The BMW R1300GS - A Masterclass in Design

After going through a midlife crisis, BMW’s flagship adventure tourer is back with a facelift, a six-pack, less flab (-26 lbs!), more power and more techno mumbo-jumbo than ever. But is it enough?

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Directed and Edited by Aneesh Shivanekar

[Towerguy]

“A bike trying to go and dying because its rider was busy paying for it”……man….this guy is a bike riding prophet….that’s some deep sh!t right there….

[jancsitkovits]

Best thing in the Video is the typo from the BMW Assist voice. "How many I help you?" Even funnier is that the typo carried over to the german AI Voice "Wie vielen helfe ich Ihnen?"

[samuelboldt]

This video told a lot of truth at the end.
My Dad loves motorcycling and bougth a GS because its ``the best bike of course``. He only went to 3 trips in 4 years of owning it. Scared that if he dropped it he wouldnt have the money to rapair it.

[gdijkema]

So glad Anish is back - you can see it immediately in the videography, absolute art.

[ricardorgomez]

Yes, I too loved the conclusion of the video. If you have plenty of money to buy an expensive bike like the 1300GS, God bless you and go have fun! But I remember when doing a short touring ride through the hills of Nevada and stopped at a small shopping center for travelers. I had my relatively inexpensive DR650 that was well modded out for adventure riding. There was another rider with his slightly banged up, cheap-looking, small Suzuki cruiser with a rack and duffle bags bungee corded all together. Young guy probably in his 20's. We chatted. He was having such a blast on his trip. Smiling and just full of excitement. I'll never forget that.

[satursatur]

These are the classic f9 videos weve been waiting for.

[basmca]

I really resonate with the conclusion of this video.

I ride a 2007 Fz6 that i bought in early 2023 for €2700 with 12.000km on it. The previous owners rode less than 800km per year.

In the following 17 months i have ridden it 30.000km, through all weather, and been to 11 different countries and 4 different mountain ranges with it. It has never let me down.

In that time it has had a valve service, a chain and sprocket, 3 new tires, 6 oil changes, installed a used set of hard cases, a topcase and heated grips. As well as about 1500 liter of expensive European petrol. All combined it cost me probably 2.5x the purchase price of the bike in less than 2 years of riding it.

I have the money to buy the ideal bike and not go on many trips, or to buy a not so ideal bike and go on many trips.

I rather spend my money on the older bike which is not ideal and make the trips, than have the ideal bike which just sits at home while i work.

[Azukawa]

I used to think Camissa was the best automotive journalist alive. I dont even care about motorbikes. I keep coming back for the superb writing and storytelling about design. Congratulations Fortnine crew, youre among the best in the world, if not the best.

[Lexx]

In Germany BMW sells as many GS' as the next four competitors in the top 5 combined. Ever since the GS 1200.
You see them everywhere. Saturdays, being polished in the driveway of their owners. Sundays, in front of the nearest biker café. On trailers behind expensive cars, on the way to vacation in the Austrian or Italian Alps.
But on the road or on trails.... No, not that I could recall.

[SgtRaptor]

In Germany, where you see a lot of GSs, you notice one thing: This bike is under utilized. Most people that can afford the GS are way retired or almost retiring - their reflexes are not as good anymore, they aren‘t as in shape and have their stiff necks or shot knees. They can‘t use the GS off-road because it‘s to heavy, they can‘t fling it round the Alps because they can‘t turn their head far enough for the switchbacks and so on.
Nothing the bike offers really gets used so it‘s mostly a rolling sign of a midlife crisis.
The best bike out there, I agree, but also the most under utilized.

I just checked and in 2017 the average Age of a BMW owner was 46 years (down from previous 50 years)

[TerranceArabia]

8:15 - SOS rider outside starbucks service area😂

[robmd]

Can’t wait to buy one used in 15 years!

[kylejohnson]

Many years ago, my friend and I got some cheap Chinese 150cc dirt bikes and rode across Central and South America, we didn't have much money, bought gym bags and strapped them onto our bikes. We went across the Amazon rainforest and over the Bolivian Andes and the Atamaca desert, and yes our bikes broke regularly but we had memories of a lifetime. We met guys on their BMW 1200GS and F800, but they were afraid for their bikes and stuck to only good roads.

[soldat]

I have an '09 R1200GS and I really struggle with the newer technology. Not in the sense that I don't' understand it, more in the sense that it's taking me further away from the ride. I don't WANT my motorcycle to do everything for me, I like to be challenged. I'd like to think my skill makes the difference but I know in many ways, the motorcycle has more to do with my enjoyment by making up for my lack of certain skills. But at least with my 09, I know I am still in charge. I dictate when and where I take he risks and don't rely on the moto to get me out of trouble.

My 09 GS has been, and continues to be the best motorcycle I've ever owned. It's hard to give it up and after watching a video like this, it just reinforces that my 09 GS still has a long time left in my possession. At some point the repairs and maintenance will out pace it's value. But that day is not today. Not today.

[markuszn]

3:40 The glowing exhaust headers look really cool in this shot.

[ClaudeSac]

I bought the 2015 GS-A, brand new, full spec. Pricey bastard, the best riding machine ever! Did 32K in one year and then the second, yes the SECOND, gearbox started breaking. Sold it back to the dealer and bought a 2006 R1200S. Still riding that today, as well as my 2005 K1200S. Both have 130K kilometers on them and are absolutely fine. And when they're not; I can fix them myself.

I'd like to ride this 1300, but I am not falling for that shit again.

[ChooseBrian]

The last line of the video was beautifully articulated. Thx for this video Ryan.

[flippy]

The Classic K (Flying brick) had starter relay issues in the 90s. My 1994 K1100LT would crank until you saw smoke. Don't worry, the fuse box was under the gas tank and took 15 minutes to access

[russianrick]

I'm an R1250GS owner and this video sums up my opinion of the R1300GS. I think it looks like it is an improvement in almost every way except that it would require my spending a lot more money. I don't get mine dirty as much as I would like, but I do ride it and I love my bike. Go out and ride, guys, and if you can afford a motorcycle that won't own you, go buy one and ride it!

[mitch]

Really enjoy the videos, and most of the content. Defensive rebuttals from a R1300GS hill hold function is nothing new. HD has had it for years (so BMW also ripped that off of them). The simple trick to release it, is just tap the brake lever again before you roll on the throttle. No problem. Regarding the adaptive height control, I almost didn't get it. Been riding tall ADV bikes on and off-road for years. I didn't need or want AHC. But, the bike I wanted had it so what the heck, I got it. So glad I did. It is freaking awesome, especially in metro settings, and in the garage. Side a lot of bikes. The R1300GS is by far the best all-around bike I have ever owned. It is the Swiss Army Knife of bikes. Amazing!