autoX Awards 2024: BMW R 1300 GS Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

autoX Awards 2024: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel – this adage rings true if you have a product like the mighty GS in your portfolio. Irrespective of what you do, the GS will always remain the king of the ADV hill. It’s an icon! It’s a cult! It is, as GS loyalists will tell you, the best of the best, and nothing else will do.

This hasn’t stopped BMW from reinventing the GS wheel though. Every time we think that the GS has reached its zenith and can’t possibly be bettered, out of the blue come Motorrad engineers with a new model, and somehow, they improve it. The all-new R 1300 GS is proof.

Everything is spanking new here – the 1,300cc engine, twin-spar chassis, electronics, suspension, and even the design. Apart from the GS badging, nothing has been carried forward. The star of the show is, of course, the 1300cc boxer-twin engine, which features a bigger bore and shorter stroke than its predecessor’s engine. As a consequence, it's an engine that enjoys to be revved. The fact that it redlines at 9,000rpm and has a compression ratio of 13.3:1 – identical to that of the S 1000RR – tells you everything that you want to know. This isn’t a laid-back bruiser anymore, it’s an ADV that has the go of a superbike!

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At the same time, its refinement is exemplary, ergonomics are spot-on, and saddle is as comfortable as a lounge sofa. Everything feels natural – just how it has always felt on a big GS. You don’t even need to make any adjustments – the R 1300 GS fits like a glove, irrespective of who you are.

Another big update is a new two-component frame, which replaces the steel trellis frame of the old bike. The new frame doesn’t just bring weight savings but it’s also more compact and makes the 1300 GS feel much slimmer compared to the R 1250 GS. On the whole, the 1300 GS is 12kg lighter than the 1250 GS.

All of these updates become apparent in the way the GS rides and handles. It’s nimbler, more agile, and, surprisingly, wieldy around corners – yes, even on the racetrack. Plus, the new electronic suspension / Dynamic ESA with its variable damping technology has completely changed the behaviour of the GS. It no longer feels soft or mushy when you are tracking a corner at high speeds. Instead, it feels taut, precise, and sharp. And the best part is that none of it comes at the cost of comfort, for the GS’s ride quality is still stellar. Sure, you could say that overall, the R 1300 GS now feels a bit sporty to ride, but that doesn’t mean it has lost its core values. It’s just that now you can race with it on Sunday and go exploring the Himalayas on Monday.

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And then there are the gadgets, features, equipment and electronics on offer. Even in this department, the 1300 GS has made huge strides. And yet, despite all the advancements and the breakthrough changes in engine and chassis, the 1300 GS is still competitively priced vis-à-vis its rivals. All these updates ensure that the R 1300 GS will continue to be the king of the ADV segment for years to come. Like they say, the more things change, the more they remain the same…

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