BMW motorcycle reviews


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BMW K100 1000cc 88/89 (F)
Overall Rating:
Review
Definately a good commuting workhorse / touring bike, but not at all sporty. Done 8000 miles since last feb on the RS & the main points I have are...

Cheap to run - 120 miles generally costs about £11,
Fast in a straight line, loads of usable torque
Good Brakes
Very soft / spongey / unpredictable ride, though a replacement koni rear shock helped this loads on mine
Very round, thin rear tyre doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the corners.
Heavy & big.
good weather protection.
reliable.

So overall, very useable & good for long trips but not much fun in corners.
Submitted by
wil on 07/02/2010
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BMW R100 1000cc 94/95 (M)
Overall Rating:
Review
Big heavy bike,but once moving is very easy to ride and has a very steady spread of power.
Mine is the RT model and has what many people in the know think is THE best fairing fitted to a bike in all time,you can ride all day and get off fresh as a daisy.
It came with panniers and top box as standard and you can load it up with as much as you want it will laugh at you and whisk you off over the horizon.
The heated grips are flame throwers if you need them,but as stated the fairing keeps wind off your hands.
I get 45-55 mpg.
As well as good all bikes have bad points too.
Rear brake on mine is a drum and is hopeless.
The tyre choice is poor due to the VERY narrow rims,I have fitted Avon Road Riders and they are good.
The headlight I found poor and upgraded it by fitting a 100/80 bulb and now that's fine.
So if you can find a good one give it a go,do not expect to rip up the tarmac,but ride it right and it will take you anywhere you want to go in comfort.
Submitted by
Shed Head in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire on 03/11/2009
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BMW R850 850cc Sept '01 (51)
Overall Rating:
Review
Few months into owning this bike and LOVE IT. My first 'big' bike, the choice being influenced by my BMW owning husband. Fantastic road handling and exceptionally comfortable, especially on long journeys, comfortable upright riding position and a deep seat.The adjustable seat meant I could lower it to suit my 5'8" frame. As a lady rider, I like the width and chunkiness of the bike on the road; with the side panniers fitted you have a road presence that few cars are gonna mess with. The bike is balanced so well that it corners like a dream and can coast in traffic at low speeds with ease. The BMW reputation for build quality is evident in every detail. This bike delivers every time I ride it and the classic BMW styling makes it a headturner, details like the hand painted stripes on the tank and the spoke wheels add to the style of this bike. Haven't managed to lift it on the main stand yet but working on it!
Submitted by
ladyli on 29/10/2009
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BMW K1200 1190cc Sept '02 (52)
Overall Rating:
Review
Handles well when moving, and cruises well at 70-90 mph, despite size this bike is easily manourvered round tight bends, also extremely comfortable for pillion, all in this bike does what is says, cruise!!
Expensive on repairs and also not as reliable as other makes
Submitted by
tezza simmo on 03/10/2009
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BMW K1 1000cc 89/90 (G)
Overall Rating:
Review
bought it in 95,had 20k on it - done 40k on it,on & off - parked it into storage 8 years ago - replaced the battery a few days ago,had to repair corrosion @ the lowest part of the fuel tank,engine fired up straight away,smoked for a few minutes then none,air in the tyres & on the road again, faulty handbrake switch - 600k's so far no problems & arent expecting any, replaced the original cracked exhaust system years ago with a K1100 system & same with the handbrake master cylinder, all these bikes seem to suffer the same faults - the speedo & tach needles on mine dont move (who cares) - had a K1200 while K1 was parked up, done 60k on that, they are a nice bike also - i myself am just a fan purely based on the reliability of these CDU's - no idea what the new ones are like tho - but be keen to try the K1300, well done BMW for these K series tho - i hope the new is as solid as the old
Submitted by
teeth on 03/10/2009
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BMW K1 1000cc 91/92 (J)
Overall Rating:
Review
I bought a 1990 K1 a few weeks back, with a view to touring Scotland. Just got back and after packing in nearly 1500 miles in a few days, only have praise for the bike. I bought it from a guy who'd barely used it on the Isle of Wight and consequently its tyres were squared off, ancient and lethal. Fitted a new set of Pirelli Diablo Stradas, which are nothing short of brilliant in the wet or dry. Totally stable machine at speed, but a pig to turn at low speeds or in car parks. A regular BMW tank bag for a K100 fits just fine, as you can't fit panniers. My bike had a real flat spot at 5-6000 revs, but a Harman Chip bought on eBay for £19, cured all that and freed up the top end dramatically. The K1 has a uniquely high final drive gearing and the extra power has turned this beast into a licence loser, so care is needed on motorways. Economy is around 48MPG. Footpegs seem higher and more cramped than other BMWs, so cramp sets in after 300 miles, but otherwise it's pretty comfy. These bikes are fast becoming collectable, but spares are becoming tricky. Yu can get bodywork from BMW, at a price, but I guess most insurers will write one off way before that. An agreed value policy would seem a sensible idea. A real Marmite bike - people love 'em or hate 'em. I love mine.
Submitted by
IainH on 27/09/2009
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BMW K1200 1200cc Sept '05 (55)
Overall Rating:
Review
Fantastic bike for crossing europe a nightmare for trundling across town, despite manufacturer servicing, ECU upgrades and aftermarket pipe it lurches and splutters through traffic appallingly.Reliability? 22,000 miles, Two batteries, one starter motor, one clutch, one ABS modulator and control unit, wiring repair to ESA, one Clutch master cylinder and shaft drive oil seals.You decide. I'd be hard to persuade to by another top price bike from this Manufacturer,Poor show BMW!
Submitted by
Depressed on 26/09/2009
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BMW R100 1000cc 77 (R)
Overall Rating:
Review
I owned a 77 R100RS. A fantastic bike but not great for commuting. On the open road - more comfortable and better wind protection than most modern bikes with far more street appeal.

