BMW R 1250 GS or Suzuki V-Strom 1050?

[@mickleblance8805]

The winner for me….2023 1050DE. Great looks,V-twin engine,dealer network in the USA, just enough power,just enough electronics, and reliable as a hammer. A very underrated ADV ride!

[@Buzz.Scholz-vi1ed]

No contest for me. Definitely the Suzuki. Firstly because of the price, but beyond that, it's a bloody good all rounder bike as well. Possibly not as capable as the more expensive one, but as a bloke in his 60s, the suzuki is all the bike I want or need. I live between a national park and a national highway on a dirt road, and 100hp & 100nm is way more than adequate for me. While I see many travellers on a daily basis passing through on every bike brand you have ever heard of, hardly any of them leave the tarmac, despite running knobby tyres, bash plates, motocross boots and armour etc. I get great entertainment if they do take on the dirt, watching them struggle with loaded 300 plus kg bikes. It's hilarious because they saw the video of Ewan and Charlie and copied them with every accessory on the internet, and then they paddle along with both feet on the ground with a terrified expressions on their faces. So a great review, but unless you have some serious skills and experience, neither bike will magically turn you into an ADV bike wizard. Suzuki for me. Happy trails

[@gheorghevlad3889]

I would choose Suzuki just as a price factor. I think the price is one of the most important factors of choosing a motorcycle as a daily vehicle. These days people must be rich to be able to purchase a motorcycle. I hope that chinese motorcycle factories will provide us with motorcycles at reasonable prices.

[@VToldsMotoShow]

I do agree with the point and pricing nowadays gets through the roof. Sad truth is that it won't stop if the market doesn't react. Just like with inflation. Some business should be failing while others should find ways to cut unnecessary costs and win. Otherwise if demand doesn't slow down, prices will continue to skyrocket. That's why I would buy a used bike and do so also with cars. Chinese don't seem to be there while they also use the opportunity to generate large margins that are needed. They don't sell as many units as they do with for example T-Shirts, so margins need to be high. All in all, I'm not sure it will change anytime soon.

[@javigasbot]

Price, service costs and RELIABILITY,,,,,,,,Clear winner.

[@craigg4246]

I chose the Suzuki too. I bought a new 2023 Vstrom 1050 in April 2023. I’m doing the 15,000 mile service on it now, so I ride quite bit, and not one single thing has gone wrong with it. The reasons I chose the Suzi is; price for one, it was about $10,000 cheaper to buy new. My friend bought a 5 year old GS at the same time and paid $3,000 more for it than I paid for the Vstrom new with warranty. Next, while I know the GS lasts a very long time, yet I don’t think even it can match the Vstrom for reliability and longevity. Ok, yeah, i have chain mainteneance. I lube each 500 miles and clean each 1,000. Only needs adjustment 3-4,000. Yeah, it’s more work than the GS shaft, but they are not 0 maintenance like the video says. They need the gear oil changed and joint lubed. I’m used to chain mainteneance, been riding chain drive bikes almost 50 years now. Personally, if $$$ are no object, of course the GS wins, for the rest of us, the Vstrom is a great bike.

[@GadgetMart]

@@javigasbotI’ve just ridden the Vstrom 1050de It’s great fun to ride, you feel more connected with conventional forks even if they aren’t as good as the BMW telelever I currently have a R1150GS and it’s like an oil tanker compared with the Suzuki. The new GS is eye wateringly expensive but the do hold their money well.

[@ronwarber535]

Great analysis of the two bikes. I see that the GS is now 1300. One thing in favor of the V-Strom is the service cost. You can buy Suzuki parts in a supermarket.... not really but you get the drift.

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Thanks and right, in a month from now, a new R 1300 GS is going to be launched. It should be a big date. As a long-time V-Strom 1000 owner, I'm not sure whether regular parts prices themselves would make such a big difference to change one's mind but that is a plus for sure.

[@javigasbot]

Service cost and Reliability,,,,,,Clear winner,

[@flippy66]

I own a vstrom and because it's a V twin and accessing the heads takes ages the servicing costs for valve clearance checks are pretty high. Servicing costs from an independent are going to be pretty similar for both.

