BMW unveil a raft of changes throughout the range for 2021
New paint all round plus some technical updates ready to go live next month
BMW have announced their annual range refresh including new paint and equipment for many of their most popular models. Starting with the smaller bikes, the G310GS joins its bigger brothers by having a ‘triple black’ option while the 310R now also comes in metallic blue. The RnineT Scrambler and Urban
GS will live up to their off-road billing (and new off-road modes) a little better with off-road tyres available as a factory fitted option for a £50 surcharge. The F750GS, F850GS, F850GS Adventure and F900XR all get the same triple black option as the 1250s as well as a few other colour options. Moving up to the bigger bikes the R1250RT gets a software update that makes the ‘favourite’ button user assignable. We found the latest iteration complicated to use at times – changing the heated grip settings was far too complicated – so it’s nice to see they’re listening. Meanwhile the R1250GS gets an optional pannier holder and the R1250RS is now available in a Sport scheme with a dashing red frame.
The S1000XR gets the triple black and there’s an ‘M pack’, which brings M motorsport colours for the bike – the first time BMW have offered this for the XR. At the same time there’s some big changes for the S1000RR including the M chassis kit now coming as standard, there’s an optional ‘Dynamic’ riding pack, a race pack with and an M package with the sport pack now dropped. All the packs can be combined, so you can pick and choose spec. There are also a couple of changes for the R18 and R18 Classic. For a start the Henry Ford ‘as long as it’s black’ has gone (taking the First Edition with it). R18 buyers now have the option of ‘Mars red metallic’, ‘Manhattan metallic matt’ or the Option 719 ‘Galaxy Dust’ which is pure 70s Americana excess and really enhances the look. There are also a few extra options such as new wheels plus a minor technical change to the R18 Classic to make it easier to remove the panniers if you want to ride without them. All the changes are being introduced in August, with exact prices for each option made available at that time.