BMW previews R 1300 GS Adventure
Ahead of its Australian market arrival in early 2025, BMW Motorrad have released details on the R 1300 GS Adventure. Along with the most powerful version yet of the GS Boxer engine, the R 1300 GS features a fully redesigned frame, newly developed auxiliary headlights, an additional riding mode, Dynamic Cruise Control and Full Integral ABS Pro braking, all as standard.
The local market will receive five variants of the R 1300 GS Adventure – basic, Triple Black, Trophy, Trophy X and Option 719 – defined by specific colours.
The base model is well equipped, with standard features including heated grips, an adjustable windscreen, adjustable levers, engine bash plate, ABS Pro braking, tyre pressure control, cruise control, engine brake control, traction control and hill start control, full LED lighting, multi-function rear LED indicators, a 6.5-inch TFT instrument screen, keyless operation, luggage rack and more.
To this, each step up adds more rider assistance teach and/or other features – some practical and some cosmetic - like a taller windscreen, pillion kit, headlight and radiator protection, seat options, dual mufflers, forged rims, off-road tyres and more.
An extensive range of options will be available, too, some of which are no extra cost, depending on the variant.
Bigger Boxer
The headline change on the R 1300 GS Adventure compared to the R 1250 GS it replaces is the larger engine, but packaging of the engine and transmission has changed significantly. The air/liquid-cooled Boxer twin is of 1,300cc capacity and produces a claimed 107kW (145hp) at 7,750pm and 149Nm at 6,500pm. This compares to maximums of 100kW and 143Nm from the 1254cc Boxer.
There’s a new arrangement for the engine’s camshaft drive, while BMW’s ShiftCam technology carries over.
Another notable change sees the six-speed transmission now placed below the engine, rather than behind it. In addition, the Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) that BMW Motorrad announced earlier this year will be optional on the R 1300 GS Adventure. ASA automates clutch and gear shift operation, while retaining the ability for traditional gear changing.
Suspension and Ride Height Control
While active electronic suspension adjustment is not new to the GS, it’s been improved for the R 1300 GS Adventure with the introduction of ‘Dynamic Suspension Adjustment’ (replacing the previous Dynamic ESA Next Generation system). The difference with this new system is that it combines dynamic adjustment of the front and rear damping with changes to the spring rate, depending on the riding mode selected, terrain, surface conditions and riding style.
Optional is adaptive vehicle height control, which works in a similar way to the system on Harley-Davidson’s Pan America 1250.
In the case of the R 1300 GS Adventure, when adaptive vehicle height control is activated, the bike’s height (and thus the seat height) drops by 30mm when at low speeds or stationary. A ‘comfort’ option for shorter riders drops the height by an additional 20mm.
Being an Adventure, there’s 20mm more suspension travel than the standard R 1300 GS, along with a slightly longer wheelbase. The fuel tank has been redesigned, but capacity remains at 30 litres, compared to 20 litres for the standard GS. Mounting options for tank bags and a rubberised storage area are part of the tank’s redesign.
Riding Modes, Active Tech
The R 1300 GS Adventure offers four riding modes as standard. ‘Rain,’ ‘Road’ and ‘Eco’ are familiar from past GS models, but ‘Enduro’ mode is new. The existing three modes make the usual changes to throttle response, engine braking, ABS intervention and traction control. Enduro mode is said to provide “an enhanced off-road experience, with a specialised set-up catered towards tackling unpaved terrain,” according to BMW.
While Dynamic Cruise Control will be standard, this can be upgraded to Active Cruise Control with the optional Riding Assistant. Choosing this option also adds Front Collision Warning and Lane Change Warning.
Lighting and Luggage
Like the R 1300 GS, the R 1300 GS Adventure features a restyled headlight that has an ‘X’ shape and combines the high and low beam into a single Matrix LED unit, adding four additional LEDs that serve as the DRLs and side lights.
Additional to this are a pair of flat LED auxiliary lights incorporated into the bodywork that look like the indicators and come as standard. The actual indicators have been restyled, too, and are now fitted into the handguards.
Luggage options include a new 37-litre aluminium top box that incorporates a mounting plate, electrical interface for adding lighting, a USB charging socket and pillion grab rails.
New aluminium panniers have also been developed, with a load capacity of up to 10kg each and new mounting plates to suit. On the nearside pannier mounting plate, a magnetic coupling acts as the electrical interface for the USB socket that’s in the nearside pannier.
Colours and Pricing
When it arrives in Australia, the R 1300 GS Adventure will be defined by specific colours for each variant. The base model will be available in Racing Red, with the Trophy and Trophy X in Racing Blue metallic. The Triple Black will be finished in Black Storm metallic and the top-spec Option 719 in Aurelius Green metallic matte.
Australian pricing is as follows:
R 1300 GS Adventure - $30,490 RRP
R 1300 GS Adventure Trophy X - $36,090 RRP
R 1300 GS Adventure Trophy - $37,190 RRP
R 1300 GS Adventure Triple Black - $36,530 RRP
R 1300 GS Adventure Option 719 - $38,790 RRP
Local rollout of the new R 1300 GS Adventure will begin in early 2025. For more details, see your BMW Motorrad dealer.
