BMW R1250GS (2019 - on) Review

Overall rating

With identical styling to its R1200GS predecessor and a chassis left unchanged, not a lot seems to be new with the with the BMW R1250GS at first glance. Delve a little deeper and you’ll find a higher level of standard equipment and if you tick the options boxes, more advanced electronic rider aids, too.

But the big change comes from BMW’s venerable Boxer engine, which gets ‘Shift Cam’ variable valve timing for the first time and a capacity increase, drenching it with more power from top to toe.

If you own an R1200GS it’s probably not worth an immediate trade-up but ride it back-to-back with the 1250 and you’ll notice the newer machine’s extra lowdown grunt and added urgency up top. If we’re honest it still isn’t the most exciting adventure bike out there and its looks aren’t to everyone’s taste, but you can’t deny just how talented it is – a comfortable tourer, off-roader and scratcher, all rolled into one Tonka Toy-like package.

It isn’t the cheapest out there, especially if you want all the goodies, but a full-spec GS will also hold its value well and it’s proven to be reliable, despite its complex engine tech. It’s also won every MCN group test and award since it was released and it’s never hard to see why.

BMW R1250GS most popular bike in the UK in 2019

The BMW R1250GS became the UK’s most popular bike above 500cc with 1827 sold, and a further 1773 R1250GS Adventures were registered, too. These figures combined make the R1250GS in all forms the most popular bike of 2019 across all categories.

Ride quality & brakes

With no changes to the chassis it’s no surprise the R1250GS rides and handles just like the R1200GS and isn’t flustered by its extra power, but that’s fine by us. It may be a quirky, clumsy looking beast, but it isn’t and is actually a spacious tourer, performance bike or mud muncher, depending on your mood.  It exudes poise, grip and has superb wind protection and despite the change from Brembo to BMW-branded Hayes calipers, you’re never left short of solid braking power.

Off-road it doesn’t have the outright speed or playfulness of rivals like the KTM 1290 Super Adventure, or the character of the Honda Africa Twin, but the motor’s extra grunt and delicious throttle response give you more control over a GS than ever. Its standing-up riding position is natural and the optional ‘Enduro Pro’ electronics offer off-road tailored traction control, ABS and suspension settings.

Engine

Forget the clever engine tech for a moment, because from the comfort of its skyscraper-tall cockpit, all the ride-by-wire controlled ‘Shift Cam’ does is give you a GS with more low-down grunt than ever, with the softest throttle pick-up this side of a factory race bike. As a result, the R1250GS has so much grunt that sixth gear is all you need around town, on the open road or even powering out of slow, uphill hairpins.

Yoga teachers struggle to be as flexible as this engine and it’s impossible to feel the Shift Cam doing its thing. There’s no step, jolt or hesitation, just a flood of perfectly delivered power and a nice, throaty exhaust note.

But pile on the revs and the BMW becomes less pipe-and-slippers and more crowbar-and-Doctor Martens – fast by any standards with enough poke to clutch-up easy third gear wheelies with the electronics turned off. It may still not have the power of its big orange rivals, but the BMW has more than you’ll ever need on the road.

Shift Cam: How it works

To give the 1254cc Boxer twin its seemingly magic powers, each of the boxer twin’s inlet cams have low and high-lift cam lobes sat next to each other.

The camshafts continuously slide from side to side across the top of the engine (in five milliseconds), via an electronically controlled shift gate, depending on revs and throttle opening. Below 5000rpm (around 80mph in top) the engine is in a mild state of tune, with lots of lowdown grunt, but when the rider asks for a lot more power its high-lift cams come into play for maximum acceleration. Above 5000rpm the motor stays in full fat mode.

Capacity is increased from the R1200GS’s 1170cc thanks to a bigger bore and longer stroke (from 101mm x 73mm, to 102mm x 78mm) and the inlet valves are staggered as they open, to create swirl in the combustion chamber for a better burn. Power is up from the 1200’s 123bhp to 136bhp and there’s 14ftlb more torque, delivered 250pm lower in the revs.

Reliability & build quality

Despite initial reservations about the complexity of its Shift Cam motor we haven’t heard of any problems from owners and the same goes for overall durability. The R1250GS is proving to hold up well, even with big miles under its belt.

Our 4 BMW R1250GS owners' reviews give the bike 5 out of 5 overall, but the comments do go on to say it's relatively expensive to service - something of a BMW trait. 

View this post on Instagram

We’re at the launch of the new BMW R1250GS. Shift Cam technology promises to give lots of low down torque and top end power, but does it work? We’re about to find out.

A post shared by MCN - motorcyclenews.com (@motorcyclenews) on Sep 17, 2018 at 11:43pm PDT

Value vs rivals

The base R1250GS doesn’t cost the earth, but the reality is most buyers will tick boxes and add optional performance, electronics and equipment packs. They’ll add thousands to the price but will considerably enhance the owning experience and make the machine more desirable when it’s time to sell.

BMW servicing isn’t the cheapest out there and it isn’t especially good on fuel. During MCN’s various UK tests we’ve managed a 47mpg average and a theoretical 207-mile range from its 20-litre tank.

The GS is widely considered to be the adventure bike benchmark, but it isn't without rivals. The Triumph Tiger 1200, Ducati Multistrada 1260, Honda Africa Twin and KTM 1290 Super Adventure are all viable options.

Equipment

A colour TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity, LED headlights (both add 5kg to all-up weight) and a basic Hill Start Control system are now included on the base R1250GS.

The ‘Riding Modes Pro’ package includes ‘Dynamic Brake Control’, which automatically shuts the throttle butterflies when you brake hard and stops you from accidentally braking against the throttle in an emergency.

Hill Start Control Pro knows when you’ve pulled up on a slope (via the Inertial Measurement Unit) and applies the rear brake for you until you pull away again.