BMW R1200S

After a year's hiatus, BMW's sporty S-model Boxer returns to the company's lineup, leaner, meaner and with 85 more cc of displacement. It's the most powerful Boxer engine to date, cocooncd in the sportiest chassis ever to house a Bavarian flat-Twin. The result is an enticing package.
BMW has always considered the Rl 100S its sportbike. While no threat to Ducati's 999. Aprilia's Mille or Honda's RC51, this uprated iteration provides considerably more performance from the engine and chassis, taking a giant step forward that allows it to tangle with other sport Twins on the market.
The counterbalanced 1170cc flat-Twin is very similar in design to the engines in the GS. RT, ST and R but with updates primarily to the top end that increase output significantly. The CIV dyno showed a power increase of a whopping 23 horsepower over the 1100. up to 110 at the rear wheel; torque output measured 79 foot-pounds, an additional 14. Big numbers for sure, but considering that the R1200S weighs 54 pounds less on our scales, the difference is even more impressive.

From just past idle all the way up to 7500 rpm. the engine's torque invites the rider to shift early and ride the grunt wave. Making a pass on the highway requires a downshift only in the most desperate of situations.
Chassis performance has been improved, as well, with multiple updates. Our test unit came equipped with the optional Ohlins shocks front and rear (S690). Front-end geometry has been altered for better handling with 24 degrees of rake and 3.43 inches of trail (previously 25 and 3.94), while the wheelbase has grown to a measured 59.2 inches.



Those optional suspension components are a bargain considering how well they worked on a wide variety of roads from ultra-tight carousel turns to wide-open sweepers. As we've come to expect from Ohlins. the damping and spring rates were excellent. On undulating roads, the chassis never wallowed, even when pushed hard. The front end was responsive to mid-corner bumps that would have upset lesser dampers. The added adjustability of both front and rear units is a bonus, but as we found, once a comfy setting is achieved, the adjusters are likely to be left alone.
New aluminum-alloy wheels in more sporting sizes (including an optional 6-inch-wide rear rim) are lighter and add to the handling dynamics. The new non-servo-assisted brake system is a massive improvement over the former setup.

Boxer fans won't be disappointed by the most sport-oriented Twin BMW has ever built. Impressive power, excellent stability and agile handling, combined with a grocery list of options and accessories, make this an extremely versatile European sport-Twin for under $15,000. And yes, it is the best Boxer ever.