Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127983
the new LT bodywork. On each side of the engine, girderwork was added to that subframe for the safety bumpers that might be called upon to keep that body off the ground in case of a tipover. The chassis cradles the engine with a rubber-mounting system to minimize any buzz from the K motor. Suspensionwise, BMW needed to make surprisingly few changes from the RS in order to adapt to the requirements of the LT. Up front, BMW's familiar Telelever front suspension is utilized, which BMW claims is ideally suited for luxury tourers, as it provides the best of two worlds: soft, supple suspension and excellent anti-dive characteristics. And the Telelever is virtually mainte·nancefree. In the rear, an 80mm-longer Paralever rear suspension is designed to create a longer wheelbase for stability's sake and also to provide increased room for the bodywork, which equates to increased room for the rider and passenger. With the change, the wheelbase of the LT is increased to 64.3 inches. The rear-suspension preload on the LT can be easily adjusted to tailor it to varying rider/ passenger and cargo loads. The LT utilizes an innovation in the braking department as well. A pair of 300mm Brembo rotors are squeezed by four-piston brake calipers, while the 280mm rear urnt features a twin-piston caliper. And the LT utilizes BMW's standard ABS braking technology which is, surprisingly enough, a first in the luxury-touring segment of the market. As for the drivetrain, the engine is fundamentally the same as the RS model, with LT-specific tunmg specifications. The L1's fuel-mjected DOHC 16-valve four is the recipient of longer intake tracts and smaller throttle bodies as well as revised carns, igrution system, and an exhaust system (with standard catalytic convertors - just like all BMWs) that all work in concert to produce better low-end torque. BMW claims that the LT engine will pmduce 100 hp (at the crank) at 6750 rpm, with a torque peak of 85 ft.-lbs. at 4750 rpm - some 200ft rpm lower than the RS. A Bosch Motroruc MA 2.4 electronic engine-management system is the brain that controls the L1's heart. The system includes cators also receive the stealth treatment, moment). The aerodynamic influence diagnostic circuitry to aid in any mainteas they have been molded into the faircontinues around the bags and the trunk nance tha t might be necessary. And ing as well. Flowing past the elegantly which, by the way, offer a generous 4.2 speaking of maintenance, the LT feacurved vents above and below the side cubic feet of total storage capacity. lures a battery-charge-management sysbumpers, the bodywork gives way ever BMW has also seen fit to offer three tern that boost the engine idle during· so subtly to the cockpit, which hosts a levels of trim for the LT. The LT Stanhigh electrical usage in order to keep the plethora of pampering amenities (we dard will retail for $16,900, while the LT battery at optimum charge capacity. will introdu~e you to them ina Icon, with its heated handgrips, onboard Backing the engine is a uruque five_""",,,,!!,,!=_.. c.9 m puter and CD changer will speed transmission that utilizes fifth gear as a pure overdrive for sustained high-speed cruising. In fifth gear, the L'P"" turns a seamless 3000 rpm while motoring a)ong at 62 mph. The transmission also features a first - for BMW touring motorcycles, anyway - in that it incorporates a reverse gear that operates off of the starter motor. As always, BMW's venerable shaft-drive system.is used to transrrut the power to the rear wheel But it is the L1's beautiful, flowing skin that separates it from any other BMW touring motorcycle ever to take to the autobahn. Starting with the highly aerodynamic nose section, it would seem that BMW engineers thought of everything. The front fairing ~~~-"'7:;Ii~~ includes both an electrically..; ~~";';=;:;""':::":i'-=::::::-:~~ 7 I wind deflectors to inIluadjustable windscreen and manually ence the airflow around the rider, while the body side panels themselves have been designed to keep unwanted engine heat away from him or her. The bodywork embraces the frame-mounted bumpers, making them unobtrusive in the scheme of the Ll ' s styling. The L1's mirrors and turn indi- '1 I :~:::~~~~~~~~~~r:::~r~~~~~~~~~~ Set your own pace: Some motorcycles are built to take you places, but with its incredibly precise (for a tourer) handling and the torquey output from the revised four-cylinder K motor and ABS braking system, the LT is designed to get you places. cost an extra grand. The top-of-the-line LT Custom will add even more features, such as the heated-seat option and chrome trimwork, for $1 ,900. But enough of the details. It's time to climb on and give the LT a ride. As we climbed on our basaltgray LT Icon test unit, glanced around and scanned the instruments and warning lights, the various switches on the bars and the console, we noticed a lot of things. For example, in tl1e leftside cove of the fairing, just inboard of the mirror pod, is a handy little trip computer that offers such readings as air temperature, trip distance and disswitch on tl1e throttle housing makes tance to empty. An easy-to-reach flipping between the functions a snap while riding. On the left bar, you are greeted by myriad switches: the electronic cruise control, hazard-lamps