Tag Archives: bmw

Review: BMW R nineT

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The sexiest bike of the entire BMW Motorrad range is the BMW R nineT. That’s my conclusion after testing one for a week. Praising words from (mostly non-motorcycling) colleagues, a big thumbs up from a car driver at a traffic light, a spontaneous chat at the gas station. I got more feedback with the R nineT than with any test bike I ever rode.

The R nineT was launched in 2014 on the occasion of 90th anniversary of BMW Motorrad. So it comes as no surprise the nineT has classic looks. Though not as classic as, say, a Triumph Bonneville T100 Black. The Beemer has a modern twist to it and tries to charm café racer and custom fans with its extensive personalization possibilities.

Back to the basics

The essence of riding is what the R9T is all about. Everything that’s not essential went overboard. No frills. While other BMW models are crammed with traction control, mappings, tire pressure control, electronically adjustable suspension and other techno shizzle, the nineT only got a non-switchable ABS. On the other hand it has a stylish design, finished with sweet details such as the BMW logo in the headlight or the embossed nineT logo on the air intake.

The 1,170 cc boxer comes from the previous R 1200 generation, and is the last of the Beemers with this type of engine. It’s not the newest of the newest but has proven its qualities with a long track record. Air-cooled, in contrast to the liquid-cooled flat twins that BMW currently assembles. The gears are a little shorter than on the previous RT and GS, for a more lively riding behavior.

A flat twin also means you’ll experience Continue reading →

Review: BMW R 1200 RT

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Of all current BMW motorcycles, the R 1200 RT probably has the most “midlife crisis” reputation. When I see it in the showroom, I soon imagine a settled fifty-year-old in the saddle, ready for a tour with the missus on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

But despite that reputation, the 1200 RT does extremely well in sales charts, and if you’re looking for a touring bike, this boxer so often seems the logical go-to answer. Is its stuffy image only a first impression? Could it change my mind in a week?

A trip to Austria, together with colleague Luc on his Triumph Tiger Sport, would be the ideal opportunity for an extensive RT test. 2200 km should be enough to form an opinion.

Personally I find the BMW R 1200 RT’s look quite a turn off. With its gigantic front you’d almost offer it a gym membership. The 17” front wheel even seems disproportionate. Fortunately the two round LED daytime running lights are pretty. A nice (but optional) wink to its four-wheeled family.

The finishing is also excellent. Meticulously and with an eye for detail. The dashboard is clear and informative. Two round analog meters (speed and rpm) with in between a beautiful TFT color display that informs you about autonomy, mileage, temperature and so on. Above the display there’s a bar with warning lights, and above that a mount for an (optional) GPS. Which is not very readable in direct sunlight. Some additional shielding from the sun wouldn’t be a bad idea for the next RT. Also: too bad the GPS can’t be locked so you have to take it with you every time you have to make a sanitary stop or enter a gas station shop.

You can easily control many settings from the handlebar. Most of them with your left thumb: scrolling through the extensive menu is peanuts with the multi-controller ring. Also handy: you can assign menu items as favorites. After selecting these you can go directly to, for example, the settings of heated grips or the GPS, instead of having to dive into the menu.

Broad beaked Beemer

I’ll admit it: I didn’t want to return the BMW R 1200 RT after my week’s test. What a splendid bike for endless days in the saddle. The windshield is Continue reading →

Thoughts after 1 year with my BMW 650 GS

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One year ago I bought my first motorcycle. Without much experience you aren’t sure you’re making the right choice of course. So here we are, with 20,000 km more on the odometer. Time to evaluate my BMW F 650 GS.

The short story: I’m very pleased with my bike. It’s an excellent learning machine, both for first-time bikers as for first-time off-road riders. It can handle about anything and has proven very reliable.

You prefer the longer story? Here you go:

Looks

It wasn’t love at first sight and I still think the BMW F 650 GS isn’t a dazzling beauty. Luckily looks aren’t critical to me.

Learning bike

During my search for a first motorcycle, the 650 GS was praised regularly as the ideal bike for beginners. Which isn’t a lie. It’s perfect to learn maneuvering. It’s not too heavy, not too aggressive and gives confidence quickly.

The 650 GS is also a good learning bike for those who want to pick up off-road riding with an allroad bike. It has enough power and its weight (176 kg dry weight) is easier to handle than for example a 1150 GSA that weighs 60 kg more. It’s also robust enough although the plastic parts get damaged pretty easily.

Sitting position

I knew I was going to do lots of highway commuting and lanesplitting with my bike. So a good sitting position was pretty essential. On the 650 GS you sit upright and the seat offers plenty of space to move around so your back won’t hurt quickly.

The knees are fairly bent but it doesn’t get annoying or painful. Just a question of getting used to.

Weather protection

On daily commutes some protection against wind and rain comes in handy. The 650 GS hasn’t much to offer to be honest. The wind screen is tiny and there’s hardly any fairing. For instance an RT would be a better choice but it can still get worse. Like the Iron 883 for example, which really is a good weather only bike.

Accessories

After a few months with my 650 GS I began to feel the need for some accessories. Such as panniers. Would be more comfortable than riding with a backpack every day. Happy I found a set of secondhand BMW Vario panniers.

The windscreen offers very limited protection. I’ve been thinking about getting a bigger one but in the end I decided it’ll have to do.

I also thought about extra lights. Especially for being more visible in winter. But (falling a lot when) off-road riding would probable ruin the lights during the first ride. So no fog lights.

The mirrors have a quite large blind spot. But again, it’s something you get used to. So I didn’t get other mirrors. And you can always get worse (yes, the Harley again).

Maintenance

The BMW F 650 GS has a chain drive so you need to grease it regularly. Takes about 2 minutes. That’s all you need to do. The rest can be done during the inspections at the dealership, like an oil change or replacing wearing parts such as brake pads and the chain set.

Power

The 650 GS certainly isn’t a racer but with its single cylinder, 652 cc and 50 hp, it’s remarkably snappy. Its powerband is spread out nicely and it doesn’t feel short of breath in high revs.

At 120 km/h it does 5,000 rpm which is pretty high. Lower would feel more comfortable but in the end it’s something you get used too.

Forecast

My colleague Nicolas, who owns a Triumph Street Triple, was sure that I would change my 650 GS for a more powerful bike within a year. I’ve proven him wrong.

The 650 GS perfectly meets my needs, mainly because I’m still a learner, especially off-road. A heavier bike would only make things more difficult, so I don’t see why I would get rid of my little GS any time soon.

It also copes well with my daily commutes. In fifth gear on the highway you feel you’re nearing its peak, but if you stick to the traffic rules you’ll never reach those limits.

So for now my BMW F 650 GS is here to stay. To be continued!