Twenty-one years ago, the launch of BMW's R80 GS established a new category in motorcycling - the large capacity enduro machine. Numerous Paris-Dakar victories and thousands of customer deliveries later, the GS range has become one of BMW's greatest success stories, with over 146,000 units sold to date.
Largely based on the best selling R1150GS, the Adventure has been designed with long distance travel in mind and is engineered to perform in all conditions, on or off-road. This visually striking new model comes equipped with many special features as standard and a whole range of optional accessories and fittings that make it the ultimate long distance enduro machine.
Whether on gravel paths, sand tracks, rough terrain or over long distances, the chassis of the R1150GS Adventure ensures optimum comfort and control even when fully loaded. Spring travel has been increased by 20mm to 210mm at the front, and 220mm at the rear. Easy spring pre-load adjustment to the front can be made by a supplied spanner and to the rear by a hydraulic adjuster. Rebound damping at the rear can be adjusted by means of a small screw.
For the first time in a BMW motorcycle, a strut is used at the rear which has suspension deflection related damping, whereby the greater the spring deflection, the greater the damping effect. The WP strut is characterised by sensitive response and a high degree of knock resistance.
The Adventure uses BMW's EVO brake, which was introduced on a number of models in the spring of 2001 and significantly increases stopping power. Plastic coated braided steel hoses help provide stable and constant pressure. ABS can also be fitted, which can be switched off when riding off-road.
Unlike the R1150 GS, which uses top gear as an overdrive, the Adventure uses a shorter sixth gear ratio. There is also a shorter first gear to make pulling away easier on difficult terrain.
The Adventure's engine can now take regular petrol as well as unleaded for round-the-world travellers. An optional coding plug for the engine management system ensures it can be safely operated with regular fuel (RON 91) without any risk of damage. Other optional special equipment includes waterproof inner bags for the aluminium cases, cylinder protection brackets, headlamp protector, fog lamps with flint protectors and knobbly tyres for improved off-road capability.
