R 1200 GS
PRICE: From $21,850 - $27,250
(plus on-road charges)
WARRANTY: Two years,
unlimited distance
SERVICING INTERVALS: Every
10,000km or 12 months
ENGINE: Air/liquid-cooled boxer
twin cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4
valves per cylinder
BORE x STROKE: 101 x 73mm
DISPLACEMENT: 1170cc
COMPRESSION: 12.5:1
POWER: 92kW @ 7750rpm
TORQUE: 125Nm @ 6500rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet clutch,
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SUSPENSION: Front, Telelever fork,
adjustable preload and rebound, travel
190mm. Rear, Paralever monoshock,
adjustable preload and rebound,
travel 200mm.
DIMENSIONS: Seat height 850-870mm,
weight 244kg (wet), fuel capacity 20
litres, wheelbase 1507mm
TYRES: Front, 120/70/R19.
Rear, 170/60/R17
FRAME: Tubular steel
BRAKES: Front, twin 305mm discs
with four-piston integral ABS
calipers. Rear, 276mm disc,
dual-piston integral ABS caliper.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: N/A
THEORETICAL RANGE: N/A
COLOURS: Standard: Black Storm
metallic, Light White, Tour Edition: Iced
Chocolate metallic, Rallye/Rallye X:
Lupin Blue metallicVERDICT: FOUR KINGSSPECS
LAUNCH
Pro’ and also incorporates Dynamic
Traction Control (DTC). The latter
enables even more dynamic and safe
acceleration, especially with the bike at
lean angle. The riding modes Dynamic
Pro and Enduro Pro, activated by
means of a coded plug, also have
customisation options which allow
the character of the motorcycle to be
adapted according to your individual
needs. Covering the gnarly trails we
did on extremely steep descents I was
thankful for how well the Enduro
Pro ABS setting on the front brake
has been done. A normal ABS system
would have had me tumbling down
the descent rather than riding, whereas
Enduro Pro would only come in
lightly when absolutely necessary. In
fact, the ABS setting in the riding
modes is lightly integrated and almost
unnoticeable, as is the traction control
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little, whereas it is now super smooth in
operation. The GS also has cornering
ABS so that if you get it all wrong you
have some chance of making it around
the corner rather than spearing straight
ahead – great levels of safety to have!
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X and Tour and allows clutchless
up and down shifts and this works
perfectly in the dirt as well. You can
get it as an option on the Standard and
Rallye and it is highly recommended.
Another element of Riding Modes
Pro is the new Hill Start Control
function. It prevents the motorcycle
from rolling back on gradients with
targeted intervention from the part
integral BMW Motorrad ABS –
without the rider constantly having
to activate the brake lever. When
Hill Start Control is activated via the
handbrake lever, pressure is built up
in the rear brake system – depending
on the gradient – to prevent the bike
from rolling backwards. I always
thought hill start was a bit of a
gimmick but on one particular very
steep incline it saved my butt from
tumbling back down the hill.
Accessories are extensive and I
won’t go into the huge list other
than to say there is one; a huge
range of seats, especially, is now
available, from a low 820mm seat
up to the tall 890mm Rallye seat.
Loads of luggage options are
there as are many other great
GS type accessories.
The King continues to reign on its
throne, believe me. On the enduro-
like trails we rode during the launch,
it more than showed the amazing
(and electronic) ability the R 1200
GS (in all four forms) has to offer,
especially the off-road excellence
that the new Rallye X has ready –
just waiting for you to explore. DSide stand only