The Adventure Bike That Makes 600-Mile Weekends Look Casual
The United States has over four million miles of public roads, a massive network where heavy highway cruisers and full-dress tourers rule. Over the past two decades, though, full-size adventure bikes have quietly been making inroads as the ultimate long-distance machines. Showroom ads love to push desert-racing fantasies and spec-sheet bragging rights, but anyone who actually tours knows the truth. Big days come down to simple things: wind protection, stability, and not feeling completely beaten up after eight hours in the saddle. In this crowded class, one machine stands out by turning exhausting cross-country trips into easy, casual weekend rides.
Potholed Backroads And Washboard Dirt Expose 800-Pound Luxury Touring Barges
The trouble with touring America is that smooth asphalt only covers part of the map. Huge stretches of the country — national forest roads, public lands, cracked mountain passes, and rough county routes — rarely get fresh pavement. When the road turns to potholes or washboard, an 800-pound road tourer hits a hard wall.
On the other hand, lightweight dual-sport motorcycles can handle the dirt, but their buzzy single-cylinder engines and tiny windshields make high-speed interstate riding miserable. You either give up highway comfort, or you miss out on the most beautiful, remote roads in the country.
BMW figured out this dual-purpose formula back in 1980 with the original R 80 G/S. Proven by winning the grueling Paris-Dakar rally and improved over four decades, BMW showed that an opposed boxer-twin engine was built for long-haul durability. The brand eventually turned this setup into the gold standard for all-road travel.
The Automated R 1300 GSA Makes 600-Mile Cross-Country Days Feel Run-Of-The-Mill
A $23,795 Base Price Jumps Straight To $28,235 To Unlock Automated Shifting
The R 1300 GS Adventure has a very reasonable base price of $23,795, but BMW’s infamous packaging system for options means that should you want to add certain things to it, it can climb in a hurry. For example, if you want to add the automatic gearbox option as a standalone unit, it is under $1,000, but it is available only as part of a package. Therefore, the minimum price you have to pay for a GSA with the automated system is $28,235. It is safe to assume that you will end up spending around $30,000 on one, which is the price for German engineering mastery.
Variable Intake Lift And 145 Horses Deliver Seamless Roll-On Pull Across The Rev Band
BMW has gradually been updating its engines, and the R 1300 GS gets one of the biggest updates in the form of an optional automatic gearbox. Another first is that the variable valve timing adjusts not just timing but lift as well, all of which combines to offer bulletproof engineering with long-distance comfort. To run quickly through the specs, it displaces 1,300 cc from its boxer-twin engine. It has variable valve timing on the intake valves called BMW ShiftCam, a short-stroke design, four valves per head, and a relatively high compression ratio of 13.3:1. It generates 145 horsepower at 7,750 RPM and 110 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 RPM.
In standard form, it is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with an assist-and-slipper clutch. A two-way quickshifter is an optional extra, as is the automated manual gearbox. The ASA automatic performs exactly like a fully automatic gearbox — you need to operate only the throttle and brakes, and you can switch it off and use it as a full manual gearbox if you prefer to have full control yourself. As with all halo GS models, it uses a driveshaft to transmit power to the wheel.
New Chassis Architecture Balances Massive Dirt Travel With High-Speed Rigidity
The R 1300 GS frame has also been updated, and it is now a two-piece chassis that resembles a diamond frame and uses the engine as a stressed member. The subframe is bolted on, and the result is a 26.5-pound decrease in overall weight compared to its predecessor. It uses BMW’s proprietary Paralever and Telelever suspension setup; there is a wishbone front suspension with a central shock and a single-sided swingarm that also houses the driveshaft. It offers 8.3 inches of travel at the front and 8.7 inches at the rear, which is significantly more than its non-Adventure sibling.
The brakes are up to the task of hauling this big ADV’s mass down to a halt quickly, with twin 310 mm front discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers and a 285 mm rear disc with a two-piston floating caliper. It uses a 19-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel; alloy rims are standard, but upgrades are available. It is a similar story with the tires — tubeless radials are standard, but you can choose more aggressive, dirt-focused ones from the options list. In standard form, despite its height, it feels effortless at highway speeds.
Low Boxer Geometry Prevents The Tall 34.6-Inch Perch From Feeling Top-Heavy
The R 1300 GS Adventure weighs almost 600 pounds unladen with a full fuel tank. That 593-pound figure is actually par for the course for the segment when a massive fuel tank is involved, but in the case of the BMW, the weight is carried down low because the cylinders are horizontal, and therefore it feels very well-balanced and easy at parking-lot speeds.
BMW has also redesigned the huge 7.9-gallon tank to hold the fuel as low as possible, which also helps. This is the ADV with the longest range today. This is a large motorcycle that is 89.8 inches long and 39.8 inches wide, with a 34.6-inch seat height. A 60.4-inch wheelbase gives it great stability not just on the highway, but also while hooning around in the dirt.
An Unlimited Feature Set Is Accessible – Provided You Have An Unlimited Budget
It starts with a 6.5-inch TFT screen that has Bluetooth connectivity and navigation as standard features. The electronics package is well-rounded as well, thanks to the by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU. Going into the standard details will be an exercise in repeating ourselves, so what we will do instead is look at the upgrades.
The suspension has standard DSA, which translated into layman’s terms is electronic suspension adjustability. This has automatic damping and spring rate control, and the rear preload can also be set. The options list is comprehensive, but it is also dependent on packages; you cannot always include individual items. As a flagship vehicle from a premium brand, the R 1300 GS Adventure has an extremely impressive feature set, as befits the ultimate adventure motorcycle.
Source: BMW USA
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