All Tests – 2014 BMW R1200RT Test: Long live the queen! – A brand new R1200RT in 2014

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2014 BMW R1200RT test: long live the queen !

All Tests - 2014 BMW R1200RT Test: Long live the queen! - A brand new R1200RT in 2014

The new R1200RT arrives in BMW dealerships in February. Site discovered in Corsica this important novelty in 2014, whose mission is to keep the head of sales of GT road motorcycles in France. And she does everything to… Test.

A brand new R1200RT in 2014

Modified four years ago – already or only? -, the BMW R1200RT offers itself in 2014 a complete overhaul of its cycle part, its engine and its equipment, in order to maintain its status as "queen" of road motorcycles in France (read our).

R1200RT 2014: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: February 2013 in the

  • Colors: "Quartz" blue, "Callisto" gray or "Ebony" black

  • Price: € 18,200

Qualified as an evolution in, the update in 2014 is more like a revolution. In any case, this is the observation established by Site by (re) discovering the new German GT in the parking lot of Ajaccio airport, ready to roll. !

While equipping himself with the essential boots, reinforced jeans, back protector, waterproof jacket, bandana, winter gloves and helmet, MNC takes a look at the one who paraded a few weeks ago on the Milanese and Parisian catwalks (read carefully our and reread our to follow this essay).

Seen in profile, the new "Ertee" seems a little lighter than its predecessor. This impression, the designers obtained thanks to a new openwork fairing – for the small radiators -, the absence of plastic cover under the rider’s seat and the disappearance of the long footrest plate..

Seen from the front, however, the 2014 BMW R1200RT is more "Kolossale" than the … and even more imposing than its siblings and from which it borrows the triple optic (but not the xenon adaptive cornering headlight). With its boxer that is wider than the 6-cylinder and its mirrors integrated into the fairing, the "twelve-hundred" passes for the big sister.

The family resemblance is just as obvious when looking at the instrumentation side: "the new RT uses the ergonomics of the K16s", sums up Frederic Garraud, after-sales service manager at BMW Motorrad France. In fact, between the two indestructible analogue counters (speed and tachometer) takes place the large 5.7-inch TFT color screen..

An RT looking like a K1600GT

Thanks to "multi-controller"- the famous BMW dial – on the edge of the left stalk, the pilot can easily carry out all his adjustments and scroll through the numerous information provided by the on-board computer fitted as standard on this new Behème (only the RDC tire pressure warning light is optional).

By pressing the "Menu" button for the first time, the rider accesses the setting of the ESA Dynamic, a semi-active suspension system that BMW Motorrad offers as an option (see the list of options and accessories on the penultimate page).

"Small clarification before leaving: all our motorcycles are full", then warns us Patrick Lucas, press manager of BMW France … Our R1200RT, unbridled?"No, "Full options", that is to say equipped with Comfort, Touring and Dynamic packs" !

By pressing the "Menu" command a second time, it is possible to select the information supplementing those displayed continuously, namely: engine temperature, fuel gauge, trip kilometer, gear indicator light, odometer, engine mode, ESA and clock mode.

It is therefore possible to add to the dashboard one of its more or less valuable information: average fuel consumption, instantaneous consumption, range, average speed, outside temperature, tire pressure, chrono, trip duration, date, oil level ("okay"displayed our RT, phew!), battery voltage or … nothing !

A third press on the "Menu" button allows you to juggle between the three trips (1,2 or "Auto" which resets after a six hour break), a fourth gives access to navigation on the GPS (optional, with its specific housing), a fifth for adjusting the heating of the handles, a sixth for heating the rider seat and a seventh for the other settings.

Accessible directly via the diamond key overhanging the "Menu", this seventh and last menu allows you to navigate the "Audio" pages (on this subject, there are a few buttons placed near the left side of the tank, not to be forgotten!), "User", "Vehicle", "Time", "Date" and "ASC" (traction control, supplied as standard as ABS).

Finally, a small bonus gift highlighted by BMW France in its presentation: "for the display unit to be perfectly visible, the instrument panel can be adjusted to two different angles with a deviation of 5 °". But the sun struggling to pierce through the clouds when we arrived in Corsica, this possibility is not of great interest.

More interesting to our eyes and our hands (!), While threatening clouds lurk above the mountains: the deflectors overhanging the speakers and the start of the mirrors are also part of the original equipment and should protect the rain and / or wind gloves.

The size of the mirrors may have decreased, but you can still see just as well. The mirrors also benefit from a not insignificant improvement: now foldable, they cannot be stored entirely (we gain about 2 cm on each side) but they will better withstand involuntary touches..

According to BMW, the total width of its dear R1200RT increased in 2014, from 905 to 983 mm at the level of the mirrors precisely, and from 980 to 985 mm at the level of the suitcases which each accommodate a full face helmet without any problem and are extremely simple. to open, dislodge, fix, etc..

By selecting the Comfort pack, the BMW customer benefits from the central locking not only of said suitcases, but also of the two compartments located under the handlebars – only one previously -, the one on the right incorporating a USB / jack for smartphones and other MP3 players..

The four storage volumes – or even the top case available as an accessory – can be closed from a remote control, or directly via a button on the right stalk. In the event of prolonged parking, it is possible to manually close each of the spaces, which can then no longer be opened by means of the electronic controls..

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