As far as BMW Motorrad is concerned, the new R 1200 ST an be regarded as the new standard for sport-oriented touring on flat-twin motorcycles. Even a quick, sober glance at the technical specifications is enough to convince you that this new bike is fully capable of winning the crown.

Just like the R 1200 RT, already presented in great detail, the successor to the R 1150 RS is also based on the highly innovative R 1200 GS, a bike which, as everybody knows, first saw the light of day in the spring of 2004.

With the R 1200 ST (ST stands for sport touring), the developers at BMW Motorrad have come up with a motorcycle that is surely the most sport-oriented bike in flat-twin design currently available. It has a dry weight of 205 kilograms and can produce a full-blooded 110 hp (81 kW). This motorcycle is sure to get you where you want to be, fast; whether you are cutting a nimble path through Alpine passes or winding your way through lonely mountain lanes, this is going to be a really enjoyable motorcycle to ride.

The mixture is governed individually by the BMS-K electronic engine management unit. Oxygen sensors are employed in each cylinder for automatic knocking regulation in the 1170 cm³ dual ignition engine. Fuel consumption at a constant 90 km/h is 3.7 litres per 100 km, although at 120 km/h this goes up to 5.1 per 100 km. The ST can accelerate from 0 to 100 in 3.5 seconds and the bike´s top speed is over 200 km/h.

All in all, the R 1200 ST is sure to win fans among the more sport-oriented wing of the motorcycling community, who are bound to find the somewhat aggressive visual design with the free-form headlamps fitted with H4 lights particularly engaging.

Putting the individual appearance of the R 1200 ST to one side, it is impossible not to see the close family resemblance with the innovative concept of the RT. For which reason, it is only necessary at this point to indicate the differences between this model and the touring bike.

First of all, there is the headlamp, which has been designed to fulfil the ever more stringent requirements for optimum road illumination. Then there are the handlebars, whose height can be adjusted to suit the rider´s posture. The height of the handlebars can be adjusted over a range of 25 millimetres.

This is a simple but effective method of controlling the interplay between the adjustable-height seat, the three-position body windshield (which can be set within a range of 20 millimetres) for the individual rider. Further benefits of the windshield are the optimum wind and weather protection it affords the rider and the pleasantly low noise level under the helmet.

All in all, this means that it is looking extremely good for the new BMW Motorrad sport tourer, and it should be available in the showrooms by March. It can be purchased in a choice of two colours – piemont red-metallic and granite grey-metallic. The paintwork of both the upper section of the bodywork and the front mudguard is in a contrasting colour. Purchasers can choose between light magnesium-metallic and dark graphite-metallic for these areas.