William Nawky Snowmobile Auction

Touring Gsx Piston

BMW R1200RT SE Road test review

The road trip would take around five days, and have me cover around 1500 miles in all. Whatever the weather, road and traffic conditions, I needed a bike that could do everything I asked of it. It would have to do so with ease, help me to do the same, and be pretty much ignored for most of the way. I was happy to quench its thirst for time to time, but wouldn't be happy if that happened too often. And if it let me down in any way, I'd probably verbally abuse it, kick it, and send it back to its keepers.

In the end, and it must be said after having performed the allotted task above and beyond the call of duty, the last thing I wanted to do was hand it over to anyone. BMW's exceptional R1200RT SE turned out to be so completely capable at its role of eating miles without fuss or pain of any sort, I wanted to keep the thing!

It's the second time I've fallen for a BMW this year. The first, the S1000RR superbike, was something I found hard to resist, and ended clocking around 850 miles on. This one had me approve of it in a different sort of way, but my affection for it ended up running just as deep.

With its panniers packed, big kit bag strapped to the seat, and sat nav programmed, the first stage of my trip saw me set off up north to pay homage to my mother (March 9th being the relevant date) in the north-east of England. A 275-odd stint mile on a motorcycle is normally considered a long way. On the RT it feels like a run round the block. All in all, the big tourer was probably tipping the scales at over 350kilos with me and my kit on its back. But that mass never stopped me meeting my mother with a smile following a fulfilling ride along A roads and motorways, and feeling as fresh as I'd started five hours before. The 1200 hadn't needed much attention either. I'd topped up the very usefully-sized 25 litre fuel tank at 205miles, though the on board computer reckoned I could have done another 30 more. The lack of interruption had helped keep down the journey time, as it would throughout the rest of the adventure.

Duties done and lunch devoured I then set of for another 130mile run to Scotland. By this point in the proceedings, the Bee-Em had been so relaxed and easy-going the prospect of a short jaunt like this seemed no more taxing than a long walk. I ended up taking my time over it, stopping to take lots of photos along the extremely pretty and spectacularly undulating A68 which takes you over the Borders area and into Scotland. Words uttered into my voice recorder describing the bike were very complimentary. Effortless, comforting, super fairing, strong gutsy engine, powerful brakes, roomy luggage, and very, very convenient were all descriptions included in my enthusiastically expressed babble. It got me to my guest house south of Edinburgh feeling a bit guilty really. I'd bragged to friends about the challenge of my long and hard mega-mile haul up to Scotland and beyond. But still feeling as fresh as I did, I felt I'd deceived them. I've felt more fatigued getting off the sofa!

Tomorrow was to be another long day, and hopefully by the time I got up Inverness, 225 miles away, I'd feel worthy of some sort of praise. Up until now it had been just too easy, and I felt I'd endured nothing - no doubt because of the BMW's workhorse-like abilities.

Rain and wind were forecast to greet me for the start of the trip and as I packed the bike I worried the Forth Road Bridge crossing might unsettle the RT with its acres of plastic acting like a sail in the breeze. I shouldn't have worried. The German bike carried on as stoically as the bridge itself and got me to the other side unflustered. With snaps of the magnificent railway bridge in the bag, I continued towards the Highlands.

Once near Perth, with the tripmete recording 220 miles, I filled up and headed east on the A85 towards Crieff and Crainlarich. Here, along the twisting and very picturesque route I started to feel a real affinity with the BMW. It's such a dutiful servant you have to respect it. Handling the unfamiliar territory as competently as if it had been down it many times previously, the 1200 proved easy to ride in its understated and stable manner. The wet conditions could have caught it out, but the RT remained just as sure-footed, with its superb fairing and button-adjusted screen keeping me fully sheltered and dry. Warmed by the heated grips and seat, I really couldn't have felt any more comfortable. Being able to adjust the suspension settings at the touch of a button just added to the convenience of it all.

