2021 BMW R 1250 GS And R 1250 GS Adventure First Look Preview

BMW released its R 80 G/S in 1980, ushering in an era of bikes that proved to be quite lucrative. More than just fancy dual sports, these touring enduros provided riders admirable performance both on and off road, and with each passing year, they became more and more sophisticated.

An entire segment now exists for these machines, but BMW still sits as a top-tier adventure-touring manufacturer for many riders around the globe thanks to its R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure. And in honor of the 40th anniversary of the GS line, BMW has opted to give the mounts a little extra in 2021.

Related: 2019 BMW R1250 GS Adventure Second Ride Review

In late 2018, BMW revealed that it would be giving the R 1200 GS a significant revamp, bumping the boxer twin’s displacement up from 1,170cc to 1,254cc. It also introduced ShiftCam technology to the platform, which controls valve timing and stroke via a two cam setup that actuates automatically based on throttle position.

Editor’s Note: Read our assessment of the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure’s performance in the 2019 BMW R1250GS Adventure First Ride Review.

In practice, that meant better performance from a snail’s pace to the top of the rev range. Our long-term tester was quite impressed with the seamlessness of this new setup.

So it comes as no surprise that the basic architecture and function of the engine and chassis remain unchanged. The sheen has barely worn off the new hardware, after all. So BMW decided to give riders more choice in how the bike performs by adding an Eco ride mode as standard. It joins Rain and Road riding modes and provides the best possible fuel economy for the rider. You’ll get a notice on the TFT display that you’re maximizing your fuel efficiency.

Dynamic Traction Control will also come standard on these models, helping to improve your grip even at a lean. Integral ABS is another safety system that will now come standard, working with information gleaned from your ride mode and current ride position to optimize braking performance.

Both will also be available in a sharp black and yellow colorway for those who want to make an even bolder statement on the road.

Of course, it wouldn’t be BMW without a huge roster of optional upgrades. From electronic enhancements like Pro riding modes, next-generation Dynamic ESA, and Hill Start Control Pro, to a new adaptive lighting option that swivels the headlight to point through a corner, there is a lot to explore. Handlebar risers, rider and passenger seat heaters, intelligent emergency call electronics, function-integrated indicator lights, and a whole host of other add-ons really allow you to create a unique R 1250 GS if you’ve got the cash.

But even in stock trim the R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure are looking better than ever, and it’s likely their popularity isn’t going to wane anytime soon.