Loads of torque and can cruise at 90mph all day. Had mine up to 110mph with 1000-1200 revs to go before redline - fantastic for a 30 year bike.

Fuel economy is ok but if you want better economy buy an R65. Where the fuel economy kicks in is on long trips where just under 20kms per litre is achievable.

Easy to maintain - and a true superbike from the 70s. Handling is average due to the terrible pressed steel triple clamp - but these can be upgraded with a far better offering from San Jose BMW. Brakes are good for the 70s but show their age now. Braided lines are recommended. The original shocks should be replaced with something like Ikon or Hagon or YSS if on a budget.

The handlebars which are a semi clipon style are a bit painful in traffic but then again this isnt what this bike was designed for.

The single seat which came with this bike is a bit high if you are on the short side.

A true every day use collectible classic with fantastic looks, loads of character and a real conversation piece.
Submitted by
Boff on 19/09/2009
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BMW R1150 1050cc Sept '01 (51)
Overall Rating:
Review
BMW's big 'boxer' tourer is without doubt a faultless motorcycle: it'll carry you and all your kit in its huge panniers and top-box for as long as you can stay awake, in total comfort and with great economy. Add the taller screen and you'll be treated to a car-like experience of riding without the slightest breeze in your face and those heated grips will extend your riding season well into the winter months. This bike also really handles, enabling some serious ‘scratching’ on the open road with good ground clearance allowing tyres to be tested to their limit and, when the pace needs to slow in a hurry, the big German tourer will haul itself up on servo-assisted brakes that won’t lock up the wheels courtesy of a brilliant ABS system.

The build quality and finish is the best I've ever seen on a motorcycle and the whole look of the thing says ‘come ride with me!’

So why did I only own mine for seven months, selling it for a Suzuki cruiser instead? Well, the answer is simply that middle-aged, born-again bikers like myself go riding to have a grin put on their face and the ‘beemer’ simple doesn’t do this – at all. For us, biking isn’t about getting from A to B, this is something that you do in the comfort of a car, and it’s about much more than arriving at one’s destination still able to walk: no, biking is about the exhilaration and freedom of travelling roads, lanes, tracks and ‘back-waters’, in pursuit of getting lost in the moment and escaping the trials and tribulations of the day.

The truth is that I just never wanted to go out on the ‘beemer’ just for the hell of it: my other motorcycle, a Kawasaki ZX10R, always won the contest unless I had more than a couple of hour’s riding to do.

