Test: BMW R 1250 RS (2020) // A cross between an athlete and a motorcycle for pleasure

I also got a little thoughtful when I thought about how it would look and Why does BMW even need the R 1250 RS in its program?... After all, their range includes the fantastic S 1000 RR sports car, which is a motorcycle of frills and everything a sports or racing lover could wish for. Collecting the data, I was a little surprised to find that the mentioned RS belongs to the same sports group and not to the sports touring bikes.

And my two ali prejudice quickly dissipatedwhen I first got serious about gas. Of course, this is a completely different approach to understanding what a sports bike is, but the result, that is, what you feel while riding, accelerating and braking, does not disappoint. The sports wheel is not too aggressive, but after a hard hour of driving, I start to feel a tingling sensation in my wrist.

Let's say the driving position is much less aggressive than on the supersport S 1000 RR, but the knees are still quite bent and the pedals are set high and back. The position is what you like best from 100 km / h onwards, but the interesting thing is that even at 200 km / h you don't have to bend over for good wind protection.

So I can say that I would also go with him on a longer trip, and the passenger behind me would sit quite comfortably too, while in the super-sporty S 1000 RR, sitting in the back means masochism. I got the impression that everything on the bike is very thoughtful, and in every detail they communicate two things: usability and quality.

I wouldn't talk a lot about looks, because boxer-engine BMWs are very different, but my subjective opinion is that the engine is beautiful. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to take him to the racetrack, but I would love to. I have a feeling that I can easily recognize where the ideal tracks pass if you put me on a completely new race track. Why? Because it is so the engine is powerful enough and above all so rich in torque that it can be more or less controlled in fifth and sixth gears... This allows you to focus on your ideal braking line and points, entering and exiting corners and exiting corners, and your body position on the bike.

Without a doubt, I would have liked to rub my knee on the asphalt. The engine is very agile, which means that a good six-speed gearbox has few shifts. It develops most of the torque at 3000 rpm.... Everything is perfectly controlled by the wrist of your right hand, where it rattles wonderfully every time you add or take gas from the exhaust pipe. It is also interesting that the gear shift assistant works better at high revs and therefore requires a chase. Up to 4000 rpm, gear changes are best done with the clutch.

Do you know what I like about this BMW? Yes I can nuances, those little things that are of great importance, I regularly correct... By pressing the mode button, which is located on the right side of the steering wheel and can be reached with my thumb, I can set four different engine and suspension programs. So if it is raining or sunning, if the city asphalt rolls down the bike, or if it is real material asphalt on a mountain pass, I can always carry out the necessary sports driving with the reassuring fact that electronic safety systems take care of my safety.

On the move, the R 1250 RS works surprisingly easily, of course with the boxer engine for a low center of gravity. The frame and suspension keep you secure on the road and keep you on the slope.... Of course, it's not as sporty as I'm used to the 1000cc RR engines. Part of that feeling is also provided by the brakes, which are still the most touring and least racing equipment.

The two-cylinder boxer has a maximum power of 136 "horsepower" and a whopping 143 Nm of torque. How flexible it is is shown by the fact that already at 2000 rpm it has a torque of 110 Nm!

In a very sporty ride, the ABS is quick to act and the brake lever must be pressed firmly or depressed to decelerate strongly. What is especially noticeable here is that there are so many compromises that you can drive in a very sporty yet comfortable way. But the weight of the bike also affects the physics. With a full tank and ready to ride, it weighs 243 kilograms.... Wow, when I think about how interesting it would be to ride a bike that is being redesigned by a specialist for races like the Boxer Cup. But these are already somewhat extreme ideas.

I think that in fact more of its owners will opt for a set of side suitcases and quickly take their loved ones on an adrenaline-pumping journey. Mountain roads, fast country road turns and city center walks are what make the R 1250 RS so much better.

• Basic data

  Sales: BMW Motorrad Slovenia

  Base model price: 14.990 €

• Technical information

  engine: 1.254 cc, 3 valves per cylinder, opposed, four-stroke, air / liquid cooled, electronic fuel injection

  Power: 100 kW (136 km) at 7.750 rpm

  Torque: 143 Nm at 6.250 rpm

  Energy transfer: 6-speed transmission, propeller shaft

  brakes: front 2-fold disc 305mm, 4-piston calipers, rear 1-fold disc 276, 1-piston caliper, abs (switchable for rear wheel)

  Suspension: ESA (surcharge) front BMW Telelever, rear aluminum swingarm, BMW Paralever adjustable suspension

  Tires: before 120/70 R17, rear 180/70 R17

  Growth: 820 mm (optional 760 mm, 840 mm)

  Fuel tank: 18 liters (consumption 6,2l / 100 km)

  Wheelbase: 1.530 mm

  Weight: 243 kg with all fluids, ready to go

We praise and reproach

interesting, different kind

workmanship, components

flexible motor

secure position, stability at high speeds

adjustable driving performance and work while driving

brakes can grip more aggressively

accessories price

final grade

Sportiness is good taste, comfort is plentiful, and I wouldn't waste words on safety, which is top notch. All in all, this is a dynamic package that will appeal best to anyone who likes fast driving on long trips on country roads and mountain passes. I'd like to try it on the race track too.