BMW R 1250 GS Adventure 2020 — Specifications

Imagine a bivouac somewhere between the Atlas Mountains and the Namib Desert, the motorcycle resting on its side stand, the tank still warm after 600 kilometers devoured without effort. This is precisely the territory that the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure has claimed for years, and the 2020 version drives the point home with a thoroughly revised engine. The twin-cylinder boxer increases to 1254 cc and adopts ShiftCam technology, this system of cam profile variation at the intake that allows for playing with two opening maps depending on the engine speed. The result on the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure specification sheet: 136 horsepower at 7750 rpm and, above all, 143 Nm at 6250 rpm, a torque that manifests itself from low engine speeds with a degree of immediacy that the previous 1200 cc models did not offer to the same extent. The muscular availability at mid-range, just, is what changes life when you climb a track loaded with luggage at 3000 meters altitude.

The 2020 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure does not hide its bulk: 268 kg fully fueled, eight more than the standard GS. This weight is partially justified by the 30-liter tank, a decisive argument against a KTM 1290 Super Adventure R or a Triumph Tiger 1200 when service stations are scarce. The six-speed shaft transmission guarantees long-term serenity that chains exposed to mud and stones cannot match. The 890 mm seat remains an obstacle for shorter riders, but BMW offers a range of optional seats descending to 820 mm, and the adjustable height to 910 mm for the tallest. This modularity is, moreover, one of the great strengths of the brand: the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure accessory range is endless, from BMW R 1250 GS Adventure aluminum panniers to heated grips and a high screen for long distances.

The standard on-board electronics already hold a good level with two riding modes Rain and Road, the ASC traction control, ABS and the hill start control. But it is the Pro Modes option that reveals the full potential of the system: four additional modes including Enduro and Enduro Pro configurable, DTC in place of ASC, ABS Pro active in corners, engine braking control DBC. The 6.5-inch color TFT screen comes standard and integrates smartphone connectivity via the dedicated app, for icon-based navigation and hands-free calls. It is practical, even if the simplified navigation system quickly finds its limits against a dedicated GPS, which remains payable as an option at a price that makes you cough.

The BMW R 1250 GS Adventure HP distinguishes itself visually with its Motorsport livery, gold-colored rims, a shortened windshield and a quasi-single-seat more aggressive seat. It clearly targets the rider who wants the adventurer DNA with a touch of sporty presence. The base and Exclusive versions play on other color schemes, but all share the same new air intake ducts, aluminum frame brackets and radial four-piston calipers biting two 305 mm front discs. On the used motorcycle market, the used BMW R 1250 GS Adventure retains a solid value, a sign that depreciation remains controlled despite a catalog price of 19,300 euros which serves as a premium entry ticket.

At this price, the competition does not stand still. KTM offers a more extreme engine for off-road riding, the Multistrada displays a more incisive road behavior, the Triumph Tiger 1200 seduces with its smooth triple cylinder. The GS Adventure responds with a comprehensiveness that its rivals struggle to equal: real versatility, 30-liter autonomy, consumption contained at 4.75 liters per hundred, and a network of dealerships that reassures for long journeys. It is not the lightest motorcycle nor the most physically accessible, but for the great traveler who wants to go far without compromising on comfort and electronic safety, it remains the reference that all others strive to dethrone.