2020 BMW R 1250 GS/Adventure

You say you’re looking for a grand adventure? BMW says “bring it on” with its flagship adventure motorcycle, the R 1250 GS or off-road-capable GS Adventure. 2019 saw a boost in the flat twin’s displacement with an increase to 1,254cc, but the machine has always been ready for adventures since the first R80G/S launched in the ’80s. Current model years are spruced up to suit today’s modern riders with electronics and luxurious riding comforts, but it’s the powerful boxer engine and long-travel suspension that makes it capable of crossing all kinds of terrain across the countries or counties.

In Editor-In-Chief Mark Hoyer’s 2019 review, he stated, “Performance from the GS is pretty remarkable, especially given its size and weight. Compared to KTM’s bigger adventure offerings, it is more plush and has a greater feeling of luxury. Performance isn’t as edgy, and most KTMs give you more of a feeling of riding a big off-road racebike or rally bike than does the BMW. In a way, the very GS-ness of the GS is its greatest strength, and also its weakness, if you can call it that. But there are few motorcycles that will go so far so comfortably in such wide conditions, and they’ve been ridden to the ends of the earth since the first R80G/S.”

When 2019′s model was dyno’d on our in-house dynamometer we recorded 116.4 hp at 7,540 rpm and 92.2 pound-feet at 6,240 rpm.

Competition is, in fact, the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, Honda Africa Twin, Ducati Multistrada 1260 Enduro, and Moto Guzzi V85TT Travel.

Graphics changes were announced for both the R 1250 GS ($17,895) and its athletic R 1250 GS Adventure ($20,195) stablemate.