Yes, it's fugly, get over it.
But Starship Enterprise isn't as much fun.
Althought this bike is touted as BMW's latest, greatest Boxer-Tourer, it is SO much more. ( I've not got the panniers on my loaner so I can't comment on them, suffice to say that they're a new design so nothing else will fit :unfair: ). Chuck the RT through a set of twisties and you'll come out the other end shocked and amazed that such a heavy bike will flick so quickly, a quick twist of the the throttle and you're away too. There is a certain tendancy for the bike to feel as if it is wanting to understeer, but I find that is typical of heavier machines and it's something you can ride around easily. The engine is not as torquey as previous incarnations, oddly, but it revs well which is good because the pulling power is well above 4K. Slow speeds need a lot of gear-changing, one of the liabilities on this bike it has to be said, the gearbox is clunky as any BM, but with only 800 miles on the bike it may ease off.
Commuters will be glad to know that the bike is as easy to filter on as the previous 1150RT, the mirrors are the widest part of the bike, and once you've finneagled them through a gap the rest will slip through like velvet over smooth skin, and the far better than I expected steering lock helps no end. The bike is heavy though, so very slow speed manoeuvring needs subtlety to prevent having to dab a foot.
But the sheer capabilities of the bike are not the greatest joy to be taken from it. The Toys are where it's at.
The fully-loaded RT has cruise control, electronically adjustable suspension, heated grips AND seat, adjustable screen, and the CD/Radio.
a gently weaving A29 is soooo much fun at 80 with just your left hand on the bars with some decent rock blaring out of the 4-way speaker system! I had to physically restrain myself from giggling incessantly on the journey to work this morning, the looks from scooters attempting to filter up the A3 could only be described as shock as this behemoth of a motorcycle slipped through narrow gaps while deafening them with Steppenwolf. :D:D:D ALL the controls are easy to reach whilst on the move, Seek and Volume control, and a Mute button are on the left handlebar, whilst the rest of the buttons are neatly integrated into the left side fairing inner, giving easy options of CD, AM, FM, Tone controls, Power, manual/memorised stations seek and memory functions. There is also an Aux and Intercom option (although I've yet to find the input jacks.
). The speaker system is powerful enough to be heard clearly up to 80 or so but loses out to wind roar a little above these speeds. It also graduates the volume automatically depending on speed, which is just cool The pillion provision seems to be very accomodating, although the heated seats don't seem to extend to pillions (it may be disconnected, I haven't checked under the seat yet), and I'm assured that the stereo can still be heard well.
One problem that the 1150RT had was with it's aerodynamics, especially where the adjustable screen was concerned: two up and at it's greatest height it would promote a duet of head weaving that could upset the bike. The 1200RT does not have this problem at all, which I was very glad to find, although the screen is so big that the curves at the top can get into your eyeline and affect your vision,so I've been adjusting it slightly down to dimish that and it works well.
The only other issue I could find with the screen is that at full lift during darkness it would reflect the lights of the instruments, which was rather disrupting to one's forward view.The other issue I have with the bike is the very wooden and unresponsive brakes. Naturally the RT is equipped with BMW's latest ABS/Servo/Evo brake system but I really don't like it very much. The is so little feel at the lever it's impossible to tell what the front brake is doing and cancels out the better brake feel that is a normal benefit of the Telelever front suspension system. The brakes also seem to struggle slightly slowing the bike down, which is not impressive and makes the think that either the pads have glazed or the servos need more power.
The electically adjustable suspension (ESA) appears to be the same kit as optionally fitted to the K1200 series bikes, allowing stationary adjustment of preload (1 rider, 1 rider with luggage, 2 riders), and adjustment of damping (Comfort, Normal and Sport) whilst on the move. On a bike this large the difference between the damping settings is hard to guage, but the preload adjust is very handy if you don't take a pillion every trip.
As a tourer it's great, the riding position is comfortable, with an easy, fairly short reach to the bars (not tillers as on the K1200LT thankfully!) and the seat is well damped. The cruise control works very well, you can adjust your speed up and down in 1mph increments using the controls, and if you want a burst of speed to get past a cage, the throttle can be opened for more go without changing the cruise setting, but it will automatically release controls if the brake or clutch levers are touched.
But it also scores very highly as an A-road bomber and city-bike, it's mix of stability from it's weight and flickability from it's geometry combine to make it a killer filterer. I'd love to take it on a Surrey Scramble and see how it did - the 1150RT was good if not brilliant on tiny back-roads as long as you didn't over-do the approach speed to blind corners, the 1200RT should be very similar.
Overall, from me, 8/10 - If I didn't ride so many little tiny lanes, and enjoy having a virtually unfaired bike, I'd be owning one: it's that good.
It's loosing two points for the brakes and the looks - it's the first bike I've ever seen that manages that very difficult trick of being uglier in the garage than it is in photographs. :unfair:
Simon.
