- 3 months ago
Discover the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure, the latest evolution of BMW’s iconic long-distance adventure bike. In this review, we explore the new engine, updated chassis, and advanced technology that make the R 1300 GS Adventure built for riders who want to go farther—on or off the road.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Hey folks, good morning and welcome to today's episode of MC Commute starring BMW's 2025 R1300 GS Adventure.
00:07This is the top dog of them all in BMW's GS family. Who's ready to go for a ride?
00:14Alright everyone, there it is. BMW's 2025 R1300 GS Adventure.
00:18This is the top dog in BMW Motor Ed's GS Adventure Touring lineup.
00:22This motorcycle is all new for the 2025 model year. It replaces the R1250 GS Adventure.
00:27This motorcycle is powered by a 1300cc Boxer twin engine that makes 130 horsepower at the business end of that billet 17 inch aluminum wheel.
00:38It also makes upwards of 95 pound feet of torque. That's a lot of muscle.
00:43Well everyone, enough talking about this thing. Let's swing a leg inside the saddle and see what it's like to ride.
00:49Sitting on this motorcycle, the ergonomics on this motorcycle are just awesome.
00:52Ever since the R1250 was released, this motorcycle has become more and more dirt bike-like in terms of its ergonomics and feel.
01:00And this R1300 GS Adventure feels like a dirt bike.
01:04The handlebar is nice and wide and upright.
01:07It's got a little bit of rearward sweep, but you could rotate the bar forward and have it be a more neutral sweep bend.
01:14But big, big high bar, a lot of leverage, feels very much like a dirt bike.
01:19This motorcycle is comfortable in the seated and standing positions.
01:24A lot of room to squeeze your legs and it just feels really natural in the standing position.
01:30Unlike a dirt bike, however, the rider's seat on this motorcycle offers Harley-Davidson Touring and Honda Goldwing-like levels of comfort.
01:39The seat is crazy broad, the surface area is broad so you can move around, and the seat material is very plush and very thick.
01:47If I had to ride across country, I'd want to do it on this R1300 GS Adventure seat.
01:52It is crazy, crazy comfortable.
01:55The foot pegs are neither too high nor low.
01:58They're a little bit high, but that just, again, makes for a really good riding position in the standing position and just adds for comfort.
02:05We also like how serrated and oversized the foot pegs are, which give really good feel against the sole of your shoes or boots.
02:12Other ergonomic changes include this GS Adventure has this really broad fairing right here that houses the 8-gallon fuel tank.
02:19You heard that correctly, 8 gallons of fuel on this motorcycle.
02:21That gives the rider cocoon-like comfort, shielding us from the effects of the open road.
02:27We also have this electronically adjustable windscreen, which we can manipulate with the switchgear.
02:35So now we've got this electronically adjustable windscreen that offers an insane amount of height coverage.
02:41Look how high this thing goes.
02:43This thing goes, and it does a great job of blocking the elements.
02:47Of course, today's a hot day or at least a mild day at 70 degrees, so we're going to want that windscreen in the lowest position.
02:53However, if it was a hot day, I'm sorry, a cold day, you'd raise that windshield and completely block yourself from the elements.
03:02All right, this motorcycle is powered by a 1300cc Boxer Twin engine.
03:06BMW Motor has been building these engines for over 100 years in Germany.
03:10That is their secret sauce, the big torquey power pulses of this 1300cc Boxer Twin.
03:16This engine is so cool because not only does it have an insane amount of torque, but the torque has a character that it feels like you're riding with your buddy.
03:25It's got this push about it that just trucks you forward.
03:29It just feels really comforting and fun.
03:31Of course, the sound of this engine is just mesmerizing.
03:35It sounds awesome, and it's relatively devoid of vibration.
03:38The vibration it has is the good kind, makes riding fun, but a very, very smooth powertrain.
03:45This engine puts back 130 horsepower to the business end of that 17-inch billet wheel.
03:51Isn't that crazy?
03:51130 horsepower.
03:53That's as much horsepower as a GSX-1000 liter class naked bike.
03:58That's absolutely insane.
03:59130 horsepower and 95 pound-feet of torque coming out of this engine configuration.
04:05This thing is no slouch.
04:06Slouch, it gets them and goes.
04:08Then just made it to a six-speed transmission with BMW's optional gear assist shift pro.
