Heavyweight champion

With new electronics, variable valve timing and some additional features, can BMW’s GS flagship still float like a butterfly and sting like a bee?

- Dipayan Dutta

The most literal name of any motorcycle ever, the BMW GS has been around for four decades now. This is a brand that made a legend of itself doing exactly what it says on the box, and making an art of doing it distinctly but still perfectly. The fact that it has an illustrious repertoire in pop culture appearing in multiple overland documentaries and a couple of Dakar wins under its belt just adds to the charm.

As romantic as the thought may be for Motorrad fanboys, most people who I’ve spoken to who own the big flagship GS put their money down because of the GS’ inherent ease of use and the almost unparalleled comfort that it offers, even on the most gruelling rides. For 2021, BMW’s flagship R 1250 GS takes the next step in making it a better motorcycle both on and off the road, with minor changes that make exponential differences to the ride experience.

Visually, the R 1250 GS hasn’t changed at all compared to its predecessor. That’s not to say it won’t catch your attention from off the rider’s seat. The sheer heft of the R 1250 GS can be intimidating. This is a 249kg motorcycle that stands tall and that wide tank flowing into the beak looks exactly as intimidating as one would expect. Aside from the whitebased livery with signature BMW red and blue accents with gold rims like our test bike, BMW also has a black and gold themed livery that celebrates forty years of the GS brand for 2021. That aside the only other big change is to the headlamps which now aside from LEDs get cornering functions, which makes riding at night a much better overall experience.