11th February 2023, 12:39
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| BHPian  Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story My Bikes Over the Years: A small brief journey through my Two-Wheel World Coming from a transportation business background, Riding a bike is not just a mode of transportation for me, it's a passion that has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I have had the privilege of riding some amazing bikes, each of which holds a special place in my heart. My journey through the two-wheel world and an introduction to the bikes I have owned and ridden over the years. My First Bike: Yamaha RXG The first bike I ever rode was a Yamaha RXG, and I still remember the thrill and excitement of my first ride. This was during my school days and this bike introduced me to the world of motorcycling and gave me a taste of the freedom that comes with cruising on two wheels. Yamaha RXG was the perfect starting point for me. I learned how to handle the motorcycle, control its speed, and most importantly, develop my passion for riding.  RX135: A Step Up The next upgrade was a Yamaha RX135 as my dad was also a bike rider and loved Yamaha and Royal Enfield brand. This bike was more powerful and faster, which made it more exciting to ride. The RX135 was a great bike to learn on, as it was still relatively easy to handle and provided a more exhilarating riding experience Bajaj Pulsar 150: A Game Changer The next bike I owned was the Bajaj Pulsar 150 which was used for my college commute and it was a game changer for me. This bike was the first bike I owned that was truly my own, and it was an incredible feeling to have complete control over a motorcycle. The Bajaj Pulsar 150 was a reliable bike, and it gave me the confidence to take on longer rides and more challenging terrain. This bike was my faithful companion for many years, and it will always hold a special place in my heart as this was the bike I rode for both my UG and PG college days.    Bajaj Avenger 180: A Cruiser While I had the Pulsar 150, Dad decided to try something different and purchased a Bajaj Avenger 180. This bike was a cruiser, and it was a completely different riding experience. The Bajaj Avenger 180 was much more relaxed and comfortable to ride. I loved the laid-back feel of this bike, and it became my go-to for weekend rides in home town whenever I came home from Hostel.  Yamaha R15: A Sport Bike After a few years of cruising, I decided to try my hand at a sport bike, and I purchased a Yamaha R15. This bike was unlike anything I had ever ridden before, and it was an incredible experience. The Yamaha R15 was nimble and incredibly responsive, and it allowed me to push my limits as a rider. This bike was a lot of fun to ride but the sporty position was too painful for me during long rides. I still have the Yamaha R15 but barely see any miles.  Kawasaki Versys 650: An Adventure Bike When the Kawasaki Versys 650 was launched I immediately jumped the gun and booked the bike without any test ride in 2016. This bike was designed for long-distance touring and exploring new roads, and it was the perfect bike for me. The Kawasaki Versys 650 was comfortable to ride, had plenty of power and was incredibly reliable. I spent many hours exploring new roads and experiencing new sights on this bike, and it will always be a special memory for me as this was the bike that got introduced me to a lot of like-minded friends and the Riding Gear that is needed for safe riding. If I go more in detail then this bike alone will need a separate thread. The bike is now sold to make way for my current bike as I can't manage two Adventure Tourers in the same garage. Many of my fellow Versys 650 riders disagree that Versys 650 is a very capable off-road bike but I had the maximum fun with my Versys 650 off-road.  Somewhere in Chikkamagaluru     This picture was taken during my Solo ride to Dhanuskodi     Few Pics from the Annual TN Versys meet in Kodaikanal and Yercaud   On the way to Goa for 'Versys India Riders' Meet  This picture was taken before handing over Versys 650 to the new owner  My Current Bike: BMW R1250GS The bike was brought home last February and this is my one-year ownership review with approx 12500 kilometers on the saddle. There was an itch to upgrade my Versys. A few bikes that were on my radar were Tiger Rally Pro 900 and BMW F900XR. During one of my visits to the BMW showroom got to know there was a relatively new low-mileage GS that is going to come up on sale. Did some research on the bike and the maintenance history and immediately mobilized funds and took delivery of the bike. Nothing comes close to BMW R1250GS (Except maybe my Versys 650 (I know I'm going to be bombarded. A topic for another time)). After riding this beast for a year now, I can honestly say that it has exceeded my expectations in every possible way. First of all, let's talk about the design and build quality. The BMW R1250GS is a formidable motorcycle with its robust build and sleek design. It features a classic boxer engine design that gives it a distinctive look, and the attention to detail on the motorcycle is exceptional. From the moment you sit on it, you can feel the quality of the materials and the craftsmanship that went into building it. The seat is comfortable, the handlebars are ergonomically placed, and the overall design is practical and stylish. When it comes to performance, the BMW R1250GS is a powerhouse. The 1,254cc engine produces a massive 136 horsepower, which is more than enough for any adventure. The motorcycle handles like a dream, and the