BMW R 1200 GS K50

BMW
Model code K50, manufactured in 2016
R 1200 GS
Manufacturer	BMW
Sales description	R 1200 GS
Production period	2013 to 2018
class	motorcycle
design type	Travel enduro
Motor data
Air / water-cooled boxer engine with two cylinders
Displacement  (cm³)	1170
Power  (kW / PS )	92 kW (125 hp) at 7750 min -1
Torque  ( N m )	125 at 6500 min -1
Top speed (  km / h)	219
transmission	Claw-shifted six-speed gearbox integrated in the motor housing
drive	Cardan drive
Brakes	front Ø 305 mm double disc brakes, rear Ø 276 mm disc brake
Wheelbase  (mm)	1507
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm):	2207 × 952.5 × 1412
Seat height (cm)	85/87
Empty weight  (kg)	238
Previous model	BMW R 1200 GS (K25)
successor	BMW R 1250 GS

The BMW R 1200 GS is a motorcycle made by Bayerische Motoren Werke . The travel enduro was presented on October 3, 2012 at the Intermot two-wheeler fair in Cologne. Sales began on March 2, 2013. Like all models in the R series, the motorcycle is powered by a boxer engine and is finally assembled at the BMW plant in Berlin in Spandau . The model designation GS means terrain / road , the internal factory code is K50 . The sales name remained unchanged.

On October 7, 2013, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure (K51) , which among other things has a larger fuel tank and longer suspension travel, based on the K50, was presented in an official press release .

development

At the beginning of 2007, project manager Toine Ruhé took on the task of developing a completely new GS. In order to meet future requirements such as more power and torque, lower consumption and better emissions, a complete revision of the drive concept was necessary. The classic “flyline” should be retained. Viewed from the side, the GS draws a lying S, which extends from the beak over the tank, through the bench to the rear. Within seven years, under the direction of chief developer Josef Miritsch, BMW completely redesigned the engine, engine cooling, chassis and drive train .

construction

drive

The air and water-cooled two - cylinder four-stroke engine generates a nominal output of 92 kW (125 PS) and a maximum torque of 125 Nm at a speed of 6500 min ⁻¹ from a displacement of 1170 cm³ . The two opposite cylinder of the piston engine having a bore mm by 101, the piston has a stroke of 73.6 mm at a compression ratio of 12.5: 1. The two gear-driven overhead camshafts in the two cylinder heads controlled by cam follower two inlet and two exhaust valves. The rocker arms were taken over from the superbike BMW S 1000 RR . During the starting process, a centrifugal governor lifts an exhaust valve in order to reduce the compression to be overcome for the electric starter. Due to the design, the flat engine is smoother than other two-cylinder engines due to the symmetrical movement of the two opposing pistons. Due to the more constant thermal behavior, the dimensional tolerances could be selected closer and engine noise reduced.

The crank drive is lighter and turns clockwise in contrast to the previous model. The crankshaft drives the water pump at the front and the alternator at the rear. The shaft is connected to the clutch basket via a pair of gears. The counter-rotating clutch neutralizes part of the tilting torque typical of horizontally mounted boxer engines. The oil pump has two rotors. One rotor generates the oil pressure for the lubrication of the main and connecting rod bearings, the second for the clutch and engine cooling.

Starting at a speed of 2000 min ^-1 is a torque of over 100 Nm. The motorcycle accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 219 km / h.

Power transmission

The primary drive takes place via gears. The power is separated by a hydraulically operated anti-hopping clutch , the torque conversion by a claw-shift, helical gearbox with six gears. The secondary drive takes place via a cardan drive .

Electrics

The starter battery has a capacity of 12 Ah and supplies the electric starter . The on-board electronics communicate via a LIN and CAN bus with the Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA, electronic suspension or chassis adjustment ), with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and the Automatic Stability Control (ASC). The throttle commands are electronically converted into the corresponding throttle valve positions . The alternator generates a nominal electrical output of 580 watts. BMW offers an optional LED headlight with integrated daytime running lights.

Fuel supply

The mixture is formed by an electronic fuel injection with digital engine electronics (BMS-K +). Each cylinder is ignited by a transistor-controlled spark plug. BMW indicates the average fuel consumption of 5.5 liters per 100 km at a speed of 120 km / h. The fuel tank has a volume of 20 liters, of which 4 liters are in reserve. The theoretical range on country roads is 417 km.

The manufacturer recommends using unleaded petrol with a knock resistance of at least 95  octane . The exhaust aftertreatment is carried out by a regulated three-way catalytic converter and is below the emission limit values ​​of the Euro-3 emissions standard . The 2-in-1 exhaust system ends on the right side in a stainless steel rear silencer with valve control.

landing gear

The chassis is based on a torsion- resistant lattice frame made of steel tubes and has a single-sided swing arm made of cast aluminum with paralever at the rear . In contrast to its predecessor, the rear frame is not welded but screwed on. The front wheel is guided by a Telelever with a 37 mm standpipe diameter and 190 mm travel. A three-stage, electronic suspension adjustment (ESA ) and vehicle dynamics control ( Automatic Stability Control, ASC ) are optionally available. The three-part front support made of magnesium alloy consists of the cockpit instruments, the windshield, the lighting device and the "beak". The permissible total weight is 450 kg.

