The BMW Gs has the undeniable pride of having created a trend in the world of motorcycles, that of all-terrain or maxi-enduro, that is, large and displacement vehicles with which to go everywhere, from the office every day to the Gobi desert. Although over the years it has seen its list price rise, the Gs has firmly held the scepter of the best-selling motorcycle for many years, selling it only last year in favor of the Benelli Trk 502 (with which it has many similarities on closer inspection), which has a price list starting at 5 thousand euros. The bike we tested is the R1250 Gs (about 18 thousand euros), in the Triple Black set-up with numerous accessories and special components (for example, the splendid cross-spoke rims with gold channel of the Rallye version and the set of additional lights), so the final price is close to 22 thousand euros. The forty year old, therefore, is not for everyone; but how are you? We tried it for a couple of weeks to find out.
In the saddle.
The technical data sheet is eloquent: the kilograms in running order, ie with a full tank, are 249. They are not many, given the important dimensions of the bike: looking at it parked we would have said that it weighed more. Also considering that about 20 kg are of petrol contained in the tank (the cap is controlled by the remote control of the keyless system, very convenient). The saddle, located 850 mm from the ground, welcomes medium-tall and tall riders well (there is always the lowered saddle) and offers perfect support for spending many hours on the road; the adjustable suspensions on predefined and settable settings allow you to adapt the bike to any conditions of use. The handlebar is quite thin and wide: easy to control the bike when traveling slowly in traffic or on dirt. The controls are at your fingertips, with the direction indicators that turn off automatically once the turn is over. On the right block we also find the Sos button, present in cars for some years but first introduced by BMW in motorcycles. The 6.5-inch color TFT display is very well made: the essential information (gear engaged, speed, fuel level) is available at a quick glance.
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Brilliant engine at any speed.
The boxer twin (with opposed cylinders) of 1,254 cc, Euro 5 homologated, delivers 136 hp with a maximum torque of 143 Nm at 6,250 rpm; thanks to the BMW ShiftCam technology for the variation of the timing and the lift of the intake valves, there are horses along the entire delivery curve, without holes, up to 9 thousand revolutions. Operation is smooth, with strong delivery, but with no on / off effect. Among the engine mappings available there is also the new “Eco” which allows to further reduce consumption (we measured an average of about 17 km / l). The other mappings are Road, Rain, Dymanic and Off Road; the Dynamic stiffens the suspension and allows you to maintain sustained rhythms, while the Road is softer, perfect for the streets of our cities, with the price of a little pitching in opening and closing and braking. The Gs has Dynamic traction control (Dtc) as standard, while the optional features now include the Pro driving mode with preselection of the driving mode and dynamic control of the engine brake to avoid locking the rear wheel when releasing the gas. or during downshifting due to excessive braking torque at the rear wheel. The three discs of the Gs brake the Gs optimally and also boast the Integral Abs Pro as standard which controls the grip of the bike even when cornering. Two people travel and with full suitcases it is convenient to take advantage of the departure assistant which allows a comfortable stop and restart when driving uphill.
One bike for everything.
What is surprising about the GS is the ability to go fast in all conditions: on the road it sports a road character, on dirt it devours holes and dirt like a pure enduro. Between the curves the body of the engine allows you to keep the upper gear without the bike showing any hesitation: just open the gas and she resumes without complaining. Aerodynamic protection is good and the windshield is easily adjusted with a knob, even on the go. In short, it is difficult to find negative points. Aesthetics aside, whose judgment is subjective, some may not like the Telelever and will prefer the classic fork because it is more intuitive (de gustobus …), the electronic gearshift doesn’t like slow shifting (but for those there is the clutch , no?) and the price, which is not for all budgets, especially if you take advantage of the options (some almost obligatory): you pay for a lot of quality and technology.