BMW R 1150 R

Passion ignites hearts and disputes. These days, someone on the road hissed to me that this BMW is like painting in Java. The nerve wouldn't let me just nod, and something similar to the test below followed. The Bavarian in some design details is certainly not 916 or Brutal.

But with beauty it always happens that it is deceiving. The question is also where the appraiser is looking. Someone likes the thick ones under the thighs, the second is very narrow here, the third has shifted the scales between the navel and the neck. Someone who organically cannot stand the slightly tougher German touches will simply not fall under the blue and white mark. And it will be devoid of very interesting techniques.

Follow the pencil

A stripped-down BMW called the Roadster has been around for six years, but it's highly relevant and totally trendy, featuring stripped-down and muscular bikes. Motorcyclists are fed up with choppers and custom modifications, and the roadster is offered as a natural and logical choice. A motorcycle in the original spirit.

In 1150, the sales of the R 2001 R (after seven record years) made a number of improvements to already known technologies and shapes. At first glance, more observant people will notice that the bulky fuel tank expands into two interesting diffusers with the BMW logo, closing off the oil coolers and keeping hot air away from the driver.

The overall appearance of the motorcycle has become more attractive and also more "neat". The trim is followed very logically by the line of the newly developed A-shaped triangular rail that connects the motor housing to the telescopes of the front fork. Now it looks thinner and smarter.

Pulls well

The boxer engine is still the mainstay of the motorcycle. It's the same with the spine, which from the die-cast aluminum passes at the front into the front suspension, while at the rear on some pipes and amplifiers there is a center shock absorber and a seat with a load. Where is the classic frame? Not him!

The 1150 four-valve boxer engine was removed from the GS introduced in the fall of 1999. Compared to the 1100 generation engine, the larger 45 cc car has 5 hp. more power (85 hp) and 98 Nm of torque at 5250 rpm.

Both are enough for a very lively and by no means tiring ride. A stable engine and a very constant increase in power do not require much attention from the driver. Suffice it to say that the torque reaches 90 Nm in the full range from 3000 to 6500 rpm.

The engine is driven by electronic injection from the Motronic MA 2.4 series. Having a catalytic converter in the controlled exhaust system is old news for BMW.

The motorcycle also received a new six-speed transmission with a new engine. Okay, okay, I admit, the Japanese have had them for thirty years, so what? The nature of the engine is such that it could have an automatic transmission, but the driver would not feel any "breakdowns".

I know no boundaries, but BMW will have to think about gearboxes for a while. Otherwise, the latter proposal works flawlessly and, in combination with the driveshaft, fully serves the purpose. But accuracy and quietness are not the advantages of this gearbox. Clonk is still too obvious to deserve praise.

However, six gears are a good choice for dynamic driving, and since sixth is shorter than the GS model, there is more brisk movement in the seat. The motorcycle blows at over 200 kilometers per hour without resistance, which provides sufficient traction. 180 kilometers per hour can be the speed of movement if you drive past your neck. I advise you to pay extra for a swimsuit around the headlight, which successfully removes air from the driver.

Hot tires

The roadster impresses with its location and handling. The machine, which weighs 252 kilograms, is classified as heavy and therefore raises doubts about its flexibility. But the technicians matched the car's geometry very well and adjusted the suspension so that they could afford a lot. The rear parallelogram is 14 millimeters shorter and the suspension is adjustable.

The finishing touches are visible as the bike does not withstand passenger impacts, even on very bumpy roads, and at the same time maintains its direction very accurately. It also got wider, low-cut tires. With this package, you can afford the classic smooth slope in the curves you take on long arcs. However, you can afford to drive deep into the bend and lean sharply towards the top.

The Roadster always reacts like a very sporty car and never performs any stunts that would require a lot of motorcycle knowledge. Such liveliness has its limits only at night, when on steep slopes the headlight shines somewhere in the trees, and not in the direction in which the front wheel flies. Technicians will still have to think about it.

Round off the bike experience with the often recurring thought of purchasing heated grips and side shrouds. They are thought out to the smallest detail and dynamically matched to the machine. What does this mean? That it doesn't roll between your legs when you strap full suitcases to your side.

