Holloway ratings
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Full specs
Will your feet reach?
The BMW R 1300 GS has a 850mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Range against similar bikes
Real-world range from tank size and typical economy, against the bikes closest to it in weight and type. Out on the lanes, fuel stops are often further apart than on a road ride.
Range only. Hard off-road riding and headwinds use more fuel, so plan fuel stops with margin.
Tyres that fit the BMW R 1300 GS
It runs a 120/70-19 front and a 170/60-17 rear, on Metzeler Tourance Next 2 from the factory. 28 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
Compare the BMW R 1300 GS
What we actually found
Owners report that the R 1300 GS carries its mass remarkably well thanks to the low-slung boxer layout, giving it surprisingly light feet-up balance on open gravel tracks and dry lanes. The seamless electronic suspension and low-end torque are major highlights. However, trail riders emphasize that on narrow, deeply rutted UK lanes, its 237kg bulk, wide cylinder heads, and 19-inch front wheel make recovery high-stakes and physically exhausting.
Pros for green laning
- Low-slung boxer balance: the horizontal cylinder layout positions the 1,300cc engine's mass down low, giving surprisingly poised low-speed balance on open trails.
- Tractor-like low-end grunt: 149Nm of torque allows the bike to pull from near idle without feathering the clutch across stony inclines.
- Sophisticated Enduro electronics: Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA) and Enduro Pro riding modes optimise traction and off-road ABS slip automatically.
- Effortless highway link sections: 145hp and premier weather protection make long-distance transit miles between trail networks completely effortless.
Cons and limitations
- Extreme weight on wet trails: at 237kg wet, dropping this machine into a slippery mud rut or peat bog creates a severe physical recovery challenge.
- 19-inch front / 17-inch rear wheels: wheel sizing restricts dedicated knobby tyre choices and does not roll over square-edged steps as cleanly as a 21-inch wheel.
- Exposed cylinder heads: cylinder heads stick out wide, risking impact on rocks, gateposts, and high-banked ruts unless shielded with heavy protection bars.
- Costly repair vulnerability: high replacement costs for plastics, radar sensors, and complex sub-assemblies raise the stakes of dropping the bike on rocky lanes.
Sources: BMW official technical data, Bennetts R1300GS review, Motorcycle.com spec sheet.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
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