P124
cycle on the brakes until you let the clutch out on a
steep incline.
Our test bike was fitted with the Ride Modes
Pro feature, housing Dynamic Traction Control and
Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment),
and the new Dynamic Brake Assistant feature,
which reduces the motor's torque delivery and
adds a little rear brake in emergency situations, so
that when the front brake lever is applied and you
accidentally roll back on the throttle (sometimes it
happens), you get braking and all available engine
brake—and not any unwanted acceleration.
However, strip all the electronics back and
you've still got the ethos and character that BMW
has banked on for nearly half a century. It's genu-
inely difficult to criticize the GSA when it comes to
riding experience. You can pick on the bike's size,
weight, overload of electronics, cost of entry, insur-
ance, whatever, but when it all boils down, the GSA
is a motorcycle that can do more things decently
than many bikes can do brilliantly once. It's abso-
lutely the benchmark when it comes to jack-of-all-
trades motorcycles. CN
SPECIFICATIONS
2020 BMW R 1250 GS ADVENTURE ($20,395)
ENGINE
Horizontal twin boxer,
4-stroke, 8-valves, DOHC
FUELING
EFI
DISPLACEMENT
1254cc
BORE X STROKE
102.5 x 76mm
POWER (CLAIMED)
136 hp @ 7750 rpm
TORQUE (CLAIMED)
105 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed
CLUTCH
Wet multi-disc
CHASSIS
Two-section frame, front
and bolted on rear frame,
load-bearing engine
FRONT SUSPENSION
37mm BMW Motorrad
Telelever, central spring
strut (Dynamic ESA)
REAR SUSPENSION
Cast aluminum single-
sided swingarm with
BMW Motorrad Paralever
(Dynamic ESA)
FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL
8.3 in.
REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL
8.7 in.
FRONT BRAKE
Dual 305mm discs, 4-piston
caliper, ABS Pro
REAR BRAKE
Single 276mm disc,
2-piston caliper, ABS Pro
FRONT TIRE
120/70 R19 in.
REAR TIRE
170/60 R17 in.
SEAT HEIGHT
35 in.
WHEELBASE
59.2 in.
STEERING HEAD ANGLE
65.1°
FUEL CAPACITY
7.9 gal.
WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED)
591 lbs.
BMW's new
generation of
dashes, also seen
on the XR and RT,
are brilliant.
QUICKSPIN I 2020 BMW R 1250 GS
