Over 40 years have passed since the introduction of BMW’s GS, which was the R 80 GS. The concept has basically stayed the same, a shaft drive on/off-road motorcycle propelled by their iconic boxer engine. For sure that’s the only thing in common with this latest edition, still, it is one of the greatest success stories regarding sales.
During those forty years it has been updated more times than Facebook, and now we have the 2021 model I have here, with, even more additions to tempt riders to spend even more cash to own one.
2018 was the biggest update, I suppose, with the advent of the liquid-cooled 1,254cc boxer engine, mainly due to growing emission laws around the rest of the world, and off course the desire for more power. Now let’s get the bad news out of the way first. This fetching Triple Black edition will cost you R320,000 +/-, a considerable amount of SA Rand in anyone’s bankbook. And that’s without spending even more on the usual additives, like exhaust, panniers and similar.Ok, so what’s new for 2021 you ask? Well not too much actually but significant all the same. You’ll find even more refined electronics, a new adaptive headlight system and a six-axis IMU, where last year it had only a five-axis IMU. Oh, and the heated grips and seat have had an update for even more levels, of, err, heating pleasure. Not too much then but the end result is without doubt the most sophisticated GS to date, so there.
I haven’t ridden the 1250 version for a while now so it was quite interesting to climb aboard this new model. And the first impressions are…it IS very impressive and I can see, and feel, the attraction. Built like a tank springs to mind, and the German’s have always been exceptional and building those, if you know what I mean?
The new 1,254cc, Shift-cam engine is predictably a peach, which basically gives more lift and duration to the intake valves for better low down torque and then onto raspy top end power when it activates. It does work as the top end rush is quite pronounced once it operates, and then all the way to the 9,000rpm redline. BMW claim 136hp@7,750rpm and 143Nm@6,250rpm. After a quick visit to our Dynojet dyno the actual rear wheel figures are, 121hp@7,600rpm and 129Nm@6,400rpm, or, the most powerful GS to date. 
However the most impressive part of this engine is the low/mid-range drive, which during a recent ‘roll-on’ test pulled away from a new KTM 1290S. Once moving though the KTM had more top end speed, seeing as it makes 10hp more.
The GS also has a quick-shifter, up and down, which at low rpm, especially between first to second gear, is a bit ‘clunky’ for want of a better word, but improves as the revs increase. To be honest I still don’t understand why any big adventure bike needs one, to myself it’s an unnecessary addition, I’m sure many will disagree. Can ‘we’ just not change gear anymore in the usual fashion so leave this gadget for the racetrack, just a thought?
Talking of gadgets the huge 6.5-inch TFT screen is one of the best in the business. Combined with the wealth of ride options it’ll entertain, or confuse, any hard-core motorcyclist. This year we have a new Eco option that clips the power to 100hp and 109Nm in the quest for frugal fuel sipping. There’s an indictor in the top corner of the TFT to tell you how much throttle to use, which disappears once you give it a big handful, a handy option on a long haul or if you’re getting too low on fuel. Once over 130kph it cancels itself, so not much use in SA then, maybe? I tried it once and soon went back to Dynamic Pro full power mode, but thanks for the choice, maybe? Then you can easily hoist the front wheel and look very cool indeed, maybe?
Possibly the best new addition is the adaptive headlight. As you turn it’ll automatically turn and point into the corner and if you add a hefty pillion it’ll self-level to stop the headlight pointing towards the stars. It works in conjunction with the new six-axis IMU and works a treat at night as you go tearing through your favourite twisty bends.
As I was tearing through these mentioned twisty bends, at any time of day, I was more than surprised how agile this 250kg (fully fueled) monster of a bike is. With relatively little effort it can be ridden at sportsbike pace and it’ll be a hard bike to chase and catch by other riders, if you know what you’re doing. Of course the big BM’ is equally impressive when you venture down a dirt lane or two, but we all know that anyway so not much point in talking about its traits in the dirt.
So 40-years on and the mighty GS is still going strong and commendably so, because it is still the best shaft-drive adventure bike by some margin. What could BMW possibly do next to keep the ball rolling with their forever-evolving GS boxer program? Well, already there are rumours of a, wait for it, 1300 version, will this story never end, probably not.
Images: 2ft-Stu.
Go to www.bmw-motorrad.co.za for dealer locations and to grab a test ride.
