Four stroke, two cylinder
horizontally opposed Boxer, 4 valves per cylinder
Capacity
1130 cc / 69 cu in
Bore x Stroke
101 x 70.5 mm
Cooling System
Air/Oil cooled
Compression Ratio
10.3:1
Lubrication
Wet sump
Induction
Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 Fuel
injection
Ignition
Electronic ignition MA 2.2
Bosch Motronic
Starting
Electric
Max Power
70 kW / 95 hp @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque
98 Nm / 10.0 kgf-m / 72.3 ft-lb @ 5500 rpm
Clutch
Dry, single plate, hydraulic operated
Transmission
6 Speed
Final Drive
Shaft
Frame
Three section composite frame consisting of front & rear
section, load bearing engine
Front Suspension
Telelever with central
spring strut & linear-rate coil spring. Twin-tube gas-filled shock
Font Wheel Travel
135 mm / 5.3 in
Rear Suspension
Patented BMW Paralever
swingarm & shaft drive,
single tube gas filled shock, variable rebound setting
Rear Wheel Travel
135 mm / 5.3 in
Front Brakes
2 x 320 mm Discs, 4 piston
calipers
Rear Brakes
Single 276 mm disc
2 piston caliper
Front Tyre
120/70 ZR17 tubeless
steel-belted radial
Rear Tyre
180/60 ZR17 tubeless
steel-belted radial
Dimensions
Length 2170 mm / 85.4 in
Width 940 mm / 37.0 in
Height 1220 mm / 48.0 in
Wheelbase
1487mm /
59.4 in
Seat Height
845 mm / 33.2 in
Dry Weigh
255.1 kg / 562.2 lbs
Wet Weight
279 kg / 615 lbs
Fuel Capacity
25.2 Liters
/ 6.6 US gal
Consumption Average
5.3 L/100 km / 19 km/l / 44.7 US mpg
Standing
¼ Mile
12.5 sec
Top Speed
205 km/h / 127 mph
The RT is the luxury touring option from BMW's
'R' series of flat-twin powered machines. Sitting between the Rl 150RS and the
Kl 200LT, it provides almost as much comfort and equipment as the LT in a
smaller, more manageable package. Based, like the R1150RS, around a 1130cc Boxer
engine, the RT boasts extensive weather-cheating bodywork, with a large
headlight that incorporates twin integral foglights. An electrically operated
windscreen allows on-the-move adjustment, and optional luggage and stereo sound
systems enhance long-distance pleasures. Pillion accomodation is spacious and
comfortable. The RT features BMW's integral ABS Evo brakes, mating advanced ABS
with electrohydraulic servo-assistance.
It had been six years since I
last rode around the northern and central parts of Western Australia so when
the opportunity arose to explore the area again I jumped at the chance.
My mount for this sojourn was BMW’s R 1150 RT. Introduced in 2001 as the
successor to the R 1100 RT, the R 1150 RT is the German company’s most
highly appointed twin cylinder model. I was certainly going to be
accommodated with more comfort this time around as the last time I was in
these parts was onboard a 1997 DR650SEV Suzuki. A great bike for sure, but
far from the perfect mount for covering huge distances.
I flew into Broome on a pleasant but slightly brisk Wednesday morning at
around 10:30am. Here I was met by an associate who had ridden the BMW up
from Adelaide. After donning my leathers and exchanging pleasantries I was
keen to take the bike off his hands, fill the tank and hit the highway.
With that in mind I thumbed the start button and experienced the traditional
boxer lurch sideways as the two big slugs sparked in to life. With a bit of
a clunk into first gear followed by a good slip of the dry clutch to prevent
a stall, I was off and running.
Quickly I was in my element. Riding long deserted stretches of highway is a
liberating experience, and I quickly realised that I really have to try and
find the time to get out for some more long distance touring once again.
Nothing is more relaxing than getting out in the middle of nowhere astride a
modern motorcycle.
Broome has just experienced one of its coldest winters so I quickly came to
appreciate the heated handgrips on the BMW as I got up to a comfortable
cruising speed and started to familiarise myself with my cockpit. The layout
is traditional BMW with a large easy to read speedo and tacho combined with
a vertical LCD to display oil pressure and fuel level. The separate buttons
for each indicator take a while to get accustomed to, but work well enough.
However, it would be nice if they had the excellent self cancelling function
found on similar equipped Harleys. The screen is electrically adjustable and
provides good protection. I would have preferred for it to be a little
taller when fully erect, another inch would make all the difference…
Review
The RT is the luxury touring option from
BMW's 'R' series of flat-twin powered machines. Sitting between
the Rl 150RS and the Kl 200LT, it provides almost as much
comfort and equipment as the LT in a smaller, more manageable
package. Based, like the R1150RS, around a 1130cc Boxer engine,
the RT boasts extensive weather-cheating bodywork, with a large
headlight that incorporates twin integral foglights. An
electrically operated windscreen allows on-the-move adjustment,
and optional luggage and stereo sound systems enhance
long-distance pleasures. Pillion accomodation is spacious and
comfortable. The RT features BMW's integral ABS Evo brakes,
mating advanced ABS with electrohydraulic servo-assistance.
