LONG-TERM TEST BIKES

Getting under the BMW’s maxi-adventure bike’s skin takes dedication, says Simon H

Pictures Simon Hargreaves, BMW

THE R1300 GS Adventure TE is an extreme machine in every respect; its very presence is an emphatic statement of excess.

The Trophy colours of Racing Blue Metallic, Racing Red and Light White draws what I like to think are admiring glances down every high street, and that men of a certain vintage can’t help but appreciate it out loud. “That’s nice,” they say as they load the shopping into their disapproving wife’s Audi. What can I reply, as I wedge my loaf of bread and four-pack of baked beans into a pannier? “Thank you, yes, it is.”

But at the end of the day, like all bikes the GSA has good bits and not-so-good bits. And after 2500 miles we’ve been able to put our analytical finger on exactly what they are – and even fix some of them.

1 There’s so much that is good

The flat twin is smooth, refined, flexible and crammed with performance from 1500rpm to flat out. My notes say: “The engine produces such colossal shove it’s a concern the rear tyre will wear out before the tank runs dry.” Roadholding is brilliant – a revised Telelever set-up uses a different method of gripping the forks for more feel and stability, and a straighter Paralever shaft tunnel gives more traction.

2 A few extra inches make the difference

The standard screen (optional electronic adjustment is part of the £795 Touring pack) is way better than any other adventure bike screen in terms of buffeting, but could be quieter on motorways (when you really want to hear the bass on The Midnight’s latest album). The optional touring screen (£150) adds a couple of inches and almost goes silent, but adding a flip visor finishes the job.

Flip the visor up and the synth bass really kicks in

3 You need a top box

With pannier rails another part of the £795 Touring pack, the actual panniers cost £1095 (gets salty). The new top-loading aluminium boxes are wider than before (the tail of the bike is slimmer) and hold 36.5 and 37 litres, and the left case has an internal USB port (a carry handle would be better). The latch is a bit clunky but the locking mechanism is idiot-proof. No news on top box availability – BMW can’t supply them and can’t explain why or when they’ll eventually arrive.

Note the USB port at the top of the lid. Helpful, but handle preferred

4 You need to cosset your buttocks

Our GSA has a heated seat that adds depth to the seat foam – but after a couple of hours I get pressure points, and the extra depth strangely disconnects me from the bike. Solution is a pair of £9.99 rubber seat grommets by Auzkong on Amazon, with offset holes, replacing the front seat adjuster plate’s stock grommets to lower the front of the seat and change the angle of my hips. No more burning bum sensation.

Grommets with offset holes have transformed comfort

5 More to uncover

I’ve done 1100 miles on the GSA so far, which are the baby steps of owning a bike as rich and multi-layered as this. I’m shortly doing a 3000-mile, 10-day tour of Scotland – by the end of which, I’ll know the bike even better. But it’s perfect for the trip – 300 miles between refills, serene handling and more than enough grunt. So far I’ve been impressed (as you’d expect for bike of this price) but I reckon there is still much more to come.

WHAT WORKS WHAT DOESN’T

Quickshifter tries its best

Up/down quickshifter operates with a revised, repositioned gearbox – but it’s still a big gap to bridge between first, across neutral, to second, and needs massaging with the clutch to keep it smooth.

A fill-up is how much?

Vast 30-litre tank adds almost 30 per cent range to the standard GS, meaning one less fuel stop a week on a 60-mile commute. But it also means the standard tank can take £40, which isn’t so much fun.

Sleepy auto cruise control

Radar cruise is good in theory and works well in average speed camera zones. But it’s too conservative on open motorways, leaving too much space behind slow cars and allowing other cars to pull in between.

THE FACTS

£25,160*
143bhp
269kg
SINCE LAST UPDATE 406 MILES
FUEL CONSUMPTION 40.6 MPG

*as tested

2025 BMW R1300GS Adventure TE Trophy: What we’ve learned after 2500 miles