BMW GS Update

Checkswrecks

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I too got paid to ride bikes, for many years. I do have to admit that I was riding an RT1150, and only a very short time on an RT1200, so not exactly the same. But, my personal opinion is the opposite. The Tenere's handling feels way superior to the RT. The Tenere's feel, makes me question the scale; until I have to push her around the garage. I never experienced any drive shaft hop or torque steer, but if you were stationary, and "blipped" the throttle, she definitely rolled to the right.

Everybody has their preferences.
I agree.
I could've bought a GS many times and overseas dealers tend to rent BMWs, so have been on a number of them. Two left me walking, a friend had a transmission fail on the highway, I've known owners who lost the rear drive, so to me they are nice bikes to ride, I prefer my Super Tenere because I KNOW what it will and will not reliably do, and I have zero desire to own a Beemer.

A long time ago, somebody around here was selling Super Tenere stickers that were a play on the BMW roundel. Same colors but with tuning forks in the middle and around the edge it said "BMW Recovery Vehicle"
:cool:
 

Dirt_Dad

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The KTM's can be quite docile when called upon to do so.
Confirmed...docile enough that I have no concerns riding on wet roads in sport mode. And I am definitely not a professional motorcyclist, and never have been. The bike is a gentle kitten.


I also have some of those stickers CW mentioned. They arrived with my Wasp windscreen adjuster. A unit I'll be selling soon. Never did install those stickers. Just felt like bad karma.
 
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ballisticexchris

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I really liked the way the KTM's handled. For me they had too much unneeded horsepower. I will say the 1190's with the 21" front wheels took the corners pretty darn good.
 

bmac

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I too got paid to ride bikes, for many years. I do have to admit that I was riding an RT1150, and only a very short time on an RT1200, so not exactly the same. But, my personal opinion is the opposite. The Tenere's handling feels way superior to the RT. The Tenere's feel, makes me question the scale; until I have to push her around the garage. I never experienced any drive shaft hop or torque steer, but if you were stationary, and "blipped" the throttle, she definitely rolled to the right.

Everybody has their preferences.
Your opinion on the RT is EXACTLY the same as mine. The RT is a pig. I test rode one and found nothing at all to like about it. The Tenere handles way better than the RT.

I did not care for the R1200GS either. I test rode one several times and 3 times I chose the Super Tenere over it

But... this thread is not about the RT or the 1200 but rather the R1250GS. They are not even close to being the same. For me, the change from the 1200 to the 1250 was monumental. It is a substantially improved bike. The changes to engine are dramatic both in power and smoothness.

I am not brand loyal and will buy whatever bike works best for me. My first choice is Yamaha as their quality is second to none. I used to lump Honda in with them but no more. Their quality is not nearly as good as it used to be. Suzuki and Kawasaki are right behind Yamaha.

In 2018 I test rode a BMW R1200GS and then proceeded to buy a leftover 2016 Yamaha Super Tenere. At the time it was the better bike and the right choice. In January of 2019 I test rode a BMW R1250GS. Game over, this bike rocks! The S10 slightly beat out the 1200GS but it was no contest (for me) when the 1250 was released. I had 3 Super Tenere's and they are great bikes but I got a little bored with them. They are reliable as hell but didn't have the pizazz I was craving. I now have about 18k on the 1250GS and am more impressed now then when I first picked it up. It has the broadest capacity of any bike I have found. It is great for running errands but just as easily can transition to sporting duty when called upon. It is not up to the level of sport of the KTM's but it is close enough for me and the seat does not cook my vitals.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Another disadvantage that is rarely mentioned is the off highway capability of the opposed twin. For guys that find themselves in rocky terrain it can be a big problem. Just last year where I took my Super Tenere, a GS would have hit the cylinders on a trail that I was on. During a Barstow to Vegas run a pro level rider ripped a cylinder off on a rocky ledge through the hard section. I get that crash bars will help. I don't want to have to worry about placement of my bike to avoid cylinder damage.

I like boring. In the off road world I demand reliable. So far the Super Tenere has not let me down. Even in deep sand and nasty rocks that I had no business navigating. Nothing more than removing my tankbag and spooning on some knobby tires to have a capable machine for harsh jeep trails.

As far as sporting abilities the Super Tenere is amazing for what it is. I attribute the ES suspension, raised dogbones, and Micheline Road 5 Trail tires. With suspension and tire pressure properly dialed in it's as good as darn near any sport bike on the street and canyons. With close to 100 HP on tap it has all the power I need.

One feature that the GS has over any bike is the ability to brake hard with very little fork dive and still have plush suspension. Pretty cool engineering.
 

