The R 1200 C Classic is a genuine Cruiser through and through, offering the rider that unique experience of relaxed cruising with supreme power and performance reserves. The flat fork, high-rise handlebar, long wheelbase as well as the rider’s seat in traditional saddle design with low seat height of just 740 mm or 29.1" are typical features of a genuine Cruiser.

Engine.
Facing the challenge to give the Cruiser the right kind of engine, the engineers at BMW Motorrad opted for BMW's flat-twin Boxer basically offering all the essential characteristics of a Cruiser engine right from the start: Energetic development of power for cruising in style, the throaty rumble of the two-cylinder as an acoustic message of superior muscle, and the ideal mass balance of the Boxer in the interest of supreme motoring refinement.

BMW Motorrad's engine specialists also realized, however, that in its existing format the Boxer was certainly a very well-trained athlete, but a few thousand revs off the mark for an ideal Cruiser in the actual sense of the word. So the engineers decided to put the Boxer through a significant process of internal change, converting this nimble sprinter into a more laid-back power athlete.

Increase in engine size.
The first and most important step in providing the right kind of power and riding behavior was to increase engine displacement. So by increasing engine bore from 99 mm (3.90") to 101 mm (3.98") and extending stroke from 70.5 mm (2.78") to 73 mm (2.87"), the engineers beefed up engine size from the original 1,085 cc to 1,170 cc for the BMW R 1200 C.

Same torque curve as the back of a buffalo.
The result of this increase in engine size is supreme power at all speeds. But even that was not enough for BMW's engine specialists in their definition of the perfect Cruiser. They also wanted to give this supreme engine the right kind of torque curve literally quite similar in its appearance to the back of a buffalo. And the result of their work is a machine consistently doing without high engine speeds, making a rev counter the most superfluous feature in the world.

The gentle giant.
Fine-tuned in this sophisticated style, the sporting Boxer becomes a well-mannered Cruiser for gliding along free of stress on the highway. So wherever you go, ample 45 kW (61 bhp) at a moderate 5,000 rpm are just right when acting in harmony with the Boxer engine in the R 1200 C. For what counts when cruising is powerful torque at low speeds provided simply by turning your right wrist: Maximum torque of 98 Nm or 72 lb-ft comes at just 3,000 rpm, with torque remaining consistently above 90 Nm or 66 lb-ft all the way between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm.

Indeed, the BMW Cruiser offers an even wider range of powerful torque and lots of practical engine output between 1,500 rpm and, if really necessary, 6,500 rpm. In fifth and top gear, the BMW R 1200 C is therefore able to cover the entire speed range from 50 km/h in town all the way to its top speed 160 km/h or 100 mph plus – all this in one single gear. So cruising BMW-style means that you are never forced to shift gears to enjoy your Cruiser. But if you feel like shifting gears, you can count on equally outstanding riding pleasure.

A muscular, throaty Boxer sound.
Carefully tuned, the exhaust system naturally also makes its contribution to the desired torque curve, combining classic style and modern technology in perfect unison. Indeed, the classy look of the system with two short tailpipes in shining chrome comes up front of a design concept beneficial to the environment in two ways: The combination of a central pre-silencer and the two compact tail silencers at the side reduces riding noise to the strict European standard of just 80 dB (A). But the sound is nevertheless still throaty and muscular.

Hydraulic clutch and six-speed gearbox with high-rise gears.
Power on the BMW R 1200 C is transmitted by a hydraulically operated single-plate dry clutch leading to the five-speed gearbox updated in autumn 2003 to receive all the improvements introduced step-by-step on all Boxer machines since the middle of 2002. Typical features are the change in gearshift kinematics, optimized gearshift operation, and high-rise teeth on the fourth and fifth gear. The result of this update is enhanced shift comfort with equally superior precision and much lower running noise.

