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/128378
'ding along in the mountains north of San Diego, California, I couldn't help but think that if I kept on riding I could easily make Big Sur before nightfall. Sure, there are a t of motorcycles that can accomplish the R same feat, but very few can get you there as relaxed and comfortable as a BMW R 1200 RT Not to mention that the RT can be hustled along at a more-thanentertaining clip - even for a sportbike enthusiast. If there is one key to retaining market share in the motorcycle industry, it's keeping the product line fresh. Sometimes, like in the case of BMW, the entire model range needs to be freshened up. BMW started last year with the introduction of the new R 1200 GS adventure-touring motorcycle (one of the most popular in BMW's worldwide line) and followed that up with the K 1200 S (we're still waiting on that one). The fact of the matter is that the introduction of that bike was just the tip of the iceberg for a whole new range of redesigned and brand-new motorcycles, including the new RT, ST and the other new K-powered motorcycle, the K 1200 R (naked sportbike). Gone are some of the poorer-selling models, including the entire Boxer-powered cruising range - better to let the V-twin crowd make cruisers anyway. BWM's Boxer platform isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but the older I 150 (actually 1130cc) mill just wasn't going to cut it anymore. Last year, the A larger and taller windscreen provides more wind/weather protection for the rider. company introduced the new 1200 (actually 1170cc) motor in the GS, and this year, a further refined version of that motor finds its way into the RT and the new ST (sport-touring version). The fact of the mater is that many of the BMWs had grown to be much too heavy over the past decade. There is only so much power that can be extracted from a horizontally opposed, nat twincylinder motor, so other measures had to be taken, namely dropping unwanted pounds. Performance comes from a variety of places, but by increasing the engine performance and decreasing the weight, BMW has improved the power-to-weight ratios of the new Boxer-powered bikes dramatically. These two new motorcycles breathe life back into BMW's touring range for years to come. R 12000 RT After spending a day on BMW's newest Boxer RT, I came away impressed. I had spent a lot of time on the previous generation R I 150 RT, even riding the bike two-up from Los Angeles to Denver and back on a short four-day trip a few years ago. Comparing the previous and current generation RTs is simple because they are so different. The new RT is much better than the bike it replaces in every aspect. Not only has it improved in terms of performance from the engine, transmission and drivetrain, but losing 70 pounds has also made the bike dramatically more nimble. BMW didn't stop there, however, as