Traffic is hardly what you'd call heavy in this neck of the woods, but whenever I did need to overtake any, the torquey twin cylinder engine made it happen almost automatically. Top gear's a bit of an overdrive, but the box is slick enough to easily drop a gear or two to effect the operation more urgently if needed. You can notice the new bike's slightly greater torque, refinement, and lovely exhaust note when you do that. But for the vast majority of the time I just cruised along enjoying the splendour of the Highlands with the high geared motor purring away quite smoothly and effortlessly in sixth.

Joining the A82 at Crainlarich boosted the mood still further. I've ridden this stretch of road before and just as I'd remembered it, the scenery was truly staggering. Once through Tyndrum, home of the motorcycle-friendly, and highly recommended Green Welly restaurant, the road climbs into the Highlands proper. There the scale and grandeur of the mountains is jaw-droppingly impressive. With snow-capped Glen Coe completely free to view in the sunshine, its size and age helped to put me and my bike into perspective. Compared to that mass of rock we were insignificant morsels making no contribution to the world. Moments later though, down the twisting descent the 1200RT seemed a highly important part of my life bringing me much pleasure with its graceful progress. I'd really warmed to it by now and I really couldn't think of another bike I'd rather be on. I still felt as fresh as a daisy and the idea of reaching Inverness before the day was done was disappointing me. I wanted to cover at least double the remaining miles and continue with the delight of it all. For this sort of ride, the BMW was proving very much fit for purpose.

Through Fort William, past Ben Nevis and then alongside the famous Loch Ness the bliss remained. And even when Inverness did appear with its surprisingly congested rush hour streets, the width of the 1200 and its bulky-looking panniers didn't handicap progress anywhere near as much as I expected. As long as the mirrors could get through the gaps, then the rest of the bike could follow. I wouldn't say the BMW would make a great London-based despatch bike, but it's by no means either slow or frustrating through heavy traffic either.

Two days, and another 200 miles spent in the area testing Bridgestone's new BT-023 sports touring tyre (which fitted to the RT before I set off, had already proved faultless in all conditions during my trip) gave me periodic breaks from the bike, but helped put it into context a little. Swapping between the RT and bikes like a Kawasaki ZZ-R 1400, Suzuki B-King and GSX-R100, and Ducati 1100 Monster made me realise the weight and bulk of the RT a little more. But each time I'd returned to it, it only took a few minutes before I felt dialed back in well enough to feel fully at home on it. Which was just as well considering the penultimate leg of my trip was going to be nearly 600 miles long.

This was to be the sternest test of the bike's civility. The task would take around ten hours and hopefully leave me in a fit state, as I was to fly out to Spain from Gatwick the following day. Once I got down into England I would have to spend as much time as possible on motorways to make my deadline, so the ride was unlikely to be as interesting and entertaining heading south as it had been going up north.

I shouldn't have worried in the slightest. Setting off from Inverness at 8am had me pull up bang on time in Horley, Sussex at 6pm. The ten hours in between saw the RT perform just as perfectly and perfunctorily as it had done so far. The first few hours of the trip were very wet, but the fairing once again did its job of keeping the weather at bay totally. I never needed to wear any really heavy kit to fend off the chills, and thanks to the protection offered by the plastic and the heated grips I never wore anything other than thin racing gloves throughout. Just as it had done previously, it churned out the mileage without a whimper of complaint. In fact so matter of fact and efficient is the way the BMW goes about its business, it's only when you reflect on the day that you realise how well it's done. During the ride itself, because it just gets on with the job so effectively, it's easy to take it for granted and forget its achievements.

The fact that I walked into Horley that night to get something to eat in just the same way I would have had I never been near a bike was a real reflection on how fantastically comfortable and calming the 1200 really is. When I woke the next day I actually felt refreshed enough to ride all the way back to the beauty of Scotland, and tackle the 593 miles with exactly the same level of enthusiasm I did at the start of each of the previous days.

