This review is in context to owning a 2017 R1200RS with the 125 hp water cooled boxer.
The new boxer engine in this GS has the new shift cam heads/valvetrain, and the engine makes a claimed 136hp. This GS was fully loaded, and had the TFT display. Noteworthy features were CC, heated seat/grips/GPS Prep, shift assist pro, dynamic ESA, electronically adjustable ride height, dynamic abs pro. MSRP $22K. Not bad in in a world where the new Versys is $18K
The major difference in this new GS as opposed to last years bike is the engine.I'll start out by saying the last generation water cooled boxer is a great engine, and a decently quick bike. I rode this GS for about an hour through mountain, canyon roads as well as some freeway time. The added power is very noticeable in the mid to upper RPM range. Roll on performance is noticeably better with the new engine, and I can honestly say the GS is fast. Not quite test data Multistrada fast, but in the real world probably really close.
Rode my RS home, and noted that my RS felt a touch smoother, likely due to it having a few thousand miles on the clock. However, the new GS had a somewhat smoother/quiter transmission.
Will I dump my 17 RS for a new boxer? Maybe....if I decide to sell both the RS and C14 and just have a GS.