The Motorcycle We’d Choose For A Ride Across All 50 States
Riding through all fifty American states is an epic, life-changing cross-country marathon that is filled with changing horizons and local characters. Thanks to the vast network of high-speed freeways, it’s quite comfortable to cover 48 of the 50 states (the contiguous U.S.). But to enjoy the journey and explore all fifty states, with unforgettable hidden gems along the way, you have to embrace the roads less traveled. What better way to do that than to pick a go-anywhere adventure tourer that can tackle anything thrown its way? A flagship BMW ADV tourer tops this list with adaptive underpinnings, a relentless engine, and one of the biggest fuel tanks on a motorcycle.
The 50 States Ride On A Motorcycle Is Thrilling And Challenging
The beauty of America shines when you ride through all 50 states. From highways, parkways, country roads, forest service roads, urban alleys, and gorgeous mountain passes and coastal roads, America has a lot to offer. For those who want an endurance run through most of the states, they can choose high-speed, multi-lane interstate highways with controlled access. A motivating example is Brock Gill, an avid rider who undertook a fast-paced challenge to visit all fifty states in fifty days, covering over 13,000 miles on a Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. Many more riders undertake longer, multi-year 48-state rides to explore hidden spots in each state.
The challenging part comes when riders leave popular roads behind and take rural and remote roads, including forest service roads where reception is also limited. But these challenging routes are also the most rewarding for soaking up America’s beauty. Mountain passes with dramatic drop-offs, steep grades, and unpaved roads challenge riders to use their skills to the fullest. Examples include the Beartooth Pass in Montana/Wyoming, rural Alaska, and the Great Plains. Saving Alaska or Hawaii for last dials up the sense of true achievement, as dramatic, towering peaks and hanging glaciers add to the emotional impact.
Worthy Riding Companions Need To Tick A Lot Of Boxes
Instinctively, we assume baggers and full dressers are the best touring choices for exploring all of America. Traditional, low-slung touring bikes tick most boxes with a torquey engine, heavy-duty, stretched-out underpinnings, a low-slung design with accessible seat heights, and solid wind protection. Standard weatherproof saddlebags and top boxes (in the case of a full dresser) easily provide storage for two. Prime examples include the Harley-Davidson Road Glide / Street Glide, the Indian Roadmaster, the BMW K 1600 lineup, and the Honda Gold Wing / Tour.
But these long-standing touring bikes have one problem: a lack of versatility. They perform exceptionally on tarmac but become a burden when riders steer off onto gravel and dirt. Downsides include low ground clearance, less suspension travel, restricted maneuverability, and weight. The goal of the newer wave of flagship adventure touring bikes is to eliminate these shortcomings while still upholding the American touring dream, delivering strong performance on both tarmac and gravel. The BMW R 1300 GS Adventure takes the spotlight by adding more mile-munching features, including a gigantic fuel tank bigger than any Harley or Indian tourer to date.
The BMW R 1300 GS Adventure Is Perfect For Exploring All 50 States
A Legacy Built From Off-Road And Touring DNA
Starting at $23,795, the R 1300 GS is a great globetrotter and the perfect companion for exploring all of America because BMW designed it from the ground up for transcontinental travel. Its legacy began as a mash-up of off-road and touring motorcycle parts on the iconic R 80 G/S. Years of evolution have made the GS nameplate the flagship adventure touring bike that can conquer it all.
The R 1300 GS’s predecessor—the R 1250 GS—was quite capable, but it had size and weight-distribution issues. They weren’t major, but they were enough to hamper a balanced riding experience. Things obviously got dialed up on the R 1250 GSA, which carried more weight. With the R 1300 GS, BMW is rectifying these core problems. The standard ADV has been re-engineered to carry its weight better, deliver power more linearly, and maintain its all-around capabilities, especially off-road.
The touring-focused R 1300 GSA adds versatility with a huge fuel tank, more durable standard cross-spoke wheels, and slightly longer suspension travel. Also, it comes with BMW’s Dynamic Suspension Adjustment as standard. The GSA is also more rugged, with standard heavy-duty engine protection bars. It is also better prepared for the unknown with features like integrated auxiliary lighting, integrated luggage mounts, and comfort features like heated seats.
Its Tried-And-Tested Boxer-Twin Is Designed For Breezy 500-Mile Days
An evolved boxer-twin engine powers the R 1300 GS Adventure. The 1,300 cc mill is liquid-cooled, has four valves per cylinder, and a 13.3:1 compression ratio. Its ShiftCam variable valve timing technology on the intake valves greatly contributes to this engine’s versatility and performance reserve across the rev-band.
