This bike is beautiful! It's nicer than the other GS. At least if you look at the predecessors of the model or the Adventure version.
At first, the Matrix LED headlamps were strange to get used to, compared to the predecessor model. I never liked the winking headlamp. This one does much better.
At first, the Matrix LED headlamps were strange to get used to, compared to the predecessor model. I never liked the winking headlamp. This one does much better.
The test subject:
BMW R1300 GS. 1300cc, 145 hp, 150 Nm torque, 237Kg.
It's still not light on paper, but after the 269kg of the R1300 GS Adventure, it felt like a bicycle in a sharp change. 
And the bottom line: much more sporty!
I was totally fine with that on my own. I was swimming with traffic.
But this??? It's much fancier. He wants to go all the time. And it can. It knows how to do its job perfectly, regardless of the speed range and road conditions.
This version is fitted with a standard gearbox, not an automatic. Although it's just a matter of personal preference, because you can have either version with a manual or one that you can switch to automatic mode if you wish.
I managed to put it in first start without clutch, because in my mind I was still on the automatic version Adventure. 
I'm not confused, by the way.
When I was on my own bike, it didn't feel like a GS and I changed out of reflex. 
So everyone calm down in the pits*. If you get on one you won't forget how to ride, you'll just get used to the good stuff.
So everyone calm down in the pits*. If you get on one you won't forget how to ride, you'll just get used to the good stuff. 
Automatic vs Manual transmission?
I'd prefer this with the automation option.
On the one hand, it saves a lot of unnecessary hassle in city driving, and on the other hand, its gearbox shifts much more smoothly in manual!
This smooth manual GS could be more sophisticated. After my KTM, the gearbox on this one is much more snappy - and that's teenage technology. But there's a reason it can be like this. GSers, buy the automatic - it's the future! Honda has been pushing it for 10 years.
As far as the gearbox is concerned, in low range, i.e. in city traffic, at speeds where the rules apply, well, don't use it. Like someone being interrogated. Outside the city, however, if you pull it up, it's smoother than with the clutch. You know, it's the sort of thing you have to put it on because it likes it. Therefore, it's going to be difficult to go smoothly...
I got this version with the small plex. Both are available in any version. As a matter of fact, behind the raised plexiglass of the Adventure, I rode in peace with the world. The edge of this one was closer to the hear how you go standard I'm used to on my KTM.
Fine for me, but if you have a passenger behind you, he won't.
The new 1300 GS is very impressive live, it's very watchable.
We took him to some of the busier places to take photos and people actually stopped next to the bike to take photos. In the city park, for example, two kids came up to us and asked if we would take a picture of the bike with their scooters. 
The factory BMW navigation system is well designed to work as an additional display.
It can be controlled from the steering wheel and you can put information on it that you wouldn't otherwise see next to the speed indicator.
The downside is that this TomTom-based solution for navigation is quite slow. I don't know if there is a newer and better version, but the one on this one was not known for its speed.
This 1300GS is much more compact than its predecessor.
It has become noticeably smaller, which means it is probably better off-road. Unfortunately, it had quite street tyres on it so I only tested it on gravel roads like this. So I won't be able to judge its ability from that. Let me know if you've tried it, because I'd be interested to know.
I don't know what it is, but the chassis of this felt much stiffer than the Adventure.
What's also different is that this engine feels much lower.
It is also narrower, officially 2 cm in the undercarriage. I have told several people I know to set the GSA to vertical. Not everyone knew. But they did it relatively easily.
So the technology is the same, but as similar as they are, they are just as different!
If I had to choose, I would be in big trouble.
My first choice would be Adventure. That bike made me feel more emotional. I liked the spaceship feel, even if it is more limited in usability due to its large size and weight. So that would be a good 2nd bike. But I'd probably ride it and get used to the comfort. 
But if you want an engine that is not perfect in anything, but can do everything at a very good level, then definitely the standard 1300GS!
If you need to, you can take it over 200, race it over alpine passes with your mates, or with a good choice of tyres, you can go off-road in the Balkans. The bike can do it all!
And, by the way, it's perfect for flashing The engine is really nice. From the side, the layered design looks to me like it has muscle groups protruding from it.
The engine is really nice. From the side, the layered design looks to me like it has muscle groups protruding from it.
Is it economical?
That was probably not the aim in this category. Why do you need 145 hp in a touring bike or for urban riding or enduro riding at all?
I'll tell you: for the amusement park vibe, when you turn on the gas, a big smile comes across your face :)))))
3.4s under 100. Not so long ago the speedsters knew that, not a touring enduro! Terrible. And if you pull on the throttle like that, it raises the front end, and you just want to accelerate...
Now that's what this engine can do.
The factory consumption is 4.9 . My average over 1500 km was 6.3.
However, when I pulled into town after refuelling, it also read 7.2 as the average after refuelling.
And unfortunately, this is his weak point when touring. Because with this bike you can easily go 500-600 km or more in a day. You'll essentially have to refuel more often than you'll get tired of it!
Think about it. The tank is 19 litres. That means you'll have to stop for a refuel every 240-250 km on average, which could mean up to 3 refills a day during a tour.
I will report on the completed tour in a future post. There's simply not enough space. I don't want to write a book.
BMW R1300 GS technical data
Power: 107 kW (145 hp)
Torque: 149 Nm
Cylinder capacity: 1300 cc
Maximum speed: over 200 km/h
Fuel consumption 4.9 l
Test consumption: 6.3 l
Tank: 19 l
Weight: 237 kg
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3.39 s
Written by: Vasas Gergő - Geri on Tour (Adventure Rider, blogger)
The test engine is BMW Motorrad Hungary provided. Many thanks for that!
Photos: Eszter Tokár
EN 
HU 
DE 
ES 
FR 
IT 
RU 
CN
Recent Comments