< AllMoto's Motorcycle Investor mag

Motorcycle Investor mag

Boxer Tour

BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X quick spin

(May 2023)

BMW's premium adventure tourers pack a lot of tech into an impressive touring bundle

Though sharing a version of the distinctive motorsport colour scheme with its great granddad, the R80GS of 1980, and the approximate engine configuration, BMW’s latest-gen GS series is quite simply a rocket ship by comparison.

Even if you walk back just to the previous-gen R 1200 GS, the changes are significant.

For this series the engineers bumped the engine capacity and went for variable cam- timing (aka shift-cam in BMW-speak) which has had a significant effect on how the thing comes across to the rider.

To put it simply, the 1254cc version is an absolute bullet, claiming 100kW (134hp) at 7700rpm and 143Nm at 6250. They’re fairly high-stepping numbers for a boxer twin and give the thing, despite its near 250 kilo wet weight, some serious straight-line urge.

Top speed is conservative at a little over 200km/h, but the real entertainment is in the low and mid-range performance, which is truly sparkling. In a way, that’s in keeping with a series that started off in a relatively modest way some 53 years ago and has now become the top-seller in the company line-up.

BMW arguably invented the whole adventure tourer class with this series, back in 1980 with the 37kW (50hp) 798cc R80. The idea was essentially a large-capacity motorcycle that worked well on-road and to some extent off-road.

The sheer size and performance of these things mean that only the brave and or the highly skilled would take one out on a gnarly track. There are much better (and smaller) options out there for that sort of work.

However the pay-off is these are supreme touring bikes on tar and on made dirt roads. Performance is more than adequate and handling is pretty good, while the relatively long- travel suspension does a decent job of soaking up less-than-perfect surfaces.

In fact the performance is now at a level where the condition of the tyres and chassis are critical. As we discovered, a half-worn rear hoop (a Metzeler Karoo 3) can have a detrimental effect on the steering to the point where if you had any brains you toss it and get a new one.

Of course electronics abound, with a comprehensive suite of rider safety nets, including ABS and traction control. The depth of electronic adjustment is impressive, to the point where the left switch block carries a rotary ‘mouse’ to help navigate what’s on offer.

In the suite is Dynamic ESA suspension – that is, suspension which alters its damping rates according to the conditions. Plus of course the rider can determine overall set-up via the dash. It may be complex, but the performance is impressive.

BMW offers numerous variants of the 1250 GS, including the Rallye X in the touring trim you see here.

Pricing is around $35,000 on the road, fitted out for, but not including, BMW satnav and hard luggage. The latter cost around $1200 and $2000 respectively.

BMW no longer owns the adventure tourer market as it once did, and that in turn means the company works pretty hard to ensure you get a compelling package, despite the cost.

BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X

BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X

Good
Fast
Handles
Great touring potential

Not so good
Luggage & satnav are extra

SPECS:
BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X 2023

ENGINE: 
TYPE: Air/liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder, boxer twin with ShiftCam
CAPACITY: 1254cc 
BORE & STROKE: 102.5 x 76mm 
COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.5:1 
FUEL SYSTEM: EFI

TRANSMISSION: 
TYPE: Six-speed, constant-mesh,  
FINAL DRIVE: Paralever shaft

CHASSIS & RUNNING GEAR: 
FRAME TYPE: Two-section construction with engine as a stressed member
FRONT SUSPENSION: 37mm Telelever, electronic adjustment
REAR SUSPENSION: Monoshock, electronic adjustment  
FRONT BRAKE: 305mm disc with four-piston calipers 
REAR BRAKE: 276mm disc with two-piston caliper

DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES: 
WET WEIGHT: 249kg wet
SEAT HEIGHT: 850-870mm 
WHEELBASE: 1514mm
FUEL CAPACITY: 20lt

TYRES:
FRONT: 120/70-R19
REAR: 170/60-ZR17

PERFORMANCE: 
POWER: 100kW (136hp) @ 7750rpm 
TORQUE: 143Nm @ 6250rpm

OTHER STUFF:
PRICE @$35,000 on road as ridden

BMW R 1250 GS Rallye X