04:13That's BMW speak for an electronic quick shifter that functions on the upshifts and the downshifts.
04:19That allows for a full throttle acceleration without having to use the clutch.
04:23And then when you're downshifting, you can just downshift by pressing down on that gear shift lever,
04:28and that helps boost stability during corner entry.
04:32We also have a hydraulic clutch.
04:34This hydraulic clutch is better than ever.
04:36The original R1300GS that debuted for the 2024 model year, it had this weird little catch in the clutch,
04:46especially when you're launching from first gear, where it just didn't feel right.
04:49Well, BMW sorted that out, and now this hydraulic clutch works marvelously.
04:54It no longer feels snatchy like the 2024 GS, R1300GS did, and it works really good.
05:02Of course, we have a shaft drive.
05:03Oh, we're low on fuel, folks.
05:05I think we'll survive, though.
05:06This bike has a shaft final drive, which means less maintenance.
05:12You don't have any chain to adjust.
05:13There's also no chain lube fling, so the rear end of the motorcycle does stay cleaner.
05:17You do have to service that bevel drive every so often.
05:21Now, this engine drinks from a generous 8-gallon capacity fuel tank.
05:25Isn't that crazy?
05:26This bike carries 8 gallons of fuel, and it gets 40 miles per gallon.
05:30How nuts is that?
05:3240 miles per gallon out of this motorcycle.
05:35That is substantial range.
05:37As you can see here, we're going to go on our trip computer, 39.8 miles per gallon.
05:42Very, very nice.
05:44All right, everyone.
05:44So far, so good on BMW's 2025 R1300GS Adventure.
05:48I love this bike.
05:49The riding position truly is regal, and the power pulses from that 1300cc Boxer Twin just push you forward like you're riding with a friend.
05:57It is marvelous.
05:58Let's show you these optional hard case luggages, luggage setup.
06:03It's redesigned from the F900GS Adventure, which we talked about in a few episodes ago.
06:09That Tourtech source luggage was a little bit questionable.
06:12This stuff works a lot better.
06:13Look at the capacity.
06:15We could definitely fit a helmet in here.
06:16Very generous.
06:17You can remove this from the bike and lock these containers as well.
06:22How cool is that?
06:23We also have a pocket here to store things like this proximity key fob.
06:29This proximity key fob has to be in close relation to the vehicle for it to start, and then we have a key to get those bags off.
06:36Well, folks, enough talking about this GS Adventure.
06:39Let's continue riding because this bike is a hoot to ride.
06:42All right, folks.
06:43Where were we?
06:44Yes, fuel mileage, 39.8 mpgs.
06:46That's considerable range with this 8-gallon fuel tank.
06:50Now, this motorcycle rides on BMW's now signature telelever and paralever suspension systems.
06:56Telelever is so cool because it separates the steering from the suspension travel and damping.
07:05That allows a motorcycle that weighs nearly 600 pounds to have exceptionally light steering.
07:11It's also worth noting that even though this motorcycle weighs almost 600 pounds to the full tank of gas,
07:17you wouldn't believe how maneuverable this motorcycle is in tight parking lots.
07:22The steering lock is exceptionally nimble.
07:26This motorcycle just scoots right up and around in and out of tight parking spots, more so than a 400-pound sport bike.
07:34It's truly amazing how nimble this motorcycle is at slow and high speeds.
07:40The suspension system on this motorcycle, of course, it has semi-active suspension damping.
07:45You can adjust the suspension damping character in a global configuration.
07:50You just go here in the menu, go to the settings with BMW's touch wheel that it first started using on its 2012 K1600 GTL vehicle settings.
07:59And then we can adjust things in here.
08:02You have to do it with the bike not running.
08:05Actually, maybe you can.
08:07Oh, I think you could do it through assist.
08:09Yeah, here you go.
08:10Suspension.
08:11You could do the damping configuration.
08:13You can do this while you're riding.
08:14Right now, we have it for dynamic plus two and enduro minus two.
08:19Of course, you can change this stuff on the fly.
08:21How cool is that?
08:22And that just allows you to set up the motorcycle to your liking.
08:26Of course, this motorcycle has multiple riding, global riding modes, which you can adjust right here with this mode button.
08:35Enduro Pro is designed for all of us off-road riders who want more vehicle control.
