The outgoing BMW R1200GS isn’t just one of the world’s best-selling big bikes, it’s also one of the most copied – the byword for a perfect blend of on- and off-road ability since its ancestor, the R80G/S, made its debut in the early 1980s.
In its most recent guise, it retains the name of its immediate predecessor. But underneath, it’s quite different, with the shifting of some key engine components for better weight distribution. That’s in addition to the introduction of liquid-cooling over the previous model’s air-cooled nature, owing to ever stricter CO2 emission regulations and the power limitations of an air-cooled engine.
As a result, power is up 15bhp to 125bhp and torque increases from 120Nm to 125Nm. Best of all, efficiency is also up – from 17.4km per litre to 24.2km.
The increased grunt translates to a surprisingly exciting and lively ride, two words you would never associate with its predecessor. The engine is a lot more tractable, too. Punchy and fast-revving, it works its way through the rev range with buttery smoothness.
BMW R1200 GS has an all-LED headlight cluster.
Aiding this is a light, predictable fly-by-wire throttle, and an equally light clutch and gearshifter (the latter item is now more precise and less clunky). The net result of all these improvements is it makes riding the bike an enjoyable and fuss-free affair.
But if you’d like to make more of a fuss, you could plump for optional extras, such as multiple riding modes. These include an Enduro Pro mode that switches all the electronic aids off, which is quite handy if you intend to race in the Dakar Rally.
The highlight, though, is the Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA) semi-active suspension that softens the dampers when traversing rough terrain, or firms them up when you’re braking to negotiate a corner. Pretty clever stuff, because the system does all this automatically on the fly.
Forget what you know about the outgoing model – this 2014 R1200GS is miles better at inducing silly grins. The addition of new Brembo brake callipers and larger rotors help complete the trinity of fun (power, handling, braking).
Plus, its ergonomics has improved, too, through the addition of a wider seat and the new height-adjustable windscreen that’s been redesigned to be quieter at speed.
Put this all together and you have an all-round machine that lends credence to its GS moniker (it stands for Gelande Strasse, which in German means “off-road street”). It’s hard to see the rivals of the R1200GS surpassing it, and until that day comes, it is the standard by which all other adventure bikes are judged.
2014 BMW R1200 GS 1.2
ENGINE 1170cc, 8-valves, flat-twin
MAX POWER 125hp at 7750rpm
MAX TORQUE 125Nm at 6500rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed manual
0-100KM/H 3.6 seconds
TOP SPEED 200km/h
CONSUMPTION 24.2km/L (combined)
BMW M5 is MotoGP’s safety car
Click here to read our review of Harley-Davidson’s Softail models
