Handsome Devil

A few moments spent contemplating the dowdy fairings of the average police bike will tell you that many of BMW’s efforts at two-wheeled transport have been less than passionate affairs.

A BMW was the sensible choice for the older enthusiast who sought nothing more than a functional, safe ride, an ample seat for the missus and lots of practical hard plastic luggage. BMW made dull but worthy bikes for the aesthetically challenged, who enjoyed the benefits of filtering rush hour traffic while secretly craving the kind of safety, comfort and predictability you’d expect to find in a car. BMW bikes even provided stereo sound, heated handlebar grips, fog lights and shaft rather than chain drive. The company not only invented ABS braking, but was also the first to apply it to bikes—which didn’t endear them to the biking fraternity, who prefer to take the Fifth Amendment on when and how to slow down or stop.

Bikers believed BMW bikes were a triumph of function over fun and safety over stylish self-expression. They’re perfect for the police, who can’t be seen to be enjoying themselves as they ride about town in imperious twosomes, protected by the unappealing Teutonic badge of boredom.

No one accuses BMW of producing sexy bikes. So perhaps I could be forgiven for thinking my eyes were deceiving me when I saw the latest additions to the German manufacturer’s range; the R1150 R sport, and its big brother, the R1 150 RT tourer, which I had the unexpected pleasure of riding for one glorious weekend.

Nothing looks, sounds or feels quite like a Beemer. They’re powered by BMW’s signature Boxer engine; a flat twin with massive cylinder heads that protrude like giant metallic elbows from each side of the front fairing. Their beefy throb makes the bike rock gently from side to side when it’s standing still, while its 1130cc of big twin grunt gives it a capable, long-legged gait that’s very relaxed and deceptively fast, and feels a bit like wearing a pair of seven-league boots. Its car-style dash tells you which of the six gears you’re in, including the high-speed economy sixth, in which you can cover around 200 miles on one tank of petrol.

At 279kg (613lb), the R1 150 RT is one and a half times the weight of the average sports bike, but its low centre of gravity makes it easy to handle at slow speed. It’s perfect for waltzing deliciously around bends aided by the wide handlebars and a near-perfect front suspension, thanks to the new light-weight Telelever front forks. It’s such an unlikely configuration for a vehicle designed to duck, dive and lean at precarious angles, though, that I’m surprised it ever got off the drawing board. I’m also amazed that it actually works extremely well on the road.

Over the past few months, the company has been gradually rationalising and modernising its motorcycle product range. Out have gone the sorry silhouettes we’ve grown used to and in have come shiny metals, exotic alloys and scrumptious plastics—mine was sea blue shot through with iridescent mint! The bike press can’t quite believe that BMW has created such a handsome bike!

BMW’s head of design, Dave Robb, says the RT has “got more of a jaw to it, more profile. We think it’s very important that our motorcycles have character you can see from a distance, and it now has some movement forward visually that it didn’t have before.”

I found not only that the RT moved enthusiastically forward but also that I could actually see the road ahead, whereas my sports-biking friends could not. I was very happy astride this characterful rogue, watching flies ping off its adjustable electric windscreen—which is amazing, given that frankly I never thought I’d see the day when I would gladly swap my sportsbike for a tourer.

One thing’s for sure; this big Beemer has changed BMW’s position in the motorcycle market. And, after my fantastic weekend trial, I personally think that every girl should own a barrel-chested star like this one.