2019 BMW Safari celebrates 25 years

BMW’s Safari adventure tours are the stuff of legend, and these days the catalogue extends to three separate pillars: the road-based TS (Touren Sport) Safari, the sealed and unsealed GS (Gelände Strasse) Safari, and the off-road and tougher GS Enduro Safari.

Over the last couple of years we’ve experienced both the TS and GS Safaris, which also afforded us the opportunities for first Aussie rides on the K 1600 Bagger and F 800 GS Adventure.

This year is a special one for the GS Safari, though, as it’s the 25th anniversary of the iconic event that started way back in 1994 with a far more ‘relaxed’ attitude than today’s logistical masterpiece.

The 25th anniversary was Bikesales’ cue to return to the fold, and the 2019 event was held over five days, starting in Windsor, north-west of Sydney, and finishing in Coffs Harbour. Overnights stops were held in the Hunter Valley, Port Macquarie (two nights) and Armadale – the latter playing host to a stunt display by BMW’s new ambassador, the freakishly gifted Lukey Luke, in the heart of the city.

Participants provide their own BMW – and the spread of GS-inspired hardware is impressive – but Bikesales took the opportunity to sample an R 1250 GS Adventure for the first time, and day two was spent reacquainting ourselves with the F 850 GS Adventure.

This author was a Safari virgin, too – but that was no cause for concern, as the organisation was first-class from the get-go, from rider check-in to the first of the daily briefings – which also included the distribution of route maps. I instantly felt a part of what is a great community, littered with some devotees who have participated in every BMW Safari.

The briefings are very concise, with all the important information (such as track conditions, safety issues or even route changes) disseminated in a clear manner – interspersed with some occasional ‘heckling’ from the floor. After all, the GS Safari is about having a good time and developing a real camaraderie on bikes that are tailor-made for that experience.

No wonder the Aussie BMW Safaris have become templates that other markets aspire to.

Capping numbers also helps to keep everything manageable on the GS Safari, while a posse of staff from BMW Motorrad headquarters were also on hand to lend their unwavering assistance.

No stone is left unturned, and that includes out on the roads and trails where there is a medical and tech support if things do go awry. And we – I was riding alongside my great buddy Stuart from Australian Motorcyclist – did witness a crash on day one when a rider binned it over a washout jump. Medicos were on the scene within minutes, which was our cue to continue the short journey into the Hunter Valley.

By then, I’d experienced R 1250 GSA on some superb sealed and unsealed roads – again reaffirming its status as a patriarch and veritable legend of the GS family.

Related: 2019 BMW R 1250 GS launch review

All the tech details of the updated R 1250 range are in the launch review above, including the updated ShiftCam engine with a huge spike in power and torque, but the biggest difference between the R 1250 GS and R 1250 GSA is that the latter has a massive 30-litre fuel tank (up from 20 litres), a shorter wheelbase (by 10mm), a 40mm taller seat and 20mm more suspension travel.

We said previously that the Boxer engine has undergone so much refinement over the years that it was difficult to see where further improvement could come from, but we were wrong…

And did we mention range? With its 30-litre tank, the GSA is good for a distance approaching 500km. Yes, it's an adventure bike with a range befitting its comfort and purpose.

There are five versions of the R 1250 GSA, and we rode the Rallye X which adds electronic suspension, a HP exhaust, fog light, daytime riding light, a bi-directional quickshifter, Riding Modes Pro and LED indicators into the equation. Standard features across the line-up are ABS, two riding modes, TFT connectivity, hill start control and a centrestand, with pricing starting at $27,980 rideaway.

If you desire extended two-wheel exploration, the BMW R 1250 GSA is a bike for you – and a big part of its appeal is that you don’t have to be a champion off-road rider to enjoy it. It’s happy doing everything, which is what we got on day one as we initially chewed up the blacktop miles (and chewed up the rear knobby tyre, as well…) before moving onto some dirt roads.

To be more precise, the route took us from Windsor to St Albans (and an egg and bacon roll at the historic Settlers Arms Inn), and then onto the Watagans National Park, Laguna, Wollombi, Heaton Lookout, Freemans Waterhole and the Hunter Valley.

It’s just about impossible to get lost on the GS Safari, too, with fluoro orange arrows at all intersections keeping riders on the straight and narrow. If all else fails, there’s the route sheet to consult.

After a day spent on the ‘top dog’ R 1250 GSA, day two saw me swap steeds with another journalist and take possession of the F 850 GS Adventure – this one in Rallye X spec as well. And the rear tyre I inherited was in much better condition than his…

Total distance was 408km as we started on bitumen en route to Dungog, before dirt beckoned as we headed to Gloucester.

A dazzling bitumen and scenic section into Port Macquarie coincided with some precipitation, which isn’t ideal with knobbies – but by then I was just enjoying the final minutes on my new favourite BMW adventure bike.

As we first discovered in late 2018 at the F 750/850 GS launch, the updated F 850 range boasts major engine, chassis and electronic upgrades over the superseded models, in what BMW Australia is calling a real “paradigm shift”.

That means, in terms of spec and options, the once cavernous gap between the F and R model range has all but evaporated, which really gives discerning adventure buyers more choice under the BMW umbrella.

That was obvious at the F 850 GS launch, and then we got to try out the F 850 GSA a few months later. The model follows a similar script to the R 1250 GSA with a bigger fuel tank than the F 850 GS, as well as a 6.5-inch full connectivity TFT screen as standard, a taller, height-adjustable touring screen and stainless steel luggage rack.

The F 850 GSA’s blend of weight, performance, handling and all-round useability make it the best BMW adventure bike off-road, and I enjoy it more on the tarmac as well with slightly more ‘comfy’ ergonomics than the R 1250 GSs – well for my 172cm frame at least.

The feeling was a little melancholy in Port Macquarie on day three as the BMW Safari throng departed for a 330km return trip – while I prepared to head home. And apparently, the route took in some of the best views of the whole trip…

But what an event! The organisation is second to none, the balance between on and off-road is spot-on, and the feel-good factor is palpable. Twenty-five years of pedigree means a lot.

For more information about BMW Safaris, visit https://bmwsafari.com/. The next major event on the calendar is the 2019 GS Safari Enduro, which will be held from August 25-31, 2019, with riders trekking from Mildura to Alice Springs. Then it's the TS Safari from September 29-October 4, heading from Kingscliff to the NSW high country.