The back to BASICS BOXER

While it may have a slightly cumbersome name — one that needs to be pronounced as such to distinguish it from other models in the range — the Gee-slash-Ess is not simply a pure retro design, nor is it just a convenient way to extend the life of an older engine. Instead, it represents an expansion of the current model range, one that actually brings additional capability to BMW's big twins.

-  Dave Manning

This model from the Bavarian manufacturer isn't just a nod to the original bike that sparked the GS phenomenon. It also reflects a conscious decision, as BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch pointed out, to offer a level of simplicity some customers are demanding — a step away from the ever-increasing level of tech that is being seen on new models from manufacturers around the globe.

By using the old oil/air cooled version of the company's boxer twin, rather than the water-cooled 1300 on the new GS, GSA, RT and R models, there's a cleanliness of design and a purity that a water-cooled powerplant and its attendant radiators and plumbing, would not give. This is certainly an interesting development from the company that are pushing technological boundaries with not only their world-conquering tech-heavy tourers but also their sportsbikes, particularly the M series models.

It would have been all too easy to build a bike that aped the first G/S model's design aesthetics and physical attributes, but that is neither the way of the modern world nor the way in which BMW wanted to move – “We don’t do retro” is the underlying vibe given out by the team on the launch. While the bike may have the style and minimalistic bodywork exemplified by the 1980 G/S, the idea wasn't to create a replica but a more capable machine that could outperform not only the bike that set the scene four decades ago, but also to actually perform better when compared to more recent versions of the Bavarian brand's dual-purpose machinery. But we must have a quick look back at that original model to understand the drive behind developing this new-for-2025 model.