Looking back, the ride down had been blighted a bit by having to stop twice as often to refuel as I needed to thanks to travelling with another journalist on a thirstier, and shorter-ranged Bandit 1200. But that only helped me to appreciate the BMW more.

Returning home from Spain two days later saw the trip clock up a total of 1575 miles. During those miles the tourer had recorded an impressive average of 47mpg with a best of 51mpg.

I'd pretty much enjoyed each and every minute I'd been on the RT. It's utterly brilliant at performing tasks like the one I'd set it, and had done absolutely everything I asked pretty much to perfection. The 2010 model is the latest and best version of the RT yet, and though there are a couple of things I like to see improved (slightly more certain gearchange action; it dropped between gears a few times, marginally better damped suspension; very occasionally it felt crude, and a digital speedo; to read more definitively for speed cameras!), I can't really fault it. The biggest compliment I can perhaps pay it is to say that whenever I have a long trip to make by bike in the future, I wouldn't consider ANY other motorcycle. There may well be many big and highly capable tourers on the market currently. But none of them can quite match the multi-talented R1200RT for its sheer ability to consume miles and generate the sense of achievement it does. It's a fantastic touring machine.

SPECIFICATIONS

2010 BMW R1200RT SE

ENGINE

Type: 1170cc, air/oil cooled, eight-valve, DOHC, flat twin

Maximum power: 110bhp @ 7750rpm

Maximum torque: 88lb/ft @ 6000rpm

TRANSMISSION

Transmission: 6-speed

Final drive: shaft

CHASSIS/COMPONENTS

Cycle parts

Frame: Steel tube subframes

Suspension:

Front: Telelever fork, ESA II (electronically adjustable)

Rear: Paralever monoshock, ESA II (electronically adjustable)

Brakes:

Front: twin 320mm discs with four piston ABS calipers

Rear: single 265mm disc with twin-piston ABS caliper

Tyres:

Front: 120/70-17

Rear: 180/55-17

DIMENSIONS/CAPACITY

Seat height: 820/840 mm (780/800mm low option)

Wet weight: 259kg

Fuel capacity: 25 litres

DETAILS

Price: ?12,880 (?13,740 in trim tested)

Contact: 0800 777155, www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

Performance: 4

Handling: 4

Practicality: 5

Value for money: 4

OVERALL: 5
About the Author

Mohammed McNaughton is a motorcycle journalist and enthusiast. His work and that by others can be found at
Motorbike Insurance
,
Banned Rider Insurance

#170 GSX Master Link $1.97 #170 GSX Master Link

#170 GSX Offset Link $1.97 #170 GSX Offset link

piston $9 piston

#170 GSX Chain $5.45 Roller chain Dun Pai, chain #170 GSX

Suzuki GSX-R FlexFit Hat $22.99 Factory Effex Suzuki GSX-R FlexFit Hat

Touring $79.99 T. B. Tucker Touring - Framed Art Print

Piston $26.77 Piston 41mm Diameter

Touring The World: Touring Australia - $12.99 Touring The World: Touring Australia -

Touring The World: Touring China - $12.99 Touring The World: Touring China -

Touring The World: Touring England - $12.99 Touring The World: Touring England -

Baer Brake Pads - Sport Touring Brake Pads Rear [96-02 Town Car w-piston clip 1.00-inches inboard] $61.08 "The newest member of the Baer family, the Baer SPORT-TOURING Brake Pad line, offers impressive friction levels and completely tame street manners. This added performance with negligible amounts of dust and low noise makes these pads a great enhancement for stock brake systems, as well a natural compliment to Baer Claw?« Systems. Baer SPORT-TOURING pads offer the best Domestic coverage for cars and trucks in the performance market with more than 1,500 vehicle applications. Over three hundred additional part numbers for foreign and domestic applications are being released over the coming twelve months. Baer SPORT-TOURING compound are the logical choice to deliver performance without compromising civility. High-Friction compound delivers dramatic / repeatable performance. Positive-Molding process ensures low compressibility and positive pedal feel. Rubberized, mechanically-fixed anti-noise shims virtually eliminate noise."

