anniversary R1200GS Adventure. I've fondly named her "Big Annie". The twin-cam K25 was the only GS I hadn't owned so I've completed the set. This one will be staying with me for a long time. Just had valve clearances, rear diff rebuilt, an eye wateringly expensive new alternator, new tyres, and a good service. I'll work on the cosmetics, but riding her 80 miles home, the bike felt brilliant. Glad to be back on the last of the good GSs.

Have just done the same! Picked up a mint 61 plate 17000 miles. Amazed at how smooth it is compared to the old one and suspension much better!! Love it!

 

[Slipperyeel]

I haven't seen those pics of the 1300 adventure. I agree, the striking just...well... Hideous! But...it looks too me like a prelude to making electric version...

Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk

 

[botus]

why did the add wings to the engine bars... extra width just what no one ever needed - unless you like visiting hospital

 

[mpgscott]

I sold my 2004 R1200GS a few months ago and "upgraded" to a 2020 R1250GS Adventure Rallye TE. The 1250 is quicker but the old K25 is just a better bike in every respect as far as I'm concerned.

I'm very happy to have got rid of the 1250 and I've picked up a late 2013 90th Anniversary R1200GS Adventure. I've fondly named her "Big Annie". The twin-cam K25 was the only GS I hadn't owned so I've completed the set. This one will be staying with me for a long time. Just had valve clearances, rear diff rebuilt, an eye wateringly expensive new alternator, new tyres, and a good service. I'll work on the cosmetics, but riding her 80 miles home, the bike felt brilliant. Glad to be back on the last of the good GSs.

Thats a lovely looking set of wheels, the tin of IRN-BRU just finishes it off..

Im hoping to do the same, have a K25 GS and looking to change it out for GSA..

 

[Hann]

why did the add wings to the engine bars... extra width just what no one ever needed - unless you like visiting hospital

They`re handles to make it easier for crims to lift them into the back of a van.

 

[Mr Derek]

I'm starting to like the looks of the 1300gsa. I'd never buy one but it keeps the quirky look gs/gsas have always had, rather than the more generic 1300gs. My next bike will be lighter, with a smaller engine as long distance, 2 up trips become less common for me. A 750/800 with Honda build quality, comfort for 250-300 mile days with luggage (roll bag or similar), decent weather protection and a fun factor would do nicely. Hey, ho.

 

[botus]

Im hoping to do the same, have a K25 GS and looking to change it out for GSA..

I didn't change, I just added the GSA as well.....

from the 2007 GS to the GSA TC

instruments are ruined - the room for ESA info makes the whole digital display small and horrible and they reversed the fuel and temp and its really irritating

they changed the bars from right to wrong and this means you can't even get the key in the bike easily anymore

the large tank seems great except the bars vibrate so much you can only ride it for 20 minutes

the seat has changed shape - I have the GSA seat on my std GS, but this later one is quite different in shape, might be better but see above, so its all irrelevant

the throttle is heavier and uncomfortable and the response is rubbish

the fueling is terrible but in different ways - but it took a few months to realise they still don't know how to do it

the performance is all wrong, far harder to run to the edge of grip and grab a fist of throttle - whereas the old bike did this beautifully and so the old one is twice as fast on tricky roads

ESA is interesting, all wrong, but no way near as hideously wrong as the std non ESA bikes, at times you can see they at least thought about it, whereas a K1300 and a K1600 its just a gimmick that is always horrible and always very wrong

traction control is an annoying mess - so you have to toggle to offroad (S) or the bike doesn't operate if you turn the throttle

they "improved the gearbox" but now used to both the old one is far better, pressing on I keep having to check if the later one went in OK, whereas the old one works better the more you rag it

handling is very different and wrong - below 40 mph is a great improvement, and far more chuckable round town and you half have a clue what the front thinks it might be doing, but press on to all its got and the thing is violently unpleasant - might be an effect of the spoked wheels - but its braking stability is dangerously wild - where my old GS on road tyres and with decent aftermarkets shocks is the best bike for stopping made - this is like a car crash on black ice - its so bad you have to wind it back 25 to 40 mph on every road you go on

mpg shows on the display as hugely improved

they still forgot cruise control

 

[seahorse]

I'm not sure you'd be happy with anything. Perhaps a nice small car?

 

[RallyeGS]

I didn't change, I just added the GSA as well.....

from the 2007 GS to the GSA TC

instruments are ruined - the room for ESA info makes the whole digital display small and horrible and they reversed the fuel and temp and its really irritating

they changed the bars from right to wrong and this means you can't even get the key in the bike easily anymore

the large tank seems great except the bars vibrate so much you can only ride it for 20 minutes

the seat has changed shape - I have the GSA seat on my std GS, but this later one is quite different in shape, might be better but see above, so its all irrelevant

the throttle is heavier and uncomfortable and the response is rubbish

the fueling is terrible but in different ways - but it took a few months to realise they still don't know how to do it

the performance is all wrong, far harder to run to the edge of grip and grab a fist of throttle - whereas the old bike did this beautifully and so the old one is twice as fast on tricky roads

ESA is interesting, all wrong, but no way near as hideously wrong as the std non ESA bikes, at times you can see they at least thought about it, whereas a K1300 and a K1600 its just a gimmick that is always horrible and always very wrong

traction control is an annoying mess - so you have to toggle to offroad (S) or the bike doesn't operate if you turn the throttle

they "improved the gearbox" but now used to both the old one is far better, pressing on I keep having to check if the later one went in OK, whereas the old one works better the more you rag it

handling is very different and wrong - below 40 mph is a great improvement, and far more chuckable round town and you half have a clue what the front thinks it might be doing, but press on to all its got and the thing is violently unpleasant - might be an effect of the spoked wheels - but its braking stability is dangerously wild - where my old GS on road tyres and with decent aftermarkets shocks is the best bike for stopping made - this is like a car crash on black ice - its so bad you have to wind it back 25 to 40 mph on every road you go on

mpg shows on the display as hugely improved

they still forgot cruise control

In contrast, my 2012 GSA TC is fucking amazing! I went R1100GS, R1150GSA, R1200GS AC, R1200GSA last of the water cooled version, before a R1250GSA on a 21 plate before going for my current TC. I understand why so many wax lyrical about the TC bikes, they truly were a bit of a sweet spot.

 

[Pukmeister]

it seems after taking magic mushrooms the stylist at JCB hacked BMWs design department

It looks like the bastard offspring of Robocop and a wheelie bin !

 

[dicktheleg]

In contrast, my 2012 GSA TC is fucking amazing! I went R1100GS, R1150GSA, R1200GS AC, R1200GSA last of the water cooled version, before a R1250GSA on a 21 plate before going for my current TC. I understand why so many wax lyrical about the TC bikes, they truly were a bit of a sweet spot.

Agree 100%