So what possesses someone to go and spend more money on a second hand BMW than on a new Japanese bike? This question must cross the minds of many potential GS owners!  The R1200 GS is always placed near the top of the ownership experience for many reasons. But, is it right for you?

If you are looking to buy one of these - there are certain factors that affect the price considerably. Service history is an absolute must, and accessories can really bump up the price. Some bikes display eye-watering mileages, but if they have a complete service history they can still be a viable proposition. A colleague is running an older GS 1100 that is just coming up to 90,000 miles. He uses the bike every day for work, (he even joked about fitting snow chains recently), and it has never let him down.

I originally looked to buy an ‘Adventurer’ model and prospective owners should look carefully at the difference. They are much more off-road orientated then the standard GS. The gearing, tyres, wheels and body panels may not suit commuting or touring, so think very hard before paying the extra money. Vario panniers and heated grips are a must, as is a rear hugger. The rear subframe is not protected with a splash-guard resulting in water from the rear tyre spraying over the shock, battery & the rear of the rider’s legs. The seat is adjustable but can still be a stretch for shorter riders. Getting on & off is always exciting with the panniers fitted! Any other accessories are a matter of personal taste and can very expensive.

If you want serious performance off-road - have a look at the ‘HP2 Enduro’ bike on ‘Youtube’.

Build quality is excellent with the bike still looking new after three years. Always check the front of the engine behind the front wheel. The alloy is susceptible to corrosion from road dirt, so fitting a fender extender is advisable. Removing the engine cover to clean it is not an easy five-minute job. In the end I cleaned the cover, applied some silver paint, and replaced the original Allen key bolts with aftermarket stainless items. The original off-road biased tyres have been replaced with a set of Bridgestones, which has improved its road manners considerably.

The ‘R’ series engine is vulnerable to serious engine damage if dropped at any speed. A decent set of crash bars that protect the cylinders is a wise investment. Note that the engine & body crash bar kit (which covers the upper tank/fairing) will set you back about £400. Ouch!

I regard myself as a good off-road rider but would honestly struggle with such a big bike off the tarmac. The Adventurer model does have a much lower first gear to help haul around what is a very heavy bike. I can remember trying to pick up a Police ‘R80 RT’ and the GS feels just as heavy. Dropping one of these off road, or anywhere for that matter, would be a back-breaking, and potentially expensive experience.

Filling the tank gives a range of about 200 miles of easy riding (about 45 - 50 mpg). However, be warned that swinging off the throttle will result in mpg economy plummeting into the low 30’s.

Servicing costs are again not cheap - being slightly more expensive then the Japanese dealers. My contact with the franchised dealer network has been excellent, but you certainly pay for the experience. The GS has been the subject to numerous recalls over the years and the dealer has been very helpful in getting the modifications completed. Ensure the service history includes notes to say that the recalls have been undertaken by BMW.

On a recent trip to Wales the bike exceeded all my expectations. A well-ridden GS can keep up with most Japanese sports bikes on the ‘twistys’ and is not far behind on the straights. However, the panniers can affect the handling at very high speeds. Rider and passenger comfort is excellent leaving no aches & pains, even after a long days riding.

Only a couple of issues have tarnished my experience….

Why BMW persist on fitting their machines with such dreadful switchgear is beyond me! This is truly a ‘VHS’ system in an age of DVD and Blu-ray. At cruising speeds of about 60-75mph there is a resonating vibration in the handlebars, which eventually transfers to your forearms. I have tried other GS machines and they all appear to have the same problem. It’s just a case of riding through the vibe to attain a comfortable speed.

I suppose every biker has their fantasy garage adorned with assorted bikes from past & present. Does the GS make it into that garage? No, sadly it doesn’t! That said, if I could only have one bike that does everything I want - then the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. It doesn’t wheelie (it has Traction Control!) and you can’t do a ‘stoppie’(ABS).

As an effective all round machine - you can’t beat it.

If you want one but it’s too expensive for you, simply sell the kids for medical research… you won’t be disappointed!

Nigel Leach