Baer Brake Pads - Sport Touring Brake Pads Front [88-93 Sable (Small Piston Clip)] $92 "The newest member of the Baer family, the Baer SPORT-TOURING Brake Pad line, offers impressive friction levels and completely tame street manners. This added performance with negligible amounts of dust and low noise makes these pads a great enhancement for stock brake systems, as well a natural compliment to Baer Claw?« Systems. Baer SPORT-TOURING pads offer the best Domestic coverage for cars and trucks in the performance market with more than 1,500 vehicle applications. Over three hundred additional part numbers for foreign and domestic applications are being released over the coming twelve months. Baer SPORT-TOURING compound are the logical choice to deliver performance without compromising civility. High-Friction compound delivers dramatic / repeatable performance. Positive-Molding process ensures low compressibility and positive pedal feel. Rubberized, mechanically-fixed anti-noise shims virtually eliminate noise."

Suzuki GSX-R T-Shirt $17.99 Factory Effex Suzuki GSX-R T-Shirt Official Suzuki Licensed Apparel Screened black t-shirt with standard fit

Accelerant GSX-R Jacket $430 Icon Accelerant GSX-R Jacket Metal alloys, textile fibers, thermoplastic rubber and premium leather - these are the raw building block materials for speed. Accelerant is the precise fusion of all of the above and one of Icon's most technically advanced riding jackets. Suzuki and GSX-R badging executed in Icon "hero" style push this street jacket to the front of the pack. The Accelerant FSX-R jacket is fully committed and all business, just like your gixxer. Features: Icon sport fit 1.2-1/4mm premium Brazilian leather chassis Removable Icon CE Field Armor impact protector elbow and shoulder External Thermoplastic back and shoulder protection with alloy inserts Removable Icon dual density back pad Strategically placed stretch ballistic nylon for comfort and flexibility Strategically placed perforated leather for ventilation Zippered intake and exhaust vents for cooling Removable insulated wind resistant liner **Closeouts are limited to stock on hand**

Transition Networks / 1000BSX NIC MM SC / N-GSX-SC-02 $207.1 Transition Networks - 1000BSX NIC MM SC - N-GSX-SC-02

Citizen Network Adapter RS-232 for GSX 190i Int AK668720M $43.38 Citizen Network Adapter RS-232 for GSX 190i Int AK668720M

170 GSX Custom Chain Kit $21.81 Custom Chain kit using metric 170 GSX chain (see chain info). Up to 60 inches length. Kit includes 1 master link and 1 offset link for extending the chain by 1 link.

r006 Piston Rod, for the VX .16 and .18 $4.7 Piston

q006 Piston Rod, for VX .18 and .18 $1.41 Piston

Baer Brake Pads - Sport Touring Brake Pads Rear [96-02 Crown Victoria w-piston-clip-located-1.75-includinghes inboard] $76.46 "The newest member of the Baer family, the Baer SPORT-TOURING Brake Pad line, offers impressive friction levels and completely tame street manners. This added performance with negligible amounts of dust and low noise makes these pads a great enhancement for stock brake systems, as well a natural compliment to Baer Claw?« Systems. Baer SPORT-TOURING pads offer the best Domestic coverage for cars and trucks in the performance market with more than 1,500 vehicle applications. Over three hundred additional part numbers for foreign and domestic applications are being released over the coming twelve months. Baer SPORT-TOURING compound are the logical choice to deliver performance without compromising civility. High-Friction compound delivers dramatic / repeatable performance. Positive-Molding process ensures low compressibility and positive pedal feel. Rubberized, mechanically-fixed anti-noise shims virtually eliminate noise."

