BMW R1250 RS

[@johnhaugen1644]

Very well, thought-out, intelligent presentation! Your to-the-point attitude is beautiful! Side note; I love and understand the BMW concept, as an American, lived in Germany 33 years soaking up the culture, owned an NSU 200, then a BMW 250 many tears ago. I’m stepping in line to purchase a new BMW R 1250 RS. This is a very special treat for me in my mature years, I’ve always wanted since those days. I really enjoyed your video. Very well done!

[@mindspinn311]

Definitely the most underrated BMW

[@marianpuff]

Another great review, it made the bike interesting that I want to ride one. Still admiring the simplicity and passion of the videos. Keep it up

[@georryan]

I've owned a 1200RS for a few years now. I would say that the bike is just an amazing do-all bike (minus off road stuff). Some things to consider: The hip angle makes it hard to add highway pegs even with crashbars on it (but I have the sport seat which raises seat height a bit. The 1200R/1250R has a more sporty turn-in agile response to it. The RS is a little slow in direction change, and that is caused by the offset in the front forks at the wheel. If you look at the two side by side you'll see what I mean. The offset changes the rake the of the RS and makes it really stable on long trips. It is one of the more stable bikes I've ridden and doesn't get upset very easily by crosswinds. The motor is silky smooth with loads of torque and deceptive at the top end. The 1250 engine seems to add a little more excitement on the top end from what I've read. The forward lean of the handle bars is a problem for some, and it takes a mental check once in a while to make sure you are keeping your weight off your hands and using your core to hold yourself up. The bike rails long sweepers and I've done several track days and have gotten compliments on the bike everytime I'm on it. It is a good looking bike and it has been a true pleasure to own. Everything about it feels well designed and refined, and maybe that is a bit of its downfall. It looks like a bike that should be more sporty and exciting than it communicates to the rider, yet it is so good at what it does that it is hard to find a replacement for it. When I do sell the bike I will be very sad, but I have to be honest in saying that I've started looking around at other bikes that might replace it, but I also want to start doing a little offroad riding and that calls for another style of bike.

[@mrtruthshallprevail]

I agree with you. I've owned my RS for 2 years now and have clocked 30K kms on the odo. Comfort wise I find it to be a bit of an issue due to the handlebar as I'm 5ft 10". All in all its a great bike but I'm finding myself liking the GS more and more because of the ergonomics. I still love the RS and am still on the fence as the RS is an all rounder and looks good.

[@buzzburb1]

I own a 2019 bmw r 1250 rs sport this guy dos,nt know jack sh 't, too fat to get comfortable ! sold a zzr1400 as getting to old and siatica hurting , this bike is amazing , out this weekend with son an d mate on KTM Duke and Ducati monster They are 20 years younger and asking me to slow down case proven I think .this guy in the video talks bollocks he,s been lent it for a day and has no idea of its abillity

[@0321ReconMan]

Hey man, quick question. Is it good for 2 up riding? Im torn between the RS and the GS as my wife enjoys riding with me sometimes. Im sure the GS will probably be more comfortable for her...

[@ryangeorge8703]

@@0321ReconMan Yes, you can do 2-up. Obviously your physical needs will make a difference on comfort, and the RS leans more to a sporty kind of setup. The rear seat is bolstered a bit in the back, and not much in the front (the effort to reduce sliding is more in the back than the front). The footpegs for the passenger might be a little far back depending on the height of your passenger. We had a SHAD 48 liter backcase with the double back cushion on the back and it was an excellent backrest. You can get an aftermarket seat that will make it a little more comfortable and there are rear peg adjusters that can be applied that can give your passenger more options. So I think the RS can definitely be a 2-up machine. My wife was comfortable on it. Still, the GS will be a better two up bike for comfort from a baseline. Plus, the RS is just a beautiful bike. I always got compliments on it.

[@benjamincs1]

Glad you made the point about the torque. The torque on these is mental in the real world. It's quicker off the line than almost anything.

[@gimmecom]

The Africa Twin DCT will take that title...

[@NotNowCato1254]

@@gimmecom have you tried a 1250? The AT would not live with that bottom end shove. Honestly.

[@zipper978]

SuperDuke has entered the chat

[@rikherlaar]

Having owned two R1250 GS's already, I just ordered the RS1250 because I had it with the full upright position riding and I seldom go offroad in all honesty. I had the RS in mind all the time but they were way later on the market than GS'es in their 1250 trim and I got carried away with the GS hype...Looking forward now to finally ride the bike I wanted in the first place. My only gripe in general would be that the controls aren't backlit like on the KTM's. After a while you know the controls by heart and it's pointlesss perhaps but still.....it would make it more complete.

