NEW R1200RT&ST...pics

[HugoVW]

Base is the R 1200 GS.
The R 1200 RT has a lot of comfort combined with 110 hp and a fueled up weight of 260 kg
The ST has the same power but a lower weight of 230 kg.

OK that is all BMW text, but take a look at the looks....my god...combining sharp lines with soft lines, hard surfaces.
They look very unharmonious...current RT will probably hold on to theirs (altough the RT looks 'better' then that ST).






Hugo

[CYoung]

The front fender on the ST is a real work of art . Should make for an active aftermarket.

Almost makes the rest of the bike look OK.

[Skippy]

Great pics thanks Hugo looks better then the first pics of these bikes.Don't care much for the looks of the ST though but I think the RT is a good looking tourer

[pdonnell]

$11999 MSRP with the bags make it a pretty good bike. But I'm sure BMW wants much more.

[bigwhup]

RT looks like a multistrada in its 40's... That color depresses me.

[repoe3]

Originally posted by bigwhup
RT looks like a multistrada in its 40's... That color depresses me.

that is exactly what i thought.

repoe3

[bikpaintr]

Better pics but that ST fairing is still bizarre. From the side the bike is almost acceptable but trying to mate an angular tank cover/fairing with the rounded flowing lines of the lowers/side covers just doesn't work.
The RT reminds me of one of those high dollar American SUVs with that armour clad look that always makes me shake my head & laugh ever time I see one as they remind me of the Transformer toys my son used to play with.

[Bob in Tucson]

I appreciate my R1100S more and more each day.

[718Rider]

That RT looks like a squirrel with a mouth full of nuts.

[rob_wijhenke]

* B U R P ! *

[bradzdotcom]

the angle of that RT makes it look like they taped some City Bag lids on the fairing and said "Hey, that doesn't look too bad....hand me some clay Wilhelm...let's extend it up a little."

i guess Jeff and I can't have the ST. we both live near the ocean, and based on the photos, at least one of the mirrors falls off when you get near salt water.

and i don't know why you guys don't like the front fender. it can easily pull double-duty as a hospital bed pan.

...brad

[tbsstunta]

The RT looks kind of VStom-ish. I wonder if they will have to change the ST's front indicators for the US market. In Europe the ZX10 has flush mounted indicators on the front of the lower fairing but for the US it has stalks. Its possible that the ST's aren't far enough apart for the DOT.

[aap1966]

Looks like we'll be able to tell our kid's "I can remember when BMW bikes used to look good".

At least this incoherent design dribble will result in our 1100S's retaining their value.

They should not have let the work experience kid into the design studio. His term assignment (C+) obviously got switched for the real designs. Pity it wasn't picked up before prototype stage.

BMW dealers across the world will see these photos and start desparately negotiating dual franchises.

It's like looking at a traffic accident. It's fascinating, but only in an ugly and profoundly disturbing sort of way.

[ckcarr]

Our 1100S values should skyrocket as none of us will be selling them or trading them in. Simple economics don't cha know.

[JonyRR]

that 'ST' looks like the original Suzuki 'two pigs humping' GS1000 Katana....the theme was ugly then, and it hasn't aged well.
What's so bizarre is that an R1100S can look so sexy and an R1200ST can look so fugly, and they're both from the same OEM and design studio. It seems the German mindset is getting increasingly 'out there' with this kind of styling. BMW is making it easy on me; with new products like this, it's a no-brainer to hang onto my sexy S and pass on the 3-year-old's 'transformer' look, 'specially for something that costs a bazillion euros.
Hey BMW, could you have TRIED to make those things look any uglier? I think somebody poisoned the design team's water cooler with some really good LSD, and then spread it amongst the boardroom when they voted on the styling exercises....

[Derry Walsh]

Where are these pictures coming from???

[markjenn]

I think they're orginating on some of the German sites that follow the new BMWs. Here's a good summary of all the pictures to date:

http://mopped.michaelbense.de/index.php?cat=9

Some are theorizing that the cheeky appearance of the RT's side panels may be due to their functioning as movable surfaces, perhaps working in concert with the windshield. They might be hinged at the front and expand at the rear for variable weather protection. We'll see.

I usually don't get involved in these styling discussions because they're so subjective and because I'm in the minority that likes to see BMW taking risks even if they stumble now and then. But I"ll spout off anyway: I think the RT will be VERY functional and once people see how it functions, they'll cut it some slack. It's an interesting-looking bike and will look better over time. Even now, the bike looks really good from some angles - for example, they did a nice job with the bags in the back.

But that ST - I want to like it, but, wow, I can't ever see warming up to that front headlight treatment. Maybe the S version will be better, although with the ST annouce and emphasis on the K1200S, I think the chances of a new S in the near term are fading. In any event, I'm starting to feel pretty smug about the decision to invest further in my R11S and keep it a few more years. The drivetrain may be a bit long in the tooth, but I think its styling will continue to look good for a long time.

- Mark

[ctwise]

I notice that the Hossack fork from the K1200S has not made it over to the new R bikes.

These bikes really do look like the designers were trying way too hard.

[aap1966]

Gee, I hope someone at BMW Motorrad moniters this BB

[lemec]

Wow... we're just too stupid to get it. Yeah, that's it. These are beautiful