08:39You can disable, not disable, but you can change the intrusion level of ABS and power modes and other things like that.
08:47If you're a hardcore off-road rider, you're definitely going to want that setting.
08:51Dynamic Pro allows you to tune the engine character and the suspension character for street bike riding for those who want that performance.
09:00And then road and dynamic are the standard features.
09:03Very, very nice.
09:05This switchgear, while it was good when it came out in the 2012 K600 GTL, fast forward today, and other manufacturers have caught up to BMW and offered good tactile solutions on their switchgear.
09:18Still, it works pretty good.
09:20Other bells and whistles this motorcycle includes heated grips, heated seats for rider and passenger, and this radar-enabled cruise control, which we're going to turn on right now.
09:31Radar-enabled cruise control is on.
09:34Signified by that, you can adjust the level of radar distance, the following distance, forward or back, just like that.
09:47We also have collision warning.
09:50So we're going to go max, so now it can read that vehicle, and it's going to pace that vehicle.
09:54How cool is that, folks?
09:57The introduction of radar-enabled rider safety aids has just made riding so much more awesome.
10:02I mean, look, it's going to maintain the distance between this vehicle.
10:06A lot of you might be like, oh, that's silly.
10:08Well, it just makes riding a little bit safer, and it allows you to focus on other things you might do while you're riding.
10:15We also have collision warning.
10:18So if that vehicle in front of us starts deaccelerating in too quickly based on our rate of speed, this vehicle will automatically slow down.
10:26How cool is that?
10:27It'll also flash a warning sign.
10:28We also have blind spot monitor, which allows some level of warning if we are changing lanes, and there's a vehicle in there.
10:40These motorcycles have come a long way.
10:42They're very high-tech, and they're borrowing a lot of automotive technology that's just making riding more fun and safer.
10:47However, one knock on this electronics package and switchgear is this motorcycle will cost $29,000.
10:54BMW Motorrad, could you please have backlit switchgear?
10:57This switchgear isn't backlit.
10:59KTM's $5,500.
11:01Duke bikes have backlit switchgear for 2025 model year.
11:05It'd be cool if BMW Motorrad also offered that.
11:08And its chief competitor, the Multistrada, has backlit switchgear.
11:12BMW, we need backlit switchgear, please, for 2026.
11:15Let's do it.
11:15This 6.5-inch color TFT display, it looks super sharp.
11:19It's easy to read.
11:20BMW first started using this display on its 2019 R1250 GS.
11:25Fast forward to today, it still uses it, and it still works really good.
11:29The only thing that is missing from this display is touchscreen compatibility, but I think we can survive.
11:37Now, this suspension offers over 8 inches of suspension travel front and back, and it just rides like a dream.
11:43We've talked about that tail lever front suspension separating the suspension from the steering activities.
11:50That allows this motorcycle just to ride like a dream.
11:53This motorcycle rides with Honda Goldwing levels of comfort.
11:59It is absolutely mesmerizing how comfortable this bike can be.
12:03Yet, around turns, this motorcycle still has a high level of road holding.
12:08Oh, God, this thing's got some berries.
12:11Oh, jeez.
12:12Oh, I was getting ahead of myself.
12:13This thing has some juice.
12:16I love this engine.
12:17Not only is it fast, it has a great character.
12:20It sounds super awesome, and it gets 40 miles per gallon.
12:23Now, the brakes on this motorcycle, triple-disc hydraulic brakes, the brakes are crazy powerful.
12:28We have billet, Brembo, radio, mount calipers.
12:31These things are super bike calipers, like real super bike calipers.
12:34And the brake pad material on this R1300 GS Adventure, it's rather aggressive.
12:39It's probably the most aggressive braking material I've ever ridden on an adventure touring bike of any manufacturer.
12:46That just allows for really sensitive braking feel.
12:50The brakes are very sensitive.
12:52They're very powerful, which you're really going to want in a nearly 600-pound bike.
12:55But the brakes aren't overdone.
12:58You still have really precise feel, and it's really easy to modulate brake pressure.
13:01Of course, we have ABS, IMU-sensitive ABS on this motorcycle that you can tune in the Dynamic Pro and Enduro Pro modes.
13:11Out back, we have a nice double-piston rear brake caliper.
13:15I love double-piston calipers because they really, again, allow for good rear brake control.
