Those of us who are bikers and have already combed some gray hair have been lucky enough to experience how over more than three decades the famous GS has positioned itself to define itself as “the motorcycle” par excellence.
But how did BMW manage to position itself to become a benchmark?
During the sixties and seventies, lovers of the famous BMW R80s and off-road roads dedicated themselves to camperizing their motorcycles. This situation, however, did not remain as an anecdote, but drew the attention of the engineers of the Bavarian brand.
Thus, in the last stretch of the seventies he began to work on a project that sought to conquer any type of track in the same vehicle. Finally, in 1980 the first BMW R80 GS was born , an acronym for the German words “off-road and road”.
But BMW had to face adversity: at that time, the market was dominated by the Japanese manufacturers , with models that had nothing to do with the GS. That’s why, for the German brand, the years leading up to launch were tough. But BMW needed to find a niche in the market, and it finally succeeded by betting on a different product.
The GS was able to offer high safety guarantees both on and off the road. In addition, it also offered comfort. Almost four decades later, this simple formula has made the GS “the go-to bike” for endless rides.
It would not be difficult for us to find examples of laps around the world on the back of this bike. And the result of success did not only remain in private use: for example, since its launch, the GS has always played a leading role in the Dakar event.
As a culmination of its success, in 1993 a chapter was written capable of setting a new point: BMW incorporates in this model a new engine with four valves including the ABS model and catalytic converter, among other novelties.
And finally, we come to the year 2002, when the most radical model appeared for the first time, the Adventure version, with a displacement of 1,150 cc.
We come to 2019 and, to talk about present and motorization, we must first stop at the Boxer engine . This engine was characterized by its reliability and power, capable of being up to the task in any destination. As I said before, for more than 25 years, four-valve technology combined with electronic fuel injection technology and closed-circuit catalytic converter have been used to achieve the best possible power, efficiency and respect for the environment. This launch also includes BMW ShiftCam technology, adding an additional increase in power as well as a reduction in emissions and consumption.
With respect to the standard driving modes, the mode incorporates the ASC mode and the hill start assistant . In lighting, the BMW R1250GS Adventure incorporates the Led headlight as standard . On the other hand, the instrumentation is equipped with the Connected Ride as standard, which is controlled through a 6.5-inch color TFT screen. The smart emergency call comes as an option, something that I, personally, would not forget to include in the order.
And, in case you need help at this point in the article, what is most important to me about this release is the following:
• Boxer engine developed with BMW ShiftCam technology for varying valve times and valve stroke on the intake.
• Increased power across the entire engine speed range, optimized fuel consumption and emission levels, smoother running and refinement. • More displacement up to 1,254 cc (previously: 1,170 cc)
• Two driving modes, ASC and Hill Start Assist as standard
• Seat height adjustment as standard
• BMW Motorrad Spezial – customization features as factory optional equipment
And lots of healthy envy for the lucky ones who drive it!
