Go Your Own Way: Rolling Solo on the BMW R1200C Phoenix Cruiser.(Evaluation)

Publication: Rider

Publication Date: 01-JAN-02

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COPYRIGHT 2002 Ehlert Publishing Group

THERE HAS ALWAYS been a dichotomy in cruising. On the one hand, cruising is often a very social thing with runs and rallies, "Hey, nice bike" camaraderie, and charity rides and donations for this cause or that. On the other hand, riding is often a very solitary activity. Just you and the road can cause your brain to secrete a mental balm to soothe the cares of the day-or at least put them in perspective.

In its way, the Phoenix version of BMW's R1200C (the "C" is for Cruiser) plays well in both areas. The Phoenix is a dynamically styled bike, and its standard hand-pinstriped mandarin/graphite paint with polished accents and a liberal sprinkling of chrome will demand attention at the roadhouse. No other brand of cruiser offers such a stunning styling treatment as a rear wheel that, when viewed from the left side, seemingly hangs with no visible means of support. From a functional standpoint, if there were a cruisers-only roadrace with prize money and a trophy girl, the RI 200C would likely be my choice for carving the corners-despite its limitations.

The R1200C is based upon the original R259 air/oil-cooled, opposed, flat-twin boxer engine, which debuted in the 1994 BMW R1100RS. That bike's forward-looking styling and high level of technology encompassed fuel injection, a stressed-member engine, Telelever front and Paralever rear suspension, plus optional anti-lock brakes. One can imagine the dilemma BMW's engineers faced when asked to turn this high-tech, function-oriented sport tourer into a more classic, torquey, unintirnidating cruiser. Ach du, mein lieber Got!

But do so they did, and for the 1998 model year BMW introduced its first cruiser; the Phoenix version appeared in 2000. In the transformation, BMW made many significant changes to the Type 259 engine to give the R1200C torquier performance and a more guttural exhaust note. Its engineers expanded the engine's bore from 99 to 101mm, and its stroke from 70.5 to 73mm, which boosted displacement from 1,085 to 1,170cc. Valve sizes were decreased, cams given shorter duration, smaller throttle butterflies were fitted to the Bosch Motronic fuel injection,...

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