By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW R 1200 GS Adventure (K51) vs R 1250 GS Adventure (K51)
Right at turn-in, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure drops onto its line and doesn't wander once it's there. The BMW R 1250 GS Adventure tips in just as readily. Rough pavement mid-corner doesn't knock it off line.
What makes each one tick
R 1200 GS Adventure
Up at speed, the R 1200 GS Adventure carries its bulk low on the boxer, and the Telelever front doesn't let the bars stray off your aim. The brake lever's bite builds progressively on tarmac and gravel alike. It hauls the heft down hard. There's a deep rumble from the boxer on every pass.
Nils rode the R 1200 GS Adventure in Ireland in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
R 1250 GS Adventure
Behind its tall windscreen, the R 1250 GS Adventure sits you upright in a roomy seat that shrugs off a full day of highway miles. Any throttle opening pulls hard from idle clear to redline, and there's no flat spot to shift around. Parking-lot speeds make it a handful. The Paralever rear stays composed over broken surfaces.
Nils rode the R 1250 GS Adventure in 2021 and 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The R 1200 GS Adventure has the lower wet weight: 573 lb (260 kg) vs 591 lb (268 kg).
- The R 1250 GS Adventure makes more peak power: 136 hp (100 kW) vs 125 hp (92 kW).
- The R 1250 GS Adventure makes more peak torque: 105 lb-ft (143 Nm) vs 92 lb-ft (125 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
They come out level on the dirt, commuting, twisty roads, long days, and running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
R 1200 GS Adventure
What owners say
Strengths
- Potent, characterful boxer engine
- Surprisingly agile handling
- Strong, progressive brakes
R 1250 GS Adventure
What owners say
Strengths
- Supreme touring comfort and wind protection
- Surprisingly agile handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Heavy and cumbersome at low speeds
- High purchase price and expensive options
- Complexity and early reliability concerns
Known problems to check before you buy
R 1200 GS Adventure
- Front fork stanchion separation (safety recall) Recall 17V438000 Under extreme off-road stress the fork plug could loosen, allowing the stanchion to separate from the triple clamp, affecting handling. BMW recall 17V438000 added a fork tube bush to prevent separation.
- Blocked rear reflector (safety recall) Recall 17V481000 Optional aluminium panniers can obscure the rear reflex reflector, failing FMVSS 108. BMW recall 17V481000 added additional reflectors to the cases.
R 1250 GS Adventure
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 35.0 in (890 mm)
- Engine
- Flat-twin (boxer)
- Cooling
- Air/liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 7,750 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 7.9 US gal (30 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Shaft
- Fork
- Telelever
- Front brake
- 305 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-19
- Rear tire
- 170/60-17
- Front travel
- 8.3 in (210 mm)
- Rear travel
- 8.7 in (220 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| R 1200 GS Adventure | R 1250 GS Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 573 lb (260 kg) | 591 lb (268 kg) |
| R 1200 GS Adventure | R 1250 GS Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1170 cc | 1254 cc |
| Power | 125 hp (92 kW) | 136 hp (100 kW) |
| Torque | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) | 105 lb-ft (143 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,500 rpm | 6,250 rpm |
| R 1200 GS Adventure | R 1250 GS Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) / 5.5 L/100 km | 50 mpg (US) / 4.75 L/100 km |
| R 1200 GS Adventure | R 1250 GS Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 59.4 in (1510 mm) | 59.2 in (1504 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 8.1 in (205 mm) | 9.9 in (252 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| R 1200 GS Adventure | R 1250 GS Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Option (from 2016) | Standard (from 2021) |
| Cruise Control | Option | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Standard |
| Navigation | Not offered | Option |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| LED Headlight | Option | Standard |
| Cornering Lights | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