[@timebreak2166]

I have a r1200gs and a 1050xt. I tried to sell the GS while buying a new 1050XT, but they both have different characteristics, so I'm riding both. The mechanical perfection of the 1050xt is quite good. The engine sound is perfect and there are no gaps. On the other hand, the GS's engine sounds like it's broken, but it can go off-road more perfectly. And my wife is more comfortable tandem with the GS. GS is a bit more comfortable for long distance driving. The XT is better for everyday riding. They are both good bikes, so I think they will be together for a long time. My GS has passed 130000km and my 1050XT is running 13000km.

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Thanks for the insights! Having them both gives you a unique perspective and experiences of using them back-to-back. This should be very useful to others seeking more information on that here. Thanks again! And wait... 130 THOUSAND kilometers on a GS?! Wow!

[@ComfyDadShoes]

I think the longer you plan on owning the GS, and the more often you use it, the more it makes sense. I personally feel like the v-strom is the more practical choice because of the price and simplicity when compared to the GS.

[@jan180]

Suzuki build very good Bikes i was in Marokko for trees Weeks in the Dessert. Drive 7900 km from Germany to Afrika and Back. I swear the Bikes is perfekt

[@stansmiley7206]

Nice.. all valid points. Previous GS owner here. The bike is quite good, but I'd give the nod to the Strom in one area - engine vibration. With the new 2023 gearing it's just butter between 70-85 mph.. GS's break in, but they'll never match an L twin. Otherwise, they both could use a little better wind protection. The tank winglets on a GSA make a world of difference for buffeting..

[@Mark-dd2nh]

I think comparing the Suzuki 1050 to the 850 GSA would be a better comparison. Would be interesting to see your thoughts.

[@matthewjones9504]

Excellent review that I really wanted to see. Thank you!

[@erocnw1341]

I own both. The GS is a better bike based on performance, premium feel, and fun factor which shouldn't be a surprise based on price. But I like the Strom too; it's a solid bike at a good price.

[@gillianbrodie6807]

I enjoyed the video thanks, apart from the fact it appears it was only for gentlemen! That took me back to the 70s when I was at college on an engineering course and some tutors always just said 'good morning gentlemen' etc. Ho hum! 🙄 Having said that, my choice is the GS. I love the suspension, the engine, the shaft drive, the looks, the quality and the sound. I had one for 7 years a while back and loved it and I'm looking forward to getting my second one. 🙂

[@VToldsMotoShow]

It seems that KZbin's stats weren't exactly up-to-date when this was being recorded . I've addressed that greeting in some other videos and the whole idea went already down ;). I'm glad that you liked your GS nad good luck getting a new one.

[@gillianbrodie6807]

Thanks. 😃👍

[@jan180]

I have two one the 1050XT and 800DE also in Suzuki Yello. The 800DE ist customizing by Hessler Rallye Team. This Guy ist an amazing Rallye Driver

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Sounds cool. I've got a lot of respect for the V-Strom 800DE. It's much better than it front light's design suggests.

[@jan180]

@@VToldsMotoShow Yes this Bike Rock n Roll👍

[@Athanasiuscontramundum919]

With all due respect, I think you've missed the point quite a bit and it is not a fair play and comparison. BMW GS a.k.a. Goose is the King and it is one of the most expensive in its class and Suzuki 1050 is not even in the same league.

[@inked-96]

The suzuki isn't trying go be in the same league. When you factor in a 1250GSA used is around £14,000. A used 1050XT is £7,000, the suzuki is the better option. It'll still be fun, take you around the world, and be more reliable. You pay for the name and gadgets. I have a 1250GSA and have had no end of trouble with it. It'll soon be sold.

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Yet it's still a choice that people make between these two. Or they ride a V-Strom 1050 and consider getting a BMW, so well, I still consider this to be an interesting and valid comparison to make.

[@maldridge7630]

As always makes Saturdays better 👍

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Always with pleasure!

[@vivienhounsounou1867]

why do you test adv bikes without ever going offroad?

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Because I will never take them offroad and they're not built to do that. If you do, this happens: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXWlgGmpa5mjZsU and if you're not as lucky, it's thousands of $$$ in bills for repair. For that one can have a proper dirt bike. These I used to ride offroad since more than 20 years ago.

[@nemerkha]

@@VToldsMotoShow this is true for heavy weight adv bikes, GSes, explorers and Multistradas, where if you break plastic panel youll need to sell a kidney to replace. Those are called adventure touring bikes. Proper ADV bikes such as the Tenere 700, 890 adv R and the likes are made for this. Those are the proper swiss knife of bikes- i take my Tenere 700 from TET to autobahn and back on every european tour, and it can do everything. Again, a proper adventure bike, not a 30000 euro bike for Sunday coffees.