Dirt_Dad

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It is not up to the level of sport of the KTM's but it is close enough for me and the seat does not cook my vitals.
I resemble that remark.

Actually, after the first couple thousand miles the heat has mostly disappeared. Could be a number of factors, but bottom line is it's no longer an issue for my vitals.

I never rode the GS1200. I did ride the 1250 and was shocked at everything about it. If price were not a factor, I'd have one today. I would not have given my KTM a chance to earn my admiration. That would have been my loss.
 

Sierra1

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1) . . . . But... this thread is not about the RT or the 1200 but rather the R1250GS. They are not even close to being the same. For me, the change from the 1200 to the 1250 was monumental. It is a substantially improved bike. The changes to engine are dramatic both in power and smoothness.

2) . . . . I am not brand loyal and will buy whatever bike works best for me. My first choice is Yamaha as their quality is second to none. I used to lump Honda in with them but no more. Their quality is not nearly as good as it used to be. Suzuki and Kawasaki are right behind Yamaha.

3) They are reliable as hell but didn't have the pizazz I was craving. . . .
1) I'll accept that. Because I haven't ridden a 1250, and didn't realize there was that big of a difference.

2) I've never been brand loyal either. . . . yet I keep going back to Yamaha. Price and quality being the biggest reason(s). I don't know who's in charge at the Honda house nowadays, but they're clueless. They did away with the ST1300, just when most of LE was dumping the Beemers (and H-D) for the Honda. Then they changed the 'Wing so much, that they pissed off a whole bunch of the 'Wing faithful. I still haven't seen the new one in the wild yet.

3) Agreed. I've said that from the beginning. Pizazz is what drew my attention to the GS way back when; love at first sight. But, pizazz don't get ya' home though. I'm a function over form guy. And, it's not like the Tenere is ugly. . . . she's just not sexy; more like the girl next door that likes pizza, beer, and football. :)
 

twinrider

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I did not care for the R1200GS either. I test rode one several times and 3 times I chose the Super Tenere over it
Like you, I tried the R1200GS before buying the S10 and preferred the Yamaha. I'll have to try a 1250 one of these days.

But BMW reliability seems to vary wildly. One owner will have no problems, another with the same model will have many. Not sure if it's a bikes built on Monday or Friday thing or not, but it's prevalent enough to put BMW at the back of the line in reliability reports.

 

Boris

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As far as sporting abilities the Super Tenere is amazing for what it is. I attribute the ES suspension, raised dogbones, and Micheline Road 5 Trail tires. With suspension and tire pressure properly dialed in it's as good as darn near any sport bike on the street and canyons. With close to 100 HP on tap it has all the power I need.
No it’s not. A well ridden sport bike will outpace a well ridden Super Tenere down any twisty set of roads, every time. Generally speaking, the sport bike will have better suspension, brakes, ground clearance, more power, better tyres, sharper steering, will be lighter, accelerate better etc. You and some others seem to confuse rider ability with bike ability.
I completely agree that the Super Tenere can be ridden far quicker than it looks like it can and probably quicker than the non educated would give it credit for, but it’s not on par through the twisties, with a sport bike. Personally, I think the Super Tenere handles extremely well and would hazard a guess that I’m enjoying the twisties as much, if not more than anyone else, regardless of what they’re riding, however I’d be quicker on a sport bike.
Having said that, On many many occasions, yes I’ve kept up and passed many sport bikes when pushing on, however it’s rider ability that’s doing that, not bike ability.

The above refers to Tarmac riding only.
 

yoyo

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No it’s not. A well ridden sport bike will outpace a well ridden Super Tenere down any twisty set of roads, every time. Generally speaking, the sport bike will have better suspension, brakes, ground clearance, more power, better tyres, sharper steering, will be lighter, accelerate better etc. You and some others seem to confuse rider ability with bike ability.
I completely agree that the Super Tenere can be ridden far quicker than it looks like it can and probably quicker than the non educated would give it credit for, but it’s not on par through the twisties, with a sport bike. Personally, I think the Super Tenere handles extremely well and would hazard a guess that I’m enjoying the twisties as much, if not more than anyone else, regardless of what they’re riding, however I’d be quicker on a sport bike.
Having said that, On many many occasions, yes I’ve kept up and passed many sport bikes when pushing on, however it’s rider ability that’s doing that, not bike ability.

The above refers to Tarmac riding only.
I agree, I've been passed on the straight by many sports bike only to catch and pass them in the corners but thats more about their poor skills than my great ones! That said when I owned a sports bike and an adventure bike (ZX6R and DL1000) I could ride the adventure bike far quicker than the ZX6 but I think it was more about my confidence due to the better view and wider bars.

