Best Motorcycle
http://www.motorcycle.com/best-motorcycles-2013.html
The R1200GS in its previous form was not only a class leader, it had also become an icon in the motorcycle world and was the de facto bike of choice for far-flung adventures, making it also a leading choice among those whose escapades occur much closer to home.
So when it was revealed that the next GS would contain no parts of the older Gelande Strasse, GS-ophiles held their collective breath, fearing BMW might lose the plot with its new-from-the-ground-up replacement, including its new liquid-cooled Boxer engine.
Dread was unnecessary, as BMW has knocked it out of the park with its wasser-Boxer. The new GS has all the positive attributes that made its predecessor so venerable, but it’s also added nearly 15 horsepower (with no loss of low-end grunt) plus the incredible Dynamic ESA, a semi-active suspension system that automatically adjusts damping circuits to provide a magic-carpet ride in every possible situation.
It’s out on the road – any road – where the GS shines brightest. It excels wherever it’s ridden. It’ll scythe through traffic on your way to work, and it can play in the dirt on weekends. The GS will speedily cross state lines in comfort, and adding saddlebags from an extensive array of options will ensure you won’t have to leave anything behind. An adjustable windscreen deflects air to suit the rider and conditions, while nicely tuned traction control and ABS enhance safety. For its vast scope of capabilities in a ruggedly handsome package, it’s difficult to imagine a better one-bike-in-the-garage choice. And for these reasons, BMW’s R1200GS earns our Motorcycle of the Year award.
Best Off-Road/Adventure Motorcycle
http://www.motorcycle.com/best-off-road-adventure-motorcycle-2013.html
Not since an Honorable Mention in our 2010 Bike of the Year awards has BMW’s R1200GS made this list. Not that it wasn’t deserving of honors, but we’ve been enamored with the 800cc middleweight dual-purpose bikes such as BMW’s own F800GS and Triumph’s Tiger 800. The GS has been so good at its intended purpose, in fact, that the 2012 model handily won our 2012 Adventure-Touring Shootout. With the introduction of the all-new R1200GS, it’s no surprise the OG A-T bike not only wins our Best On-Off-Road category but also our Motorcycle Of the Year award.
With a new precision-cooled Boxer engine producing more horsepower and torque, an electronics package including switchable ABS and TC, R-b-W and optional Dynamic ESA, the off-road icon entered 2013 with a clear advantage over its competitors. Despite all its newness, the BMW managed to maintain the balance of off- and on-road qualities that’s kept the GS as the benchmark in this category for so long.
The R1200GS is the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycling – there is almost nothing it can’t do. KTM’s all new 1190 Adventure is just around the corner, and early reports have been glowing. But in 2013, no other motorcycle can match the GS’s incredible versatility and its horizon-stretching capabilities.
Best new technology
http://www.motorcycle.com/products/best-new-motorcycle-technology-2013
Semi-Active Suspension
It’s a rare event when the introduction of a new feature to motorcycling results in a paradigm shift of what’s possible, but the roll-out of semi-active suspension among several European manufacturers is an advancement that changes how we think about wheel control.
Our first taste came during BMW’s HP4 launch last September at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Dynamic Damping Control uses Sachs components to automatically adjust damping every 10 milliseconds based on data feeds from throttle position, velocity, gear position and the traction-control system, including its bank-angle sensors. DDC worked well at Jerez, but the smooth racetrack wasn’t much of a challenge.
Next up was Ducati Skyhook Suspension tested on the Multistrada S one month after the HP4. Like the BMW, DSS uses a Sachs fork and shock with electronic solenoid valves to actively alter damping circuits depending on vehicle data. Tested on a multitude of road surfaces, the semi-active circuitry was especially impressive. DSS supernaturally ironed out large bumps while keeping taut control when being ridden aggressively, and it wonderfully limits longitudinal forces during hard braking.
A few months later came the introductory ride on BMW’s all-new R1200GS, including its optional Dynamic ESA. Also based on Sachs componentry, Dynamic ESA’s semi-active suspension works similar magic as the Multistrada’s, providing adaptable damping appropriate to the current riding conditions.
We’ve performed follow-up testing on all three of these machines, and the efficacy of semi-active suspension has made us true believers in this technology. Although currently available on only high-end motorcycles, the technology is relatively affordable. Of the cost of the HP4’s system, BMW reps didn’t balk when I hypothesized a 500 euro value, so we’ll surely be seeing similar systems on more bikes in the near future.
More comfort when you want it, and more control when you need it, performed automatically and without thought or action from a rider. Once you try it, you’ll never want to go back.
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