Bike Trader

BMW R 1200 GS Adventure 2007

11 April 2007
Reviews image Twenty-five years ago the launch of the BMW R 80 G/S established a new category in motorcycling – the large capacity enduro machine. After numerous Paris-Dakar victories and hundreds of thousands of customer deliveries later, the GS range has become BMW Motorrad’s greatest success story.

BMW’s new philosophy of producing lighter, faster, more dynamic machines was first realised with the launch of the new generation R 1200 GS  in March 2004. It is now BMW’s best selling model worldwide and its GS credibility has resulted in many new riders being attracted to the brand.

Despite the R 1150 GS Adventure remaining largely unchanged since its launch in 2002, sales have remained particularly healthy due to its cult status as the ultimate long distance enduro machine. This has undoubtedly helped BMW Motorrad retain its dominance in the Adventure Sport category.

The R 1150 GS Adventure’s reputation as the machine of choice for long distance travel has seen it used by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman for their Long Way Round odyssey. Global endurance riding specialists Kevin and Julia Sanders set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest Trans Americas crossing by riding a GS Adventure. They have since recreated this journey with 12 other riders, all on R 1150 GS Adventures, albeit at a slower pace!

Despite the 1150’s status as the ultimate travel enduro, BMW’s designers and engineers have not been content to rest on their laurels. The overall aim for the R 1200 GS Adventure has been for less weight, more power and increased off-road ability. In fact, with the introduction of the R 1200 GS Adventure, BMW has delivered much, much more.

Some of the highlights of the new model are that it has 15 per cent more power than its predecessor and 17 per cent more torque. It is lighter, has a larger fuel tank and a potential range of up to 450 miles. The larger screen provides better protection from wind and weather, and there is longer spring travel to give even more off-road ability. To perfectly suit individual riders, many of the components can be adjusted and tailored, such as the seat, handlebars, footrests, gearshift, brake and clutch levers.

Like its predecessor, the new R 1200 GS Adventure aims to be the definitive bike for serious long-distance on and off-road riding. Although BMW expects many riders to trade up from the outgoing 1150cc model, it believes that the majority of purchasers will be new to the brand, attracted by the extra potential offered by a motorcycle of this type, as well as the credibility that comes with GS ownership.

The UK market launch of the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure was in March 2006 with a choice of Alpine White non- metallic with black and red seat; or White Aluminium matt Metallic, with a black and grey seat. <P/>


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