The R 1300 GS Spoils You With Several Luxurious Elements
2026 BMW R 1300 GS cinematic front fascia shot riding away from the sunsetBMW Motorrad
The R 1300 GS replaced the R 1250 GS, so it surely had big shoes to fill. Accordingly, BMW has made sure to throw in some high-end elements here. The chassis, for instance, is one of a kind in the segment, built to shave off serious weight over its predecessor. The suspension follows the same brief, featuring the Paralever and Telever setup. Then, the 1,300cc boxer engine has technologies like variable valve timing to produce well over 140 horsepower.
As for actual tech, the base bike spoils you with:
- LED Matrix headlight
- Traction control
- Hill hold control
- Four ride modes (Eco, Rain, Road, Enduro)
- Cornering ABS
- Dynamic brake control
- Cruise control
- 6.5-inch TFT with connectivity
- Keyless ignition
- Heated grips
- Smartphone charging compartment
- TPMS
But True Luxury Costs More Money
BMW R 1300 GS switchgearBMW Motorrad
As good as that is, the package seems a bit off when you consider the $20,395 MSRP. And that’s when you realize BMW has kept the actual luxurious bits in its optional packages. You’ll need to spend upwards of $6,000 to unlock bits like a quickshifter, heated seats, adjustable riding modes, spoke wheels, and electronic suspension control. BMW’s new automatic transmission will add an additional $950.
Neither of these is available as a single accessory, either. You’ll just have to pay the full near-$27,000, even if you want one single luxurious addition. Do you give in and get bullied into this? Well, no. What you should do instead is consider the Honda we’re about to show you, which saves you a sizable $1,500 over the GS’s base price without cutting corners.
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The Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT Feels More Luxurious Than A BMW R 1300 GS
A rider cruising comfortably atop the 2026 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES, close-up shotHonda Powersports
Of course, we’re talking about Honda’s flagship Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT. Large name, we know. But it’s worth remembering, as this gets you a lot more luxury than the GS while costing $18,599 (~$1,800 less). This price difference rises to a whopping $8,000 if you want the same tech and features as the Africa Twin on the R 1300 GS via the optional extras.
In contrast, the Adventure Sports is so complete that you might not even need any of its official accessories at all. Even if you do, Honda will gladly sell you just what you need. For example, if you need a center stand, Honda charges just $211.95. Whereas, BMW only sells this stand as part of its GS Trophy Package, costing $6,335!
The Flagship Africa Twin Has Everything You’ll Ever Need For Your Adventures
Static shot of 2026 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports on an off-road trail, front third quarter cinematic shotHonda Powersports
Dive deeper into the Africa Twin Adventure Sports, and this is when you’ll realize just how good the package is. Every detail serves a purpose, ensuring you don’t feel the bike is lacking in any way. That’s how flagships should be, after all, and they shouldn’t force you to buy extra packages for thousands of dollars more.
Parallel-Twin Refinement With Usable Punch
A Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports cornering on a roadHonda
The powerhouse is the simplest bit here. You get Honda’s proven 1,084cc parallel-twin engine with an emphasis on usable performance rather than high-end numbers. So the compression ratio is low, and there’s a 270-degree crankshaft, both of which ensure an output of 100.5 hp and 82 lb-ft. Yes, that’s considerably lower than the R 1300 GS, but all that is concentrated at 7,500 and 5,500 RPM—both lower than the GS. Honda has also recently updated the internals to boost usability, which comprises the development of ECU settings, valve timing, intake, and exhaust.
A Proven Automatic Transmission Provides Effortless Riding
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT gearbox close-up shotHonda Powersports
Automatic transmissions might not be all the rage, but they minimize effort while riding. That’s why BMW had to jump aboard the bandwagon last year. Honda, though, has been doing this for way longer, which is why its DCT is way more proven and refined. In fact, Honda has made it better periodically. The latest refresh brings a retune “for smoother, more natural feel at low speeds.”
For reference, there are two modes for the automatic setting (Drive and Sport), alongside an MT mode for manual shifts via handlebar triggers. A ‘G’ switch is said to “reduce clutch slip, allowing the rider to more readily slide the rear tire via throttle input, in order to maneuver the bike.”
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Showa EERA Brings Comfort On All Terrains
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES automatic gearbox controls on the handlebar close-up shotHonda Powersports
Again, BMW wants you to pay extra for its electronic suspension control. But the flagship Adventure Sports attaches that to the semi-double-cradle steel frame as standard. It’s a more sophisticated setup, too, called Showa EERA (Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment). By monitoring the bike speed (from the ECU), the bike’s stance and attitude (from the Inertial Measurement Unit), and the fork behavior (from the stroke sensor), the suspension ensures you get the best damping for the riding conditions.
You also have four preset modes (Hard, Medium, Soft, Off-Road), while a User mode lets you fix the compression and rebound to your liking. As for travel on offer, the 45 mm forks and monoshock have 8.3 and 7.9 inches of travel, respectively. Both of these are higher than the BMW.
Weighs A Bit More Than The GS, But Gets You Bigger Fuel Tank And Spoke Wheels
2026 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES off-roading with a lady rider standing up and riding, rear third quarter viewHonda Powersports
With all the weight-saving measures, the R 1300 GS tips the scale at 523 pounds (curb). The Adventure Sports, in comparison, weighs quite a bit more at 559 pounds (curb). However, look deeper, and you’ll realize the Africa Twin has a much bigger fuel tank (5 gallons vs 6.6 gallons). You also get 19/18-inch spoke wheels as standard here, which add more versatility and weight. So the overall weight difference seems quite justified.
A Luxurious Set Of Features Spoils You
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES tft screenHonda Powersports
Last but not least, we have the long feature list. Electronic suspension and DCT aside, Honda has thrown in a six-axis IMU. This lets you enjoy six riding modes (Tour, Urban, Gravel, Off-road, User 1, User 2), seven levels of traction control (independent of the ride modes), three levels of wheelie control, three levels of engine brake control, and switchable cornering ABS. Cruise control and USB charging are present, too.
How do you access all these? Well, you get a 6.5-inch touchscreen TFT front and center. This has Apple CarPlay connectivity–a class-leading feature in the ADV space. Under this display lies another small LCD, which shows you the necessary information like speed and gear at all times. It should be quite handy when you’re enjoying full-screen map navigation on the TFT.
Source: Honda Powersports and BMW Motorcycles
