BMW expected to add R-series to '40 Years of GS' range
German giant celebrates 40 years of the iconic GS nameplate with anniversary models for F-series, with R-series to followBMW is celebrating 40 years of its iconic GS adventure-touring nameplate with the return of the historic black and yellow ‘Bumblebee’ livery, kicking off with updated versions of its mid-size F-series adventure range, which arrive in local showrooms from late November.
This will be followed by similarly-styled 40th Anniversary Editions of the boxer-powered R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure models from December and the F 850 GS Adventure in the first quarter of next year. If black and yellow isn’t your thing, however, both F- and R-series will also be available in conventional, non-anniversary liveries.
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BMW Australia has yet to announce pricing of the incoming models, but the bikes are expected to be more expensive to reflect the additional standard equipment.
As such, the F 750 GS (currently from $16,105 rideaway), F 850 GS (from $20,070) and F 850 GS Adventure (from $21,435) will feature a 6.5-inch TFT screen with connectivity functions (previously a $950 option); a height adjustable windscreen (via a rotary-style knob as per the F 850 GS Adventure and R 1250 GS), LED indicators, USB input at the front of the cockpit as standard. All models will also come with the more advanced ABS Pro and DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) systems, which provide cornering functionality as standard.
The F-series GS bikes otherwise remain unchanged, with an 853cc parallel-twin delivering 57kW (77hp) at 7500rpm and 83Nm at 6000rpm in F 750 GS guise and 70kW (95hp) at 8250rpm and 92Nm at 6250rpm for the F 850 GS.
The latter bike rolls on a 21/17-inch front/rear wire-spoke wheel combination for greater off-road ability while the F 750 GS soft-roader gets 19/17-inch alloys.
For historical reference, the ‘Avus Black’ livery, affectionately known as the ‘Bumblebee’, is technically 32 years old, not 40, having debuted in 1988 with the 980cc R100GS, the second GS model after the original – and now highly collectable – 798cc R 80 G/S launched in 1980. That bike wore the now-iconic red, purple and blue colourway synonymous with the German giant and can already be seen in various late-model GSs.
The ‘Bumblebee’ livery was available in both generations of the R100GS (round then square headlight versions), which debuted a larger-capacity engine with an external oil cooler and the twin-pivoting Paralever final drive to replace the R 80G/S’s Monolever setup.
BMW GS in numbers
- The first GS model, the R 80 G/S, was launched in 1980
- More than 1.2 million GS models have been built to date
- There have been six GS generations to date with numerous model variants
R 80 G/S – The original adventure bike
The R 1250 GS is the backbone of BMW’s current line-up, and the bike is one of the most popular adventure-touring motorcycles worldwide. And it all began with the R80 G/S, which spawned the now-familiar category of the large-displacement dual-purpose motorcycle.
G/S stood for Gelande/Strasse, or woods/street, which later evolved to GS (without the ‘/’) for Gelande/Sport.
Marketed as an ‘enduro’ bike, the R80 G/S was viewed by motorcycling media as too big and heavy, but for a street motorcycle, its 173kg weight and size were moderate. Even with the universal Metzeler tyres, the R80 G/S could embarrass a sportier, more powerful motorcycle on a twisting mountain road of the time.
Responding to BMW’s success in the Paris-Dakar Rally, a special Paris-Dakar version of the R80 G/S was launched in 1984. While its engine and chassis were unchanged, the R80 G/S Paris Dakar featured a solo seat and a 32-litre steel fuel tank with the signature of Paris-Dakar Rally winner Gaston Rahier.
The R80 G/S and the Paris Dakar are now considered the classic BMW Gelande Strasse motorcycle and command special collector status.
Know your R-series GS's (boxer-powered)
AIRHEADS
R80G/S (1980-1987)
798cc, air-cooled, two valves per cylinder, SOHC, carburetted
37kW (50hp) at 6500rpm, 56Nm at 5000rpm
R100GS (1987-1996)
980cc, air-cooled, two valves per cylinder, SOHC, carburetted
44kW (60hp) at 6500rpm, 75Nm at 3750rpm
OILHEADS
R1100GS (1993-1999)
1085cc, air-/oil-cooled, four valves per cylinder, SOHC, EFI
59kW (80hp) at 6750rpm, 97Nm at 5250rpm
R1150GS (1999-2003)
1130cc, air-/oil-cooled, four valves per cylinder, SOHC, EFI
63kW (85hp) at 6750rpm, 97Nm at 5250rpm
R 1200 GS (2004-2009)
1170cc, air-/oil-cooled, four valves per cylinder, SOHC, EFI
73kW (98hp) at 7000rpm, 115Nm at 5500rpm
HP2 ENDURO (2005-2009)
1170cc, air-/oil-cooled, four valves per cylinder, SOHC, EFI
77kW (105hp) at 7000rpm, 115Nm at 5500rpm
R 1200 GS (2010-2012)
1170cc, air-/oil-cooled, four valves per cylinder, DOHC, EFI
81kW (110hp) at 7750rpm, 120Nm at 6000rpm
WATER-COOLED
R 1200 GS (2013-2019)
1170cc, air-/water-cooled, four valves per cylinder, DOHC, EFI
92kW (125hp) at 7700rpm, 125Nm at 6500rpm
SHIFTCAM
R 1250 GS (2019-current)
1254cc, air-/water-cooled, four valves per cylinder, DOHC, VVT, EFI
100kW (136hp) at 7750rpm, 143Nm at 6250rpm
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