R1200RS Sport SE: BMW has created the perfect all-round motorbike

A thing of beauty: BMW’s RS Sport SE will appeal to commuters and fun-seekers, offering a nimble bike for both town and touring
David Williams

For many Londoners, the “holy grail” motorcycle is one that does it all — long, luggage-laden summer tours, entertaining weekend rides out on the twisties and commutes into town. After three weeks of mixed riding, it’s clear that BMW’s 2017 R1200RS Sport SE is such a bike — the perfect all-rounder.

With a good, low, centre of gravity concealing its 236kg, a comfy, roomy, lowish seat, beautifully punchy 1,170cc liquid-cooled “boxer” engine, nimble low-speed steering, good weather protection and perfectly-judged seating position, it is the bike for every occasion.

In town, its poise and narrow handlebars allow it to trickle discreetly to the front of the queue.

The great, vibration-free mirrors are the widest point, wider than the big, horizontally-opposed twin cylinders of the fine, sporty-sounding 125hp/125Nm torque engine. It’s shaft-drive too, so no chain to oil.

It’s also the most technical of machines, letting the rider adjust riding mode and suspension on the fly with handlebar-mounted switches. Cycle from one to two riders and factor in luggage weight too, to stiffen or relax the ride. Genius. It even has cruise control and sat-nav, controllable with a thumb wheel. Wow!

The £13,780 RS Sport SE is a muscular-looking beast, accurately reflecting its performance. The engine has been re-tuned for traffic-useful, low-rev torque that delivers a reassuring safe head-start punch from a standstill, and that propels the machine to around 125mph, with heady acceleration in between.

Dislikes? The bodywork directs wind neatly away from the rider’s torso, but the manually-adjustable screen blows it into my helmet. I’ll try unbolting and raising it further to see if that helps. The analogue speedo is also a little hard to read.

Likes? There are too many to list, but the looks — right down to the hot red frame and beefy exhaust — really catch the eye. Compared to the RT (276kg) and the GS (244kg), it’s lightweight, and better in town as a result while still raising the prospect of fine summer tours.

BMW has successfully engineered a bike that commuters and fun-seekers alike will relish.

I can’t wait to strap on the optional panniers and tackle a tour, and really explore its potential.

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