/ Featured Article
Here's why the BMW R 1250 GS is the ultimate adventure bike
It’s one of the most popular ADVs in the world.
When it comes to adventure bikes, chances are the first motorcycle that comes to your mind would be none other than the BMW GS. This iconic and legendary line of adventure-focused motorcycles has come in all shapes and sizes, and as a whole, has come a long way from its birth in 1980. Today, there are quite a few iterations of the BMW GS adventure bike, with the flagship, top of the line model being the mighty R 1250 GS. Loved by enthusiasts, die-hard off-roaders, and even your occasional Starbucks adventurer, what exactly makes this monstrous adventure bike so special? Read on to find out.
Performance
When it comes to overall performance, there are lots of other bikes out there which boast more horsepower than the BMW R 1250 GS. However, it’s the way this bike delivers that power, making it extremely efficient in all sorts of terrain, as well as making the bike an overall very tractable machine. The BMW R 1250 GS is equipped with a 1,254cc boxer twin-cylinder engine which features liquid-cooling, fuel-injection, and BMW’s proprietary shift cam technology. All this tech translates to an adequately powerful 136 horsepower, but more importantly, bulletproof reliability and longevity.
Tech and Safety
Given the fact that the BMW R 1250 GS has been designed to tackle all sorts of terrain, as well as go the extra mile, the bike comes with loads of creature comforts, depending on your variant of choice. For reference, the base model R 1250 GS comes standard with a slew of techie features consisting of a TFT full-color display with Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, a full-LED headlight, and a plethora of electronic rider aids. Safety features such as dynamic traction control, cornering ABS, and hill-start assist all come as standard on this bike. Additionally, it even comes with three riding modes consisting of Eco, Rain, and Road.
On and off-road capability
While the BMW R 1250 GS makes for an excellent long-distance tourer, in order to make the most of all the technology BMW has stuffed into the bike, it’s best to take the bike off-road to experience its extremely capable chassis and suspension setup. The fact that the boxer engine holds its weight down so low drastically lowers the bike’s center of gravity, making its hefty 600-pound kerb weight seem a lot lighter off-road. On top of this, the bike’s telelever suspension does an amazing job at soaking up harsh terrain, while remaining extremely balanced and stable for on-road riding. Lastly, the bike’s dual-sport tires, as well as the wire-spoke wheels found on the R 1250 GS Adventure inspire confidence when your thirst for adventure takes you beyond the confines of paved roads.
Versatility
There’s no denying that the BMW R 1250 GS is a truly capable all-rounder. Although it may seem intimidating to ride due to its sheer heft, the bike’s low center of gravity, sophisticated tech features, and extremely capable chassis makes it a surprisingly approachable gentle giant. That said, the engineers at BMW Motorrad have done an incredible job in making this bike feel so much lighter than it really is. This bike will be equally at home riding in the urban environment, as it would be tackling twisty roads, riding for kilometers on end on the highway, and even some moderate off-road riding.
Price
While the BMW R 1250 GS is by no means a budget-friendly bike, there’s no denying that you’re getting a lot, and we mean a lot of bike for the money. Few other adventure bikes in the market offer the same level of performance, as well as a balance of capability and comfort, than the BMW R 1250 GS. After all, there is a reason why this bike is arguably the most popular ADV in the world. The current generation BMW R 1250 GS comes with a sticker price starting at P1,495,000. While the range-topping R 1250 GS Adventure Style HP will set you back P1,755,000.
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