R1200GS ADVENTURE / ONE YEAR ON / Do i still love it?

What has gone wrong...
Why over many others did i choose this bike? • New Bike! BMW R1200GS ...
#r1200gs #r1200gsadventure #bmwmotorrad

[@martinwood76]

Christ moan moan moan , I was hoping for some genuine issues OMG

[@billy4rocks]

You was “hoping” for some issues? Why? Isn’t it good that this is the worst i can come up with? 😂

[@johnharrison9317]

I heard bug bears, and lots of positives..

[@iancharlton5530]

About sums it up to be honest Billy. Spot on I was on mine today in the pishy weather and the protection and road presence is excellent.

[@dimitriskatsoulis4986]

My gosh what an excellent vid! Loved the real deal info and actually enjoyed your laid back sitting position next to the bike, it felt like we were having a cup of coffee and chit chatting about the bike in your garage, super relaxed vibe! Greetings from Greece🤗

[@billy4rocks]

Thank you mate, that is much appreciated. 🙏

[@mikeholland1556]

Nice one ! That's good to know.. I've just bought a 2014 gsa. I need to do a fair bit to it though. Rear wheel, diff ,caliper and brake line. Hopefully get it on the road in the next couple of weeks . Going tobe interesting as I'm only 5'8 .. Boxer lc sounds awesome. Take care commuting Billy. Will send a pic when I've completed it.

[@billy4rocks]

Cheers Mike, much appreciated ✊

[@LMO169]

About the flappy screen, wedging a soft foam ball between the screen and the dash helps a lot

[@billy4rocks]

Top tip, cheers. ✊

[@chadr9791]

Your a hard ass Billy hence you dont need a different seat ,,, all joking aside..love your review it has helped me a lot decide to buy a BMW gs 1200

[@billy4rocks]

Thanks man ✊ hopefully bmw will see this and give me some commission! 😂

[@maciejswiercz9737]

Nice review dude .

[@billy4rocks]

@@maciejswiercz9737 cheers!

[@patricecaron2130]

As I am thinking to buy this type of machine I found your vids very helpful and honest. Just to be picky about the sound, maybe try to place the microphone on your neck or take off your jacket as we can ear rubs when you move on your seat. Thank you Billy.

[@ricardosacub]

Don't keep thinking. This is THE bike. Bought a 2016 few days ago and I can tell you is the best bike i've ever riden, had a Africa twin, a KLR 650, a 800 GS and a Tenere 700. The 1200 is the best bike by far

[@kliderskope3662]

So just came across this while waiting for my old second hand one to be delivered. Thought ooh. Maybe I should have thought about these things before buying one. Watched your video and ended up smiling thinking, yep I made the right choice. Thanks for the opinion.😊

[@billy4rocks]

No problem my friend, hope you enjoy it as much as i do.

[@kliderskope3662]

Can’t wait to get out on it, even though we seem to have hit winter rain and wind right now in July lol.

[@Bowlin01]

NIce review Billy, glad you are so happy with Bertha. Just a few questions: Although you only had a few minor niggles with her have you test ridden an updated GS1250 to see if those niggles have been 'fixed'? Might make an interesting video if you were to test ride a new GS and compare & contrast with Bertha. Very suprised at the major service cost, almost 50% lower than my equivalent service on my Yammie, that's a great price you got. On the subject of running costs you failed to mention how much the following has cost over the last year, Polite vest purchase and cleaning, pipe and slipper purchase and maintenance and lastly washing powder specially for getting wee stains/ smells out of clothing. Stay safe mate 👍

[@billy4rocks]

So minus servicing costs, i have spent £140 on tena man pads, £80 on werthers originals, but i recouped all that after getting a full house playing bingo in the retirement home i now live in.

[@duncansmith2688]

Great honest review 👍🏻

[@billy4rocks]

Cheers 🙏

[@toby7504]

My god, a year already, man time flys. How is it holding up to the salt? Ride safe buddy 😊🇳🇴☕

[@billy4rocks]

That’s a good point, very well, though after every wet ride during winter i go over the forks/downpipes/exhaust and cylinders with a rag soaked with ACF-50. Once a week on average.

[@toby7504]

@@billy4rocks l do find my tiger800 less resistance to winter than my 04 vstrom,and the tiger seems to trow up dirt all over the back side of the bike, only the topbox keeps my back kleen. I did ask a yamaha dealer about less resistance to salt on newer bikes, and he said that it all came down to cutting costs as a reason that new bikes rust quicker than old ones. I do soke my bike with wd40, and that keeps it 99% rustfree, and a lot of kleening. 😊.

