First endurance test for our BMW R1300 GS

The outcome is a review that falls somewhere between a test and a travelogue. A pure test would delve into all the technical features and performance data, which Nasty Nils has already covered extensively in his reports. On the other hand, a leisurely trip would involve fewer highway miles and more exciting riding experiences and route suggestions. Therefore, we kick off our journey with the BMW Enduro R1300 GS, starting from Barcelona early on a Saturday morning. In Spanish terms, this means setting off shortly after breakfast coffee, which was only available at the hotel from 8 a.m., a luxury I didn't want to miss out on.

The BMW Enduro still retains its distinctive Boxer engine sound, as it should. I must admit, I had some doubts due to a few enthusiasts' comments. Setting off towards Girona on the highway, I cover a few kilometers. The windshield smoothly adjusts to its highest position, thanks to the electric mechanism - of course, this feature is included if selected from the equipment list. The folks at 1000PS have conveniently linked this function to the up/down arrow buttons, eliminating the need to navigate through menus - a thoughtful touch. Wind protection is excellent; even at high speeds, there are no bothersome helmet turbulence issues for my 1.75m frame. The knee angle and seat comfort are also spot on, as expected from a GS model: you feel at ease in the saddle right from the start.

Highway? If you must. It definitely requires cruise control. The new BMW Enduro also introduces adaptive cruise control for the first time, with radar support at the front and rear. A fantastic comfort feature that will be greatly appreciated on long rides, as it automatically adjusts speed when a slower vehicle is detected in front of you and then accelerates back to the set speed once you change lanes or have clear road ahead. It operates smoothly and seamlessly, controlled by a small lever on the left handlebar, adjusting in kilometer increments or - with longer pressure - in ten km/h increments. The blind spot assistant works just as smoothly, using a small light signal in the rear-view mirrors to clearly indicate when a vehicle to the left or right behind you is moving in the same direction, without being overly intrusive. This is a crucial safety feature, although I still find myself instinctively checking over my shoulder before changing lanes or overtaking. It is worth noting, however, that the cruise control unexpectedly deactivated a total of five times during the three-day trip. While the display indicated "Cruise control deactivated", it was still frustrating, especially since there was no clear pattern as to why it was happening. Initially, I suspected that the radar may have been disrupted by trucks on either side of me, but later instances occurred even without other vehicles nearby.

After leaving Girona, it's time to hit the road again. I head towards Roses, then make my way to the charming coastal town of Cadaques, where Salvador Dali once resided, and finally reach Cap de Creus, the easternmost point of mainland Spain. The road becomes winding, and the BMW Enduro I'm riding handles with remarkable agility and ease of maneuvering. With a robust torque of 149 Newton meters, it exudes a sense of control at all times, whether you find yourself in the wrong gear or utilize the 145 hp to power through the curves. It feels slightly more sporty than the R1250 GS, although the latter is not lacking in sportiness either. Equipped with a quickshifter that allows for seamless gear changes, the BMW Enduro has seen significant improvements over its predecessor, now rivaling top competitors like Ducati, KTM, and Triumph. As I approach the Cap, the starting point for the ACT Pyrenees, I have the road almost to myself, accompanied only by the GS. Upon reaching the lighthouse, I take a closer look at this new star in the touring enduro world. The distinctive X-shaped headlight may divide opinions, but personally, I prefer it to the asymmetrical lights of its predecessor. While the large radar sensor may not enhance the motorcycle's aesthetics, the side profile is up for debate. The tubular frame of the 1250 had a more distinctive look compared to the new version with a sheet metal main frame and bolted-on rear frame made of die-cast aluminum, giving it a more standard touring enduro appearance but also contributing to weight savings.

After spending some time enjoying the coastal road and taking in the beautiful views, I hopped back on the highway and headed towards France on the BMW Enduro. My goal was to reach Avignon, known for its stunning papal palace, and then continue a few kilometers further to Carpentras, where I found a cozy place to spend the night and savored delicious French cuisine. The next morning, I skipped breakfast to hit the road early towards the Gorges de la Nesque, a breathtaking gorge that was a joy to ride through. The road varied in quality, with a few short gravel stretches, but the GS's semi-active suspension handled it all smoothly - top-notch precision. The new Telelever system also performed flawlessly, possibly allowing for higher cornering speeds, although I personally missed some of the feedback provided by traditional upside-down forks. Nevertheless, I relished the ride, avoided the snow-covered peaks, and had a blast carving through corners for the remainder of the journey, focused on devouring the miles ahead on the BMW Enduro.

As a motorcycle journalist, I was tasked with translating this text corpus into English for a report on a BMW Enduro. Here is my translation:

When I found myself already north of Avignon, my journey led me further towards Switzerland. There, the comfort feature of adaptive cruise control quickly becomes a safety feature: it helps to avoid speeding violations, which could quickly break the budget of an Austrian journalist there. This also had a positive effect on fuel consumption: Through Switzerland, the BMW Enduro only consumed 4.9 liters per 100 kilometers, on other sections of the tour it was up to 6.7 - on average 5.8. In combination with the tank, which has shrunk by one liter to 19 liters compared to its predecessor, this results in a range of not quite 330 kilometers per tank of fuel for my riding style. After the second full day in the saddle in a row, I would give the seat of the BMW Enduro a satisfactory rating - comfortable in itself and top ergonomics, but after more than seven or eight hours in the saddle, at least for me, my backside starts to complain, which is not the case with every motorcycle. I found accommodation right next to the highway near Bern, and the next morning I woke up to rain. Heavy rain. At first it took me a while to activate the heated grips and seats in the depths of the menu. Unfortunately, you can only assign one function to the up/down switch, but in this weather the windshield remained in the highest position anyway, which is why it was now free for the heating. Three levels are available, the highest on the seat is only ever recommended for brief warm-ups, otherwise you will literally burn your backside. The grip heating, on the other hand, could easily cope with level three when it was raining and seven degrees, at least in sections.

The fact that I was on the road without a sat nav from just after Bregenz had nothing to do with the BMW Enduro, but with the fact that my Garmin Montana 700i, which I like to mount on the handlebars for test bikes, ran out of battery after four or five hours of riding and I didn't want to connect the power bank stowed in my breast pocket in the pouring rain like I usually do. No problem if you know the area - so I just carried on towards Munich, then Salzburg and home... For whatever reason, I actually managed to turn off onto the freeway in Munich towards Garmisch Partenkirchen and only realized this in the rain just before reaching the popular winter sports resort. This resulted in a detour of well over 100 kilometers and gave me a stretch of German Alpine road through Bad Tölz in the direction of Salzburg. A pleasure in better weather, but at least a good opportunity to properly test the new Michelin Anakee Road for its rain performance. The wind and weather protection on the BMW Enduro could hardly be better. Which is why I arrived home quite relaxed on Monday evening after a total of 1,238 kilometers despite riding a good 800 of the 1,100 kilometers on the last day in the rain.