BMW Duel: the new 2013 R1200GS versus the old one
After a first test of the 2013 BMW R1200GS in South Africa this winter, the editorial staff of Site wanted to compare the new big German trail to the old 2012 model. Will the segment benchmark remain so? ? Fratricidal Duel !
Evidence of the road
Daily user of his R1200GS – he does not have a car or metro – our co-tester is also used to long journeys. He looks forward to trying the new 2013 GS at higher speed, in particular to play with the cruise control that equips our test version….
"We will escape from Paris by the A13, direction the 17 T. Not the 17 teas, the 17 T !", let’s go to the Parisian globetrotter who does not even know the Route des 17 Tournants de Saint-Forget, near Dampierre (78)…
On the motorway, stalled at 4000 rev / min in sixth (stack 110 km / h counter), the very latest BMW impresses our expert in GS: despite its compact appearance, the screen once raised to the maximum offers protection comparable to that of the "snow shovel" that equips its 2012 model.
And the new R1200GS 2013 still scores points when it comes to playing with the height of the bubble: unlike the 2012 which requires the machine to stop – it’s more careful! -, the 2013 offers a setting in two times three movements, truly !
The manipulation breaks down as follows: an extension of the left arm, three rotations of the wrist to go from minimum to maximum height – or the reverse – and flexion of the left arm. That’s all !
Ten tiny flicks on the cruise-control "+" switch, and the 2013 GS climbs to 130 km / h, without effort or vibration, which is not quite the case with the 2012…
"No, I don’t find my motorcycle vibrating", brazenly lies GSman:"well, it is true that from 140 km / h meter, at 5000 rpm, we start to feel small crackles in the hands, even in the feet if we do not have big boots, but that never bothered me"…
However, it is clear that our apprentice tester’s R1200GS Triple Black vibrates more than the 2013 R1200GS. Of course, there is nothing to catch ants, even after 20 minutes, but in this regard, the 2012 model tilts.
The cruise control may be super precise, easy to use and stress relieving (!), Our apprentice tester considers that it is not essential. For 10 euros (against 1070 euros the "essential pack" including the regulator), the "butterfly handle" installed on his motorcycle already allows you to release your fingers: you maintain the opening of the throttle via the palm, quite simply.
Arrived on one of the favorite playgrounds of the Ile-de-France bikers, Site takes back the controls of the R1200GS 2013 and chases the GS 2012 of our friend … And the guy did not chew about his Metzeler Next: fully confident towards his tires, it is drum beating and flat-twin brushing the ground that he attacks the first series of turns !
Fortunately, our "water mill" has an additional "gouache" from 3000 rpm, which allows us to go up on the "air mill" at each turn exit. In the stretches, the wringing of the right handle is facilitated by a shorter draw: 75 ° on our 2013 model against 85 ° on the 2012 version. But what makes work easier on the 2013 is the adoption. of "Dyna" mode.
By selecting the Dynamic map, we take advantage of immediate and muscular recoveries but we have to deal with more jolts when letting go or resuming throttle. The suspensions are then set by default to "Hard", a little too hard for certain surfaces. Fortunately, it is possible to regain control and soften the ESA.
On rough roads, the mix of "Dyna" engine and "Soft" suspensions is surprisingly efficient. Like the 2012 GS, the 2013 Telever prevents the bike from diving under braking, but tracking the road, dips and bumps seems even better..
By regularly changing motorcycle – but not the road -, the observation made in town is confirmed: the new GS is a suspicion less agile.
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