Gelände and Straße

Normally I find it hard to get up at 8am, but this was not a normal day.  The opportunity to ride a 2024 R 1300 GS for several hours got me excited to the point where I was awake bright and early for a glorious day and a fabulous ride. And I was one of the first to ride this bike in the country – making it extra special.

The R 1300 GS is an out and out big adventure bike. GS stands for Gelände and Straße, German for ‘Terrain and Road’ or ‘On road and Offroad’. It can do anything – and it’s their top selling model.
It’s a no compromise bike with 1000 options. Everything’s adjustable from ride height to windscreen height, and there’s every kind of pannier and add-on you can imagine. You can have any seat and pillion configuration that you could need. And that’s just from the factory, there is a wealth of after market parts too.

The 1300cc flat twin boxer engine puts out 107 kw (145hp) with 149 newton metres of torque. The manufacturer’s top speed is reported 200 kph. Probably a little conservative but you won’t need it unless you’re driving Dakar! Drivetrain wise it’s a smooth as silk 6 speed driving single swing arm shaft drive like many BMWs which is great for low maintenance and chain free immediate torque delivery. For its capacity, it’s relatively low weight thanks to the new frame using lighter weight materials than previous models.

One of the absolute best features is the keyless riding. You don’t know you need it until you’ve got this on a motorcycle. No more fumbling with gloves and pockets and zippers. calmer. Just get on the bike and ride when you’re at your destination, walk away and you’re secure.

There huge amounts of suspension travel 190 mm the front end 200 mm at the rear end with a wheelbase in excess of 1.5 metres. It gives you very strong stability even when carrying a pillion and load. The bike is 237 kilograms road ready and fueled and can weigh up to 465 kilograms including pillion rider and gear. Come on. Remember that half a ton of equipment right there, but this is one of the bikes that is going to manage it with aplomb.

Instead of using a conventional telescopic forks, the single damped spring is behind the uprights using a no dive telelever system. It looks different, yet you don’t notice that once you’re on the bike, it rides brilliantly. The rear wheel has a single sided paralever swingarm and low maintenance shaft drive for immediacy of torque delivery.

The brakes are now BMWs own brand callipers. On twin 310 millimeter, four piston desks at the front and a single 285 Two piston at the back. ABS is of course fully integrated and you with natural mechanical grip abs and its cousin traction control hardly ever turn up to the party, but when they do you know! It’s a tall bike at 850 millimeters although it does lower itself a little to help shorter riders get on Being BMW , the tech is very sophisticated. With an excellent bright display, LED matrix headlights, running lights and different riding modes. Things like the smartphone charging compartment make things so easy and heated grips which I didn’t need on my mid summer trip to Matakana,will be a treat for people on a colder ride I’m sure.

Aluminium cast wheels can be swapped for spokes as an option. And you might do that if you’re using it aggressively off road, or for looks, like the top of the line 719 Tramuntana model. We drove our favorite, the Trophy – one of several models of the R 1300 GS, and it’s great looking in it’s M Sport blue white red livery.

The GS is a superb machine that delivers in all areas. Its size and weight disappear with the dynamics of the bike. The suspension is flawless, the handling is extraordinary, and the engine is simply one of the best mills you’ll ever ride. So get onto it and enjoy it – anywhere. It’s a stunner.