BMW R 1300 GS Offroad Endurance Testing in Africa

[@klausnennewitz]

By the way: during the 2024 BMW GS Trophy in Namibia (see other videos here on my channel) I rode the standard GS with 190 and 200 mm suspension travel front/rear for a seat height of 850 mm. Onestly I was surprised how well the bike performed on the desert tracks of Namibia, I could hardly notice a difference to the bike I rode in Morocco with 210 and 220 suspensin travel and 870 mm seat height, juts the reduced ground clearance was sometimes noticeable. In fact, I had the impression that the lower bike perfromed better in the very deep and sometimes bottomless sand and through the dry river beds in Namibia. So I would say that both configurations work +/- the same offroad. If you are not a pretty tall hardcore offroad rider, the lower bike would probably be your better choice.

[@Slov_]

This video convinced me to go back to the GS platform. I had a 2018 1200GSA for 5 years. Great bike but the appeal of the 890 ADV R got me. I tried it out and ended up being disappointed in a few areas that made me start missing my GS. I’m looking forward to my 1300 GS, in this exact configuration, coming in the next few months! Love to see stuff like this! Thanks for the great video and congrats on finishing the rally!

[@casonbmx]

I’m considering this bike and the 890, but I was looking at them as very different tools. What specifically do you want that the 890 doesn’t have? Thank you for your help.

[@Slov_]

@@casonbmx For me it was functionality. I'm a taller guy at 6'1. The 890R on the road was tolerable with a clip on wind screen, but in order to do the hard off road stuff I would have to ride on road for a decent distance. I even tried putting the 890S windscreen on. That helped stabilize the buffeting from a stock enduro screen, but at minimum I would have to use a clip on PUIG wind screen or the 890S windscreen to make the highway riding to and from work or the trail tolerable. At minimum, 30 minutes to an hour to get to the trail. Maybe it was just me, but the wind noise/ buffeting was intolerable even after trying those two. It made me not enjoy riding on the road, which is a part of the adv riding journey. The GS, was and has been more comfortable on road. I have knee issues due to army time and the tighter position of the 890R for that riding really killed me knees and back issues, even though I'm only 28. Thats what Airborne Infantry does to you, haha. So, for me it was a combination of health reasons, comfort reasons, and function. Hopefully that helps.

[@El-matador787]

Thank you and that is how you ride a bike... Hard and like you stole it... Great work on this documentary.

[@DanikPico]

Perfect job Klaus 👌 i would like to see some longer pov onboard video ☺️ its a dream riding Morocco with GS ❤

[@maxflight777]

Klaus , best wishes.. you are strong and an incredible rider.

[@procche]

Fascinating the way you ride this bike here ...compliments👍

[@David.W99]

Great video Klaus. Really loved it. :)

[@jayschesser3795]

Excellent review and video.

[@billness2635]

Just put one in our rental fleet. Personally, I put an order in for a GS900 Enduro to replace my KTM990. I wouldn’t use either one in Morocco though! I have a KTM450exc for that! Love Morocco! I tested a Yamaha T7 World Raid there last spring where it did well, except for the dunes.

[@Angry-Lynx]

Gs900 for ktm990? That's gay. And I'm KTM hater

[@billness2635]

@@Angry-Lynx Agreed! I’m currently 1500 miles into a 2500 mile ride to the Arctic Ocean and I have reaffirmed my commitment to the 990 as the better bike! Sorry BMW!

[@jhonmotors.oficial]

Maravilha de conteúdo parabéns 👏🏻🇧🇷

[@maxflight777]

2:36 that’s a great rider .. Husky 701 rider ?

[@bcuzicancuellar5478]

Awesome review! Ride safe…

[@organisateurbassou6240]

You are a great person

[@j.bin_genex1927]

superior riding skill

[@maxflight777]

Is there a link for the rally ?

[@klausnennewitz]

lamasrally.com/ I am trying to be there again...

[@maxflight777]

6:40 you are a super rider. Well done for stopping exactly on the crest! When I ride in sand, I either stop short, or hit the crest with too much speed. It can be dangerous.

[@zzxx33mh]

..its still new, time will tell..but it will have + impact on ADV world..

[@Robertin69]

Offroad con 260kg??? Estamos locos

[@zwartkawasaki7]

Hello Klaus great video. I went to Tunesia with my BMW see my cusom gs you tube foto's "bmw R 1300 gs special"

[@RaceBert]

145ps… 136ps hatte die alte GS Die 9 ps waren es wohl, die doch die Düne Hoch geschoben haben 😛

[@klausnennewitz]

Ouh Mist! Danke für die Rückmeldung...

[@hueyvan2007]

Sounds like a BWW advert to me. I own a GS but these glowing reviews are always suspicious. Or maybe Klaus wants to keep in the good grace of BMW... maybe just maybe.

[@NachoGS]

Or maybe the new 1300GS is an astonishing bike, and that's something really hard to admit by you. Maybe. I've ridden it and it really is something else. A piece of master engineering

[@hueyvan2007]

@@NachoGS I own a GS ... not the 1300 though. I have ridden one for a few hours. I was not blown away. Only marginally better than the 1250.. it's really not that good , be honest and stop being a fan boy

[@hueyvan2007]

@@NachoGS astonishing .... it certainly is not

[@NachoGS]

@@hueyvan2007 my first test ride on the 1300GS was bittersweet too. Even though it felt slightly more powerful and refined compared to the 1250, I found it too different in certain areas, and too similar to 1250 in other aspects. But later I got the chance to test it more comprehensively, and the improvement is massive in suspension, chassis, as well as the motor. You don't realise until you really put the bike to a demanding test on twisty roads and off road. Then back to the 1250 and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

[@klausnennewitz]

Thanks for your comment. I think, it's not really easy to understand a new motorcycle after a short test, because it depends a lot on your personal shape and mood of the day. Generally, I always try to test a bike on 2 different days. Better if you try it for one week or even two as I did in the desert. I have just expressed my experience with the GS 1300 and I am ready to challenge ANYBODY with a similar riding level like mine on any different ADV bike during next years edition of the Lamas Rally in Morocco to compare their peformance with that of the GS!