BMW R1200R: Old-school styling, cutting-edge technology
By
Bill Wood
BMW’s new R1200R is what you’d call an odd mix.
On the one hand, the basic layout of the machine is as
traditional as it gets—standard styling, upright seating, no bodywork,
twin cylinders. Superficially at least, this could be a ’70s-era
slash-5, especially in the available black paint with white pinstriping.
But underneath all that is a level of technology that
is, in some respects, beyond anything else you can buy. No, it doesn’t
come with a short-stroke engine that revs to 16 grand. But you do get
BMW’s unique Telelever front suspension and single-sided Paralever rear
swingarm, plus available options like electronic suspension adjustment
and BMW’s third-generation ABS, along with two new innovations: traction
control and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
 In
other words, it’s a high-tech machine with an old-school soul. And as I
found out over three days on the motorcycle, the combination is pretty
close to irresistible.
BMW invited journalists to sample the new R in its
native habitat—the back roads and autobahns of Germany—where it proved
both competent and adaptable.
On the autobahn, the bike, with its 1,170cc, 109
(claimed) horsepower engine (up from 85 on the predecessor R1150R),
easily kept up with traffic in a country where hanging in the passing
lane can require triple digits in mph, and occasional sprints to the
double ton on the kph scale. The only limiting factor is the lack of
wind protection, which leaves you flapping in the breeze when the going
gets hypersonic.
At a more normal American pace on two-lanes through the
Alps, the new mo’ delivered great drive out of corners at anything more
than 4,000 rpm. And there’s a grin-producing horsepower hit at 5,500
that is wonderfully out of character with previous Beemer twins.
When it comes time to stop, BMW’s new, third-generation
ABS is better in every respect. The semi-integrated system gives you a
mix of front and rear brakes when you squeeze the hand lever, but only
the rear brake when you push down with your right foot. There’s no
longer any power-assist, which made the previous generation feel pretty
abrupt, and new, analog control valves reduce the pulsing effect.
The result is a brake that feels strong, solid and
entirely normal, yet still keeps the wheels from locking up if you get
overaggressive on slick surfaces.
 But
the best part of the new R is its handling, which got a thorough test on
Alpine back roads. The wide bars make for a light steering touch when
you enter a corner. And after that, the magic of the Telelever takes
over.
Because it separates steering forces from the suspension
system, BMW’s innovative front end allows you to do all the wrong things
mid-corner without paying a penalty. Go ahead, slow down, speed up,
downshift, hit the brakes—none of that affects the bike’s line.
And best of all, when you spot the corner exit, you can
roll on the throttle right to the limit of rear-wheel traction without
driving wide in the corner. The front wheel just sticks to the line you
set.
Speaking of traction, we didn’t get to try BMW’s new
Automatic Stability Control that cuts engine power when it senses the
rear wheel spinning faster than the front. The system is still in
development and won’t be available when the first R1200Rs arrive at the
end of the year. (Read about it here.)
A quick demonstration by test riders at BMW’s Berlin
plant purported to show the benefits of the traction-control system,
which has become a mainstay in road racing. But we’ll have to wait for a
full test to see how it works in the real world.
Even without it, though, BMW’s latest R adds up to a
great combination: the adaptability of an old-style standard with the
innovation of plenty of 21st-century technology.
|
2007 BMW R1200R |
| Engine |
1,170cc air/oil-cooled opposed twin, 4
valves/cylinder |
| Bore x stroke |
101mm x 73mm |
| Carburetion |
Electronic fuel injection |
| Transmission |
Six-speed, shaft final drive |
| Front suspension |
BMW Telelever |
| Rear suspension |
BMW Paralever |
| Front brakes |
2 320mm discs, integrated ABS optional |
| Rear brake |
1 265mm disc, integrated ABS optional |
| Tire sizes |
120/70-17 front, 180/70-17 rear |
| Unladen weight, full tank |
492 pounds |
| Seat height |
31.5 inches |
| Fuel capacity |
4.8 gallons |
| Alternator output |
600 watts |
 |
 |
 |
|
Night Black non-metallic with optional white
decal lines |
Granite Grey metallic |
Crystal Grey metallic |
© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association
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