BMW R 1250 GS 2019, all the magic of ShiftCam and more [ROAD TEST VIDEO]

BMW R 1250 GS 2019 We told you about it straight away with a first detailed article, also interesting for those who want to delve deeper into the functioning of the biggest innovation of the new boxer 1250: the ShiftCam. Now let's try to summarize the main innovations and our impressions after trying it, in a video.

This is certainly one of the biggest innovations of 2018, or rather of 2019, given that it debuts these days, but we are now at the end of the season and we will see many examples on the road starting next spring, probably. Only the colors and fittings have changed, with the HP taking the place of the previous Rallye, but the substantial innovations are found in the equipment, which now includes Full LED headlights as standard, the TFT instrumentation of the "old" Connectivity package, as well as to other accessories, which go from paid options to being part of the standard configuration.

Keeping the best seller at the top of the charts is not easy. BMW has done this by constantly updating this bike and with important evolutionary steps. Today we are witnessing half a revolution, well hidden in the minds of the new 1250 boxer. The other innovations relate to colors and standard equipment, but the protagonist is the ShiftCam system. What is it about? We have told you about it in detail in the road test that you find on the pages of the site, but to summarize the concept it is a variable timing system which involves an electromechanical actuator which intervenes on the groove present on the side of each of the two camshafts, on the intake side. It brings into play two pairs of cams, one at partial load and one at full load.

In practice, the engine under 5 thousand rpm and if you don't ask for all the power by opening the throttle wide open, optimizes efficiency, reducing consumption, but also has greater fluidity. Everything acts in sync with the throttle bodies, precisely to avoid a change in character when switching between the use of one or the other pair of cams. Not only that, the two cams that act on the individual valves have different profiles, to improve the fluid dynamics in the combustion chamber, while the novelty of the ShiftCam is combined with a profound reinterpretation of the Propeller boxer. Many new features, such as the Morse timing chain (necessary for greater precision), but also new pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft. In doing so, the new engine "accommodates" the complex operation of the ShiftCam, but is also quieter, especially thanks to the new distribution chains, as well as already being prepared for Euro 5.

An engine which, in addition to the 11 additional horsepower at the top, which goes from 125 to 136, gains better driveability at medium and low rpm. More torque, moved slightly lower (the maximum 143 Nm arrives 250 rpm earlier), which allows you to avoid using the gearbox, which in many cases becomes almost superfluous. Much more driving pleasure, but also impeccable regularity of operation and a good dose of nastiness always available: just open the throttle to understand it. With traction control off, there is no need to exaggerate to cause a "discreet" lift of the front, which, even if prohibited by the highway code, for some represents the essence of the pleasure of riding a motorbike.

Gain a gear, really, that's not a catchphrase. In the recovery from 60 - 180 km/h, carried out in sixth gear, it improves by 2 seconds, with performances similar to those that the "1200" achieved in fifth gear. In fact, after traveling the first kilometers in search of those 11 extra horsepower (with a rather intensive use of the gearbox), we realized that, by forgetting the sixth gear, little changed overall. Yes, because the boxer recovers well even after a thousand revolutions, with a boost that is already quite vigorous at 2.000. A delivery that is surprising for its regularity and fluidity, with a response to the throttle that is always practically perfect. Even in the off road section you notice the improvements in some situations, with an engine that digests a wrong gear without problems and which, even in Enduro Pro mode and blocking the rear, never switches off, even taking time to take control of the clutch. Without suddenly changing its soul, but based on how you handle the throttle, it has plenty of character. At the end of the day, returning from our test, we try to increase a few gears with the limiter, discovering that the greater power is all there, with the 136 horsepower making themselves felt. If some Euro 4 engines in the past had made us fear for the future, with a "worse" output than the old Euro 3 ones, today BMW is showing us that technology can make an engine ready even for the Euro standard better on all fronts 5. Without the ShiftCam this probably wouldn't be possible.

And the rest? She is always the excellent GS, with a little something extra, thanks to the new heart. We concentrated on the engine, as it couldn't be otherwise. Because, apart from the new engine and the standard equipment (and new colors and fittings), the bike remains the same, the very balanced R 1250 GS (or 1200 if we think of the old one). However, with the new engine it seems even more enjoyable, precisely because of the greater regularity which causes less of a problem for the chassis in some situations.

The price has risen to 17.850 euros (it was 16.400), but the accessories that have become standard, previously paid over 1.500 euros, so in fact one could say that the new BMW R 1250 GS, in addition to having a new heart and full of nice surprises, with the same set-up it costs less than the old 1200.

Clothing used:
Mtech Geographic jacket,
Mtech Storm Pants,
Mtech Wind Hero 2 gloves,
Stylmartin Impact RS Boots,
Suomy MX Tourer helmet