First Ride: BMW R1150 Rockster review

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BMW caused a few arguments at last September's Munich Show when they pulled the wraps off a concept bike based on the R1150R roadster. With lurid paintwork and graphics, asymmetrical headlights from the dual-purpose R1150GS, and a bunch of cycle parts borrowed from elsewhere in the Boxer range, the prototype generated plenty of strong comments both for and against.

Enough people liked the bike for BMW's bean-counters to decide that the sums added up. Six months later the R1150R Rockster is in production to add a bit of edge to the Boxer range. BMW's standard R1150R was often described as the firm's bad attitude bike following its launch two years ago, but the Rockster's squint-eyed stare gives it a notably meaner look.

Along with the distinctive bodywork shapes inherited from the 1150R, this bike's orange and black paint scheme is an equally vivid alternative to the original lime green and black (which is an option). Above the headlamps is a small wind deflector that houses an instrument panel which, in suitably idiosyncratic fashion, combines a black-faced speedo and white tacho.

Most of the Rockster's components including its 1130cc, eight-valve aircooled engine come from the R1150R. This is the first of BMW's Boxer motors to be fitted with the new twin-spark cylinder heads that will be introduced throughout the range this year. They're claimed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by giving more uniform combustion, but the motor's performance, including its peak power output of 85bhp at 6750rpm, is unchanged.

Chassis bits are also borrowed mostly from the R-bike, including the tubular steel space-frame with its Telelever front and single-sided rear suspension systems. Some parts are from the sportier R1100S, though, including the smaller front mudguard, the Telelever stanchions and the wider, 5.5-inch rear wheel, which wears a 180/55-section Michelin Pilot Sport in place of the standard model's 170. (The curious black cylinder to the right rear of the bike is for US emissions, by the way.)

Ergonomics are slightly altered by the Rockster's flatter handlebars and a seat which at 835mm, is 35mm taller than the R's. (A 40mm lower seat is available as an option.) At 219kg dry the BMW is not particularly light by naked bike standards, either, but its generous steering lock was helpful in traffic. In the outskirts of Daytona the bike was manoeuvrable enough to encourage me to trickle between two lines of cars and up to the front of the queue at the lights.

Perhaps the Rockster's look was too aggressive, though, because a Harley rider was staring at me from beneath his plastic helmet. "You can get a ticket for that," he called across, referring to my filtering to the front of the queue (illegal in Florida), and sounding as though he hoped I would get one. Next thing, the old guy in the car that I'd just pulled up alongside was joining in, beeping his horn and gesturing angrily at me to get back behind him where I belonged.

Best response was to ignore the fools, tread into gear with the reasonably smooth-shifting six-speed box, and leave them for dust when the lights changed. The Rockster is no more of a dragstrip king than the standard R model, but it stomped forward pretty rapidly when there were traffic-light battles to be won. It pulled cleanly from below 2000rpm, with a rather disappointingly flat note from its twin pipes, and worked best in the meaty midrange zone between about three and five grand.