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Special Editions All Around: BMW celebrates 30 years of the GS with new models

Devon Brozek — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:24:00 EST

All grown up, the R1200GS shows off its anniversary suite - Click above for high-res image gallery

What do you get for for someone who has it all? Dashing good looks, a successful career; someone who has traveled to the world's most remote locations and gathered a dedicated fan base along the way, and all of this against the odds of critics who scoffed when they were just getting their feet off the ground. If that someone is a something and more specifically, a motorcycle, BMW has the answer. The company will be honoring three decades of the world's best-selling line of motorcycles, the GS, with a limited run of 30th Anniversary Special Edition models.

Anniversary models will offer a distinct red saddle complete with a protruding GS insignia, clad with white bodywork as well as decals announcing "30 Years GS." The senior GS (1200, including adventure model) will also include a tinted windscreen, handguards and black wheels. But fear not if the largest of the GS line is just too portly for your stable, as the special editions will be available in F800GS and F650GS varieties as well. No official word on pricing, but history reveals only moderate price premiums for anniversary models from the Bavarian brand. If you suddenly find yourself with an uncontrollable desire to have and to hold one of these limited models, don't wait for congress to vote on it as a reliable source inside BMW tells us that each U.S. dealer is only guaranteed the chance to sell one of the limited models, which equates to roughly 150 of each size bike.

1980 was the year that marked the birth of the original R80 G/S, and so the marriage of adventure and motorcycle became official. It has been said that BMW essentially answered a question that had not been yet been asked. It has been a long journey for BMW and it's GS lineup, one filled with rough patches and dirt sections, possibly even brief moments of regret. But really, that is is the type of journey that embodies the whole GS concept, right? Here's to another 30 years, and what they may have in store for of one or our favorite choices when all that is known is the unknown.

Gallery: Anniversary BMW GS

[Source: BMW]

Special Editions All Around: BMW celebrates 30 years of the GS with new models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 May 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Ride: BMW F 800 GS takes on the RawHyde Adventure Rider Challenge

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, First Drives, Motorcycle

BMW F 800 GS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Since its introduction back in 2004, the R 1200 GS has been BMW's best selling motorcycle, and for good reason. Time and again, the big bike has proven itself surprisingly capable of traversing the gnarliest of terrain in the hands of riders all around the world. The German motorcycle maker invented the adventure touring category when it introduced the R 80 G/S way back in 1980, and since then, almost all of BMW's GS series of bikes have featured the brand's signature twin-cylinder horizontally-opposed boxer engine.

Lately, though, a new contender from BMW's own paddocks has entered the fray using the brand's more recent 800cc parallel-twin engine design, and we wanted to see how it compared to the R 1200 GS that we reviewed back in February. To that end, we jumped at the chance to ride the new F 800 GS at the RawHyde Adventures Rider Challenge in Castaic, California. Throughout the event, we also had access to the 1200, allowing us to ride the two adventure bikes back-to-back over similar terrain. Wanna know how they compare? Read on.

Gallery: Review: BMW F 800 GS

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First Ride: BMW F 800 GS takes on the RawHyde Adventure Rider Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 May 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Milan 2007: BMW finally unveils the F800 GS

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Motorcycle

click above image to view more pics of the BMW F800 GS

BMW has extended its GS range with the new F800 GS adventure-style bike... and it's about time! We've been hearing rumors about this particular machine since just after the original F 800 bikes were initially launched. Time will tell if this new smaller, gentler GS will be worth the wait, but initial impressions are favorable. Featuring an engine based on the parallel-twin from the F-Series is a good start, and the new trellis-style chassis, Marzocchi 45mm inverted fork with an attached 21-inch spoked rim keep the good news rolling.

If all of the above sounds good to you, we hope that propping yourself 34.6 inches above terra-firma doesn't give you vertigo, although you can get an inch lower with an optional seat. Regarding the questionable 'bird-that-just-got-knocked-in-the-head' look of that front end, well... that's BMW Motorrad for you. They've been giving their bikes that one-big, one-small eye quizzical face for a few years now and we're getting used to it. We could also get used to venturing off the beaten path whenever we feel like it, so we're genuinely pleased to see BMW offer this model for sale here in the States.

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: BMW F800 GS

Milan 2007: BMW finally unveils the F800 GS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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