13:19I'm a real big rear brake guy, so it's nice that we have really good feel and power through that rear brake.
13:24The serrated brake pedal is also really nice.
13:26It has good grip against the sole of our footwear.
13:30There. Let's go back in the 6-inch color TFT display.
13:34Of course, we can pair this vehicle with our iOS or Android-powered smartphone.
13:38With BMW Motorrad's Connected app, we can get turn-by-turn directions right here on the display.
13:43How cool is that?
13:44We also have this sport setting.
13:47So sport gauge cluster with the RPM, lean angle, brake pressure, DTC intervention.
13:52Kind of cool.
13:53And then, of course, we have that bi-vehicle with all the trip metrics.
13:57The onboard computers keep track of our riding.
14:01We also have TPMS monitors, so we know exactly the air pressure we're running inside those Michelin Anarchy trail tires.
14:0819-inch front, 17-inch rear.
14:10This vehicle's outfitted with premium billet, 17-inch wheels.
14:17Billet, as opposed to cast.
14:19That gives a better finish and also makes them stronger.
14:23This motorcycle is also outfitted with the premium package and BMW's triple black styling package.
14:29This thing looks absolutely cherry.
14:33We're going to pay for it.
14:33It's just over $29,000 for this exact motorcycle in this specification.
14:40It's just so sublime to ride that.
14:42I don't know.
14:43I think it's worth it.
14:44A Honda Goldwing Tour costs about that price.
14:47And this thing can do everything a Honda Goldwing Tour can do easily.
14:52And you can ride it off-road.
14:53We didn't even get to that.
14:54This motorcycle is fully off-road capable.
14:56We didn't have time to ride it off-road on this session of time.
15:01BMW Motorrad is tightening up their press loan, so we didn't have a chance to ride it off-road.
15:06But we've ridden the R1300GS off-road a lot, and it's awesome.
15:12Much more light, much more nimble.
15:13And it feels, again, it feels like a dirt bike.
15:15It feels like a dirt bike with a comfortable seat.
15:18And that's exactly what you want.
15:20And, of course, this R1300 Voxer Twin engine just has gobs of torque.
15:25Just like you'd expect from a finely tuned 450cc single dirt bike.
15:29So, these motorcycles have serious dirt bike in their ethos, which we absolutely love.
15:37You might be wondering what this thing is for.
15:38I sorry I didn't mention.
15:39This is for a GPS.
15:40So, you can put your GPS or your iPhone or Android phone here and plug it in to the vehicle.
15:46And then you can use your BMW Motorrad connected app right here.
15:51We don't like using that.
15:52We like using old-school phones in the pocket.
15:54But if you have a Garmin GPS or an iPhone that fits in this cradle, you can absolutely use it.
16:02Well, everyone, that was an exceptionally delightful ride on BMW's 2025 R1300GS Adventure.
16:07These bikes are absolutely exquisite in their manufacturing, in their engineering, in their quality, in their ride quality, in their dynamic.
16:14And everything about them is exquisite.
16:16The Boxer Twin, what a gem of a powertrain configuration.
16:20It pushes you forward, has great sound and character, very minimal vibration.
16:25And it gets 40 miles per gallon.
16:26And it's got an 8-gallon fuel tank so you can actually ride places without having to stop and get gas.
16:31The telelever and paralever BMW signature suspension, it rides like a drape.
16:36This thing rides over bumps better than a Harley-Davidson touring bike, better as equal as a Honda Goldwing.
16:43It is truly exquisite how marvelous this thing rides over pavement, yet it still has a high level of road holding in the corners.
16:52You're not going to race a sport bike, but you're going to be able to hang with a sport bike on this bike.
16:57It is truly awesome.
16:58All the bells and whistles and electronics make this motorcycle just so comfortable to ride.
17:02It's got that huge windscreen, heated grips, heated seat for rider and passenger, radar-enabled cruise control, radar-enabled collision warning,
17:11the ability to pair your Android or iOS-powered smartphone.
17:14This bike's awesome.
17:15It's got storage.
17:17If there was one motorcycle I had to have in my garage, I would pick this one.
17:21I'd pick it over a Harley Touring bike over a Goldwing.
17:23This thing just does everything, and you can ride it off-road.
17:26Well, everyone, that concludes today's MC Commute on BMW's 2925 R1300 GS Adventure.
17:31We'll see you in the next episode.
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