BMW's new R1200GS all-terrain bike
There is a quiet revolution going on at BMW Motorrad. The motorcycle division of BMW has shed its conservative approach and is now investing big money to make its motorcycles cutting edge in the industry. The first clear sign of this new approach is the BMW R1200GS.
BMW's enduro motorcycle history goes back to 1980, when it launched the R80GS. The R80GS was a relatively big off-road bike, designed for touring more than carving up forestry trails, and was the first twin-cylinder in its class, then dominated by single-cylinder machines. The R80GS and its successors soon gathered a following of motorcyclists who wanted a tough, durable go-anywhere motorcycle. It was not long before they were winning the Paris-Dakar, Hubert Auriol winning in the tough desert rally on a GS in 1981 and 1983.
Over subsequent generations, the GS grew bigger and fatter. By the 1999 introduction of the R1150GS, its weight grew from the R80GS's 199kg to 249kg. But despite its weight, the R1150GS was Germany's top-selling motorcycle and a much respected motorcycle everywhere else. Never before could a sports bike carve up a twisty bitumen road with such ease and then take on a dirt track with equal aplomb. It was the X5 of motorcycles. BMW knew it needed to spend significant development dollars on the R1150GS's replacement. The main goal was to lose weight - about 30kg - without forgoing shaft-drive or ingenious telelever/paralever suspension.
The new 1170cc engine develops a claimed 100hp (up 15hp) and now features a balance shaft to smooth out vibrations. The engine is bigger, more powerful, but BMW says it weighs less. A new fuel-injection system is used and the catalytic exhaust system weighs 33 per cent less than before. The six-speed transmission is new, BMW saying it has worked on making it quiet and smoother-shifting. The driveshaft, a two-piece forged aluminium unit, is now mounted at the rear frame to improve toughness and the unit weighs 10 per cent less than before. The engine/gearbox unit is bolted on to the front and rear frames, and acts as a load-bearing unit, as before, but the telelever front suspension is a revised design. The front spring has a nine-position pre-load adjustment, and as before requires the supplied wrench to adjust. BMW has decided to offer lightweight aluminium wheels alongside the cross-spoked items used previously. Easier to clean and marginally lighter, BMW is counting on road-based riders choosing the aluminium wheel over the more off-road orientated spoked items.
Engine: 1170cc, two-cylinder, four-stroke, single camshaft, central balancing shaft
Power: 100bhp @ 7,000 rpm
