Thoughts on R1200GS v R1250GS

[DJ123]

I've had a loan bike from Bahnstormer, whilst mine has been in the workshop. And i have to say i'm confused/disappointed by it and wanted to see if what i'm seeing/feeling on it is the general consensus. Or if they are better than this.

My Bike; R1200GS LC 2013 TE
Loan Bike; R1250GS Option 719 (Black/yellow edition)

Suspension; On Auto it never feels to be right - either too hard on the damping and bouncing over/off the bumps, or too soft and your bouncing up and down on the suspension. Also didn't like it only appeared to have max/min & auto options. No manual adjustment or telling it what's on the bike (1 person/2 person/ luggage etc)

Quickshifter; this (both up and down the 'box) never feels smooth and seems to take a good amount of pressure (and i felt the need to pre-load it) to get it to work, if it did - as on the downshifts (with a fully closed throttle) it quite often didn't down shift at all.

TFT Screen; i'm a bit tech savvy but don't find this intuitive at all. It's a large display but with minimum information available despite the amount of room on the screen that is blank. Everything is in a menu, or to scroll across to find it.

Heat; it seems to still suffer the same CAT heat issues heating up the right leg, and riders seat (i thought i had the heated seat on!)

Heated seat/grips; not sure why these have to be in a menu and can't be button operated.

They're really the main gripes i've found with it in the 150 miles or so i've ridden it.

So, do these get better with time and you learn the quick shifter & TFT. Does the suspension get better with time (this is a '22 plate with nearly 4k on the clock) I was concerned i might want one after this, but actually the opposite is truer! The only thing i found different/slightly more refined is the engine - and even then it's marginal.

 

[malcopopolo]

There is no button for the heated grips as it is cheaper to have the tft select it.

I agree with you in that i would not upgrade from a sorted 1200 to a 1250. However BMW need to keep the range fresh for the PCP brigade and the well heeled who change their bike every 3 years irrespective.

To change to a 2022 bike it will cost you in excess of 10k. It is not a 10k better bike! People say night and day differences, in reality they are talking from their arse hole

That said - the new 1300 when it is released may be worth the upgrade from the 1200.

 

[PhilBoy]

Had a 2013 te and like you I find my 2020 1250 te not as good regarding the suspension. The engine is better but a decat and remap would narrow the gap in performance. TFT is a bonus though. Your money your choice. Good luck choosing.

 

[DJ123]

There is no button for the heated grips as it is cheaper to have the tft select it.

I agree with you in that i would not upgrade from a sorted 1200 to a 1250. However BMW need to keep the range fresh for the PCP brigade and the well heeled who change their bike every 3 years irrespective.

To change to a 2022 bike it will cost you in excess of 10k. It is not a 10k better bike! People say night and day differences, in reality they are talking from their arse hole

That said - the new 1300 when it is released may be worth the upgrade from the 1200.

That was my thoughts too, not worth the step up until the 1300 is out - and even then a year or so after market launch to let the bugs and recalls work themselves out!

 

[the woodster]

I changed from a 2017 1200 with 20K on the clock to a 2021 1250. IMHO the changes are subtle, so evolution not revolution but overall, I think the 1250 is a better bike. In particular, the engine becomes more noticeable when being caned. I've also become a bit lazier with the gear changes: corners can now be negotiated a gear higher. My enjoyment of chugging about the lanes has increased.

I approached it (mentally) from a different angle of 'Is it worth an extra 10K?'. I had no real intention of changing but I'd worked a lucrative short-term contract and had some wonga floating around. Knowing this would disappear into Mrs Woodster's 'Rainy Day' account, I decided to just buy a new GS and it just happened to be a 1250. I would have been equally as happy with a new 1200.

 

[GADGET]

I changed from a 2016 1200GS last year to a 2019 1250GS, and this year to a very
nice looking 1250GS with the full option 719 package, but had some mechanical issues with it that put me off it and have got back to a 2016 R1200 GSA TE to which I have fitted the Touratech ESA suspension package and some other nice bits and I'm currently very happy with it. I'm not a fan of the TFT and prefer a separate GPS (Garmin XT).

