BMW is the only manufacturer to earn three coveted categories in Motorcyclist Magazine’s 2015 Motorcycle of the Year (MOTY) Awards. Editors of Motorcyclist proclaimed the BMW S 1000 RR “Best Sportbike,” and for the second year in a row named the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure “Best Adventure Bike” and the BMW R 1200 RT “Best Touring Bike.”
Commenting on the 2015 BMW S 1000 RR, currently featured in the film Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation, Motorcyclist editors wrote, “Every time we ride BMW’s 999cc S 1000 RR we’re blown away. Not only is the double-R the most powerful bike in the category slamming down a bona fide 184 hp in our latest test but it’s also the most civil superbike available and without a doubt the best daily rider in the class. No one in their right mind will debate the double-R’s athleticism or value.”
Of the two repeat winners, Motorcyclist editors dubbed the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure “A Motorcycle Masterpiece,” stating, “Many other manufacturers have tried to peel back the BMW GS’s headlock on this category. but no other manufacturer has quite managed the GS’s combination of off-road ability, commuting and sport riding manageability, and genuine cross-country comfort.”
“Still great, yet to be challenged,” Motorcyclist editors observed about the BMW R 1200 RT. “We have an unreasonable man-crush on anything with BMW’s new liquid-cooled engine. We gush endlessly about the GS and now we’re giving the similarly powered R 1200 RT the nod a second year in a row. For now, it’s time for the RT to shine, combining rare sporting character in a bike built to leap state lines in serene, weather-protected comfort.”
Specification BMW R 1200 GS
| Engine | |
| Type | Air/liquid-cooled four stroke flat twin engine, double overhead camshaft, one balance shaft |
| Bore x stroke | 101 mm x 73 mm |
| Capacity | 1,170 cc |
| Rated output | 92 kW (125 hp) at 7,750 rpm |
| Max. torque | 92 lb-ft (125 Nm) at 6,500 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 12.5 : 1 |
| Mixture control / engine management | Electronic intake pipe injection / BMS-K+ digital engine management with electromotive throttle actuator |
| Emission control | Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, emission standard EU-3 |
| Performance / fuel consumption | |
| Maximum speed | Over 125 mph |
| Fuel consumption per 100 km at constant 90 km/h | 57 mpg at a constant 56 mph (4.1 l) |
| Fuel consumption per 100 km at constant 120 km/h | |
| Fuel type | Premium Unleaded |
| Electrical system | |
| Alternator | three-phase alternator 510 W (nominal power) |
| Battery | 12 V / 11,8 Ah, maintenance-free |
| Power transmission | |
| Clutch | oil lubricated clutch, hydraulically operated |
| Gearbox | Constant mesh 6-speed gearbox with helical gear teeth |
| Drive | Shaft drive |
| Chassis / brakes | |
| Frame | Two-section frame, bolted on rear frame, load-bearing engine |
| Front wheel location / suspension | BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm, central spring strut |
| Rear wheel location / suspension | Cast aluminium single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; WAD strut (travel-related damping), spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable (continuously variable) via handwheel, rebound damping adjustable via handwheel |
| Suspension travel front / rear | 7.5 in/7.9 in (190 mm / 200 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 59.3 in (1,507 mm) |
| Castor | 3.9 in (99.6 mm) |
| Steering head angle | 64.5° |
| Wheels | Cast aluminum wheels |
| Rim, front | 3,00 x 19″ |
| Rim, rear | 4,50 x 17″ |
| Tyres, front | 120/70 R 19 |
| Tyres, rear | 170/60 R 17 |
| Brake, front | Dual floating discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers |
| Brake, rear | Single disc, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper |
| ABS | STANDARD (part integral, can be switched off) |
| Dimensions / weights | |
| Length | 87.0 in (2.210 mm) |
| Width (incl. mirrors) | 37.5 in (953 mm) |
| Height (excl. mirrors) | 55.9 in (1,412 mm) |
| Seat height, unladen weight | 33.5/34.3 inches (adjustable seat height) Standard; variable seat heights available between 31.1 inches and 35.0 inches (available as accessories and/or factory options, see an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer) |
| Inner leg curve, unladen weight | 73.6/75.2 inches (adjustable seat height) Standard; variable inner leg curve (inseam) between 69.7 and 76.8 inches (seats available as accessories and/or factory options, see an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer) |
| Unladen weight, road ready, fully fuelled | 525 lbs (238 kg) |
| Dry weight | |
| Permitted total weight | 992 lbs (450 kg) |
| Payload (with standard equipment) | 467 lbs (212 kg) |
| Usable tank volume | 5.3 gal |
| Reserve | approx. 1 gal |
