BMW R 1250 GS Adventure: The far side

[Jultxxxyes]

The trail with a boxer engine from BMW and the last name Adventure continues to be the aspiration of many riders. In the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure they see the peak of their evolution, the maturity as a biker who seeks a series of qualities that only a high-flying trail can transmit to him.
We are talking about a motorcycle where concepts such as performance or comfort abound and where the spirit of adventure is also present, thus leaving out GT motorcycles, prepared only to ride on asphalt.

It is very true that currently the customer profile of this style of motorcycle is mature for about 50 years, who values being able to go out occasionally on dirt tracks, although the reality in many cases is very different. But that the investment contemplates that possibility, contributes that value of adventurous restlessness that many of its clients desire, people who with their saddles have discovered great experiences about their GS.

As a tester, I roll on many motorcycles and all in perfect condition as new models, but only the user who makes the purchase and enjoys for thousands of kilometers, can claim things from the future model that he demands in his. So taking advantage of the great experience of having participated in two of the three editions of the PuntaPunta Morocco organized by BMW Motorrad Spain, where I met many “riders” of the brand, I took the opportunity to invite two of them to the test of the new R 1250 GS Adventure.

So I called two who had R 1200 GS Adventure (see test) to test our R 1250 GS Adventure and they didn't think twice. José Manuel Serrano is Valencian, a lawyer by profession, a widower and childless, while Federico Unter, a Mexican, a civil engineer by profession, is married to a Spanish woman and has one child. With them I can already say that I have traveled thousands of kilometers, being two experienced Bemeuvists where I value their opinion a lot. The lawyer's motorcycle, in three years has done 32,000 kilometers and its use is playful, pure enjoyment, while in the case of the engineer, his motorcycle is the way of fun but also that of mobility, so that in two years already He has made 60,000 kilometers: if he slows down, it will be due to his recent paternity

 

So, with them, I stayed in a midpoint of their residence areas, specifically in the Tarragona area in the “Baix Penedés”, to carry out this report. We were very early and after a long morning coffee given the time we had seen each other we started the test: What great companions on the road they are!

Looking for the course

If I have something to praise in some brands, it is to be faithful to their principles. I could talk about Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Vespa or, of course, BMW Motorrad, who I especially appreciate that their style and philosophy have wanted to keep modernizing it over the years.

 

Focusing on the brand that has led us to this test, the eternal boxer engine burst in 1980 in that currently highly valued by collectors, R 80 GS. Since that year and in these 40 years of history, the boxer-powered GS has only grown in quality, performance and, logically, in sales and followers. That is why countless events have been created for its clients, from international routes by teams from different countries, the GS Trophy in which I participated in 2010 in South Africa, through the national routes PuntApunta Spain and Morocco, without forget the Motorrad Days meetings, now in Sabiñánigo and organized by BMW Motorrad Spain. In the case of the Moroccan experience, since we are talking about the Spanish experience in travel / adventure, the trail world has opened up to people who in some cases had not even considered stepping on land with their motorcycle. The slogan of “Espíritu GS” stuck with them a lot and these clients hooked on it are already regular consumers of this type of experience annually…

Focusing on our test unit ... Once again it came to the brim with extras, being the perfect showcase for how you can equip this model and consequently make the mount more expensive. But its financing formula called Select, a soft installment system with the latest registration to refinance, return the vehicle or pay in full, ensures that the bike varies little in installments from going barefoot to going full, so in general in the second-hand market you will rarely find a peeled one. In fact, I have not seen a basic one of these trails ...

 

Our motorcycle provides an Exclusive finish, characterized by metallic matte green Kalamata paint contrasting with its metallic Agate gray chassis. The handlebar is finished in matte black, like the subframe and gimbal, and its brake calipers from the American manufacturer Hayes, instead of Brembo, are finished in gold.

So, if we also add the three optional equipment packages, the Comfort, Touring and Dynamic along with the suitcases and top case, we go from € 20,100 of the base model to € 27,090 of ours, a price that for many will seem exorbitant.

