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Official: new BMW R 1300 GS Adventure
Successor to best-selling R 1250 GSA adventure bike goes big and isn’t afraid of courting controversy in the process!
Words by: Phil West
Published on 10 July 2024 | 0 min read
BMW’s big-tanked ‘Adventure’ versions of its best-selling boxer GS has been one of modern motorcycling’s big success stories and after the launch of the all-new R 1300 GS last year it was inevitable a new 1300 GSA would follow. And here it is!
Unveiled at this week’s BMW Motorrad Days festival in Bavaria the 2025 R 1300 GSA is big on size and features and also, going by some of the responses online, controversial styling. It’s the successor to the R 1250 GSA, as launched in 2020, which in turn followed the 2014 R 1200 GSA in various forms right back to the original 2001 R 1150 GSA made famous through Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman’s televised global circumnavigation aboard the bike. Like its predecessors, the new R 1300 GSA is effectively a bigger-tanked, taller suspended, more rugged ‘global traveller’ version of the base 1300 GS. Accordingly, the mechanical foundations match those of the all-new R 1300 GS unveiled in Berlin last September meaning the same all-new 1,300cc, 145 horsepower boxer twin held in a novel, pressed steel ‘shell’ frame with updated Telelever suspension at the front and Paralever shaft drive at the rear.
Unveiled at this week’s BMW Motorrad Days festival in Bavaria the 2025 R 1300 GSA is big on size and features and also, going by some of the responses online, controversial styling. It’s the successor to the R 1250 GSA, as launched in 2020, which in turn followed the 2014 R 1200 GSA in various forms right back to the original 2001 R 1150 GSA made famous through Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman’s televised global circumnavigation aboard the bike. Like its predecessors, the new R 1300 GSA is effectively a bigger-tanked, taller suspended, more rugged ‘global traveller’ version of the base 1300 GS. Accordingly, the mechanical foundations match those of the all-new R 1300 GS unveiled in Berlin last September meaning the same all-new 1,300cc, 145 horsepower boxer twin held in a novel, pressed steel ‘shell’ frame with updated Telelever suspension at the front and Paralever shaft drive at the rear.
What sets the GSA apart, however, is its much bigger 30-litre fuel tank (up from 19 litres) and more extensive weather protection including new clear side deflectors. Suspension travel also increases by 20mm, now 210mm front and 220mm rear and there are standard fit wire wheels in place of the cast ones on the base GS and extra crash protection too.
Visually it’s very different, too, with BMW controversially going for a boxy tank shape which is also much wider than before and which has been chosen, according to BMW, to enable the easier fitment of optional extras such as a tank bag. There’s even the option to mount optional side luggage boxes via special fitments reminiscent of Land Rover’s latest Defender or the Ineos Grenadier 4x4. Speaking of options, the new R 1300 GSA wouldn’t be a credible BMW without an immense accessories list. Most eye-catching of these is BMW’s new semi-automatic transmission, which the marque calls Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) and thus becomes BMW’s first bike with such a system. The standard R 1300 GS will also have the same option for 2025.
Visually it’s very different, too, with BMW controversially going for a boxy tank shape which is also much wider than before and which has been chosen, according to BMW, to enable the easier fitment of optional extras such as a tank bag. There’s even the option to mount optional side luggage boxes via special fitments reminiscent of Land Rover’s latest Defender or the Ineos Grenadier 4x4. Speaking of options, the new R 1300 GSA wouldn’t be a credible BMW without an immense accessories list. Most eye-catching of these is BMW’s new semi-automatic transmission, which the marque calls Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) and thus becomes BMW’s first bike with such a system. The standard R 1300 GS will also have the same option for 2025.
Like the base GS the new GSA can also be optioned with BMW’s new radar-guided Riding Assistant package including Active Cruise Control (ACC), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Change Warning and Rear End Collision Warning (RECW). There is also a bespoke all-aluminium three-case luggage system comprising 37-litre top case and 37-litre (left) and 36.5-litre (right) panniers. The clever new adaptive vehicle height control system which lowers the bike at standstill is also available, and works via the optional latest Electronic Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) system.
Further features carried over from the 1300 GS include the new style Matrix LED headlight with adaptive lighting available as an optional extra, BMW’s Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) with brake function, the familiar, tried and tested 6.5-inch colour TFT dash with accompanying scrolling wheel switchgear, a keyless operation system, the ‘Emergency Call’ system, heated grips, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity (with a dedicated smartphone charging compartment complete with integrated USB charging point) and four standard riding modes. Claimed kerb weight of the new 1300 GSA is 269kg compared to the 1300 GS’s 237kg while seat height is 870mm adjustable to 890mm, a 20mm increase. Just like the GS four different versions of the new R 1300 GSA with varying features and colours chemes are being offered at first, these comprising Triple Black, GS Trophy and the top spec Option 719 accessorized version, which is this time called the Karakorum. The price of the base R 1300 GSA has been announced at £18,870, the upspecced R 1300 GSA TE is £20,635 and the top-of-the-range R 1300 GSA TE ASA (with Automatic Suspension Adjustment) is £21,300. Availability has yet to be announced.
Further features carried over from the 1300 GS include the new style Matrix LED headlight with adaptive lighting available as an optional extra, BMW’s Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) with brake function, the familiar, tried and tested 6.5-inch colour TFT dash with accompanying scrolling wheel switchgear, a keyless operation system, the ‘Emergency Call’ system, heated grips, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity (with a dedicated smartphone charging compartment complete with integrated USB charging point) and four standard riding modes. Claimed kerb weight of the new 1300 GSA is 269kg compared to the 1300 GS’s 237kg while seat height is 870mm adjustable to 890mm, a 20mm increase. Just like the GS four different versions of the new R 1300 GSA with varying features and colours chemes are being offered at first, these comprising Triple Black, GS Trophy and the top spec Option 719 accessorized version, which is this time called the Karakorum. The price of the base R 1300 GSA has been announced at £18,870, the upspecced R 1300 GSA TE is £20,635 and the top-of-the-range R 1300 GSA TE ASA (with Automatic Suspension Adjustment) is £21,300. Availability has yet to be announced.