 

[yofi]

On the suspension, the max/min/auto form (ESA2) came in on the 1200s before the 1250. That aside, they seemed to have softened even the ESA2 on the 1250 - I find it bouncy in both road and dynamic, and preferred the 1200 ESA2. Qucikshitfer is definitely improved.

 

[littleade]

I think you've answered the question yourself. I swapped my 2016 GS for a 2018 and thought the suspension was a step backwards too. The engine on the 1250 is better as is the hill hold. I got used to the gear shift assist, apparently it learns your style of riding so does get smoother, but will never be as good as others that arn't trying to cope with a big twin with shaft drive. I like the TFT, they're a big improvement over the clocks for those of us that are getting on a bit and I've got used to the suspension now but would prefer more options as like you feel the right setting for me is somewhere between Dynamic and Road. Whether this is enough for you to shell out a load of cash to get the 1250 is something only you can decide.

 

[DJ123]

I changed from a 2017 1200 with 20K on the clock to a 2021 1250. IMHO the changes are subtle, so evolution not revolution but overall, I think the 1250 is a better bike. In particular, the engine becomes more noticeable when being caned. I've also become a bit lazier with the gear changes: corners can now be negotiated a gear higher. My enjoyment of chugging about the lanes has increased.

I approached it (mentally) from a different angle of 'Is it worth an extra 10K?'. I had no real intention of changing but I'd worked a lucrative short-term contract and had some wonga floating around. Knowing this would disappear into Mrs Woodster's 'Rainy Day' account, I decided to just buy a new GS and it just happened to be a 1250. I would have been equally as happy with a new 1200.

The engine is the only thing i'd note is better in terms of refinement, but not but not by a huge margin. It feels like it has a little less grunt lower down (sub 4-5k) and has a bit more urgency above this, and on WOT.

It's certainly more of a revision than an entirely new step forward.

On the suspension, the max/min/auto form (ESA2) came in on the 1200s before the 1250. That aside, they seemed to have softened even the ESA2 on the 1250 - I find it bouncy in both road and dynamic, and preferred the 1200 ESA2. Qucikshitfer is definitely improved.

Glad it is not just me who finds it like that. I thought maybe mine was too soft and felt more compliant, potentially. But it really is quite hard and i don't think i'm far off the average rider weight BMW designed it for - maybe if i threw some luggage on it might have been in the sweet spot.

On the ride back on my Bike tonight, i certainly didn't feel like i was missing anything. And something else i missed was the throttle weight - it's very light on the 1250, compared to mine which almost feels mechanical in the weighting of it and is a lot easier to manage the throttle. If offered the chance to swap bikes, i'd not take it.

 

[Spareparts]

On the suspension, the max/min/auto form (ESA2) came in on the 1200s before the 1250. That aside, they seemed to have softened even the ESA2 on the 1250 - I find it bouncy in both road and dynamic, and preferred the 1200 ESA2. Qucikshitfer is definitely improved.

ESA2 on the 1250 is definitely softer in Road mode. But because it is adaptive, unlike ESA1, it maintains better composure at speed whilst absorbing both small and larger bumps. With the self-levelling, ESA2 helps the bike maintain a more optimal geometry regardless of rider weight. ESA2 in Dynamic is quite a bit more sporty than ESA1 ever was. Overall ESA2 is an improvement imho. ESA1 behaves more like a traditional suspension setup, although it was adjustable and within a smaller operating range compared to ESA2.

 

[GrinningGSer]

Hey , I’m very often happy to ride my 2014 1200 GSA TE around in rain mode and frequently have no need to change the mode . I have no desire for more power/speed whatsoever; very happy.
In which case , a 1250 would be wasted on me.

 

[Pukmeister]

I changed from a Hexhead to my used 2019 1250GSA TE recently. Just taken the new bike on a four day blast around Wales and in my experience the bike feels better/is easier to use once you've spent some time in the saddle and gelled with it. Here's my evaluation:

My ESA was a bit 'floaty' in Road mode but after a few days I got used to it and didn't notice. At no point did the bike get out of shape no matter how hard I rode it or what conditions I threw at it. Everything from fast sweepers to mountain tracks. Bike was fitted with luggage, no pillion.

