BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2019 — Specifications

Twenty years after the R 1150 GS Adventure and its mere 85 horsepower, look where we are now. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2018 packs 125 horsepower at 7,750 rpm, 125 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, 30 liters of fuel in an aluminum tank, and electronics that think faster than most of the riders who ride it. The progress made since the first versions of 2006, 6, 7, or 2008 is dizzying, as is the seat set at 890 mm from the ground.

What fundamentally distinguishes this machine from the standard GS is that it is no longer an enriched variant: it is a project in its own right. The suspensions gain an additional 20 mm of travel, with 210 mm at the front via Telelever and 220 mm at the rear thanks to EVO Paralever. The 1,170 cc water-cooled boxer, whose crankshaft weighs 950 grams more than on the road version, delivers a smoother torque, better suited to technical passages where progressiveness counts more than liveliness. Between the 6-speed gearbox with cardan and the drive shaft, BMW has slipped a vibration damper that eliminates jolts in trial sections. This kind of detail is not improvised: it is designed for people who really ride far from paved roads.

The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2018 also receives the semi-active ESA Dynamic Next Generation suspension, which adapts the damping in real time according to the load and riding conditions. At 263 kg fully fueled, it is appreciated that the motorcycle thinks about its own geometry when you are busy looking for your route on the map. The 6.5-inch TFT dashboard called Connectivity centralizes navigation, calls, and music via Bluetooth; all controlled by a wheel on the handlebar, gloves included. The integrated emergency call complements an electronic arsenal that neither the KTM 1290 Super Adventure nor the Africa Twin at the time could reach at this level of sophistication. In Enduro Pro mode, the rear ABS disconnects at the pedal and the suspensions switch to firm damping: BMW assumes that some of its customers really know what they are doing in the mud.

The downside of this technical generosity is the bill. At a base price of 17,700 euros, the machine is already well equipped, but the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure accessories catalog quickly transforms this investment into a serious financial commitment. Luggage, heated grips, cruise control, knobby tires, full LED headlight, Akrapovic exhaust, the bill adds up quickly. This is the game in this segment, where Ducati Multistrada and BMW compete for the customer who wants everything without compromise. For smaller riders, the Adventure can be lowered by 50 mm, bringing the seat to 840 mm, which widens the target audience without altering the machine. Those looking for a used BMW R 1200 GS Adventure will also find excellent deals on 2014 or 2016 models, as the year-to-year evolutions are often marginal.

What the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2018 does better than its predecessors is to exist as a coherent proposition from beginning to end. It consumes 5 liters per 100 km with 30 liters on board, which gives a theoretical range of 600 km, sufficient to cross Morocco in one go or reach a ferry without stress. The crash bars, the widened enduro footrests, the recalibrated stands for the increased travel, and the profiled beak are not styling elements. They are tools. Those who only envision the highway and a few alpine passes will simply afford a very comfortable premium trail; those who have maps spread out on the living room table and routes traced in pencil will understand why this machine has established itself as the undisputed benchmark in the category for more than a decade.