[samyakmodi]

I so miss Chris Bangle as a chief designer for BMW.

From cars that look like made out of Lego (the M2) they have now gone ahead and made their ugly looking bike even uglier. Thankfully now my Multistrada V4S looks much better compared to this "what were you thinking" design of a bike.

[neith]

The weird flat tank has specific use case intentions

[Akash_1806]

Hello everyone.

I got the chance to test drive and review the newly launched BMW GS 1300 in the signature GS Trophy colour. Spent a decent amount of time with the motorcycle along with some off-road usage.

Thanks to Lutyens Motorrad, Okhla and SA Abhishek Chandra for sending the motorcycle to my home for this amazing experience.

My observations -

1. Looks, looks and more looks. I have always had a soft corner for the BMW GS as I own a 310, however this machine looks crazy. A little slimmer than the outgoing 1250 and a lot more modern design. The blind spots and rear profile has improved tremendously.

2. 1300cc DOHC chain driven boxer engine generating 145hp and 149nm is the gem of the whole package. Smooth and refined, amazing low end rideability and even more powerful than before, mid and high range. In terms of rideability this heart is pretty close to perfect. The gear shifting is also butter smooth as the bi-directional quickshifter takes care of it.

3. Tech loaded. Heated grips, 10.25 inch TFT display, HSC, DBC, MSR, and what not. Anything and everything a person would need and want while riding this machine in all kinds of terrain.

4. Ride quality. The newly designed BMW's telelever suspension is a delight. On road/bad roads/no roads, it delivers. The nose dive of the 1250 has vanished with the newly designed front suspension and steering damper. Though the bike is now 13 kgs lighter than the outgoing model, it is still heavy at 240+ kgs. The brakes and handling is extremely good.

5. A little bit of top heaviness. Though all ADVs suffer from this issue, I have felt that the the bigger GS motorcycles have been significantly top heavy as compared to the other bikes of the same segment. However, the top heaviness is significantly less in in R 1300 GS as compared to the R 1250 and F 850.

Ending this post with two beautiful pictures of this beast from today's ride.

Cheers and happy motoring
Akash

[sovenkat]

Originally Posted by Akash_1806

chain driven

It is not chain driven. its Shaft driven. I had to go look and confirm again on the internet.

[Akash_1806]

Originally Posted by sovenkat

It is not chain driven. its Shaft driven. I had to go look and confirm again on the internet.

The engine is a twin cylinder boxer engine with two overhead chain-driven camshafts (also known as BMW ShiftCam) and balancing gearwheels. Quoted from the official brochure. I sincerely apologise for any confusion.

It is driven via shaft drive which is almost maintenance free with a 20,000kms service interval for the shaft.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by Akash_1806

Hello everyone.
I got the chance to test drive and review the newly launched BMW GS 1300 in the signature GS Trophy colour. Spent a decent amount of time with the motorcycle along with some off-road usage.

Thanks for that crisp quick take from your ride. Visually, the 1300 definitely seems more slender than the outgoing 1250. I guess that’s the aspect that has polarised reactions too to some extent.

5. A little bit of top heaviness. Though all ADVs suffer from this issue, I have felt that the the bigger GS motorcycles have been significantly top heavy as compared to the other bikes of the same segment. However, the top heaviness is significantly less in in R 1300 GS as compared to the R 1250 and F 850.

I’m a little surprised by this. Having owned and ridden multiple large ADVs, the GS’s (including the 1200 / 1250 GS) one standout characteristic is that it in fact carries a lower centre of gravity where most other ADVs are relatively more top heavy. A Tiger 1200 / Pan AM or even a Multistrada definitely feel more top heavy compared to a GS which is able to carry its weight low thanks to the boxer layout. At least that’s been my riding impression.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by Axe77

I’m a little surprised by this. Having owned and ridden multiple large ADVs, the GS’s (including the 1200 / 1250 GS) one standout characteristic is that it in fact carries a lower centre of gravity where most other ADVs are relatively more top heavy. A Tiger 1200 / Pan AM or even a Multistrada definitely feel more top heavy compared to a GS which is able to carry its weight low thanks to the boxer layout. At least that’s been my riding impression.

I somehow don’t find any of them top heavy (GS/GSA, Tiger 1200 or the Multistrada), haven’t ridden the Pan America.

Maybe it’s got to do with where one is coming from, meaning which bikes one has ridden before and comparing to. These are heavy ladies and take some getting used to which probably affects perceptions.

Cheers

[Grand Tourer]

Any news of the launch in India? I'm keenly waiting for the reviews for the Euro bikers but from what Motobob said, would happen in Q4.

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by Rahulkool

1300GSA just now unveiled by BMW on social media, looks a bit polarizing design. This better have some function over form design, otherwise i don't see why BMW will go this way. The tank side profile has some OG GS glimpse.

Originally Posted by ExOblivione

Did they get some home appliance designer to come design this?

Originally Posted by coolmel

BUT between the OG 1300 and this, the latter looks much better.

I just love the design. When they launched the 1300 GS, it was a lovely bike on paper and probable to ride but it sort of lost the "GS" Character. The GSA rectifies that one thing.

Also, its gonna take a while for us to adjust to symmetric headlamps on the GS. I think BMW had better days when Edgar Heinrich was around.

I'm never a fan of asymmetric things. I even hate the off-set filler cap that's becoming common these days. The only thing I hated about the 1250 GS was the headlamp

Originally Posted by aneesh2M

Weird design I must say. That is an exposed weld seam on the tank. Not expected from BMW, a small plastic cladding would have looked a lot better.

I noticed that in one of the videos. Not sure why they did it.

Originally Posted by Genie

I kinda prefer this GSA styling over the 1300 GS which I am still not able to come to terms with as compared to a 1250. Of course over time we got over the X shaped headlights, but on this bike that no longer seems to be the concern.
This bike looks like no other and it could work both ways. If I am in the market for 1300 it would be the GSA and not the GS from styling perpspective.

Originally Posted by Cyborg

For me the GS 1300 is a complete design - lithe like a toned athlete. I like it, it looks far, far better in the flesh than in photographs/videos. I like the front light design too and believe from reviews that the spread and illumination on the road is very good.

Contrary to popular opinion I like the GSA and its huge rhino proportions. Have to see it in the flesh to reinforce my opinion but so far so good.

Exactly my thoughts. I'd pic the GSA over the GS anyday (If I have the money ).

What I really don’t like is BMW removing the dedicated rear light and the huge radar on both ends.

This was already done on the Himalayan so I guess it's becoming the norm these days. Regarding the radar, it's a really cool piece of equipment. Sadly we won't get it in India due to so stupid laws.

I just can't get over this bike. So tempted to sell the Himalayan, cancel the car upgrade plans, take out a loan and buy it when it's launched.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by pedrolourenco

Regarding the radar, it's a really cool piece of equipment. Sadly we won't get it in India due to so stupid laws.

Radar is available in India on the Ducati Multistrada V4s, Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorers and also launched on the GS 1300 Tramuntana variant. It’s not available even as an option on the White, Triple Black or Trophy edition.

Cheers

[pedrolourenco]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Radar is available in India on the Ducati Multistrada V4s, Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorers and also launched on the GS 1300 Tramuntana variant. It’s not available even as an option on the White, Triple Black or Trophy edition.

Cheers

This is news to me. Last I heard was that the government reserved those frequencies for military use so radar was not allowed. Looks like they have made some changes to the laws.