Auto news on Youtube Oct 1 2018

So we're in Portugal with the new GS

That looks like it hasn't changed a bit

on the outside...

because on the inside everything is new

but let's see how much of a difference they can be...

That known feeling when riding a GS, has remained completely unchanged and you are talking big dosage

from the first moment that you ride the new, bigger and slight heavier model.

But not a single number from the big list of the new specifications

can pop up and make a difference in feeling.

It's also useless to try and find with your right hand the moment that the valves are changing their stroke.

Oh yes, that is the biggest change for the new model,

this is what the slightly bigger capacity hides meticulously

, there is now variable valve timing and stroke on the intake

This is the first production boxer with this technology and also the first BMW motorcycle,

although the factory has developed many decades ago

all the technical solutions that they were needed.

Based on the words of mr. Klauer, head engineer for the drive train,

Shift Cam is brand new and nothing come from the cars.

The big advantage of this system, it's the simplicity

The simpler it is ,the better it works and also more reliable,

but that off course it's something that remains to be seen…

From the four valves on each cylinder the two on the intake of each side have variable timing and stroke

with the ECU initiating the change at 5.000 rpm or sooner if the torque increases fast.

That means that if you open the throttle hard

the second cam profile will be activated much sooner, depending on the acceleration

If on the other hand you try to keep it steady on 5.000rpm just to see what happens,

then the system will wait even for 800rpm until it starts to use another profile, without ever been noticed.

At least during this long ride never was noticed

and I doubt that there will be anyone in the future who will claim that he noticed the change in cam profiles

This new engine is the epitome of boxers, the golden boy of BMW and since we asked that question also,

no the GS is never going to be anything other than a boxer using the latest technology possible.

Asking BMW to change that is like asking a mother to exchange her child.

The big GS will always be boxer and without smaller siblings, as that was the case few years ago.

And that's because a change in capacity isn't reducing the cost at all so it would be a bike without a market

Incorporating the big screen on standard equipment

and without spending any budget on changing anything on the look of the new bike,

BMW cuts on the heavy expenses that the new model asked, because of the engine.

Less cost means better list price and here is the answer to anyone wondering

why the GS remains the same on the outside.

The looks are going to be brand new

on the next update in two years,

when Euro5 regulations start to enter in our lives.

Maybe the more sharp-eyed have already noticed

that brake calipers are different.

Only the rear is still made by Brembo,

the front comes from Milwaukee based Hayes,

an act that feather aims on cost reduction

With a good strategy on model updates and small changes in suppliers

the new GS comes from Berlin factory with more

or less the same price as its predecessor offering exactly

the same package but with better engine needing costly development

BMW made the effort and now despite the engine update the price is even better than before!

In the HP version that replaces Rally,

BMW uses the suspension of the 2018 Adventure without any change what so ever,

even though the Adventure model is heavier.

And that is a very good thing since

the semi-active suspension work great on the dirt, smoothing out everything on their pass!

The objective here is not to just pass the dirt road and reach the other side,

as in that case all the above are unnecessary.

Someone can disarrange his line of thought if he thinks that way,

since if the objective is to simple make a pass

you can do this with a simple telescopic fork minus the electronics and even the bigger capacity.

What GS wants to offer is going fast on gravel while feeling that you are in a limo.

This is exactly what BMW wanted us to see for ourselves

while guiding us on a dry river bend with loose gravel, stones and sand that made an interesting test.

Not as touch as our "Mega Test" series of comparison tests,

so the real heavy benchmark must wait for the bike to become available in Greece…

but it's safe to assume that we aren't expecting any bad performance.

The suspension that comes from the big Adventure model

is remarkable and the few extra kilos can't make any difference.

So in the end a very big advantage shines brightly,

something that made an impact while riding on road

and now in the gravel is even bigger surprise.

You rarely have to make a change in the gear box!

The new boxer engine has very good torque and agility.

You can open the throttle with third gear while the speedometer reads 25,

and still make a fast acceleration!

Using the adjective "electric"

is not a huge exaggeration for the new boxer.

The GS model had always enough torque

and always could find it in the low revs.

But now it's even better,

even stronger losing some of its stiffness in the meantime.

To better analyze all this, we need the space of the printed version of the magazine,

and to emphasize that it was BMW people that agreed with us about the throttle response of the previous model.

Together with the aspect that quick shifter isn't –still- working as it should!

It's the system that least deserve its cost and it's going to remain like that for at least two more years!

But the thing that works great and many are passing by it,

a revolution that remains unearthed because it's not been represented by a number,

is how the ABS works on gravel! I have experienced all the steps in ABS development,

from Honda's that you had to unplug it in order not to kill yourself (although it's because of Honda that we have ABS at all)

to KTM unbelievable Cornering ABS,

we had the chance to experience everything among the first.

So we know how to tell when we see the next step,

and that step was last February during the press launch of the F850GS.

We had to reprogram our thinking to reproduce an emergency braking while riding on mud!

It was working like no other as is this GS that can brake everywhere.

A steep downslope, that you can only appreciate from a video only when that video becomes 3D,

was a very good opportunity for test.

Again the odjective is not to make it to the end of the descent,

but to go faster knowing that when you need to stop the GS is going to make it like no other.

All these electronics that in the beginning of the dirt road

require a small effort to introduce yourself to them,

are there to help you go faster and at ease

on a big motorcycle that in the same time can travely steadily at 200km/h.

It's that combination of usages and in that degree that render on-off motorcycles unique

and definitely the GS is one of the most capable!

We have a lot to say for the new GS, the engine

how it works and how it performs

after riding and discussing with the people that build it,

subjects that we're going to analyze on our next issue.

It's also unique to see the change in the way of thinking for BMW Motorrad

and the progress they have made the last five years…

we were discussing this and more than these,

the comments on youtube and social media and how people have stopped reading

when we had this idea,

to ask them to react on mean comments!

This is exactly what you are about to see!

Don't take it very seriously,

we made it to laugh on the situation so please enjoy it!

5 minutes before it gets dark...

We have a big "thank you" for BMW Motorrad for taking the time and effort to answer some of this comments

lets see how they react

Brand new engine and only 136hp? You're never going to be KTM

Second question. You use waterpipes to build the chassis

...so the GS is overpriced

So now it's 1250cc what is next 2.000cc

when it's enough?

Fourth question: You have all worked on bulding the new GS, is it true that you secretly commute on a lighter Honda?

So fifth question.. so far everyone is doing OK

GS is bigger than my house, you can't go off road with that!

I even don't know how I'm making this question...

New technology on a boxer.. it's not going to be reliable!

A simple and straight forward question: Why so expensive?

The colors are a rip-off from the Africa Twin

Some people find a resemblance between the GS and... a cow? Is there a connection?

Thank you BMW Motorrad for taking the time to do this!

So this is the new BMW R1250GS that we are going to analyses further on our printed issue

with many more key points that you have to pay attention at!

Until then stay tuned at motomag.gr

and please don't forget a small compensation for this video.

We do everything by ourselves,

so if you liked it,

we would happily take a like as a reward!

Ride safe!