All Tests – R1200RS Test: BMW’s comeback in Sport GT – A motorcycle for sporty and well-off tourists

Posted on by admin

R1200RS test: BMW’s big comeback in Sport GT

All Tests - R1200RS Test: BMW's comeback in Sport GT - A motorcycle for sporty and well-off tourists

BMW had deserted the sporty road bike segment for nearly ten years, mainly because of the commercial failure of its odd R1200ST. In 2015, the German brand goes back to the niche with a R1200RS … more successful ? Test !

A motorbike for sporty and well-off tourists

By getting on board this new BMW, Site adopts a particularly pleasant driving position: the arms are stretched forward but the wrists are not too strained or too low. The compromise – more comfort than sport – will perfectly suit fans of the genre who are not attracted by the too "cushy" posture imposed by road trails..

The original saddle is low enough and thin at the crotch to allow the little ones to access the ground on either side. Tall riders also support the standard saddle height (820mm), with their legs not bent too much once the boots are placed on the footrests..

A high saddle (840 mm) and an extra-low saddle (760 mm) can however be selected free of charge by the customer at the time of ordering. Another 790 mm model (as on the R1200R) is also available as an accessory.

Bikers who will buy the motorcycle second hand in a few years should therefore be careful of the type of saddle mounted on the motorcycle identified in the, because none of these four saddles is adjustable..

The footrests are lined with generous gums to erase any vibrations emanating from the engine. All? Not quite because when stationary, the pilot clearly feels under his foot – his buttocks and his hands! – the Boxer balances these blows and slightly overturn the motorcycle at each throttle opening.

Contrary to what the round-in-circles preventers might think, the first gas strokes that MNC puts on the bike are not useless: they validate that the engine is as lively as on the R1200R and that its sound is so sweet. No wonder, since R and RS are twin sisters !

Directly visible to the pilot, the side stand is quickly removed. Beware only of the nasty blow in the shin for bikers who are not used to riding a flat-twin and will seek blind and too far forward the lateral … Note in passing that the use of the central (optional) is very easy.

Just before setting off, Le Journal moto du Net conscientiously resets its trips and average consumption to zero. The 18-liter tank is then full of gasoline and the on-board computer (optional "Pro") indicates a range of 305 km.

However, after thirty kilometers on four-way tracks on a senator’s train, the estimate only dropped by 2 short kilometers! Despite the capacity of its rather limited tank, the range of action of the "Behème" therefore seems substantial..

On his handlebars, the pilot does not feel any desire to stop. Certainly, ants appear in the hands in the long run, but it should be remembered that the air temperature still does not exceed 12 ° C. Let’s also admit that MNC wears gloves that are a little too light, which makes numb all the more easily !

The site therefore appreciates the presence of the heated grips which, set to the first of the two levels, keep the knuckles at a pleasant temperature. Likewise, the half-fairing and the flat cylinders protect the knees and feet very well from the wind – and therefore from the cold..

The bust is also well insulated on the condition of pulling the bubble on its upper notch. Handling requires a good grip and as our host from BMW France advises: "it is safer to change the height of the bubble when stationary".

Pushing the windshield down is easier. As for those who would like to give their RS an even sportier style, it is possible to screw the screen lower than BMW France did for us. Two manually adjustable heights and two fixings to choose from: that makes four adjustments in all.

To unwind its shoulders, however, Site had to raise the bubble of the RS to the maximum. And even in this position, the head remains exposed to turbulence. It is therefore necessary to bend the arms and lean forward to pass under the drafts. But why didn’t the German engineers reverse the V-cut of their bubble? ?!

Despite these imperfections (tickled hands and tossed head), we would gladly continue to "cruiser" on the N12 to Fougères, the regulator set at 130 km / h meter, just before the 4250 rpm bar is displayed. – small – on the digital tachometer. And we would even extend to Brest, without forgetting of course to give our dear granny de Perros-Guirec a kiss…

We note two things in passing. First, once we have identified the location of each data on the dashboard, the default display mode, very comprehensive, is adopted. For the short-sighted, two other modes can be selected via the buttons on the handlebars, the famous BMW wheel being used above all for the GPS.

Second, the crackling felt in the buttocks beyond 5000 rpm does not interfere on the motorway since in 6th, the RS already gallops at 150 km / h (same final gear ratio as the R, i.e. between the GS which pulls a bit short and RT a bit long). On small roads, on the other hand, vibrations can disturb when you arsouille…

Our guide comes out of the national road and plunges into the countryside, on tiny departmental roads! It is clear that by selecting its route, BMW France has chosen not to spare its new model…

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *