All Tests – 2015 BMW R1200 R Test: [R] definition – A good surprise!

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BMW R1200 R 2015 test: [R] definition

All Tests - 2015 BMW R1200 R Test: [R] definition - A good surprise!

Much appreciated by BMW aficionados but technically aging, the R1200R had to complete its transformation to expand and rejuvenate its clientele … This transformation is now complete and the result is particularly convincing. ! First try.

A good surprise !

It is naturally a "full options" and "full power" model (125 hp) which was allocated to us for this press presentation in Iberian soil, in the Alicante region. As a base, the 2015 R1200R only has "only" a very complete dashboard, braking with 4-piston radial calipers and disengageable ABS, a non-adjustable inverted fork, a classic adjustable shock absorber. with preload (thumbwheel) and hydraulic rebound (screw), adjustable brake and clutch levers, as well as ASC anti-slip.

Plethora of options

It’s already good, of course, but when we have tasted the different options available, offered alone or integrated into a pack (Dynamic at € 755, Comfort at € 405, Touring at € 1,445, Safety at € 725, etc.), it is very difficult to go back…

Our test R1200R notably had the famous dynamic ESA piloted suspensions (+785 €), which automatically adapt to the driver’s driving style and the condition of the road surface. It also had the Pro shifter (405 €) allowing you to change gears without clutching, the Keyless system (300 €) allowing you to start your motorcycle, open the fuel tank and lock the steering while keeping your key in your pocket, Pro riding mode with DTC traction control and tilt sensor (310 €), Pro on-board computer (Touring pack), RDC displaying tire pressure, center stand (135 €), regulator speed (330 €), heated grips (210 €), LED indicators (220 €)…

The bill therefore climbs very quickly beyond the 13,400 € of the standard model and in this configuration, the price of the tested model is estimated at more than 17,300 euros (Sport version with all options).

A good surprise !

By discovering the R1200R, we have to admit that the BMW designers have worked well: the whole is homogeneous and coherent, aggressive at will without being too radical. Beautiful work which establishes the sportier positioning of this 2015 vintage, while maintaining an obvious connection with the previous versions.

The handling of this roadster is natural, with a standard saddle culminating at 790 mm which makes it easier to put both feet on the ground when stationary. Low (760 mm) or high (820 mm) saddles are offered by BMW staff depending on the size of the riders. After a short warm-up run in the morning, MNC finally opts for the 820 mm saddle, which offers better control of the bike by inducing a more pronounced body support on the front axle..

Contact: the cockpit lights up and appears particularly well supplied, displaying analog tachometer on the left and multifunction digital dial on the right. Three digital display styles are available: Full (which displays all the useful information), Sport (large tachometer) and Touring (digital tachometer).

A battery of usual indicator lights overlooks the digital dial, making the readability that can already be improved even more complex given the large amount of information available and the small size of the digits of the analog tachometer..

MNC chooses to stay in "Road" driving mode (rather than "Rain" or "Dynamic") and in "Road" suspension mode rather than "Dynamic". The spring preload (adjustable when stationary only) is set to Solo (instead of Solo with luggage, Duo or Duo with luggage).

A push of the starter button to the right and the BMW flat-twin snorts, delivering a characteristic sound and a zest of residual reversing torque with each gas stroke..

We are indeed riding a Behemian! The controls fall naturally to hand, but by placing the boots on the driver’s footrests, we quickly realize that the driving position is slightly more tilted to the front than before..

Flatter and significantly longer, the pilot seat leaves more latitude in finding its position. From the first turns of the wheels, the impression of heaviness felt when maneuvering the motorcycle at low speed diminishes quickly, but we feel that the frame angle of 27.7 ° is more there to favor stability than the agility.

However, the relatively low center of gravity, the consistent distribution of masses and the good width of the handlebars give the 2015 R1200R good general handling in the urban cycle, despite a significant weight (231 kg in running order) during maneuvers. The gears stack up quickly and without a hitch, with a gearbox staging of the first gears visibly adapted to this city exercise.

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