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The New BMW K1200R
Brutal Beauty: The New K 1200 R Combines
A Bold Image With High Technoology
Just when you thought the growing
"naked bike" segment sportbikes shorn of their
plastic wrappers, unveiled for all to see was all about
showing off and nothing about substance and style, here comes
the 2006 BMW K 1200 R. Unlike the weightlifter who can barely
scratch his own back, the K 1200 R is powerfully built yet agile,
massively quick yet perfectly docile for those times you want
to take it easy. It's the ideal combination of menace and class.
 BMW has taken advantage
of the incredible technology housed in the new K 1200 S
a straight-line speed machine that also accelerates, turns and
stops like a truly modern superbike to create the K 1200
R. In fact, except for revised bodywork and ergonomics, the two
bikes are very much alike.
And yet the two motorcycles couldn't be further in temperament.
The K 1200 S is sophisticated, urbane, while the K 1200 R is
built for the rider who lives for sport riding and uncompromised
appearances. The K 1200 R eschews full bodywork for a tidy, aerodynamically
designed instrument-panel fairing that incorporates powerful
asymmetrical headlights and the engine oil cooler. This is a
face that performance-oriented riders won't soon forget. Nor
will race fans, as the K 1200 R will form the basis for the BMW
Power Cup, with races to be held all over the world on special
race-prepared machines. Taking up where the popular Boxer Cup
left off, it's likely that the best, hardest-fought racing in
2005 will come from the ranks of the Power Cup.
Potent Accelleration From A State-Of-The-Art Powerplant
Behold the most powerful production motorcycle engine BMW has
ever built, the beneficiary of decades competing at the highest
levels of motorsport. But it's not just about sheer thrust. Indeed,
the K 1200 R's revolutionary inline-four-cylinder engine sets
new standards not just for power and, as important, excellent
power delivery but it was designed from the start to be
compact and light. Moreover, its unusual configuration
the cylinder block is canted toward the front wheel by 55 degrees
not only reduces the entire motorcycle's center of gravity
but also permits innovating packaging solutions. The K 1200 R's
layout is as far from a me-too arrangement as you can get.
Thorough development of the 1157cc, liquid-cooled engine made
possible the 167-horsepower peak but is also responsible for
the engine's broad, flat torque curve; although it peaks at 94
pound-feet, 80 percent of the peak torque is available from 3500
rpm all the way to the 11,000-rpm redline. That's flexibility.
 Maintaining high
power and low emissions is one responsibility of the K 1200 R's
BMS-K (BMW Engine Management with Anti-Knock Control) Digital
Motor Electronics. This system features fully sequential cylinder-specific
fuel injection with integrated anti-knock control and a three-way
catalytic converter in the exhaust. Combining the use of a sensitive
oxygen sensor and fast feedback processing in the engine-control
computer with special anti-knock sensors, allowed BMW's engineers
to tune the K 1200 R's engine for maximum power yet retain the
ability to use less-than-premium fuel. (Maximum power will be
obtained on premium fuel, however.)
This sophisticated injection system allowed BMW's engineers to
boost the K 1200 R's compression ratio to a race-like 13.0:1,
which benefits not only power, but combustion efficiency as well.
That gives the rider more power and torque, and increases fuel
economy at the same time.
A New Kind Of Balancing Act
Inline-four-cylinder engines have
characteristic vibration but the K 1200 R powerplant uses a technology
also explored in the new R 1200 Boxer engines to make it inherently
smooth. Twin balance shafts are driven by a toothed belt from
the crankshaft at twice the crankshaft speed and employ elastomer
isolators to reduce transmission of noise and vibration. These
balance shafts reduce transmission of second-order vibration
from the engine to the chassis and, therefore, to the rider,
who will experience four-cylinder serenity as never before.
Dramatic advances in driveline technology abound in the K 1200
R. The cassette-style six-speed transmission uses stacked shafts
to reduce the engine's overall length and to form the most efficient
method of transferring power to the shaft final drive.
Chassis Overview: High-Tech Alloy Frame And Utterly Uncommon
Suspension
The K 1200 R shares the K 1200 S's chassis components, including
light-alloy main frame featuring dramatically tilted main spars
to further reduce the machine's center of gravity
made up of a selection of materials: pressure-cast aluminum,
alloy extrusions and special die-cast aluminum members. Because
the counterbalanced engine does not vibrate like a typical four-cylinder,
it can be mounted solidly to the frame no rubber isolators
are necessary. In this way, the frame is further strengthened
by the engine structure.
 BMW has always pushed
forward on suspension design, and the K 1200 R continues the
tradition. Joining a revised, lightened version of the company's
famed Paralever rear suspension much lighter than conventional
shaft systems and without a typical shaft's squatting tendencies
is the Duolever front suspension. Based on a concept developed
by British inventor Norman Hossack in the 1980s, Duolever effectively
isolates suspension movement from steering forces for smooth
handling. Moreover, Duolever has significantly less friction
than conventional telescopic forks, so its action is much more
supple while also being given spring and damping rates appropriate
for a sportbike. Finally, the Duolever has been designed to provide
effective anti-dive control so that the K 1200 R remains on an
even keel during hard braking.
And it's not just the suspension design that breaks new ground,
either. As with the K 1200 S, the K 1200 R features BMW's ESA
Electronic Suspension Adjustment as an option. Accessed
through the instrument panel display, ESA sets spring and damping
rates electronically. The rider can choose three combined spring
settings solo, solo with luggage or rider with passenger
and luggage along with three damping modes: comfort, normal
or sport. The spring settings must be adjusted at a standstill,
but the damping adjustments can be made while underway.
Impressive Brakes And Adaptive Anti-Lock Control
BMW's acclaimed EVO brake system is standard on the K 1200
S. Integral ABS is available as an option. Disc diameters in
front are 320mm with a single 265mm disc at the rear. The K 1200
S includes BMW's Partial-Integral adaptive braking system. Both
brakes -- front and rear -- are activated whenever the rider
pulls the handlebar-mounted lever, but only the rear brake is
activated by the foot pedal. BMW has continued to develop the
EVO ABS system and for the K 1200 S, the technology has been
refined once again to take full advantage of the bike's peerless
sporting performance.
These powerful brakes work through new-design wheels that are
light yet strong. They carry traditional sportbike-sized tires
a 120/70ZR17 in front and a large-footprint 180/55ZR17
at the rear.
Options And Accessories To Take The Extra Mile
A comprehensive list of BMW options and accessories are available
for the K 1200 R. These include:
 Options
· Anti-theft warning system
· Heated handgrips
· Low-profile seat
· ABS Brakes
· Luggage Rack
· Clear Turn Signals
· Cockpit Fairing
Accessories
· BMW Navigator II GPS moving-map system
· Center stand
· BMW adjustable side cases
· Soft Top Case
· Tank Bag
More information at: www.bmwmotorradusa.com
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