One imagines more than a few sleepless nights were in store for the engineers tasked with designing the 2013 BMW R1200GS. The new Beemer was cause for our own sleepiness after 33 hours of air travel delivered us to the international press launch in George, South Africa. But eyes perked wide open as BMW brass made no bones about the importance of its showcase mount: Nine years of ADV class dominance and more than 180,000 GS sold, making it the best-selling BMW motorcycle of all time… It’s safe to say expectations for the 2013 GS are high!

The challenge for BMW’s engineering team was straightforward: take an overwhelmingly popular mount and make it better – but without ruining its essential character. In the process, completely redesign the R series’ iconic Boxer Twin to be more powerful and efficient via liquid-cooling – again, without spoiling its inherent character.



And, of course, they must update everything else on the bike, so that this latest GS squashes all the upstart Adventure-Touring rivals that its own immense success has spawned.

Easy, right?

Or, daunting, petrifying, grim. So why then are the men responsible for retooling the most important bike in the BMW lineup so relaxed? No nervous smiles or sidelong glances while jetlagged journos peppered them with questions about an all-new powertrain, sophisticated electronic aids, semi-active suspension, high-performance chassis upgrades… Instead, the German gents exuded a comfortable confidence and genuine eagerness to explain the new bike’s changes.

And after a full day sampling the GS in the South African terrain, both on and off-road, I understand the calm. This new 2013 R1200GS more than fills the big shoes of its predecessor.

Straddle the new fifth-generation GS and there is an overriding feeling of continuity from the previous designs. This feels and looks like a BMW GS, sure enough. Yet, while familiar, the GS overhaul is deceptively comprehensive. The long-rumored switch to liquid-cooling for the Boxer Twin overshadowed a laundry list of changes.

There’s a lot of new ground to cover on this GS reincarnation, but it starts with the now liquid-cooled 1170cc horizontally-opposed Twin. BMW concedes exhaust emissions as the reason for ditching 90 years of tradition for its Boxer. BMW specifies the liquid-cooled Boxer as “precision-cooling”, as the water circuit cools only the most thermally stressed engine spots. The lion’s share (we’re in Africa remember…) of the cooling load remains handled by those familiar fins on the exposed heads, which dissipate 65% of the heat (the previous model was 78% air/22% oil cooled). Two radiators, tucked under the shrouds, add six pounds to the 525-pound bike (claimed).

While there’s no getting around some bulk added by the radiators, the bike does not feel bulky. If anything it feels more slender and trim. Credit is due in part to the compact nature of the new powertrain. Comparing this Boxer side-by-side with its predecessor and the consolidation of space is remarkable. It still looks like a Boxer, with those twin jugs anchoring the aesthetics of the bike, but the entire package is clean and spare by comparison.