The world was a very different place four decades ago. It’s getting more difficult to remember what life was like before smartphones and the broadband internet. And by celebrating 40 years of the BMW GS in 2020, what motorcycling was like before adventure bikes became so popular.
The BMW R 80 G/S practically invented the adventure bike category, demonstrating off road prowess when Hubert Auriol won the Paris-Dakar in 1981 (and having been developed by BMW engineer and off-road competitor Rudiger Gutsche). It won again in 1983 (Auriol) and 1984 (Gaston Rahier) and 1985 (Rahier again), being joined by the R 100 GS in 1986, and the R 65 GS in 1987. This was also the year it became the R 80 GS with the new Paralever suspension and drive unit.
1993 saw the introduction of the BMW F 650 Funduro, which was the first single-cylinder enduro bike from BMW, with a 47hp engine. And the launch of the BMW R1100 GS. This dual sports adventure bike was the first GS with a 4-valve boxer engine putting out 80 bhp, the engine and gearbox used as load-bearing parts of the chassis, the new Telelever suspension and ABS.
Since then, the GS range has expanded across capacities (the BMW G 310 GS up to the R1250GS), and styles (including the retro BMW R nineT Urban G/S which pays tribute back to the original bike.
In the process, the 500,000th boxer-engined GS rolled off the BMW assembly line in March 2014. Which was a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, for the record. And by 2020, BMW Motorrad has now delivered more than 1.2 million BMW GS models to customers.
BMW has obviously been keen on celebrating 40 years of the BMW GS range, despite the chaos of 2020. But it’s also an important bike range for Rescogs, and me personally. The BMW F650 GS was the bike I used to pass my DAS licence test, and rack up plenty of early miles on. And it also provided some memorable experiences when I used one on an assignment to write about the BMW Off-Road school, along with having instructors Si Pavey and Nick Plumb force me to repeatedly pick up one their R1200GS from the ground to learn the correct technique.
Which almost came in handy when I actually had to ride one, and compensated for a short leg length by adopting a side saddle technique anytime I needed to stop…
Being almost the same age as the GS also means that I worked in the motorcycle media when the Long Way round first popularised Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman riding around the world on BMW R1150GS bikes. And witnessing the popularity of adventure bikes get a huge boost in the process, as many motorcyclists switched from GP inspired race replicas to being ready for a round-the-world adventure every time they nipped to the supermarket.
So I’ll happily join BMW in celebrating 40 years of the BMW GS. And hope for many more. The current range includes the BMW G 310 GS starting from £5,320, up to the current BMW R 1250GS and R1250GS Adventure with the variety of TE, Exclusive TE, Rallye and Rallye TE options to add all sorts of upgrades.
Want to see more news and coverage of BMW motorcycles? Or why not check out examples for sale from all years of the last four decades on eBay?
And if you’ve got your own tales of a BMW GS, we’d love to hear them. Whether it’s a bike you loved, a trip you took, or an experience you’ll never forget. Share your GS memories in the comments below!
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