A GS FOR THE ROAD

For the best part of the last two decades, BMW’s Boxer-twin GS models have been considered Adventure bikes, sand-dunebusting, desert-crossing giant dirt bikes, something to conquer the continent. Forty years ago, the R 80 G/S started the movement and now nearly half of BMW’s sales in Australia are from the GS range (the slash was dropped from the name in the early days).

Over time, the models after that first 800 got bigger, heavier and became a lot more like touring bikes, usually seen with the bespoke BMW panniers firmly attached as they criss-crossed the world. Then along came the Adventure models with their giant fuel tanks, knobby tyres and footpegs designed more for standing than sitting. Charlie and Ewan turned up next, riding their 1150s around the world across all sorts of inhospitable roads, tracks and even a few sand dunes.

Instead of being a touring bike which was very comfortable on a dirt road, the GS was again a big dirt bike — often over 250kg of dirt bike. And if that’s what you want, great. BMW has various models, from the 40th Anniversary specials to the Adventure and Rallye, and that’s just the 1250s. There’s also the 850s with their 21-inch front wheels and smaller models.

But this magazine isn’t Australian Adventure Bike, so I’m going to leave the hard-core off-road riding to Andrew Clubb and those boys — I wanted one which handled fast road touring.

BUILT FOR THE ROAD

For this test I requested a GS fitted with cast wheels, OEM tyres and BMW’s Vario panniers. It’s the configuration which is best suited to bitumen and gravel road touring rather than