BMW K1200 GT

I have had the bike since new. Also had an introduction to the 'different' front suspension on the first day when the bike had to be tailored back to the shop for an extended stay to get it to stop wobbling at speed. Later I have found out that it is nice not to have a front end that dives when brak...ing.

Thirty days later after my incident and shop confinement, I was told by the biggest BMW shop in the US, that they had to communicate with headquarters on the subject and then received a “special” set of front ball joints to resolve the problem. Well, in the end I had a bike to ride and it is a good overall compromise between a sport bike and a touring ride. It pulls all the way to the 9K redline smoothly but don’t expect to see out of the mirrors past 70 or so. No heat problems like others I have heard about and the mileage was as I expected, about 45-54 depending on the altitude you ride at and the way you ride. However I have noticed that fast trips do not necessarily lower the mileage as much as the wind.

The handling is smooth enough to go to the pegs and that may be a problem for the people who just want to tour. At times I found myself going a bit fast around corners because I forget I was on a touring bike and not on a sport bike. The bike runs like a train a holds a line well. I really like to hear the sound of the intake and pipe (although tuned low from the factory) when you get up past five grand on the tach. I have done it again. Forgot I had it full with both bags loaded and extra stuff strapped on the seat behind me.

One issue I have never have been able to get rid of is the effect wind has on the bike at times. Any turbulence like you encounter around semi trucks causes the bike to snake around a bit. Feels a bit strange at first when you are not expecting it and I have tried different shield positions with the motorized shield, but it still does it. Kind of like they got something wrong in the wind tunnel by not testing in turbulent conditions.

The fit and polish is good and the overall look is great. Over the past few years no problems have surfaced other than what I have talked about. Would I buy another? Well if I ever get the chance to swap my blue one for a red one, watch out.
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Great Used Buy

I found my '04 flying brick on EBAY, and have been thrilled with it. Have owned or ridden all the Japanese makes and Harleys, plus some older BMW's over 40+ years, but never a machine with the incredible performance and handling of this bike. Prefer the inline 4 - 16 valve "K" to the tra...ditional opposed boxer "R", for its smooth screaming acceleration vs. the "thumper" feel of the "R", but that's probably just a mater of personal preference. I was a little concerned that the riding position would be too "tight", but the adjustable seat and pegs and the OEM bars position work fine for my 57 yr old knees and back over the long haul. I've ridden the new Kawa Concours 14 and the Yamaha FJR and they're great, but this machine seems just a notch above them on every level, even though it's 6 years old. I am very pleased with the choice. Read Full Review

Very Refined "Sport" Touring Machine

I have owned this bike for a couple of years now and I am still as impressed as the first time I rode it.



I have ridden most of my life and several friends have BMW bikes. I traded bikes on a ride in CA quite a while back. He had a late 80's K1000gt and I had an 86 HD softail. He was impressed, I... was not. I never bothered looking at them again.

Fast forward 20 years.

I'm not impressed with 20yr old stagnet HD but WOW, what BMW has done over the years. Silk smooth, linear power band, gobs of torque, supreme handeling. I let the Aprilia go, kept the Honda CBX and a token HD Sportster and laid my money down right away.

The wife loves it, I love it and at 45 - 50 mpg, my wallet loves it. Get out in the long roads of Montana or Wyoming and set the cruise on GO. Just take in the beauty as it passes by the window of your helmet. Get to the curves and get engaged with the bike and it is a refined symphony of fun.

Thanks BMW for not sitting still and continuing to improve your products year in and year out. As I get older it will probably have a LT at the end instead of GT. Read Full Review

Touring and Performance

I have just purchast this bike, and as to sport's tourer, it is great. The bike hs plenty of power and tourque, and as a tourer with tow up, it performes great. The bike is very comfortable, and eat's the kilometer's with ease. For a 1200 it is also very economicale on fuel Read Full Review

Still Impressive After All These Years

I bought my 2004 BMW K1200 GT in 2006 from Engle Motors in Kansas City. I keep it in a garage on a BMW battery tender. The motor pulls strong from just above idle and can handle a third-gear launch from a stoplight if necessary. For a 2004, it has everything: cruise control, adjustable seat height, ...adjustable pedal height, heated grips and seat, electrically-adjustable windscreen, antilock brakes. I call it a 3-Series BMW without doors, except much quicker. I switched bikes with a friend on a ride years ago and rode his HD cruiser for about an hour on two-lane winding roads. When we switched back, he asked how I liked his bike. I said, "How in the world did Harley-Davidson manage to engineer all of the fun out of riding a motorcycle?" He agreed that riding the K1200GT was more engaging. Different bikes for different riders. What a great world. Read Full Review