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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128204
2003 BMW K1200GT The brakes are BMW's EVO partlallyIntegrated ABS units with 320mm rotors. (Above) The GT's dash is plain and simple with analog gauges. above, is the semi-integrated system that allows the rear brake to be operated independently. The servo assist takes some time to get used to if you about bikes with side cases is that it aren't familiar with it, but once you makes lane splitting and maneuverdo, it's fine. There is more than ing through traffic a little bit of a pain. enough power to haul the 679-pound The last thing I want to do is scratch (wet weight) bike down from speed. It someone's car with the cases, or also takes a little while to get used to scratch the cases themselves for that the telelever front end, which doesn't matter. It took me about a week of dive when you get on the brakes. riding the bike before I was completeThat's a good thing on a heavy bike ly sure of the bike's girth and was like this because it doesn't load up able to navigate traffic without any the front tire and compromise tracissues. Looking at the back of the tion. bike, I swear that the bike could be If it's raining out, the GT is the made six inches narrower without bike you want to be riding. I mean, making the bags smaller, but what do how can you argue with ABS, heated I know? seats and grips, and that protective The GT has many features that are windscreen? The GT does an exceladjustable, including the footpeg lent job of keeping the water off of position, the seat height and lever you at cruising speed. The front fairadjustments. I wish the shift lever ing barely lets any water get to your were adjustable for its relationship to hands, while the side fairing's lip does the footpeg. When I hop from one a great job of keeping the water off of bike to another, it always drives me your legs. The windshield has just the crazy - it's too low and requires that right amount of a lip at the top to you really point your toe toward the divert the water out to the sides. tarmac to get under it. However, it does seem to make the I have to admit that it's the GT's airflow push the water down the front amenities that really make the bike. I of your helmet, so don't crack the love cruising to work on a chilly visor open while you are moving morning with the heated handgrips along at speed - you'll get some set to the "burn" setting and the heatwater inside. ed seat set to the "butt-on-fire" setSomething that I noticed while ridting. Then I just crank that windshield ing the GT at night is that there isn't a up to the highest position and relax, lack of candlepower at the front of maybe even set the cruise control. It the bike - the headlights really do a makes any ride in any conditions great job of lighting up the road. They relaxing and comfortable. have a nice wide swath of light in the One thing that BMW finally got low-beam setting, while the high right is the GT's brake system. The beams do a great job of blasting the EVa ASS system on the R1150RT is tarmac full of light. a pain because it's the fully integratIn the tight stuff the GT handles ed system - if you use the rear brake better than it has a right to. Turn-in is pedal it also activates a couple of pissurprisingly crisp, with the bike leantons on the front calipers. The probing into the corner in a linear yet lem is that the servo-assisted (power quick motion. Once leaned over, the brakes) system is overly sensitive bike wallows a bit, as you would and can be really annoying. The expect from such a heavy bike. I ended up adding all of the available K 1200GT's system, as [ mentioned n • _ s 32 MARCH 12,2003· e y e • • preload to the rear shock, which helped things dramatically. The bike was then no longer prone to bouncing over the midcorner bumps and tracked a lot straighter. The GT does exhibit a bit of fuelinjection hesitation midcorner, or it could be driveline lash from the shaft drive; maybe both. It's noticeable but not that severe. Our GT came equipped with Metzeler MEZ4 Sport touring tires that offer plenty of grip and should offer good mileage. The GT's six-speed tranny has a wide assortment of ratios including an extra-tall overdrive-like sixth gear. When you get the thing out on the highway, this is the cruiser gear that really helps keep any vibration from making its way to the rider. If you need to make a quick pass, knock it down a gear or two, and you are rewarded with hearty acceleration The color-matched saddlebags come standard on the K1200GT. from the flat-four motor. The GT averaged 32.84 miles per gallon while commuting back and forth to work on a combination of surface streets and the freeway and was a little higher when out on the open road in that overdrive gear. I was a bit worried at first because the fuel light comes on fairly early, but the tank should be good for 200 miles in freeway/cruising mode. The K1200GT is available in two colors, Gray Green Metallic and Orient Blue Metallic. The standard features include: electrically adjustable windscreen, color-matched saddlebags, adjustable seat and levers, cruise control, heated grips, heated rider and passenger seats, and ABS brakes. The MSRP is $17,990. eN SPECIFICATIONS UST PRICE $17,990 DISPLACEMENT 1171cc ENGINE TYPE Uquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder BORE x STROKE 70.5 x 75mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5: 1 CARBURETION .........•••••••••••••..••...........Electronic fuel injection IGNITION Bosch Motronic 2.4 TRANSMISSION ........•••••..••••••••.•••••••••..............Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM ...............................••.............Electric FUEL CAPACITY .........••.• _ . _ • _.• _ • _ • __ . . _• _••.• _ 5.5 gal. WHEELBASE ..........•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••........61.22 in. RAKE/TRAIL 27.2°/124mm SEAT HEIGHT 31.1/32.3 in. FRONT TIRE 120/70ZR17 Metzeler MEZ4 REAR TIRE 180/55ZR17 Metzeler MEZ4 FRONT SUSPENSION BMW Telelever FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL .4.5 in. REAR SUSPENSION BMW Paralever with preload and rebound adjustment REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.9 in. FRONT BRAKE EVa partially integrated ABS w/dual 320mm discs REAR BRAKE ABS w/285mrn disc FINAL DRIVE Shaft 638 Ibs. CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT