R 1200 GS

2004 BMW R 1200 GS Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around BMW's allround motorcycle platform, the 2004 BMW R 1200 GS utilizes a 1170 cc (71.4 cu in) oil & air-cooled two cylinder boxer, four-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 98 HP (71.5 kW) at 7,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 115 Nm (84.8 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 83.8 HP per liter and a 1,500 rpm working window between peak torque (5,500 rpm) and peak power (7,000 rpm), the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the R 1200 GS measures 199 kg (439 lbs) dry, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.49 HP/kg (2.03 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 840 mm (33.1 in) seat height — resulting in a taller command-style riding posture suited to medium-to-tall inseams, combined with a 1,641 mm (64.6 in) wheelbase engineered for planted straight-line stability. The 20-liter (5.3 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 4.5 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 444 km (276 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 200 km/h (124 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 15 indexed model years from 2004 to 2019, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.