Revealed ahead of the official launch in a few
months is the 2019 BMW Motorrad R 1250 GS and R 1250 RT, the Munich firm’s
update on its legendary boxer twin. Coming in two flavours, the R 1250 GS is a
completely new machine for the adventure-touring segment, while the R 1250 RT
is intended for high speed, long distance highway cruising.
New to the venerable boxer engine is BMW’s ShiftCam,
a first for BMW Motorrad, which gives variable valve timing to improve fuel
consumption and meet emissions standards. Applied on the intake side, the two
intake valves open asynchronously, allowing for efficient combustion.
Also new for the R 1250 is a toothed chain for the
cam drive, replacing the previous roller chain. Along with twin-jet injectors,
this gives the new 1,254 cc R 1250 engine a power output of 136 hp at 7,750 rpm
and a torque number of 143 Nm at 6,250 rpm, eclipsing the previous numbers of
125 hp and 125 Nm of torque from the R 1200’s 1,170 cc boxer.
Standard in the R 1250’s suite of standard riding
aids is Automatic Stability Control (ASC) – traction control, in other words –
and Hill Start Control (HSC), which keeps the R 1250 at a standstill without
rider intervention when starting off on an incline. Available as an ex-works
option is Riding Modes Pro which gives additional riding modes, Dynamic
Traction Control (DTC), ABS Pro, Hill Start Control Pro and Dynamic Brake
Assistant (DBC).
Full TFT-LCD colour screens now display all the
necessary information the rider needs – a 6.5-inch unit in the R 1250 GS and a
5.7-inch display in the R 1250 RT. On the RT, this is supplemented with an
analog speedometer and tachometer as well as LED lighting throughout, with LED
daytime riding lights being a factory fitted option.
For rider comfort, the seats on the GS and RT
versions of the R 1250 are adjustable and should this prove insufficient, a
range of optional seats is available from the BMW Motorrad catalogue. BMW’s
in-house custom shop, BMW Motorrad Speziale, also provides a range of custom
accessories for both big boxers.
Riders intending to purchase a R 1250 for next
year’s riding season will have the two option for the GS, which are two basic
finishes and two style variants – touring and adventure. For the R 1250 RT,
there is one basic colour, two style variants and the Option 719 Spezial
available.
With over 700,000 units of the GS-series motorcycle
sold since 1980 with the launch of the original R 80 G/S, BMW has set the stage
for the adventure bike segment. It can be assumed with BMW’s proclivity for
chasing every single market niche, the RS sport-touring and R naked sports
versions of the R 1250 will probably not be too far behind.
