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BMW’s venerable R 1250 GS needs no introduction, does it? It has, for long, reigned as the best adventure motorcycle out there, and the sheer number of its units sold globally is a testament to the model’s popularity. But the company isn’t resting on its laurels and is said to be readying the R 1300 GS, as is visible from the new spy pictures that have emerged online.
- BMW R 1300 GS to have a new design
- Likely to get a bigger, more powerful engine
- New electronics suite expected
BMW R 1300 GS: what to expect?
The new spy photos and video show the BMW R 1300 GS test mule with its body panels hidden by black paint and its headlight partially covered, but that doesn’t hide all the details. Beginning from the front end, the R 1300 GS is expected to have a pointier beak than the R 1250 GS. This, supposedly, was done not only to tweak the bike’s appearance but also to accommodate the electronic module that runs the radar-based adaptive cruise control, which is expected on this new bike. At present, the Ducati Multistrada V4 S is the only bike to feature front- and rear-mounted radar devices.
Above the beak, there appears to be a new LED headlight and on top of that is a large, adjustable windscreen. Move to the side and you’ll see a large tank with neatly incorporated extensions that give this area a layered effect.
Most of the test bike’s tail section is hidden behind the large panniers and the top box, but another image suggests that the R 1300 GS will be based on a new chassis. It seems that, like the R 1250 GS, the R 1300 GS’ chassis will also be suspended by an adjustable Telelever front and Paralever rear suspension. Braking duties will be taken care of by twin discs at the front with radially mounted callipers and a single disc at the rear. As for the wheels and tyres, the road-biased bikes will run on alloys, while the variants with better off-road ability will run on tubeless-wire spoke wheels.
Coming to the highlight of the bike, the test mule’s Boxer engine looks bigger in size than the R 1250 GS’ mill, which is evident in the size of the cylinder heads. There seems to be comprehensive crash protection over the cylinder head, but it is too early to say if BMW will offer it as standard or as an accessory. With the bump in displacement, we can expect the new engine to make more peak power and torque than the 136hp and 143Nm that the 1250’s engine makes. As before, the R 1300 GS will also have a shaft drive.
As for the electronics, expect to see a different TFT instrument cluster and, as we’d said, there is the likelihood of radar-based cruise control and other features making it to the bike.
BMW R 1300 GS: expected launch
The BMW R 1250 has been raking in the numbers for the company and continues to be a popular choice amongst those looking for a full-fledged adventure bike. That said, now that the R 1300 GS is being tested, it is only a matter of time before the new bike is revealed. When it is launched, however, there will be no denying that it’ll have pretty big shoes to fill. Expect the bike to be launched in India soon after it goes on sale in international markets.
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