We had been warned during our pre-ride briefing


that wildlife were active in the area and to remain always vigilant. While we did heed that advice, our ride was spirited with straights attacked and corners chal- lenged. Exiting one particular corner we found a pair of deer lazily grazing roadside, and taillights immediately came to life, allowing a test of not only braking ability, but that of ABS as well. Both performed flawlessly. Maintaining a keen eye, the only other wildlife we saw were turtle crossing signs and pastured cows. Canadian winters are tough on roads, and cold patch


filled potholes were everywhere. In the worst sections, the Dynamic ESA set for a single rider absorbed the ride disturbances wonderfully, as the suspension’s damping was electronically adjusted in milliseconds. Experimenting with the two rider/luggage settings increased preload, with the single rider with luggage option working best for me. With more than five inches of front and rear suspension travel, the D-ESA always seemed to deliver a Goldilocks “just right” perfor- mance, firm when you need it and soft and plush when you don’t. Like all boxer motors, the latest water-cooled version


offers riders everything they’ve come to expect: stump- pulling torque over the entire rev range and a top end that’ll get a rider driving awards just as quickly as those aboard RRs. On the curving, two-lane roads, second and third gears were all that were needed, with higher gears only used on highways. I found Gear Shift Assist Pro to be a usable option once I was able to get over my apprehension of not using a clutch. Though I didn’t find it as smooth or as easy to use as that on the XR, I believe it was due to my technique and not a mechani- cal issue, and as the day progressed I found it easier to shift more smoothly. I predict the new RS will be a popular bike for BMW,


perhaps even pushing the K 1300 S to its long-specu- lated extinction. With its all-day comfort, ride modes offering multiple personalities, superb suspension and iconic boxer motor, it hits all of the bases needed to be a success. Never before has BMW offered as many unique


models, and with each introduction, gaps between the bikes grow smaller. The 2015 BMW R 1200 RS bridges the gap between the pure Touring class dominated by the K 1600 GT/GTL and the R 1200 RT and the pulse- pounding experience of the Sport class, dominated by the S 1000 RR and K 1300 S. On paper, the RS appears to be a compromise, and it


is. In reality, it’s a bike offering a riding experience that blends the most desirable qualities of two classes into a single machine, restoring the RS as the undisputed King of the Hill in the Sport Touring category.


64 BMW OWNERS NEWS October 2015


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