MCN BMW R1200GS Adventure Review
(2006-current)

2006 BMW R1200GS Adventure review by
Motorcycle News
www.MotorcycleNews.co.uk

	MCN ratings	Owners’ ratings
Overall
Engine
Ride & Handling
Equipment
Quality & Reliability
Value

Compare the 2006 model R1200GS with the latest 2010 model:
MCN BMW R1200GS Adventure Review (2010-current)

MCN overall verdict

This is the last word in round-the-world can do. With a monstrous 33-litre tank, grunty motor, shaft-drive and excellent reliability in all climes and conditions the R1200GS Adventure redefines the giant trailie class. And it is a giant – at nearly a quarter of a ton fully-loaded and with a lofty 910mm seat only the brave or foolish will venture far from the tarmac.

Engine

MCN rating
Owners’ rating

The new 1170cc, Boxer twin SOHC motor is taken from the company’s best-selling R1200GS. It’s powerful, torquey and well-geared for effortless cruising at motorway speeds. The gearbox is pretty indifferent; clunky, with the odd false neutral, especially from second to first. Sixth is no longer the overdrive it was on the older 1150GS Adventure, instead the ratio is a normal accelerative gear.

Ride and Handling

MCN rating
Owners’ rating

On the road the Adventure belies its weight and height and handles lightly and surely, though it takes a while to get used to the slightly detached feeling the front Telelever suspension produces. The servo-powered brakes are too powerful off-road, but work well on it, providing you swap the Continental Twinduro tyres to more road-biased items like Bridgestone’s Battlewing.

Equipment

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Owners’ rating

As stock the Adventure already drips with off-road protection like bash plates, hand guards and crash bars. There’s ABS, a sat nav system and heated grips as optional extras along with a selection of hard and soft luggage.

Quality and Reliability

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Owners’ rating

Apart from an early recall over a faulty ABS switch the Adventure seems blessed with the same indefatigable reliability as its predecessors. The exhaust is fully stainless, the motor unstressed, the shaft drive is hassle-free and BMW owners tend to keep their bikes in good condition and regularly serviced.

Value

MCN rating
Owners’ rating

There’s no such thing as a cheap GS and you can look forwards to high prices and high residuals for a very long time.

Model History

1999: R1150GS – 85bhp, 229kg, six-speed gearbox, twin headlights.
2002: R1150GS Adventure released – 253kg, bigger tank, taller suspension.
2004: R1200GS – 100bhp, 199kg, more powerful Boxer motor, new chassis.
2006: R1200GS Adventure – new model.

Specifications