HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPS: BMW R1300 RANGE COMPLETE

If you're a fan of BMW's Boxer range but don't like the GS, then you've probably been quietly fuming the last 18 months or so.

- 

It's nearly two years since the Munich massive unveiled the latest 1300 flat twin, in the R1300 GS, and they've only now got round to releasing the R, RS, and RT variants.

It makes sense, of course: the GS and GS Adventure have been the top-selling big bikes from the firm's Berlin factory for decades now (even without adding their sale totals together). Folk can't get enough of 'em, so obviously the Bavarian bean counters are going to prioritise the gangly adventure tourers in the production schedule. But now we have a full gamut of 1300 Boxers to choose from, with the R roadster, RS sport-tourer and RT full-tourer all on sale in the next couple of months.

And it's fair to say they look to be worth the wait. All three share the same fundamental engine and chassis package, with a couple of differences on the RT tourer. That means a 145bhp water-cooled flat twin with four-valve DOHC heads and ShiftCam variable valve lift and timing, 13.3:1 compression ratio, 106.5x73mm bore and stroke, shaft drive, six-speed gearbox and ride-by-wire throttle. All the R1300s can also be ordered with BMW's new ASA automatic gearshift set-up, which has computer-controlled actuators for gear and clutch, and an ECU giving a full-auto transmission function, plus manual overrides. That peak power figure of 145bhp, with the torquey delivery of a big flat twin, is probably just about enough for the R naked, albeit a good bit down on the latest inline-four super-naked and hyper-naked machinery. It should be spot-on for the RS and RT tourers though, with their more relaxed requirements.