BMW R1200GS Adventure Rallye TE

In theory, the R1200GS Adventure starts at £13,400. In practice, nobody buys one in bare-bones spec. The most popular version is the heavily equipped TE (£17,120). Our test bike is the Rallye variant (£550 more, blueand-white paint, shorter single-piece seat, smaller screen from the regular GS). But that spec still doesn’t include the TFT dash (£595) or the SOS button (£295), bringing the all-in total for our bike to £18,560. Luggage is extra: £834.45 for the panniers (44-litre left, 36litre right) and £468.33 for the 32-litre topbox.

BMW claims a 263kg kerb weight, a figure that must be for the least-equipped base bike because RIDE’S scales reveal a true fully fuelled weight of 276.6kg with no luggage fitted. Deducting that from the bike’s 480kg weight limit leaves a payload of 203.4kg.

SPEC Price from £17,670 (£18,560 as tested) Engine 1170cc flat twin, 4v per cyl, l/c Power 125bhp @ 7750rpm Torque 92lb·ft @ 6500rpm Transmission 6-speed, shaft Frame steel tube Front suspension monoshock, 210mm travel, semi-active damping Rear suspension monoshock, 220mm travel, automatic preload and semi-active damping Front brakes 305mm discs, 4-piston calipers Rear brake 276mm disc, 2-piston caliper Front tyre 120/70 R19 Rear tyre 170/60 R17 Wheelbase 1496mm Rake/trail 24.5°/95mm Seat height 890/910mm Kerb weight 276.6kg (measured) Fuel capacity 30 litres

PCP FINANCE Price £18,560 Deposit £3500 Monthly repayments 35 x £233.93 Optional final payment £9723.29 APR 7.9% Total payable £21,410.84 Annual mileage 5000