BMW R 1300 GS Review: How the Most Luxurious Trail Bikes Perform

The BMW Motorrad GS family has a 45-year history. The first model was the R 80 G/S, launched in 1980. This not only marked the birth of an iconic range for the German brand but also the emergence of a segment that is more relevant than ever today: the maxi trail : motorcycles for long road trips and capable of off-road use.

The GS acronym originates from the German words Gelände (off-road) and Strasse (street), in keeping with the profile of these motorcycles. Each one released over these four decades featured cutting-edge technological innovations that defined their era.

Today, larger-displacement bikes stand out for their two-cylinder boxer engines and luxurious equipment. These are the reasons why they are so popular for long trips and adventurous journeys.

In March, BMW Motorrad Argentina presented the new R 1300 GS Adventure . The top of the range in the family, it arrived to become the new "queen of the GS." The launch implies, by definition, that it will be the successor to the R 1250 GS Adventure, the brand's flagship until then.

At the launch of the Adventure, BMW emphasized that one of the main new features, in addition to having a larger, more powerful engine, had to do with an improved driving experience.

To see the differences between a 1250 and a 1300, Clarín had the opportunity to ride them for a week, as well as the R 1300 GS , launched last year.

Some call it "the rhinoceros," others "the mastodon." The unit we tested was the top-of-the-range Option 719 Karakorum . At first glance, it impresses with its size. Aesthetically, the design manages to make it look not beastly, but rather sophisticated, modern, and elegant. This marks a first difference with its predecessor, which had a more warlike appearance, especially due to the greater number of defenses on the sides of the tank.

The 1300 also has aluminum guards on the sides of the cylinders, but their size has been reduced. This doesn't mean the bike is less protected, but rather a more effective design with less bulk.

That's why we'll notice two small lugs sticking out of the tips of the fenders, which serve two purposes: to prevent the bike from rolling over in a skid , and at the same time, to ensure that when it hits the ground, it's at an angle that makes it easier to pick up. The R 1300 GS Adventure weighs 269 kilos with a full tank.

Speaking of design and size, the fuel tank has a lot to do with that. It has a 30-liter capacity, giving a range of over 600 kilometers at 110 km/h (consumption of 4.8 liters per 100 km) or 500 in mixed use (5.4 liters per 100 km). Obviously, fuel consumption increases when you get more out of the 145 hp and 149 Nm of torque delivered by the boxer engine . These performances allow it to accelerate and maintain high speeds without overexerting itself.

The 1300 has 10 more horsepower and 6 Nm more torque than the 1250. In road, dirt, and highway use, rather than on a race track, the difference may not be as noticeable to a standard rider on a bike with so much technology focused on ride comfort.

And there are several new features on the 1300 that aim to further improve the driving experience. Mainly, changes to the engine and chassis design to lower the center of gravity and modifications to the suspension to increase comfort.

The latter is noticeable as soon as you hop on the bike for the first time. When maneuvering in tight spaces at low speeds, the 269 kilos are never felt. On the road, however, the weight distribution works to achieve great handling, ensuring you never feel unsafe on a curve, in a crosswind, or when passing a truck.

Another great highlight is the adaptive, automatic suspension system, as well as the ability to adjust the ride height. Combined with the riding modes (road, enduro, dynamic, rain), this gives us multiple configurations based on the terrain or the environment.

An example of this is that if we're not that tall, we can lower the bike's ride height to get on and off more comfortably, but when we accelerate, the suspension will rise to achieve the ideal ride height, depending on the mode we've selected. And when we brake at a traffic light, it will lower again.

The R 1300 GS Adventure we tested includes one of this model's major new features: the Automatic Gear Shift Assist (ASA) . It can be operated manually, but without a clutch, or in automatic mode.

The automatic transmission is very agile, precise, and makes driving really comfortable. It jerks slightly when downshifting under hard acceleration, but it's not bothersome.

When downshifting, the bike doesn't immediately shift to the next gear. Instead, it detects our intention and extends the shift as far as possible to give us more power. Another positive aspect of ASA is that, despite being activated, it allows us to shift up or down manually if needed.

But by far, the biggest benefit of the automatic transmission (as scooter users will know) is the reduced fatigue when moving around the city.

The other major new feature of the R 1300 GS Adventure is the dynamic cruise control with braking function that allows you to regulate the distance from the vehicle in front.

For example, if we're traveling at 120 km/h on the highway and approach a car traveling at 110 km/h, the motorcycle automatically brakes, matching the speed of the vehicle in front, and maintains the space we've selected (it has three closeness levels). If that vehicle accelerates or moves out of front of us, the motorcycle automatically accelerates back to the set speed.

When it comes to taking the R 1300 GS Adventure to the dirt, Enduro mode makes all the difference. It provides precise traction, firm yet comfortable damping, and regulates braking force. At the same time, ASA effectively replaces the work we would do fiddling with the clutch on climbs, descents, and obstacles.

A detail of this Option 719 is the Akrapovic exhaust that provides a very sporty sound.

You have to be very, very careful to find areas for improvement on a motorcycle with this level of performance and equipment. One of them could be that some functions are not as easily accessible and require going through several screens to activate or deactivate them, such as the fog lights, which previously turned on simply by pressing a physical button.

Another detail is the storage space above the tank, which is ideal for a cell phone, but not all models fit. For example, with a 6.7-inch screen, like many currently on the market, it doesn't fit by just a few millimeters.

The small fender lugs may be a bit annoying when parking in a tight space or maneuvering in a traffic jam. They're tiny details on a bike with exceptional performance on the street, on the road, and off-road.

After riding the Adventure, we were able to test the R 1300 GS in its Option 719 Tramuntana version. This 1,300 cc enduro touring bike comes in Aurelis Green Metallic with gold details like the GS lettering on the tank, handlebars, and reinforced spoked wheels. Aesthetically, it's a 10.

Once we get on, the main difference is the size of the tank, which in this case is 19 liters , and the lightness of the bike, weighing 32 kilos less with a full tank than the Adventure version.

The R 1300 GS comes with a manual gearbox, the clutch is hydraulically actuated, and the handles on this version are made of aluminum.

This bike shares the same engine performance as the Adventure, but its lighter weight means it feels a little more relaxed. This is also due to the improvements to the chassis and the 12-kilogram weight reduction compared to the R 1250 GS.

The manual gearbox also gives you the extra power to take each gear a little further.

Among the notable features, the electronically height-adjustable windshield performs well in aerodynamics, protecting from the wind without causing discomfort to the helmet.

The heated grips and seat in both versions are also outstanding, to the point that on extremely cold days, using level 2 of the 3 available is more than enough to keep you warm.

Both the R 1300 GS and R 1300 GS Adventure are the two most expensive motorcycles in their segments. The top-of-the-line Option 719 versions sell for US$45,400 and US$50,400, respectively.