BMW is in many ways the original ‘Adventure Sports’ manufacturer. Its GS range of bikes was first seen back in 1980 in the form of the R80 G/S: a barely-disguised racebike, intended to win the prestigious, challenging Dakar Rally. It was an unusual design: the company’s trademark flat-twin ‘Boxer’ engine layout didn’t seem suited to an offroad bike. The motor was heavy, wide, and the shaft drive BMW insisted on using added even more weight and made providing sufficient ground clearance difficult. Still, BMW developed the GS design alongside its other touring and roadster machinery through the 1980s and 1990s, until the second generation Boxer engine appeared with the R1100GS in 1994. That machine won mainstream popularity with its mix of sound (if quirky) road handling, decent engine performance and novel styling. But it’s in this latest 1200 form that the GS range has really excelled. The 1200 is lighter and more powerful than ever, which allow riders to make even more of its off-road abilities. Cutting-edge electronic systems have improved reliability and reduced weight, while BMW’s huge range of high-quality optional extras lets owners customise the bike to suit their needs.
BMW also offers an ‘Adventure’ version of the GS, with massive engine and fairing bars, aluminium luggage cases, and extra driving lights. It turns the GS into a massively imposing machine, and really does look like a bike you can ride to the ends of the earth.
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