2024 BMW R1300GS Lighter Weight And New Tech

Officially unveiled at BMW’s Berlin Motorrad plant, the new bike is a huge step-up over its predecessor, which has remained largely unchanged since 2013 - so much, in fact, that BMW itself calls the newcomer the ‘Next level GS’. At its heart is a virtually all-new engine, which retains the GS’s characteristic boxer twin layout but gets a capacity and performance boost to 145 horsepower, making it by the most powerful BMW boxer so far while at the same time lighter and more compact.
These same themes of less weight and smaller size are, in fact, consistent themes throughout this new R1300GS and represent a reversal of modern adventure bike trends.
A point underlined by R1300GS project manager Jochen Beck during the presentation for the new bike. “Another thing we wanted to achieve with the new BMW R 1300 GS was to stop the trend of getting bigger and bigger - and in fact we managed to reverse this trend,” he said. “Our team achieved a significant reduction in weight and dimensions, resulting in an extremely focused and lean GS. The bike’s engineering is packaged as compactly as possible, using innovative design and manufacturing methods.”
With your appetite suitably whetted here are the full details on this critical new bike.
At the heart of the new R1300GS is its enlarged, uprated boxer twin engine, which is virtually brand new compared to its predecessor in the R1250GS.
Not only is it enlarged from 1,254cc to exactly 1,300cc with a larger bore and shorter stroke for increased revs but there are larger valves, a higher compression ratio and a revised version of the ‘ShiftCam’ variable valve timing system introduced on the previous 1250. The result is a significant hike in peak power from the previous 136 horsepower to 145 horsepower still at the same 7,750rpm plus also increased peak torque of 149Nm at 6,500rpm compared to the previous 143Nm at 6,250rpm. Interestingly, BMW also claims fuel consumption is barely affected.
Just as impressively, the new motor has been redesigned to be more compact and lighter. By repositioning the gearbox to be under rather than behind the engine the combined unit is not only significantly shorter but lighter, too, saving 3.9kg. On top of this, the shaft drive unit has also been completely redesigned, saving another 2.6kg.
BMW’s ‘more compact, lighter’ approach with the new R1300GS has also resulted in radically revised chassis. The more compact engine is carried by an equally all-new sheet metal ‘shell’ main frame, which prioritises packaging and size and is also claimed to offer higher levels of stiffness, plus a new die-cast aluminium rear sub-frame.
The more compact dimensions, lighter weight (overall weight reduction is 12kg) and extra rigidity works hand in hand with the R1300GS’s new EVO Telelever front and EVO Paralever rear suspension, which BMW claims is more controlled and precise to enable improved handling and road holding.