What's this all about?

The BMW R1200GS Adventure has long been a favourite bike for long-distance touring, perhaps most famously ridden by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their journey through Europe and Africa. Its rugged reputation and powerful engine have translated to high sales figures and increasing popularity, which should be due to increase with the release of the new model for 2014. Already, glowing reports are in praising this updated Adventure. So what's so special about the new model? Let's take a closer look at its bestselling attributes and revisions.

Upgraded Water-Cooled Engine

One of the first boosts to the Adventure design is in its engine. The new Adventure gains the partially liquid-cooled, 1,170cc boxer motor that was first introduced in the standard R1200GS just last year. Although only 35 per cent of the engine is water-cooled, it allows the new R1200GS Adventure to reap a bevy of benefits already seen in the standard model. This includes a reduction in emissions, a boost to its fuel economy and a gain of 15hp in terms of power. Torque is boosted as well.

While the new Adventure retains this partially water-cooled engine, the 2014 model also includes further upgrades that make it particularly suitable for touring. The upgraded fuel tank now holds 30 litres, which is 50 per cent more than the standard R1200GS is capable of holding. This allows the Adventure to travel for nearly 300 miles without stopping, making it ideal for covering long distances or traversing rugged terrain. It's also particularly well suited for rough ground with its tubular steel crash bars and wire-spoked wheels, as well as a boost to its suspension.

Handling Heft with Ease

The few criticisms of the Adventure in the past have related to its bulky size and heavy weight, and BMW has tried to minimise these problems by constructing the frame out of lightweight aluminium and designing a seat that's narrower at the front to make it easier to reach the ground. The seat is also adjustable to suit all riders. Yet this powerful bike is still solid, weighing in at 260kg when driving with a full fuel tank.

Despite its heavy weight and solid size, if you read this full review of the new Adventure you'll notice that the reviewer mentions it being easy to control and comfortable at the same time. It can handle a number of road obstacles while still providing a high level of comfort for the rider. There are five different riding modes to choose from, including the Road, Rain, Dynamic, Enduro, and Enduro Pro. These give pre-specified anti-lock braking, traction control and suspension features to give the rider the best possible experience. This bike not only has brawn, it has brains too.

The Verdict

The reviews are in, and they're positive. Sophisticated, powerful, and fully loaded with the latest motorcycle technology, the Adventure is road-ready for global exploration. Its refinement and comfort should make it appeal to a broad range of buyers, making it a surprisingly good all-rounder.