[@georgephilippus]

What’s it like in summer? Do you get too hot behind all that weather protection? I am in Belgium.

[@billy4rocks]

Its not bad at all, it was hitting 40 degrees last summer, i just put the screen to its lowest setting.

[@redrder1238]

1:20 No one wants to be bothered with all that math crap when riding. 😂 3:47 Thats what that beast is made for 💪

[@billy4rocks]

Im no Carol Vorderman, in any respect. 😂

[@DudeGuyWho]

Weird... my rear doesn't look like that after nearly 10k miles.

[@syahazli]

agree with you...i never thought it's going to be a good bike for commute everyday....i juts got myself a 2018 gsa....wow....so so love it ...and i talking to use it for daily commute

[@Mapother78]

Thanks for the review, Billy. Why did you go for a 2016 and not something newer? Was it just down to cost? I’ve got my eye on a 2015 in the same colour as yours (I like the red and white) because it’s about £2k cheaper than a 2017 onwards. However, I’m a bit concerned about the age, even though mileage is low.

[@billy4rocks]

No worries, Yeah exactly, cost was the factor here. In terms off its age, its 5 years younger than the previous bike.

[@paulthompson4932]

Hi Billy, what head light protector did you get? Thanks Paul

[@billy4rocks]

Hello Paul, just a cheap and cheerful one from Ali express, about £8.00 if i recall. Aint pretty, but it does the Job. ✊

[@madogblue]

How is the wind noise on the HIghway? Any helmet buffeting also?

[@billy4rocks]

Screen is pretty effective, and with the extender fitted it’s even better. Very minimal helmet buffeting.

[@jameslaughlin3298]

Regarding the tire valve placement/design: have any mechanical engineers at BMW (and other manufacturers) ever actually put air in a motorcycle tire? Even a 2 year-old with macaroni for brains has more common sense. 😂 What’s their mantra, “Let’s make it difficult.”?

[@AmusedOz]

I’m with you on riding it all day long, had mine since new in 2016 and still enjoy every rider. It.. triple black too..

[@moonchipss]

Hi Billy, it doesn't seem like you've any panniers installed while commuting into the city. I suppose it'd not be practical at all, and lane splitting won't be possible with any panniers yeah?

[@billy4rocks]

Hello mate, yeah i took the pannier rack off the bike the day i bought it to be honest, not a fan. All i need for the commute is a ruck sack, and for bigger trips i have the 150ltr lomo bag.

[@ricardosacub]

Completely agree with your review. Recently adquiered a 2016 model with only 9000 miles on it, with all the accesories I could imagine. So a soon as i got it on my hands, started riding home, which is a trip of 600 miles trought the Andes mountains of Perú. After almost 20 hours of continuing riding, i could surely say that this bike is a dream, and the best bike for long trips. I think i will keep it till the day I'm gone jaja

[@billy4rocks]

Cheers Ricardo, yeah it’s a keeper for sure, 600 miles through the Andes sounds great, that has to be the mother of all rides home.

[@robertpeschel9181]

Billy, I'm 22 years old. I just bought the exact same bike you have, and it is currently waiting for me at my house in South Africa. I'm working in the States and will be going back in 3 months. I've never ridden a motorcycle before, apart from when I was 16 I rode a small 110cc auto moped. I'm 6ft and I've been doing powerlifting from early school years. What would you say can I expect from getting on essentially my first bike ever?

[@billy4rocks]

Well, that’s a hell of choice as a first bike, we could never do that over here, or at least i couldn’t when i passed my test, i was restricted to 33bhp for two years. So your physical capabilities are not going to be an issue here, but to go from a moped to the GS, is one hell of a leap, if i was you, and if it is at all possible, i would get some experience on a smaller bike, a 125, 250, or even a 600 get used to using gears and a clutch. Not that the GS is a fire breathing monster, but compared to a 110cc moped, it almost is. So apart from the obvious power and weight differences compared to a moped, handling characteristics will be completely different, if you absolutely have to have a GS, my best advice would be to go easy, real easy, preferably on a private road somewhere with no traffic, so you can concentrate on getting used to the bike and not on other road users, hope it works out for you, please be safe! ✊✊

[@johnfallon6906]

I’m on A 2021 GS 1250 Adventure-Rally -Purchased With 6Miles , Now 9-26-24 just hit 41,000 Miles . Connecticut, Rhode Island, South Eastern Massachusetts Including Cape Cod. Your welcome to stay @ Farm in Connecticut 👍

[@billy4rocks]

@@johnfallon6906 John, that is very kind of you, I appreciate that. Glad you’re getting the miles in.

