R1300 GS vs. R1250 GS comparison

[Schtum]

 

[Zoton]

I watched this today, can't say there is a huge difference in any of the figures measured , slightly better MPG on the 1300 but marginal total when your 2 ltrs better off on the 1250..
Still mega happy with my 1250 choice.

 

[leadfarmer]

I think part of the divergence in opinions on here comes from what they say here, they are actually 2 quite different bikes now in certain respects

I’m loving my 1300 but I came straight from a 1200 so I guess the difference is more marked than from a 1250

 

[stick]

I think part of the divergence in opinions on here comes from what they say here, they are actually 2 quite different bikes now in certain respects

I’m loving my 1300 but I came straight from a 1200 so I guess the difference is more marked than from a 1250

No , the 1300 is just better than the 1250 simple as that . I would not go back to the 1250 now as it’s not as good and dated in a nice way . The platform had moved on .
If the 1300 has plugged a leak of needs for the more adventurous rider .

 

[littleade]

And there's more.....

 

[GSian]

No , the 1300 is just better than the 1250 simple as that . I would not go back to the 1250 now as it’s not as good and dated in a nice way . The platform had moved on .
If the 1300 has plugged a leak of needs for the more adventurous rider .

BMW need to employ you in their marketing department. "If the 1300 has plugged a leak of needs for the more adventurous rider ."

 

[leadfarmer]

One thing that doesn’t get mentioned much is 2 up riding

I’ve just popped down to Sainte Enimie in the Gorge du Tarn and back with Wifey and I’m blown away with how good the suspension is with a pillion

The 1200 was always a bit bouncy at the back end loaded up even with the ESA preload

The 1300 feels as though the rear is set up to match the front whether 1 up or 2 up, I’m guessing it’s the variable spring rate witchcraft that’s making the difference, either way it’s astonishingly good

I’m also now convinced that the harder standard seats are more comfortable than the old bike

I asked Wifey if the grab rails felt too low as a few pillions have found (including Mrs TMF) but she said au contraire, they’re better if anything, she prefers the 1300 too

All I can say is what a bike

 

[stick]

BMW need to employ you in their marketing department. "If the 1300 has plugged a leak of needs for the more adventurous rider ."

Well , better than saying the 1250 is shite A new bike is on the block, faster , better and if carslberg made a bike it would be the 1300 ….hope that’s better . Real men ride ride 1300 gs or is that bit ott

 

[stick]

One thing that doesn’t get mentioned much is 2 up riding

I’ve just popped down to Sainte Enimie in the Gorge du Tarn and back with Wifey and I’m blown away with how good the suspension is with a pillion

The 1200 was always a bit bouncy at the back end loaded up even with the ESA preload

The 1300 feels as though the rear is set up to match the front whether 1 up or 2 up, I’m guessing it’s the variable spring rate witchcraft that’s making the difference, either way it’s astonishingly good

I’m also now convinced that the harder standard seats are more comfortable than the old bike

I asked Wifey if the grab rails felt too low as a few pillions have found (including Mrs TMF) but she said au contraire, they’re better if anything, she prefers the 1300 too

All I can say is what a bike

They won’t listen you know , they know better

 

[stick]

I was going to keep the Ultimate 100 as well as the new one , but glad I didn’t now after riding this one for 2 k , it gets better and better , the Ultimate would have ended up like a pit pony as the cover would never be taken off again …

 

[leadfarmer]

I’m not saying the 1200 or 1250 weren’t good bikes, they were fantastic

This one is just more better fantasticer

 

[longdog]

I watched this today, can't say there is a huge difference in any of the figures measured , slightly better MPG on the 1300 but marginal total when your 2 ltrs better off on the 1250..
Still mega happy with my 1250 choice.

And your wallet has breathed a huge sigh of relief too!

I have watched the comparisons, (no, I haven’t ridden a 1300), but each one appears to be struggling to find significant praise for the 1300 over the 1250 unless you count the weight-saving that not having a centre stand has to offer! If we are honest with ourselves, the benefits are tiny and only seen high up in the rev-range, even Bennett’s struggled to find significant advantage and tried to claim the 1250s 0-60 time was “not important and only quicker because the launch was better” and that after Bruce Dunn had “spent all day up and down the drag strip”. So not even Bruce Dunn could get the 1300 any quicker on the 0-60 time! Ah well, hang on to your 1250s if you want to beat the rush to your local coffee/breakfast bar!

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

And your wallet has breathed a huge sigh of relief too!

I have watched the comparisons, (no, I haven’t ridden a 1300), but each one appears to be struggling to find significant praise for the 1300 over the 1250 unless you count the weight-saving that not having a centre stand has to offer! If we are honest with ourselves, the benefits are tiny and only seen high up in the rev-range, even Bennett’s struggled to find significant advantage and tried to claim the 1250s 0-60 time was “not important and only quicker because the launch was better” and that after Bruce Dunn had “spent all day up and down the drag strip”. So not even Bruce Dunn could get the 1300 any quicker on the 0-60 time! Ah well, hang on to your 1250s if you want to beat the rush to your local coffee/breakfast bar!

you really need to try it, it feels a fair bit more urgent in comparison. Hammer it through a couple of gears but not from a standing start, eg slowing down for a roundabout, roll into it say 30/40 mph in a lower gear, and then hammer it out the other side, and it is very quickly over the speed limit and into triple figures in a way the 1250 does not. I know that because I rode the test 1300 and a 1250 back to back. The first GS where ive thought friggin ell this is really quick. So for me it has more of the fun factor ive missed on previous versions.

