What's the most important motorcycle you're likely to see? Could be that one in your rear-view mirror, painted black and white. BMW has had amazing success with its R1100RT model: the faired boxer twin has sold thousands to the public, but more importantly, thousands to the police. The California Highway Patrol has adopted the model as its standard, saying that the ABS braking system gives it an inbuilt safety advantage over other police models. After years of trying to crack the authority market in the US, the R1100RT took BMW over the top. Its authority position, plus its popularity with sport-touring motorcyclists worldwide, helped propel the model to the top sales spot in BMW's range.
What has this all to do with this new motorcycle, the R1150RT ABS? Well, any bike that is in demand by people who have to ride motorcycles all day, every day, must have something going for it, and the R1150RT does: it's comfortable, easy to ride, with capacious luggage, yet is quite capable of rapid progress through almost any type of scenery. Plus, its fitted with BMW's new integral ABS this year.
Hit either front or rear pedal, and both brakes come into play. You can stop hard, you can stop soft, but most of all, you feel more in control, knowing that this bike has some of the most effective brakes available. Don't be surprised if you see warning labels on some police motorcycles now: "Warning: stops amazingly quickly". See "Revolutionary new braking system from BMW" for more detail on the new ABS.
The RT has integral brakes with both brakes activated when the rider presses either the front brake lever or the back brake pedal. On slippery surfaces like gravel or sand, the ABS works as well as ever-jam the brakes on, and the brakes will grab and slip alternately, bringing the bike to an upright halt with a few shudders. On clean pavement, the bike stops hard, fast, with moderate pressure only required. It's easy to see that this motorcyle's brake system could save an inexperienced rider, one who may have car-trained reactions, and instantly go for the brake pedal, and who may be able to stop on a dime, now, instead of becoming a statistic. With extra cylinder capacity, a six speed gearbox, and uprated engine management software, the 1150 has a useful performance boost also. Compression ratio is 11.3 to one, giving the model an extra ten horsepower over its naked stablemate, a useful power boost that helps overcome the significant extra weight of the fully faired bike.
Not that the previous model was any kind of laggard: this motorcycle will get going very quickly indeed, at least up to three figure speeds. Sixth gear functions as a kind of overdrive (the gear indicator, mounted in the fairing, shows E for economy when sixth is engaged), and acceleration once up to the E zone is not as lively as before.
Other changes include standardization of wheel sizes: the RT now fits five-spoke 17 inch wheels, front and rear, instead of the 18 inch rear wheel fitted before. Wheel width on the rear is up from 4.5 to 5 inches, allowing more modern tire sizes.
What you may remember from the previous model is the electrically-adjustable screen (controlled by a switch on the left handlebar, and capable of changing the feel of the ride from sporting to touring). It's small, but functions well at removing airflow from the rider's chest and shoulders. Want the air back? Press the switch.
Although the electric screen is the same, the rest of the fairing has been completely re-designed, with BMW's air tunnel used to optimize aerodynamics, an airflow channel designed to route cooling air towards the air-oil cooled motor, and a new headlamp added up front.
Cockpit ameneties are first class, with full information on speed, rpm, fuel level, engine temperature, and yes, even a clock. Handlebar levers are now adjustable, as is the seat. Quite an office, officer.