Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

RIDING IMPRESSION BIIWR1200C know first-hand that it'll reach 105 mph on the speedometer in a full-tuck position, and the motor seemed to have a little left over (but probably not much). Despite increasing the weight of the crank, we could still detect a fair amount of vibration in the handlebars and in the seat, as well. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but it's there. Changing gears on the RoC isn't nearly as clunky or notchy as with some of the other Boxer-powered BMWs" which probably has to do with the more conventional drive-shaft system the R-C incorporates and lower-revving motor. It's still not as slick as some of the other bikes in its class, but shifting the R-C is certainly more tolerable than with other Beemers. Changing gears is also aided by the light pull and excellent feel of the hydraulically operated clutch. Cruisers have never been known for their Cadillac-like ride, and the R-C is no exception. It probably has one of the better suspensions around for a big, heavyweight cruiser, but is by no means plush. Both front and rear suspensions handle the smaller ripples pretty good, but stay away from the big stuff or the rear end will knock the wind out of you. The shock seems to be overly progres- (Above and above right) The passenger seat doubles as a backrest. (Right) The speedometer is mounted off-center on the plain but good looking instrument panel. The bike still uses the same BMWstyle turn-indicator switches as before, though they have been updated. (Below) At $12,990 ($14,290 with ABS), the new BMW cruiser is competitively priced with many other bikes in Its class. 34 The R1200C is dripping in chrome, which includes the valve covers, airintake covers, luggage rack, and many other various and sundry parts. And if it's not treated with chrome, it probably was polished to a chromelike shine. As far as paint is concemed: top-quality all the way. The R1200c will be offered in three different color schemes: night black, ivory, and "canyon" brown. The black version comes with white lines sive. and a black seat; the ivory model with blue lines and a blue seat (but can be purchased with either a black or canyon-brown coloring); and.the canyon brown (which is more like a metallic brownish/red) model with a silver lining and black seat. We predict that the ivory version will be the hot seller. Speaking of hot, BMW recently held its worldwide introductio'n of the R1200c in Tucson, Arizona, where tem- peratures reportedly reached 111 degrees during our one-day introductory ride, but we still managed to feel quite "cool" on the n~w Beemer, no doubt due to all the stares we got while riding this motorcycle. If you're not one who likes being the center of attention, then stay away from this bike. Everywhere we went, the bizarre, unique "futuro-nostalgia" styling of the R1200C brought people seemingly out of nowhere to get a closer look, and many were surprised to see the BMW logo on the tank. "That's pretty far out there for a BMW, don't ya think?" asked one per- . son. "Looks cool, though." Overall, most people seemed impressed by the R1200C's very nonHarley-like styling. They probably would be impressed by the way it performs, too. We were. The R1200C does exactly what it was designed to do when it comes to rolling on the throttle at low rpm - it pulls. It - certainly has that kind of torque we have come to expect from two-cylinder, bigbore cruisers, while producing that kind of sound, too. Close your eyes and listen to it motor away from you, and you will be hard-pressed to tell the difference between it and so many other cruisers around town. But back to the power. The R1200C moves along pretty good, as long as you don't hold it on in one gear for too long, as it is not a revver. If you have to rev, the "R-C" doesn't complain too much. But in typical cruiser fashion, the BMW works best when short-shifted, taking full advantage of its good torque. Down low is where the power is - exactly how low we can't be sure, since the R1200c does not have a tach, but BMW claims that you can leave it in top gear at just 38 mph, roll on the throttle, and you will have no problems reaching 100 mph in a hurry. Just how fast will it go? Well, we Up front, however, the ride is nice. The Telelever fork really works well, just like it does on other BMW motorcycles, and you feel just the right amount of feedback as the front wheel rolls across the pavement. In spite of the long, 64-inch wheelbase, the R-C comers surprisingly well. So good, in fact, that you'll seek out some of your favorite twisty roads on your weekend rides, and you'll probably surprise some of the sportbike guys. The R1200c has a light feel in the corners, and you can actually lean 'er over quite far before you start scra ping the pegs. It's stable, too. Unfortunately, there were only a few good switchbacktype roads on the route that BMW had laid out for us; instead, most of th.e roads were flat and straight. Very fla.t .and straight. Luckily, the R-C is extremely comfortable, which made these long hauls tolerable. The long handlebars reach out to the rider and the footpegs aren't mounted too far forward, some'thing some cruiser-bike manufacturers seem to think is the right thing. to do. The firm, leather-covered seat conforms nicely to the rider's butt and, with the passenger seat acting as a backrest, you can ride the R-C for miles and miles without cramping up. There isn't much room to move around on the bike, as the R-C's designers wanted the rider in one spot and that's it. BMW does offer a lower and flatter handlebar for the R-C, for those who prefer a more leaning-forward seating position. Just because cruiser bikes tend to be ridden at a more leisurely pace, BMW, as they promised, did not skimp when it came to the R-C's brakes, especially up front. It seems as though some manufacturers go out of their way to produce mushy-feeling front brakes on their cruisers, but not BMW. One finger on the lever and the dual, 305mm discs with Brembo four-piston calipers immediately go to work. The front brake alone is usually sufficient enough to haul the big cruiser in. Applying the ,back brake is a mere afterthought under most conditions. Clamp down on both levers and the BMW slows down in a hurry, and there is hardly any noticeable front-end diving, thanks to the Telelever front suspension. The fuel tank looks huge, but that is a little deceiving, as it holds a worthy 4.5

• Cover