2016 R1200RT Iconic Test Ride

[gogs01]

At the second attempt, I took the demonstrator from my local BMW dealer for a ride today. It is one of the “Iconic” special edition models, which means :
Based on the R 1200 RT LE
Custom Paint Work (Candy Burgundy Smoked Effect) inspired by the 'Lava Rot' R 100 RT from the 1970s
Red Stitched Black Seat with Embossed Iconic 100 Logo
Audio System
Dynamic Package (Hill Start Control, Headlight Pro, Riding Mode Pro and Daytime Riding Lights) Top Box
£20,665 OTR
I really like my 2013 90th Anniversary R1200RT, on which I’ve done 35,000 miles, but the latest 2017MY version is very tempting …..
I had ridden through to Moffat for the September Northern Meet on Sunday, having filled up before I set off and recorded 223 miles. I got home with 64 miles showing as the remaining range. My idea was to fill up the Iconic at the same point, make the same round trip and compare notes afterwards.
I’m not qualified to carry out a “review” but I thought I might share some impressions :
• The standard height seat in the lower position felt lower than mine
• The sidestand wasn’t easy to find to raise it (but you get used to it)
• First goes in with a clunk (mine is silent)
• The clutch is light and smooth
• The “low fuel” light was on !
• Rain mode engine map feels a little dull, Road is much better
• Using the quickshifter from first to second isn’t a great idea (although it probably works well enough with big throttle openings and high revs)
• I put 20.4 litres in the tank which was then pretty much full.
• Heading up the dual carriageway, the Iconic accelerated hard and smoothly with the quickshifter working well. It’s really easy to get used to not using the clutch !
• The gearing is a few percent lower than before, so I was carrying 100 or 200 rpm more at motorway cruising speed
• The cruise control is the same set up as mine but seems to vary a little more than mine, but we’re only talking about 1 or 2mph
• Instantaneous mpg didn’t look very impressive, as low as 45mpg at times
• With fairly heavy cross winds I was getting severe buffeting. The bike however was pretty well rock steady.
• Changing down without the clutch brings in the autoblipper, which works really well as long as the throttle is closed. Changing down, e.g. for an overtake, is best done conventionally
• On the mix of tight and fast sweeping (and wet) bends of the A701 the handling was very light and secure – no scares at all
• The brakes (radial calipers at the front) are very good, but not significantly better than mine
• Average fuel consumption for a mix of 60% motorway / dual carriageway and 40% settled out at just over 50mpg, confirmed when I filled up again with 223 miles on the trip and it took 20.11 litres
• The low fuel level light had come on when the range to empty got down to 62 miles, and with 223 miles on the trip it said 56 miles to empty. My 35,000 mile bike will do a few more miles per gallon and per tank. (Maybe I was using more performance on the Iconic ?)

The Iconic now has over 2000 miles on it’s odometer. I really enjoyed riding it, and it made up my mind about having a new bike. I never tried the audio system and I don’t want one, but I do want “keyless ride” which the Iconic doesn’t have. The topbox is very luxurious (and so it should be at the price !) and I’m going to have the high level brake light to add to the central locking.

Now waiting to see if I’ve managed to negotiate an acceptable price to change …. [-o<

[Tango]

Seen the Iconic at our local dealer, fabulous looking bike.

Good luck with the negotiations.

[Galactic Greyhound]

A good 'Test Ride' review Gordon - thanks for that!

I have often wondered how these water-cooled engines compared in riding to the air/oil cooled models - there does not seem to be any significant difference from your review.

I hope any purchase works out well for you!

[Tony the Skin]

Consumption could be gearing but mainly lack of miles. Keyless can cause issues as a few of us found out near a radio mast.

[gogs01]

I have often wondered how these water-cooled engines compared in riding to the air/oil cooled models - there does not seem to be any significant difference from your review.

My impression is that the feel is very similar, the LC is just a bit smoother and it's definitely more willing at speed - the extra 15HP will make a difference on the autobahn where my bike would do three figure speeds but never felt happy revving so high for long. At those speeds the LC feels as willing as a multi cylinder engine.
The gearbox is much smoother, apart from the clunk into first which doesn't happen on mine.

Tony's got me wondering how much I should worry about keyless and radio masts .....

[Tony the Skin]

If I was preaching sense it would be put another 100K on your present bike and use the trade in money for a Classic which saves a fortune on depreciation. When I grow up I fancy a R1200RS.

[farmerboy]

Tony is right! :)
.....but common sense and motorbikes are very distant relatives!

[Goldbug101]

Seen the Iconic at our local dealer, fabulous looking bike.

Good luck with the negotiations.

It's quite a bike but 20k is a lot of money - and I don't care for the paint job - looks dated and a bit cheap imho, ironically. Don't think the dated look sits well with all the technology on board.

Our local dealer - Lind Motorrad in Norwich - has sold two of these, so BMW said 'have another' and it's currently sitting in the showroom waiting for someone with very deep pockets and a taste for airbrushed graphics - maybe Roger Dean album covers, or flying V electric guitars?

GB

[gogs01]

I've plumped on a Platinum Bronze Metallic R1200RT LE with dynamic package, keyless ride and high seat.
My 90th anniversary will (hopefully) go to a good home and my new bike will roll off the production line in November and be with me in time for my birthday (end of the month). Then all I have to do is get some miles on it, get it's first service done and make sure it's ready for my 2017 trips - (Croatia, Romania and Spain probably) - and a few BMW meets.

[Galactic Greyhound]

That's a nice birthday present Gordon!

Hope the weather remains kind for you to get some test runs on it!

[Tango]

Very nice indeed, you do the miles Gordon, so enjoy the smiles.

see you at one of the meets next year.

[gogs01]

[quote="Tango"]Very nice indeed, you do the miles Gordon, so enjoy the smiles ..... quote]

[Teetwothousand]

Very very nice - looking forward to seeing it next spring (unless you wander down this way to get some miles in it before then in which case let me know)

[Aladin1]

That'll do nicely Gordon.......Enjoy!
Alan
PS as Glenn said, let us know if you plan to come down this way.

[P-K]

If I was preaching sense

Since when did motorcycling and sense exist in the same sentence ?

[gogs01]

Very very nice - looking forward to seeing it next spring (unless you wander down this way to get some miles in it before then in which case let me know)

Well, I'm waiting (impatiently) for late November ..... If there are a couple of good days at any time after that, a run to the North of England would finish off the running in process ..... Although my normal running in technique involves avoiding all motorways and dual carriageways (and A class roads where possible) until everything has had a good workout !

[Ruralman]

Thanks for the review Gordon, enjoy your new ride.
Regards
Keith


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