FIRST IMPRESSION
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2019 BMW R 1250 GS
But otherwise the styling, the stock seating
offering a choice between 33.5 inches and 34.3
inches in height (though there are options available
as low as 31.5 inches and as high as 35.4 inches)
and even the suspension are similar in appearance
to the outgoing R 1200 GS.
Engine running, you'll notice a deeper tone to
the trademark drone of the 180º Boxer twin's 2-1
exhaust, a new design now made from stainless
steel. Moreover, the engine has noticeably less
mechanical noise than the R 1200, which turns out
to be thanks partly to a switch to quieter toothed
cam chains from the previous roller ones, and a
new design of fuel injector needle for the Bosch
EFI, which eliminates the clicking sound you
always heard previously at low speeds
while the engine was running. However,
the best is yet to come, for within the
first mile of riding the new GS in rush
hour traffic, you realize immediately how
smooth and torquey the ShiftCam motor
is. It's super-responsive without being
snatchy, yet unbelievably flexible and forgiving
to ride—it takes almost any gear you throw at it,
pulling cleanly away in top gear wide open from
just over 2000 rpm with no transmission snatch at
all. Not that using the smooth-shifting six-speed
shaft-drive transmission is at all onerous, because
the hydraulically operated eight-plate slipper clutch
now fitted as standard has a light lever action that
makes riding the R 1250 GS in traffic not at all tiring
for your left hand, and the shift action of the gear-
box is precise and smooth. It doesn't seem like a
shaft-drive transmission in use, with not a trace of
a clunk to be heard. That's perhaps because the
gearbox and clutch are now integrated into the
engine crankcase, rather than in a separate bolted
on housing as before. BMW says this not
only helps save both space and weight,
but that they've also improved the way in
which the new Boxer engine shifts gears—
and I definitely noticed that.
But it's the new BMW's smooth yet
muscular throttle response that's most im-
The HP Dual
Purpose model is
tailored a bit more
for the dirt,
getting longer-
travel suspension
and more
aggressive tires.
