The BMW R 1300 GS has just gone on sale in India at a starting price of Rs 20.95 lakh. The bike replaces the R 1250 GS, which was the king of the segment.
BMW has come up with a brand new engine, chassis and suspension for the R 1300 GS. The highlight of the bike is the new 1,300cc, liquid-cooled, boxer engine. It makes 145bhp at 7,750rpm and 149Nm at 6,500rpm and is linked to a six-speed gearbox. In terms of features it has ride modes, traction control, electronic suspension and the top model gets adaptive cruise control.
BMW has made the bike more powerful than its predecessor, added more features while maintaining the core aspects of easy rideability and off-road ability that make a ‘GS’ what it is, as we discovered during our first ride in Ladakh.
Here are the other alternatives to the BMW R 1300 GS.
Ducati Multistrada V4 (starting at Rs 21.48 lakh)
The Multistrada V4 is akin to a sportsbike on stilts. The bike’s Granturismo V4 engine makes 170hp and it propels this big ADV to serious speeds in no time. The techno wizardry is on another level with the amount of customisation on offer. The ‘S’ and the ‘Rally’ versions feature electronic damping and preload adjustment, the ride modes are tunable to a larger degree than other bikes in the segment and this was the first bike to feature adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection systems. Moreover, the Multistrada V4’s handling belies its size and makes for a properly fun ADV.
Triumph Tiger 1200 (starting at Rs 19.39 lakh)
The Tiger 1200 was Triumph’s answer to the BMW R 1250 GS. It’s modelled on similar ethos and that’s evident in the engine’s performance, the upright riding position and the features on offer. Triumph’s T-plane crank technology in this 1,160cc, inline-triple engine gives it good tractability and a distinct sound which grows on you with time. It also makes for a great long distance mile muncher and spending hours in the saddle is both comfortable and entertaining, given the long legs of this engine. The handling is great as well but the relaxed footpeg position will have you ground the pegs at serious lean angles. The Tiger 1200 offers the best VFM in the segment.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 (starting at Rs 24.64 lakh)
The big American manufacturer's answer to the ADV segment came as a surprise to many. And we mean that in a good way. The bike’s unique design language, its sheer size and the punch of its 1252cc V-twin brought a new flavour to the table. Being Harley’s first ADV, they have done a pretty good job in coming up with a bike that punches above its weight. No pun intended.
The engine’s power gives it some seriously quick 0-100kph and 0-200kph times and it is capable of covering many miles in a day, without a hiccup. The big twin, however, runs pretty hot in typical Indian traffic and that could be a bit of a concern for some. Also, while it is capable of handling the demands of riding off-road, it doesn’t have the finesse of its competition, partly because it is a heavy motorcycle. All said, the Pan America is good alternative to the traditional ADVs in the market.
