BMW R1200CL 1200

I owned my CL for a few years and only sold it due to unemployment. This is not a high speed sports tourer and quite cumbersome moving off and at low speeds but with patience I got used to it. Once out on the road it was a joy to ride needs a bit of planning and persuasion for any twisties, so don't push it or it will bite you ! For me it looked the part and gained many a compliment and was very comfortable. I always felt like shrek on his white stallion. The luggage is roomy but could have been better designed to remove the angles. I will buy another one and look forward to more silly grins. Typical BMW quality with usual refinements like heated bars, heated seats and CD player and radio. Good fuel consumption, if you are not in a hurry on your trips this will get you there in comfort with a smile.

I travelled to Swansea from j23 M6 2 days ago. To collect my BMW which I'd paid for but never seen a week earlier. The last time I rode a BMW (R 100) Was in 1990. I rode it back totally scaring myself almost all the way.

The bike was the dealers top example when it was new, so has every extra. They all work, the finish is almost flawless (Eleven years old.) and it starts and runs like a dream bike. I will be hard on it with my review, as I am a perfectionist.

The bike is very heavy, The low speed agility is like moving an upright piano. But when speed exceeds walking pace it become lighter and the response from the throttle is faultless, I weight 135 kg, and it moves effortlessly. The gearbox is clunky, but if you have can change gear with average skill you can enjoy changes up or down. The controls are easy and functional, they are easy to reach and on my bike appear like new and work as they should. The brakes are perfect, they stop the bike from 70 mph plus in a straight line, without any drama. Every bike should have them. At high M'way speeds the screen keep 99% of blast of you, no hand protection other than 2 stage heated grips,the heated seat was faultless and was not defeated by minus 5 temps, hey snow was still in my rear garden when I set off and when I returned and is still there now!

The electrical system is suspect, I've read of battery going flat due to the alarm system draining it. I have had no problem so far, as it's been only a couple of days, but, will be buying a battery saver tomorrow.

I will have it serviced and maintained by the BMW dealer, cost is not considered as I don't want an unsafe or unreliable bike. I repair HGV's for a living, so I only work on what I'm trained for. Better for me, you and the bike!

I inspected and cleaned the bike today and can report it is an engineering beauty, I hope I can keep the bike for a long time

All in all it is an eye catcher and a heart stopper. I love it

I bought the bike in April this year. When I saw the bike I just had to buy it. It's a 2002 model CL in excellent condition. Not having ridden a bike in a few years, it took a bit of getting used too, but managed to master its heavy handling at low speed after a short while. The bike handles well on the motorway and with the cruise control it's effortless driving and certainly saves on tired hands. My only gripe is the battery, which goes down after a few days due to the alarm. But after removing the battery for charge, i fitted it back without fitting extension cables, which meant removing the fuel tank again to fit them. But now all is well, after fitting a solar charger, which seems to work well. I havn't been out much this year due to the bad weather and not wanting to get the bikei dirty, but when out I enjoy the look people give you, due to the bike beingi not so common. But i look forward to my wife and I touring Europe next year to give the bike a real run.

You don't usually buy a bike like this for anything but its looks but the looks of this particular bike made it appealing for many practical reasons. It looks comfortable, roomy, protective in poor weather, fun, easy and stylish. The reality however is gawling because it looks so good it's hard to be honest about it. I found it to be no more comfy than my MG Cali, even for my pillion passenger. Despite the cavernous looking panniers, they're so full of pointless lining, awkward corners and a sub 40 mph cd player that they can't really hold much at all: no matter how big those speakers are; at over 40 british mph, forget em. I'd feel a bit of a knob anyway playing them in public spaces. That cut-out in the top of the screen might improve visibilty but it causes a vortex that's so bad I sound (and look)like Max Headroom on speed. Worse still, I had to swap my favourite open-face helmet for one of those incarcerating, sense deprevating, rediculous looking, full-faced space helmets. Now I look a bit of a knob anyway and noone knows who I am, so I might as well put that cheesy music player on :-! Suddenly, I'm feeling detatched from the outdoors when I ride and it sucks. The opening in the visor also channels the bad weather straight into your face; I felt like I must be headed for sporning grounds. Now I know it's a cruiser but we all like to have a little blast now and then but if you do it on this, you'd better have a clean pair of shreadies in the top box (should get those in). It squirms like the preverbial fish-tail and makes me swear but my girl says it's good for pelvic floor exercises! For this reason, it's not easy at all; it's a hand full and makes me nervous, especially at low speed. Need to go slow? Forget it! It's about as steady as my vets invoice pen and about as hard on the clutch as it gets, trying to keep it tight. Looks are definately not everything but unfortunately for my MG Cali, they do mean something. Any suggestions?

Last July I found this beemer at an estate on Vancouver Island, it was just too much bike for the elderly gentlemen. With a few days of acquaintance with the '03 - R1200CL and these nice folk it was the start to a memorable 1800 mile ride home. This bike proofed to be a sweet ride that turned more than one head. It brought a new meaning and appreciation of owning a six speed BMW with ABS and shaft drive from my earlier days on various motors that spanned from stick shift Harley's to Honda's. This bike was and is BMW engineering with the rider in mind and two words, gas, go!

Nationaltraveller

I have owned my BMW R1200CL 1200 for four years, during which time I have covered 17000 miles( summer weekends mostly).

Plush suspension and generous sized seats make it a great two-up mile muncher. It is, by far, the most comfortable bike I have ever owned. My wife agrees.

Although marketed as a cruiser, the built in luggage arrangements hold enough to do serious touring.

Low speed handling is a little bit ponderous, but once on the move handling is excellent. I have ridden some other big cruisers and found nothing that comes close in terms of ground clearance and ability to handle fast bends with total confidence (and nothing scraping on the ground). The brakes are terrific.

Two-up with luggage, the fuel tank range is just over 160 miles, before the low fuel warning light comes on which, although not huge, is adequate. So far nothing has gone wrong.

The lack of a centre stand makes checking the oil level a two person job, because the bike needs to be upright whilst looking into the small circular window on the side of the engine. Checking the rear tyre pressure is also a pain as the valve has to be accessed from the nearside of the bike (it leans to the nearside when on the prop stand) and the pannier is in the way. It is neccessary to get down on your knees to get at the valve.

Although the general quality of the components is very good there are a few areas where chrome has been applied over alloy and now after four years a small amount of pitting has occured. The standard CL (not the LE version) does not have so much chrome and should be immune to this.

Although fairly low in horse power, the engine has a lot of torque. 70mph is only 3000 RPM in top gear, which makes for very relaxed riding. I do not understand why BMW fitted a six speed gearbox. It does not need it - five would have been plenty.

This is a big bike with a big fairing, which means it collects millions of dead flies on any decent length journey.

Only buy one if you do not mind cleaning!

Had my BMW R1200CL 1 year now been around france with the wife found it very comfy and easy to ride. comfartable ride with one or two up. Head turner. good lights in the dark. surprisingly good on back roads.

Just got to be careful when doing tight turns or going slow in traffic. heavy at slow speed, pain charging the battery, top speed relatively slow.

still a joy to ride.

The best BMW bike I've owned yet, and I have had a few!

I absolutely love this bike despite bad reviews I have read. My review is somewhat narrow since the only bike I have ever owned is a BMW R1200CL....but for my purposes this bike has served me well. I have not had any problems with the battery(It gets hooked to a BMW trickle charger when not riding), or any mechanical functions on the bike, BMW service and warranty is excellent. Once you learn to ride this bike and know and feel its capabilites...there is no substitute (just my opinon though). For me.....it works just fine...

This is the R 1200C Avantguarde, which is a stunning looker. The ride quality and engineering are absolutely outstanding. It is typical of German build quality and attention to detail. ABS, puncture repair kit and immobiliser as standard, with "cigarette lighter" outlet for easy battery charging. Only complaint was the tail light cluster kept fracturing under stress, but to BMW's credit they have replaced it every time without hesitation. They have also redesigned the fitting to hopefully resolve this problem. Having owned Hondas, Suzuki's, Kawa's, Guzzi leMans - this is the Rolls Royce of the lot.