Great Machines: Motorcycles: Beemer Screamer
06/01/2006
Call it a renaissance, or a sea change, or simply a new attitude, but however you explain it, BMW’s recent embrace of high horsepower and lightweight construction has produced its fastest and most powerful bike ever, the K 1200 S. Because terms such as“crotch rocket” or “canyon carver” typically have not been associated with the 83-year-old company, the sporting K 1200 S ($15,800) boldly ushers in a new era for the German bike builder.Lest traditionalists suspect the new bike sacrifices typical BMW characteristics for brazen velocity, first consider the K1200 S’s Duolever suspension system. Rather than a traditional telescopic fork, the suspension weaves speed with civility at a skeletal level. The system incorporates a shock situated between two parallel links, which connect to the composite aluminum frame. Duolever keeps the bike’s wheelbase constant during aggressive braking, acceleration, and cornering, resulting in unusual stability and virtually no brake dive. By isolating wheel control from damping forces, the bike’s ride feels neutral and imperturbable. The result is the rare ability to carve a canyon with agility, as well as to comfortably gobble up mile after mile of highway. Though road feel is somewhat reduced in favor of stability, the bike’s suspension is classic BMW: an age-old problem addressed with an out-of-the-box engineering solution.
The K 1200 S’s versatility is enhanced with the optional Electronic
Suspension Adjustment system, or ESA. By allowing the rider to select from nine levels of damping while the bike is in motion, ride
stiffness can be chosen according to road conditions or mood. In excellent ergonomics and a firm but comfortable seat
allow for long stretches of saddle time. Heated handgrips and an onboard computer also are available. If the K 1200 S’s suspension is not dynamic enough to satisfy the most
extreme superbike enthusiasts, its powerful and entertaining engine should be. Boasting Formula One–inspired valvetrain
technology and a seemingly endless supply of thrust, the narrow inline-4 powerplant is tilted 55 degrees to lower the bike’s
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The quick, lightweight BMW K 1200 S cuts a sporting profile in
classic Bavarian silver livery. (Click image to enlarge)
The K 1200 S’s dry weight of 499 pounds may not make it a featherweight on
the order of a Suzuki GSX-R1000, but its clever weight distribution makes it feel lighter than the spec sheet suggests.
Torque is abundant throughout the power band, but the engine really comes alive at 5,000 rpm, initiating a rev-happy zone that
peaks with 167 hp at 10,250 rpm. Power delivery is well matched to the 6-speed transmission, which directs power to the rear
Paralever suspension system via an enclosed driveshaft. While generally smooth, some vibrations at higher engine speeds
reveal this bike’s fierce potential: It is capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in only 2.8 seconds, and can hit a top
speed of over 170 mph.
Speed may be an essential component of the sportbike experience, but when considering the degree to which peace of mind enhances aggressive riding, stopping becomes even more important. With or without the partial integral antilock option, BMW’s servo-assisted binders perform effectively, rapidly scrubbing off speed. Though they exhibit slightly less initial bite and a muted feel compared to traditional radial brakes, the sensation—like that of the BMW’s unique suspension design—is an acquired taste.
If blindingly fast and featherweight sportbikes like the Yamaha R1 are cotton candy, gratifying with their immediacy and transparent intent, then the K 1200 S is more like a crème brûlée, requiring a tap and a crack of a shell to enjoy the luscious sweetness beneath. Though significantly different from every BMW before it, the K 1200 S has also retained signature quirks that riders must accept before fully plumbing the bike’s tremendous capabilities. Regardless, or perhaps because of those quirks, the K 1200 S redefines the concept of what makes a BMW a BMW.
BMW Motorrad USA
www.bmwmotorcycles.com