[@ADVBrett]

Recently taken the 2019 1250RS for a short test ride and really enjoyed it but I need more time on the bike so have another test ride planned. I'll vlog that ride as well. Good times indeed!! I can seriously see one in my garage replacing my R1200GS for sure

[@amaduulia8921]

Watching from Ghana. Keep it up.

[@caynam]

Been ridding the R1200RS and R1200GS for a few years, I'd say you doing it wrong with the QuickShifter my friend!. In order to make the QS works on the boxer engine, you need to really open the throttle (rev it hard) when upshift and close the throttle when downshift. Then you'll see it is buttery smooth.

[@doughunt7000]

Agreed . My gs is smooth as . But I use your technique

[@suezix8689]

agreed too. had it on a GS rental and it took me a while to get it but yep, past 4000rpm the things shifts without effort, and down is a doddle if you close the throttle.

[@edjsimonis]

and try wearing proper boots.

[@benkelly2190]

At last..someone who gets it! The QS works perfectly well when used as intended. When it’s revved hard.

[@FastRu-kl7iy]

You are wrong . Between 1 and 2 all bmw boxers are harsh as shit. I mean 1250s are as bad as 1200s

[@mikedignum1868]

I used to own a 1200RS a few years back and loved it (until it got stolen) so I decided to take a test ride on the 1250RS last week to see what has changed (apart from the engine). Good points - Comfortable seats and good wind protection from the screen and the nice TFT screen. Bad points (IMO) It still needs a rear hugger, my legs got soaked and filthy on the test ride..They should have moved the satnav bracket, I use a thank bag and when that's on you loose visibility of the nav. Finally, I still got should ache from the slight lean forward position, I had this on the 1200 and ended up getting risers. If you can live with the above then it's a great bike for touring and for us vertically challenged you can get both feet on the ground flat.

[@windyrun7979]

Did the risers fix the shoulder ache ?

[@mikedignum1868]

@@windyrun7979 yes

[@richardbains5]

Mate, Where's the round table chat to summerise at the end... Good review though... Problem the RS has, is the GS will take all the sales even though the RS would be more appropriate for most people...

[@mikefry6765]

Great review as usual from you guys 👍👍

[@Sarah-Caito]

Haven't found any bike I'd like to replace my R1200RS with. It has problems, but it's the best package I could find in 2017. This looks great.

[@gerrypowell2748]

RSs don’t bite back❤️

[@MrTrek164]

Don I had one for 2000 miles and it had to go ,which to say I was disappointed is and understatement.The bike did not match it's expectation by a long way .Felt way heavier than it is ,slow turning in compared to the gs ,uncomfortable after a short time ,drank fuel like a piss head ,put too much pressure on wrists unless your giving it a hiding .Loved the looks ,the motor sounded good,I even liked that colour personally I think they missed the trick it could have been a lot better .

[@watertails]

Excellent review, thank you 😊

[@fivespeed3026]

I like the bodywork but I’m not too crazy about the gold paint color.

[@WolfgangVonKempelen838]

It's nice in red though

[@MEHBUBish]

nice review. at 1:18, the sudden jingle of background music, is startling. thnx

[@travelinben1966]

Like it,but I'd need bar risers.

[@fredh4641]

Hi mr. Bike Show. What is your complaint about the quickshifter, is it mainly the upshift or the downshift, or both?

[@briananderson2219]

The problem was he did not have the revs up high enough For it to work smoothly.

[@Baste_Bastesen]

No prob with the quichshifter, up or down, on my 2020 R 1250 R. What a great bike

[@paulos20030]

Hi Donovan, did you get much vibration through the handlebars?? I took an s1000xr for a test ride and it made my hands hurt for a good 30 mins after!!!

[@IgnitionBikeShow]

The XR has a high-frequency vibration that is a problem. The RS does vibrate when accelerating but at a lower frequency and not while cruising.

[@paulos20030]

It was mainly at motorway speeds, the bars were really vibrating which is a shame as I’m looking for a touring bike!!

[@RuledByMars]

Grip Puppies. $20. Done. Have them on every bike I own. And I also weight the bar ends if necessary. Simple fixes to reduce or eliminate vibration. Of course dampened bar risers will work as well. But now you're talking some $. Try the Grip Puppies off Amazon or wherever first. Trust me. The best. Also cheapest.

[@Swedeman999]

No vibration on my R1250RS. It's so smooth.

