BMW R1300GS pillion review | Passenger comfort tested

[@davidz8]

Absolutely brilliant video, the magic roundabout bit made me laugh out loud. What a lovely couple you are.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks so much!

[@diegocella6791]

Love the bit about the battery! Top notch work as per usual!

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks very much! Cheers, John

[@stuarthammond2030]

He says, "our bike" she says, "your bike" 😂

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Yeah... I paid for it, but I think of it as ours still.

[@GavinM161]

These are really great videos with Helen, she really does help to see it from a pillion's point of view.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks! All the best, John

[@gnmurray5955]

Such refreshing naturalness and honesty. No bullshit. Buy her a heated seat for your 1250 and go on a holiday with the spare cash :)

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Sounds like a plan! Cheers, John

[@gingerelvis]

This is the best real world review of the new GS I have seen, genuinely the things that matter to people (and the stuff that doesn't). I've got no interest in owninf a GS, or ar least a modern one but interesting none the less. Thanks John for bringing the down to earth real world bike content to the channel. Where is the VFR content btw?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Cheers! The VFR will be back soon...

[@Wadders]

Love your content John and Helen, it’s great to see a pillion point of view.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks so much! Cheers, John

[@philliplum3845]

Brilliant video. Especially the pillion perspective which most reviews don't..

[@peterfalconer-h3k]

I loved the green and gold from the moment I first saw it, being an Aussie and green and gold being our sporting colors is a nice bonus. Great to hear your wife giving an honest pillion rider's perspective about the bike too. I'd have one for sure but I'll wait and see what the R1300R looks like before I decide on whether or not to trade my R1250R.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks! Let me know what you go for. Cheers, John

[@reverendhoover]

The magic roundabout sequence was very funny!

[@barryjohn7765]

You could always get aftermarket heated seats for yours, however for a shorter rider the lowering suspension must be a game changer.

[@SouthWest-jj8yu]

Nice review John, the conversation sounded like some of mine when introducing the subject of buying a new bike just to start testing the water, next is talking about it occasionally, going to “just have another look,” getting some prices etc etc.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks! The videos with Helen are the only ones I don't need to script - I just set her off and leave her to it!

[@bobritter7197]

I'd love one of these with nothing more than ABS & switchable traction control. Hate all the "stuff". But I'm very, very old. Great info, here, though. 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Exactly what I just said to my good lady while watching. I'm 60, so probably classes as old??

[@frankspeakmore7104]

I think it should be more the case of what you don't like about your current bike, how much does this new bike do better than your one. You must know so many riders that have regretted selling one bike for another, but the power and pull of the media is strong....

[@dalehawkes1698]

Just ordered a 1300 GSA test road it yesterday fantastic bike the seat did feel a little bit uncomfortable at only 30 minutes in hopefully was just that [ low] seat on the demo

[@gibboian]

Great video, I have an RT with Hill start (I have it set on manual - just a stiff pull on the front brake). Its fantastic 2 up

[@bennettsbikesocial]

I really should try it again as our 1250 has it too. Cheers, John

[@Banditmanuk]

Really interesting hearing your and your good lady's thoughts on the 1300GS. I've wondered for some time if this bike could be a more practical replacement for my MT10 but still be exciting enough for an ageing hooligan The thing is, I don't want all the electronic stuff. it just puts me off. I've also watched some videos of the ignition module failing after riding in heavy rain. Those Shad panniers would look good on the GS (mine were replaced under warranty by Shad after the press button started to stick)

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Sorry to hear there was a problem with the panniers, but glad they sorted it! Cheers, John

[@cyclingbikerwholovestotinker]

the wife and I ride two up frequently on our bike, she climbs on as apposed to trying to put your leg over first, I sit the bike upright and move slightly forward on the tank to give her some more room and I always keep the side stand down just incase we have any mishaps ;-) PS it's worth every penny, best bike on the road at the moment IMHO.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks! I did get Helen to try that, with her foot on the peg first, but she couldn't do it for some reason!

[@petewatson9866]

I think magic roundabout should’ve been playing all through the video😂.

[@JDeezle21]

Get the Versys 1100 ❤

[@philipTOMPSETT]

The ultimate dinner guests I reckon.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

We'd eat it all!

