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2007–2009 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
163 Horses, Half A Fairing
The K 1200 R Sport takes BMW's transverse inline-four and puts a half fairing in front of it. 1157 cc, 163 hp, 94 lb-ft, shaft drive, and the Duolever front end doing the steering. That combination gives it a character no ordinary sport-tourer carries: hard, top-end-rich drive, 167 mph (269 km/h) on the clock, and a front end that stays composed while the speedometer does silly things. In its class it is the fast, technical option rather than the soft one, closer to a naked bike with a windbreak than a full luggage-carrying tourer.
On the road it wants speed. Long sweepers and fast highway miles are where the chassis makes sense, while 531 lb (241 kg) and a wide four ask for commitment in tight stuff. It ages the way period BMWs do, with build quality that holds up, though the gearbox and cam chain deserve checking on any used example. Note what this bike does not have: no cruise control, no traction control, no factory luggage. The fork carries no adjustment at all, and only the rear shock takes preload. ABS and electronic suspension were options, so confirm what the bike in front of you actually got.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 163 hp (120 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 94 lb-ft (127 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1157 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Duolever |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/50-17 |
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 531 lb (241 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (19 L) |
| Top speed | 167 mph (269 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
Start it and the K sounds like nothing else with four cylinders sitting across the frame: a hard, metallic growl low down that flattens into a howl once the tach climbs past the middle. Vibration stays low without ever disappearing, so you feel the motor working through the pegs and the tank at a steady cruise. The riding position is roomy and only slightly forward, wide bars, 32.3 in (820 mm) to the seat, real legroom for tall riders. Behind the half fairing your helmet sits in clean air at highway pace and your chest takes the rest, which suits fast riding more than it suits a dead-calm bubble. At 531 lb (241 kg) it feels big while you paddle it around, then quietly shrinks the moment you are rolling. The shaft drive keeps everything tidy on and off the throttle.
None of what follows comes from my own test notes. It's the sum of what riders have told me over the years: talk at fuel stops, club evenings, conversations with owners standing next to their bikes, and the mail that reaches me directly. On the K 1200 R Sport the picture riders paint is steady. They rate it for speed and distance, and they don't pretend the running costs are small.
The motor leads every conversation. Owners describe strong drive from anywhere in the rev range, a hard-edged growl as it climbs, and passing that needs nothing more than a wrist. Right behind it comes the stability. Riders keep using the word planted for fast sweepers and sustained highway speed. Many add roomy ergonomics, suspension that stays comfortable where the electronic setup was ordered, over 160 miles of range, and finish that has held up well.
Cost dominates. It was expensive new, and the options riders wanted pushed it further. Taller owners describe air hitting the chest and helmet on long stints. Some mention the weight in hairpins and at parking speed, and a few point to the front suspension as costly to service with few shops that know it.
Front brake master cylinder fluid foaming / reduced braking (NHTSA 12V487000)
Under certain riding conditions (high rpm, full reservoir), engine vibrations can cause brake fluid to foam, introducing air into the system and diminishing front brake power. BMW recalled 2007–2008 K1200 S, R, and R Sport models to install a screen insert in the reservoir.
Fuel pump flange cracking / fuel leak risk (multiple recalls)
A manufacturing defect may cause the fuel pump flange (or auxiliary pump flange) to crack, potentially leading to a fuel leak while the engine is running. This recall affected numerous K1200 models (2005–2008) and R1200 models.
Weak gear engagement dogs causing transmission jumping out of gear
The K1200 gearbox has been reported to have weak engagement dogs on certain gears, leading to premature wear and an inability to hold a gear under load, especially at higher mileages. The issue can be accelerated by aggressive shifting or quickshifters.
Noisy cam chain tensioner / timing chain rattle
Many owners report a distinctive rattling noise from the cam chain tensioner, especially on cold starts or at specific rpm. While BMW considers it a characteristic, some have experienced timing chain failure at higher mileages.
Where this BMW K 1200 R Sport pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the K 1200 R Sport is actually built for.
Tail of the Dragon wants a small, light bike and this is neither. On the faster Cherohala and Blue Ridge stretches it makes real sense; in the tightest hairpins you will be working for every corner.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
This is your bike, with conditions attached. Days of 200 to 400 miles on Highway 1 or the Blue Ridge suit it, but there is no cruise control and no factory luggage, so you build that part yourself.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Angeles Crest suits it better than the tight technical stuff does. The engine gives you more than any canyon road can use, and the chassis stays calm while you use part of it.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