suspension is top-notch, which makes for a smooth ride even on rough terrain. The Dynamic ESA system allows for quick and easy adjustments on the fly, so one can adapt to any road conditions with ease. The BMW R1250GS is also equipped with the latest in safety technology, including ABS Pro and Dynamic Traction Control, which adds peace of mind while riding. One of the best things about the BMW R1250GS is its versatility. Whether you're riding on the highway, in the city, or on backroads, this motorcycle is up to the task. The adjustable windscreen provides excellent wind protection, and the heated grips make for a comfortable ride even in colder weather. The ample storage space makes it easy to carry everything you need for a long trip, and the TFT display is easy to read and provides all the information you need while riding. In conclusion, my year with the BMW R1250GS has been nothing short of amazing. This motorcycle has exceeded my expectations in every possible way, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a versatile, comfortable, and capable motorcycle. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just starting out, the BMW R1250GS is the perfect bike for any adventure. So, gear up hit the open road, and see where the journey takes you! Last edited by praruaaa4 : 13th February 2023 at 21:12. |
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11th February 2023, 15:47
| #2 |
| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| Re: One Year with the BMW R1250GS: An Adventure Awaits The First thing that I did after I got the bike was to get the BMW 'Connected' app installed on my phone and connected to the bike via Bluetooth. The first pooja at the temple  The following weekend my Versys friends planned a ride to Kodaikanal which was a 654 km ride in total. This was the first ride in the mountains with the GS and the wide handlebar made night and day difference in the curves as it was much easier and more relaxed when compared to the Versys 650 short handlebar. The BMW 'connected' app gives a lot of data regarding the Lean angle, where the ABS and Traction control was activated this includes the amount of throttle and the engine RPM at any point of time on the map during the ride.   Immediately after the Kodaikanal trip I had to travel to Chennai and decided to get the bike serviced as the annual maintenance was almost due. This was the first proper highway trip with the GS and a chance for me to understand the ESA settings (how it felt on Road Mode - Auto, Min, Max setting and Dynamic - Auto, Min, Max settings). Got to say the bike is built to munch the road and glide over small imperfections on the road. Since it was a solo ride I was able to understand how the machine handles the Chennai traffic heat and how easy it was to navigate in crawling traffic. Did not try changing the ride modes on the bike as I did not want any surprises. The only modes that were used for the next two months were the Rain & Road ride modes. The Service bill was close to 46K as all the brake pads were changed. The rear brake pads were completely worn out and the front brake pads had 50% life left but still the ASC recommended that the front pads also be changed. The brake pads were approx 26k and regular service cost came to around 19k. The Chennai trip stats are  A small clip from my GoPro to give you an idea about how stable the bike is during wet road conditions in 'Rain' mode. A few weeks later a couple of friends from Chennai invited me to join them for a ride to Pandrimalai (https://goo.gl/maps/qGXUzLusyT1GWmSn7) and it was a fun ride as there was a Rally Spec R1200GS, Honda Africa Twin AT, few Versys 650 and a RE Interceptor. This was the trip where I got to understand the Quick Shifter function and how useful it was when approaching a corner. We booked our stay in 'The FruitsnBeans' Resort (https://goo.gl/maps/icCG8RDB3zEc6SD49) run by a very friendly guy. The route from the entrance gate to the resort takes you on a mild offroad trail. The route gets very slippery during rain. I was slowly getting confident in handling the big bike and a noticeable improvement in the lean angles  Summer started kicking in and the weather was getting hot so a get-together with cousins was planned and another reason for me to take the bike for a spin. This time around bikes ranging from Honda Hornet to RE 350 and Himalayan were part of the group and mine was the only big bike. This trip was another learning curve for me as I had to constantly maintain my speed even on open highways and stay with the group. This is where the BMW Shiftcam technology comes into play, the power delivery was very smooth and was not abrupt. I'm able to find the right words to describe how the shiftcam system works hence a link to the video on how the system works.  A small video clip from the trip Yercaud hill station is hardly 90 kms from my house so there were many trips over many weekends. One Place that many don't know and must visit place is Heaven's Ledge(https://goo.gl/maps/m4PQYieZ2vDgTejt6). This is a beautiful place to watch the sunset and spend a peaceful evening.  A short clip of the road leading to and from this viewpoint After getting hang of the bike on road I wanted to get proper training for Offroading. There was no official commitment from BMW Mottard on when the training will happen so a few from GS geoup decided to get the training done from BigRock Dirtpark, Kolar. This was another big learning curve for me and I wished I should have done the training sooner. Our instructor Nikhil who is a very knowledgeable trainer and I took home a lot of learnings and techniques from the 2-day Level 1 & 2 program. There were a lot of falls during the training which is expected but comes in handy while on the road and in twisties. A clip from the training trail ride The lesson from the above clip is 'A tripod is more stable than four legs'. If you notice the trainer never had both feet on the ground when the bike lost traction and kept changing the leg on the ground, the minute I panicked and put both feet on the ground I lost control of the bike. Due to rain, the mud was so thick that it got caked on the tyres giving zero traction on the trails.  Few more pics from the training days      Last edited by praruaaa4 : 14th February 2023 at 06:50. |