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Madhatter

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Actually, after the first couple thousand miles the heat has mostly disappeared. Could be a number of factors, but bottom line is it's no longer an issue for my vitals.
DD , glad to know heat issue is better for you , just made me laugh thinking how maybe your just cooked down there . so no longer an issue. what ever works .
 

Cycledude

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Both The new AFrica Twins and the new Goldwings seem to be selling very well around here, I don’t see very many AFrica Twins but I see plenty of new Goldwings, around here it seems like most adventure bikes are BMW GS it’s pretty rare to actually see a Tenere on the road on the road around here or anywhere I’ve ridden. If I was buying a new Adventure bike it most likely would be a new Africa Twin equipped with tubeless tires, cruise control and DCT dual clutch transmission. The nearest BMW dealer is about 150 miles away and that alone pretty much rules them out for me because I prefer to do most of my own work and highly prefer having a local mechanic to talk to and buy parts from. I’m pretty happy with my Tenere but man Yamaha sure messed up the lower gears, it’s waaay to easy to choke it off in first and second gear.

1) I'll accept that. Because I haven't ridden a 1250, and didn't realize there was that big of a difference.

2) I've never been brand loyal either. . . . yet I keep going back to Yamaha. Price and quality being the biggest reason(s). I don't know who's in charge at the Honda house nowadays, but they're clueless. They did away with the ST1300, just when most of LE was dumping the Beemers (and H-D) for the Honda. Then they changed the 'Wing so much, that they pissed off a whole bunch of the 'Wing faithful. I still haven't seen the new one in the wild yet.

3) Agreed. I've said that from the beginning. Pizazz is what drew my attention to the GS way back when; love at first sight. But, pizazz don't get ya' home though. I'm a function over form guy. And, it's not like the Tenere is ugly. . . . she's just not sexy; more like the girl next door that likes pizza, beer, and football. :)
 
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Sierra1

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. . . . On many many occasions, yes I’ve kept up and passed many sport bikes when pushing on, however it’s rider ability that’s doing that, not bike ability.
The bike still has to have the ability to compliment the rider's ability. Even a good rider can't ride a turd fast.
 

Boris

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The bike still has to have the ability to compliment the rider's ability. Even a good rider can't ride a turd fast.
The point was, and still is, on tarmac on a twisty road, a sports bike has more ability. It was never a suggestion that a Super Tenere has none, or little. I think that was pretty clear from my post.
 

Dirt_Dad

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DD , glad to know heat issue is better for you , just made me laugh thinking how maybe your just cooked down there . so no longer an issue. what ever works .
Maybe, hadn't thought of it that way. I was thinking it had a lot to do with the outside temps being 20 or 30 degrees cooler, but I could just be dead down there.

We bought my wife's GS about 30 miles from home. Have so little trust in them from top to bottom that will elect to drive about 80 miles to a much better dealer. It's inconvenient, but only need to visit them every 12K miles, so it's worth the extra time.

This whole BMW quality question had me concerned at first. So far, it's only been an outstanding bike that is the best match for DM that we could find across all brands. She loves it, and I could not be more pleased with how the bike has served our needs. It has absolutely been worth getting over my hesitation about BMW.
 
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ballisticexchris

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I should have made myself more clear. I am speaking of public highways not track. With 2 equal riders riding within "line of sight" on twisty's, a Super Tenere has 100% the cornering ability and performance capability of a sport bike. A smart rider never ever rides faster than what he/she can see to safely stop.

Now if you are speaking of riding like a squid and stuffing the bike into blind corners, cutting the apex, lifting the rear wheel while braking, etc, then the sport bike is going to win every time. Of course the chance of getting a helicopter ride to hospital or coroners van to the morgue increases as well.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Dirt Dad the main point is your wife is happy with her bike. Bikes are a very personal choice. Believe me, I thought long and hard before getting all my bikes (except my KTM 300). And you may very well continue to be a happy BMW owner. I have quite a few riding buddies who love their GS 1200's.
 

Boris

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I should have made myself more clear. I am speaking of public highways not track. With 2 equal riders riding within "line of sight" on twisty's, a Super Tenere has 100% the cornering ability and performance capability of a sport bike. A smart rider never ever rides faster than what he/she can see to safely stop.

Now if you are speaking of riding like a squid and stuffing the bike into blind corners, cutting the apex, lifting the rear wheel while braking, etc, then the sport bike is going to win every time. Of course the chance of getting a helicopter ride to hospital or coroners van to the morgue increases as well.
Oh dear, but also, yippee. That means I have the same 100m race ability as Usain Bolt, as long as he doesn’t run too fast.
 
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