BMW R1200GS: The Alpha and Omega of Motorcycles

[unstablerider]

You know of course anything over a 'refined' 37 hp is a pure waste....

********wink-wink

[NikolassGr]

its too heavy bike and the back will in all the GS Adventures bents and wabls aftes the first off road ride!!!

[raghuscsa316]

Ok ok we get it, the GS is the Chuck Norris of the motorcycle world.

[TORQUER3]

Okay...if you watch this guys other videos you will understand that he is being sarcastic in this film. He doesn't mean anything he is saying...he rides a KLR650!!!!

[halfthrottle]

@TORQUER3 Yes it's all for the lulz. I do ride a KLR650, but that is me on the 1200GS which I also still own it just isn't here in Panama with me. Both bikes are good at what they were designed for.

[stoweVT7170]

holy shit, who wrote this monolog, harley davidson.

[halfthrottle]

@stoweVT7170 No but Harley Davidson should hire the guy who did.

[PETTKY650]

halfthrottle is the best!

 It is a very nice video!

[biwak01]

take a adv 990 and you will be faster ;-)

[MegaDeathwarrant]

Many failed to out run the gs? Man they must be the worst drivers in the world.

[GSessories]

Great video, but that Adventure needs to dump that heavy luggage and get with the TailGunner from GSessories. I rode the White Rim with mine, and saved a baby from a burning building! Lol.

[TheImmunitas]

Owner of this video : Are you really comparing GS1200 with KTM 990 (or any other model of KTM close to GS1200) ? Are you nuts ? There are a lot of official and serious videos (not a joke like this, poking KTM engineers to make sound BMW better) comparing those 2 motorcycles and not one of them proves BMW is #1, especially on dirt. GS1200 has no chance compared to KTM. Whatever it is : Acceleration, endurance, net weight, road & dirt performance... KTM 990 is better than BMW GS1200...

[halfthrottle]

@TheImmunitas Yes this video is completely serious. It really has crushed rebellions, and overthrown dictators, and ended famines. AND a GS did really defy gravity and ride up the side of a building to catch a man who was attempting suicide. I'm surprised you have heard about any of this before. Better get over to Wikipedia.

[XFoolXProofX]

@halfthrottle I was there when all of that happened. Check out my youtube page. =P

[ocharni]

@TheImmunitas first off ... if you cant detect the sarcasm in that video there really is no helping you.

2nd...the KTM is better on dirt ... and thats about it. reliability and all around versatility arent exactly the KTMs strenghts ...

[StigRossi]

@TheImmunitas

Ewan and Charley used a 1200GS and did just fine. :)

Ted Simon used a GS and also did just fine

[GeezerWithaGrudge]

I don't remember BMW ever actually entering, let alone winning an "enduro." Yamaha, in fact, owns the copyright or trademark on that word. The GS is a bike for both the real world traveler and the poser with spray-on dirt. You can't tell 'em apart . . . period. You can't tell one from the other from looking at the motorcycle.

[MagicAyrtonforever]

@thebipolarpolarbear It's not healthy to hate so many people.. I have a GS and I love it to bits, I respect all riders who give me a wave or a nod out on the road and I'm normally the first one to nod anyway..some Harley riders tend to be dirty when they see you're trying to overtake them, but apart from a few one off's I can't say that I dislike them. I bought my bike to ride and to have fun with, (for me) it's the best bike in the world.

[ExpeditionAwareness]

too funny.... "continent crushing"... trademark that asap. Nice work. You seem to hate everything I have owned, but I still like your work... (never owned a 1200 GS but I have a couple of TAT trotting Dakars and put 23k on my Electra Glide in 18 months - now sold..) - but keep the good work the good work coming... going to subscribe.

[halfthrottle]

@ExpeditionAwareness I don't hate KTM's, I would love to make a video like this about the KTM Adventure. I just don't know anyone who will let me film them on it. Sometimes I just like to poke fun at people who worship one brand. And with this video I was trying to out do BMW's own advertising dept. in the bull shit category, not an easy task.

[ExpeditionAwareness]

@halfthrottle I'd like a little wrist twisting time on a KTM as well. But whatever... ride what you brought - am I right? :)

[ransombobcat]

there are many different brand bikes out there with very few miles on them..It has nothing to do with the bike..My Harley is 3 years old with over 30,000 miles on it..I know of plenty of harleys with much less..

[otacon451]

hahahahaha .. .oh wait

[gimitronic]

DUCATI multistrada 1200 the best.............

[halfthrottle]

@gimitronic The best what? Looking. Best dual sport that is really a sport touring bike? Best sounding name?

