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?
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.
Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra October 2018-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
