K1200RT (new)

[fish]

With the appearance of the new K1200S, and the K1200R (end of next year), can a 160hp fully-faired K1200RT be very far behind?

Oh man...

[riderR1150GSAdv]

One can only hope for a lighter version of the LT. A K1200RT could fit that bill. I really like my LT a lot but shave 200 pounds off or so while keeping its load rating and BMW may well have the touring market in its pocket. :D
Meanwhile I'll keep on dreaming :snore

As life goes on....:coffee

[GregFeeler]

With the appearance of the new K1200S, and the K1200R (end of next year), can a 160hp fully-faired K1200RT be very far behind?

Oh man...

From all I've read about the K12S, looks to me that motor is going to make a poor touring engine - it's designed as a sport bike engine with lots of high RPM horsepower at the expense of "low" RPM torque. The testers have all said it's a dog below 4,000 RPM. A sport bike with bags does not a touring bike make. :stick

[kbasa]

From all I've read about the K12S, looks to me that motor is going to make a poor touring engine - it's designed as a sport bike engine with lots of high RPM horsepower at the expense of "low" RPM torque. The testers have all said it's a dog below 4,000 RPM. A sport bike with bags does not a touring bike make. :stick

I've read that that motor has been retuned for use in the R version and will focus more on torque than high rev power.

[GregFeeler]

I've read that that motor has been retuned for use in the R version and will focus more on torque than high rev power.

Yeah, I read that, too. Looks to me like the "R" is supposed to be a street hoolagan bike.

But, if you were BMW and had just spent umptimillions of marks building your ultimate sport bike specifically to change your image and drew in "new blood" - would you then turn around and contaminate it with a version that was just what you've been doing all along?

Could happen sometime, but my guess is we won't see anything like an RT in the new K line until the dust has settled on how successful the supersport bike approach has been.

[SHAG]

With the appearance of the new K1200S, and the K1200R (end of next year), can a 160hp fully-faired K1200RT be very far behind?

Oh man...

That would be nice! If they don't do it, They're missin the boat!

[BradfordBenn]

I am thinking that they will do a lighter weight K but not a true RT. The RT is like the GS and will stay a boxer.

I am still hoping for a R1200RT :dunno

[lorazepam]

"But, if you were BMW and had just spent umptimillions of marks building your ultimate sport bike specifically to change your image and drew in "new blood" - would you then turn around and contaminate it with a version that was just what you've been doing all along?"



Where did the engine for the FJ or the ST come from? What about the concourse? I see nothing wrong with detuning an engine a bit from a sport bike and making a nice tourer. Hell, 95 horsepower and 500 pounds is plenty for me, and tours great.

[GregFeeler]

"But, if you were BMW and had just spent umptimillions of marks building your ultimate sport bike specifically to change your image and drew in "new blood" - would you then turn around and contaminate it with a version that was just what you've been doing all along?"



Where did the engine for the FJ or the ST come from? What about the concourse? I see nothing wrong with detuning an engine a bit from a sport bike and making a nice tourer. Hell, 95 horsepower and 500 pounds is plenty for me, and tours great.

I don't disagree. There's not a technology issue here - you can detune and redesign any engine for the performance target you want.

However, whereas Honda, Yamaha, etc have already established their peformance lines/models, BMW is just attempting that. The Japanese have very large model lines whereas BMW does not. So, if I were BMW I would promote the performance image of the new K-engines until I was sure that was well established before I considered risking that image by building a detuned version. In the meanwhile, they still have all the boxer motors (recently upgraded) and will continue using the classic K-engines for the LT and GT models. Even as a 20-year old design, the classic K-engine in the LT - and the LT itself - is getting great reviews vs the Goldwing. The GT is enough "touring" (with mods per individual user tastes) to give a lot of people a BMW alternative to the oilheads, while still being nothing more than a tarted-up RS, which gives the sport touring folks an option. After all, the 1200cc RS & GT don't weigh much more than an 1150RT but have 35 more hp., so peformace is not lacking.

[Braddog]

K1200RT? Isn't the K1200GT close enough?

I don't think we'll see another K-RT bike.

[GregFeeler]

K1200RT? Isn't the K1200GT close enough?

