BMW R1200RT Review
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BMW R1200RT The BMW R1200RT is the latest in a long tradition of motorcycle tourers from the company. Although the Bavarian manufacturer has recently branched out a bit from just its traditional product lines, most notably with the addition of the supremely brilliant S1000RR to the stable, they are still famous for their road-devouring machines, and are still the ones to beat for comfort and reliability. This new version of their flagship tourer is more than just a facelift - it comes with a new powerplant, and in our opinion the cosmetic changes are spot-on.
The first thing to strike me about the R1200RT is that, despite its size, it weighs in at only 229kg, which is not bad for a tourer traditionally considered quite big. This is a substantial improvement over BMW's earlier 1150 model - more than 40kg, and also an improvement on the previous 1200RT. As someone who has had to pick up a fully laden R1150RT in the sand, this a an incredibly welcome change. Because sometimes you have to do a few miles off the beaten track... The engine is, like the new R1200GS, adapted from the HP2 Sport. This gives it slightly more torque throughout the whole rev-range, though not at the top. The maximum revolutions is up from 8000rpm to 8500rpm, and my experience riding the BMW tourers has been that you will seldom need more torque that high up. Make no mistake - this is not a sport bike, and likes building the revs in a controlled way. But even cruising a 100 mph in sixth, you won't need to downchange to get another 20mph out of it fairly quickly. Still, it's gratifying having an extra bit of oomph at 3000rpm when you're climbing a mountain pass at altitude fully loaded with a passsenger. Does one really need much more when touring on a motorcycle? Really high speeds do tire you out more, apart from the added risk of crashing and getting speeding tickets. The boxer engine has quite a reputation, and most BMW-fanciers will swear by it. Sure, the engine is an improvement on the previous version, but what about touring comfort? Because, let's face, the Beemer is not the cheapest ride out there, and needs to justify its price tag. The CD-player has been updated to an iPod interface, which means no more pannier space is wasted by a CD changer (the radio also offers 24 pre-set stations). The windscreen works quite well, except for the very tall, and is easily adjusted. Riding position is, as on all RTs, extremely comfortable. Honestly, if I had to cover a thousand miles in one day, there would be no bike I'd rather do it on. And it won't cost you that much either, since at 80mph the bike averages more than 43mpg of fuel. BMW has received very positive attention for their Electronic Suspension Adjustment II system. The latest version is installed on the new R1200RT and, most significantly, allows you to change on the fly. The BMW's suspension can be switched to the firmer Sports mode as soon as you encounter a lovely twisty piece of road, without getting off. This shows how much the traditional tourers are bridging the gap with the sports-tourers, and partially relieves the temptation to buy another motorcycle for those days you just want a half-day of twisties. Everything considered, it's not a massive change from BMW, but it's still a welcome one. The fairing looks better than the previous version, and although I'm still not a big fan of the front light, it does look a little better. And which motorcyclist will ever complain about less weight and more power? The legend of the boxer tourer marches on.
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