Question: Although it has a new engine, the design of the 2011 R1200R seems more refinement than redesign. (Beefier forks, sculptural bars and rear grab handles, etc.) Tell us about the thinking behind the design changes?
The R 1200 R model you mentioned is what we internally refer to as a "facelift". A limited number of details have been improved, resulting from customer input or with a technical background in mind, which have led to a significantly improved rider experience and product. In the case of the R 1200 R, it is already seen as a very well rounded motorcycle, and has been very well received. The fine tuning you are referring to is just that.
There are apparent design changes, but what about the subtle? What would an experienced R12R rider be surprised to learn about the 2011 R1200R and R1200R Classic?
With an already pleasing all around appearance and visual balance, the changes were not needed to "fix things", but really aimed at getting things "almost perfect". The headlight and instrumentation area, as functional as they are, now appear slightly tall and almost too cool and rational, when looked at with critical eyes. If you compare the previous and new models to each other from a side view, you will notice that the architecture of the new components creates a more tucked in, closer to the body, more compact gesture, the body language, more aggressive, while still having a classic feel to it.
The different elements you already mentioned, lead to a subtle, but perceivable improvement; headlight, instruments, exhaust pipe, seat, passenger grips, etc..
One of the most obvious changes is the redesigned instrumentation? Why was that changed?
The dual instrumentation unit contains more product content leading to positive customer perception, and fits nicely into the product as a whole. Even the new headlight mount adds a dynamic forward lean to the collection of individual components.
Let's look at two of your questions next to each other:
Seats and windshields - they are probably the most-discussed components on the r1200r.org forum. It is a rare forum member who says her wind shield and bike seat are a perfect fit from the factory. How does Motorrad test seats and wind shields?
and
"Why so big? If you look at a R12R next to a 1980's R65, it's huge. Can't you make it smaller? What about a entry level boxer - a stripped down R800R?
The nostalgic view of "good old bikes", how small and "perfect" they were, and “why aren't bikes made like that anymore?“, is always amusing to me. Whether it is an R65, or a bike going back into the 40's, or even our first model in 1923, we love the romance of something that they seemed so “tiny“. Especially by today's standards. From today's perspective, they indeed seem "reduced to the max". In reality, in their day, they were big, powerful bikes with brand new engineering solutions. Interestingly, we forget that BMWs have always been innovative, packed with “cutting edge“, very often ahead of their time. When we think of these "pure, small, BMW's painted in classic black", we forget that they were actually loaded with more innovations than most of their competitors, quicker and more high-tech. (The colored lacquers required more time to dry, were tricky to do, maybe too fashionable (?), black being simply a more practical and accepted color. It had nothing to do with being classical, rather, with production efficiency and business savvy).
As great as those bikes were for their time, even "modern bikes of the 80's would shock us if we rode them today, certainly if trying to fulfill today's customer's expectations. Even the R65 is over 30 years old. A lot has happened since then :-)
Today's motorcycles’ acceleration and deceleration performance, suspension qualities, agility, lean angles, along with functionality, ease of use, aerodynamics and weather protection, as well as safety, emissions and environmental product considerations are dramatically different than yesterday’s. If we think that an R65 got even close to fulfilling today’s product requirements and customer expectations, we would be far off the mark, would miss the target by a long shot.
While you are asking about making the R 1200 R smaller, it is actually in stark contrast to what most customers are actually asking for, and paying good money to get. And that leads to your next point. Rather than stripping down their bikes, they are asking for much more content than an R65 could ever offer. More comfort, more weather protection, more storage capacity, more fuel capacity or driving range, etc., even safety features, are clearly at the top of the wish lists. That all of these features can be added without increased size is of course impossible, and a fact of life customers accept and invest in. We put great effort into keeping new components light and compact and highly efficient, (our ABS unit 2.5 kilos, our best competitors is at 10 kilos), but more often than not, comparisons seem to be done, apples to oranges.
So while today’s compact R 1200 R is available, a majority of customers are looking to customize their bikes with features that add functionality, in spite of increased mass or volume. That seems not to be a concern. Quite the opposite, they expect that flexibility of choice.
Engineering and building massed produced products of any kind is always a challenge. When looking at the diverse customers we hope to entice into buying a BMW Motorrad, it can only be obvious from the outset, that one size cannot fit all. More than any manufacturer I can think of, we put an effort into trying to cover as much of the ergonomic envelope as possible. Beyond adjustable windscreens, we offer many models with adjustable handlebars, seat heights, and peg positions. This package flexibility cannot be offered on all models, so those with more limited adjustability are optimized for an “average rider“, not able to cover as large a range as those that do.
Product development testing is a large part of our process, whether wind tunnel testing, seating comfort, noise levels, or anything that pertains to the customer experience. The responsible engineer does not fulfill his personal requirements, but those in the product briefing description, including a range of riders. That means that larger and smaller riders, male and female riders, as well as those of us that don’t have “standard proportions“ :-), long torsos or long legs for instance, are all looked at closely. We investigate a large range of possibilities and offer what seems to cover the most common ground.
For riders of mid-sized motorcycles, we offer very nice F 800 R, GS and ST’s, as well as F 650 GS models. Terrific bikes for people looking at a compact package, without having to give up any of the BMW features they don’t want to go without.
Copyright BMW AG
Reason for edit: rewrote subject line
