BMW R1200S August 2006 (Source: BikePoint)
BMW's new-generation sport twin has, on paper, all the goodies to make it hell of ride. So how does it stack up on the road? Greg Leech from Motorcycle Trader mag went along to the launch to find out...
BMW has fired its most serious shot ever in a bid to capture a slice of the hyper sports market by launching to the world's press the R1200S. Following on from the successful R1100S (which sold in excess of 30,000 units worldwide) the bike features the most powerful production Boxer powerplant ever offered out of the Berlin-based factory.
The bike complements BMW's seriously capable range and offers it the opportunity to play in markets it has previously only touched on - the hyper sports category. And make no mistake. This thing is quick, and quick where it matters. It gets out of corners with the spring of a hunting puma and that's where the time is gained in spirited road going. Forget all that guff about screaming redlines and 45 grams shaved off last year's model. 'Fast' is to be found in midrange torque numbers. At least on the road. And that's where we ride isn't it?
The bike claims 122 hp at 8800 rpm (the tallest redline of any Boxer offering ever), and 12.4 kg-m of torque at 6800 rpm. The R12 weighs in at a competitive 190 kg which adds up to an impressive 1.7 kg per horsepower. Those are serious sports numbers right there.
The compression ratio is now up to 12.5:1
which is a record high for an oil and air-cooled unit. The manifestation of all
that squish is buckets of torque at low and midrange engine speeds. After a
day's riding out of
The improved performance can also be sheeted home to five millimetre larger throttle bodies that deliver the fuel/air mixture via a variable transmission system. In simple terms, the delivery is not linear, rather constantly electronically updated to provide optimum fuelling across the rev range.
The bike now features more aggressive steering geometry, with a 24 degree steering rake and 87 millimetres of trail, which sets off the increased wheelbase of 1487mm (up from 1478 on the R1100S).
High lean angle ability of 52 degrees is achievable and clearance therefore will not be an issue.
BMW builds the most rider-friendly motorcycles on the planet. When it comes to ergonomics, competitors should grab this bike, measure the various relationships (seat to pegs, seat width, screen height to helmet position, knee-bend, forward cant, arm height, reach to bars) and replicate them. They are just about as good as it's going to get.
There seems to be a slow awakening among BMW's peers that this is the case and sports bikes are becoming more comfortable as a result, but it has been a long time coming. BMW is to be congratulated on this. The 1200S is sporting, no doubt, but you could ride it to the moon and get off it without heading to the nearest apothecary and ordering a gross of hospital grade Deep Heat. Big marks.
The bike was tested with the optional Ohlins suspension set-up, and, while this is a little unfair when it comes to attempting to represent the bike in standard trim, the fact is, the chassis works delightfully.
In light of testing the bike's suspension capabilities, it has to be said that the route out from Cape Town utilised very well-surfaced tarmac (the roads in South Africa are amazingly well-constructed), but motorway running was like riding a magic carpet and tighter mountain passes, highlighted how well-suited the Ohlins arrangement is when matched to BMW's fabulous Telever/Paralever set-up.
Handling is a
The screen offers good protection but pillions are only reasonably catered for. The lack of a fuel gauge is a big oversight for mine. It looks lovely and is built like a BMW. There is the usual huge range of quality BMW options available for the bike, the highlights of which are a six-inch rear wheel that will happily take a 190-section rear tyre (quite a feat for a shaft drive bike), and Ohlins suspension for both front and rear.
Time will tell, and the market will make its own choices, but for mine this is an outstanding motorcycle and represents a big improvement on what was already a good bike.
Features at a Glance:
Engine:
Transmission:
Chassis and Running Gear:
Dimensions and Capacities:
Performance:
Price: $21,000-21,750 depending on colourchoice
Colours: Night black, White Aluminium, Yellow, Red/Titanium Silver