I don't think we'll see another K-RT bike.

Just for grins, why don't we hijack this thread by talking about where we think BMW should go with their bike models vrs where we think they are going? Maybe discuss missed opportunities?

As an example, lots of people think BMW missed a shot at a great bike by not putting more development in the 3-cylinder K75. What if they had built it up as a 900cc, short stroke engine in a naked or sport version? You'd have the bullet-proof relibility of the Klassic K-engine, but with quick revving and smoothness of the 3+balancer.

[knary]

Just for grins, why don't we hijack this thread by talking about where we think BMW should go with their bike models vrs where we think they are going? Maybe discuss missed opportunities?

As an example, lots of people think BMW missed a shot at a great bike by not putting more development in the 3-cylinder K75. What if they had built it up as a 900cc, short stroke engine in a naked or sport version? You'd have the bullet-proof relibility of the Klassic K-engine, but with quick revving and smoothness of the 3+balancer.

And 100 die hard BMW fans would buy them.

[GregFeeler]

And 100 die hard BMW fans would buy them.

:dance Oh yeah!!

Well, I wasn't talking about what they should do now, but what they could have done. A short-stroke 1200cc 3-cylinder 12 years ago would have been a lot more impressive that what they did build (and I'm a Klassic K-bike fan). But, the two major criticisms of the flying brick is the oversquare engine that's physically long, forcing a long wheelbase with lots of weight on the front. A 3-cylinder could have addressed both of those problems.

[fish]

K1200RT? Isn't the K1200GT close enough?

Are you talking about the current K1200GT with 20 year old engine in it, or are you surmising that BMW will build a GT based on the NEW high-performance K12 engine? If the former, it's an expensive, top heavy, uncomfortable, under-performing pig (no offense intended Greg). If the latter, then I'd be all over it.

I don't think we'll see another K-RT bike.

Why not? The boxer RT cannot compete with the sport tourers from Japan. We need a liquid-cooled, sub-800lb sport touring bike. Perhaps it will depend on how well the new R-RT does in the market. Personally, I'm a bit disappointed in it. Not as fugly as the early spy photos (say, who owes me an air guage on that bet?), but it's got this Ducati Multistrada look about it that just doesn't do anything for me. While the performance will certainly be better than the R1150RT, it's not an improvement in the aesthetics department, imho.

Personally, I hope the new R-RT tanks, so they will slap a full sporty fairing on the new K12R. I'm thinking a spring 2006 release would be perfect. I'll be standing in line, checkbook in hand, wiping the drool off my chin.

[GregFeeler]

Personally, I'm a bit disappointed in it. Not as fugly as the early spy photos (say, who owes me an air guage on that bet?), but it's got this Ducati Multistrada look about it that just doesn't do anything for me. While the performance will certainly be better than the R1150RT, it's not an improvement in the aesthetics department, imho.

Ditto on the looks of the new K1200R. Good looking bike from all angles until you see the front. Looks like they tried to make it ugly, to me.

[jacco]

This was the closest thread I could find, maybe I didn't look hard enough... I love what I saw so far of the '06 K1200GT (in ON and on bmw website). And that for an oilhead fan... Anyone with more info?

[eljeffe]

This was the closest thread I could find, maybe I didn't look hard enough... I love what I saw so far of the '06 K1200GT (in ON and on bmw website). And that for an oilhead fan... Anyone with more info?

Lots of info here:

http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=43

[jacco]

Lots of info here:

http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Thanks!

[MarkF]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/markkf63/Misc%20Pics/BMWK1200GT.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y300/markkf63/Misc%20Pics/BMWK1200GT_blk.jpg

[Hodag]

they do that in a pretty blue and i'm hooked

[MarkF]

they do that in a pretty blue and i'm hooked

a Blue one was in this month's ON. The front on view looks cool. I don't know...
The K1200GT at close to $20,000 or the F800ST at a little more than $10,000.

[Hodag]

a Blue one was in this month's ON. The front on view looks cool. I don't know...
The K1200GT at close to $20,000 or the F800ST at a little more than $10,000.

I hear you.
in my case a GSPD or F650 or URAL sidecar rig