Baer Brake Pads - Sport Touring Brake Pads Rear [96-00 Town Car w-piston-clip-located-1.75-inches inboard] $76.46 "The newest member of the Baer family, the Baer SPORT-TOURING Brake Pad line, offers impressive friction levels and completely tame street manners. This added performance with negligible amounts of dust and low noise makes these pads a great enhancement for stock brake systems, as well a natural compliment to Baer Claw?« Systems. Baer SPORT-TOURING pads offer the best Domestic coverage for cars and trucks in the performance market with more than 1,500 vehicle applications. Over three hundred additional part numbers for foreign and domestic applications are being released over the coming twelve months. Baer SPORT-TOURING compound are the logical choice to deliver performance without compromising civility. High-Friction compound delivers dramatic / repeatable performance. Positive-Molding process ensures low compressibility and positive pedal feel. Rubberized, mechanically-fixed anti-noise shims virtually eliminate noise."

Overlord Textile GSX-R Jacket $185 Icon Overlord Textile GSX-R Jacket The Overlord textile GSX-R jacket features all the proven riding features found on the Overlord jacket with the inclusion of bold GSX-R branding. The additional Suzuki graphics, carefully executed in applique and embroidery, are laid over a printed nylon chassis for a legitimate street pedigree. Fighter mesh vent panels, spandex paneled pre-curved arms and mechanical flex zones ensure a quality no-bind fit. Finally, a full package of internal CE elbow and shoulder impact protectors to provide a padded piece of mind. ICON attack fit Durable nylon textile chassis Removable ICON CE field armor impact protector elbow and shoulder Removable ICON dual-density foam back pad Gathered elastic flex panels on elbows and shoulders Strategically placed fighter mesh panels Removable insulated wind resistant vest Upgradable to Stryker CE back protector

Buick GSX Hobbies Stadium Blanket by CafePress $60 Our GSX products feature a 1970 Buick GSX on an American flag background with the GSX emblem, and the American Muscle logo. Hobbies Stadium Blanket Snuggle up to a good book while you snuggle under this super-soft Throw Blanket. Perfect for the couch, the car or an evening ball game, this cozy stadium blanket keeps you toasty. A generous 50 x 60, depending on who's asking, it might even be big enou

Buick GSX Hobbies Large Wall Clock by CafePress $40 Our GSX products feature a 1970 Buick GSX on an American flag background with the GSX emblem, and the American Muscle logo. Hobbies Large Wall Clock Measuring an impressive 17 in diameter, this Large Wall Clock is easy to read from across the room. Ideal for the game room, garage, or wherever people gather, it features a rugged plastic body and face. The eye-catching clock has quality Quartz movement

Buick GSX Hobbies Hoodie dark by CafePress $45 Our GSX products feature a 1970 Buick GSX on an American flag background with the GSX emblem, and the American Muscle logo. Hobbies Hoodie dark Stay warm on the inside. Look oh-so-cool on the outside. Don this comfortable fleece sweatshirt for that dress-down BBQ -- or your next dress-to-impress trip to the mall.10 oz. fleece blend 90% cotton/10% polyester. Fleece-lined hoo

Buick GSX Hobbies Dark T-Shirt by CafePress $26 Our GSX products feature a 1970 Buick GSX on an American flag background with the GSX emblem, and the American Muscle logo. Hobbies Dark T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Don't waste time deciding on which shirt to put on each morning. This dark shirt t-shirt will never go out of style and hides stains better too. This high-quality t-shirt is pre-shrunk and 100% cotton, which makes it both comfortable and durable.

piston ring $3 piston ring

Touring Philadelphia $19.99 Touring Philadelphia - Premium Poster

Touring the World $24.99 Touring the World - Photographic Print

Touring Czechs $24.99 Touring Czechs - Photographic Print

Touring in the Alps $39.99 Touring in the Alps - Giclee Print

Suzuki GSX 1100S Katana Silver 1/12 Diecast Model by Autoart $79.99 Brand new 112 scalediecastmodel of Suzuki GSX 1100S Katana Silver by Autoart. Item...