[skychs]

I'm on my third GS. Two different R1200's and now a new 2020 R1250GSA.

Now that I have the new R1250 everyone wants to test ride it ..... especially the guys who have the R1200WC's. Most of the time we just swap bikes. I ride theirs and they ride the new R1250. To my surprise ...... everyone who rides the bike says it's no more powerful or responsive than their R1200's. When I ride their bike however, I feel a big difference. Off the line they seem very similar to me but in the upper RPM's the R1250 IMHO is much more responsive and powerful.

Has anyone else tested the new R1250 and felt an improvement in performance? I would have laughed it off after the first test ride but now I'm hearing it from more than one rider. Psychological? Disbelief? Im just curious what others are experiencing.

 

[mhcolumbus]

I'm on my third GS. Two different R1200's and now a new 2020 R1250GSA.

Now that I have the new R1250 everyone wants to test ride it ..... especially the guys who have the R1200WC's. Most of the time we just swap bikes. I ride theirs and they ride the new R1250. To my surprise ...... everyone who rides the bike says it's no more powerful or responsive than their R1200's. When I ride their bike however, I feel a big difference. Off the line they seem very similar to me but in the upper RPM's the R1250 IMHO is much more responsive and powerful.

Has anyone else tested the new R1250 and felt an improvement in performance? I would have laughed it off after the first test ride but now I'm hearing it from more than one rider. Psychological? Disbelief? Im just curious what others are experiencing.

It's a much better motor. I'm surprised you say similar off the line as I think the biggest improvement is the bottom end. They just say no improvement because they need to justify what they are riding. If it was me I would acknowledge the improvements even though I was still on a 1200. I really don't have anything to prove at this point and don't really care if I'm a model or two behind. I do have a 1250 but only because I jumped over from an RT with the 1200 motor.

 

[Rick92040]

While there is a difference between the two bikes I think it just isn't enough to justify the expense of upgrading. Those are my thoughts and I would imagine it's the same with the people who have test ridden your bike, they just didn't phrase it correctly.

 

[skychs]

It's a much better motor. I'm surprised you say similar off the line as I think the biggest improvement is the bottom end. They just say no improvement because they need to justify what they are riding. If it was me I would acknowledge the improvements even though I was still on a 1200. I really don't have anything to prove at this point and don't really care if I'm a model or two behind. I do have a 1250 but only because I jumped over from an RT with the 1200 motor.

Thanks for your input. I agree with you. Part of the problem however is me .... Im jumping from an 07 GS (oil head) to the 1250. The differences between those two bike are huge in almost every way. The only time I get to ride a 1200GSWC is when we trade bikes.

 

[Maturerider]

Apart from a few updates the R1200GS and R1250GS are much the same with the exception of the engine. A vast improvement. More power and more torque throughout the rev range. Freer revving and smoother with no dips in the power curve and the added bonus of improved fuel consumption.
OK there is the strange engine noise when under slight load but some machine are worse than others in this respect (mine is noticeable but tolerable).

My advice is, if you are happy with your 1200 don't test ride a 1250, you might be smitten.

 

[Black beast]

Hi I own a 2015 mod gs1200 which I've had since new.
I was very excited about the release of the new 1250 and was ready to upgrade to one.
I've now ridden the 1250 4 times now and I struggle to feel any power or torque difference. I feel they have also softened the throttle response too much because I felt the need to be in Dynamic mode all the time compared to my 1200 where I mostly ride in road mode which still feels more responsive than the 1250 in dynamic.
Sure the motor & gearbox is smoother and the new TFT dash is a great improvement but the 1250 is also 11kgs heavier.
My gs has the Akropovic exhaust which sounds fantastic & added some extra power & torque.
So maybe the 1250 is 5k better but not 15k better the change over price I will have to pay to upgrade. Do you live in Melbourne? I would love to get the bikes side by side for some 0 to 100 and role on's in the higher gears to see in real life if there is much difference.

 

[Maturerider]

I would recommend Googling ‘Bennett’s Social R1200GS v R1250GS’. The reaction of the dyno tester was interesting.

 

[Slijkmoto]

My present R1250GS is my tenth GS in a row and my 4th watercooled one.
So I guess I am able to compare the bigger engine to the previous one.
I ride my GS mainly in the French mountains, often with my wife riding pillion, and in that environment, the differences with the 1200 cc engine are unmistakable .
In Road mode the 1250 is faster and more responsive than the 1200 in Dynamic mode.
Overtaking now rarely requires downshifting anymore, even when in 5th or 6th gear.
Fuel consumption is NOT really down however, due to the more vigorous riding style this engine invites you to.
Anyone owning a 1200, who claims that he/she doesn’t feel any difference when riding a 1250, is trying to convince him/herself not to upgrade to the new version, imho.
The issue of the resonance noise most or all 1250 engines make is bothersome, however, but, as Maturerider pointed out, not all of them suffer from it to the same degree.

 

[Candubrain]

In September I spent 8 days riding through the Alps, two up on a 1250 GS Adv. Honestly I detected no difference in engine performance compared to my 2018 1200 GS Adv.

Unfortunately I cannot compare the gentle roads of Ontario Canada to the aggressive switchbacks of the Alps so it probably is not a fair evaluation.

I'm sure it's a more powerful engine, and more EU smog compliant, but unless my bike was at end of life, I could not justify an upgrade based on engine alone.

brian

 

[Artieb]

Differences

I'm on my third GS. Two different R1200's and now a new 2020 R1250GSA.