[@johnfallon6906]

@@billy4rocks I Can’t Imagine Coming in and out of London🤔 I’m Constantly Heading Towards Secluded Areas Since Retiring… I Dread Going Through Cities…. One For All & All For One Shit Gets Old…. Spent Over 20+ Years Driving A F-150 200 To 300 Miles A Day….. I agree with you on GS in all areas …. Best Bike I Ever Owned…. Just turned 62 & Looking Forward to Packing Up & Exploring……

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

You're wrong about the screen adjust being on the wrong side. The screen can be adjusted with your left hand when you're on the move. Try that with your right hand...

[@billy4rocks]

The issue is more that it cant be adjusted at a speed where you need to adjust it, regardless of what hand you use, also put the cruise control on and you can use your right hand, if need be.

[@Speedytrip]

Nice review, but if have to replace the clutch (you have to split the bike in half) or drive shaft or abs sensor, youll find its quite expensive…

[@milesdavis8665]

Question Billy, Do you think there's a downside to buying a 1200 over a 1250? Pluses and minuses

[@billy4rocks]

My freind recently bought a 2021 1250gs, and apart from the rather lovely tft dash, there is not much in it in terms of performance that is blatantly obvious.

[@milesdavis8665]

@@billy4rocks gotcha. Thanks for the reply... keep the wheels down and the paint side up 😃 😊 😀

[@IG-Smithy_702x_photography]

Hey the problem with the tyre valves, not sure if you’re aware but they look like the TPMS stems so they will probably have the sensor connected to the base. But it would make sense for bike to have a bent metal valve stem fitted. 👍👍

[@dougtory]

Great review pick my 1250 gsa at end of the week 😊😊 Happy riding

[@billy4rocks]

Nice! Im jealous, nothing beats the thrill of picking up a new bike, well a few things do…but i cant mention them here. 😬😬

[@StarknightMT_official]

Hello, Are you interested in testing products? We would like to invite you to test the motorcycle phone navigation bracket for your BMW R1200GS

[@billy4rocks]

Hey, No thanks, appreciate the offer.

[@StarknightMT_official]

@@billy4rocks Thanks for your reply

[@bmano7850]

Hey Billy. Can you please do a video on all your riding gear... would love your advice on helmet, jacket et etc.... Cheers

[@billy4rocks]

I did a riding gear vid, about two years ago, not much has changed, same helmet, most likely same gloves, either klim or alpine stars summer gloves. Been using a nexx xed2 for ages now, i love them. If you want anymore specifics then let me know. Cheers

[@bmano7850]

@@billy4rocks fantastic, thanks brother

[@sprocketrocketchris]

Great video, thanks for sharing, take care.

[@billy4rocks]

Cheers dude. ✊

[@Inked_CR]

Top video. So i currently have a F900XR TE, as nice as it is, i need something a bit bigger for luggage loading and 2 up. I'm 27, so as much as people tell me to go for a ktm, i feel it's too unpredictable for reliability. It might be stupidly quick, but I'm not buying an adventure bike to hoon around like a di**. I'm tempted to go for a 1200GSA 2018 over a 1250GSA 2019 at a 2.5-3k difference. I'm thinking to put the xtra pennies as a down payment for a weekend toy alongside a GSA? Be interested to hear your thoughts. I value opinions from experienced riders. Many thanks.

[@billy4rocks]

Thanks mate, well going from my previous experience of test riding a Ktm, and what others have said in regards to reliability, then i think the GS is the wise move, id rather get there later than not at all. Yeah a 2018 would be perfect, load up your entire house on the back and get out there. Have fun dude. 🙌

[@Inked_CR]

@billy4rocks Given you have probably riden a 1250 as well, is the extra 2k justified? Or best to save to pennies? Thanks for for the swift reply.

[@billy4rocks]

Never rode a 1250! So I couldn’t comment on it im afraid.

[@johnfitzgerald4274]

Thank you.

[@billy4rocks]

You are welcome mate. 🙏