BMW

A collection of 50 posts

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2023 BMW R 1250 RT

Are you curious about what the “RT” stands for in the name of the 2023 BMW R 1250 RT? Well, the “R”  is for “Reise,” translating from German as “journey, trip, or voyage,” while the “T” means “Touring.” For the past 20 years, the RT has routinely been one of

Columns

The Future of Motorcycling: Interview with Head of BMW Motorrad, Dr. Markus Schramm

RoadRUNNER recently had a rare opportunity to sit down for a chat with Dr. Markus Schramm, the head of BMW Motorrad. During the interview, he shared his views on the current motorcycle market and what the future might hold, both for BMW and motorcycling in general. Grab a nice cup

News

BMW Introduces Emergency Call Feature for 2024 Models

BMW has parted the curtain on what it has in store for the 2024 model year. So far, we haven’t seen any groundbreaking additions to the lineup, but one introduction might help save riders’ lives. Of course, next year’s highlight will likely be the new R 18 Roctane.

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2022 BMW F 900 R

It was late April when I sidestanded the 2022 BMW F 900 R in front of Crystal Lake Cafe in Azusa, CA. Large piles of snow were abundant but melting rapidly, remnants of the atmospheric river that defined the winter of 2022 in California. A fellow motorcyclist noticed the dealer

News

Updates for the 2023 BMW R 1250 RS

BMW’s RS model has been with us for more than 40 years, shaping the brand’s sport-touring heritage. It provides a comfortable mount that performs with equal aplomb as a distance-touring bike and sporting machine. For 2023, BMW is releasing a slew of updates for the R 1250 RS.

Sep/Oct '22

Review: 2022 BMW K1600 Grand America

Having just ridden the new Indian Pursuit, I was eagerly anticipating the Bavarian interpretation of a heavyweight bagger with a backrest. One may quip that the opposed-twin of the R 18 Transcontinental may better represent that particular segment. But the R 18 B model with a backrest doesn’t have

News

BMW M Celebrates Half-Century Anniversary with Special M 1000 RR Edition

Hitting the 50-year milestone is a big event for anybody. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW M—BMW Motorrad’s performance department—the German motorcycle manufacturer is releasing a special birthday edition of the BMW M 1000 RR. The 2022 BMW M 1000 RR 50 Years M anniversary edition

Motorcycle Review

​​Comparison: 2021 Indian Chieftain Elite vs. 2022 BMW R 18 B

Baggers are big business. New bikes are coming from some interesting quarters in the industry, including the typically cruiser-averse BMW with the new R 18 B. Indian, conversely, has been making touring motorcycles practically since the dawn of time—and certainly since they were restarted by Polaris back in 2011.

Nov/Dec '21

Review: 2022 BMW R 18 B and R 18 Transcontinental

> BMW made a bold gambit in 2020 when it introduced the R 18—a retro machine that embraced the brand’s illustrious heritage. The bike cradles a daring incarnation of the legendary Boxer engine (boring it out to an incredible 1800cc) with a design mandate unabashedly targeting the American landscape.

Mar/Apr '21

Comparison: BMW R 1250 RS vs. Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX

> The sport-touring class of motorcycles was once robust, with manufacturers offering a variety of touring bikes that were faster and more agile than yachts like the Gold Wing and Road Glide. But then the adventure-bike segment flourished when long-haul riders learned to appreciate the sporting chops and comfort of ADVs,

Jul/Aug '20

Review: 2020 BMW F 900 R/XR

Not-So-Identical Twins > Since the introduction of its first motorbike, the R32 in 1923, BMW has been known for designing and manufacturing quality machines. With the extremely popular GS being its core business, in November the brand unveiled a pair of new middleweight street machines, the F 900 R and the

Sep/Oct '19

Review: 2019 BMW R 1250 GS / GSA

One of the Best Gets Even Better > The versatile R-series boxer GS models are important to BMW, as the bikes are the top-selling models, with sales of both the GS and GSA (GS Adventure) comprising 27% of all BMW motorcycles sold in the U.S. In this competitive adventure-touring segment,

Mar/Apr '19

Review: 2019 BMW F 750 GS & F 850 GS

On- or Off-Road, Adventure is the Word! BMW’s approach to updating its middle-class machine is an interesting one—they’ve introduced two models very close in displacement, yet quite different in terms of temperament. The all-new F 750 GS and F 850 GS bikes possess the essential rugged good