Now that I have the new R1250 everyone wants to test ride it ..... especially the guys who have the R1200WC's. Most of the time we just swap bikes. I ride theirs and they ride the new R1250. To my surprise ...... everyone who rides the bike says it's no more powerful or responsive than their R1200's. When I ride their bike however, I feel a big difference. Off the line they seem very similar to me but in the upper RPM's the R1250 IMHO is much more responsive and powerful.

Has anyone else tested the new R1250 and felt an improvement in performance? I would have laughed it off after the first test ride but now I'm hearing it from more than one rider. Psychological? Disbelief? Im just curious what others are experiencing.

In November I returned from a Edelweiss Tour in Spain and rode a new 1250 for 1900 km
I have at home 2017.5 GS 1200
the first 10 miles I could feel the difference when I returned and jumped on my GS but not enough to notice after that
Upgrade to me personally would be worth about $200 but in reality it would be about$7-8000 at the dealer
I’ll keep my GS for a long time or at least until it’s out of warranty then I ?????

 

[Maturerider]

In November I returned from a Edelweiss Tour in Spain and rode a new 1250 for 1900 km
I have at home 2017.5 GS 1200
the first 10 miles I could feel the difference when I returned and jumped on my GS but not enough to notice after that
Upgrade to me personally would be worth about $200 but in reality it would be about$7-8000 at the dealer
I’ll keep my GS for a long time or at least until it’s out of warranty then I ?????

will!!!!!!!

 

[Lenny167]

Could it be on how the bikes were broken in?
everyone has different beliefs and opinions about "by the book" and "dyno" break in methods
I personally don't pussy foot my break in's but don't redline her either

 

[Slijkmoto]

I think it is fair to state that the 1250 is undoubtedly the stronger engine but it doesn’t justify an upgrade if you’re riding a fairly new 1200... unless a lot of money is constantly falling out of your pockets in an irksome way.. bending over all the time to pick it up is taxing for your back. :smile2:

 

[Slijkmoto]

Could it be on how the bikes were broken in?
everyone has different beliefs and opinions about "by the book" and "dyno" break in methods
I personally don't pussy foot my break in's but don't redline her either

I go easy on my new bikes during breaking in (lots of varying RPM when warm), but I think this may result in a troublefree engine later on, rather than a fast one...

 

[[email protected]]

I came from a 2009 GSA and I can definately feel that the new engine is smoother, revs more freely and shifts much better than my previous GSA. That being said it's still not a super bike and if I had a 2017 or 2018 model I probably wouldn't have bought the newer model this year. I was still happy with my 2009 and could have used it for many more years. But I must say the new screen is super!

 

[Gdoss]

I came from a 2009 GSA and I can definately feel that the new engine is smoother, revs more freely and shifts much better than my previous GSA. That being said it's still not a super bike and if I had a 2017 or 2018 model I probably wouldn't have bought the newer model this year. I was still happy with my 2009 and could have used it for many more years. But I must say the new screen is super!

Second that. Retiring my 2004, I was looking for a 2012 GS when the dealer persuaded me to go for a new 1250 HP. No doubt about it the1250 is a way better engine, but the ol’ oil heads have their appeal- in many ways they are better all-round bikes than their more powerful brethren, great commuter and tourer, smaller cylinder heads, so you don’t cook your shins, better ergonomically for the lanky of us and a darn sight easier on the ears.

 

[skychs]

R1250

Thanks again guys. I respect everyones opinion and agree ..... if I had a later year model R1200 the extra cash just for the new engine may have prevented me from upgrading. In my case however it was a huge jump from an 07 to a 2020. Now all I have to do is learn how to control all the new power. Enduro Pro here I come.

 

[[email protected]]

I'm sure after trying your bike, they know and can feel the difference and will soon acknowledge the fact. Denial isn't only a river in Africa.

 

[Pops58]

Interesting thread. I had a '15 R1200RS and didn't feel compelled to upgrade to the 1250 when it came out. When I finally moved onto the R1250GS, I was stunned with the power delivery difference. It made no sense to me as the additional HP & torque didn't justify what I feeling. Passing cars was so much quicker. I was comparing the specs between the 1200RS & 1250GS.. similar weight, same transmission gear ratios. I eventually looked at the final drive ratio and found the GS final drive is geared shorter than the RS. So add the additional power to the shorter gearing and the difference for me coming off the RS was palpable. Lucky me!

 

[Rider2]

My 2020 R1250 GSA feels like the power just keeps building as it revs, there's no "kick" at 6000 rpm (alternatively, no "sag" at 5500). I seem to operate just at the edge of where the cam shifts back and forth and can both hear and feel the difference when it shifts. It's a very good motor, mated to a transmission (and Shift Assist) that's much better than the one in my previous 2016 R1200 GSA.

That said, if I had it to do over again, knowing what I know now, would I trade the 1200? No. The incremental improvement in the power train is not worth the cost IMO, and frankly I liked the semi-analog dash of the 1200 better than the TFT on the 1250. I'm a luddite, I suppose, the speedometer is (as we all know) deliberately optimistic, and I like analog gages. Exactly how useful is knowing that I'm (not) going precisely 53 mph as opposed to knowing I'm (not) going somewhat over 50? The navigation integration sucks, frankly, and the information screens don't tell me anything that My Motorcycle can't tell me on the Nav. Plus the 2016 had Trip 1, Trip 2, and Trip A while the TFT only has Trip 1 and Trip 2 (can be set to auto reset after 8 hours so it acts like Trip A). I used all three: Trip 1 for gas, Trip 2 for whatever trip I was on, and Trip A for daily mileage. And the mothership has disabled the ability to display KPH which will be an issue if Canada ever lets us back in: at least the analog speedo had dual scales.