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BMW R1300 GS Adventure - Test

Gergő Vasas - Geri on Tour (Adventure Rider, blogger)

 

From a 138 kg KTM to a 270 kg BMW? Don't you think that's overkill? - Now I'll tell you how...

In fact, I wanted to compare the BMW F900 GS with the 1300 GS, but that wasn't an option. The 1300 GS Adventure version was. 😃
I say good, since it has come to this, let's start the successor engine search test series with the universe destroyer battleship, which is no exaggeration to say - that among engines it has space technology! 🚀🚀🚀

 

Kanyon a Baetov regióban

I confess when I first took over the little 690cc KTM, I was scared...

It's not that I've ridden big bikes, I come from a Harley family.
Specifically, an Electra Glide Ultra with a dry weight of almost 400 kg
I "learned" on Classic. But that was almost 20 years ago. Lately I've been more used to the ultra light KTMs.

 

This was topped off when it was revealed that this engine now has electric shift assist. In other words, there is no clutch lever. It does its own work, but this one can shift gears on its own.
Specifically, you can use it in "D" as an automatic transmission car, or you can put it in manual. 😅
The funny thing is that I didn't miss the clutch at all, but I'll write a separate article about that...

KTMs are said to make strange noises. Now this one knows all about it. 🙈

I hadn't driven a GS much before.

At first, it was scary to hear that this block will probably be under me now, but then I got used to the fact that this boxer is like this by default...
As for the comfort and driving extras, I felt a bit like I was in a luxury car!
...My mind quickly wandered...

Wind protection is flawless across all speed ranges. The helmet lid was not closed very often. Best of all, the driving wind is not loud at any speed. I don't know how they do it, but we could learn something from them!

As for all the electronic extras, I'll be honest:

in the first few days I was so confused about the menu system that I had to walk around with a fog light on for 5 days before I could even find where to turn it off... 😂
Cruise control, electric/intelligent chassis control, preload, height adjustment, electric Plexi, computer-connectable phone, helmet, navigation app, etc. All things I wouldn't normally think of.
I've done without them before, but you can get used to the good ones quickly!
How much of a weakness these may become over time, time will tell.
The engine is so new, it was put on the market just 3 weeks ago.

Tested with two people over hundreds of km

This is a touring bike that is often used for group tours and two-person tours. It's interesting that in many motorcycle tests they forget to point this out and only test from the rider's point of view.
As we were sitting in an undivided straight seat on the KTM, the passenger was much better protected from the driving winds, but I was not in front. On these big enduros, however, it's typically the other way round, because they have a staggered split seat.
As a result, the passenger sits higher. I've heard through the Sena bluetooth how much more wind you get on this one. Of course, this can also be reduced to almost zero with the plexi position raised and up. I just don't like looking forward through plexiglass. 🙂

As far as the chassis is concerned, it tested very well

It was good to drive on all kinds of radish roads. It doesn't really hit me. 😀
In off-road conditions, on dirt roads, it was doing 100 km/h without me noticing.
Of course, I'll need to have a basis for comparison when I test other engines in a similar class.

 

Road vs Dynamic mode

As for the modes: I took over the bike in ROAD mode, started to twist and turn and ride it. Intense accelerations and decelerations. It ran out of gas quickly. I was not so happy. I'm telling you, 145 horsepower is more than it should be.
I had a 150 horsepower KTM before. Then I found the DYNAMIC mode switch. Now that's cool dude! And then of course on day 5 I found in the menu that they were planning a DYNAMIC PRO version. In hindsight, I probably don't regret that I had a few days to get used to the bike before. 😀
Brutal good!!!!! I love it!!!
I say this as a "native" KTM rider.
(Stone me, or better yet, quickly throw in a new KTM 1290 Adventure for testing. 😅)
It's so nice to tap so fast you won't even notice!
Which is dangerous somewhere. The bike can make you feel like the "King of Orient".
And the reality is that he's just trying to protect you 🙂 With the engine you also get a guardian angel 🙂

And what was it like going from 138 to 270 kg?

It's easier than I thought. Maybe even easier to walk. It has a much smoother ride, with a nice, even delivery even at low speeds.
In the Budapest traffic jam, it was not such a problem either, because the queues of cars quickly broke up when they saw the noise. Nobody wanted to be run over by a tank! 😀
In a standing position, however, it is "wrestling". When we set it up for the photo shoot, in various non-flat terrain conditions, we could have used another person 😀

How did you like the R1300 GS Adventure?

I could write three more times as many experiences, because I quickly grew to love it. I didn't go into the technical details for a reason. That's for the professional journalists, I'm watching as a user. I had the bike for a week, but by the third day I was moping about having to return it in four days. A lot of people say the GS is too sterile, tasteless. I've also tested the regular 1300 GS version, and if I had to choose, I'd probably go for the Adventure version, because it made me feel more. It is bigger, heavier, but it has a more serious look. I know for many it's a big, big ugly bike. To that I can say the Mercedes G class is not loved for its sleek lines, yet many people still lust after it. That's about it!

BMW R1300 GSA 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: 6.2 l
Tank: 30 l
Weight: 269 kg
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3.4 s

 

The test engine is BMW Motorrad Hungary provided. Many thanks for that!

Photos: Eszter Tokár 

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