BMW R1200C

The BMW R1200C is a cruiser bike manufactured by BMW Motorrad. From 1997 to 2004 BMW manufactured bit over 40 thousand units including a smaller engined version, the R850C, manufactured from 1997 to 2000.

In the late 90's, the cruiser bike dominated the US motorcycle market. Many Harley clones are popping up everywhere, Honda put the Valkyrie-basically the naked version of the most iconic road trip bike, Goldwing-on the market.

The R1200C represented BMW's attempt to tap into this market — and was a significant departure from their previous endeavors. The R1200C was designed by BMW head designer David Robb, featuring cruiser riding position and evocative styling. As if Cruiser bikes have to emphasize on idea of "Heritage" and"Tradition", the R1200C's frame housed the BMW's trademark flat twin boxer engine and shaft drive. The boxer engine's cylinder heads prevented the footpegs to be forwarded like other cruiser bikes although the handle bars are high and seats are low( for BMW bikes) Its single-arm Monolever swingarm rear suspension and the fully exposed Telelever front suspension with its separate spring/damper unit gave the bike a stark, elemental look unlike any other machine on the road. Some loved the looks, but some loathed it, called it ugliest cruiser on the roads. Those guys especially could not get over the looks of single swing arm on the rear.

Personally I like the idea of its adjustable passenger seat that could fold up to become a driver backrest with three different angles.

BMW first released the R1200C with an advance promotional placement of the motorcycle in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. It was also featured in James Bond Spoof, Austin Powers in Goldmemeber.

When BMW ended production of the R1200C lineup, Dr. Herbert Diess, (then) President BMW Motorrad cited a prime reason for the bike's discontinuance as the apparent unsuitability of the 1170 cc, 61 hp (45 kW) engine to then current market tastes and the unavailability of a suitable available engine for further development, but did not rule out BMW pursuing a reinterpretation of the cruiser idea at a later date. Well, 61 ponies are not really bad ass considering its 1170cc displacement... And unlike Harleys, ( most of Harleys have about 65hp when rolling out of the factories) it did not have many after market parts to soup it up.

Pictured here is Montauk, the last model of R1200C series( so far)