BMW R 1150 R

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

engine: 4-stroke - 2-cylinder, opposed - air-cooled + 2 oil coolers - 2 overhead camshafts, chain - 4 valves per cylinder - bore and stroke 101 × 70 mm - displacement 5 cm1130 - compression 3, 10: 3 - declared maximum power 1 kW (62 hp) at 5 rpm - declared maximum torque 85 Nm at 6750 rpm - fuel injection Motronic MA 98 - unleaded petrol (OŠ 5250) - battery 2.4 V, 95 Ah - generator 12 W - electric starter

Energy transfer: primary gear, single plate dry clutch - 6-speed gearbox - universal joint, parallel

Frame: two-piece steel rod as support with co-engineer - frame head angle 27 degrees - ancestor 127mm - wheelbase 1487mm

Suspension: front telescopic arm, adjustable center shock, 120mm travel - parallel swingarm, adjustable center shock, 135mm wheel travel

Wheels and tires: front wheel 3 × 50 with 17 / 120-70 tires - rear wheel 17 × 5 with 00 / 17-170 tires

brakes: EVO, front 2 × floating disc 320 mm with 4-piston caliper - rear disc f 276 mm; built-in ABS with power steering at an additional cost

Wholesale apples: length 2170 mm - width with mirrors 970 mm - seat height from floor 800 mm - fuel tank 20, 4 - weight (with fuel, factory) 238 kg - load capacity 200 kg

Capacities (factory):

Acceleration time 0-100 km / h 4 s

Maximum speed 197 km / h

Fuel consumption at 90 km / h 4 l / 6 km

About 120 km / h 5 l / 7 km

INFORMATIVE

Representative: Technounion Auto Ljubljana

Warranty conditions: 12 months

Prescribed maintenance intervals: first service every 1000 km, then every 10.000 km

Color combinations: black, blue metallic, red metallic

Number of authorized dealers / repairers: 4/4

OUR MEASUREMENTS

Mass with liquids (and tools): 252 kg

Fuel consumption:

standard cross: 7, 18 l / 100 km

minimum average: 6 l / 9 km

Maximum speed: 200 km / h

Flexibility from 60 to 130 km / h:

III. gear: 5, 19 s

IV. borrowed: 6, 42s

V. execution: 7, 49 p.

Vi. gear 9, 70 s

DINNER

Motorcycle price: 9.174.13 EUR

Price of the tested motorcycle: 10.620.64 EUR

The cost of the first and first following service:

1. 125.19 euros

2. 112.61 euros

PROBLEMS ON TEST

idle start and stop

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS

+ brake system and ABS

+ suspension

+ comfort

+ undemanding to driving

+ emergency lights

+ heating levers on the steering wheel

– The brake booster does not work when the engine is off

– loud transmission with too long strokes

FINAL ASSESSMENT

The R 1150 R is handsome enough, very comfortable and technically convincing. Ride quality is above average. ABS on brakes should be your buying guide, even if it costs something. But BMW also has a good used price.

Prior to the excellent rating, it lacks a more precise and quieter hydraulic transmission and power steering, which would give a good feel even when the engine is off.

>EVALUATION: 4/5

>

Mitya Gustinchich

PHOTO: Uro П Potoкnik

• Technical information

  engine: 4-stroke - 2-cylinder, opposed - air-cooled + 2 oil coolers - 2 underhead camshafts, chain - 4 valves per cylinder - bore and stroke 101 x 70,5 mm - displacement 1130 cm3 - compression 10,3:1 – declared maximum power 62,5 kW (85 hp) at 6750 rpm – declared maximum torque 98 Nm at 5250 rpm – Motronic MA 2.4 fuel injection – unleaded petrol (OŠ 95) – 12 V battery, 12 Ah - generator 600 W - electric starter

  Energy transfer: primary gear, single plate dry clutch - 6-speed gearbox - universal joint, parallel

  Frame: two-piece steel rod as support with co-engineer - frame head angle 27 degrees - ancestor 127mm - wheelbase 1487mm

  brakes: EVO, front 2 × floating disc 320 mm with 4-piston caliper - rear disc f 276 mm; built-in ABS with power steering at an additional cost

  Suspension: front telescopic arm, adjustable center shock, 120mm travel - parallel swingarm, adjustable center shock, 135mm wheel travel

  Weight: length 2170 mm - width with mirrors 970 mm - seat height from floor 800 mm - fuel tank 20,4 - weight (with fuel, factory) 238 kg - load capacity 200 kg