BMW has announced a new Adventure version of the F800GS, providing a more off-road-oriented version of the middleweight dual-sport. BMW has offered an Adventure version of the R1200GS for a while now but this is the first time BMW has done the same for one of its smaller GS models.

Like the base F800GS, the Adventure version is powered by a liquid-cooled 798cc four-valve parallel-twin engine. BMW claims  a maximum output of 84.5 hp at 7500rpm with 61.2 ft-lb. of torque at 5750rpm, identical to the base model’s claimed figures.

The tubular steel frame is also identical but the rear subframe has been modified to support the 6.34-gallon under-seat fuel tank which is 2.11 gallons larger than the base F800GS’ tank. According to BMW, the larger fuel tank should increase the F800GS’ range by 75 miles.

Other changes include GS Adventure styling, a new bench seat, a larger windscreen, hand protectors, wider footrests, an adjustable, reinforced rear brake lever, engine bars and a pannier rack which also provides protection for the fuel tank. Continue Reading »

BMW Motorrad announced the winners of its “Ride of Your Life” contest, giving five people the chance to travel on a worldwide tour on the new R1200GS.

The five winners are Stephanie Rowe, a 25-year-old enduro racer who works in the motorcycle accessories industry in the U.K., Herbert Unger, a 50-year-old German metal worker, Alessio Cigolini, an Italian who loves riding through Tuscany, Salvador Echevarría, a 41-year-old businessman from Spain, and Stephane Gautronneau, a 39-year-old fashion photographer from France.

The five winners were selected for their sense of adventure, ability to work as part of a team and physical fitness by a panel of celebrities including actors Adrian Brody, Rick Yune and Charley Boorman and Paris-Dakar winner Jutta Kleinschmidt. Continue Reading »

BMW announced its four-member celebrity jury panel for its globe-spanning “Ride of Your Life” R1200GS adventure contest. The panel is comprised of Academy-Award winner Adrien Brody, Paris-Dakar Rally winner Jutta Kleinschmidt, actor Rick Yune and noted motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman.

The panel will select five winners for the “Ride of Your Life” contest (also known as the “One World, One GS” contest) to promote the new 2013 BMW R1200GS. Each winner will tackle one of five legs of the around-the-world tour: Laos, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.S. and Europe.

The four jurors were selected to represent four different qualities BMW attributes to the R1200GS: Sport, Adventure, Action and Style. The five winners will be selected based on how well they represent these four traits. Continue Reading »

BMW is marking the launch of its new R1200GS with a contest offering five riders a chance to ride the new GS on one of five international tours.

The “One World, One GS” Tour will give five riders the opportunity to be one of the first people in the world to ride the 2013 BMW R1200GS. The tour will take place over five continents: Asia through Laos, Africa through Botswana and South Africa, New Zealand, America through the southwestern states, and Europe from Madrid, Spain to BMW‘s home in Munich, Germany.

Interested candidates can register in the One World, One GS contest at www.bmw-motorrad.com/gs and completing a questionnaire explaining why they should be selected for one of the five rides. The contest is open to anyone with a valid motorcycle license and a passport with experience riding both on- and off-road. Continue Reading »

BMW has unveiled a new more off-road oriented version of the G650GS.

Named for a dry backlands region of northeastern Brazil, the 2012 BMW G650GS Sertão adds longer-travel suspension and wire-spoke wheels to make it a more capable machine for off-road adventure riding.

The Sertão’s 41mm fork offers over 210mm of travel compared to the regular G650GS’ 170mm. The rear suspension also offers 210mm of travel, compared to 165mm of travel on the base G650GS. The Sertão also has a longer wheelbase at 1484mm, compared to the regular model’s 1477mm.

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RawHyde Adventures, of Castaic, CA. however, offers an education in off-roading with an opportunity to apply what you learned in real-world circumstances. After attending one of their two day courses, participants can opt for extra credit in the form of the Base Camp Alpha Adventure. This consists of a two day City Slickers-esque adventure through the world famous Mojave Desert on bikes such as the F650GS, F800GS and R1200GS. Program attendees will put the skills they learned into practice by negotiating rough and unstable terrain.

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