2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure – First Look

It was no real secret after launching its all-new R 1300 GS last year that BMW would follow it up with a longer-distance Adventure variant. That’s been the pattern with every recent iteration of the big GS, and true to form, BMW has now officially announced a new R 1300 GS Adventure for 2025, introducing a bulky new look, optional Automated Shift Assistant, and plenty of fastening points to mount luggage and other accessories.

No matter which angle you’re looking at it, your eyes are drawn to the large 7.9-gallon aluminum fuel tank. There really is no way to hide something so bulbous, so BMW leans into it, highlighting the tank with embossed GS logos and leaving two visible welding seams in front of the seat area. The top of the tank is covered with paneling with integrated fastening points for a tank bag, with the lower attachment point allowing for the bag to easily swivel upwards for easy access to the fuel cap. BMW shaped the “shoulders” of the tank to be relatively flat and covered them with non-slip rubberized trays for holding small items like a grande latte small tools during a quick stop for repairs.

The R 1300 GS Adventure employs a taller windscreen than the regular GS, supplemented by two side deflectors, with an available upgrade to an electrically adjustable screen. Nestled between the windscreen and the headlight is a small spot for housing a forward radar system, which enables the optional active cruise control and front collision warning. A rear-facing radar unit enables the optional lane change warning system.

The 1,300cc Boxer engine is similar to the one introduced on the R 1300 GS, claiming 145 hp at 7,750 rpm and 110 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm, both improvements over the R 1250 GS which claimed 136 hp and 105 lb-ft. of torque. Along with the higher peak numbers, BMW claims noticeably higher torque across the rev range, and between 3,600 and 7,800 rpm in particular. The engine uses a mix of air and liquid cooling, with BMW’s ShiftCam variable intake cams.

The six-speed transmission is now located beneath the engine, helping to reduce the overall length and weight (with BMW claiming a savings of 8.6 pounds). The transmission is matched with a 10-disc wet clutch with anti-hopping mechanism.

The new powertrain layout likely helped with packaging the additional parts for the optional Automated Shift Assistant (ASA) for fast gear changes without the need for a manual clutch lever. The system uses two electromechanical actuators, one to operate the clutch and the other performing gear changes.

ASA offers two modes: the manual “M” mode and the automated “D” mode. In M mode, the rider controls gear shafts using a traditional foot lever, but leaves the actuator to handle the clutch. In D mode, shifting points are selected by the engine control unit and transmission control unit, factoring in ride mode, engine speed, throttle position and lean angle (with the rider still able to make manual shifts as needed). BMW says ASA performs fast, smooth shifts, eliminating the Newton’s cradle bounce between rider and passenger helmets caused by the sudden jolt you can get when upshifting with a regular manual gearbox.

The chassis consists of a compact sheet metal shell main frame with a lattice rear frame made of hexagonal extruded aluminum tubes and forged parts. The subframe was designed to offer comfort for both rider and passenger over long distances, and to support luggage. The standard seat height is adjustable from 34.3 to 35.0 inches, but the R 1300 GS Adventure offers a choice of two optional Adaptive Vehicle Height upgrades.

The regular Adaptive Vehicle Height Control lowers the bike by 1.2 inches at a stop, bringing the seat down to 33.1 to 33.8 inches. Alternatively, you could opt for the Adaptive Height Control Comfort add-on, which is customizable between automatic, permanently high or permanently low seat heights, and reduces the overall height by 0.8 inches, giving you a height of 33.5 to 34.2 inches when the bike is in motion and 32.3 to 33.0 inches when coming to a stop.

Along with the adjustable seat height, BMW offers a choice between standard and comfort handlebars, and 10 degrees of handlebar angle adjustment, providing riders of different sizes options for optimizing the ergonomics. BMW equips the GSA with enduro rider footrests designed for off-road riding, and comfort enduro passenger pegs for long-distance comfort. Naturally, BMW offers a range of accessories for further customization.

The R 1300 GS Adventure comes standard with an EVO Telelever front suspension, EVO Paralever rear suspension, and the latest electronic Dynamic Suspension Adjustment system.

The R 1300 GS Adventure comes standard with cross-spoke wire wheels with aluminum wheels, or you could opt for the enduro forged wheels, which BMW claims to be 4.0 pounds lighter. In either case, you get a 3.0 x 19” up front and a 4.5 x 17” at the rear, the same sizes as the regular GS. The front wheel comes equipped with dual four-piston radial-mount calipers and 310 mm discs, while the rear uses a single floating two-piston caliper and 285 mm disc. As with the R 1300 GS, BMW Motorrad Full Integral ABS Pro and with Dynamic Brake Control come standard.

Other features include a 6.5-inch TFT display, smartphone connectivity and a ventilated phone storage compartment. The R 1300 GS Adventure comes standard with both an on-board power socket and a USB-C port.

For 2025, BMW offers four model variants:

For a sportier look, the Style GS Trophy variant comes in Racing Blue metallic paint with solid Light White and Racing Red stripes contrasted with textured powder-coated Avus black metallic aluminum pieces. Unlike the other variants, the Style GS Trophy has a flat seat, putting rider and passenger on the same level. Continuing with the sportier theme, this variant also comes standard with a shorter sport windscreen without the side deflectors, lower profile passenger grab handles. Other features include black grilles protecting the radiator and auxiliary lighting, mounting points on the radiator cowl, and aluminum tank trays with additional docking points for other accessories.