I remember test riding the very first of the telelever air head GS's back in the late 1990's from Aberdeen BMW. We took turns riding it and the other new bikes in the range for 1995/6. I had a Mk1 GS R80GS and had a ride on an R100GS a few years earlier and back then, coming from an elderly R100RT, they blew me away. I didn't think I'd like them but compared to the R100RT, they out handled it, seemed quicker off the mark and were a hoot to ride. I was smitten.
When the telelever front came out I rode the R1100GS and was blown away by the advancement over the older R100GS. Much more punchy low down, smoother and that front telelever felt plain weird, but once you got used to it, it was great. Wind the clock forward several decades and a few bmws later and I test rode the R1200GS LC. It was as big a step on from the R1100GS as it was a step on from the R100GS imho.
The GS I always felt needed more mid and upper range power than the air heads delivered and the 1200LC delivered this in spades whilst managing to feel better handling to me. Whilst I'm sure that the 1250 will have moved things on further, I will not be buying one, even though I can afford one (for all those "you only dislike them because you can't afford one" nobs). I'm sure I'd love the 1250, but haven ridden just about every version of the bike since its inception, and owned a few, the 1200 does everything I want from a bike. I set of grip puppies means vibes through bars can't be felt and vastly improves long distance comfort. the vibey patch in the 35-50mph range in 3rd/4th is a non issue as I either ride above or below the offending revs. It accelerates fast enough to make overtakes (of any car) a breeze. It handles safely and sure footedly and its all day comfortable. If I wanted, faster, newer, better, I'd buy a 1260 multistrada but that would be missing the point of the boxer. It's a tried and tested long distance mile muncher that does it in relaxing comfort. It is a known quantity, for the most part reliable, and as an all rounder, I think is still the champ, the one to beat. For those who have bought the 1250, I'm sure you'll all love the bike, BUT for the sake of Pete, will all those braggart pillocks who keep banging on about " you're only not buying one because you can't afford one" put a sock in it and learn to realise that some of use are perfectly satisfied with what we have. The 1200 and the 1250 are both great bikes.
