Mention “adventure bike” among rider circles and chances are they will tell you that the BMW GS series is one of the most sought-after machines for going where no ordinary motorcycle can go. GS means Gelände/Straße, German for “off-road/road,” and this famed family of motorcycles has taken brave riders across the globe and continually set the bar for performance, comfort and safety.

The GS has also been the platform from which BMW’s innovations in motorcycle technology have been showcased, such as the Paralever swingarm in 1987 and the use of electronics in engines and rider aids. To date, BMW Motorrad has sold more than 1.2 million GS units all over the world.

To celebrate four decades of adventuring, BMW Motorrad has just launched these limited-edition GS models. The G310 GS, the F750 GS, the F850 GS, the R nineT Urban GS, the R1250 GS and the R1250 GS Adventure all receive the 40th-anniversary treatment with exclusive liveries and a comprehensive list of features.

With prices starting at P320,000, the G310 GS is BMW’s entry-level adventure model. Standard equipment includes ABS, ride-by-wire, adjustable brake and clutch levers, LED headlight and indicators, stainless-steel exhaust, and a luggage rack. The 313cc single-cylinder engine is rated at 34hp. With a low curb weight of just 158.5kg, the G310 GS is an ideal bike for exploring back roads.

The middleweight F750 GS and F850 GS come with dynamic traction control, LED headlights and indicators with DRL, adjustable brake and clutch levers, full-color TFT display, selectable riding modes, quickshifter, keyless ride, and tire-pressure control. The former gets black wheels, while the latter has gold alloys.

Both bikes use an 853cc parallel-twin engine but tuned differently. The F750 is rated at 77hp at 7,500rpm and 83Nm at 6,000rpm. Meanwhile, the F850 produces 95hp at 8,250rpm and 92Nm at 6,500rpm. The F750 GS is priced at P855,000, and the F850 GS goes for P975,000.

BMW’s modern classic, the R nineT Urban GS, looks absolutely smashing with its yellow-gold highlights, over/under exhaust, gold-spoked wheels with off-road tires, and Option 719 cylinder-head covers. It also gets heated grips and hand guards, as well as a “Dirt” riding mode. Power comes from a reliable 1,170cc flat-twin rated at 110hp and 116Nm, mated to a constant-mesh six-speed gearbox and a single dry-plate clutch. For P1,275,000, the R nineT Urban GS promises an old-school flavor of adventure.

The pinnacle of the series is the R1250 GS pair. The standard variant starts at P1,645,000, while the Adventure version with long-travel suspension retails for P1,795,000. Its colorful accents include black-and-yellow Option 719 cylinder-head covers, a yellow windscreen, and gold handlebars and wheels. Both bikes come standard with dynamic stability control, dynamic brake control, hill-start control, keyless ride, a quickshifter, adjustable suspension, and various riding modes. The full-LED headlight features adaptive cornering function and cruising light. Despite weighing 245kg, the R1250 GS enjoys a reputation for solid, stable handling thanks to a low center of gravity afforded by its flat-twin engine. The 1,254cc motor is rated at 136hp at 7,750rpm and 143Nm at 6,250rpm.

These limited-edition GS bikes will only be available for 2021 until supplies last at authorized BMW Motorrad dealers. Each comes with a five-year (or 500,000km) warranty.