Touring Cruiser
Touring Cruiser
SPECIAL CRUISER SECTION
Accessorizing BMW's R1200C
CRUISERS ARE THE TALK OF THE town. The more modified, the better. Which is why aftermarket add-ons are flying out of dealerships around the country. Hey, what self-respecting bike buyer wouldn’t appreciate a bug-blocking windshield and day-trippin’ saddlebags? Or a chrome luggage rack? Or a more rumbly exhaust?
Not one to miss an emerging trend,
BMW has created a range of travelfriendly accessories for its popular Boxer-motored R 1200C. Leading the way is the Cruiser Shield ($225). The scratch-resistant polycarbonate screen installs with four chrome mounts ($199) that attach to the lower handlebar brackets and top triple-clamp. Once in place, the sleek, non-adjustable shield provides an appreciable windbreak. Looks cool, too. Sub-6-footers, however, complained
of wavy visuals, especially at night. BMW also sells a shorter European version of the screen ($211).
Nearer the road, the chromed-steel Protection Bar Set ($399, and don’t dare call ’em crash bars, very un-P.C.) snakes around the Boxer’s air/oilcooled cylinders. They also double as-get this-highway pegs. Just hoist your booted tootsies atop the outstretched cylinders. What could be finer on a hot summer day than a cool breeze traipsing up your trousers?
Catalogued under the spicy heading, “BMW Equipment for Ergonomics and Comfort,” is the Cruiser Passenger Seat ($289). We ordered one for our testbike, but the leather-covered bolton didn’t arrive in time for photos. The seat is a fair bit larger than the flip-up stocker, which doubles quite effectively as a rider backrest-and at higher engine speeds, a lower-back vibromassage pad. Anyway, the accessory pad also comes with a nifty grabhandle. Color choices are brown, black or blue. The matching trim costs $59, hardware $55.
It’s rare to see a BMW on the road without factory saddlebags. The Bavarians have long been known for their function-first designs, to which
saddlebags add exponentially. Also offered in black, brown or blue to complement the aforementioned seat, the Cruiser Saddlebags ($379) are manufactured from high-impact plastic. From the water-resistant calf-leather trim to the satiny metal locks and hinges, the cases are beautifully finished.
Capacity is sufficient for overnight necessities, little more. Should you not opt for the handy nylon inner bags ($133), each saddlebag can be easily removed from the bike without its contents spilling embarrassingly onto the hotel parking lot. Simply open the bag, release the red handle, then depress the spring-loaded tab on the bag’s back. Easy. The chrome mounts ($199) remain in place. For longer road trips, there’s also a tankbag ($113). Order the accessory map pocket ($39) so you know where you’re going.
Last year the R 1200C was-snickerers be damned-BMW’s sales leader. When this season’s numbers are tallied, the Cruiser may not be atop the list, dropped a peg by the innovative K1200LT luxury-tourer. Still, the chromy R12 is nothing less than a knockout success. Just think: A couple of years ago, BMW didn’t even have a cruiser. Today, it owns a growing chunk of the market. Moreover, with real-world accessories like those shown here, BMW has given cruiser enthusiasts an opportunity to go places and do things. And in doing so, has broadened the bike’s appeal. That, we like. Matthew Miles
CRUISE NEWS:
• What’s the best-selling BMW in the USA? Why, the 528i sedan, of course. Oh, the best-selling BMW motorcycle? That would be the R1200C Cruiser. BMW sold 1835 of the uncustomary customs in 1998, the bike’s introductory year, a big number for a company that only sold about that many bikes annually a decade ago. The R1200’s success helped BMW set an annual sales record of 7861 units last year, and a monthly record of 1088 units this April. For comparison purposes, BMW sold 131,559 automobiles in the USA in 1998, 24,421 of which were 528i’s.
• What do basketball great Michael Jordan and 1999 Playboy Playmate of the Year Heather Kozar (right) have in common? Crude comments about pneumatic orbs aside, each owns an R1200C. Jordan recently told the Associated Press that since his retirement, he’s mostly been hanging out with his kids. “My little girl loves for me to take her to school on my motorcycle,” he said. Fair Heather, meanwhile, received the Beemer as part of a coronation package that also included $100,000 and a Shelby Cobra sports car. The 23-year-old Marilyn Monroe lookalike will be autographing photos at this year’s Sturgis Rally.