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11th February 2023, 16:28
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| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| Re: One Year with the BMW R1250GS: An Adventure Awaits Sometime during the 1st week of August 2022, my friend suggested that we ride to Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore (https://goo.gl/maps/TeZS9k8hCpw1ppoBA). This was a 600 kms round trip and I was excited to do this ride as the route was ~60% forest area with a lot of ghat sections. We spotted a lot of Deer, Wildbore and a lone Elephant near Hasanur (Lost the GoPro Footage).    .The following weekend my cousin wanted to ride to Dhanuskodi on our bikes. Had a tough time convincing my family to get permission for the trip as I was munching a lot of miles on the bike and was absent from home on most weekends doing solo rides. Finally got permission for Dhanuskodi and a plan was set. 2 RE Himalayan and a GS. This is my second ride to Dhanuskodi and the route map is  the entire route is 4 lanes and 6 lanes with very little traffic. We planned to have breakfast at the famous Kaavanna Parotta Kadai (https://goo.gl/maps/peX396b7PcPFYYqh8). This place was recommended by many people and only breakfast is served here with a simple menu of Fried Parota and Mutton. There is no name board to this place. If a plantain leaf is hung in front of the shop it means the shop is open(fascinating)   Post Breakfast we rode straight to our hotel in Rameswaram. Both the Himalayans were not ready to cross 90kmph and for most kilometers, I rode with the Cruise Control set to 90kmph (Yes for the entire 800 kms round trip I did not cross 90kmph speed). I try to have maximum tender coconut stops during every ride for hydration instead of water.  The minute I saw the beach sand and with all the excitement forgot to change the mode on the bike and tried to ride on the beach sand with 'Road' mode. The front wheel was barely moving and the rear was spinning close to 40kmph. Had a tough time getting the bike out of the sand and the highlight was that I was on Metzeler Tourance NEXT tyre which is 100% Road biased. Few Pics from the trip and the ride stats      Yes, no stand  The trip is incomplete without a picture on the Pamban Bridge   While I was trying to avoid any more rides to cool down the family there is chatter in one of the WhatsApp groups regarding a ride plan to Valparai again in September (Now should I be excited about the ride or think about the politics involved in getting permission for the ride???). By now I had ridden close to 6500kms on the saddle. There was a slight wobble feel at 85kmph and it was diagnosed as worn out handlebar dampener bush and there was a voluntary recall for the ethrottle for the bike. The worn out bush  The front wheel had to be removed to fix the bush  The old ethrottle that was replaced free of cost   At the same time, it found that the rear pad was almost worn out and needed immediate replacement. The brake pad life was only ~6500kms (Shocker as I have no idea if it was my riding style or the combi brake system on the bike or if it was due to the offroad training). Pic of the worn out rear brake pad  next comes another shocker when settling the bill. The cost of worn out bush was Rs.150/- but the labor changing the bush was close to Rs.980/- My brother who went on a spiritual trip to Bangkok gifted me an INNOVV K5 dashcam for the bike. Over a weekend evening, I decided to install the camera on the bike by myself. Removed the side panels routed all the wires in such a way that none of the wires were visible and installed the camera using a Denali pigtail connector with the HEX ezCAN on the bike. The ezCAN is configured to turn ON after 40 seconds from the ignition and turn OFF after 40 seconds from turning off the bike. Side panels removed  Rear camera position  Front camera position (DVR and the front camera are built into the same body)   By some miracle got the go-ahead for the ride and it was one of the best rides to Valparai as I was able to spot a Leopard and record it on my phone. This trip was not like our usual Valparai laid-back trip. We did some trail exploration, Some offroading and some hiking. During our stay in Valparai, a few of us decided to ride to where the road ends in Valparai. A Google map showing where the road ends (https://goo.gl/maps/hvqbhCBVnspT2B8T9). The road ends at a dam called Nirar Dam. A Panoramic image of the dam. Not many visit this place and there was hardly any traffic to this location.   A Clip of the road that leads to this location. Video Captured from INNOVV K5 front camera (Video is a little viby due to improper mounting of the front dash cam) The Versys 650 rider in front wanted to check how well the metal top box that he had bought from a brand named 'Moto Vanguard' held up to bad roads and it withstood all the vibrations from bad patches of the road (Note: I have no affiliation with this brand but I was really impressed with the built quality and how well it took up all the beatings from rough roads).  