The R 1300 GSA produces 145 horsepower at 7,750 RPM and 110 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 RPM. That makes it the most powerful BMW adventure bike on sale today. Despite its heft, this Beamer can easily breach 120 mph. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual gearbox and a final low-maintenance shaft drive system.
Automated Shift Assistant Option Simplifies Long Highway Runs
While the standard six-speed with an assist and slipper clutch is good, BMW’s optional Automated Shift Assist adds a new layer of riding simplicity. It uses the same six-speed gearbox but eliminates the need to operate the clutch when shifting or when starting and stopping. This add-on is a great help, especially when maneuvering this beastly ADV along challenging mountain passes with steep inclines and declines, or even through tight city traffic.
Offers One Of The Highest Riding Ranges Among Touring Bikes
This is thanks to its huge 7.9-gallon fuel tank, which is the largest on any touring motorcycle. For reference, the most capable American tourers, like the Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring models, have a 6.6-gallon fuel tank. Indian Motorcycles like the Challenger and Pursuit have a smaller six-gallon tank.
Even the most popular and tech-savvy metric tourer—the Honda Gold Wing—has a relatively smaller 5.5-gallon fuel tank. Interestingly, the closest touring rival in fuel tank size to the R 1300 GSA is another Beamer—the K 1600 series of touring bikes, with a fuel capacity of seven gallons. The nearly eight-gallon fuel tank makes the R 1300 GSA an ADV that can easily do 350 miles between gas stops.
The Wishbone-And-Monoshock Combo That Outclasses Conventional Fork Setups
The R 1300 GSA sits on a unique diamond frame that uses the boxer-twin as a stressed member. It features a heavy-duty bolt-on sub-frame designed to handle the added load of a pillion and luggage. BMW’s patented Duolever and Paralever setup handles suspension duties at the front and rear, respectively. The front comprises a wishbone layout and an internal spring. The rear gets a single-sided swingarm with a monoshock.
As mentioned before, the GSA offers slightly more suspension travel than the standard R 1300 GS model with 8.3 inches up front and 8.7 inches at the rear. Its 593-pound curb weight makes the suspension setup impressive and helps it tackle rough trails with confidence. Braking duties are taken care of by twin 310 mm semi-floating front discs coupled to radial four-piston calipers. The rear gets a 285 mm disc coupled to a two-piston floating caliper. The standard model sits on 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless spoke wheels with radial all-purpose tires.
Long-Distance Riding Comfort Is Given A Lot Of Importance
A tall and adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat height (34.6 inches to 35.4 inches), comfortable seat materials, and an adaptive rider triangle all support comfort and riding dynamics on the R 1300 GSA. Other features that make this cross-country companion more comfortable include heated grips, heated seats, and adaptive cruise control.
The Tech Suite That Removes Decision Fatigue On 500-Mile Days
The cockpit features a sizable 6.5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and integrated navigation. The standard feature list is comprehensive, including keyless ignition, a tire pressure monitoring system, auxiliary lights, and an auto-leveling electronic suspension. A six-axis IMU and by-wire throttle help this Beamer seamlessly integrate a stacked suite of safety and assistive features. Notable ones include four riding modes (three more with the Riding Modes Pro package), dynamic traction control, engine drag torque control, linked braking, cornering ABS, and hill hold control.
But More Desirable Options Can Shoot Up The Prices Quickly
The optional technology list is more exciting but also demands a serious premium. Notable features include adaptive vehicle height control and the aforementioned automated shift assistant. It also gets a radar package that enables active cruise control, front collision warning, lane change warning, and rear-end collision warning. The option list often drives prices up because BMW doesn’t allow individual add-ons, and most of the best features are locked behind packages, the most affordable of which is the Racing Red Package, starting at $3,845.
The BMW R 1300 GS Adventure Is A Globetrotter That Is Worth The Premium
Despite the sticker shock from optional packages, the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure is still worth it for being a go-anywhere ADV that doesn’t compromise. It redefines exploration and endurance without sacrificing comfort, convenience, or luxury. Its seasoned yet evolved boxer-twin engine, unique yet durable underpinnings, and loaded technology features make the biggest BMW adventure bike the most durable one for exploring all of America.
Source: BMW Motorrad
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