Marking another milestone in the “100 Years of BMW Motorrad” anniversary year, the company announced that on June 21, the one-millionth BMW GS equipped with a Boxer engine rolled off the production line at the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin-Spandau. The motorcycle of note was a BMW R 1250 GS in Triple Black Style.
BMW Motorrad has been busy this year, with a host of new and updated bike announcements, including releasing 100 Year Heritage Editions of the BMW R nineT and R 18 and announcing limited details on the 2024 BMW M 1000 XR prototype, as well as a successor to the R nineT, the 2024 R 12 nineT, and a new member of the R 18 family, the Roctane.
Related: 2024 BMW R 18 Roctane | First Ride Review
Continuing this momentum, BMW Motorrad also announced on Wednesday that the latest edition BMW GS with the Boxer engine – the R 1300 GS – will be presented on Sept. 28 at the grand opening of the new BMW Motorrad Welt in Berlin.
The BMW GS with a Boxer Engine: A Legendary Combination
BMW motorcycles have been manufactured in Berlin since 1969 and the BMW Motorrad GS models with Boxer engines since 1980. In autumn of that year, BMW Motorrad presented the R 80 G/S, a 798cc motorcycle with 50 hp that combined two areas of riding for the first time: off-road and on-road.
Between 1981 and 1985, the rugged G/S proved its mettle with four wins in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally and three wins in the Baja 1000.
“With the R 80 G/S and its unique combination of on-road and off-road suitability, everyday qualities and long-distance touring abilities, BMW Motorrad created the new motorcycle genre of touring enduros in 1980,” said Dr. Markus Schramm, head of BMW Motorrad.
“The BMW GS with Boxer engine became an icon, which achieved global success in this segment. What is more: The BMW GS became a legend and at the same time an indispensable cornerstone in the BMW Motorrad model range. Its outstanding talents, such as dynamic riding performance, brawny off-road qualities, superior long-distance comfort and enormous robustness, have since been continuously developed by BMW Motorrad and transferred to other BMW Motorrad model series with great success.”
At the beginning of last year, we tested the 2021 BMW R 1250 GS 40 Years of GS Edition, featuring the 1,254cc Boxer with the ShiftCam variable-valve timing system, making 119 horsepower at 7,900 rpm and 91 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm at the rear wheel on Jett Tuning’s dyno, as well as a host of other bells and whistles that also reflect that continuous development mentioned by Schramm over four decades.
“The GS’s enduring and broad appeal stems from its excellent handling, versatile performance, comfortable ride, comprehensive features, and renowned durability and reliability,” our reviewer said. “It’s a capable canyon carver as well as a comfortable highway cruiser, great for loading up with a passenger and gear, and is surprisingly capable off-road. Nearly every GS owner – and motojournalist – has, at one time or another, described the bike as the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles.”
Related: 2021 BMW R 1250 GS | Road Test Review
The new BMW R 1300 GS
Schramm said he was pleased to be able to announce the one-millionth BMW GS with a Boxer engine during the anniversary year, adding that he was “equally pleased that the unique history of BMW Motorrad models with Boxer engines will soon be supplemented by an exciting chapter with numerous innovations with the new R 1300 GS.”
BMW Motorrad called the new BMW Motorrad Welt, located directly next to the BMW Motorrad plant site in Berlin-Spandau, the new “heart of the brand.” The BMW R 1300 GS will be presented at an exclusive opening event on Sept. 28. Interested fans will have the opportunity to follow the opening ceremony via livestream on the BMW Group and BMW Motorrad social media channels, and BMW Motorrad Welt will be officially open to visitors starting Sept. 30.
See all of Rider‘s BMW coverage here.
I’ve owned multiple BMW’s – both the flat four and the traditional opposed twin. To date I’ve found them excellent in ALL regards.
However, a young German friend just purchased a new, totally loaded 1250 GS and has had numerous problems with it. He worries that the quality control in Berlin has been tossed into the garbage. Any thoughts?
I have a 2022 GSA with over 20,000 miles, no problems. I know many riders with GS’s who also haven’t had problems.
I have owned three BMW GS bikes. And two K-bikes. He can call me a BMW in The Asia Ice for life. I love the brand, the variety of bikes, and most importantly, the camaraderie of like-minded BMW riders. When you’re on a GS you’ll always make friends.
My first BMW and more problems than any Japanese motorcycle I have owned. Recalled front brake calipers because of leaking (BMW replaced through recall). Engine did not rev beyond 5000 rpm on two occasions (BMW fixed with software update under warranty). Only 28,000 and clutch is slipping at 3K rpm under hard acceleration (taking it in for diagnosis).
Most of my riding buddies ride BMW’s…all slowly moved to the brand over the years. None have reported any issues. 3 have newer GS’s. I’m on my second BMW …a very high mileage K1200S…which has been flawless…as was its predecessor ..an R1100RS. 3 of the 4 Asian bikes I had before that had issues…frozen shaft drive at 10K miles (Kaw)…flaking gas tank (Yam)…stator issue (Suz).
All the bikes were purchased new. (50 years of riding).
I’m in the hunt for a new BMW right now.