BMW R1200GS Adventure 2014 – Road test

We have it tested in the “standard” version, but this time BMW with the Adventure really surprised us. It is not just the version with larger tank and protections, because it changes essentially and, thanks to a new flywheel and revised control unit, it acquires a rounder delivery, which we liked by far the most. Anyone who has the opportunity to try both will most likely fall in love with the new BMW R1200GS Adventure, truly one of the best bikes on the market.

Before I started testing them, I loved motorcycles, but for me there were only sporty Japanese ones. Then I was lucky enough to try everything, even vehicles that I would never have thought of riding, because they were far from my personal idea of ​​a motorbike, and to discover that they were better than I thought. With the experience of I end up appreciating every kind of motorbike, because as I like to think, every vehicle equipped with an engine has its own reason, for a true enthusiast. As the number of kilometers traveled and evidence accumulated increases, some preconceptions disappear, others are confirmed. When we move from theory to practice it is normal for this to happen. Often you don't share the opinions of those who rode that bike, because tastes are subjective anyway, much more often you find yourself thinking the same way, because other things are objective instead. I remember a motorbike ride with friends a few years ago, there were three of us, two Japanese sports cars and one BMW R1200GS Adventure. Even if it's certainly not aesthetically ugly, I found it awkward, too big with those huge bags and that infinite tank in front. For me this alone was a sufficient element to extinguish any desire to know more and evaluate it from other aspects, because it made it fall into the category of motorbikes that were not for me, more suitable for "quiet people", perhaps elderly and with a few kilos. too much. I didn't even understand why it was so successful. Then, last summer, we had the opportunity to test it and I realized how much my judgement, or rather prejudice, was wrong. The GS immediately turns out to be a great surprise, because it can be ridden with a unique simplicity, dimensions and weight, which should scare most less experienced motorcyclists, vanish as soon as you are moving. After using a GS 1200 Adventure, the “old” model with air/oil cooling, for almost 3.000 km around the passes of Italy, Switzerland and Austria, I profoundly reevaluated the opinion I had of her. Now, after our road test of the new BMW R1200GS Adventure, I definitely fell in love with it. Also thanks to a period of numerous tests of other enduros, after having had the opportunity to make a direct comparison with the main competitors, we arrived at the conclusion, and I believe it is shared by the vast majority of those who have had the opportunity to try it in depth, that the BMW R1200GS, and I must say even more so in this latest Adventure version, is by far the one that can give the most satisfaction. It is the most balanced and comfortable, but it also has a fantastic delivery that makes it mean when needed and with that unique sound of the boxer twin. So, one evening you find yourself on the sofa, while watching TV, thinking about that motorbike ride, about the opinions then and now, about the difference between an opinion expressed by preconception, which I would define as "bar", and one that is the result of real experience and comparison.

Aesthetics and finishes:

rating:  

