BMW R 1200 GS Rallye 2017 — Specifications

Imagine the Motorsport blue spread across the tubular frame, the spoked wheels betraying off-road ambitions, and that lowered sport bubble clearly stating that the machine is not there to cruise on highways. The BMW R 1200 GS Rallye 2017 doesn’t seek to blend in with the maxi-trail crowd: it asserts an identity, that of an adventurer who has kept the mud in its DNA.

The flat-twin engine of 1170 cc hasn’t budged an iota despite the transition to Euro4 standards. Still 125 horsepower at 7750 rpm, still 124.5 Nm of torque available at 6500 rpm, all transmitted by cardan shaft and six-speed gearbox. This engine is a monument of reliability that owners of a used BMW R 1200 GS Rallye know well: it carburets, it runs, it endures. Faced with a KTM 1290 Super Adventure or an Africa Twin, raw power doesn’t make the show, but the suppleness of the Bavarian flat-twin on rutted tracks remains a formidable weapon. The 244 kg fully fueled and the seat height at 850 mm remind you that you are dealing with a large machine, and that handling requires a minimum of experience.

What distinguishes the BMW R 1200 GS Rallye 2017 from the standard version is first and foremost the standard equipment designed for demanding terrains. Spoked wheels, wide enduro-style footrests, a reworked seat for long days on track, handguards and the radiator protection grid form a coherent pack for the adventurer who sets off without knowing where he will sleep. The 20-liter tank offers reassuring autonomy, and the 37 mm Telelever fork with 190 mm of travel absorbs shocks without transmitting braking forces to the steering column, a BMW characteristic that divides purists but convinces travelers.

To fully enjoy the BMW R 1200 GS Rallye test, the Sport suspension option deserves attention. It stiffens the springs, lengthens the combinations to gain travel and make the machine more comfortable on rough terrain. But be warned: this improvement is only accessible if you also tick the ESA Dynamic Next Generation in the catalog. That’s where the shoe pinches. At 16,795 euros in base version, the Rallye already displays a serious price, and the options accumulate quickly to reach the full potential of the machine. That’s Munich’s pet sin: selling a solid base, then charging for each improvement individually.

The BMW R 1200 GS Rallye 2017 is aimed at a specific profile: the experienced motorcyclist who wants the road efficiency of a large trail and the crossing ability of a true adventurer, without tipping into the extremism of the Adventure and its massive lateral tubes. Compared to the 2012 special series, the lineage is obvious in spirit, even if the philosophy has evolved towards greater versatility. The gold brake calipers and stainless steel radiator covers are not just cosmetic: they signal a machine cared for in its details. On the BMW R 1200 GS Rallye used markets, the 2016, 2017 and 2018 models remain safe bets, provided you verify the presence of ESA and the Sport suspension which make all the difference between a GS dressed up and a true Rallye.