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/128173
four-piston calipers up front, and an 11.2-inch disc and twin-piston caliper in back. All of this is controlled by the latest incarnation of BMW's fully integrated ABS system. BLACK.TIE AFFAIR The things that set the bike apart from other cruisers are its amenities and its styling. One of the first things you notice when you hop into the cockpit is the funny-shaped windshield, which has a huge dip in it. It's designed to allow the rider to be able to see over the windscreen, yet still provide ample wind and weather protection. This mounts to the handlebar-mounted fairing, which incorporates the four headlights and should be more than capable of lighting up any road at night. The frame-mounted fairings offer both functional and aesthetic benefits. They not only protect the rider from the elements, but they also provide housing for various items such as the cruise-control system, the radio, and the optional alarm system. The cockpit itself is made up of a tachometer, speedometer, an analog clock, and an array of idiot lights. If you go for the optional stereo, you also get the control pod for that, mounted in between the handlebars, providing a lot more buttons to poke at. The color-matched sidebags are permanently attached to the bike and feature clamshell lids with bumper strips to provide protection from minor tip-over damage. The top box is removable, and features an attractive aluminum rack underneath. One thing that the top box had that the Rl150 RT needs is a padded passenger backrest, which helps ensure that said passenger stays happy. As mentioned earlier, the bike features heated grips and seats (ClC), and a kicking CD player (ClC, optional on the Cl). It's basically a rolling entertainment system with a much nicer view. UNDER THE HDOD The R1200 Cl uses the tried-andtrue, 1170cc, 61-horsepower, 72-lb.ft. of torque, R259 Boxer-twin motor. The motor makes its peak torque at a low 3000 rpm - just the right point for a cruising motorcycle. A Motronic MA 2.4 engine-management system controls all of the engine's functions, including the EFI. The R 1200 Cl features a three-way catalytic converter in the exhaust for clean emissions. The biggest change in terms of drivetrain components has to be the new six-speed transmission. Gears one through five feature fairly normally spaced ratios, but the sixth gear is an overdrive, which drops the rpms significantly for cruising. In addition, the transmission has new, re-angled gear teeth, which provide additional overlap for less gear noise, and the internal shift mechanism was redesigned for smoother shift action. This is the first bike to receive the new tranny, but all of the boxer-powered bikes will receive it in the new model year. IN MOTION I have always heard wonderful things about the Blue Ridge Parkway and was very excited to get the opportunity to ride on it. I recently had the chance to ride Deal's Gap and thought that was a blast. But after riding the Blue Ridge, I came to the realization that some of the best roads in the country are in the south east - and not just in California. BMW had a route laid out for us that was just over 200 miles in length and incorporated not only the BRP, but a lot of other fantastic roads in the area as well. Our morning started off a little gloomy, with a low-lying fog blanketing the ground and roads damp from the overnight moisture. Our journey started immediately up a road called cue •• Highway 151, which was a very tight, twisting road covered by a canopy of trees (read: dark) and covered with damp patches and road debris. It would have been tedious on any bike, but the fairly heavy Cl was a handful on this road. One thing that took me all day to get comfortable with was the vague front end. Sometimes the Telelever front suspension doesn't communicate what is going on under you very well, especially on some of the heavier BMWs. You get used to it, but it takes a while to build up the confidence. In this case in particular, I think it has a lot to do with the tire let's just say that an eO-series tire doesn't scream performance. Now, to be fair, this is a cruiser, right? All day I kept forgetting this and thinking I was on a touring bike, which should be a huge compliment to the bike. Anyway, it was that first few degrees of lean angle that really made me sketch out, but once the bike is heeled over a bit, the feel comes back and there aren't any worries. Highway 151 hooked on to the Blue Ridge, and unfortunately it was foggy and cloudy for quite a while, not to mention a bit on the chilly side. The Cl offers a very comfortable cockpit, however, and even when the going gets ugly, you feel snug, comfortable, and in your own little world. The windscreen may look funny at first, but it functions well and gives you not only the protection that you want from a full fairing, but the forward vision that you can normally only obtain on a bike with a much shorter fairing. The handlebars are another thing that take a minute to adjust to: They look like ape hangers n. _ S • SEPTEMBER 25, 2002 29