UNADILLA
Valley Sports CenteL Inc.
gallons. We saw the fuel light go on
after about 130 miles and, in typical
BMW fashion, there is no reserve Ion I
off valve. We wish there was.
As far as accessories are concerned,
BMW will be offering a few items, such
as a larger passenger seat, a small windshield, engine guards, water-repellent
leather saddlebags, and, as mentioned,
lower handlebars. BMW also went allout on special riding apparel designed
specifically for cruising on the R1200c,
offering full-leather and denim-type riding outfits (specifically designed for
both men and women); very Euro-Iooking, open-faced helmets (in matching
colors, of course); aviator-type goggles;
sunglasses; gloves; boots; and a backpack. BMW will also be offering a whole
bunch of R1200C knickknacks such as
pins, hats, T-shirts, etc.
After only a few hours in the
R1200C's saddle, we came away quite
impressed. The bike handles well, has
good torque, sounds good, is extremely
comfortable, and most importantly,
looks cool. But for some, its unmistakable styling might take some time getting used to. But not for us: Yeah, it
might look a little weird but, hey, it's
not your typical, everyday cruiser - and
that was BMW's whole idea.
Good news, the R1200C will start
showing up on showroom floors sometime in late July I early August, just in
time for the prime cruising season. However, while you wait, you should start
saving your pennies, as the R1200c will
carry a price tag starting at $12,990 (add
about $1200 if you want ABS). However,
when you start comparing numbers,
you'll find that the R-C is competitively
priced, as it is actually cheaper than both
Yamaha Royal Star models and most
Rarleys, aild only a few dollars more
than the standard Honda Valkyrie and
less than the Valkyrie Tourer.
Still, five digits is five digits. But
from what we can tell so far, you'll be
getting your money's wortl1 and something completely different - and, yes,
even cool. Just be ready to answer a lot
