BMW Motorrad has given all adventure seekers a perfect canon to let loose for almost four decades, starting with its first motorcycle, the R80GS. After many iterations and transformations, we finally have the R 1300 GS.
It's also the most significant disruption in the 40-plus-year history of BMW's GS legacy. The all-new R 1300 GS-is by all means an 'all-new'. Almost every single component on the bike is more powerful, has more torque, is lighter, and is more technologically advanced than the R 1250 GS which it aims to dethrone. Firstly, it's lighter by 12 kgs than its outgoing 1250 GS, which stood the test and has a big fan. Secondly, we were given the R 1300 GS 17,000 above sea level to ride from Ladakh to the Warla pass which tilted the opinion in its favor even before starting the journey.
The beautiful landscape of Ladakh is a dream for every motorhead to ride or drive solo. The snow-capped mountains, army-maintained great winding roads, and fewer vehicles will kickstart a soul-searching process. The nitty-gritty of a review honestly takes a backseat, and all you are thinking is that if four wheels move the body and two wheels move the soul.
DESIGN & ENGINE
First, it's less intimidating than the 1250 GS, and the new matrix LED headlights & flasher have been smartly integrated and look gorgeous and less menacing. The aluminum fuel tank has also been shaped sleeker and is now more lightweight than before. The new gearbox is placed below the engine. In the 1250 GS, it used to be in the rear. This has made the weight concentration more centralized, and as a result, you have more free space for your knees and legs and it is more symmetric on either side. The longer drive shafts with bigger joints for extra durability, and BMW now claims that you don't need to change that up to 80,000 km earlier; it had to be swapped at 60,000 km. Finally, a monocoque short rear frame opens up more levels of personalisation.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av BBC TopGear India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!
With its reimagined design language, BMW has done what it does best-divided opinion with the kind of fervour usually reserved for debates about pineapple on pizza.
A VIRAL ESCAPE
The last time I visited Hampi in Karnataka was back in 2021, just as the world began to shake off the COVID-19 travel bans.
FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION
Thierry Neuville's Journey to WRC Glory
Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS
From dominance to resilience, Verstappen cements his legacy while Mercedes shines in Sin
VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT
Volkswagen has a knack for keeping their loyal and enthusiastic customers grinning from ear to ear. The German manufacturer has almost become synonymous with build quality, safety and performance.
BE GE AND XEV 9E Sexy and Ballsy!
Starting a review can be quite a challenge, especially when it's hard to pinpoint the flaws!
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
Chilly, cold mornings and Mumbai is a rare combination that we seldom see in this part of our beautiful country.
BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS
When Luxury Meets Performance, Who Takes the Crown?
THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG
The MPV market, dominated for aeons by Toyota's Innova, has always felt like a rather predictable place. It's the type of vehicle you buy not out of passion but practicality-like a pair of orthopaedic shoes.
IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE
Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.
