2019 BMW R 1250 R

There’s a lot to love about the idea of a supernaked. The mental image of wrestling an enormous, overpowered, mentally unhinged motorbike; struggling to keep the front wheel on the ground. Only you, the heroic ‘Gerald-of-Timpsons’, shoe repairer and key cutter to the masses of Droitwich can tame the beast etc. It’s a compelling reason to sign on the dotted line. Sadly the reality can be different. Without a fairing you don’t get beyond three figures for long before physics kicks wind in your face, and it takes about 500 miles before you start admitting that maybe, just maybe you didn’t really need 75 extra bhp on top of the Bandit 1200 you part-exed. What you would actually enjoy owning long term is, what can only be described in 2019’s horsepower terms as a mediocre-naked. Thankfully, BMW’s R1250R is a long way from being mediocre. BMW’s 2019 R1250R makes as much power as a 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1, but at lower revs and in much bigger blats. There’s enough torque to humiliate most Ducatis, the very latest electronic safety aids, a fancy TFT dashboard and a price tag below most of the competition (although, BMW’s own, more-powerful S1000R is slightly cheaper). You could simply describe it as a roadgoing version of the R1250GS but that wouldn’t be doing it justice. The R1250R is almost certainly better than that. Power and torque 136bhp and 106lb-ft torque are impressive figures, but it’s the way that performance is delivered that you remember. How an engine feels is determined as much by the riding mode selected as the engineering these days. All the metallurgists have to do is allow the parts to move as quickly as possible – it’s the electronics boffins who determine how fast that happens. In the sharpest mode (Dynamic) this engine swaps tickover for rev limiter so quickly it’s hard to believe there are two pint-and-a-bit-displacing pistons slugging it out downstairs. The performance is so flexible that BMW could have easily lost another few kg of mass by removing all the other gears apart from third because once moving you can ride pretty much any road at any pace and never need another ratio. Engine, gearbox and exhaust The R1250R uses the same ShiftCam engine as the R1250GS. ShiftCam is BMW’s version of variable valve timing that runs two switchable profiles on the inlet cam. One of them is the smooth and torquey low-speed running , while the other comes in at 5000rpm (or less when you open the throttle sharply) is a more aggressive, lumpier profile, allowing more gas flow and power. BMW’s flat-twin feels very different to a vee. It thrums rather than throbs, making a completely different noise and feeling almost like it has some extra ‘mini-pistons’ filling in the gaps between power pulses. What’s changed in the last few years is that the personality has evolved from relaxing-country-gent into angry-man-in-a-hurry as the big-twin got revvier and more sporty. Handling, suspension, chassis and weight The chassis and suspension is essentially the same as the 2018 R1200R. The bikes were all fitted with BMW’s ESA electronic suspension, which adjusts the damping automatically according to the riding mode you have selected Comfort The seat is firm, but supportive and very, very comfortable. It feels low, but at 820mm isn’t actually much shorter than most sports bikes. A lower option (760mm) is available and the R1250R Sport’s perch is 840mm. Footpegs are higher than you expect on a BMW roadster with the standard seat. Not cramped, but definitely high and they feel more natural on the Sport version’s higher seat. Brakes The 2019 R1250GS and RT models have BMW-branded calipers made by American supplier Hayes. The R1250R retains the Brembo units used on the 2018 model. There’s a huge amount of power and, depending on the riding mode (which on the ESA bikes also controls ABS levels and suspension travel) a huge amount of control too. Even on the softer suspension settings there’s plenty of control although the ABS comes in sooner. Balance between front and rear is excellent and the back brake gives plenty of feel for added control through wet roundabouts or filtering. Color options Black Storm Metallic, Style HP, Style Exclusive, Option 719 Stardust Metallic

Video Courtessy of DriveMag Riders