Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2003 05 07

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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The bike c:omes with both the solo seat set-up plc:tured and a passenger seat. The main seat's height is 32.3 inc:hes, but a lower 31.3-inc:h version Is available as an option. others who made the turn, we had a wonderful ride ripping the Rocksters through the empty canyons, which is always nice on a weekday. One thing that is instantly noticeable after jumping on the bike is that the handlebars are really wide. I mean really wide. If there was ever a bike that proved how effective countersteering is, this is it. If your hand even quivers way out there on the end of the grip, it initiates a turn, which in this case is a good thing. On the other hand, they're so wide that splitting lanes and getting around in urban congestion is a little more challenging, but it does get those mirrors way out there, giving a perfect view of everyone you just passed. A key element to the bike's handling is the inclusion of the aforementioned wheels from the R 1100 S that are 17 x 5.5 inches on the rear and 17 x 3.5 inches on the front, allowing the use of Metzeler's Sportec M 1 premium sportbike rubber. The level of grip from the tires far exceeds the lean angles the bike can achieve, which are inhibited by those silly things hanging off of the sides of the motor, the heads. My prime reason for choosing the R 1150 R when I rode the bike in the Alps was that it was the lightest BMW available to us for that trip. I figured that the lack of weight would be a good thing in the hundreds of tight, first-gear hairpins we would encounter. It was a good decision, but I wish that this bike had been available at the time, because it offers a lot more performance than the base model, especially the chassis. The suspension is similar to the standard bike's, but it features the spring strut from the R 1100 S on the Telelever front end and also features a different link on the rear shock to jack up the rear an inch. This in turn puts more weight over the front of the bike for improved handling. It's hard to say without riding the two back to back if the improvements are substantial, but I was perfectly happy with the handling in the tight stuff. The Rockster is also perfectly suited to railing fast open sweepers with ease due to the long wheelbase and planted front end. The brakes on the Rockster have been updated with braided stainless steel lines added to the EVOlution system. There are two setups available, either with the partially-integrated ABS, or without. We rode the non· ABS version that not only is $2200 cheaper but also shaves 16 pounds off of the wet weight. I'm not a big fan of ABS on bikes that are meant to be "sporty," so I was happy that the bikes that we rode weren't equipped with the system, although the partially integrated system is a lot less annoying than the integrated versions. I thought that the brakes on the bike I rode were excellent. The combination of the Telelever front end and the excellent brakes gives the bike a lot of stopping power; it's just weird to get slowed down that quickly without the front diving. The boxer motor has been updated not only on the Rockster but also on (Above left) The Matte Blac:k and Orange tank looks really c:ool in person. (Above right) The motor rec:eives the new twin-spark heads for 2004, whic:h are dressed up with magnesium valve c:overs. The color-matched eyebrow fairing sits on top of the C-3PO (android drops it from 32.3 inches to 31.3 from Star Wars)-style eyeballs - I mean headlights. Attached to the fair- Integral saddlebags and mounts and reduce-saddle-height seat, which inches for the vertically challenged. ing are the slick looking clear-lens blinkers with amber colored bulbs. saddlebag liners are other options, as The dash is made up of an analog tach, speedo and tripmeter in addition to the odometer, and an LCD clock with big, easy-to-read numbers. The bike is offered in two color The bike comes with both the solo seat cowl and a passenger seat, but don't expect to fit a lot under the cover other than your license and registration. is a rear-mounted luggage bridge. combinations, the Orange 2 Metallic/Matte Black, and the Citrus Metallic/Matte Black. The suggested retail price for the non-ABS version is $ 10,790, while the ABS version will set you back $12,990. Included with the purchase of the bike is BMW's Other standard features include the always-welcome heated grips, an three-year/36,000-mile limited war- accessory plug (for a heated vest). easy-to-reach hazard lights, year, 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-per- adjustable levers, and a centerstand. Optional equipment includes the ranty, which also includes a threeyear roadside assistance plan that can be extended at the end of that time for $35 a year. eN (Left) The stylish five-spoke rims are borrowed from, the R 1100 S and are painted the bike's Orange 2 Metallic: c:olor. (Right) There is an easy-to-adjust preload knob located behind the footpeg. Just in front of that is the ac:c:essory plug, for items such as an elec:tric: vest. all of its 2004 R1100 and R1150 series motorcycles. The main difference is that the motor features new twin-spark cylinder heads with coolgray-colored magneSium covers that should spark nicely if you drag them through a corner. As implied, an additional sparkplug has been added to each cylinder to improve combustion efficiency and further reduce exhaust emissions. Beyond that, the motor is essentially the same 1130cc air/oil cooled, four-valve per cylinder, flat-twin R259 powerplant. One thing of note is that the shift lever throw doesn't seem as long as I remember on the normal R 1150 R, allowing much cleaner, precise shifts through the six-speed gearbox. fS[fJ@@tKlO@&J{JIJ(§)[fi)~ 1004 BMW R 1150 RlR 1150 R ABS Rockster UST PRICE ...........••••••............................$10,790/$12,990 DISPLACEJI\ENT 113Occ ENGINE TYPE Air/oil-cooled, horizontally opposed twin BORE x STROKE __ . _ 101 x 70.5mm 10.3:1 COMPRESSION RATIO CARBURETJON _ Electronic fuel injection IGNITION Bosch Motronic 2.4 TRANSMISSION ......•........................................Six-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY 5.4 gal. WHEELBASE ...........••••••.................................. .58.5 in. 26.9'/N/A RAKE/TRAIL SEAT HEIGHT ...........•••••••••••••. __ 32.3 in. 120/70ZR17 FRONT TIRE REAR TIRE 180/55ZR17 N/A FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL N/A FRONT BRAKE Dual 320mm discs/ Dual 320mm discs w/BMW Integral ABS REAR BRAKE .single 276mm disc FINAL DRIVE Shaft CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT ....••••.••..•..•...................488 Ibs./504 Ibs. cue I e n ... _ S • MAY 7. 2003 43

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