The new BMW K 1200 R is of course also available in other colours, but yellow and black is the perfect combination for this aggressive naked bike. The attack has been launched against all outmoded ideas of what a BMW motorcycle is supposed to be like.

The K 1200 R is more than just a motorcycle. It is at the same time the product of a new idea of what a motorcycle is – a more sport-oriented, dynamic, youthful machine that is far less concerned with bourgeois decency than BMW Motorrad can be said to have been up until now. Which doesn´t mean to say that it possesses nothing in the way of political correctness, but it doesn´t rub people´s noses in it.

Of course, some people will be asking themselves how come this of all bikes deserves to be given such special treatment. After all, the entire new generation rides bikes which are substantially more dynamic and sport-oriented than their predecessors. And these have direct ancestors. But the K 1200 R is not the more dynamic version of an existing concept, a natural development as takes place in the course of technical progress. It is more than just a pared down version of the K 1200 S.

The K 1200 R is quite simply the most powerful naked bike in the world. That is its message, and it is one that rings out, although it doesn´t exactly scream ´167 bhp´ as it moves. You will either be attracted to the K 1200 R or repelled by it, but you will always notice it in a crowd. It simply isn´t possible not to be moved by it, one way or the other.

After a few kilometres presentation ride in the region of Seville in southern Spain you are sure of that. Spanish motorcycles move along in droves, thundering south to the mountains of Ronda. They greet you as they pass you or as you pass them by, thumbs aloft to indicate the next opportunity to fire en masse past a group of four-wheelers. This new naked bike is completely at home in such company.

The sixth gear can remain in place most of the time, although when fast acceleration is required at 80 km/h, the pros will change down as far as fourth. On rare occasions – and even then only for fun, never because it is actually necessary – some riders will push two or three gears to the max, although to be honest, the only ones who really know how to do this properly are the boys from the BMW Motorrad Power Cup.

And the ones who perform the acceleration tests for MOTORRAD. These are going to land very high scores, of this we are sure already, because the R only moves forwards and never upwards, even at full power and despite the short transmission. It therefore presents just the right conditions for converting its power into propulsion.´

One difference between the naked R and full bodied S is immediately apparent from their ergonomics. The rider adopts a far more aggressive posture on the R, and it automatically pulls him further forward (.). All in all, the impression you get is similar to that of many modern naked bikes.

The rider is supposed to grab his bull of a motorcycle by the horns and force his will on it. But the K is not so difficult to tame.´ With a generously dimensioned wheelbase and low centre of gravity, it virtually sticks to the track. It reacts sensitively to impulses from the handlebars.

Its steering on small, windy roads is pleasantly light. Alternating leans from one side to the other are nice and easy. It follows the course of the track effortlessly.´ The duolever swings with its somewhat steeper geometry. Although our test bike has a six-inch rear wheel, to which has been fitted a 190 series tyre, this is in fact an optional extra.

The standard issue has a 5.5-inch wheel and 180 tyre, with which it should be somewhat to adopt a leaning position with the R. ´The nice thing about it is that should the situation demand it, there is nothing this machine cannot do, despite the emphasis on handling. The K 1200 R moves cleanly through long bends, even at high speed, even deep surface irregularities are not enough to disturb its calm.

However, BMW Motorrad would not be BMW Motorrad if you couldn´t make the puritanly naked R somewhat less puritan, by adding all manner of accessories. The test model, for example, was equipped with the extremely pleasant electric suspension adjustment feature, known as ESA. And we shouldn´t forget the optional Integral ABS, which gives the bike an enormous deceleration capacity, in combination with the running gear.

Other accessories include a luggage system and other touring items, a navigation instrument and a low seat. In this respect, it is clear that even the most powerful naked bike in the world has no intention of leaving the tried and tested brand tradition behind.