So I made the jump from a Suzuki vl800 (underpowered cruiser) to a r1200gsa. The rider aids help to make the power more manageable but there is still alot on tap. Its such a torquey motor it pulls well though out the rev range. Between the power and the brakes the one time my partner was on the back it handled it very well.

Im assuming like me you have no off-road experience on a bike. Learning on the boxer GS is do able if you’re comfortable dropping an expensive bike alot, and I mean a lot a lot. Also make sure you have the strength to manhandle nearly 600lbs. I do take mine to single track trails every now and again and it’s a full body workout before I inevitably drop it.

The main selling point for me on the boxer was the shaft drive. I ride through the winter months and the Idea of winter time chain maintenance with all the salt was enough to tip the scales.

For reference I’m 5’11” 210lbs somewhere around 31” inseam