There have been several iterations of the BMW GS motorcycles over the years, but there have only been two major R1200GS models. There was the original R1200GS, which debuted in 2004 and ran until 2012. This bike had a 1200cc boxer motor that phased out the previous R1150 series, the R1200C cruisers, and the K1200RS. It had a 73mm stroke, 1,170cc displacement, and got up to 98 horsepower at 7,000 RPM.
Then there was the larger R1200GS Adventure, which ran from 2005-2013. This had the same motor and chassis, but there were a few minor differences mostly related to the vehicle’s size. The Adventure was about an inch taller, wider, and longer than the original, with an extra 0.8-inches in suspension travel and ground clearance. It also had an extra 18 pounds of carrying capacity. Models manufactured after 2008 also allowed riders to adjust the chassis and suspension while riding in order to adapt to road conditions on the fly.
Both of these models were later upgraded to liquid-cooled versions, which had a revamped boxer motor capable of hitting 125 horsepower. According to BMW Motorrad, these models also enjoyed “increased ride stability and ride precision thanks to the semi-active Dynamic ESA suspension.” It also allowed the rider to choose between five different riding modes.
BMW continued to manufacture these bikes until 2019. It was at this point when BMW finally phased out the 1200 engine size in favor of the newer R1250GS, and is still being sold today.
