Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WORLD GREATEST JUST GOT BETTER
I don’t know much about BMW GSS – apart from having ridden one around the world. That was for my book In Clancy’s Boots, where I followed the journey of the American who in 1912 to 1913 was the first to take a motorbike around the globe.
On that trip all the GS needed was a service, and the oil and tyres checked regularly. Remarkable.
Every time I ride one, I’m reminded how well it does everything, and it’s no surprise that for years the GS and GS Adventure have not only been the world’s bestselling adventure bikes, but the best-selling bikes in the UK above 500cc.
Climb aboard and that familiar and commanding riding position makes you feel like the King of the
Road, ready to cross vast continents in comfort.
The fabulous 6.5in full colour TFT screen, now standard on the base model, can show an estimated four and a half billion items of information about the bike, life on Mars and high tide times in Hong Kong, all controlled by BMW’S now familiar control wheel on the left and a couple of buttons.
Fortunately for simpletons, ie most blokes, a mode switch on the right toggles between Road, Rain, Dynamic and Enduro riding modes, which tweaks the suspension, ABS and traction control.
However, unlike on some machines, it doesn’t change the power, just how it’s delivered.
So far, so GS, but here’s where things change for the better.
With the engine up from 1170cc to 1254cc, power up from 125bhp to 136bhp and torque up from 92lb ft to 105lb ft, you’ve got significantly more grunt at your disposal.
Even better, a really clever new shifting camshaft varies the valve timing for a much more linear power delivery than the outgoing 1200GS.
The result is gloriously smooth oomph from about 2,500rpm all the way to the redline.
And here’s another clever bit – when the engine’s cold, the screen shows the redline as 5,000rpm, raising it to 9,000rpm as it warms up.
Combined with exquisite balance for a 249kg bike, it means that handling is superbly stable at everything from crawling speed to over the ton. Not that I’d know!
It’s also a doddle off-road – I speak as an off-road idiot – and good value at only a grand more for the base model than for the equivalent 1200GS.
It’s an evolution rather a revolution, but the old bike’s so good it’s all that was needed.
In short, the best just got better. BMW R1250GS
Price: from £13,415
Engine: 1,254cc liquidcooled boxer twin
Power: 136bhp @ 7,750rpm
Torque: 105lb ft @ 6,250rpm
Colours: black, blue, red/white/blue