It had been six years since I
last rode around the northern and central parts of Western
Australia so when the opportunity arose to explore the area
again I jumped at the chance.
My mount for this sojourn was BMW’s R 1150 RT. Introduced in
2001 as the successor to the R 1100 RT, the R 1150 RT is the
German company’s most highly appointed twin cylinder model. I
was certainly going to be accommodated with more comfort this
time around as the last time I was in these parts was onboard a
1997 DR650SEV Suzuki. A great bike for sure, but far from the
perfect mount for covering huge distances.
I flew into Broome on a pleasant but slightly brisk Wednesday
morning at around 10:30am. Here I was met by an associate who
had ridden the BMW up from Adelaide. After donning my leathers
and exchanging pleasantries I was keen to take the bike off his
hands, fill the tank and hit the highway.
With that in mind I thumbed the start button and experienced the
traditional boxer lurch sideways as the two big slugs sparked in
to life. With a bit of a clunk into first gear followed by a
good slip of the dry clutch to prevent a stall, I was off and
running.
Quickly I was in my element. Riding long deserted stretches of
highway is a liberating experience, and I quickly realised that
I really have to try and find the time to get out for some more
long distance touring once again. Nothing is more relaxing than
getting out in the middle of nowhere astride a modern
motorcycle.
Broome has just experienced one of its coldest winters so I
quickly came to appreciate the heated handgrips on the BMW as I
got up to a comfortable cruising speed and started to
familiarise myself with my cockpit. The layout is traditional
BMW with a large easy to read speedo and tacho combined with a
vertical LCD to display oil pressure and fuel level. The
separate buttons for each indicator take a while to get
accustomed to, but work well enough. However, it would be nice
if they had the excellent self cancelling function found on
similar equipped Harleys. The screen is electrically adjustable
and provides good protection. I would have preferred for it to
be a little taller when fully erect, another inch would make all
the difference…
The 25 litre fuel tank
provides a touring range in excess of 400km at the national
limit. At the same service station that charged me 137.9 cents
per litre for fuel, I picked up a just as unattractively priced
Michael Buble tape to round out the mellow mood I was enjoying.
The stereo is reasonable enough at legal speeds, but does lack
the power and sound quality available on some of the Japanese
tourers. There is something wonderfully perverse about waiting
at intersections with the stereo blaring as car drivers or
pedestrians try to work out where the music is coming from.
Great entertainment!
Useful side panniers were fitted to the R 1150 RT and I was very
impressed by the excellent BMW locking and docking system. A
couple of seconds is all it takes to remove or mount the
panniers to the machine. The test machine featured the standard
luggage rack that integrates with the side panniers. We did not
get the opportunity to try the optional top box.
Another highly impressive feature of the machine was a complete
and utter resistance to crosswinds or turbulence from oncoming
trucks. Many of the large Japanese tourers can get a bit of a
weave going at speed when encountering wind turbulence, but
nothing could stop the R 1150 RT from tracking true. The thing
must be near cyclone proof!
The telelever front end performed well and along with the
trademark Paralever rear end, the suspension package proved well
up to the task. Preload is hydraulically adjustable for when you
are fully loading up the machine or carrying a pillion. Rebound
damping is also adjustable.
Surprisingly, the R 1150 RT proved quite light on its feet, even
rapid changes of direction are accomplished with ease. If you
get really aggressive the rear suspension can complain a little,
but so will any other machine in this class of motorcycle.
Stopping the machine is a fuss free affair. Just grab a big
handful and the integral ABS system ensures the show remains
tidy under full emergency stop conditions. The brakes are linked
together, thus a dab on the rear brake also activates some force
on the front brakes, and vice-versa. It works well enough, but
it would be nice to have an off switch when traversing gravel
stretches.
In the gravel the BMW also acquits itself well. Power-on is the
order of the day to stop the front ploughing. If your confidence
is up you can dial on some more throttle and slide around the
turns.
The engine has reasonable power, but is certainly no match for
the super powerful four or six cylinder engines available in the
large Japanese tourers. Enough mumbo is on tap to put a smile on
your dial though, and the machine will happily maintain speeds
that would only be legal in the Northern Territory.
BMW claim 95 horsepower @ 7,250rpm from the 1,130cc four-valve
boxer twin with 100Nm of torque arriving at 5,500rpm. They also
claim that more than 90Nm of torque is available from 3,000rpm
all the way through to 6,500rpm. The transmission offers six
ratios, the tallest of which is very much an overdrive gear for
high speed touring.
The seat is the best I have
ever experienced. Even after covering nearly 2,000km on the
second day in order to make the traditional Thursday night
barbecue at a friend’s Osborne Park workshop, my posterior was
not too worse for wear.
The seat is a two-piece unit
which is adjustable for height. Heights of 805, 825 and 845mm
are on offer. An optional shorter seat can be ordered with the
machine, which lowers the choices further to 780, 800 and 820mm
respectively.
You can keep your four wheel drives and steel cocoons. Only a
motorcycle can make thousands of kilometres of roads
entertaining, and the R 1150 RT is definitely one of the better
weapons for the job.
Source MCNew
Any corrections or more information on these motorcycles will be kindly appreciated.