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BMW R 1300 GS Adventure in test (Baujahr 2024)

What are the differences between Adventure and Standard GS?

08.11.2024

Photos: Motorradtest.de

With the new R 1300 GS Adventure, the differences between the standard GS and the GSA become greater. BMW wants to make it clear from a purely visual point of view: The Adventure is not for the faint-hearted. Lenny and Dietmar have grabbed a demonstrator from Bergmann & Söhne in Neumünster and describe their driving impressions here.

The rolling suitcase

But the new head of design at BMW Motorrad (Alexander Buckan) has shown real courage! The comments on YouTube fluctuate between "complete disaster" and "unique". The word "mediocre" really doesn't come to anyone's mind when looking at the new Adventure. Good job! There are enough interchangeable designs for cars and motorcycles anyway, we like bikes that are independent and immediately recognizable. And if you want to hear our opinion: We think it's strong!

The new Adventure is available in four colors. The standard trim level is Racing Red for 22,335 euros. The three other colors come with additional things such as wire wheels, comfort seat and aluminum tank and cost just under 800 euros extra. The green option "719 Karakorum" (congratulations for this imperceptible name addition!) also comes with the extensive milled parts package and costs 24,460 euros. So if you want to get to the end of the food chain, you have to dig deeper into your pocket - that's just the way it is.

Colour selection of the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure

BMW has improved the standard equipment a bit. This was already the case with the last updates and is good for the model policy. Who buys an Adventure without heated grips or cruise control? If you want to know exactly: Click here for the data and equipment of the new GSA.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Heated grips
Cruise Control DCC
Tyre pressure monitoring RDC
Keyless Ride
Extended hand protection with integrated turn signals
Additional headlights
DSA electronic chassis with load compensation
Various mounting options for accessories

Seat test and dimensions

The seat test on a GS is always one of the most beautiful experiences. Also or especially on the Adventure you sit stately with an extremely large amount of space for driver and passenger. The sitting posture is upright, the handlebars are not too low or too far away, the ergonomics simply fit. With the exception of ASA, our test bike was equipped in the "full house" style, so we were also happy about heated seats for rider and passenger because of the bad temperatures.

With all the comfort and space, however, there is one big point of criticism: The GSA feels extremely heavy when stationary. Manoeuvring therefore requires concentration and a portion of strength, of which you should be aware. Although BMW offers a practical jacking aid for the Adventure, which lifts the machine when the center stand is folded out and thus simplifies jacking up, this is still not for the faint of heart. So always pay attention to how you park this ship - and please never in such a way that you have to push the box backwards upwards!

This is what it's like to sit on the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. Ultra-comfortable and plenty of space for everyone!

360-degree tour of the BMW R 1300 GSA

Technology of the new GSA

Well, only three blocks of text space for the technology. That won't be enough, because the Adventure (especially our test bike) is crammed full of everything your heart desires: IMU and lean angle sensors, radar system with adaptive cruise control, brake assist and blind spot assist, riding modes, mobile phone connectivity with arrow navigation, electronically adjustable DSA suspension, cruise control, heated grips, keyless ride, auxiliary headlights, matrix LED, cornering lights, turn signal reset, load compensation, 6.5" TFT cockpit, this, that & that and everything!

Of course, not all of it is standard, but a large part is. Here is the link to the equipment list, where the optional features are also listed. There really is nothing that does not exist for the GSA. Our almost fully equipped test bike with all three packages ends up at 25,750 euros. But as I said: Please take a look at what a comparable Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally or a KTM 1290 SAS costs - just.

Unfortunately, the operation of the GSA takes some getting used to due to the many functions. The anti-glare display is very easy to read and there are extra buttons for the most important things, but BMW newcomers will be quite overwhelmed by the many features that can be set here. Actually, the variety of functions is of course an advantage, but you need a little time to understand the operating logic and the menu system.

Einarmschwinge mit integrierten Kardanantrieb.

As in the old days and still good:Single-sided swingarm with integrated shaft drive.

This is how it drives

Then we roll the device onto the street - and off we go. And how it goes off when you pull on the tap! The engine doesn't seem to care at all how much weight it has to catapult forward: it pushes and pushes and the arms get longer and longer. The torque of the 1300cc Boxers is simply a stunner and that feels just as wonderful on the Adventure as it does on the standard GS.

Unfortunately, this also applies to the QuickShifter, which I just can't warm up to on BMW's boxer bikes. I think you have to push too hard for him to react. Yes, I know that the "Shift Assistant Pro", as BMW calls it, needs a little more revs than other QuickShifters, but still: I find the systems of other manufacturers softer and more fun. To be fair, Lennert thought the quickshifter was okay because he prefers it when you have to give a little impulse, and that's apparently how many other boxer drivers see it. Maybe I have to take it to the doctor...

2 Zylinder Boxer-Motor mit 149 Nm Drehmoment!

2 cyl. Boxer engine with ShiftCam valve timing, 145 hp and 149 Nm torque!

Another surprise besides the performance is how fluffy the Adventure goes around the corners. Once you've got going, you hardly feel the weight and the steering angle and chassis geometry make the GSA such an agile machine that even the worst alpine tour should not be a problem.

Admittedly, you shouldn't drive around the nasty hairpin bends on the Stelvio too slowly with luggage and pillion, but in general it's very amazing how agilely you can move the Adventure. I don't want to have to drive into deep terrain, but easy terrain as well as gravel roads & Co. should not be a problem either. We didn't try this, but it can be seen in videos of other test drivers.

Now a word about the windbreak: Excellent. Point. The electrically adjustable windshield installed on our machine offers exactly the comfort I expect from the windshield of an adventure bike, especially when raised: No wind pressure on the upper body and absolute silence in the helmet, so no turbulence or turbulence. This also works wonderfully at higher speeds and so the Hamburg-Munich route in one go is no problem at all.

If it says BMW on it, it's Brembo in it. Very good braking system on the GSA.

The brakes have earned further praise. They also work wonderfully, even if a little pressure is required during emergency braking - which once again has to do with the weight. The rear brake also decelerates emphatically and both brakes together bring the GSA to a stop wonderfully modulated and quickly.

By the way, our test bike was equipped with adaptive vehicle height control. This ensures that you can get your feet on the ground better when standing or waiting at traffic lights thanks to the lowered chassis. From a speed of 50 km/h, the machine then goes up again and down again at 25 km/h and less. You hardly notice that, but it works great. The "jacking up aid" is just as great: If you move the center stand down while stationary, the machine is lifted front and rear so that it is easier to jack up. Pretty cool feature.

That's a tank! 30 liters are enough for over 600 kilometers with one filling.

BMW gives a three-year warranty on the R 1300 GS Adventure, the service is due once a year or every 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first. Of course, there are also competitors, such as: KTM 1290 Super Adventure S (from 2025 1390 SAS Evo), Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer, Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally and Harley Davidson Pan America Special. Do you notice anything? No Japanese woman among them. It's actually strange that Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki limit themselves to machines with a maximum of 1,100 cc. Or is that perhaps enough? BMW GSA riders will say: "Nothing comes into my house under 1,300 cc." Maybe it's just the beefy look that the adventure drivers love so much about their box.

You could certainly tell a lot more about the new Adventure, such as the extreme range thanks to the 30 liter tank, the ingenious idea of the "burger button" on which you can put a feature of your choice, the rich accessories, the radar system, etc. Instead, we would like to ask you to watch our test video, in which we go into all these things in picture and sound. And if you are specifically interested in the new ASA system (automated shift assistant) for the Adventure, this video is highly recommended.

Result

The new GSA is certainly not a bike for everyone. It polarizes in terms of appearance, performance, price and weight. That's a good thing, we think, because there are already enough monotonous motorcycles. Beginners will certainly lie on their side after a few meters with this motorcycle, but seasoned bikers will find the ultimate ship for the really long tour here. In the afternoon a short trip to the North Cape and back is no problem with the Adventure. And you don't have to refuel on the way either.

The test bike was provided to us by Bergmann & Söhne in Neumünster. The GSA will be there as a demonstrator and is looking forward to test drivers. Those who want to try out the ASA will also get their money's worth in Neumünster : B&S also has a standard GS with the new automated shift assistant. So register two test drives, then order the GSA with ASA and look forward to Christmas!

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