Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

2003 BMW R1200 CL/CLC To make the cruiser guys comfortable, BMW added a heel/toe shifter to the R1200 CL. Believe it or not, you really need to be cranked oyer before the floorboards hit the tarmac. Trust me, you'll leam to like the nose· just stare at this photo for 10 minutes and It'll grow on you. No, not your nose, stupid. that have been laid flat. They really sweep way back to meet you, but once you realize that your posture is perfectly upright and comfortable, you forget about it all together. The heated seats and grips made a chilly morning perfectly comfortable and give the rider a lot more freedom in terms of what their usable riding season is. I've never sat on a motorcycle in my life and thought, "You know, 1 could really use a stereo right now," but when it's sitting right there ... what the hell? After struggling to find anything other than country and western on the dial, I popped in a Rage Against The Machine CD and blasted along the Parkway in anger. Kind of a funny sight for the construction workers on the side of the road, I would imagine. There are two problems with the CD player: First, it only takes one CD, so you get lazy and listen to the same one at least twice in a row; and second, it resides in the right/rear sidebag, taking up precious cargo space (which also means you have to get off the bike to swap CDs). However, sound quality from the unit is much better than I thought it would be, and it decreases the volume automatically as you slow down - and vice versa when you accelerate. Once you get over the lack of feel from the front end, you'll find that the bike actually handles very well. Not to' be egotistical or anything (Blake couldn't shut the facemask on his BMW helmet if he tried ... Editor), but I guarantee that 99 percent of the people who buy this bike will never ride it as hard as we did that day. We were on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I wasn't about to squander the moment riding slow, regardless of what type of bike I was on. So I just rode it like it was an Rl. I think the speed limit on the parkway is around 45 mph, but 30 SEPTEMBER 25, 2002' cue we spent most of our time in the 80mph range. Uke I said, I wasn't going to squander the opportunity. One thing that cruisers don't normally have is ground clearance especially cruisers with floorboards but the CL isn't just any old cruiser. The CL offers an amazing amount of lean angle before you start dragging metal parts. The thing has to be really, really cranked over before anything hits. I just don't think the consumers who buy this bike will ever ride it this hard, but it's cool to know it can handle it. The bike was set up for a soft ride, but after wallowing through some of the twisties, I dialed in some preload to the rear shock, which improved the handling dramatically. The new transmission shifts far smoother than I remember from a Boxer-based bike in the past, and the actual movement required by the shifter to change gears seems shorter, which is a welcome change. The sixth gear is definitely an overdriveonly gear - you won't be passing any cars in this one, unless you have all day. Bang it down a gear, or even two, and the Boxer's torque will give you the power you need to get on by. Which brings up the topic of the engine. The Boxer twin in this bike is underpowered for a touring bike for sure, but this is supposed to be a cruiser, right? Well, if you look at it that way, it's competitive with other full-dress cruisers on the market, though it could use a bit more power for my tastes. BMW is quick to point out that the cruising rider who they are after is the rider who just wants to amble along, taking in the sights. For that, the motor is perfect. I just wish it had a bit more response for those sudden passes, or for a little more spirited riding. The first time I ever rode a BMW with the new EVa brakes and their updated ABS, I hated them. Not only was the power boost way too much, but there wasn't any feel at the front lever at all. Even worse than that was n e _ s • • This Is the view of the cockpit. In the lower portion of the photo is the control unit for the CD/radio. ABS, EYO, LBS, you get all sorts of acronyms with the BMW's brakes, but they're a big Improvement over previous generations. the way the linked brakes were set up - and the overly sensitive nature of the system. If you barely tapped the rear-brake lever with your foot, the bike would go into full-panic braking mode on its own. Quite a surprise sometimes. Well, I'm thrilled to report that the updated brakes on the CL are 1000 times better. Not only has the sensitivity been turned down a couple of notches, but they offer a much more linear feel as well - all of which are welcome changes. The system now feels like, well, a system. The ABS, linked brakes, and EVa system all work in unison now and perform the way the designers must have intended in the first place. After all day in the saddle, I felt fresh and relaxed and could have kept on riding without any hesitation. As the weather improved and the roads dried up, we had a fantastic ride. Again, I kept thinking that I was on a touring bike and not on a cruiser. I guess that's why they call it a luxury-touring cruiser. The great thing about it is that it does both disciplines well, making it a very diverse bike. And you can show up anywhere relaxed, and in style to boot. Eat your heart out, George. The R1200 CL is available in three colors: Pearl Silver Metallic, Mojave Brown Metallic, and Capri Blue Metallic. The MSRP on the R1200 CL is $15,990, eN and $16,490 on the R1200 CLC. fi?@@@ @fli1!1l [X]fJ fd@@ @[J//[X]'fJf!d(§X§) @[J;@ UST PRICE $15,990/$16,490 DiSPLACEMENT 1170cc ENGINE TYPE Air/oil-cooled, horizootally opposed twin 101 x 73mm BORE x STROKE COMPRESSION RATIO 10.1:1 CARB

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