BMW R 1200 R Exclusive review

There’s certain level of subtlety about BMW’s roadster range of motorcycles, but one really stands out from the ‘crowd’ with its bold and brazen looks: the mighty R 1200 R streetfighter.

Bikesales hadn’t ridden the Boxer powerhouse in ages, so we grabbed the Exclusive variant – one of three separate R 1200 Rs on the local market – to ascertain whether it’s still got it. The answer’s yes, but with a level of chassis and engine refinement that delivers an exceptional performance cocktail.

Boxer magic
Can you ever get sick of the Boxer engine? In R 1200 R guise it speaks in the same deep voice as all the other BMW models powered by the latest air- and liquid-cooled 1170cc mill, delivering an extremely smooth and predictable ride. Peak power is 125hp (92Kw) at 7750rpm and 125Nm at 6500rm. The rev limiter kicks in at 8500rpm – and up until that point it’s very much a ‘catch me if you can’ mentality, especially in concert with a chassis that provides such sweet steering.

Riding Mode Pro delivers four maps – Rain, Road, Dynamic and User – while the Dynamic ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) allows the rider to choose between a softer Road damping or a more aggressive Dynamic setting when the bike is up and about. Suspension travel is 140mm at both ends.

The electronic suspension adjustment is a brilliant feature and, while the R 1200 R seat once had some real teeth, the current version lends itself to some serious mile-eating. Of course, you’ll still get plenty of buffeting at speed, but if that’s a concern – and you still want the Boxer fix – then perhaps the R 1200 RT may be a better option.

Our test unit also came with the accessory Pro Shift Assistant ($1148), which is BMW speak for a quickshifter. It’s a bi-directional unit, and it ups the seat-of-the-pants sensation on the R 1200 R considerably – as it does on most motorcycles for that matter.

There were a quite a few other accessories fitted to the R 1200 R Exclusive, with the luggage the most obvious to the eye, as well as navigation, milled footrests and levers, keyless ride, tank bag, centrestand, and auxiliary LED headlights.

With the keyless ride, a second stab of the power button also locks the steering.

For the full spec of the R 1200 R Exclusive, as well as accessories, click here. Price is $22,990 plus on-road costs.

Standard treats
The R 1200 R Exclusive, available in one livery only – the very smart-looking Iced Chocolate Metallic – would still be an awesome machine without the extra chattels thrown in – well maybe except for Pro Shift Assistant!

BMW is a class act when it comes to packaging its base products, and the R 1200 R Exclusive is no different. Standard features, alongside the aforementioned Dynamic ESA and Riding Mode Pro, include the company’s cleverest version of anti-lock braking (ABS Pro), three-stage heated grips, tyre pressure control, cruise control, LED indicators and switchable traction control.

For the parts that matter in terms of sheer performance – the engine, chassis, suspension and brakes – the R 1200 R Exclusive is no shrinking violet. The 231kg (wet) machine can keep pure sports bikes extremely honest in the twisties, where performance is something akin to a four-cylinder but without all the shrillness.

I’d forgotten how much fun ducking and weaving on an R 1200 R actually is, with rock-solid stability the whole way.

The Boxer engine serves as a stressed member in the R 1200 R chassis, while all the power is transferred through the shaft drive to Michelin Pilot Road 17-inch rubber. The radial brakes are by Brembo, and the accessory span-adjustable HP billet levers are awesome.

The Boxer engine delivers such an accessible wave of torque that it’s hard to believe you have to use the clutch at all apart from take-off, but I did have to feather it a few times in city traffic. It’s not that it doesn’t keep on giving in an urban crawl – this bike has the wherewithal to hang tough in any situation – but the R 1200 R’s strapping nature definitely lends itself to more open terrain. And with the panniers (love the extendable grab handles integrated into them) and top box fitted to our test unit, that’s exactly what we did!

There’s nothing particularly eye-catching about the panniers, but they are compelling additions to a bike is already well suited to taking longer jaunts with its sit-in seating position, flat handlebar and perfect-for-all-seasons Boxer engine. Cruise control, heated grips and tyre pressure control only add more flavour to the occasion.

The dash, hidden nicely behind the sports windshield, is a mix of analogue (speedo) and digital (all the rest), the latter laid out in an easy-to-read manner despite the limited rectangular space.

Summing up
The R 1200 R is a seriously potent machine, and can produce numbers as big as most on a given road. The upright position is ideal for city work and you can tour in comfort as well. It just delivers, with complete authority – and there’s nowhere to hide!

It's a bike you’d buy with both your heart and your head. That’s the sign of something really impressive.

R 1200 R EXCLUSIVE SPECS AND PRICING IN BIKE SHOWROOM