The BMW GS is a model series of adventure. The full form of GS reflects BMW's commitment to creating motorcycles that are equally adept at tackling dirt trails, mountain passes, and highway cruising. It embodies a versatility that appeals to riders who want their bike to be a dependable partner whether they're exploring remote wilderness or cruising through city streets.
Each success story has a beginning. For the GS, it all began in 1980, when BMW Motorrad presented the world's first large dual-sport motorcycle in southern France with the R 80 G/S. Since then, the manufacturer has been setting the benchmark in this segment.
And has constantly been writing success stories. GS: BMW has used this designation for its adventure bikes since the G/S in 1980. GS means Gelände/Straße (off-road/on-road), and Gelände Sport.
XR: These are the ADV. The new BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure are designed for the most difficult challenges and provide the ideal balance between riding on and off-road. A BMW GS is a dual sport, right?
The legendary BMW GS began in 1980. It was then in southern France when BMW Motorrad presented the world with the first large dual-sport motorcycle, the BMW R80G/S. Two years prior to the release.
Here's the history with a timeline of arguably the first full-size adventure bike: the iconic BMW GS. Learn about the bike's roots, generational updates, and more. The BMW G 650 GS was a robust, powerful, and very light motorcycle weighing 195 kg (430 lbs) with a full tank.
The 2016 G 650 GS was for sale in 2022, starting from $7,000. But here we are, 30 years later and the GS-series is not only one of BMW's best-selling models, it has spawned an entire new motorcycle segment called "Adventure Touring". This is the official BMW history of the BMW GS-series, along with a special 49 photo slide show with rare images of GS versions through the years.
The GS has been available with a range of different engines, including single-cylinder, twin-cylinder water-cooled and twin-cylinder air- ("Airheads") and air/oil-cooled ("Oilheads" and "Hexheads"). Airheads BMW R80G/S BMW R80GS BMW R100GS The first shaft driven GS model was the R80G/S with a 797.5 cc air-cooled, flat-twin boxer engine. [3] The BMW 247 engine, which was also fitted to many.