On June 21, 2023, the 1 millionth GS with boxer engine rolled off the production line at the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin-Spandau – an R 1250 GS. BMW motorcycles have been produced in Berlin since 1969 and GS models with a boxer engine have been around since 1980.
If you have the idea of encountering a GS at every corner of the battle, then that is not surprising. Since the launch of the R 80 G/S in 1980, exactly 1,000,000 have rolled off the production line.
Or is that a lot? When you consider that in 2021 Triumph welcomed its 1 millionth motorcycle since its resurrection in 1990 and Ducati’s 1 millionth Ducati was a fact in 2014 – which was the total production of both brands – then that is certainly impressive.
From the other side. At the beginning of this year, the 1 millionth KTM rolled off the line at Bajaj in India, which will only be produced there from 2013, in 2012 Suzuki celebrated the 1 millionth GSX-R (which was only put on the market in 1985), while in October 2017 the 100 millionth Honda Super Cup rolled off the line. In 2019, Honda celebrated its 70th anniversary with the 400 millionth Honda.
What makes the 1 millionth GS impressive, however, is the fact that the vast majority of those 1 million stem from the post-global credit crisis, before then high potters were not popular at all. The GS really took off in 2013 when the first water-cooled R 1200 GS was launched.
“With the R 80 G/S and its unique combination of on- and off-road suitability, everyday qualities and long-distance touring capability, BMW Motorrad created the new segment of Reise Enduros in 1980. The BMW GS with boxer engine became an icon, which worldwide success in this segment. In fact, the BMW GS became a legend and at the same time an indispensable cornerstone in the BMW Motorrad model range.
Its extraordinary talents, such as dynamic driving performance, muscular off-road qualities, superior long-distance comfort and enormous robustness, have since been continuously developed by BMW Motorrad and transferred to other BMW Motorrad model series with great success.
I am therefore very pleased that today, and especially in our anniversary year “100 Years of BMW Motorrad”, we can contribute an important milestone to the company history of the BMW Group with the one millionth BMW GS motorcycle with boxer engine. I am equally pleased that the unique history of BMW Motorrad models with boxer engines will soon be complemented by an exciting chapter with numerous innovations with the new R 1300 GS.”
The one millionth BMW GS with a boxer engine is an R 1250 GS in Triple Black Style and was celebrated on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at a working meeting at the BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin-Spandau.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.