BMW GS The Complete Story

Author: Phil West, Hardbound, 160 Pages, ISBN: 9781847979278, Published, 2015

BMW's GS, currently in R1200 form, not only defines and continues to be the market leader in the 'adventure bike' class; just over thirty years ago the original, the very first R80G/S, actually created the category, too.
Yet it could all very easily never have happened at all. In the late 1970s when the concept of 'off-road' was historically strait-jacketed to the sub-500cc single class, BMW's roadster-derived 800cc dirt bike, a shaft-driven twin, was at first seen more as a comical oddity than a revolution — until the world's press rode it for the first time at its official launch in Avignon, in September 1980.

The story since is every bit as compelling and remarkable. A tale of ever-growing sales, sporting dominance, constant evolution and the repeated introduction of world-leading technology.

Along the way, radical engineering concepts such as 'Paralever' are introduced, world sporting events, such as the legendary Paris—Dakar are conquered, inspirational tales of world-trotting adventure, such as Long Way Round with Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor are told, and an ever-growing army of fans are won over.

The whole story is told for the first time here in BMW GS — The Complete Story. Internationally acclaimed motorcycle journalist and author Phil West chronicles not just the history of this famous bike, but also the stories of the men and women behind and aboard this iconic machine.