The problem with the ‘beemer’ is that it so dreadfully dull to ride. The engine is an antiquated and lifeless box of spanners that is incapable of convincing the rider of a commanding ability in any aspect of use: around town it’s gutless and incredibly ‘vibey’ unless you get it spinning above 3000 rpm and, on the open road, it’s given all it can offer once the revs hit 6000 rpm. This make for an unexciting ride in just about every riding circumstance.

It’s as though BMW weren’t quite sure what to do about the limitations of this engine and so, instead of either going for a long-stroke, low-revving configuration which would’ve given the bike serious grunt and character at urban speeds or going for an over-square design that would have produced some exciting power at the top-end, chose instead to build a motor that tried to be both of these things, with the result being a totally unsatisfying power plant that just never creates that all important grin-factor.

The telelever front-end also introduces a certain vagueness in the steering that those used to the conventional steering geometry of a pair of telescopic forks will find unnerving at first, and one does have to wonder just why BMW insist on fixing problems that no one is bothered about – in this case nose-dive under braking which is eliminated by the telelever system. For,
at the bike’s rear-end, we have another example of this thinking where the shaft-drive is a complicated assembly of bearings (which are prone to early failure by all accounts), BMW’s famous paralever system, intended to eliminate ‘shaft jacking’ under acceleration. Personally, I’ve never been at all troubled by this phenomenon and wonder why anyone would want to fix it. All of which I guess is explained by the fact that we are dealing here with German engineering philosophy.

So, would I buy another BMW motorcycle? Most certainly yes, but not another ‘boxer’, although the new R1200 engine is said to be much-improved.
Submitted by
squelly on 21/06/2009
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BMW R1200 1200cc Sept '08 (58)
Overall Rating:
Review
NEW MOTORBIKE REVIEW - BMW R1200S - BOXER BEAT


* What’s It all About?
If, like me, you find the concept of a sexy looking BMW motorbike difficult to get to grips with, wait until you clap eyes on the BMW R1200S. With its high tail, beautifully finished trellis frame and twin-cylinder engine it’s more reminiscent of staple Ducati fare than something that instead hails from Bavaria and it comes with the added bonus of German reliability. It’s essentially a development of the BMW R1100S that has been with us since 1998 but it boasts a 122bhp engine that BMW claim is the “most powerful production Boxer the world has ever seen.” For the less technically minded, the Boxer engine layout refers to the two horizontally opposed cylinders punching together like a boxer’s fists.

BMW are aiming to tempt riders away from Japanese and Italian supersports bikes, targeting those who may have grown out of a riding position more suited to a twelve year old than a grown up but who, nevertheless, don’t want to go short on style and capability.


* What Does It Cost?
There’s a price to be paid for all that quality and engineering and the BMW will doubtless remain a niche product with a premium asking price, albeit a very desirable one. Buyers of the BMW R1200S receive an electronic immobiliser, an 18 LED tail light and BMW’s maintenance free shaft drive with single sided swing arm and trick Telever front suspension all as standard. Factory options include anti lock brakes, an extra-wide rear wheel and fully adjustable Ohlins sports suspension if you’ve really got your game face on.


* How Does It Handle?
Despite offering way more power than the old BMW R1100S, the BMW R1200S lops a full 40 pounds off its predecessor’s weight figure. A lower centre of gravity and a redline that’s been teased out to 8,800rpm make this a far more exciting machine to ride.
There are still rather noticeable vibrations during wide-open cruising, but this is a bike that’s more of what the Yanks would term a ‘canyon carver’. Decent ground clearance is a big BMW R1200S feature and the front end has been modified to increase agility. The fork rake gets steepened to 24 degrees and the trail has been decreased from 100 to 87mm, thus giving a much dartier feel to the bars. BMW claim a top speed of over 200km/h (which is hardly surprising) and a 0-100km/h sprint of 3.15 seconds.

* Verdict
BMWs haven’t always been bikes you can lose your heart to. Here’s one that’s virtually irresistible.
Submitted by
UKBikerBoy on 04/06/2009
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