Refreshed BMW R 1250 GS and Adventure celebrates the big 4-0
The big-selling BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure get some subtle tweaks in honour of its 40th Anniversary milestone
The BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure have received an update ahead of 2021 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the firm’s immensely popular R line of motorcycles.
Consistently a best-seller across Europe, the BMW R 1250 GS and sister Adventure variant have become synonymous with the BMW Motorrad range, proving a success story that can trace its roots back four decades to the original BMW R 100 GS.
To honour this milestone, the R 1250 GS and more off-road focused Adventure models have been given a nip and tuck for 2021 and will be made available in Rallye style with an expressive yellow, black and silver finish now included. If that’s a bit too ostentatious for you, there is also a stealthier ‘triple black’ option too.
With BMW understandably opting against messing too much with a tried and tested formula visually, tweaks instead come in the form of new tech designed to make the R 1250 GS and Adventure more versatile and even easier to use day-to-day.
Most intriguingly is the addition of swivelling headlights which borrow from BMW four-wheel counterparts by being able to bend the light and allow you to see more clearly and further around corners in advance, while they are also adjustable if you happen to be taking on the extra weight of a pillion. They also feature a ‘follow me home’ function in that they stay on for a few seconds after you switch off the ignition to give you a chance to find your house keys more easily.
Safety tweaks also mean both models come with dynamic traction control and ABS Pro as standard now, rather than as an option, plus Hill Start Control. Meanwhile, the TFT dash is able to control heated grips and seats, plus USB ports are included to keep your electronic goods juiced up between destinations.
The underpinnings, however, remain much the same which means you’ll still get 136hp @ 7750rpm from the ShiftCam 1254cc engine, though there is now an ‘Eco’ mode which trims sharper responses to enable better fuel economy when needed.
