Monday 9th February 2015

BMW R1200R: PH2 Review

The quintessential BMW motorcycle according to the firm's bosses - does it live up to the hype?

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BMW's top brass describe the R1200R as 'the quintessential' BMW motorcycle as it encapsulates everything about the brand. This naked roadster relies on a boxer engine, is incredibly practical, fun and in many ways is pretty similar to the very first BMW motorcycle ever built, the R32. OK, the last 91 years have seen technology change quite a lot, but the essence of the motorcycle is still the same - two wheels, a comfortable seat, wide bars and a boxer twin. However, over the last few years the R1200R has reflected 'old' BMW Motorrad and as a result its popularity has dipped. BMW is a company going through a change of attitude and the old pipe and slippers have been consigned to the closet. Accordingly for the R1200R the outgoing model's drab paint schemes and lack of attitude have gone the same way and the 2015 version is very different.

Pipe and slippers definitely not included

BMW has injected a bit more excitement into the R1200R by giving it a thorough refresh. As well as adopting the new partially water-cooled boxer engine with a healthy 125hp and 92lb ft of torque, the R1200R gains an upgraded chassis with (shock horror) conventional inverted forks instead of a Telelever system, cool styling and the most advanced electronics ever fitted to a boxer engined bike. While the standard bike only gets ABS, two fuel models and basic traction control (ASC), you can spec the hell out of the R and add advanced fuel modes, traction control that responds to the onboard gyroscope (DTC), semi-active suspension, quickshifter and the greatest invention of 2015 - BMW's keyless ignition system that even includes a keyless petrol cap. Pure genius...

However, as cool as these extras are, for me the biggest change to the R1200R is the fact the Sport version, with its red frame and white panels, is the first R1200R to actually look sexy. Although if you are of a more restrained disposition the stock blue and black colours are suitably demure...

New-school part water-cooled boxer

A new attitude
As soon as you sit on the new R1200R it feels fresh. The digital dash has all the usual practical stuff such as a fuel gauge and mpg figure, but a click of a button changes it into two extra custom displays with either a sporty or touring bias. It's a small but neat touch that I really like, alongside the fact the digital rev counter changes its look to warn you the engine isn't up to temperature yet. While the riding position remains typically R comfortable, with the bars placed for a relaxed stance and the pegs nice and low, BMW has given the whole feel of the bike a sporty injection. And when you fire that boxer engine into life the R not only feels fresh, it sounds brilliant too. I spoke to one of the bike's designers who assured me that with the optional Akrapovic can fitted, his R rattled the windows of cars he passed on his way into work.

Interestingly, despite the R1200R gaining inverted forks like the R NineT, it doesn't have as radical geometry as the air-cooled naked, something that shows up in the ride. Although still pretty agile, and considerably better than the old model, the new R's handling feels more on the assured side than full-on sporty like the NineT.

Telescopic forks shocker!

Does this detract from the riding experience? Not really. Thanks to the advanced electronics you can still go pretty damn fast on this boxer. Previously, given a typical British road full of bumps and cow poo, I reckon the fastest bike from A to B would be a GS. Now I'd put my money on the R. Thanks to the beautifully stable chassis (the semi-active suspension is excellent), advanced traction control system (the bikes we tested had DTC fitted), grunty boxer engine and ABS you can go blisteringly fast down roads you don't know on the R.

Ready to play
Unlike the ASC, the DTC allows you a degree of slip in 'dynamic' mode. As well as letting the rear slide slightly out of bends you can even hold up a gentle wheelie over crests where on the GS with its ASC any mono-wheel activity results in a barrage of warning lights and the front crashing down to earth. The partially water-cooled engine is identical in spec to the GS engine, with only airbox modifications altering its performance. So you get that lovely free-revving attitude that the water-cooled motor brings as well as heaps of low down grunt and even a cheeky top end rush.

Looks the biz, goes like it too

Despite all the excitement over the in-line four engine, the top four best-selling BMW models are still powered by a boxer twin. Naturally the GS and Adventure lead the way but behind them are the R NineT and RT. I reckon for 2015 the R1200R will be in the top three best selling Beemers worldwide as it absolutely hits the nail on the head.

