The BMW K1200LT Today is This page was last revised February 5, 2004
In 1999 the K1200LT received the Motorcycle of the Year award from Rider magazine, and this sort of award has been bestowed on the K12LT this year by other magazines as well. The Robb Report named the LT the Best of the Best in 1999, and the Chicago Athenaeum Museum gave the LT it's Good Design Award. That year, Cycle World named the LT the Best Touring Bike I have put only about 20,000 miles on K1200LTs, less than one-eighth the mileage I have put on R1100/1150RTs, so I am not an expert on the big LT (some say LT stands for Light Truck). What I can say is this: Once it is rolling, the LT is a fabulously comfortable way to knock off lots and lots of miles. It shares the suspension of the RT, which means it handles very well, indeed. It now offers standard fully integrated, power-assisted anti-lock brakes (ABS) a potentially life-saving feature. Its electrically adjustable windshield means a rider can in seconds set the windshield wherever he wants it to best meet environmental conditions — a wonderful feature when you face rain or serious heat or cold. The LT's cruise control sets and holds your speed for you, so you can concentrate on other things — such as potential hazards. Its AM/FM/Cassette/CD radio receives all seven NOAA weather radio channels, which I find its most useful feature. The strong bass sound always surprises people who first hear it, and the sound can be set loud enough to hear at highway speeds. Luggage capacity is adequate, though not overly generous. Like the RT, the LT offers standard heated handgrips, which are a boon on cold mornings, and two electrical sockets for heated vests and accessories. I appreciate the LT's generous taillight and brakes lights, though I have augmented the latter with doubled-up Hyper-Lites. Given the weight of the LT, its standard electric reverse is often appreciated. Is the K1200LT the perfect street motorcycle? No. It has it faults. It is very heavy — but the new Gold Wing 1800 is even heavier. That means a rider must be very careful when horsing the LT around at low speeds. Happily, its two side bumpers keep the LT from any damage during low-speed tipovers, but it usually takes two lifters to right a fallen LT. Its luggage capacity is adequate, but not especially generous. Perhaps because of its weight, the LT has developed a reputation for going through tires quickly — most especially rear tires — although new Metzeler ME880 radials have improved tire mileage. As with all motorcycles, the one that fits you best is the one that does best what you want to have done. The LT is unsurpassed as a comfortable long-distance traveler for those riders who put away a lot of miles and take long trips. It is not really a general-purpose street bike. In my personal opinion, the best example of the latter on the planet remains BMW's R1150RT, but for those who can handle its bulk and weight the LT is close. I predict, however, that the Big K will become the mount of choice for those who are serious long-distance (LD) riders. Here is the K1200LT page on the website of BMW of North America, and here is the K1200LT page on the International BMW Motorrad Website. This is a K1200LT bulletin board where owners and others can discuss this fine motorcycle.
The LT received numerous improvements for the 2005 model year (photo above of the 2005 ocean blue version). These include an increase in horsepower from 100 to 116 and in torque to 88 lb.-ft., a separate high-beam headlight (seen above protruding just to the left of the amber turn signal lens) coupled with a revised low-beam headlight, a new flat-screen information unit and revised trip computer, a push-button electrohydraulic center stand, and a variety of new options. In short, the LT is better and more powerful than ever. Three photos below are of the Pacfic blue 2000 model K1200LT shown at the top of this page. The lower right photo shows the new headlight arrangement for 2005: low beam above and high-beam below.
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