But Banff is in Canada not the USA.

Got to love BMWs marketing department. When people think world riding they think BMW! Too bad for riders now we get the R1200GS. It is a big tall wallowing pig that is more at home in the showroom than on some far off dirt road. But few bikes can do all that it can do.

If you must get a BMW look at the R80gs and R100GS there bikes that BMW has made its name in overlanding on. Grate bikes that will not lose there value. A older pre 2000 BMW F650 are good bikes (once you know there problems). The biggest problem with BMW is they think that there grate and the riders are so stupid that we buy what ever they want us to. And that feeling is shared with many of the BMW shops I have been to.

One shop had my bike for 6 months and never did fix it but they did drain the oil and run it around and want to split the case to replace the oil pump as there was a oil problem. The oil pump is not in the case and the oil problem was it was low on oil after the drain. The shop said that there was no way it was there problem. That there must have been oil in it (there was it was in the frame but if you do not run the bike the oil in frame dose not drop in to oil sump.) Well a new BMW will not be my problem!

If that dose not stop you the BMW R1200GS has a know problem the final drive is known to fail sometimes getting so hot it will burn the bike. BMW knows about it but has not fixed the bike.

Know all this before you spend your $ also there is "the price of ownership" like Harley Davison that BMW on your part will add a good bit of $ on any fix and maintenance on the bike.

When I replaced the F650 I looked good and long at all the bikes almost got the KLR650 but for my needs the DL650 did 95% that the GS did at almost half the price. It is will run at 90mph if need be is smother than a thumper has all the bits of kit I need and more reliable than the F had been or most 1200 I have seen. The DL mill comes from the SV650 bike and known to be long running. All in all a good bike for me and many people that have one.

Just before you spend $ try and ride one rent them if you can. Ask your self is what the BMW gives worth the $ there asking for it.