Not only does the R (in Sport guise) look great, it has all the practicality of the GS but in a cool, and fashionable, roadster format with cutting edge electronics. It's certainly no sports naked like the S1000R, but that's its role in life and if you want to go bananas then get the in-line four. Ironically the only thing that might harm the sales of the R1200R is its sibling, the R1200RS, which has everything the R does but adds a fairing. Personally, if I had the choice, I'd take the R every time and just put up with a bit of windblast. No wonder the BMW top brass are so enthused.

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BMW R1200R
Engine: 1,170cc boxer twin
Power (hp): 125@7,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 92@6,500rpm
Top speed: 155mph (est)
Weight: 231kg (wet)
MPG: 50mpg (est)
Price: £10,250 (Sport £11,06, Exclusive £11,910)

[998420]

What a great idea BMW had putting 2 massive crash bungs on the bike just in front of the riders feet as standard. I bet R&G are kicking themselves.

[ZesPak]

998420 said:

What a great idea BMW had putting 2 massive crash bungs on the bike just in front of the riders feet as standard. I bet R&G are kicking themselves.

Just don't ask for replacement cost, you wish you could just replace the fairings if you put it on the side.

Aside from that, besides it probably being technically not a bad bike, it leaves me very cold. Not sold on the boxer engine either, rode on bikes having it and for me it has little to no redeeming features :/.

[BigHeartedTone]

Compared to the RS version I think it looks a bit rubbish.

Still nice to know you have a choice.

[jamespink]

Very nice looking bike (I agree the RS looks nicer, especially in grey) but the appeal to me is the motor, gutsy, plenty of torque and relaxed when you are not on it.

[Mad Jock]

Most of the riders I spoke to at the dealer launch on Saturday said much the same thing, that the headlight spoiled the looks of the bike. Too much like a Hornet, with a head hung low appearance to it. BMW seem to like weird looking headlights.........

Personally, I was hoping for a kind of water cooled R Nine-T, ie with a round headlight.

[garypotter]

BMW's keyless ignition system..

Is that the same system that BMW say they have no problems with on their X5's and X6's hmmm may become an insurance issue as the x5 and x6 are stolen to order with no breakin.

[graham22]

Mad Jock said:

Personally, I was hoping for a kind of water cooled R Nine-T, ie with a round headlight.

I think BMW have missed a trick here following the success of the R-9T, by not using a round headlight on this bike - even if it had LEDs or even BMW's 'angel ring' as long as the basic shape was round.

[McClure]

garypotter said:

BMW's keyless ignition system..

Is that the same system that BMW say they have no problems with on their X5's and X6's hmmm may become an insurance issue as the x5 and x6 are stolen to order with no breakin.

Probably less of an issue on a bike though as it can still be nicked quite easily without the keys whereas a car can't be (eg) lifted into the back of a van. Keyless wouldn't particularly bother me on a bike.

[spareparts]

garypotter said:

BMW's keyless ignition system..

Is that the same system that BMW say they have no problems with on their X5's and X6's hmmm may become an insurance issue as the x5 and x6 are stolen to order with no breakin.

No. BMW changed the way their keyless system works. It's now similar to how Harleys have worked the past 10 years I have keyless on my GS, and it's a very convenient system that works with the petrol cap and also the steering lock.

[Richard A]

Mad Jock said:

Most of the riders I spoke to at the dealer launch on Saturday said much the same thing, that the headlight spoiled the looks of the bike. Too much like a Hornet, with a head hung low appearance to it. BMW seem to like weird looking headlights.........

Personally, I was hoping for a kind of water cooled R Nine-T, ie with a round headlight.

Have to agree. I've never been much into the kind of 'dolphin wave' line that you get with a low headlight --> high tank --> low seat --> high arse setup. I have a Guzzi LM1 and the strong horizontal that dominates the side view gives it a very lean fast look.

Also the headlight reminds me of a cricket 'box'.

In common with a lot of modern bikes, BMW's stuff has become very fragmented, it's as if designers no longer have any understanding of whole shapes any more and marketers want a filigrane look so that the punter thinks that they're getting a lot of 'thingy bits' for their money.

[Renn Sport]

I am another that thinks they got the headlight wrong. They should have taken inspiration from the Monster or even the previous R1200R but made it more slimline and kept it round.

Looks to be a heavy bike at 230 of Kg...

[Numeric]

I ride a Roxter so don't ask ne about the styling, a road crash looks better than mine, but the rox is a really fun bike to ride, even better than a normal r cos you have more space in th saddle and wide bars etc. so i do reckon this could well be a bike for me once they are 5 years old or so.