BMW R 1250 R, the naked German makes us dizzy: a concentrate of technology, comfort and charm to sell, the roadster Bavarian, it is not only perfect for having fun and tucking into the passes and streets of Italy, but also for taking you around like a real tourer.
Thanks to the support of Autotorino Group SpA, from the BMW Motorrad dealership in Olgiate Olona (VA), we set off for the road experience with the new R 1250 R Sport, to tell you why, in our opinion, even a naked like the BMW R 1250 R can be the perfect companion for many kilometers and discoveries.
Start Of SeasonThe R 1250 R and many other models are available for test drives at BMW Motorrad dealerships of the Autotorino Group in weekend 25 and 26 February 2023: Cremona, Olgiate Olona (VA), Pordenone, Susegana (TV), Villorba (TV), Tavagnacco (UD) and Trieste. |
Content index
Premise
Let's talk about one naked (o roadster as they define it beyond the Alps) therefore without aerodynamic protection, but at the same time we are talking about a chassis and an engine that has been designed to entertain the rider in all conditions and grind tens of thousands of kilometers.
So if your concern is air, you can put the windscreen original BMW (a bit like the health shirt on a first date), but we tried it without, because it is naked which expresses all its charm. At the motorcycle you can add the original quick release bags, very roomy and which leave the aesthetics immaculate once removed.
On the saddle and on the go
Before leaving the city, we immediately get noticed with the exhaust Akrapovic and the beautiful setting Sports. We set the road on our smartphone, connected to the TFT color display via the system BMW Motorrad Wellness Easy (the dedicated app) and in a moment we are already on the road.
It is useless to get around it, on the motorway the wind can be felt, but it only starts to annoy above the speed limits: where protection is lacking, the driving position well "recessed" into the frame intervenes, which gives that immediate sensation that everyone is looking for, i.e. The "It seems to have been driving it for years". Also in the kilometers that separated us from twists and turns on the border with the Switzerland, given the low temperatures, we also experimented with the heated saddle, in addition to the grips.
The controls are all clearly visible and intuitive, you just have to get carried away with the many display settings, including the sport mode which focuses on the tachometer, the intervention of the traction control, the ABS and theinclinometer which makes everyone feel even more like riders.
Off the highways, the wind in your face doesn't disturb, on the contrary, it gives us that feeling of freedom and speed that only motorcycles without fairings can give. And if you then need to carry baggage BMW suitcases are very roomy: you can place all the necessary baggage, rain suit, cameras and videos, and detach them in seconds once you reach your destination.
How it goes: engine and chassis
The bike goes down the curve without hesitation and progressively, always maintaining that feeling of safety, of wheels on tracks, with the boxer engine that never gets distracted and is always ready to push from the lowest revs. It glides without hesitation from the curves to the tight hairpin bends passivated Alpini, accompanied by rumble of the akra, and at every corner exit it is useless to hide how much we made the 1250 boxer roar.
The suspension and ABS are adjustable thanks to the presence of the Dynamic ESA package, so we adapt the chassis and the bike to all the conditions we encounter: to the fast downhill curves on uneven asphalt, to the wet and to the fast and well-placed bends of some state roads. Furthermore, they can also be calibrated according to the load of the motorcycle, as in the case of the passenger and/or luggage.
Where we lack confidence in the bike or in our riding, BMW electronics intervene, and every mistake and hesitation turns into imperceptible corrections and riding pleasure remains intact all the time.
With a maximum torque of 143 Nm the power unit from X updated offers a power never seen before. The BMW ShiftCam variable camshaft timing is the technology that ensures one optimal performance whatever the engine speed. On relaxed journeys, as well as during sporty driving, the driving pleasure that the boxer engine transmits never plays tricks, has no gaps and is always easily modulated. Another exceptional driving tool, especially when driving becomes very sporty is the electro-assisted gearbox pro. Once you let go of the clutch and get used to the number of revolutions at which to change gear, driving reaches unprecedented levels of pleasure.
Our opinion
Among the options that make this beautiful roadster a mileage-burning tourer, we recommend the packages: Comfort, with heated grips and tire pressure control; Touring, with Dynamic ESA, central stand, Keyless system, cruise control and preparation for suitcases; Dynamic which includes pro electro-assisted gearbox, led lights and engine mapping pro. What we most recommend in the case of touring use are the original suitcases, very comfortable and capacious, the windscreen Tinted or clear sport or the taller Touring screen.
In all this juncture we have covered over 400 km. In a mixed use between highway and state roads, we have never regretted the absence of the hull. The patience that must be put in advance on the long stretches of motorway and the wind that begins to press on at 130 km/h are well repaid by the driving experience, be it sports or tourism, on any surface, with or without luggage.
The R 1250 R thus confirms itself as one of the best high-powered “naked” models, not only extremely fascinating, but with all the credentials to make you travel the world without having to fit hideous aftermarket windshields, flashy frames or other luggage gadgets. I'll give you the original BMW windshield at most for the winter, but only so you don't give up your favorite leather jacket.
For the test we used: jacket, pants and gloves SPIDI, Stylmartin boots, ARAI Quantic helmet.
