Mike's Tenere & Motorcycle Blog

2009 BMW K1300GT Coming off a 2003 R1150 R to the K1300GT Cruise Missile couldn’t be more contrasting with 160 hp & 99 lb ft torgue & with more than 80 per cent of the engine’s maximum torque available from just 3,500 rpm. The Boxer, with roots decades old, while possessing a quality feel & charm that grew on you, was underpowered & overly vibey as rpms increased while the K1300GT makes me feel like Luke Skywalker being seduced by the dark side with all its power, chic looks & technical showcasing…if only BMW had neutered the frenetic/busy feel of the drive train from mid rpm up it would be a world beater…oh, yea they did…it’s called the K1600GT….but at significant increased cost . Is it the best of breed, hard to quantify, but definitely on the podium as of 2012…the new K1600GT brings new things/refinement to the table but reviewer Kevin Ash did an interesting analysis comparing the K1600GT torque to the K1300GT & the R1200RT & discovered that the K130...

2012 BMW K1300GT (demo ride) Absolutely amazing! It seems ponderously heavy at a stand still...until the first few rotations of the tires where it seems like 200 lbs just vanishes. The motor is a jewel…so much power everywhere, yet ultra refined & understressed...it is geared so tall that 100kph = 2500 rpm in 6th from where it pulls cleanly as the momentum just keeps building & building & building…4th & 5th are amazingly fun hwy gears! 5k rpm in 4th is around 140 kph…this things is so fast, drama free & relaxed it is fun doing ¼ mile sprints starting from 80 kph to 160 kph…I defy anyone not to be giggling to themselves. Perhaps the K16 might not accelerate quite a quickly as the K1300GT because the K13 actually has a better power to weight ratio with shorter gearing…but it does it in a more sublime manner.  The suspension is rock solid & it rails around sweepers leaned over holding a perfect line at a pace that no near 800+ lb bike should. Fabulous air ma...

2012 BMW R1200RT (demo ride) It just flat works for me…but then I am used to the boxer motor & like upright roomy egos…bars, seat, pegs, windscreen, are plug-n-play for me…with seat in the high position it feels like I could cross the continent. After immediately getting off my R1150R you do notice a top heaviness standing still with that huge 25 litre tank & expansive faring, yet still has a flickable feeling once under way & tracks delightfully leaned over with nary any bob or weave even with bumps mid corner. Much quicker in acceleration & revs than my old R1150R though still very similar in feel with omnipresent low level vibes that keep you in touch with the motor without becoming intruding or objectionable…it’s just the character of the refined motor & drive train…it is very reassuring at parking lot speeds & exhibits perfect crisp fueling.   A nice feature is that despite the imposing bodywork in front of you, there is a clear view of the forks...