BMW R 1200 RT, the charm of the sports car in a bike to ride [ROAD TEST]

Photoshoot: ENGINEER

The BMW R 1200 RT – We had already tried it in the past (here in the link to the article), this time we entrusted it to our collaborator Alessio Sanavio, which took her around half of Europe. Here you are his impressions after over 3.500 kilometers in the saddle.

It's basically about a true queen of motorbike touring e it stands out for basically for some aspects including the maneuverability, stability and driving comfort marching. It is a motorbike made to go at full speed and cover as many kilometers as possible, but it also knows how to surprise in everyday use.

The ability to move by hand i 276 kg of the bike (in running order) requires a minimum of arms however As soon as you set off, the handling qualities emerge which also make it easier to navigate city traffic. It is understood that she is not suited to the crazy slaloms of the Fifties, but in any case she suffers much less than one might imagine even in the most congested sections. Sometimes you feel the need to have reverse gear, but it's just a matter of habit and it's not that impossible to move even when fully loaded.

Once put on the motorway it feels like traveling first class inside a modern high-speed train: that's enough raise the windshield, electrically controlled, to be enclosed inside an air bubble which considerably reduces the acoustic impact and which substantially eliminates the wind in the face so as to allow listen to the radio quietly (an essential option) even at the speed limit set by the code. If you want to continue using the screen even in the event of strong winds, you need to reduce your speed to between 110 and 120 km/h, to avoid annoying whiplash and if you want to remain at high speeds, just lower it to reduce noticeably the sailing effect which is felt when passing too close to trucks or buses. Definitely worth mentioning memory function which puts it back in the position where it was left when it is turned on again before turning off the engine.

In the 3500 km traveled around Europe I experienced the most disparate weather conditions, crossing long rainy stretches and, while all my colleagues were stationary or in obvious difficulty, I adapted my speed to the road conditions, without getting even a drop of water. All thanks to particular aerodynamic shape which ensures that the water hits the windshield and the fairing without reaching the rider. If the speed decreases then the situation is different because the water that falls on the large tank will end up all over your legs.

On the straight it's nice to enjoy the view pampered by the radio system with AUX and USB input, but when the curves arrive the music changes because the shy touring bike becomes a real sports bike, which makes you want to drive more decisively, pushing ever further towards the limit. The surprising thing is how a vehicle of this size is able to satisfy even the most extreme requests without ever a flaw. Simply adapt the ESA dynamic suspension, to switch from touring mode to the more sporty one and trust the front end, which always remains in place even in the closest changes of direction. A motorcycle definitely with a double soul which turns out to be the fusion of two opposite concepts: sports performance and relaxed driving pleasure. In fact, it inherits from the "K" series some technological features and a more gentle nature, i.e. the one dedicated to travel, while from the latest R1200GS it inherits the air/liquid-cooled boxer engine, which with appropriate calibrations delivers 125 horsepower with sweetness and regularity, which occasionally require the intervention of the electronics to avoid ending up on a wheel in case of excessively sudden acceleration.

As far as the instruments are concerned, everything is in a favorable position and the central display almost seems to be the result of aeronautical engineering. On the left side of the handlebar is the cruise control, the front fairing control and the button for using the on-board computer functions, while on the right side, in addition to the ignition, we find the button that allows the centralized locking of the two front storage compartments and the two rear side bags. Particularly impactful is the front optical signature that with circular LED lighting creates an aggressive and intimidating look that will get you noticed on the highway. The function Keyless (optional) it allows you to leave the key in your pocket and just press a button to start the ignition and consequently the engine. Worthy of mention is the possibility of locking the steering on both sides.

An extremely useful function at full load is thehill start assistance which is actually laborious in the case of too steep slopes. Enough press the right lever fully to see the symbol (H) appear on the display which identifies the activation of the function. Personally I prefer to use the old method of the rear brake activated with the right foot and play a little on the clutch which however I felt suffered in a couple of less than perfect uphill starts. It is therefore better to rely on technology which perhaps manages this aspect a little better.

Regarding consumption, we found performance substantially in line with the values ​​declared by the company and it is not uncommon to see the on-board computer indicate values ​​between 3 and 4 liters per 100 km. Just adopt a calm driving style at a constant speed without do too much with the screen which creates physiological friction. Let's say that traveling on the state road between 70 and 90 km/h will give you very little fuel consumption. During my tour with a full load and with a person in tow I maintained consumption varies between 5.2 and 5.7 liters per 100 km without paying too much attention to the driving style and with the windshield almost always raised.

Definitely It's a bike that I would recommend to anyone who wants to do serious motorbike touring without giving up the two key elements that motorcycling enthusiasts usually have in common: comfort and performance. I am convinced that the average user of the “K” will be pleasantly impressed by the driving comfort, just as the owner of the GS will find a brilliant, generous engine, but above all always ready. Those who are in the middle, that is, those who want something every day, will still find themselves surprised by how easy the bike can handle. The fact remains that the connotation remains purely tourist.

All you have to do is plan your next trip!

Alessio Sanavio

Test clothing:
Jacket: Segura Jones
Gloves: Segura Gooze
Helmet: Scorpion Exo-920