A double disc brake with four-piston brake caliper from the Italian supplier Brembo decelerates on the front tire, and a disc brake with a single-piston floating caliper at the rear . A standard anti-lock braking system supports the deceleration on both brakes. The motorcycle decelerates from 100 km / h to a standstill with an average of 9.8 m / s² and requires a braking distance of 39.3 meters.

Model development

Compared to the previous model with the factory code K25, the nominal output has been increased by 11 kW (15 PS) by changing the engine configuration, which means that the K50 accelerates 1.9 seconds faster from 0 to 200 km / h than the K25. The maximum payload has been increased by 11 kg to 212 kg. The air / oil-cooled boxer engine of the K25 was already running very lean and therefore very hot due to strict emissions regulations, which is why the engine of the K50 now has 1.2 liters of coolant flowing through it at the particularly hot spots. 65 percent of the heat from the engine is dissipated by the airflow. The water-cooled motor is less thermally loaded than the previous air-oil-cooled design. In the front area, the side panels conceal the two radiators for the water cooling installed in front of the air filter box.

GS with optional engine protection bar

Factory code	K25			K50
Sales description	R 1200 GS	R 1200 GS	R 1200 GS	R 1200 GS	R 1250 GS
Vehicle key	0307/0317	0303/0313	0450/0460	0A01 / 0A11	0J91 / 0J93
Construction time 1	2004-2007	2008-2009	2010–2012	2013-2018	from 2019
Nominal power [kW / PS]	72/98	77/105	81/110	92/125	100/136
Max. Torque [Nm]	115		120	125	143
cylinder	screwed on			cast on
Cooling medium	78% air, 22% oil			65% air, 35% water
Flow through	horizontal			vertical
Valve train	hc, rocker arm		dohc, rocker arm
Maximum speed [min −1 ]	7800	8000	8500	9000
Spark plugs per cylinder	2			1
Knock control	No		Yes	No	Yes
Throttle	mechanically			electronically
Inlet valves Ø [mm]		36.35	39	40	52
Outlet valves Ø [mm]		31, 00	33	34
Exhaust flap	No		Yes
coupling	Single slices, dry			Multiple discs, in an oil bath
transmission	separately			integrated

¹ The model change at the BMW Spandau plant usually takes place in October.

The air box was moved in front of the bench and the air filter box received a snorkel to increase the fording depth . The previously flanged six-speed gearbox was integrated into the engine housing. A hydraulically operated, face-mounted oil bath clutch with eight disks and an anti-hopping function replaced a single-disk dry clutch. A downdraft flows through the combustion chambers vertically and not horizontally as in the previous model, so that more air flows into the combustion chamber and the injection nozzles are now aimed directly at the intake valves. The water-cooled boxer engine does not need a double ignition or knock sensors and can be filled with normal gasoline. The BMW product manager commented on the model development with the words: "Only the name has remained the same." ( Reiner Finks )

Market positioning

The base price at launch was 14,100 euros in the European Union and 15,800 US dollars in the United States. In the course of 2013, however, the price list was changed: At the time of the market launch there were five different equipment packages, some of which were not compatible with each other. This often led to confusion among customers and ordering a fully equipped vehicle was practically impossible. BMW countered these problems by increasing the basic price in mid-2013 by 300 euros to now 14,400 euros and reducing the equipment packages to three, which are also compatible with each other.

In the travel enduro class, the 1200 GS has an average engine capacity of over one liter. In the speed range up to 6500 min ^-1 of boxer engine has more torque than the competing models.

Color code Thunder gray metallic

Manufacturer	Surname	Engine type	Displacement [cm³]	power		Torque [Nm]
				[kW]	[PS]
KTM	1190 Adventure	V2	1195	110	150	125
Ducati	Multistrada 1200	V2	1198	110	150	119
triumph	Tiger Explorer	R3	1215	101	137	121
Honda	VFR 1200 X Crosstourer	V4	1237	095	129	126
Aprilia	ETV 1200 Caponord	V2	1197	094	128	116
Benelli	TreK 1130	R3	1131	092	125	112
BMW	R 1200 GS (K50)	B2	1170	092	125	125
Kawasaki	KLE 1000 Versys	R4	1043	087	118	102
Yamaha	XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré	R2	1199	081	110	114
BMW	R 1200 GS Adventure (K51)	B2	1170	092	125	125
Moto Guzzi	Stelvio 1200	V2	1151	077	105	113

The previous model dominated the German registration statistics from 2004 to 2012. In the first five months after the start of sales, 4,598 K50s were sold in Germany, almost four times as many as the second-placed Kawasaki ER-6n motorcycle . In 2018, the last year of construction of the R 1200 GS, 7304 units were sold in Germany, of the second-placed Yamaha MT-07 "only" 3199.w

Reviews

“The GS remains true to its weird basic idea of ​​adapting a funny, old concept to the future by force. BMW probably thinks they need all of these unique selling points in order to be able to sell the vehicle at the top of the registration statistics. "