What represent the sales of SUVs in the automobile sector are the trails in the motorcycle sector, so there is a lot of supply, economic and Premium; This BMW is in the most select of the market. Sometimes, when I see the price of the beautiful Indian Challenger type custom (see test) or Harley Davidson Road King Special 114 (see test) that we tested, what strikes me is the strength that these Americans have exclusively with respect to this trail boxer. And the reason is none other than the success achieved by this BMW has made many GS’s visible on our Spanish roads, as if it were an economic motorcycle. At the end of the report I give you what all the accessories provided by the motorcycle consist of, for your curiosity ...

Details that attract attention

 

With exactly the same mechanical and cycle base as its catalog sisters, which we have tested as described, I encourage you to stop by them to see the differences.

The staging of this motorcycle where I delved into its mechanical qualities and range innovations, as well as applied solutions, you have it in the presentation of the R 1250 GS range (see presentation). Curiously, the Adventure version will not find it, because it was not presented until the Milan Motor Show. Then we tested the standard version, also super-equipped, by Javier Millán (see test), to continue with the test I personally carried out in Tardienta (Los Monegros) with lugged tires from the R 1250 GS HP version (see test). So what was said. I am not going to repeat myself in what is the same and I will focus on the differences and feelings.

If I start looking at details, I was struck by several things. The first is the protector that they have put on the bridge of the central trestle to protect the lower part of the exhaust from stones. The following is the impressive optional finish of the gigantic fuel tank, the great protagonist of its silhouette. With the welds polished, brushed and varnished by hand by the operators of the German factory, I would pay the 338 € they ask for it ...

Another thing that strikes me is that with the Touring package comes the pre-installation of the browser: the model must be specifically that of the brand even if it is manufactured by the prestigious Garming. My reflection is that with the impressive operation of the Conect Ride that already comes standard, the expensive optional browser you will use little and in any case I would not be the first to put my Smartphone in that space before only the exclusive navigation tools.

 

Finally, let me comment on the design of the mirrors. They are functional, no doubt, but apart from that they are not a panacea in the field of vision, I have them somewhat boring. They are those elements that stand out completely from the automobile sector, because in addition to being much simpler than that of the 4-wheel sector, we also inherit them endlessly, the same or intermittent ... In this case we will find them until on C400 X and GT scooters.

The route is your thing, but with more sauce ...

The new R 1250 GS Adventure remains the quintessential route of the firm. Yes, they have models with in-line 6-cylinder engines like their K's and also, the RT, is another of the wonders of the range of the brand that has this impressive 1250 boxer engine, but this GS version takes them to all to the water ... Because in addition to giving autonomy and a lot of comfort, it is capable of taking you out on the roads or tracks and getting the story of your life. But that also had it in the R 1200 GS Adventure, you can think if you own or owned one. But in that one you did not have the sensations and the sporty behavior that this has, among other things because of its impulsive motor. If it were not for the multiple controls it provides, such as the ASC traction control, which in our case and with more precision is the DTC for carrying it as an extra, this motorcycle is easy and more loaded, that you cannot open the throttle with power in the first three gears because it lifts the wheel. Personally, I think that Dynamic is a very sporty profile for the philosophy of the trail concept, but I have to admit that now it is getting more fruit both for the extra power and for the new geometries, as well as the more retained suspension settings. It is precisely this aspect one of the things that our guests liked the most, especially José Manuel's little magazine who likes to walk fast on twisty roads (see video statements).

Maneuvering with her continues to surprise me. My eighty meter tall lets me touch my flat feet on the floor in the lowest position of the seat that it provides. So, although all of it is large, not to mention tall, wide and heavy, it is not uncomfortable in urban use. You will not be able to pass between cars if it is narrow, but if you go without suitcases it moves better than expected, among other things due to its wide turning angle.

Edited May 17, 2020 by YaKuZa--BoSs
Closed Topic/complete 1 day.