Virtually Flawless

The big GS is one of the most popular bikes on the planet. But what is it like to ride, and is it a good deal to buy?

- Chris Moss

The success story of BMW’s rugged, big capacity GS adventure bikes is one of the biggest ever in motorcycling. Selling in large numbers worldwide, the popularity of the range has grown slowly since the birth of the R80G/S in 1980, becoming the giant it is today in the shape of the R1200GS and more fully-equipped GS Adventure models.

It took time for the virtues of the GS to be appreciated by us Brits though, and early smaller engined models weren’t so well-liked. Perhaps we just weren’t ready for them, though it’s more likely because we were so obsessed with sportsbikes.

But as time passed by and the GS grew in capacity, so did its popularity. In 1994 the 1100 model started to make more waves in the UK market. By now it was getting harder for us to ignore the GS’s versatility and practicality – even if it did have a distinct look not everyone approved of. Updated in 1999, when it became the 1150GS, seeing the BMW on British roads became more common. But it was the famous globe-traveling adventures of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman that really boosted the fame and impact of GS in the UK after they used a pair of 1150 Adventures for their famous Long Way Round trip in 2004.

That same year saw the introduction of the highly-acclaimed 1200GS. More powerful and significantly lighter, the new bike sold very well. Ewan and Charley then completed their Long Way Down journey on the 1200 Adventure models in 2007 boosting GS popularity still further. Both versions of the 1200 were upgraded in 2008 and 2010.