2018 BMW F850 GS Adventure revealed

LAST AUTUMN, BMW released its all-new F850GS and F750GS models as it begins to replace the aging F-series of parallel twin machines. 

But one bike was notably absent from that unveiling; there was no ‘Adventure’ spec version of the new F850GS to be seen.

Now it’s clear that BMW is belatedly getting ready to launch that bike, though, and it’s accidentally allowed this rather low-res, black-and-white image to escape well before the official reveal.

The picture comes from the firm’s design patent for the new F850GS Adventure, and clearly shows that the bike follows in the footsteps of its predecessor with a larger fuel tank and much deeper side panels than the base model.

It’s also got new bodywork around the nose, with a stubbier, wider front beak and more extensive wind deflectors either side of the screen. At the back, there’s a more rugged-looking luggage rack than the F850GS’s, and a steel cage protects the front of the engine.

In terms of performance, it’s likely to use the same engine spec as the normal F850GS, with 95hp on offer. The bike’s much larger fuel tank – the old F800GS Adventure had a 24-litre tank capacity compared to 16-litres on the normal GS, and we’d expect a similar increase on the 2019 model – means it will be bulkier and heavier than the F850GS, though.