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Report: Three decades of the GS
An unusual success story began exactly
Up to 1987, the G/S Twin Valve 800 was
30 years ago. The story of the most suc-
almost unchanged in its design, then it was
cessful enduro bikes of all time.
suddenly replaced by three models. Its
direct successor was the R 80 GS, now
Hardly any other motorbike manufacturer
without the forward slash(/), but with a
has such a long history in off-road racing as
Paralever instead. This prevented the noto-
BMW. The Bavarians started their off-road
tours very early on, in May 1923, for exam-
ple, with a prototype of the R32 on the "tour
through the mountains of Bavaria". Whether
it was in the Six Days or the German Off-
road Championship, BMW was always one
of the leading participants. The victory in
the German Off-road Championship in 1979
was a milestone. It gave the motorbike divi-
sion at BMW enough impetus to be able to
launch the R80 G/S a year later, which was
a sensation at the time. A two-cylinder
enduro bike with a Cardan (shaft drive) and
single sided swingarm, but suitable for trav-
elling like a tourer. Despite its considerable
weight of fully 190 kilos, the G/S was for
many people a genuine all-rounder, fast on
tarmac and suitable for all tracks in the
world. In 1981 and 1983 Hubert Auriol won
the Paris-Dakar Rally on it, GS rider Gaston
Rahier was almost equally successful.
The very first (original) GS - the R 80 G/S. At that time, "G/S" stood for "Gelände/Sport" ("Off-road/
Sport"). Photo: Gastair
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1994: Erich Wunderlich and the brand new R 1100 GS during the first test runs in Spain
rious load change reaction caused by the
shaft drive. Even more successful was the
second successor, the R 100 GS. Only one
year after its launch, it had become the top
selling motorbike in Germany. The R 100
GS, which was full of character, also
1085cc 80 HP boxer engine, the 1100 left
the showroom over 43,000 times over the
following six years. This was a huge suc-
cess, despite, or perhaps because of, its
unusual design and impressive size. Almost
immediately, there was a R 850 GS, identi-
cal apart from the engine. Although it was
reported that it had a smoother engine, its
sales remained marginal.
The twin-valve GS, on which the Belgian Gaston
Rahier won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1985. Today
Used to the size of the now powerful boxer
the bike is kept at the "Deutsches Zweirad- und
NSU-Museum". (German motorcycle and NSU
GS, hardly anyone was worried in autumn
Museum).
1999 by the appearance of the successor to
Photo: Joachim Köhlerr
1987: Erich Wunderlich with his R 100 GS, on his
In 1999, the first evolutionary stage in the
travels through the Alps.
4V-boxer emerges with the R 1150 GS!
appeared in 1989 as a "Paris Dakar" (PD)
special edition. A 35 litre tank, fairings fixed
to the frame, a larger engine cover and
some additional modifications allowed its
owners to dream of riding through Africa.
Quite a few GS bikes actually found their
way there, it was a particular favourite of
long-distance travellers. BMW only made
the unpopular R 65 GS, which had 27 less
F 650 GS (Single): The "small" GS is a winner
HP, for a short time.
with its light weight and low seat height
With these three models, the very success-
ful range of twin-valve boxer engines came
the 1100, the R 1150 GS. On the contrary, it
to an end. They ceased between 1994 and
was a winner and led the registration statis-
1996 and it seemed that their success
tics in Germany from 2001 to 2003. Its
could not be surpassed. But that was far
asymmetrical double headlights and the
from the truth - with the first four-valve GS,
striking, broader "beak" provided plenty to
the R 1100 GS, launched by BMW in 1994,
discuss over a beer in the pub. On country
the next successful coup was guaranteed.
roads, Alpine mountain passes and count-
Now equipped with the unbeatable Telelev-
less dirt tracks around the world, it was the
er front-end suspension and a powerful
undisputed number one, along with the
Adventure model, and could only be finally
unseated by one machine, the BMW R 1200
GS.
In 2004 in South Africa, the curtain rose on
a new, completely re-designed GS. Not only
the appearance changed completely, the
specifications ensured lighter weight and
more power. The R 1200 GS had hardly
appeared on the market before it too
Our R 1100 GS from 1994: Despite many tempt-
ing offers, we have held on to our 1100 and it still
became a top seller. A large group of faithful
gives us a lot of pleasure!
The 2004 R 1200 GS
fans continued to opt for the R 1150 GS,
however, albeit in the long-distance Adven-
ture model. This was discontinued in 2006,
when the R 1200 GS Adventure was
launched, a powerful bike, the ultimate driv-
ing machine for the world globe-trotter.
Now, the R 1200 GS is in the thirtieth year
of its existence and, with a slight face-lift, it
is available again in new models. With the
brand new DOHC engine, the power plant
now delivers 120 Nm at 6,000 r.p.m. with an
output of 110 HP. Figures of which, when
the R 80 G/S, the first large BMW enduro
bike, was launched thirty years ago, no one
would even have dreamt.
And when this fantastic giant enduro bike,
which offers so many all-round qualities, is
then modified with the individual accesso-
ries from the Wunderlich range to meet the
very specific needs of its owner, it really
does justice to its title - the king of the big
enduro bikes.
F 800 GS: Finally another affordable off-road GS
for long-distance travel
The 2010 R 1200 GS as a special Wunderlich
"Neckam" model
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