Battle Ready

R1200 GS was first sold in 2005 and enjoys a long reign as the Gold Standard for adventure bikes. The liquid-cooled version wa s introduced in 2013, and with its feather-light wet clutch and revised frame design it approaches super-bike status on the asphalt—its comfort, power, and wind protection rival many single-purpose road bikes.

- Bill Drago

In 2015, the heavier crankshaft was carried over to the standard GS from the Adventure model, making it better than ever off pavement. From serving as an Iron Butt platform or RTW mount to conquering Colorado’s toughest passes, the mighty GS has done it all. But like its human thrill-seeking counterparts, the beast is better suited for pushing the envelope after a little preparation. The GS is wide and heavy, yet well balanced and surprisingly nimble in skilled hands. Finely engineered accessories help arm the machine for battle.

My 2015 GS project bike has covered 13,000 miles, many of those well off the beaten path. Every accessory has done its job without fail. Here’s why they were chosen.

FOUNDATION FIRST

Tires and wheels take a beating. Wider stock wheels on the new GS are more subject to damage than their predecessors. Woody’s Wheel Works settles these concerns with their Superlaced wheels. Spokes are .040 thicker than stock, with Excel rims and Superlite hubs to handle the roughest environments. I chose the narrower oilhead rim size, facilitating more tire choices and exposing less of the rim to potential damage.

Shinko’s 804/805 series tires have withstood everything I could throw at them and last at least as well as their competitors at nearly half the price.

ROCKS, BUGS AND MUD