BMW R1200 RT

AS the Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit."

And so it is at BMW. Their philosophy is to build motorcycles that excel in every aspect and their current range has been honed to perfection. Over the years, BMW has become a byword for comfort, performance, reliability and build quality, and nowhere is this more ably demonstrated than in the superb R1200 RT.

This is a touring machine par excellence. A regular winner of the mainstream motorcycling magazines' group tests, its rivals include the revised Honda Pan European, the Kawasaki GTR1400 and, from the same stable, the BMW K1200 GT. These are the creme de la creme of long-distance load luggers, so what makes the RT stand out from the crowd?

Well for starters it's built around the legendary Boxer flat twin, an engine that has been around in various guises for many years. It's a wide configuration you can spot a mile off, but the oil and air-cooled motor has proven strong and dependable, seeing use not only in police bikes past and present but also in heavy-duty enduro machines such as the R1200 GS models Ewan and Charley famously took round the world.

Replacing the R1150 RT back in 2005, the R1200 RT offers much more than just a facelift and a rebore. The new, larger capacity engine benefits from more torque, increased top end power and, as an added bonus, uses less fuel. BMW have never been ones to brag about performance, and while the RT is no R1 off the line, its creamy smooth power delivery ensures it will keep up with most things on the road. It’s also lighter than it looks too, weighing in around the same as a Bandit 1250 or a VFR800.

The riding position is supremely comfortable, if a little policeman-like. Your back is kept straight and your arms long, and with the Boxer engine as quiet and strong as it is, the RT cruises along in Rolls Royce-style serenity. The big twin needs no winding up to overtake either, just give the throttle the smallest of turns and the RT wafts effortlessly past. There’s no drama, no additional wind blast and no screaming exhaust note. But the RT is quite capable of pushing along if needs be, which is why the police are more than happy to use it. The 180-section rear tyre is an indicator of how well the big tourer can corner, and the chassis, too, with its unusual telelever and paralever suspension arrangement, is more than up to the job, ably coping with mile after mile of twisting back roads.

The fitted luggage is cavernous and simple to remove using the same key as the ignition. My demo model was fitted with black and silver affairs, but if you buy an RT new they come fully colour-coded. The top box is sculpted and padded for the pillion who can recline in comfort while making use of the huge grabrails. But it's the rider who benefits most from the RT's features. Heated grips are always welcome, but a heated seat is a major plus, particularly if you're an all-year-round rider or thinking of exploring Scandinavia.

An electronically adjustable screen comes as standard, as does ABS which, I'm pleased to say, is completely unobtrusive on the RT. The seat height is variable between 820mm and 840mm, although for just £90 BMW can lower the suspension at the factory to reduce this to 790mm for those who like to make certain they can get both feet on the floor. Options also include electronic suspension adjustment, offering settings from 'comfort' to 'sport', while the most useful feature, if you're planning on covering some serious distances, is cruise control.

The instrument panel is as comprehensive and clear as you could wish for, with an onboard computer that tells you everything from the outside temperature to your fuel consumption to your current tyre pressures. The enormous mirrors are positioned low so that you look down into them as you would into a car mirror. The beauty of this is that you get an obstructed view for miles behind without being partially blocked by elbows.

In these credit crunch times, it's great to see a motorcycle of this stature returning over 50mpg. My 08-plate demonstrator already had more than 7,000 miles on the clock, having done several trips to Spain and back, yet still looked fresh out of the showroom. And with low depreciation on big touring BMWs, an RT could prove a justifiable investment.

The BMW R1200 RT was kindly loaned through BMW Motorrad, of Bath Road, Arnos Vale, Bristol. Call 0117 971 1447.

Article written: September 22, 2008

OUR STEER ON THE BMW R1200 RT

Price: £10,895 (SE model £11,995)

Engine: 1,170 cc, twin-cylinder Boxer

Power: 110 bhp @ 7,500 rpm

Torque: 85 lb ft @ 6,000 rpm

Transmission: six-speed, shaft drive

Weight: 229 kg

Top speed: 135mph (est)

Fuel capacity: 27 litres

Seat height: 820 to 840 mm

by Jon Bennett