Deans BMW
04-02-2006, 12:17 PM
Be still my heart...........................:ymca:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads7/BMW_R1200S_SA_launch_rraction1143851258.jpg
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/raptorama.html
BMW R1200S- Boxer for connoisseurs 7000 rpm and the R1200S surges forward with a kick worthy of a sportsbike. 122 horsepower in an air-cooled twin is a BMW revolution. Nothing less, however no one else makes flat-twin Boxer engines. Fact is that the new BMW is more powerful than most liquid cooled V-twin sports tourers. Problem is that R1200S is not designed to be a tourer. We sampled the new BMW sports bike on South African mountain roads and on Killarney race track just outside Cape Town.
BMW R1200S is packed full with torque and Boxer power. The torque is very noticeable as the familiar Boxer torque surge sets in as soon as first gear is chosen. First gear is slightly higher than I would have preferred and a few revs are necessary to pull out from the lights. Quite a few revs are necessary for a race start which makes it difficult to keep the front down. I started the day in the misty mountains in the wine districts north of Cape Town. Because of the excellent roads here and the mountains the place had a European feel to it. R1200S is a much lighter motorcycle than the old R1100S. It still carries some bulk where the handle bars still feel oversized with gigantic handle bar weights. The Boxer engine will always give the R1200S a heavy look, but fact is that the dry weight has now been reduced to 195kg. This makes the R1200S the lightest road boxer ever. Only HP2 Enduro is lighter and that can hardly be called a roadbike. Still R1200S is a big motorcycle and a mammoth next to let’s say a Ducati 999 or 1000SS. With 85cc more, 24 extra ponies and 13kg less the R1200S is a huge improvement on the old R11S.
Despite the feel of a big motorcycle the R1200S handles like a much smaller one. On the mountain roads it felt like the easiest thing in the world to flick the big sportsbike from ear to ear. The new BMW will be delivered with several tyre options. Our test bikes were fitted with Michelin Pilot Power. They were not so confidence inspiring in the early morning on the slippery mountain roads. As soon as it had dried and I had some heat in the tyres they suited the Beemer very well. On the roads both tyres and suspension contributed to a neutral and stable feel. The front Telelever is now stiffer and particularly on the racetrack I could easily change the line mid-turn. The Paralever EVO has been lightened and a glittery Ohlins shock is attached to it. When I first entered the seat the suspension felt soft with quite a bit of sag. On the roads there were no doubt that R1200S can still be used as an alternative sports-tourer. The seat is comfortable enough and the rear ride height does not put too much weight on the arms. R1200S features a new ABS system that can be turned off. The system is not linked and there is no servo to save weight. It is remarkable how good the front brake is and using ABS there is hardly any pulse action at all. I have never ridden any other sports bike with such a good unlinked ABS system. It was so good that I forgot to turn it off at the racetrack!
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/raptorama.html
Video
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/downloads/Video/2006_BMW_R1200S_C1.wmv
My god, I have to have one of those, with a complete Remus :020:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads7/BMW_R1200S_SA_launch_rraction1143851258.jpg
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/raptorama.html
BMW R1200S- Boxer for connoisseurs 7000 rpm and the R1200S surges forward with a kick worthy of a sportsbike. 122 horsepower in an air-cooled twin is a BMW revolution. Nothing less, however no one else makes flat-twin Boxer engines. Fact is that the new BMW is more powerful than most liquid cooled V-twin sports tourers. Problem is that R1200S is not designed to be a tourer. We sampled the new BMW sports bike on South African mountain roads and on Killarney race track just outside Cape Town.
BMW R1200S is packed full with torque and Boxer power. The torque is very noticeable as the familiar Boxer torque surge sets in as soon as first gear is chosen. First gear is slightly higher than I would have preferred and a few revs are necessary to pull out from the lights. Quite a few revs are necessary for a race start which makes it difficult to keep the front down. I started the day in the misty mountains in the wine districts north of Cape Town. Because of the excellent roads here and the mountains the place had a European feel to it. R1200S is a much lighter motorcycle than the old R1100S. It still carries some bulk where the handle bars still feel oversized with gigantic handle bar weights. The Boxer engine will always give the R1200S a heavy look, but fact is that the dry weight has now been reduced to 195kg. This makes the R1200S the lightest road boxer ever. Only HP2 Enduro is lighter and that can hardly be called a roadbike. Still R1200S is a big motorcycle and a mammoth next to let’s say a Ducati 999 or 1000SS. With 85cc more, 24 extra ponies and 13kg less the R1200S is a huge improvement on the old R11S.
Despite the feel of a big motorcycle the R1200S handles like a much smaller one. On the mountain roads it felt like the easiest thing in the world to flick the big sportsbike from ear to ear. The new BMW will be delivered with several tyre options. Our test bikes were fitted with Michelin Pilot Power. They were not so confidence inspiring in the early morning on the slippery mountain roads. As soon as it had dried and I had some heat in the tyres they suited the Beemer very well. On the roads both tyres and suspension contributed to a neutral and stable feel. The front Telelever is now stiffer and particularly on the racetrack I could easily change the line mid-turn. The Paralever EVO has been lightened and a glittery Ohlins shock is attached to it. When I first entered the seat the suspension felt soft with quite a bit of sag. On the roads there were no doubt that R1200S can still be used as an alternative sports-tourer. The seat is comfortable enough and the rear ride height does not put too much weight on the arms. R1200S features a new ABS system that can be turned off. The system is not linked and there is no servo to save weight. It is remarkable how good the front brake is and using ABS there is hardly any pulse action at all. I have never ridden any other sports bike with such a good unlinked ABS system. It was so good that I forgot to turn it off at the racetrack!
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/raptorama.html
Video
http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/downloads/Video/2006_BMW_R1200S_C1.wmv
My god, I have to have one of those, with a complete Remus :020: