Touching up an icon like the BMW R1200GS is no easy task and so the German company has decided to go all out and just rebuild the whole thing, including fitting out its world-famous adventure tourer with a brand new water–cooled engine.
These new R1200GS spy shots published both by MCN and MotorcycleUSA show that new water–cooled engine thanks to some mechanical upgrades that show themselves, like the exhaust port at the base of the engine and the hint of a radiator fan.
The most interesting point of the new water-cooling exercise for the R1200GS is not that BMW wants to improve on power.
The model already has 110 hp, which is more than respectable.
Rather, sources say that BMW is interested in other benefits that water cooling can provide like reduced noise and emissions, and more comfort for the rider.
The BMW R1200GS will also get significant chassis updates, a new drive train and updates to the final shaft drive and exhaust – the latter’s canister will swap sides on the bike with the shaft drive.
If the radial-mount calipers in these spy shots remain, the GS will also get updated brakes, but these are minor details compared to the shift to water cooling.
In fact, seeing BMW move away from its long love affair with the air-cooled boxer twin confirms just how good the competition in adventure tourer models has become.
While BMW claims no power increase is being pursued, we would see it only as a benefit anyway, as the R1200GS gets an overhaul against the Ducati Multistrada and Yamaha Super Tenere.
As we hope to see the new BMW R1200GS at the 2011 EICMA show, let the games begin on the adventurer tourer front.