LONG-TERMERS: BMW R1250 R

What’s Alan Dowds been up to with the big Beemer? Here’s his report…

Progress – it’s an amazing thing. In just 30 years or so, the bike industry has doubled the power output of 1000cc bikes, added incredible electronic safety aids, and improved tyres so much that you could win a 1993 superbike race on 2023 commuter rubber (probably).

But there’s a downside, too. Things sometimes change so fast that aftermarket parts suppliers are caught on the hop. Worst of all, things which don’t look like they’ve changed – or had any need to change – are tweaked in an almost invisible fashion.

All of which is a meandering pathway towards a bit of a moan on my part. I asked the lovely Norman Birtles of Nippy Norman’s BMW parts store if I could try out a windscreen for the mighty R1250 R. He duly sent me a sweet Wunderlich Marathon screen with mounting bracket – but the Bavarian factory has subtly changed the headlight/dash mounts since the original 1250 R was released in 2019. Both are neat cast aluminium parts, with similar styling, but about an inch narrower. Gah. Wunderlich does have a new part in production, but you can see why it’d be peeved at the change.

Anyway – the point of the screen was to help tool me up for a long jaunt. As we went to print, I was planning a trip to my homeland: back to Greenock to see the family. The R1250 R has impressed me so much all summer that I’ve no qualms about taking on the 450-mile haul north from SW London. The 1250 engine, comfy seat, high equipment levels and solid tank range are all big tick marks for a tour, even for a naked machine. A screen would help, no doubt, but if the weather stays decent, and I keep the motorway speeds down, then it’ll be no biggie.

I’ve got my luggage sorted: the cavernous Hepco and Becker Xplorer 60 top box, and the nice semi-hard SW-Motech Blaze panniers. Add in a chunky old Givi tank bag, and a Bridgestone Tyres dry bag that I won in an auction recently, and I can fit in all the camera gear, laptop, extra jacket, pants, socks, toothbrush and dancing shoes required for 10 days at my Caledonian office.

Next up is riding gear. I get my big touring suit out of the kit wardrobe: the Alpinestars Big Sur jacket and trousers which have done great work for the past few years.

Then I charge up my Tech-Air 5 airbag, and Sena Bluetooth headset. Fill the 1250 with fuel, set the alarm early, and I’m all set for the big ride north…