BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2016 — Specifications

Imagine 260 kilograms of a Bavarian boxer motorcycle resting on a 19-inch front wheel, the 30-liter tank full, the seat set at 890 mm, and a red dirt track stretching out before you for hundreds of kilometers. That is exactly the territory the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure was designed to swallow without a second thought. Not an evolution of the classic GS, not simply a large-capacity touring kit bolted onto the frame of its little sister. A machine conceived from the start to go further, higher, longer.

The engine, first, because it deserves attention. This 1170 cc liquid-cooled boxer, the first of its line to incorporate water into its thermal system, delivers 125 horsepower at 7750 rpm and 125 Nm at 6500 rpm. These figures speak for themselves when compared to what BMW offered with the R 1150 GS Adventure at the very beginning of the 7000s, namely less than 85 horsepower and less than 100 Nm. The progression is clear, concrete, perceptible from the first throttle input on a wet track. A specific feature of this Adventure version compared to the standard GS, the crankshaft receives an additional 950 grams to smooth out jolts on rough terrain, where slow and technical passages demand fine control of torque. The six-speed gearbox and shaft drive complete the picture with a mechanical coherence difficult to fault.

What truly distinguishes the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2016 from its previous generations is the density of the onboard electronic arsenal. Two basic modes, Rain and Road, manage the ASC traction control and injection dosage according to the context. With the Pro modes option, you gain access to three additional profiles, Dynamic, Enduro, and Enduro Pro, the latter disabling rear ABS to allow for voluntary lockups in off-road conditions. ABS Pro, available as an option on this model year, adapts braking pressure according to the motorcycle’s lean angle, which represents a real safety feature in corners taken a little too hot. Dynamic ESA, costing around 750 euros as an option, adjusts the firmness of the shock absorbers in real time according to the selected mode. The Telelever front suspension offers 210 mm of travel, the Paralever rear suspension reaches 220 mm, which is 20 mm more than on the standard GS. These figures are not anecdotal on a rutted track.

Facing the KTM 1190 Adventure R, the reference in the maximalist segment, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure plays a different card. The KTM is lighter, more aggressive, and more oriented towards pure off-road use. The BMW, with its 260 kilograms in running order, assumes a superior road comfort and versatility that few machines can claim at this type of size. The 30-liter tank, the careful aerodynamic protection, the wide enduro-style footrests, the integrated engine guards, all compose a credible globetrotter profile rather than a luggage rack poser on the highway. The seat, adjustable in inclination and height between 890 and 910 mm, can be lowered by 50 mm with the adapted bodywork options, which makes the machine accessible to less imposing builds.

The downside is the price. Displayed at 17,250 euros in base version, the used BMW R 1200 GS Adventure remains often more realistic for those who want to enjoy the mechanics without sacrificing the budget for BMW R 1200 GS Adventure accessories, heated grips, luggage, integrated GPS, cruise control, all of which transform a good motorcycle into a complete travel tool. Because as it is, it takes you to the gates of the desert. But to pass through the door, you have to reach for the checkbook a second time. That's the rule of the game in this category, and BMW plays it without complexes, with the quiet conviction that nothing on the market combines asphalt and dirt as well at this level of finish.