It's big for sure, but it's a nice sight in person

He rarely picked up a test bike at the dealership and got on it a flavour so special. Maybe because it was one of the first delivered, maybe because it has been the queen of the market for some time and the curiosity to try the latest arrival was great, maybe because of its beautiful Alpinewhite color, but this GS Adventure had a particular charm for us. We also enjoyed the pleasure of proudly searching the looks of admiration he often received as he passed, during the 1300 kilometers of testing. Looks that were rarely disapproving of its panzer size, much more often out of curiosity to see what it looked like up close. Compared to the “base” GS the tank grows as usual, from 20 to 30 litres. In the previous series it was even 33, but at BMW they say that by consuming less they were able to reduce its dimensions, keeping the autonomy unchanged. Compared to the previous one, the Adventure is now more sinuous in its curves, because it widens not only in the tank area. In the saddle you have the feeling of being enveloped and protected from the entire front of the bike, with one position 4 cm higher than the standard GS, and ergonomics that appear better. Protection increases thanks to the windshield, manually adjustable even while moving, as long as the speed is reduced, otherwise the aerodynamic resistance makes the operation difficult. The other aesthetic changes concern the usual protections, are now more extensive than in the past i aluminum tubes to protect the engine, and are always the basis of optional additional LED spotlights. Finally, the rims change, because as usual the Adventure adopts wheels beautiful spoked rims with black channels and hubs. Note, in the area in front of the tank, the presence of a tiny object holder, small yet practical when travelling. With gloves, opening the pockets of the jacket, with the view closed by the helmet, is in fact a Mission Impossible operation. This compartment can be used, for example, to store the gate keys, but be careful to remove them when the vehicle is stationary, since it has no lock, or for the credit card to be used at the motorway toll booth. The rest of the commands are identical to the GS from which it derives, with a myriad of controls scattered across the two blocks on the handlebar, including the wheel with which you control the navigator, an optional feature that we found very interesting, also because it is completely integrated with the functions of the motorcycle's dashboard, with which it can share data, as well as guiding us along the routes. Many commands obviously require practice to become familiar with, but they always remain a little too chaotic, at least those on the left. When using the arrows, even after 15 days of intense use of the motorbike, we often continued to inadvertently operate the navigator wheel, moving through the menus.

Engine and performance:

rating:  

More enjoyable and rounded in delivery with the Adventure configuration

In the transition to mixed air/water cooling, the boxer 1200 has gained a lot in badness. Maybe too much, one might think. When we tried the new GS 1200 for the first time, the difference seemed so marked that it made us doubt the choice. The extra 15 horsepower doesn't convey the idea of ​​the much more aggressive character of the twin-cylinder, trademark of the propeller company. Furthermore, whatever the mapping selected - Rain and Road are the standard ones, while Dynamic and Enduro are available with the optional package - the entry into torque was clearly felt, with an explosion of power around 5.000 rpm. The possibility of selecting the type of delivery is also thanks to the ride-by-wire accelerator control, an absolute novelty introduced with the latest GS. The Adventure version, which in the past differed substantially in terms of appearance and chassis calibration, in this new generation it also features specific interventions on the engine. BMW has not limited itself to a dedicated mapping of the control unit, but has introduced a new flywheel mass 950 grams heavier, which is maintained the impressive thrust that the engine continues to have in the area between 2 and 4 thousand rpm remains unchanged, making the delivery more constant and rounded up to the entire range of use. The power remains unchanged, 125 horsepower at 7.750 rpm, like the torque of 125 Nm, at 6.500. The bike is though much more enjoyable, as well as easy to drive even with the electronics off and off road. Stay the sound of the boxer is beautiful, in the tunnel it is almost impossible to resist the temptation to slow down and speed up again to enjoy it. They also remain small imperfections in the gearbox, a little noisy in first and second gear.

Ride and handling:

rating:  

An absolute reference: you do things with it that you would never have imagined!

