Trail – 2014 R1200GS Adventure test: always more – The ‘liquid’ R1200GS Adventure is coming

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2014 R1200GS Adventure test: always more

Trail - 2014 R1200GS Adventure test: always more - The 'liquid' R1200GS Adventure is coming

Completely redesigned in 2013, the BMW R1200GS remains the benchmark for maxi trails and one of the best-selling motorcycles in France. This year unveils its Adventure version for bikers who want more … always more ! First try.

The R1200GS Adventure ‘liquid’ arrives

Appeared on our roads – and paths – in 2001, the GS Adventure (then "R1150") represents in its brand new version 2014 "the ideal partner for expeditions and trips around the world", assures BMW.

R1200GS Adventure 2014: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: February 2013 in the

  • Colors: Matte uni olive, Alpine white or metallic racing blue

  • Price: 16 650 €

"We immediately identify its ability to travel, to push back the limits, to assert the personality of the one who drives it.", skilfully continues the German manufacturer who knows full well the main reason for the success of his big machine…

"Our customers choose it above all for its look", Frederic Garraud, after-sales manager at BMW Motorrad France confirms to Site. Let it be said: owning this BMW R1200GS Adventure is the assurance of being considered as an adventurer, a biker, a" real ", the quenching of,, or !

Unveiled by BMW ahead of the Milan and Paris motorcycle shows, this Adventure – not to be confused with the! – continues to blow hot and cold aesthetically (read our … and your comments!).

Without entering into controversy, Site can attest that visually, the "zoupère" maxi trail of BMW imposes some. Parked next to the R1200RT (read our), the R1200GS Adventure has nothing to envy to its sister in terms of presence or charisma. A fan of Grand Tourism too, the Adventure seems indefatigable, unbreakable … "Unstoppable", as they say at Behème.

Closely derived from the R1200GS, this model is indeed endowed with specific attributes that reinforce its allure of adventurer. So the blades – plastic! – which hid the small radiators on the GS "very short" give way to a more discreet casing but surmounted by a solid frame in steel tubes.

In this regard, we note that unlike the previous generation of Adventure (that of 2010 released at the same time as its twin R1200GS, read our), the 2014 version benefits from a trellis which completely covers the cylinders of the flat-twin.

Conversely, there is a clear reduction in the area of ​​the handguards … "You prefer to return to the bivouac with bloody hands on a 2014 Adventure, or repair your engine in the middle of the desert with clean gloves on a 2010 ?", Messrs. Palmade and Darmon could joke !

Obvious to detect – so much so that BMW Motorrad failed to mention it in its press kit! -, the arrival of spoked rims in place of stick rims accentuates the enduro side of the beast. The GS Adventure further benefits from wider footrests and an adjustable selector and brake pedals that fit either big TT boots or tassel moccasins….

Because the clientele of this type of motorcycles is comparable to – the same as? – that of large 4×4 SUVs, the vast majority of which never run on any clod of earth: "rather elderly and wealthy bikers who want a versatile and rewarding motorcycle", sums up BMW France.

"After the look, what GS Adventure owners really appreciate is the large tank", continues our interlocutor. The" Grob Gueesse "indeed has a tank – in aluminum, bitte schon – with a capacity of 30 liters, that is to say half the volume of that of the current standard GS (20 liters).

Fans of the brand will point out, however, that the new Adventure carries 3 liters less fuel than the old Adventure. Despite the progress made in terms of consumption (BMW announces 4.3 l / 100km at 90 km / h and 5.9 l / 100km against 4.6 and 6.1 previously), the new BMW theoretically goes less far…

However, with more than 500 km of autonomy on the motorway and almost 700 on the road – theoretically still, our 150 km trip in Corsica did not allow us to validate these data – the Adventure has an argument. club facing trails or road motorcycles less "enduring" (read our), which will be receptive to the rollers-always (further!) and commuters tired of queuing at the pump every Monday morning…

This advantage does not come without a counterpart: the very bulky Adventure tank makes the bike impressive, not to say intimidating! It also spreads the thighs wider than the slim tank of the base GS does, but the riding position – otherwise identical – remains very comfortable..

The most disabling is ultimately the overweight of the motorcycle, which is placed extremely high! BMW Motorrad rated at 260 kg full facts – well, "tank 90% full", admit the Germans -, the big GS seems as heavy, if not more, than the RT (274 kg as a reminder).

Relieving the side stand and then maneuvering the machine with the engine off requires generous doses of courage and balance. Culminating at 890 mm in height (ditto for the old Adventure, 850 mm on the standard GS), the saddle is skilfully refined in its front part and allows pilots of about 1.70m to put both tips of their feet on the ground.

For the little ones, you’ll have to wait until you’ve started the partially liquid-cooled flat-twin – what else? – to regain a semblance of ease … On condition of course you want to go forward because to go back, the engine will not be of any help !

Despite the weight gain of 12 kg compared to the "normal" GS – but limited to 1 kg compared to the old Adventure -, the German maxi trail is still as easy to crutch. Its central designed just for it and delivered as standard allows parking without difficulty.

On the other hand, one of our colleagues who had stopped his GS Adventure on the side in a slight descent, engine running without gear engaged – klein trickster! -, saw bitterly that there are not too many two to raise the beast…

On land, the 2014 BMW R1200GS Adventure is far from being knocked out: the cylinder guards play their role perfectly and allow the bike and its rider to hit the road as if nothing had happened! Site therefore continues its test … on the next page !

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