[@leecaldicott74]

Watching your channal and love it but from wolverhamptom uk so can ya talk mph and £ please ha thanks keep the ace work going lads 👌

[@AC-iy1ov]

He does this compare to the 1250r ?

[@islipfdchief]

BMW lost me as a buyer when they removed the telelever front suspension from the RS. 2014 I was ready to replace my 2003 R1150RS, and I did with a kawasaki concours 14.

[@briananderson2219]

I understand what you mean about the total livre. I have an R 1200 r With the talever it is amazing. But riding other bikes side-by-side it I don't know that you can really tell the difference. Other than in uniqueness and the cool looks

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

KTM 350 love my GTR1400, simple & reliable

[@jadesmith6823]

Great review but, I'd rather the RT 🙏

[@Nekminute]

1290 s from KTM give you 180 HP and 144 NM torque...

[@sgtunix]

Yet I bet the 1250 has plenty of power. I have a R1200GS and it has bucket loads. The power curve (how much HP / torque in lower revs) is more important than the top numbers.

[@Nekminute]

@@sgtunix its a V twin the power is immediate

[@sgtunix]

@@Nekminute Of course the power is immediate, V-twins are great. It's how that power comes. I can't say anything about the 1290 as I haven't ridden it, so maybe you are right. But I remember the KTM 990 having a lack of low down torque, even though comparatively speaking it was still pretty great.

[@drewyager4020]

I’ve owned both now and the KTM is much more powerful and exciting however for me it was a problem child in the dealership for a lot of its life. So now just the r1250rs is the one I ride

[@LarryBishop69]

Drew Yager .KTM is a one trick pony , look like rubbish when you put it side by side with a BMW

[@trailingarm63]

Why is it "a little bit old tech?" Because it's a flat engine first used in 1923? When were in-line or across the frame fours introduced? (FN Four 1905, Henderson 1912 Gilera 1939) What about the V4? (1931 Matchless Silver Hawk) I don't see anybody calling fours old tech. Likewise parallel twins, V twins, square fours and just about every other configuration. And I don't see Subaru complaining about flat engines today. History's a great subject, you should try studying it.

[@scottie55]

Porshe aren't "old tech" either!

[@bikefreak5787]

A chromed exhaust 🤔 Nice bike though 👍

[@benjamincs1]

Test rode one and found it pretty uncomfortable. It was amazingly smooth, quick and handled well. Just not very nice for more than a few hours. Real shame.

[@Maige2900]

Well said

[@predragkardashian3730]

Who design those BMW ugly exaust pipes? It looks like a bucket glued to supermodel 😊

[@duncanfraser2390]

Ill stick to my trusty blackbird lol

[@sudolea]

Comparing this bike to the GSX-S1000F is the silliest idea of this review. Please don't. Please. I own a GSX-S1000, the F just has the fairings added, and nothing changed to its geometry. Well, I don't call the GSX-S1000F a proper sports-tourer, I call it a faired naked. Way too short to be a proper sports-tourer...

[@josech]

And everybody will buy the GS...

[@rikherlaar]

For mostly the wrong reasons.....alas

[@amosrademeyer2550]

Old tech, are you sure boetie☺☺

[@ShahidKhan-pt7ko]

Y the all companies sys our bike is fastest in the world hayabusa h2r bmw honda zx14 wich one we bying.

[@allwinds3786]

Too complex, I won't replace my only motorcycle (a '77 R100RS) with this.

[@imreder5171]

...only the tank is too small. So you tour from gas station to gas station. So, after the "cafe racer" theme, this BMW belong among the "gas racer" genre

[@Swedeman999]

Nothing wrong with the tank size. I get about 240 miles per tankful with 2 of us on the bike.

[@thurstonhowelliii9501]

Buy a GSA and cruise from Starbucks to Starbucks. Adventure for sure.

[@davidetrivieri6254]

fantastic motorbike and very good review but the color that you chose for the bike is simply unwachable

[@briananderson2219]

I was kind of digging the color. Unique and all

[@NotNowCato1254]

I bought one in this colour cos IMO it's the best of an appalling choice: black (borrrrrring 🙄), 'funeral blue' (tedious 🙄), metallic brown - for an extra £1k (I shit you not 😏), or this, Austin Yellow. Was planning on having it wrapped or repainted but then the colour and lovely satin finish started to grow on me.

[@Swedeman999]

Austin yellow is an amazing colour. I was a bit dubious at first but love now 🤣😁

[@FastRu-kl7iy]

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT all day long

[@hudsonquay]

Good bike but it isn't even the best BMW Sports Tourer.