Finding the right gear increments on the five-speed unit was a very careful and painstaking process in order to meet the demands made of a Cruiser. The lower gears come with a "short" transmission ratio and close increments for quick acceleration on winding country roads. The last gear, in turn, has a far "longer" transmission ratio for ideal cruising between 80 and 120 km/h with maximum torque and optimum power reserves.

Like on all BMW Boxers rear-wheel drive is provided by a drive shaft running in this case in the hollow Monolever swing arm and featuring not just two universal joints, but also a torsion damper.

Long wheelbase for a genuine Cruiser-style riding position.
A long wheelbase is simply ideal for a Cruiser in order to bring out the qualities so typical of this type of motorcycle. After all, cruising means relaxed and laid-back riding both in a straight line and on winding roads. So unerring directional stability is more important in this case than a spontaneous change from one daring angle to another in turns.

A further advantage of the long wheelbase is that it provides ample space for the rider to adopt a comfortable riding position. This is why the engineers creating this BMW stretched into a Cruiser have moved the rider’s saddle-shaped seat further to the rear but shifted the footrests much further up front, providing a pleasant seating position between the two wheels for supreme comfort even on long tours.

Wheelbase is up by almost 200 mm or 7.9" from the relatively short 1,473 mm or 58.0" on the sporting and dynamic R 1100 RS to 1,650 mm or 65.0" on the R 1200 C. Together with this increase in wheelbase, overall length of the motorcycle has also increased from 2,175 mm or 85.6" on the R 1100 RS to 2,340 mm or 92.1" on the R 1200 C.

The Telelever remains an important design feature.
The upper Telelever mount rests in the top section of the front frame, precisely where it belongs. The R 1200 C, just like all models in the current Boxer generation, have this innovative and exclusive front wheel suspension. And since this longitudinal lever is fully visible on the Cruiser, it also a particularly important and attractive design feature, which is why it is made of polished aluminium for the first time on the R 1200 C.

The immersion tubes on the Telelever fork with a shallow steering of 60.5° typical of a Cruiser come in the same glossy finish. Front wheel castor, taking the superior directional stability and long wheelbase into account, is relatively short at 86 mm or 3.39" in the interest of good handling.

Spring action is provided by a centrally arranged spring strut with coil springs and a single-sleeve gas pressure damper. Spring travel measures 144 mm or 5.67".

Extra-long Monolever instead of the BMW Paralever.
Apart from the shallower angle of the Telelever, the rear wheel swing arm extended in length by 90 mm or 3.53" also contributed to the much longer wheelbase of the BMW R 1200 C. And since a long swing arm is able to set off the reaction of the drive shaft just about as well as the shorter, but more complex double-joint single swing arm BMW Paralever, the engineers at BMW Motorrad have given the BMW R 1200 C a longer version of the original single swing arm for reasons of function and design: the BMW Monolever. Here, too, suspension and spring action is provided by a central spring strut with a single-sleeve gas pressure damper resting on the swing arm. Pre-tension of the coil spring may be adjusted mechanically as a function of load, with overall spring travel of 100 mm or 3.94".

Stylish and stable: BMW cross-spoke wheels.
With the wheels being crucial to the character and looks of a motorcycle, BMW's designers and suspension experts have done their best to find the right wheel design for the Cruiser. The solution they found is a wonderful combination of traditional looks and modern technology; the wheels of the BMW R 1200 C come in classic wire-spoke design as their basic motif. This is brought out particularly in this case by the modern, high-gloss chrome-plated version of the BMW cross-spoke wheel.

Highly efficient brake system – as an option with BMW Motorcycle Integral ABS in its fully integrated version.
Although highly dynamic performance is not that essential on a motorcycle of this kind, a genuine BMW in Cruiser trim must still provide optimum stopping power with minimum stopping distances. And this is why the brakes come in more than ample dimensions, the two cross-drilled stainless-steel discs on the front wheel measuring 300 mm or 11.81" in diameter. Four-piston fixed callipers by Brembo hold the discs powerfully in place whenever required. The rear brake comes with a single disc measuring 285 mm or 11.22" in diameter and resting in a two-piston floating calliper.