The TFT menus and navigating them become intuitive quite quickly, for example I go to Media and start a track paying then flick the menu screen up once to display riding information like speed/gear etc plus be able to change tracks up/down by tapping the whizz wheel left and right. If I need to mute (pause) the music its one press down of the menu button followed by a tap right on the whizz wheel. Hopefully Sena will update the firmware in my Schuberth helmet comms to allow the whizz wheel to control volume as per the 50S units (I have asked them to add this feature).

Quickshifter: I only use it when "pressing on" such as a commited overtake, the lever needs a firm positive tap but its seamless under these conditions. If not pressing on however it can sometimes baulk and miss changes. I never use it when shifting between 1st and 2nd gear due to the neutral gate and the big difference in ratios. I don't like the feel of the downshift so I use the clutch every time when going down the box.

Heated Grips not used yet..... Right lower leg gets hot from the wild heat around the exhaust catalyst, followed by right bum cheek when sat in traffic queues.

 

[10tenmen]

The heated grips are on the right controller a tip is turn them on and press and hold the switch until they turn off, when you next need them press the same button and they will resume onto your last setting. Also applies if you have both seat and grips selected.

 

[HGS]

After 20000 miles on 2 GS1250's
As 10tenmen and pukmeister say
All but a small amount of the miles done in Road mode, rain is a waste of time and Dynamic needs good surface for me
Handling is more than good enough to wear tyres to edges
No heat problems at all, even last month in the heatwave
Heated grips and seat really good, as said there is a one button op for last setting and turning off

 

[Scotsrick]

I had a 2018 1200 that was probably going to be my last bike. I loved it and didn’t feel the need to change it.

Unfortunately it got written off and good newish bikes were going for silly prices so I bit the bullet and got a new 1250.

Yes it’s a better bike in several ways but not enough to make me change if I hadn’t been forced into it.

So in my opinion it comes down to affordability.

If you can afford a 1250 then get one but if you can’t then you’ll still be happy on a 1200. I wouldn’t stretch myself financially for the extra cost.

 

[Barnoe]

I changed from a 2017 1200 with 20K on the clock to a 2021 1250. IMHO the changes are subtle.............

Agreed.

I took my 2017 TE ive owned for 2 years in for a service and was given a 719 40th Anniversary model for 2 days.

obviously they look different, but the ride is very close, but after a while you do notice subtle things in the suspension and ride, felt different in high speed corners too.
i also liked the anakee adventure tyres that was on it and the heated seats

i loved the TFT screen, very clear even in daylight. the analogue speedo on mine is crap i watch my speed on the Nav6 instead.

overall i liked the newer bike, but would i spend over 10k to swap?
im in no rush to upgrade, i will keep mine another 2 years then maybe.

 

[yofi]

There is no button for the heated grips as it is cheaper to have the tft select it.

.

Probably more the fact that there isn't a button as you need to toggle with that button between heat and grip heating, and 5 settings each.

 

[Smartbazza]

I love the 1250. I have done 16k miles from Feb 21.

Suspension is great and helps the handling. As others have said you can get to the edge of the tyres and feather them up nicely.
You soon learn where the things you want to see are on the tft plus you can select to remove what you don’t want to see.
Gear assist. I always use it above 2nd gear and find it fantastic to aid quick shifts up or down particularly if your pushing on.
Heated grips and seats. Again push the button on the bars and it brings you to the menu to set 1-5 for seat or grip heating. Or one longer push turns them on to your last setting. Very simple once you find what you will use on the tft. I compare to getting a laptop with countless programmes some of which you will never use.

It’s all subjective and imho I would listen to the comments on these points from people who have owned the bikes. The others points about value in switching up etc are valid but that’s a choice in most things in life. Stick with what you have costs you nothing….or

Barry

 

[Engineer]

I have had 5x1200GS's and 1x1250GS since 2005, all new - I prefer the 1250 out of all of them.

 

[stick]

1250 was by far the best in terms of tech , suspension not as good as the 1200 with the auto levellling causing too much of a soft area. Best upgrade to compliment the bike TT plug and play , not farkles and smaller wheels.
Personally the best Gs I had (in the soft side of me) was my 1200 2011 TB , had some great trips on that and memories , 30K of hassle free , did have full Wilbur’s fitted mind.