BMW R 1200 R: Naked, But Not Quite Naughty...

By Feann Torr - 5/Sep/2006

If you thought that owning a BMW motor vehicle was completely out of your price range, think again, as BMW Motorrad Australia has announced local pricing for the much-anticipated R 1200 R, the successor to the R 1150 R.

The powerful new BMW will be priced at $18,750 plus dealer delivery and on road costs, when the two-wheelers arrive in Australia in October. Powered by a 1.2-litre boxer engine (or horizontally opposed to use the technical term), the 198kg BMW muscle bike is quicker than BMW's V10-powered M5 from 0-100km/h, and for a fraction of the cost. It doesn't have air conditioning or a CD player or heated seats or even a roof, but it doesn't need it - just the raw bark of boxer twin (but it does have heated hand grips though).

It's also much cheaper to run than a 5.0-litre V10 engine, drinking petrol at the miserly rate of just 4.1L/100km and has an 18-litre capacity fuel tank.

"The R 1200 R neatly integrates a traditional BMW model with the latest in BMW innovation," said Mac McMath for BMW Motorrad Australia/New Zealand.

"Its light weight, nimble handling, and powerful engine combine to deliver extremely satisfying performance, typical of BMW Roadsters. But it also plays host to the very latest BMW technology such as the new generation Anti-Lock Brakes and our innovative Anti-Slip Control traction feature which will enhance riding safety in a variety of conditions. The new BMW R 1200 R will thus appeal to a wide range of motorcycle enthusiasts," Mac said.

About as fast as a Porsche 911 Turbo from 0-100km/h thanks to its 6-speed manual gearbox, BMW's new R 1200 R makes a substantial amount of power from its 2-cylinder engine, which displaces 1,170cc. Peak power is generated at a low 7500rpm, likening the bikes power delivery to that of more traditional V-twins, such as the Honda VTR and SuzukiSV series.

Creating 107hp (80kW) @ 7500rpm, the butch-looking 198kg BMW is fitted with 120/70 ZR17 rubber at the front and a wide rear tyre, of 180/55 ZR17 proportions, fitted to light weightdie-cast aluminium wheels, which allows the bike a top speed of well over 200km/h. The  1,170 cc bike shares its power unit with the R 1200 RT and develops 28 percent more power than the R 1150 R motorcycle that preceded it. 

The air/oil-cooled 2-cylinder engine features an engine oil cooler tucked behind the wheel forks and gets a single camshaft (unlike the DOHC that most inline 4-cylinder Japanese sports bikes have) that motivates 4-valves per cylinder and has a 12.0:1 compression ratio. Like most BMW motorcycles it's engine power is delivered to the rear wheel via a shaft drive which isn't as efficient as a chain-driven motorcycle, but is claimed to be cleaner, better-looking and longer lasting by the two-wheeled BMW faithful.

While the bike's peak power of 107hp @ 7500rpm is below average for a motorcycle engine of this size and weight, torque is the more telling factor here and with a whopping 115Nm hitting the large 17-inch rear wheel@ 6000rpm, BMW's new R 1200 R will be a very sweet wheelie machine for those who like to live on the wild side.

Stoppies and endos however, may be more of problem for the R 1200 R, as BMW likes to incorporate various new riding aids into its motorcycles that are generally rather useless in demanding riding situations. Integral ABS works well on a car, but on a motorbike can be a right royal pain in the backside, so thankfully it's a cost option, as is ASC (anti-slip control). Considering its heavy weight, the twin 320mm discs up on the front axle should do a decent job of slowing the large Beemer, featuring fixed four piston calipers.

The suspension systems are comprised of a BMW Motorrad Telelever up front, featuring a 35mm stanchion diameter and central spring strut, while at the rear lives a die-cast aluminium single-sided swing arm along with the shaft drive. The frame of the naked BMW sports bike is a two-section jobbie, and according to the German company "the rear section of the tubular spaceframe has been specially developed for the Roadster, helping to give the entire rear end a light and nimble appearance and reducing the overall weight of the machine to just 198kg dry". 

It has a 1,495mm wheelbase and a 2,145mm length, with a seat height of 800mm, and the frame is a two-piece unit, which uses the engine as a load-bearing member. The front half of the frame is donated from the R 1200 RT model, though wheel castor and steering head angle have changed to better match the naked bike's upright riding position. Like the ABS and ASC systems, there's also the optional ESA (electronic suspension system), which allows riders to adjust the spring and damper rates electronically at the touch of a button. No screwdriver needed! And unlike the other two driving aids offered with the R 1200 R, ESA actually sounds like it might be useful in everyday and weekend riding.

Priced at around $19,000, I can think of better bikes to spend ones cash on, like the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10, Honda CBR 1000R, or a Yammy R1, but these are faired bikes with much higher levels of performance, and they're not German-built vehicles either. Naked bikes are becoming increasingly popular and the new R 1200 R is a unique looking bike with a unique sound, and could be just the ticket for the rider who wants to make an impression, but doesn't want to come across as a complete hooligan.