Nov/Dec '17

2018 BMW K 1600 B: A Fresh Perspective

> Since its earliest days, BMW motorcycles have fostered a reputation as touring mounts, the machines synonymous with world travel and adventure. There is really only one category in which the German marque hasn’t had a presence: the realm of heavy cruiser in the great American landscape. That’s about

Sep/Oct '17

2017 BMW R nineT Pure and Racer: Sibling Rivalry

> The Racer has a half-fairing with a small windshield, clip-on handlebar, and a solo saddle. It is intended to recall the superbike era of the 1970s and ‘80s, which featured models such as the R90S, and its engine is reminiscent of the powerplants used in the BMW Motorrad Boxer Cup.

Jan/Feb '16

2016 BMW R 1200 RS: Sport-Touring With Grunt

> “We’ll take it slow,” they said. “Keep it at a reasonable speed,” they warned. I guess words have a different meaning depending on when and where they’re spoken. Their definition suits me just fine. This thing is a blast to ride. In the December issue we featured a

Nov/Dec '15

2016 BMW S 1000 XR: A Hint of Adventure With a Dash of Sport

> BMW’s S 1000 XR is the fourth model in its lineup of inline, four-cylinder motorcycles. They call the XR an “adventure sport.” It’s not really “adventure,” but there is quite a bit of “sport.” Nevertheless, it’s a great combination for the twisties. I tested the S 1000

Nov/Dec '14

Comparison: 2014 BMW C 650 GT vs. 2014 KYMCO MYROAD 700i vs. 2013 Suzuki Burgman 650 ABS

> With their short-stroke suspension, 3/4 scale wheels, and middleweight engines, has the scooter market caught up with the motorcycle market? Or has the right machine for the job finally become the right size for the task at hand? Let’s find out. They’re inexpensive compared to most touring

Sep/Oct '14

Comparison: 2014 BMW F 800 GS vs. 2014 Triumph Tiger 800 XC: Variations on a Theme

> The spicy flavor of this British-born, massaged sportbike machine delivers tons of passion from each twist of the wrist, but the BMW’s practical and concise demeanor also delivers in predictable and repeatable ways. Many ask the same question, “Which one?” But only your own taste buds know what you

Jul/Aug '14

Comparison: BMW R 1200 GS vs Triumph 1200 Explorer XC vs Yamaha Ténéré

> Just as the number of sport touring riders in the last decade or so has risen, a similar growth spurt is currently happening in the dual-sport market. Gone are the days of overnighting a CB400 to the local woodlands or piling the camping kit on your dirt bike. Currently in

Jan/Feb '14

2014 BMW F 800 GS: Adventure Rockin’ the Red Rocks

> BMW’s mid-size F 800 GS Adventure offers real, functional improvements over the regular F 800 GS, and that makes it even better suited to a long-distance adventure-touring role. Foremost among the changes, the Adventure’s fuel capacity has been boosted by 50 percent to 6.3 gallons, bringing range

Nov/Dec '13

Comparison: 2013 BMW R 1200 GS vs 2013 KTM 1190 Adventure R: Battle of the Giants

> With the allure of traveling around the world on two wheels ever increasing, the adventure-type motorcycles seem to be at their limits. “How much better can they get?” one might ask. Well, since they can already get to almost any place on earth, now they can do it fast, too.

Sep/Oct '13

2013 BMW F 800 GT: The Right Piece of the Puzzle

> BMW thins the herd and replaces a first-model sport tourer with a longer and leaner next-generation machine. Gone are the F 800 S and ST; welcome to the higher horsepower F 800 GT, an everyday bike with touring capabilities. Like picking through a puzzle box, so many of the pieces

May/Jun '13

2012 BMW C600 Sport & C650GT: Two Ways to Scoot

> Last season we attended a press event in Spain to give us a first impression of BMW’s two new maxi-scooters—the C 650 GT and the C 600 Sport (July/August ‘12 issue). We finally got an opportunity to test these scooters in the U.S., and our second

Nov/Dec '12

Long-term Evaluation – 2012 BMW R 1200 RT: Jack of All Rides

> I don’t want to like this bike. BMW touring bikes, after all, typically appeal to people of a certain age, and liking the 2012 R 1200 RT is tantamount to admitting that I’m not as young as I used to be. That’s the stereotype at least, and