[@vivienhounsounou1867]

@@VToldsMotoShow I'm honestly surprised by what I'm reading here

[@KimuelMillan]

Offroads are for dirt bikes

[@rotasaustralis]

Ok, I watch all of your videos & you state some very controversial things however, although your reviews are reasonably unbiased, I'm interested to know your straight up opinion on the reliability of the bikes. If you were forced to chose one of those two bikes to travel around the world & you had to chose the bike that was most likely to finish a world trip, which bike would you choose?

[@VToldsMotoShow]

I just like any other person who wouldn't own many of those for long time, have no idea about their reliability. I could tell you as a former long-time V-Strom 1000 owner, that some things broke in it and had to be fixed. I'm pretty sure that there are V-Stroms 1050 and Africa Twins that do break and some that don't. There are so many factors like maintenance, material defects in a given part, how a bike is ridden, how often, where, where it's stored and overall what happens to it during its life, that without proper research, it's impossible to say much about reliability on a large scale and form strong statements based on a statistic. I haven't experienced any faults while riding these two while I have riding KTMs and Ducatis, more than once, and Yamahas and Triumphs that would randomly shut their engines off (got that all on video in the honest reviews). That's all I can tell for sure.

[@fxpipcollector]

Do tiger 1200 pro vs BMW GS 1250 R. I want to buy one of these two bikes 🙏🎉

[@VToldsMotoShow]

With pleasure, here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXOvk6iVdtKpoNE

[@Hevdv]

In Holland u buy a 2017 model gs1200 with 50 k km for the price u buy a brand new vstrom 2024

[@Xt1000]

The beamer is about 10k more than the strom. That was my deciding factor.

[@paulocometti4317]

Vstrom for me! more reliable.

[@almightybilly]

for that BMW money i would get a Suzuki and a house in Vietnam.

[@yorgione9331]

off but are u from poland? :) or only drive here?

[@VToldsMotoShow]

Yes, I am from Poland. And also ride just here ;)

[@yorgione9331]

Tak mi się wydawało, że kojarzę miejscówki :) Pozdro i bardzo przyjemnie się ogląda twoje filmy, rzeczowo i na temat@@VToldsMotoShow

[@krachenford9594]

Suzuki is cooler, BMW is for elder people. I ride a 1250 GS😂😂😂🎉

[@rusipathan]

The V-Strom is more similar to the F800GSA. The R1250GS felt bulbous and gimmicky to me. I do like the boxer, especially in the R1250R (standard/naked) which IMHO offers an honest motorcycling experience.

[@VToldsMotoShow]

I'm not sure I'd say that a V-Strom 1050 is closer to BMW F800/850GS rather than R1200/1250GS. Its performance appears to me as closer to the bigger one. And the general presence and size tell me to position it closer to the big daddy from BMW.

[@alastairtheduke]

Bro why do you jump all over these bikes?

[@VToldsMotoShow]

I just feel an irresistible urge. I’m sorry, can’t stop it ;)

[@jan180]

I❤my Suzuki V-Strom Dessert Express von Hessler Rallye Team

[@VToldsMotoShow]

I googled that and wow - what in the world?! Looks serious!

[@rideplanet7593]

Riding for 40 yrs is enough to say which is better. not getting influenced by advertisement... GS -🤔 V Strom- 💪😎

[@VToldsMotoShow]

No, riding for 40 years a motorcycle that is on the market for 3 doesn't seem to match.

[@Roberta_Esposito]

20:10 😂😂😂

[@VToldsMotoShow]

The kind of excitement we're all looking for, right? ;)

[@TheMaaue001]

How ugly design GS is.

[@danut19841]

If it weren't for the price, I don't think Suzuki would have sold more than 100 motorcycles worldwide. And those 100 are all the real Suzuki enthusiasts :)))

[@VToldsMotoShow]

It’s not that cheap in general. I haven’t seen any on the streets so far but I’m also not that much out there. I asked one dealer and they claim that sales numbers are fine though.

[@LaurentLui]

I drive GS1250 and 1050SE. GS is a réal good bike but so annoying. Vstrom 1050 SE is so natural , twins cylinder give smile and is enough for all day drive. GS is expensive, so stolen in France.