- Clemens Gleich : Heise online

“It runs smoothly and has lost the shaking and shaking of its predecessor, not only in the short warm-up phase. Just 1.2 liters of water cool the engine, and only in the hottest places. In the old model, oil was the coolant - water can absorb twice as much heat. As before, almost two thirds of the heat generated is dissipated via the coarse cooling fins of the cylinder. "

- Peter Ilg : The time

“It is therefore astonishing, for example, that BMW competes with 'only' 125 hp against the sometimes much stronger competition. Of course, the horses on offer are sufficient in almost every situation. But with this performance, the BMW is now on the weaker side and only ranks ahead of Moto Guzzi , Yamaha and Kawasaki . It is clearly beaten by Ducati , KTM and Triumph ; the Honda Crosstourer with its magnificent V4 engine and the Aprilia are slightly above it. "

- Michael Pfeiffer : Motorrad , edition 02/2013

“The round barrel of the water boxer helps to keep one's balance, but if the wrong gear is selected, the heavy flywheel Adventure digs its way out of the speed mire a little more firmly. But on the road, these deepest depressions do not matter. And so the water GS rushes towards the end of the day, as if it wanted to demoralize sports motorcyclists today. "

- Gerd Stegmaier : Focus , comparison of the R1200GS K50 with the R 1200 GS Adventure K255

“No, the new GS is not perfect. The transmission is nasty, the clutch separates spongy, the cylinder head rings and the cardan thuds. Although these are not serious functional deficiencies, they are unsightly little things that reduce driving pleasure. "

- Carsten Heil, Christian Heil : Travel motorcycle

literature

• Maik Schwarz: Revolution 1200 GS . In: MO - Das Motorradmagazin (Hrsg.): BMW Motorräder - special issue . October – December, 2012, ISSN  0723-2616 (BMW MO).

Web links

Commons : BMW R 1200 GS  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Manufacturer's website
• Product information from the manufacturer
• Operating instructions (PDF; 2.3 MB)
• Clear explanation of the advantages of the boxer engine
• Tests of the BMW R 1200 GS at MOTORRAD online

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Jochen Vorfelder: Motorcycle Power Europe. In: Spiegel Online . October 10, 2012, accessed July 23, 2014 .  
2. ↑ Press kit: The new BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. In: press.bmwgroup.com. October 7, 2013, accessed July 23, 2014 .  
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Vic Mackey: G-ewinner S-road. In: bikerszene.de. May 5, 2013, accessed September 15, 2013 .  
4. ↑ ^{a b} Clemens Gleich: The new R 1200 GS is almost perfect. In: The world . April 2, 2013, accessed September 15, 2013 .  
5. ^ ^{A b c} Ralf Schneider: Dinner for Two . In: Motorrad BMW Spezial . No. 3 , 2012, ISSN  0027-237X , p. 12-19 .
6. ↑ ^{a b c} Maik Schwarz: Reise and Enduro . In: MO motorcycle magazine . No. 6 , 2013, ISSN  0723-2616 , p. 31 .
7. ↑ ^{a b c d} Peter Mayer: Model 2013 and 2012 in a comparison test. In: Motorrad , issue 6/2013. February 28, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013 .  
8. ↑ ^{a b} Benedikt Fuest: BMW is daring a revolution with the cult motorcycle GS. In: The world . October 4, 2012, accessed April 14, 2013 .  
9. ^ Ralf Bielefeldt: Risky monument preservation. In: Spiegel Online . March 11, 2013, accessed April 14, 2013 .  
10. ↑ Michael Kutschke: PS tester rides the new wild cow. In: PS-Das Sport-Motorrad Magazin, issue 3/2013. February 12, 2013, accessed July 29, 2014 .  
11. ↑ Uli Boeckmann: Upside Down (=  tourers . No. 11 ). 2012, ISSN  0933-4440 , p. 14-16 .
12. ↑ Maik Schwarz: Revolution 1200 GS . In: BMW Motorcycles special issue . October-December, October 2012.
13. ↑ ^{a b} Walter Wille: The beak of the world. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung . June 23, 2013, accessed September 15, 2013 .  
14. ↑ Kevin Duke: Reinventing a masterpiece. In: Motorcycle.com. January 29, 2013, accessed September 15, 2013 .  
15. ↑ heise.de of April 9, 2019 , accessed on July 6, 2019.
16. ↑ Clemens Gleich: The Cyborg. In: Heise online . October 1, 2012, accessed December 28, 2012 .  
17. ↑ Peter Ilg: The beak stays, the oil cooling works. In: The time . March 5, 2013, accessed March 28, 2013 .  
18. ↑ Michael Pfeiffer: All against the new GS. In: Motorrad , issue 2/2013. March 3, 2013, accessed March 20, 2013 .  
19. ↑ Gerd Stegmaier: Is Germany's most popular bike even better now? In: Focus . April 7, 2013, accessed June 21, 2013 .  
20. ^ Carsten Heil, Christian Heil: Summit meeting . In: Reise Motorrad . No. 5 , 2013, ISSN  0947-1375 , p. 85 .