2021 BMW R 1250 GS Triple Black Review

There's no mistaking that BMW’s flagship model, the R 1250 GS, or ‘Rhino' as its often referred to, is a whole lot of motorcycle. Its unique styling and design often attracts a love or hate response from those that encounter it.

My first impression as a rider in his young twenties was more bewilderment than anything else. Back then, my entire off-road experience was trail riding or competition on lightweight motocross models no bigger than 250cc, so the idea of taking this behemoth off the beaten track didn’t strike me as wise.

Surprisingly I (and the majority of first-time GS riders) discovered that, once in motion, the size and weight of the GS simply disappears. This has always been the most impressive part of the GS’s character, thanks to the bike’s superb design and balance.

Related Reading:
Riding the 2021 BMW GS Safari
2021 BMW R 1250 GS 40 Years of GS Launch Review
Adventure bike buyer's guide, over 900cc

Since that first ride I’ve experienced several unforgettable journeys with the GS; from Victorian forests, to Tasmanian beaches, to the central Australian desert. The GS has repeatedly proven itself to be a well-equipped tool for the job.

It's no mystery why it’s remained the jewel in the ever growing German manufacturer’s lineup for decades. In fact, 2021 is the model’s 40th anniversary.

When I got the call to test one of the latest offerings I was keen to see if and how it was any different to the previous GS I rode back in 2019 (thanks to COVID-19 it’s been that long).

Arriving at my local Doncaster Motorrad dealership, I was greeted by the R 1250 GS Triple Black model. This particular bike was fitted with the ‘Option 719 Billet Pack Shadow’.

This pack includes a front engine housing cover, cylinder head covers, ignition coil cover and black plastic grinders on the cylinder head covers made of aluminium in Black/Silver. The fit and finish of these parts is pure class and, although it’s not something I would option on a bike for taking off-road, there is no disputing it looks horn!

Option 719 was released in 2018 and offers owners a list of bolt-on cosmetic upgrades to suit their premium model motorcycles. The focus is to offer ex-works parts packages made from milled parts and exclusive paints to give your bike a distinct look. On the roadster models, such as the R nine T, the Option 719 fuel tanks are hand painted for a truly one-off custom finish.

After spending a week with the latest R 1250 GS I learned that the new bike isn’t that different to its predecessor. It’s still an amazingly well-mannered machine on road (even with optional Karoo off-road focused tyres) with performance and capability that won’t find your sportsbike buddies waiting for you. Off-road it’s still capable of more than what the logical brain would believe, thanks to its linear power delivery and well-thought out weight distribution.

Looking back at the big GS’s evolution I would say that on-road performance has improved hugely, whereas off-road improvements have been made in much smaller steps.

The latest updates such as 6-axis IMU replacing the 5-axis has improved the implementation of electronic assistance such as traction control and cornering ABS, while adaptive cornering LED lights are welcome too. These refinements, however, will be noticed more during on than off the road.

I’ve enjoyed riding the Triple Black GS which is, in my eyes, without doubt the best looking example, set off by the 719 Options.

But all these options got me thinking that once you decide a GS is for you, how do you go about sorting through the models that are on offer? And what specification within that model do you choose? In Europe you can choose your GS from an absolute bare bones bike, to a hamburger with the lot, and anything in between. In Australia, due to the long lead times from Germany, and BMW trying to avoid ‘orphan’ bike set ups in our local market, they have streamlined the GS model into packages.

From decades of sales experience, BMW Australia has learned that us Aussie riders aren’t interested in no frills. In years past, bikes without options sat idle on showroom floors while up-specced offerings got snapped up quickly.

It comes back to the mindset of the average BMW owner in Australia (can’t knock them as I’ve got an S1000R myself) that, if we are going to get a BMW we are already looking at the top-shelf so why not go all out and have exactly what we want without compromise.

I spoke to Jerrick Heng from BMW Motorrad Australia’s Sales Planning and Operations, and he explained “we don’t want a bike to enter our market without ‘core’ options like keyless ride, heated grips and cruise control, which could cause confusion amongst customers.”

Once you have settled on your bike’s colour and base package you can then select through a further list of options to individualise your bike such as Spots exhaust, lightweight M battery, fog lights, alarm and seat options. These items can be easily added to the bike by your local BMW dealer.

This then leads to the Option 719 packs to suit the 1250 range for those that want the cherry on top!

When you jump on bmw-motorrad.com.au you can scroll through models you’re interested in and the packages and options available for that particular bike.

I’ve never been a fan of online shopping but, as these lockdowns continue, it’s often the only way to research and buy new products. Sites such as BMW’s certainly make it easy, and I’ve quickly found myself building some ‘dream bikes’ to consider if, or when, I trip over a pot of gold.

ENGINE
Type: Air/liquid-cooled, DOHC, eight-valve flat-twin
Capacity: 1254cc
Bore x stroke: 102.5mm x 76mm
Compression ratio: 12.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 134hp (100kW) at 7750rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 143Nm at 6250rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate
Final drive: Shaft

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Two-section frame, load-bearing engine
Front suspension: BMW Telelever, 190mm travel
Rear suspension: BMW Paralever, 200mm travel
Front brakes: Dual 305mm discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 276mm disc with twin-piston caliper

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 249kg
Seat height: 850/870mm
Wheelbase: 1514mm
Fuel capacity: 20 litres

OTHER STUFF
Prices: From $30,655 ride away (not including options)
Colours: Triple Black
Warranty: Three-year/unlimited kilometres
Bikes supplied by: BMW Motorrad Australia