 

[Schtum]

you really need to try it, it feels a fair bit more urgent in comparison. Hammer it through a couple of gears but not from a standing start, eg slowing down for a roundabout, roll into it say 30/40 mph in a lower gear, and then hammer it out the other side, and it is very quickly over the speed limit and into triple figures in a way the 1250 does not. I know that because I rode the test 1300 and a 1250 back to back. The first GS where ive thought friggin ell this is really quick. So for me it has more of the fun factor ive missed on previous versions.

I've not seen one in the metal and plastic yet, let alone ridden one.

However, I'd like to compare it with my Hilltopped with a full Akrapovič system early model, light flywheel LC.

It nips up to 130 pretty quickly.

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

I've not seen one in the metal and plastic yet, let alone ridden one.

However, I'd like to compare it with my Hilltopped with a full Akrapovič system early model, light flywheel LC.

It nips up to 130 pretty quickly.

I did own one of the early light flywheel models in 2014 and did 10k miles in 18 months, remember it very fondly how it rev'd up and finding the GSAs down the line a bit slow to rev , probably should never have sold it, got swayed by the S1000XR which was fast but bland. I can imagine fully de catted yours is extremely quick, ive never gone down the de-cat route, insurer says no!!

 

[stick]

I've not seen one in the metal and plastic yet, let alone ridden one.

However, I'd like to compare it with my Hilltopped with a full Akrapovič system early model, light flywheel LC.

It nips up to 130 pretty quickly.

Had one exactly the same but honestly, the 1300 is streets ahead . I spent loads with NeoViper and the results were good , but not the gain we have now with the 1300 ( did the same with the first 1250 as well and still lacking . The new engine is awesome along with the chassis , ride one , you will love it .

 

[Morety]

I watched this and was left thinking that the new bike in some ways is not a direct comparison. It's a complete;y different bike, packaged to look similar (imho, uglier!). As for "It's better", that very much depends upon what definition of "better" people chose to use.

Just because a bike is a little faster, that in itself doesn't make it better, just faster. It's meant to be an adventure touring buike so surely top trumps cards are best left for kids at school?

"better" for me would mean "lighter" and they reckon 10Kgs which doesn't sound a lot but with CoG shifted slightly, it may well feel a lot lighter and more flickable.

MPG figures are ok, but how is anyone only getting 44mpg from the 1250? I regularly check after topping my tank up on the 1200 and am getting 50mpg!

"More old fashioned" doesn't mean "worse". I might be in a minority when I say that perhaps the 1200 and 250 were so endearing because they has a slightly lazy feel to them which suited touring down to a tee. They didn't lack poke and still have impressive grunt (torque figures bettering most in this category).

if you like your GS repackaged as a sportier, more flickable ride for more mature gents where riding comfort rules out sportsbikes, then I can see the attraction and for that alone, would pick one over the old platform.

If, like me, you liked the more endearing nature of the outgoing platform, that, for my needs is "better".

I see it as an evolution of a theme, but whether it's better is down to individual merit. Off the line, there's nothing to chose between either, according to the figures, which rather surprised me.

 

[Hann]

At the end of the day the folk that have bought a 13 will `big it up`, heap on the praise and sneer at the 1250 to justify their choice and the amount of wedge they`ve just laid down to own one.
1250 owners who either don`t want or can`t afford one will dismiss the 13 as not being worth the upgrade or disliking the new sportier character. And then there`s it`s looks!
I`ve ridden a 13, i don`t want one, the 1250 is still a superb bike which the dudes in the vid alluded to and more to my taste and riding style.
I think it`s gonna` be the GSA that will tempt those sitting on the fence at the moment, the new engine in a bike with that awesome `road presence` that we all love might sway the non-believers.

 

[Smartbazza]

Morning,

I bought a 1250GSA in 2021 and did 22k trouble free miles in three years. It was a fantastic bike and did everything well. This was my first GS in recent years and it made me realise that whilst I enjoyed he bikes I had instead of a GS I really should have got one when they came out.

So I decided it was time to change the bike and looked at all the manufacturers - came back to GSA being (generally) the best rated. Ordered a 1300 on the basis that the new 1300 is likely to be further improvement on that.

had the first decent ride on the 1300 last weekend of c500 miles. Every thing about the bike just works - handling, brakes, comfort, wind protection, connectivity.

Is it an improvement over the 1250GS / A? - definitely. How big is the improvement? I’d suggest not that great but it is improved in every way.

My GSA was great (still is and will be enjoyed by a member here) and I could have kept it but I’m glad I went with the 1300 now.

Barry

 

[stick]

At the end of the day the folk that have bought a 13 will `big it up`, heap on the praise and sneer at the 1250 to justify their choice and the amount of wedge they`ve just laid down to own one.
1250 owners who either don`t want or can`t afford one will dismiss the 13 as not being worth the upgrade or disliking the new sportier character. And then there`s it`s looks!
I`ve ridden a 13, i don`t want one, the 1250 is still a superb bike which the dudes in the vid alluded to and more to my taste and riding style.
I think it`s gonna` be the GSA that will tempt those sitting on the fence at the moment, the new engine in a bike with that awesome `road presence` that we all love might sway the non-believers.

Its a bit more than that to be fair , the money was no issue for me and I'm sure for others as its a small sum as always purchase out right, and I have no need to justify the spend as you say.
I bought the 13 as its a better bike , simple as that , I find it funny how the purchase creates a whiplash of remarks . I have ridden and owned and many Gs bikes and this one is better.
My 1250 was brilliant , but not now.
The GSA may be the bike of choice for the bolt on crew and serious distant riders , but the GSA has never been a good looking bike more of a beefed up gym bunny , overkill for the UK . Its place is for the long distant adventure type not the local cafe crew but if that floats your boat , fantastic.