On the road

BMW gets its boots dirty

The Adventure Bike category continues to boom as more riders discover the joy of motorcycles that blend the off-road capabilities of a dirt bike with the high-speed cruising comfort of a road bike.

Due on sale in the first half of 2024 and priced from $26,000, BMW Motorrad’s all-new R 1300 GS will have riders salivating at the prospect of this latest premium “chook-chaser”.

The Bavarian brand continues to innovate with a raft of new technologies including a new 1300cc two-cylinder engine. Weighing 12kg less than its predecessor, the new R 1300 GS engine is claimed to be the most powerful BMW boxer engine ever in series production, with outputs of 107kW /149Nm.

Other changes include a stiffer and stronger steel main frame, a new die-cast aluminium rear frame, and revisions to the front and rear suspension delivering 20mm more spring travel along with greater steering precision and ride stability.

There’s also a new Riding Assistant option, comprising Active Cruise Control (ACC), Front Collision Warning (FCW), and Lane Change Warning (SWW).

The big Bimmer is available in six variants, starting with the entry-level R 1300 GS ($26,000) and rising to the range-topping GS Option 719 ($36,690).

Visit the BMW Motorrad website for more.