Valparai is heaven for offroading and there are a lot of trails to keep you excited Note: Anamalai Tiger Reserve Entry Checkpost in Aliyar does not allow any Alcohol or Drone to be carried in the forest area and one has to cross this checkpost if traveling to Valparai via Pollachi. Following the Valparai ride, the bike was parked for close to 45 days with only occasional office commute. Come November and I got a call for a Kolli hill ride. Initially, it was supposed to be only 4 bikes but on the day of the ride close to 19 bikes joined the ride and this was the first time I got to ride in a big group.  Though Kolli hills are only about 90 kms from my house, this was my first visit to Kolli hills. the 70 hairpin bends are very famous and it did not disappoint. the road was well laid and it is heaven to ride/drive on. The plan was to ride from one side of the mountains and ride down from the other side of the mountains. Map overview of the route.  GS really gives you the confidence to push into the corners hard and come out with ease.  A small clip from the ride to give you an idea of how good the roads are IBW dates were announced and I was eagerly looking forward to attending the event as it was on my wishlist for a long time. Planes were made and the stay was booked. The round trip to Goa is almost 1900kms with this ride would cover 10000 kilometers on the saddle and due for the annual or 10000 kms service for the bike. BMW had announced another recall service for the shaft drive. So decided to get the bike serviced in JSP BMW Motorrad Bengaluru on the way back from Goa. Booked a prior appointment to reserve the necessary parts required for service. Last edited by praruaaa4 : 13th February 2023 at 22:18. |
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13th February 2023, 23:14
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| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| Re: One Year with the BMW R1250GS: An Adventure Awaits The plan was to start on the 30th of November and ride till Hubali stay for the night and reach Goa on the 1st of December, attend the event on the 2nd and 3rd, leave for Bangalore on the 4th and get the bike serviced on the 5th before returning home on the same day. The ride to Goa had a mix of all the bikes ranging from Parallel-twin to inline 4 and of course the Boxer twin. BMW 1000XR, Versys 1000, Ducati Multistrada V2S, 1250GS and Versys 650  There have been a lot of posts and articles about the IBM event so going to skip the part and only post a few pics from the event   How will a trip be complete without an offroad ride? Somewhere near Tumakuru we found a small trail  The overall Goa route stats  Once in Bangalore dropped the bike in JSP for 10k kms annual service. View of the engine with the covers open.  For the shaft recall service a breather hole had to be drilled under the rear shaft cover  and the shaft had to be tested and calibrated using special tools. Attaching pics of the service tools that were used for the recall service campaign.    Post testing and calibration  Since I was more interested on offroad trails decided to update the tyres to MICHELIN ANAKEE ADVENTURE tyres (70% Road and 30% Offroad biased).  During this service, 7 shims in the engine had to be changed as the wear was close to the tolerance limit. The service person did a lot of measurements and calculations for the replacement shim sizes. "Shims are fitted to mechanical cam buckets and are needed to acheive the correct valve clearance."  My service experience with JSP was very satisfactory and their labor charge was also less compared to Chennai. During my previous annual service in Chennai, the cost of service apart from wear and tear parts was close to Rs.19000/- and JSP charged close to Rs.14000/- for the annual service. Post Goa ride the bike was idle for almost one and a half months. Got a ping from one of the WhatsApp groups about a ride plan that was brewing for Republic day and the extended weekend. The plan was that I join the Chennai group in Dindigul and ride to Munnar via Theni, Stay in Munnar for the night and leave for Valparai the next day and ride to Yercaud the following day. An overview of the route planner  This entire ride plan was to cover 3 hill stations in 3 days. This time we have 3 generations of GS on the ride. A 2012 Liquid Cooled GS, R1200GS and R1250GS  The entire ride group, there were 2 Africa Twin AT, 2 Versys 1000, 2 Versys 650 and a beautifully custom speced KTM Adventure 390  The road from Theni to Munnar is something that can be compared to European roads. Well laid with beautiful scenery. The lean angle gives an idea about how good the roads are with a lot of curves.  From Munnar to Valparai the roads are mostly single-lane till Saiapattrai and then till Aliyar is village roads and from Aliyar it's a ghat section.  By the end of the hill hopping ride, the bike had covered 818 kms with the climate ranging from very cold to moderate heat.  My overall mileage for the last one year  Maintenance and Servive cost for the last one year  It has been a year now since I purchased my BMW R1250GS and I couldn't be more satisfied with my choice. With 12,500 kilometers on the odometer, my bike has taken me on many exciting adventures and has proven to be a reliable and capable companion on the road. One of the things I love most about the BMW R1250GS is its versatility. Whether I'm taking a leisurely ride through the countryside or tackling challenging off-road terrain, the bike handles it all with ease. In conclusion, my year with the BMW R1250GS has been nothing short of amazing. It has taken me on many adventures and has proven to be a reliable and capable companion on the road. I'm excited to see where my GS will take me next and I know that it will continue to provide me with many more miles of enjoyable riding. Last edited by Rehaan : 7th June 2023 at 11:51. Reason: Fixing one attachment that didn't resize correctly :) |
