If you always respected the BMW’s big 1200 GS but preferred your bikes a little lower and meaner to look at, the R 1200 R has been just the ticket.
The thing is, the GS has been so successful that the R has never really had much chance in life. Its street tyres offer more grip, its steering is lighter and it’s even fairly comfortable along a motorway as long as you’ve added a mini-fairing. And yet it’s often been overlooked as a viable alternative. Until now.
Powered by the same 1,170cc, flat twin air-water-cooled engine as the infamous globe-trotting GS and the brilliant R 1200 RT tourer, the R has 125 bhp and 92 lb/ft of torque.
Although it’s seven kilos lighter than before thanks to its all-new frame and recently introduced liquid-cooled engine, you could hardly describe this Beemer as compact or (at 231kg) lightweight.
But... it darts and dives into corners as though it is in complete denial. The figures don’t seem to matter.
From the moment you attack the very first bend, the bike’s agility and outright ability is abundantly clear. That’s largely due to the superb performance of the supreme new engine. It pulls without so much as a splutter from as low as 1,000rpm in third gear all the way to the redline.
The GS has been so successful that the R has never really had much chance in life
Keep the revs hovering between 3,000 and 6,000rpm and the power delivery is immediate and smooth. Not that it starts to wither and die beyond that point, but the bike’s vibrations do noticeably build as you chase the higher revs. As a result, you’ll only hold onto the lower gears to save dancing around the incidentally faultless gearbox in the twistier sections.
The ergonomics are more spacious, with two centimetres extra room between the wheels and a more relaxed geometry which suits the bike’s increased performance. On the down side the seat height is no longer adjustable, but at least there are three different options available from new; a low 760mm, the standard 790mm and a higher 820mm version.
The dashboard is modern, stylish and includes all the obvious information including two trip meters, average speed, fuel consumption, engine temperature and more. Everything is displayed in either a Full, Sport mode or a Tourist mode, which in turn prioritise the most relevant information for you, but things are always a bit cluttered on screen.
Of course, the R 1200 R wouldn’t be a BMW if you couldn’t spend a small fortune on all manner of accessories. It has two riding modes; Rain and Road, traction control and ABS as standard, but you can always upgrade to the Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adjustment system with active damping (ESA) and the Dynamic Traction control (DTC) with a lean angle sensor.
The Telelever suspension has been replaced by a 45mm conventional and non-adjustable Sachs upside-down front fork while the rear monoshock unit has a handy remote preload adjuster. Considering its bulk, the R 1200 R is a very convincing bike and the fully accessorised launch bikes that we rode had neutral and compliant handling and held a line with composure with ease.
So these rider aids are well worth the investment, as is the Gear Shift Pro which enables you to shift up and down through the gearbox without using the clutch. You could also opt for two additional riding modes among a plethora of other accessories.
The R 1200 R does a fine job of ticking several boxes at once, though. It’s an attractive bike and it is just as capable hunkering down for a sporty ride as it is at appeasing your other half on a weekend trip away.
It no longer has to fight to be heard over its more popular brothers. It’s now taking a slice of the spotlight for itself.
Facts at a glance
Engine
1,170cc flat twin producing 125bhp @ 7,750rpm and 92lb/ft @ 6,500rpm
Transmission
Six-speed sequential manual, shaft drive
Weight (kerb)
231kg
Seat height
790mm (low 760mm/high 820mm)
Fuel capacity
18 litres