[WailingFungus]

@halfthrottle -sounding name haha



[NemeanLion]

@halfthrottle It sounds to me that the Multistrada is great if you're basically an "on road" person who may just decide to jump on a dirt road once in a while for fun. You won't have the capability of a 1200GS, but you won't exactly be helpless either.

[merto31]

LOL awesoome for the BMW fans!!!

[kaschte]

1:00

"Only a fool would dare trying to out ride a man on a GS. Many have tried, many have failed"... LOOL sure xD

I always think like: "WTF is going on with this man??!!", when I have a GS in front of me, riding around the corners with 30 km/h where you could ride like 60...

[halfthrottle]

@kaschte He may be going slow, but he is still in front of you :)

[brucuro]

LOL!!!!

[bobsbikeshop]

Same story as your KLRmovie. My CAGIVA ELEFANT. is faster tougher. And way way way lighter. So im way more enduro then you. And the topspeed is about the same.

[505197]

@bobsbikeshop I wonder if you'll ever get to evaluate it after it has 100K miles on it like my old GS does. The best bike in the world isn't necessarily the best in any catagory, a lot has to do with how long it does what it does very well. One thing I've noticed about bike's I'd call exotics, they hardly ever have any miles on used ones. I find that hard to understand, if they are such great performing bikes why don't people ride them? When you figure out the answer you'll figure out BMW.

[MrRodionK]

Seems like this video conflicts a little bit with halfthrottle's "world most powerful enduro" video lol

[halfthrottle]

@MrRodionK Both videos are 100% factual 

[tworide1]

The Yamaha DT-1 Enduro pre-dates the gs line by 12 years...

[pancakeessss]

i love the metal luggage for the GS. maybe i'll end up with a GS some day

[sirhcskoorb]

It's fitting that you've compared the 1200GS to very large and heavy things made of stone.

Maybe one day I'll own a bike as great as the GS.

But for now I'll have to settle for helping BMW rides pick their GSs up after dropping them in sand or mud.

After all they usually end up stuck in one of my ruts, so I kind of owe it to them :)

[Pwn00b]

@sirhcskoorb People should not ride bikes they cannot pick up. The logic behind the R1200GS/950/990Adventure etc is a mirror to the logic behind bikes like the XR650R/400/690Enduro. A XR650R is great off-road and will get you anywhere you want to go on-road as well, you will love the dirt but loath the tar. The R12GS is great on-road and will get you anywhere you want to go off-road as well, you will love the tar but loath the dirt. Both go everywhere, but you had better priorities.

[ShuddupChip]

famine ending lmfao

[dinosoreis1]

Please make a Ducati video! Those jerks have it coming to them....

[dinosoreis1]

Ahh BMW the best bike to much money can buy.

[RollerCam]

Bavarian Money Waster

[TheGingerlocks]

I'm sure KTM is sweating bulletts over all the races BMW keeps winning. Didn't BMW stop raceing the Paris/Dakar after KTM built the 950 adventure? I'm sure the R1200GS is a nice bke but, I could buy a KLR 650, put 3 or 4 grand worth of up grades in it & still buy another bike of some type.

[Pwn00b]

@TheGingerlocks The 950 Adventure is a better off-road bike VS the R12GS, although the enduro variant of the R1200GS (The HP2) is generally considered superior to the KTM 950SE with results in competition. But comparing race sub-variants is a bit like comparing factory GP bikes when you next plan on buying a commuter. Thumpers like the DR650SE and the KLR (And XR650R for that matter) win value for money hands down. Hell, even a CT110 would be better for most rider off-road VS the 1200/950.

[Helladius666]

@Pwn00b The R12gs has nothing to do with the HP2 in terms of suspension. That's where the main difference is between the KTM and the BMW adv bikes. The tele/paralever is great for on road travel (no dives on breaking hence no pillion passenger slipping on the saddle and on your back), but sucks the big one off-road. No wonder they didn't want that on the HP2. Also the KTM chassis feels altogether more nimble and better balanced front to back. Race results? IMHO BMW can afford better riders...

[Pwn00b]

@Helladius666 Arguably the HP2 and SE are equally differentiated from their domestic counterparts. The R12GS does suffer from its front suspension although it is not altogether bad and does make the bike behave better in the capacity of a fully packed RTW bike (The KTM Adv does not carry weight anywhere near as well). KTM has a much much larger motorcycle motorsport budget. Especially in the HP2 era. The KTM Adv is better off-road than the R12GS though, I agree. By design not engineering ability

[ERST105]

Nice and balanced reporting there. Thanks.

[rkeil3145]

Please, tell us how you really feel about the GS....

[halfthrottle]

@rkeil3145 I think it's alright.

