Motorcycle specifications BMWR 1200 RS 2018 La Route goes back to sport

The R 1200 RS has been tending towards greater safety since 2017. With the "Mode de Pilotage Pro" option, the sport-GT gains"Dynamic Brake Light" and ABS Pro, which adapts to cornering inclination. Improvements on the transmission side enhance driving pleasure, while the engine receives the necessary adaptations for Euro4 compliance. With this liquid-cooled block, BMW has created a minor revolution, overturning decades of Bavarian flatness. This engine, which first appeared on the 1200 GS, is naturally destined to equip all R models in the range. But to bring the RS back to life was something of a surprise.

béhème is once again offering a sporty GT machine in its catalog. Or rather, a dynamic tourer. A motorcycle a little more impertinent than the RT, more frivolous to carve up the road, without pretending to compete with the canons of this declining category, such as the VFR 800 and the ex 1050 Sprint, GSX-F 750 or ST3. You have to go back almost 10 years to find an RS in the range, with an 1150 attached to its letters. Its descendant was called the R 1200 ST, and its career was... short-lived. Its ambiguous face, and above all its indefatigable Cyclops headlight, put quite a dent in its image. Time has passed, the profiles have harmonized, and the horses have asserted themselves. 30 more units between two generations of RS.

bMW has learned the lessons of its offbeat styling. Today, the RS is no longer crooked. Its silhouette defends a Sport-GT stance, with plush, dynamic shapes, a face like a big, mischievous mouse, an assertive chest and a more airy rear end. The rider is seated in the same spirit: a little tilted forward, to get a better feel for the front end and the road, with slightly sport-oriented ergonomics but without sacrificing comfort. In short, it wants to travel light, and doesn't need an instruction manual to understand that it wants to play.
The R 1200 RS allows itself a small nod to its distant hypersport cousin, with the adoption of transparent deflectors on the rear of the fork head. These "winglets" are in the same vein as those on the old S 1000 RR and are intended to play an aerodynamic role in protecting the kidneys. To be appreciated while riding. By the way, how does this Reise Sportlook on the road with its latest 1170 cm3 engine?

For its comeback, the RS not only gets a fresh, modern twin, but also an all-new frame, designed for it and its desires. A tubular steel unit, faithful to the R philosophy, using the engine as a load-bearing element. With liquid cooling for the cylinder heads and some of the cylinders, a separate 6-speed gearbox, and an oil-immersed multi-plate clutch, this block is now well established in the BMW range, and we've come a long way from the old Boxer. With its sporty profile, you'd think there'd be a little extra horsepower. Not so! The R 1200 RS puts out 125 hp, like all the others with the same mill, with 12.7 mkg of torque. However, with its airbox and specific muffler, the boiler swells the torque curve a little at low revs, compared with the GS and RT. Besides, we always have at least 10 mkg of torque on hand. No need to worry about vigorous relaunching and forgetting the RS's 236 kilos. BMW could have made an effort on the revs, even if this weight is within the norms for the category.

sporty and roadworthy, with sufficient power, this phoenix of a dynasty has not only been modernized in terms of styling and engine. The electronic cladding, bursting at the seams and more, has taken over. ABS, ASC, DTC, riding modes, Keyless Ride, ESA Dynamic... The R 1200 RS can even be fitted with Shifter Pro, a foot-operated refinement reserved for competition machines only a short time ago. It allows you to upshift or downshift without touching the clutch. Open the clutch, kick off the throttle, and the thrust is continuous with no break in load. On deceleration, the system itself manages the throttle to drop gears smoothly.
Let's go back to the previous technical designations, just to refresh the ground a little. As standard, the RS comes with anti-lock braking, ASC traction control and two driving modes: a Road mode to combine performance and comfort, and a Rain mode for gentler acceleration.

now for the options, as usual in Bavaria. With Pro Modes, ASC is replaced by the more efficient DTC traction control. Two riding modes have been added: Dynamic to exploit the sporty side, and User so that the rider can adjust DTC and throttle response.
Keyless ride means central locking; we've already seen Shifter Pro, so let's move on to ESA Dynamic suspension. Recently introduced and destined to become more widespread, this controlled damping system allows the machine to adjust itself. Thanks to a host of sensors and electric valves, the motorcycle constantly reads the road and the rider's behavior, then adapts the suspension optimally in an instant. The system also takes into account the rider's riding style, so as to be more or less firm.

Let's stay with the suspensions, especially the front. Can you see anything wrong?! Isn't that an inverted fork? Nothing exceptional, you may say. You'll find them everywhere, from sports bikes to roadsters and even some customs. But this is BM, and we've been sticking to our Telelever for decades. Paf! another peculiarity that jumps out. Well, it gives the bike a sporty look, and discreetly accommodates the water radiator. Besides, a 45 mm diameter front axle is a real eye-catcher, especially when the brand claims that its engineers were inspired by the S 1000 RR. Between the engine and the rear wheel is the traditional Paralever Evo, faithful, efficient and perpetuating the behemoth synthesis of single-arm and universal joint.

ten years ago, we left the RS and ST with 4-piston axial axles on 320 mm tracks. The R 1200 RS retains the same dimensions, but the calipers are now radial and Brembo branded. The serious stuff is completed by a 276 mm rear disc with a 2-piston caliper and disconnectable ABS. The design of the 17" wheels is based on those of the Munich hypersport, with 120 and 180 rims.

behind the cockpit, you'll find a BMW world of technology and practicality? In front, there's a two-position adjustable windshield. Underneath, the dashboard is modern. A large digital window is complemented by a pointer dial. Cool, you can see the revs at a glance...... Oh no, you're wrong, it's for speed. RPM is displayed as a bar graph or in full digits. Two display styles are offered, in a space we find too restricted. Legibility may be compromised, but the instrumentation is very complete, and the on-board computer provides ample information. As an option (again), a Pro computer offers additional controls, for the anti-theft device (optional), indicating when to change gear for fuel-saving driving, an overhaul indicator, daytime running lights... the list of all the R 1200 RS's electronic possibilities is mind-boggling; or headache-inducing, as the case may be.

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The return of the RS is most promising, with a cool design and technology galore. BMW is perpetuating its own styling idea with the option of adding daytime running lights in the middle of the forehead. With or without, the face of the R 1200 RS is harmonious - and that's something to celebrate. A breath of fresh air in the sport tourer category, it can take serious pride in its vigorous flat-twin and the dynamism it's sure to prove. Plenty of electronic gizmos are standard or optional, but why hasn't thought been given to putting in the right elements from the outset to match this machine's pretensions? Heated handgrips, suitcase holders, center stand - these should be in the specification, not in La Redoute's!
Looking at it, it's hard to believe that it's largely derived from the R 1200 R roadster - the transition to the road in vigorous mode is appreciable and successful. It's worth noting that the differences between the "base" model and the "Style 2" are not limited to color, but also to the addition of an engine block and a gold layer on the brake calipers. The Voyage is Sporty, and the RS wants it that way.

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos