Great Bike, Let the Good Times roll!
Written: Jun 23 '09 (Updated Oct 13 '09)
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Pros: Comfort, cornering, problem free.
Cons: A few more ponies would be nice.
The Bottom Line: A great bike for all around riding and comfort. Problem free and fun to ride.
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| kurbs's Full Review: 2004 BMW R 1200 CL |
BMW came out with this bike in 2003, and made it through 2004. It is a much different design than the basic BMW line, with its own looks and style. It is sleek, it is stylish. But from other angles has a view of bulk that is quite deceptive.
The specs for this bike are:
Engine- Type: Air/oil cooled twin cylinder Bore x stroke: 101 x 73 mm
Displacement: 1170 cc
Horsepower: 61 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 72 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel: FI and electronic controlled by Bosch Motronic MA 2.4 w/ automatic choke control
Fuel capacity: 4.5 US gallons / 20.5 L
Charging system: 800 W
Drivetrain- Clutch: 165mm (6.5 in) dry, single plate
Drive system: shaft drive
Final drive: spiral bevel gears, 2.62:1 ratio
Frame and Suspension- Frame: Cast aluminum front-frame section, stressed engine
Front suspension: Telelever w/ coil spring, gas shock
Front travel: 5.67in/114mm
Rear suspension: Monolever, gas shock w/ preload adj.
Rear travel: 4.72in/120mm
Brakes- Brake system: BMW ABS-II
Front brakes: dual 12in/305mm rotors, 4 piston calipers
Rear brakes: Single 11.22in/285mm rotor, 2 piston caliper
Wheels and tires- Front: 3.5x16 in cast aluminum wheel, 150/80 16 tubeless
Rear: 4.0x15 in cast aluminum wheel, 170/80 15 tubeless
Dimensions- Length: 95.1in/2415mm Width: 42.3in/1075mm
Wheelbase: 64.61in/1641mm
Ground clearance: 6.25in/159mm
Seat height: 29.3in/745mm
Handlebar width: 33.6in/853mm
Steering angle: 56.5°
Weight: 679lbs/308kgs wet/648lbs/294kgs dry
Max weight: 1169lbs/530kg GVWR
Standard Equipment- Polished and chrome plated stainless-steel exhaust
Electronically controlled 3-way catalytic converter
Locking body, colored top and side cases; removable top case
Four-lamp headlight
Two power accs sockets Heated grips Cruise control Chrome package
Standard Equipment- Radio/CD player Soft touch seat Heated seat
So being lower horse power than the typical BMW in the R lineup, this was not popular with most BMW riders. However, looking at what Harley has in its class for am larger engine, the BMW is comparable to a Road King in HP and torque, and has some advantages like a much higher low end torque than the higher powered BMW boxer models. So if being the fastest bike off the line does not matter to you, this bike will be fine for most touring applications.
However, it does seem to feel a bit underpowered at first, the bike takes on an entirely new personality after engine break in around 20,000 miles. Yes, not 200, not 1000....20,000. Mine broke just less than 19,000 miles and I noticed a whole new bike under me.
The transmission has a 6 speed over drive that is not even useful below 60 mph. However, when you set the automatic cruise control I have seen mileage in the mid 50 range. My average around town gives me 48 MPG using the first 5 gears. 43 MPG if I feel like having more fun!
The bike comes stock with a CD player, AM/FM stereo, automatic cruise control that works just as it does on a car. The sound is fine for high speeds, it will not blow your ears out and you can still hear the other road sounds you need to hear such as sirens, horns, etc.
The stereo can be set on the actual panel in front of you, and channels and volume can be changed there, or conveniently at your left thumb. The Mute function is nice as well. The stereo also can be set to lower volume and as the RPMS go up, the volume will be linear, so you don't stop at a light after coming off the highway and letting everyone else around know what you are listening to. The digital station and song display via RDS are nice options as well.
The bike has heated grips and heated seats for both passenger and driver and is very adequate for most riding ion LOW, set it to HI and you will feel the heat after 20 minutes to the point you turn it down.
The dashboard is classy and unassuming. It has an analog clock centered and your tach and Speedo. There is a spot for the idiot lights as well.
The clutch is very easy on the hands, with 3 settings for bringing it further out or in. I find this useful depending on riding with thick or thin gloves, or bare hands. And a fast roll of the finger allows the most comfortable setting for the occasion. Great for city riding as well when faced with constant stopping to ease the pain of 'clutch hand'.
So now let's go for a ride! The bike has an easy roll off in 1st gear, though a bit longer than some bikes. But again, it is made for low torque and cruising, not rocket speed take offs. The gear box is typical of BMW. A tad clunky, but smooth and effective. Gears change effortlessly and catch fast making speed transitions tight and deliberate. The shaft drive does not jerk, and you will not leave any rubber on the road, but you WILL track and move like the bike is glued to the pavement. The Heel Toe shifter makes an easy shift back and forth as your foot sits on the wide floorboards, as well as the passenger who has small boards.
The bike is no slouch however. It can jump to speed quite quickly and though it will not throw you back with a snap, you will feel the gravity pull you nicely back into the comfortable seat while getting up to 60 MPH in a respectable time.
The seats are nice, plain with no frills and patterns, and repel rain nicely. They are very comfortable for long trips and the driver has a small lumbar support that helps.
The bike has a manually adjustable load preset, and you can set it for lighter or heavier loads in seconds. And it works. You can have a soft cushy ride, or a tighter more responsive ride with a flick of the wrist. Riding two up is great and the bike handles fine with no noticeable quirks.
The luggage is nice, you can store quite a bit in the rear and side bags, hard bags that are water tight and lock. Add an optional top rack and you can pack for a nice long ride.
The bike moves easily through corners for its size and is much more nimble than it appears. The Telelever front end make speed bumps and potholes almost nonexistent with no loss of control. The bike has great neutral steering over 30 MPH that takes the bike through twisties better than any touring bike in its class that I have ridden. It has a natural instinct.
Now the servo assisted ABS with linked brakes has to be the best thing I have ever used. One finger braking, and if you get into a panic stop and hit only the fronts or rears, the system calculates speed and conditions and automatically compensates. The ABS works well on wet blacktop and gravel; the bike will stop steady and fast and stay upright. It's an amazing system. It will take a short time to get used to them because they will stop you faster than anything you've used prior. But it only takes a few stops to figure it out.
The bike is easy to work on. You can do all your fluid changes easily, but you WILL need a workstand because the bike has no center stand of its own. This has to do with the bulky exhaust that has a 3 way catalytic convertor built in. I ran with an aftermarket system, and the bike gets better mileage and is more responsive at higher speeds and RPM then the stock pipes. The brake pads and rotors are an easy job as bikes are concerned.
So take the complete package, and the bike runs considerably less than a fully dressed HD, and offers much for safety and ease of repair if you are good with a wrench. And you have a bike that is virtually trouble free and fun to ride in all areas. But remember, its a touring bike. Not a Ducati Monster or Hayabusa.
Some arm rests for the passenger would be nice, but you can easily modify them from a Goldwing to fit the top case. Since they are no longer made, they are becoming more and more rare, so if you can find one for a good price, you may want to check it out. 2 year limited edition bikes will be worth more in 20 years.
So comfort, ease of use, spectacular toys, and great mileage make it a solid choice for a sometime city bike that will take you across country anytime you want.
I bought mine off the showroom in 2004, I have 23,000 miles with just fluid changes and an aftermarket rear rotor I slapped on myself. Yes, it is pretty easy to do as well.
Not for a beginner, but for anyone who can handle a bike this size, and even those who are graduating to a larger bike, the handling and comfort should be enough to satisfy almost anyone.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 16500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
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Epinions.com ID:
kurbs
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Location: Chicago area
Reviews written: 101
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
Engineer, lover of things mechanical!
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