| Product: |
BMW K1200LT |
| Date: |
25.07.05 (3812 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Comfort, sheer A to B experience
Disadvantages: Weight, width
This is The Daddy. A Total Ubherfuhrer of motorcycle touring. I’m sure that there’s no other bike that can match its single minded focus of demolishing thousands of miles in comfort in the least possible time. That includes the Goldwing.
The Goldwing is its nearest natural competitor. But by comparison the Goldwing is just a chrome plated tractor. On the K1200LT you can chase and overtake a Yamaha 1300 mounted local rider down the hair raising switchback Pyrenean roads from Andorra la Vella to Anserall. I did. Great fun!
With this bike the pleasure is as much in the journey there as in what fun you can have with it once you’re there. So crunching the 700 miles through the French Autoroutes down to the Pyrenees was no problem. You just set the cruise control to 160kph, raise the electrically powered screen to full height, slip in your favourite driving music CD compilation and switch on the four speaker premium sound system. You’re at your destination in no time.
There’s no discomfort. The three way adjustable, heated saddle sees to that. If you’re short in the leg department, you can lower the seat to accommodate the shortest rider.
The screen also adjusts using a stepper motor for a perfect ergonomic fit.
The engine is a longitudinal, horizontally laid 1200cc four cylinder, fuel injected, DOHC unit. Its unique positioning lowers the centre of gravity to make the bike easier to man handle. Mine produce 98bhp (later ones 120 bhp) but the torque, produced low down the rev range, was sufficient to move the bike along briskly, with 0-60 times in less than 4.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 120mph. The bike is also amazingly economical, even with full panniers and a passenger I managed 42 mpg. How do I know that? The built in multi function trip computer told me!
With 761lbs of weight behind it, the big K needs exceptionally good brakes. Mine had three Brembo discs with ABS fitted, later ones have the added advantage of servo assistance, they’re all well up to the job of hauling this beast to a rapid and safe halt.
It corners well for its weight but ground clearance is limited when compared with other “normal” bikes. If you bear that in mind you can still be pleasantly rewarded on long fast sweeping bends.
OK, enough praise, what’s not so good about it?
It’s heavy. Despite the low slung engine it carries a lot of weight on top, especially if you have a passenger and the topbox is loaded. So when I said you can ride it with short legs, they need to be very strong short legs. If you can’t manage it and starts to topple (It can happen, believe me) one option is to lay it down gently on the rubber mounted built in crash bars.
The unique reverse gear also helps when moving this beast about. You put the bike into neutral, turn a dial, and the starter button controls the starter motor which has now transformed itself into an electric reverse motor, very clever.
Hey, and it’s wide. I tried commuting in and out of London in the rush hour a few times and it wasn’t too easy. Filtering between narrow gaps in traffic is not the big K12’s thing.
So should you get one?
Maybe, maybe not. The great thing about the BMW motorcycle network here in the UK is that they’ll let you test ride any of their fleet. So if this review has inspired you, grab your helmet, go visit your local dealer and blag a test ride.
You’ll not be disappointed.
If you’re into the distance bug this is supreme (I did Gibraltar to Hertford in two days).
Hope this helps.
Price new around £15,000
Price used on EBay around £7,000, if buying used you’ll need a full BMW service history. Also note the 6,000 mile services cost around £220 but every 24,000 miles they need the full valve service and this can cost £600, so watch out for that.
Features
Built in luggage
6 CD Premium sound system
Heated handgrips and seats
Reverse gear
Electrically adjustable screen
Cruise control
Trip computer
ABS brakes
Specifications
Engine:
•Type: Liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder
•Displacement: 1172cc
•Bore and Stroke: 70.5 mm x 75.0 mm
•Fuel System: Motronic MA 2.4 fuel management system
•Compression Ratio: 10.8:1
•MPG: 42
Drivetrain:
•Transmission: 5-speed
•Final Drive: Enclosed driveshaft with two universal joints
Brakes:
•Front: Two, four-piston fixed calipers; 12.6 inch dual floating rotors; full integral ABS
•Rear: Single, four-piston fixed caliper; 11.2 inch single fixed rotor; full integral ABS
Suspension:
•Front: BMW Telelever
•Rear: BMW Paralever
Wheels and Tires:
•Front: 120/70 x 17 tubeless tire
•Rear: 160/70 x 17 tubeless tire
Dimensions:
•Length: 98.5 in.
•Seat Height: 30.3 in.
•Wheelbase: 64.1 in.
•Weight: 761 lbs. dry excluding options and accessories
•Fuel Capacity: 6.2 gals.
Summary: The 7 series of the bike world
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