THE ADVENTURE BROTHERS ARE known for their prowess in the dirt, with decades of combined experience of beating the holy hell out of Adventure Motorcycles, apparel and equipment. Even in the off-road world, we are the butt of a few well-earned jokes. When the MOA approached us to offer our thoughts on the new R 1200 R, we were just as surprised as you are. “You have the potential to provide a unique per- spective,” they assured us, “and we think our readers would like to know what it is.” No one can say that we back down from a challenge, and this would be no exception. With that, the Adventure Brothers became temporary owners of a 2015 Roadster to do with as we pleased – and pleased we were!
The seat height has remained manage- able to most, the riding position sporty yet relaxed. They have maintained a modular element, with the ability to add comfort and storage accoutrements with relative ease. For these reasons and more, it has not been uncommon for BMW dealerships to use the Roadster as a service loaner, as they are fun, diverse and unintimidating for the majority of riders.
Classic style, new look For 2015 the Roadster has been rede- signed with a distinctly sharper look. Gone are the days of soft, unassuming lines and a bulbous fuel tank, replaced with a feel akin to the sporty, aggressive S 1000 series of BMW. This move reas-
with the addition of a large radiator), and competitive edge (the roadster can better compete with other bikes in the segment without this strange, cumber- some addition). BMW stated that evolutions in sus-
pension technology are making the need for the Telelever superfluous. In the past, suspension was only as good as how the rider set it up. Want a cushy ride? Set the damping to soft and enjoy better bump absorption. Want perfor- mance? Set it to hard and feel a quick reaction when cornering. The problem was that you could only have one or the other. Carving corners with soft sus- pension does not inspire confidence, and braking feels squishy. On the other hand, riding bumpy roads with a stiff
The Adventure Brothers take on the BMW R 1200 R By Shawn and Lance Thomas, The Adventure Brothers
An all-around motorcycle? First off, let’s answer the obvious ques- tion. The Roadster is not a good bike for off-road riding (we best not offer details on how we came to this conclusion, lest any future review offers be rescinded). Beyond this, the R 1200 R is arguably the modern iteration of a legacy BMW began with the legendary R 32 back in 1923. As with then, the Roadster is a machine of elegant and minimalist design, offering everything the pilot needs—and nothing they don’t—for their riding pleasure. Sure, you can add plenty of OEM accessories, such as lug- gage and a windscreen, but this bike is just as at home in its pure, uncluttered form. So long as BMW has made motorcy-
cles, they have offered a Roadster in one form or another. Over the years this machine has seen several evolutions, but with a few sustained cornerstones.
serts the design as a contender in a growing lineup of Roadsters from countless manufactures (no word yet on whether long-time BMW Roadster owners approve of the new look). Like- wise the new “WaterBoxer” liquid- cooled motor has been added, putting out 125 hp and 92 lb-ft of torque.
Suspension: back to the basics with a modern twist Another big change is the removal of the Telelever suspension, which has been a staple of the Roadster since 1995. This system effectively separated brak- ing from suspension, all but eliminating the feel of brake dive when slowing aggressively. There have been several assumptions made as to why BMW eliminated this essential technology, including price point (it’s cheaper to make the bike without this feature, isn’t it?), design (there is no room for it, what
suspension will make you very aware of your kidneys – assuming you have the patience and wherewithal to properly adjust the suspension in the first place (FYI: most of us don’t). The Telelever helped mitigate this, offering a best of both worlds approach that was other- wise very difficult to achieve. In 2005, BMW introduced Electronic
Suspension Adjustment (ESA). This allowed riders to tweak their suspen- sion via an electronic interface, offering three damping and up to five weight/ load presets to choose from, all with the push of a button. Some new models offer damping that actively adjusts to riding conditions, introducing a dynamic element to the suspension. With this factory-optional addition to the R 1200 R, the bike now reacts to the road far more effectively than previous models, adjusting to braking and varia- tions in road surface in a fraction of a
December 2015 BMW OWNERS NEWS
83
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124
