BMW R1300GS vs R1250GS - Why I Bought the 1300 Part 2

[@ianhoskins7838]

Spot on. As a GenX (57) I’ve been riding bikes for 40 years, mostly on-road. Every year I test ride new bikes from the dealerships. Until now, I haven’t owned a big GS. They just didn’t fit the riding I did. Getting on the R13GS for a test ride was a a revelation. It ticked the boxes and I bought one off the showroom floor. I can’t speak for other riders, but certainly, if BMW had just uplifted the 1250 I wouldn’t have bought one.

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@ianhoskins7838 exactly - five minutes into my first test ride on the 1300 I found myself thinking "they made this bike for me"!

[@Fernando90054]

Since 2018 I’ve had 3 GS’s and a GSA. The first was with the 1200 engine, very good and reliable. The other two were with the 1250 engine either the up grade to the engine that bettered its performance. The cam shaft. But the GS 1300 emerged as a completely new bike and gave the customers what they were claiming for a long time, a even stronger and responsive engine, a lighter structure and a much more fast and agile machine. Following that path they produced the 1300 GSA which is undoubtedly a more sophisticated machine than the 1250 GSA. I never took off road my previous GS but the actual standard GS is so adequate for off road that I already took her on to the dirt several occasions very easily. The wind protection is now very close to perfection, concerning that it is an Adventure bike, and the 1300 cc engine has now a top end speed and capability that we simply didn’t have on the 1250cc engine. The evo suspension system makes also the bike even more balanced and comfortable and overall the 1300 GS handles differently easer, stronger and faster. So, I ask, what is there to refrain the swap? Only the price. But what else is new? BMW was never a cheap brand. BMW Motorrad, always carried their success based on construction quality and reliability, so that’s what you get and that what you pay for. Nice video and I share with you a lot of your opinions and impressions about this bike.

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@Fernando90054 yup, I agree with just about all of the points you've made. Thanks for watching!

[@FadyBujana]

I can totally relate! In fact, I bought one of the last 1250s in March 2024 (after the release of the 1300!) falling for the hype and the juicy discount. I rode that bike for about 8.500 kms wanting to love it but somehow never managed to. I ended up almost hating it, regretting having bought it and wondering whether the whole GS thing or even BMW bikes were no longer for me... Then, I saw the new 1300 GSA and, after trying the ASA and finding some sort of moral justification for the upgrade, decided to order one. I got this bike in December and can positively tell you I am over the moon now and managed to ride the GSA for almost 3.000 kms last month despite all the family engagements during the Christmas period!

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@FadyBujana haha yeah, that moral justification is important! I'm sorry the 1250 didn't work out for you, but glad you were able to course correct, and that you didn't have to watch this video as an unhappy 1250 owner!

[@FLYANDRIDE15]

First, thanks so much for the tag and shout out, appreciate it! Second, absolutely great job on how you put this video together and moreover, impressed how well you remembered all the points made 😮🤙 Third, I unequivocally agree with all the points you made about my video and you may have uncovered a hidden truth…. I want a 1300GS 😂. Ok, joking aside, great video! I may have some fun in the future and make a video “expanding” on some of the points I made…

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@FLYANDRIDE15 hahaha yeah man, come over to the 1300 dark side!! Seriously, with your 1250 being set up so well, and you also having that Pikes Peak, there's no need (unless you want one!!). And thank you for the compliments - as well put together as your videos are, that means a lot to me. I need to take the next step and learn color correction, and other tricks to make my videos as cinematic as yours! BTW - I watched your video at least 3 times, and wrote down what I needed to remember. I have a goldfish brain. 😂😂 Looking forward to your next video!

[@FLYANDRIDE15]

@ l😂 🤙

[@tatmandu1722]

Spot on! I love my 1300, best bike ever, for me.

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@tatmandu1722 I'm really glad the 1250 exists, since so many people love it. But I'm even more glad that the 1300 exists for us!

[@robb8773]

I'm glad you got to ride the 1250GS. I still think the 1250GS is way more comfortable than the 1300GS. For me; the extra features, speed, smoothness of the 1300 does not matter as much as the lack of comfort it has over the 1250GS. Good luck with the bike & safe travels. I'm keeping my 1250GS forever, lol.

[@RogersMotorcycleAdventures]

@@robb8773 I think you should keep it forever - it sounds like the right bike for you!