Bmw GS: history of an iconic motorcycle

There are bikes that year after year have managed to remain in the hearts of many fans, one of which is the BMW GS, a high-performance, versatile bike with an unmistakable design, capable of becoming the object of desire of many lovers of two wheels. .

The history of the Gs begins in France, in 1980, where BMW presents the R 80 G / S for the first time.

The acronym GS stands for Gelande / Strasse (off-road and road).

This motorbike will dictate the standards of a completely new segment, namely that of Adventure Bikes, Enduro travel bikes, capable of adapting to both off-road and dirt roads but also to highways to allow fast travel.

Impossible to forget the R 80 G / S Paris Dakar, a special version dedicated to Hubert Auriol's victory in the Rally Raid par excellence.

From 1987 to 1996 the displacement increased, the R 100 GS was born, the fastest and most powerful enduro of the time, with 980 cc and 60 hp of power.

In 1987, the small family car also made its debut, the R 65 Gs powered by 27 hp.

In 1994 another very important turning point for the segment, the introduction of the 4-valve engine with the R 1100 GS, which conquered the public with its great handling. Fuel injection, new Telelever suspension and switchable ABS are the great novelties of this model.

In 1998 the R 850 Gs also enters the scene, very similar to its older sister but with an 848 cc 70 HP engine.

In 1999, with the release of the 1150 model, BMW enjoyed unprecedented commercial success, a perfect mix of reliability, driveability, power and the new six-speed gearbox.

Since 2001 flanked by its older sister R 1150 GS Adventure with a 10 mm longer wheelbase, larger fuel tank and additional spotlights.

In the meantime, thanks to the collaboration with Aprilia, a variation of the classic GS models was born, with the marketing of the F 650, declined in several versions such as the Dakar and the Sertao, differing in everything from the classic R, first of all the Rotax engine, the 5-speed gearbox, the final chain drive, the suspension with a classic fork and the rear with a double-arm swingarm.

In 2010 the new R 1200 GS arrives, flanked by its big sister Adventure with a 12-liter larger tank compared to the "base" model. It goes without saying that this bike will set impressive sales records around the world over the years.

Water-cooled since 2013, it sees the introduction of Dynamic ESA, for a better driving experience.

In 2019 BMW MOTORRAD presents the new GS 1250 at Eicma, with a new, more powerful Boxer engine and more torque than the previous one thanks to the new variable valve control, the BMW ShiftCam.