1998 BMW K1200RS Motorcycle

BMW made a valiant effort in the mid-1980s to move away from the pre-WW2 "boxer" "airhead" engine - that is, the 2-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled, 2-valve "type 247" engine that served to visually identify BMW motorcycles in an instant. They did this by inventing a brand-new, water-cooled, 4-cylinder engine which is now known as the "Flying Brick".

This is a photo of the first generation of K bikes, a K100RS:

BMW introduced these next-generation bikes in 1983 (model year 1984), bringing to the line such modern features as fuel injection, multi-valve cylinders, and anti-lock brakes. The first one was a 4-cylinder liter-class bike called the K100. After a few years, they introduced what has proven to be the most popular old K - the 3-cylinder K75.

By the way, there's differeent trim levels - as always - on these bikes. No suffix means "naked", such as K100 - there's nothing between you & oncoming traffic but a headlight. RS means a "sporty" style fairing - basically a half fairing in the early days. RT means a "touring", or full fairing and a more upright riding position. The new GT (grand touring) and LT (luxury touring) models coincide more with Japanese sport-touring bikes such as the Honda ST1300 or Yamaha FJ1300 and the venerable luxo-touring beast, the Honda Goldwing.

After bumping the displacement and horribly uglifying the bodywork for the K1100 generation starting in late 1992, BMW wised up several years later and made pretty bikes again - starting with the K1200RS.

When it was first released as a 1997 model year bike in mid-1996, critics were wowed by the K1200RS. Its motor is "sewing machine" smooth, and its power is linear. Rumors abounded that you could hit 100 mph in 3rd gear. It has a widely reported top speed of 154 mph.

80 mph in 6th gear is fine by me, and I can tell you it's a hell of a ride getting to that relatively low speed.

Specs You Need To Know

What came on it when I bought it w/58k on it

Links