[elveggoloco]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII­IIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!

And yeah, I ride an R1200GS.

[SerenityValleyVFR]

You keep using that word, "Enduro."

I don't think it means what you think it means...

Look it up on Wikipedia. :-P

[halfthrottle]

@SerenityValleyVFR Inconceivable!

[TheDynaRyder]

@SerenityValleyVFR  Since I was a kid, the word Enduro was used to refer to a motorcycle that had off road and street capabilities. I believe halfthrottle has used it correctly......

[halfthrottle]

@TheDynaRyder Thank you, a lot of people have been busting my balls over that.

[TheDynaRyder]

@halfthrottle 30 years ago when I was a little kid. I worked in a Suzuki shop on saturdays cleaning everything up. The first Enduro's hit the market then, and they were nothing more then a dirt bike with turn signals, and a front headlight with a rear tail light. Of course the tires weren't so aggressive either. But back then, it had nothing to do with time trial racing. It's a shame that so many people refuse to learn their history.

[TheRealRiderbob]

Are you kidding? I have a 12GS Adv bought a KTM Adventure after 13 months because so unreliable. I have my Adventure for almost 18 months and nothing gone wrong.

[JimNtexas]

Better go check that final drive!

[halfthrottle]

@JimNtexas Just did, it's leaking everything seems normal.

[Panic853]

Buuuuhhhhhhhhh..... What stuff are youuu smoking lol..... must be you broght yourself something from south america....

[halfthrottle]

@Panic853 I don't smoke but I do sometimes huff the exhaust coming off my BMW GS for it's healing powers.

[Panic853]

@halfthrottle I knew you were taking something!!! I suggest you leave the exhaust gases an skip over to some good pot... things will look different ;-)))

Take it easy, but take it!

[hughes111]

Fantastic video!

[MadStu]

haha, the GS is indeed mighty. Shame most of the GS riders have their head stuck up their own arse!

[svengalie]

this video makes me wet.

[M3anMachin3]

@svengalie Wet? didn't it make your leg twitch? :p

;))))

[lupuszzz]

Unbelieveable funny text and outstanding presenting!!!

The video overall is the best I have seen so far! You would do us a pleasure if you make some more!

[halfthrottle]

@lupuszzz If you liked this you should check out my video "The Worlds Most Powerful Dualsport/Endro motorcycle."

[ktm626sxc]

hahahahahhahahah! you suck!!!!!!!!

[halfthrottle]

A recent study at Cornell University revealed 100% of youtube commenters who use "hahahahahhahahah!" rather than "LOL" are homosexuals.

[JumpinPakFlash]

@halfthrottle hahahahaha, oh wait. lol

[rajab333]

I've knocked one of your other videos but really like some, including this one. Keep up the good work.

[halfthrottle]

How dare you knock one of my videos!  I'm glad you like this one. I need to make more like it, but the snow here in Utah has put me out of business for a while.

[Kramselyab]

A GS is an adventure bike not an enduro bike. Completely different.

[gate292]

LMAO  awesome video.

[svengalie]

lol you made this? Awesome dude. Love it.q

[halfthrottle]

Yeah this was fun to make, glad you liked it.

[icanhaslego]

haha amazing

[kcrissboy]

I really laughed. I own a 1100GS, and my opinion is that 1200 sucks. No offence, but it does!

First comes 1150, then 1100 and then 1200.

The video is very good.

[halfthrottle]

I think the more high tech the GS gets the worse it gets. ESA, stability control. Everything that makes it heavier, and has more opportunity to break. Give me simple, powerful, and tough.

[vindacator]

It's the beginning and the end!

[stevesawol]

what a load of dribble! ( and i own one)

[halfthrottle]

Have you ever defied gravity on your GS?

[stevesawol]

my i suggest you get out more?

[halfthrottle]

I think I'll take you up on it. I'll go out today and make a few more videos, thanks for the advise!

[stevesawol]

LOL.....Good man...Just make sure you have the BMW roadside recovery number on speed dail....

[zoeedarshad]

ok facts are facts... GS is heavy and good for the long haul plus users are more older in age so power comes in second priority.... KTM is more of a fun bike... more catering the younger lot, newbie adventure tourers....

i myself am hanging onto my 650 GS.... till i get enough feed back for the new 800 GS...

[verbalpenumbra]

Thank god this is anonymous or your life may be in danger. Question why don't you make an Enduro video about Harley.

[halfthrottle]

This video should have the KTM guys plotting my death for sure.

[EvanVittoriano]

@halfthrottle Wonderful vid!

ITT: People that have no idea

Nice, classic, successful troll there halfthrottle!

+1 internets to you sir! Well done!