[@rob.fisher]

Nice review John, I’ve seen your previous reviews because I nearly bought an XR a few years ago, but ended up with an R because I just loved it so sacrificed the practicality. Tested the 1300 and thought it had that XR sense of fun (that the 1250 didn’t, to me anyway) but with more grunt and more comfort, it’s really impressive. The lithium battery thing is interesting for us nerds - can you do a test sometime of how long you can leave one without being on a trickle? Is it like a week, couple of weeks, or just a few days?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Going by my 1999 ZX-6R, which has a 9-year-old Shorai in it, at least six months is fine! Cheers, John

[@SMSBJM1981]

I waiting for the 1650 gs.

[@eurodrift2498]

Granpa grandma review of heavy german tractor lol

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Did you like your own comment son?

[@UltimateDazzle]

So interesting, everyone I know has rated the 1200/1250 as a superior pillion machine (a dealer salesman said similar) just proves that motorcycles are individual so we should always try ourselves and not hold prejudgements

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Definitely! I was surprised too how much Helen likes it. We're sticking with the 1250 though. Since making this, I realised the SW Motech top box rack allows movement of the box backwards, so I've done that and now Helen is less cramped on ours. Cheers, John

[@UltimateDazzle]

@ well l had a 1200GS (as well as 4 different RTs over the years) I’m now on a DCT Tour Goldwing, so frankly even if I wanted to change to a 1300GS , which I don’t, that would probably cause a divorce , moral of the tail is never ever take your other half for a test ride on a Wing, it will be an extremely expensive mistake, it took about 1 minute before I heard over the intercom “well I’m never going on the back of a different bike again “

[@Mockle07]

Have you and your good lady tried the R12001250RS? As you know, it’s very nearly the same bike as the 1250GS but lower and physically smaller 🤷🏼‍♂️ Personally I prefer the more old school sport tourer vibe/shape to the tall rounder style of the GS/XR etc. too.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Good call! I've ridden it, but I can't remember why Helen didn't. She might have been away at the time. Great bike and definitely one to consider. Cheers, John kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6Ccg2WMoqaeqM0si=pQFBo5h245I07AV6

[@patsonabike]

I don't knbow how you two sound so natural in front of the camera. I would be mumbling and stumbling all over the place. Yes, I also understand these discussions about whether it's really sensible to get a new / different bike that is actually unaffordable but...... :) This time I have to say, the two cameras exhibited very similar output quality wise. But yes, I would love to have a heated seat on a bike. :)

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Thanks! The main difference in the cameras is the Ace Pro 2 allowed me to zoom on for a third angle. Hope it helps showing what I filmed with. Cheers, John

[@benkelly2190]

Makes me smile when people get really venomous, about something they don’t like! But I suppose we’re all different, just like bikes! Be a very dull world, if we all liked the same thing! Enjoyed watching your video as always. 👍🏻

[@diegocella6791]

As Mr. Clarckson once said, more buttons are better!

[@bennettsbikesocial]

Absolutely!

[@silv3rArrow]

Can’t get around the fact the front light looks like a Honda 500X 😅

[@jamesperrin5691]

she is tiny, hows the bike with 5ft 9" lass on there?

[@bennettsbikesocial]

I'll trade her in for a taller one and let you know

[@cpuuk]

GSA is even better for pillion ;-)

[@scootjockey]

Thinking of buying one but will wait a few years till things are sorted out, my wife uses the footpegs to mount on my 1250 gsa same size as your wife . The suspension butten on the 1250 you can put on low before you set of then auto when riding and when you stop again on low so that your pillion can get off better.I must add taking the piss with the magic roundabout is well shite mate .

[@andrewandlm]

6.05 😂😂😂😂

[@martinhughes9769]

Think you lost your wife, when you was talking about the technical stuff, she was drifting off 😊,

[@gerryryan2302]

the seat is not fractionally worse ..its terrible on the 1300 the 1250 was way way better..the new GSA has a lot better seat

[@bennettsbikesocial]

I honestly don't think it's terrible, but we do all have different bums. For context of my weird shape, I thought the S1000XR seat was brilliant!

[@johnsteel4719]

Just buy it and be done with it. You can always make more money but you can’t get your time back

[@bennettsbikesocial]

You're going to get me in trouble!

[@johnsteel4719]

@ not true. The heated seat makes your better half happy plus the lowering suspension makes her feel more safe so what are you waiting for

[@paulneedham3608]

Your good lady is not interested in what your saying 😂

[@stuarthammond2030]

Never going to like it. Too many electronics and that headlight is hideous.

[@bennettsbikesocial]

It'd be rubbish if we all liked the same stuff!

[@903lew]

It’s funny but I could never enjoy the lights on the old GS but this one is the first GS I could see myself buying. Alas, I’m on more of a Vstrom-budget ^^