The big news for 2019
is a capacity increase
for the parallel twin,
adding an extra 55cc
and bringing the engine
capacity to 853cc
or 2019 BMW has given its middleweight
lineup of GS machines a total revamp,
pretty much from the ground up. The
big news for 2019 is a capacity increase for
the parallel twin, adding an extra 55cc and
bringing the engine capacity to 853cc. Also,
the cylinder firing pattern has changed to 270
degrees, which BMW says is to make the bike
feel and sound better to throttle inputs. Power
is up to a healthy 70kW (95hp) and torque is
up too, to a solid 92Nm at 6250rpm – which
puts it into Honda Africa Twin territory… which
is somewhere we’re sure BMW is directly
targeting with the latest machine.
Looking beyond the new engine capacity
and crank configuration, the chassis has had
something of a birthday as well. The under-
seat fuel tank, an experiment which BMW
started with its F800GS back in 2008, has been,
unexpectedly, shown the bin and now there’s
15 litres of fuel residing in the traditional
position between the riders knees, behind
the steering head. This obviously puts more
weight at the front end of the bike, and there’s
definitely a correspondingly more secure feel to
the front wheel because of it.
As might be expected from a premium brand
and model, technology levels on this bike
are extremely high. In the digital mix you get
cruise control, TC and ABS (both of which
can be switched off on-the-fly), a TFT (Thin
Film Transistor) colour screen that displays
absolutely everything, DRL (Daytime Running
Lights) from the flash-looking, newly designed,
but still isometrically-shaped headlights,
multi-level heated grips – probably the best
available, quickshift/shift assist, power modes,
electronically adjustable rear suspension,
centre-stand and a slipper clutch. I’m sure there
is more… but my pre-millenial brain can’t cope
with so much digital.
KIWI RIDER 29