If in the past the standard GS 1200 and its Adventure version were appreciated for the ease with which they could be driven, even in the face of significant dimensions and weights, combining driving pleasure with comfort with load capacity and incredible autonomy, the new Adventure has raised the bar to a level that is difficult for the competition to reach. Some may perhaps be more sporty and fun to drive, but she is as comfortable as a grand tourer, this is confirmed by the fact that you get off fresh even after a whole day on the motorbike, and it drives with disarming ease even when you're looking for absolute performance. It makes it possible to hold sports motorbike gaits, but with an infinitely lower expenditure of energy. Are 260 kg curb weight, with the tank at 90%, 22 more than normal GS, of which less than a third are due to the increased capacity of the tank, and 5 more than the "old" GS Adv. To say that you don't notice them is an understatement, but only by trying it do you realize how true this statement is. Once he had taken the measurements of his panzer dimensions, you can afford to brake and overtake another bike entering a corner, as if it were a small aggressive naked bike. It is impressive that, compared to the previous generation, the rear tire goes from 150 to 170 and should be affected in handling, but thinking back to how the "old" one drove and how the new Adventure rides, it seems quite the opposite! The suspensions, also thanks to the ESA which allows you to choose the calibration with a button on the handlebar, they are simply perfect. Getting off the bike and getting on one of the competitors makes us notice the extent of the differences. The same road, which looked like billiards with the BMW, becomes full of dips that make the bike jump. We haven't tested it thoroughly off-road, but we will do so soon, thus having the opportunity to tell you more about our impressions on the Motorionline pages. What we can tell you for now is that it is not a twig and is therefore quite demanding when driving at low speed, while it is very at ease on less tortuous routes such as a classic dirt road, which can be tackled without any problem even at high speeds, taking advantage of his excellent traction and, above all, the great ability to hide uneven terrain. Even in the city, apart from the clutter, it performs very well, it seemed to us compared to the past even more balanced when maneuvering from a standstill. Perhaps thanks to the narrower saddle towards the tank, which offers the possibility of reaching the ground more comfortably with your feet. The large steering angle makes it possible turn even in narrow spaces. The saddle height is always adjustable and between 89 and 91 centimetres. One of the few flaws concerns the vibrations, certainly not absent, which can also be felt at tourist motorway speeds, even at speeds below 100 km/h. Nothing excessive, but some competitors do better. The windshield is excellent, in a high position the protection is practically perfect, at least for those who are no taller than 1.85. Among the options that we had the opportunity to test, the cruise control continues to convince us, especially for avoid surprises with Tutor and Speed ​​Cameras. A moment of distraction is enough to find yourself 20-30 km/h over the limits without realizing it and without any advantage in terms of driving fun. On the other hand, it is always a source of possible distractions, but it can be deactivated not only with its command, but also by operating the clutch, brakes, or simply by slightly turning the throttle control slightly in the opposite direction. The navigator is something fantastic, not even in automotive use does it go that far, with the display that can be used to simultaneously view all the myriad of data also available on the motorcycle's dashboard, but based on a selection from the menu. You navigate between the functions and set the map zoom with the convenient "wheel" on the left side of the handlebar. The conversation between the motorbike control unit and the Navigator V also allows the "telemetry” during your journeys, keeping track of the number of gear shifts, the average throttle opening, the use of individual brakes, as well as the minimum and maximum temperatures and much, much more. You can also export your routes, via Bluetooth or with a microSD, share them, review them on your PC or use them to set a new route on the navigator. Furthermore, it becomes a real infotainment tool, being able to interface with a smartphone to make a phone call using the touchscreen, even with gloves, or with Bluetooth devices to listen to music and voice instructions from the navigator.

Price and consumption:

rating:  

Challenging price, even for accessories, but great value retention over time and honest consumption

We talked about it with tones of enthusiasm, it couldn't be otherwise, because the new Adventure 1200 convinced us and we found it to be a truly excellent bike. However, all this has a price, starting from 17.450 euros, including the first service, but it's quick to pass 20 thousand. In addition to the optional packages, just for the accessories that are almost indispensable if you want to use it for travelling, you will spend well over 2.000 euros. In fact, for the cases, 320 euros are expected just for the supports, more than 1.000 for the three aluminum bags, and for the navigator around 900 euros between preparation and device. Definitely demanding prices, but the competition is not too far away and the "GS" is the only one with such high value retention over time. Consumption during our test was around 6,6 liters per 100 km, or 15 km/l, if you prefer. We messed up our Adventure a bit, with "normal" use you can easily get close to the values ​​declared by the manufacturer, about 10% lower.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
An absolute reference, easy to handle like a naked, comfortable like a grand tourer, fantastic engine output and improved compared to the standard GS
We do not like it:
Demanding price and dimensions

BMW R1200GS Adventure 2014: the Motorionline Report Card

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Handling:
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Test clothing:
Jacket: Dainese G. Ridder Gore-Tex
Trousers: Dainese P. Travelguard Gore-Tex
Gloves: Dainese Scout Evo Gore-Tex
Boot: Dainese Carroarmato Gore-Tex
Helmet: Givi 20.6 Fiber-J2