It almost goes without saying that the R 1200 C is available as an option with BMW Motorcycle Integral ABS in its fully integrated version.

The bottom line, therefore, is clear: Enjoying the R 1200 C, you are not only able to cruise in genuine style, but can also make the best of winding roads with all the dynamic power you would like to experience. Or, put it in a nutshell, the BMW R 1200 C is a Cruiser also built for serious motorcycling.

Design and features.
The underlying design philosophy is naturally crucial to a BMW Cruiser. This means that the design of the machine must reflect the basic values of the brand and give the motorcycle its very own, particular identity. This is why the design of the R 1200 C interprets all the traditional values of BMW such as innovation, clarity in contents and looks, sensible and purposeful function, as well as reliability. Added to which, of course, there is also a big shot of va-voom as the most important ingredient.

Passenger seat also serving as the rider’s backrest.
A small, leather-coated seat cushion accommodates the passenger behind the rider's seat on short trips and excursions. When riding solo, in turn, you can move up the seat cushion to a vertical position serving as a backrest for the rider and adjustable in its angle by hand to three different settings. Whenever the seat cushion is tilted up in this way, it reveals a cast aluminium unit finished in pearl gloss chrome and serving as a luggage rack.

High-quality materials and surfaces.
The sophisticated but casual elegance of the BMW R 1200 C is further accentuated by the careful use of high-quality materials and surfaces perfectly reflecting that typical style of a Cruiser. Consistent use of hot-galvanized steel plate on the tank, wheel covers and side panels is more than "just" an homage to tradition. Steel plate is very robust, easy to handle in everyday use and provides the ideal background for high-quality paintwork retaining its perfect gloss on this material for many years of motorcycling.

Lots of chrome and polished aluminium.
Again reflecting that typical style of a Cruiser, the BMW R 1200 C boasts a lot of chrome wherever appropriate. The most demanding quality standards are applied to this high-gloss metal finish consisting of three layers of nickel, copper and chrome, to creating a highly attractive but very rugged surface.

Polished aluminium, in turn, is featured on the Telelever to give additional gloss and a particularly stylish look to the BMW Cruiser.

Optional extras and special equipment for the R 1200 C.
The typical rider of a Cruiser attaches a lot more significance than other motorcyclists to customizing his machine. And this is precisely why BMW Motorrad offers a wide range of optional extras and special equipment for the Cruiser.

The Cruiser luggage system:
From saddle bags all the way to the tankbag.
The Cruiser’s outstanding qualities for long tours are underlined by a luggage set created in a stylish design perfectly matching this unique machine. Instead of hard-shell plastic cases, the R 1200 C comes with saddle bags made of water-repellent, impregnated leather and fitting at the appropriate point on integrated supports next to the rear wheel. The stable rear section made of plastic ensures a firm connection free of vibration, offering a functional and attractive solution for your luggage in conjunction with the leather bags. In addition, water-tight inner bags made of a special hard-wearing material and with a canvas-look surface keep everything tidy inside and ensure convenient use of the lockable saddle bags.

Model Updates in the 2004 Model Year.
The R 1200 C Classic features BMW Motorrad's updated five-speed gearbox and EVO brake as of the 2004 model year. Progressive BMW Motorcycle Integral ABS (fully integrated version) is available as an option at extra cost. Dual ignition within the engine is standard on all Cruisers.

An attractive innovation is the rear spring strut with travel-dependent damping (TDD spring strut) now also featured on the Classic model and providing an even higher standard of all-round suspension comfort.

All models come with a contact point on the side starter holder for jump-starting the engine. An extended range of chrome features is also available as an option.

The mufflers on all Cruisers have been modified inside, with the features initially introduced on the R 1200 C Montauk. This optimization ensures an even better sound pattern typical of a Cruiser, without increasing the noise level as such.

Base Price: $14,625 + applicable fees
Contact us for specific configuration options and pricing bmwsales@bmwsantacruz.com