BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2017 — Specifications

Imagine 263 kg of a liquid-cooled boxer engine, a 30-liter tank designed for aluminum and long distances, a 19-inch front wheel fitted with 120/70 tires, and a seat perched 890 mm above the ground. That’s what BMW decided to call a travel motorcycle. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2017 doesn’t seek to seduce everyone, and that’s precisely what makes it consistent.

Since its first versions, the Adventure lineage has been built as a direct response to the limits of the standard GS. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2014 marked a major technical leap by adopting the liquid-cooled boxer, an evolution that purists initially greeted with suspicion before recognizing its benefits in terms of thermal regularity and power. For 2017, the model year receives transmission refinements and Euro 4 regulatory adaptations, nothing revolutionary, but sufficient to fine-tune what was already a well-executed machine. The 1170 cc engine delivers 125 horsepower at 7750 rpm and a torque of 125 Nm at 6500 rpm, figures that speak for themselves when compared to a KTM 1290 Super Adventure or an Africa Twin, even if each defends its strengths with different arguments. The flywheel, 950 grams heavier than the standard GS, smooths transitions, eliminates jolts in technical sections, and gives the flat-twin that creamy temperament that distinguishes travelers from sporty pretenders.

What truly separates this machine from its urban cousin are the additional 20 mm of travel at both wheels, 210 mm at the front via Telelever and 220 mm at the rear with Paralever EVO, an adjustable seat in two positions, wide enduro-style footrests, and a cardan protected by a vibration damper between the gearbox and the transmission shaft. The 30-liter tank opens up a theoretical range of over 400 km, a decisive argument for those planning long-distance crossings without worrying about the location of service stations. Engine protection bars, a robust front beak, and lateral deflectors complement an honest standard equipment for the displayed price, 17,250 euros, before options.

Because the options, indeed, represent the real budgetary pitfall of this category. Dynamic ESA, which adapts damping in real time to the selected riding mode, costs an additional approximately 750 euros. ABSPro, which modulates braking pressure according to the motorcycle's angle, is also available as an option. Five riding modes are accessible in total, including "Enduro" and "Enduro Pro" via a paid code card. The latter disables rear ABS and sets the suspension in firm mode, a setting designed for knobby tires and riders who really know what they're doing on rough terrain. Note that the possibility of lowering the seat by 50 mm, or mounting the seat from the standard GS to scrape another 20 mm in height, makes this machine less inaccessible than it appears to those with more modest builds.

For those seeking a used BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, the model years between 2006 and 2014 offer interesting price-quality ratios, but the liquid-cooled version remains a clear break in the lineage. Collectors and enthusiasts who want to personalize their machine will also find a well-supplied market for BMW R 1200 GS Adventure graphics kits and BMW R 1200 GS Adventure stickers, up to Lego Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure replicas for those who admire the mechanics without necessarily wanting to face the track. The BMW R 1200 GS Adventure triple black 2017 constitutes, for its part, one of the most visually consistent finishes, understated and readable on the road as on the track. This machine is aimed at experienced riders, capable of exploiting its technical potential without being intimidated by its mass. It’s not the lightest in its category, but it’s probably the most complete for those who genuinely want to go far, with luggage, without making concessions on the road or off it.