Ugly Duckling with the utility of a truck and the legs of a cheetah

I had crotch-rockets for the past 10 years but was fed-up with leaning over the gas tank and having numb body parts (i.e. back, hands, arms, butt, crotch, legs...) so I sprung for a bike that I could actually use. After taking the financial PLUNGE of over $23k for bike and panniers, and yet I still ...haven't spent the money for a GPS unit; however, after the initial cost of the bike I cannot mention how great it is to have a bike "worth riding". If my rearend gets tired on the long trips then I just stand up on the pegs with ease and let the blood return to my butt. The upright sitting position is finally comfortable on my back and with my luggage packed onto the bike I am able to lean back and relax with the cruize control activated and let both my hand relax while leaning back against my luggage. The heated grips are almost too hot to bare on its high setting, but in the last winter storm the high setting was a blessing.
I was able to enjoy my 60 mile drive (from san antonio to austin) in freezing temperatures (32 degrees with mist and patches of rain) while staying mildly warm without the use of heated gear and without much of a worry of slipping due to the traction control, oddly though I got a lot of strange looks.
Now that the weather is getting warm I worry about my car's battery, but I'm enjoying the heck out of the bike. Read Full Review

Great All Around Bike

I purchased my R1200GSA new this past May. I have traveled over 11,000 miles on it since then, including a two-week trip which included the Badlands of South Dakota, Bighorn Mountains, Yellowstone, Montana, Idah, Mount Hood, and the Pacific Coast Highway before finally returning back to Ohio throug...h the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest.
This bike has lots of horsepower, and can handle high speeds 80+ with aplomb. It also handles the twisty roads quite well, and rainy weather is really no problem at all. There's a reason this bike is at the top. The little things such as cruise control and heated grips make the riding so easy; plus, the variable electronic settings make on-the-go adjustments easy to suit your individual riding style.
The Michelin Anakee 3 tires did only so-so for the rear: only 4,700 miles. The front tire is still going strong at 11,000 miles.

Overall, I can say I'm extremely satisfied with this bike. I'll always own BMW's for the safety and reliability they've come to represent. Read Full Review

OK I finally get it.

After 25+ years of owning Kawasaki's (ZX-11, 2 x ZX-12, Concours 14), I finally plunked down on a 2015 BMW 1200 GS Adventure. I have ridden it 800 miles or so,, and already can say this bike corners better than any other bike I have ever ridden.

It doesn't have the power of my recent machines, but... I dare say it is quicker from A to B than any previous bike. In addition it is more comfortable, and has higher technological features. It is most probably the most "Swiss Army Knife" of bikes, and I haven't even taken it off-road yet. I was also considering the new KTM 190 Super Adventure, but I got an unbelievable deal, which swung this bike ahead of the KTM, but I dare say I will not miss the KTM's power, and will enjoy the maintenance feedom of the shaft drive, and the incredible integration of the Navigator unit.
Disclaimer: My wife and I own 4 BMW cars, but I never liked the look of the H-twin engine as in the GS, but the engineering of the BMW is up there with the cars, and the the H-2 engine and shaft drive which add weight, are placed so low as to aid the cornering ability, to a level I did not think possible.
It is probably the best bike in the world, which is why it sells more than any other single model, and why people take it around the world (still looking to see fellow Brit Ewan McGregor on the road). Read Full Review