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14th February 2023, 07:25
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| Team-BHP Support  | |
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14th February 2023, 10:02
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| BHPian  Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: BLR
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14th February 2023, 11:21
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| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Quote:
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14th February 2023, 12:14
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| BHPian Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Lonavala
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14th February 2023, 13:52
| #9 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Quote:
https://www.bmw-motorrad.in/en/indiv...de-cradle.html | |
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15th February 2023, 11:57
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| Team-BHP Support | re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Exceptional, unbiased & detailed ownership reviews of bikes have started going to our homepage reviews box. It's the ultimate stamp of trust from Team-BHP (as a platform) because lakhs of visitors every month check out reviews from there & make purchase decisions. Your review has also been included here. Thank you so much for sharing  . |
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15th February 2023, 12:14
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| Team-BHP Support  Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Quote:
One request, if you have split of the service cost and that can be shared. Maybe edit out personal and vehicle details from the bill and just post image of the parts and labor list. Would be really helpful for other owners, as well as for prospective buyers. | |
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17th February 2023, 11:10
| #12 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Quote:
1st Annual service that was carried out in Chennai   Second Annual service that was done in Bangalore along with the labour charges    I'm able to find the brake pad bill and the steering dampener bush replacement bill. I will share the bills later. | |
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17th February 2023, 14:08
| #13 | |
| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Quote:
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30th May 2023, 18:45
| #14 |
| BHPian  Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangalore
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Thank you for the detailed update on the ownership and service bills. Much appreciated. wishing you many miles of safe rides. |
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6th June 2023, 08:54
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| BHPian Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: TN52
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| re: A Love Affair with the BMW R1250GS | My Ownership Story Continuing with the thread that was left after tyre change and periodic annual service. The MICHELIN ANAKEE ADVENTURE tyres are as grippy as the Metzer Road tyres and I found no difference in cornering grip or confidence in leaning the bike. The Bike sat idle for some time other than a few local runs and a few trips to Ooty.   I wanted to update my battery charger for a long time to BMW Battery Charger Plus as the bike can be directly charged by plugging the DIN connector into the BMW accessory port and the device may stay connected to the vehicle or the battery for a long period. Charging takes place in cycles. The battery is monitored and recharged if necessary. A short clip of the charger As my liking was more towards off-road riding another accessory that was on the cards was the SW-Motech Cylinder Guard. This guard adapts to the shape of the valve cover and protects the boxer valve cover against falls and slides. The installation was a 5-minute DIY. The brushed aluminium finish adds more beauty to the engine. The main reason for this purchase was that there have been quite a few instances where a small sharp rock would puncture the cylinder valve cover during falls in offroad terrain.   All the above accessories were purchased in anticipation of a month-long trip to NE and the plan was to cover all the NE states. Due to family pressure and work. I had to bail out of the trip at the last minute as convincing my family for a month on a bike was next to impossible.  With the summer heat at its peak, the rides had to be limited as it was physically draining on the body. There were 3 rides worth mentioning, One to Hogenakkal (https://goo.gl/maps/WxD322cmDyNGD2Su9), one to Kolli Hills and another to Vattavada near Munnar (https://goo.gl/maps/3CPgTf2RY62c3pMs5). I will explain more about these trips in the upcoming posts in a few days. |
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