BMW R 1200 GS (2008) - Review

BMW R 1200 GS
Page / 1 - Intro / 2 - Engine / 3 - Traction Control / 4 - Suspension / 5 - Summary / 6 - Specs & Images
By, Trevor Hedge

For 2008 the R 1200 GS now scores the more powerful 77kW (105hp) donk that first saw duty in the recently released R 1200 S sportsbike.

The real beauty of the Boxer experience however is the torque. 115Nm is the peak grunt figure reached at 5750rpm. I’m ready to state however that I think there is over 100Nm available pretty much everywhere in the rev range.

On the road the bottom end torque allows a rider to run a high gear even in really tight terrain and a smart rider will just ride the torque while forgetting about the gear lever and instead concentrate on being smooth and maintaining a perfect cornering line while massaging the throttle to achieve the best front/rear balance through a corner. This always proves fastest on the GS as overt aggression combined with long travel suspension and shaft drive is not a mix that bears well ripened fruit.

The latest machine sports lower gearing to take advantage of the more flexible engine and at the 110km/h speed limit is ticking over less than 4000rpm and returning fuel consumption averaging around six litres per 100 kilometres.

Overtaking is a twist of the wrist away and the 110km/h to 140km/h gap in top gear equates to a couple of seconds and another 1000rpm. The rev limiter cuts the fun at 8000rpm and thanks to the balancer shaft arrangement on the 1200 is much smoother than the 1100 and 1150 engines used in its distant predecessors.

The Adventure sports a shorter first gear to aid low speed dirt work which is sure to give the clutch an easier time when traversing really testing terrain.

Other changes enjoyed by the latest model include a strengthened gearbox and shaft drive system, thicker and stronger handlebars and hand guards, improved seating and new optional extras that include an intelligent traction control system and push button electronic suspension adjustment added to the already available ABS system.

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