When I ask Jochen Hümmel, one of the engineers behind the development of the new R 1300 GS over dinner, what was the most difficult task in developing the new Gees, he answers without hesitation that weight. It was definitely not fun to reduce every single gram of weight compared to the previous generation and at the same time achieve better handling and stability. That’s why they had to reach for various materials and technological solutions, which were not available for the GS model until now. This is also the reason why a completely different front light was used or why the seat post is made of aluminum. The aluminum bolted seat post is said to be lighter and can also hide a lot of electronics and other things that would not look good if exposed and their good protection is not guaranteed. By page resistance they say I don’t have to worry, because the seat post lasts longer than I think, and they tested its durability quite carefully. I’m just now getting into the new look and details, which are still getting mixed reactions. In short, one likes it and the other can’t come to their liking. I admit that I also gasped at the presentation of the new Gees and was quite surprised by the final appearance in the photos, and I won’t lie that I had to get used to the bold solution of the front light for a while.
Now that I’m looking at the new R 1300 GS in the GS Trophy version live, I have to say that it doesn’t look bad at all and I’m unexpectedly fast with an X-shaped Matrix LED front light, which was quite a hit with fans of the adventure category. But I’m a bit worse off with an aluminum seatpost and I can totally see how a seatpost welded from tubes would suit the Geese. But enough whining, there is no point in denying the design more, its perception is a subjective matter and everyone should evaluate the appearance according to their own taste. So let’s see how things are and what’s new on the technical side. There is more than enough, and I can safely say that no stone left unturned it is a rather radical cut and a fundamental revolution in the history of the GS model.
The new BMW R 1300 GS is still faithful to all the characteristic elements, and that means a two-cylinder boxer liquid-cooled and air-cooled with variable valve timing, power transmission to the rear 17″ cardan wheel and a steel frame. The suspension of the front 19″ wheel is a matter of course Telelever and the rear 17″ floating wheel with suspension Paralever. This is a new generation and it is marked with the word EVO. The suspension strokes are at the same values, that is 190 mm at the front and 200 mm at the rear, however, the suspension characteristics are adjusted and should give a different feeling on the road and off-road. BMW offers the GS model for an additional fee Sport suspension, which has 20 mm higher travel and is intended for off-road use. As it is a fungl new generation, it is expected to be improved in all respects and it is beyond discussion that it must be better at least in terms of parameters in the technical tables than the previous one and must not lag behind the direct competition in terms of equipment and technology at any cost.
Which one do I mean? So, for example, the Triumph Tiger, Ducati Multistrada, KTM Super Adventure, HD Pan America and today, actually, the Moto-Guzzi Stelvio. Therefore, for the first time ever, GS comes with radar and adaptive cruise control or adaptive suspension, which can lower the height at low speed and enable easier dismounting or mounting. We all know very well that BMW relies on the configuration system, and it will fundamentally affect how the GS will look and how great it will be for driving on the road or off-road. When we talk about basic version GS Pure on alloy wheels, so we only find the most basic things with it, but compared to the previous R 1250 GS it is a bit more varied. In the basics, you can count on, for example, an integrated brake system with ABS Pro, four riding modes Rain, Road, Eco and Enduro, hill start assistant , keyless ignition, heated grips, bumpers, DTC dynamic traction control as well as DBC brake assistant or Matrix LED front light. They have significantly higher equipment three more versions, but which can be further configured and the equipment can be extended beyond the standard.
Now we are talking about the most off-road version GS Trophy in blue design and flat saddle, elegant black GS Triple Black on alloy wheels or green gold GS Option 719 on gold wire-braided wheels with lots of milled accessories. Almost unchanged is the TFT display, which would be a shame to quickly remodel, because it is excellently clear and readable.
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It is a fundamental innovation the arrangement of controls on the right and especially the left handlebar. First, the switch box in the middle of the glasses has disappeared, and the new R 1300 GS is activated and started with the buttons on the right controller, and then the rocker button for adjusting the traction control and suspension has disappeared on the left controller. BMW solved this with a button called Rocker, which is by quickly entering the settings, which change most often when riding. It is under it that the setting of the suspension characteristics, traction control, handle heating and, depending on the version and equipment of the motorcycle, also the control of the electrically controlled plate, driving assistants dependent on radars or seat heating are hidden. Sure, the straightforward traction control setup is gone, but the solution isn’t bad either, and I find it intuitive and simple.
There is a wide range of additional equipment and various packages that BMW traditionally offers. They are packages Dynamic paket, Touring paket, Innovation paket and for the basic version and Trophy version more Comfort package including, for example, an electric plexiglass plate, deflectors, a central stand or a passenger comfort package. Among other optional equipment for all versions, we can find, for example, enduro footrests, double exhaust pipe, quick shift, adaptive lowering of the chassis, off-road tires, sports suspension, seat heating for the rider and passenger, higher or lower seats, alarm, emergency call. You can choose between cast wheels and wire-braided wheels, however, they are new designer forged wheels intended for off-road use. They are supposed to be lighter and last longer in the field than we can imagine. Well, let’s face it, but wire mesh in the field is wire mesh. An extra charge is also the Matrix LED Pro front light, which can illuminate a corner and, of course, adaptive cruise control and a lane keeping and collision warning system using radars. The location of the front radar also affects the choice of plexiglass label, as the radar space must not be covered by the label.
The standard saddle offers two positions, i.e 830 mm or 850 mm above the ground, but you can also buy higher or lower saddles, with a minimum height of 800 mm and a maximum of 890 mm. An interesting new feature is a central stand with a flip-out mandrel, which ensures easier lifting, but at the same time it hides when folded and does not get tangled under the heel. It is practical a small non-lockable box with a USB connector behind the driver’s neck, which can fit a mobile phone. By the way, you can also buy a suitcase that has internal lighting and a USB connector. The options are really endless and the list of accessories has almost everything. For me, a GS with sideways cylinders deserves parachutes, without which I couldn’t even imagine it, reasonable protection of the bottom of the engine, and due to the integrated brake system, when the rear brake is used, the front is automatically connected, I would definitely order the Dynamic driving modes as well Pro and Enduro Pro. It is these modes that open up more possibilities and I am sure that they will be necessary especially for experienced riders.
When we look at the parameters of the engine and the motorcycle as such, it is important to remember that the fungl new shorter and 6.5 kg lighter engine with a newly located gearbox at the bottom offers more power and torque. Specifically, it is 12 horses more, that is 145 horses at 7750 rpm, and with 6 Nm more, that is 149 Nm at 6500 rpm The first service is after a thousand kilometers and the next after every 10,000 km. It fits in the R 1300 GS tank 19 liters of petrol and if it is full and geeso ready to ride, it weighs 237 kg, which is 12 less than the previous R 1250 GS, and the useful weight is limited by the manufacturer to 228 kg. Now let’s get in the saddle!
Editor information
Vláďa Novotný (Subscribe to the author’s articles) – Test rider height: 173 cm
Honza Zaječek – (Subscribe to the author’s articles)
Pros and cons
+ maneuverability and easy driving on the road and off-road
+ engine, fluidity and flexibility
+ rider protection
+ lots of original and functional innovations
+ cell phone mailbox
– integrated brakes (with the rear brake, the front is also activated)
– basic version with poorer equipment
– noisy and hard gearbox
– design of the rear seatpost made of aluminum
– blinkers in the headlights
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2023-11-13 09:13:49
#ride #BMW #Spain #Radical #cut