I connected my cellphone to the TFT, and it
downloaded my phone book, and would play
my tunes into my Sena headset with the display
telling me what was playing and elapsed time
etc, but would not make a phone call, nor allow
me to receive one. No amount of fiddling and
changing the order of connection made an
appreciable change. Connecting my headset
to the bike was successful, apparently, but it
couldn’t be made to recognise it again after
that first time. Then the BMW Motorrad app
on my phone kept sending a message to the
maps to say that I could connect a camera, and
that stayed on screen for four days, resisting
all attempts to touchscreen the cancel button.
Turning off the link produced no change.
This level of electrical boffinery is explained
very well in the largest manual ever seen in
the western world, but I had a week to ride,
not to study. Self-explanatory it may be, but
my bumbling brain could make no headway
and many rides passed in frustration. It’s not
their fault. I was warned to read the manual.
And I did, but understanding it to the level of
proficiency needed would take me longer than
subjugating verbs into Finnish from the original
translated Sanskrit – blindfolded.
There is no doubt that the BMW 1250 GS is a
superb machine. Among the very best I have
ever ridden, and more deluxe than anything
else, ever. The road behaviour is impeccable,
normal laws of physics go away, pushing you
farther than you ever dared while keeping you
safe and warm and comfortable.
Perfect perhaps. There’s a niggle though... what
happens when I run out of talent and invisible,
seamless assists? I won’t continue with that
thought. One night dismounting with a silly
grin I noticed that a major change has occurred
at the front of the 1250. I had been enjoying
the fab-tastic double four-pot, 305mm discs
upfront and feeling very comfortable about
using Brembo’s stopping genius, when I saw that
they are marked BMW now. Sure enough, the
manufacturer is now Hayes of the US, and they
are, simply put, brilliant. Fit for the excellence in
every aspect of the Beamer. A change, and not
for the worse, yet another pleasant surprise.