The BMW R1200C was a cruiser motorcycle made by BMW Motorrad from 1997 to 2004. BMW manufactured 40,218 units, including a smaller engine version, the R850C, which was produced from 1997 to 2000.
9-451: The R1200C was BMW's attempt to tap into the cruiser market. The R1200C was designed by BMW head designer David Robb , with a cruiser riding posture . From its inception, the R1200C had a passenger seat that could fold up to become a driver backrest with three different angles, adjustable while riding. BMW first released the R1200C with an advance promotional placement of the motorcycle in
18-772: The James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies . The R1200C was one of four BMW motorcycles in The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1998. When BMW ended production of the R1200C lineup, Dr. Herbert Diess , then President BMW Motorrad, cited a prime reason for discontinuing the bike was the apparent unsuitability of the 1,170 cc (71 cu in), 61 hp (45 kW) engine to then current market tastes and
27-671: The 1930s to the early 1960s, including those made by Harley-Davidson , Indian , Excelsior and Henderson . The riding position usually places the feet forward and the hands up, with the spine upright or leaning back slightly. Typical cruiser engines emphasize easy rideability and shifting , with plenty of low-end torque , but not necessarily large amounts of horsepower , and are traditionally V-twins . However, inline engines have become more common. Cruisers with greater performance than usual, including more horsepower, stronger brakes and better suspension, are often called power cruisers. Japanese companies began producing models evocative of
36-419: The 1980s have more neutral riding positions. While traditional cruisers have limited performance and turning ability due to a low-slung design, power cruisers or similar performance-oriented cruisers can be leaned further for better cornering. Otherwise, customization can increase the bike's lean angle to enable cornering at higher speeds. Custom motorcycle Too Many Requests If you report this error to
45-543: The USA. The R1200C appeared in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies . Michelle Yeoh , in her role as Chinese spy, Wai Lin , rode the bike during the scene where she and 007 ran from Elliot Carver's henchmen. The R1200C was one of four BMWs in the 1998 The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York City, and museums in other cities. The quantity and selection of BMWs drew some criticism that
54-506: The basis for custom motorcycle projects that result in a bike modified to suit the owner's ideals, and as such are a source of pride and accomplishment. Power cruiser is a name used to distinguish bikes in the cruiser class that have higher levels of power. They often come with upgraded brakes and suspensions , better ground clearance, and premium surface finishes, as well as more exotic or modern muscular (non-traditional cruiser) styling. Many power cruisers and Japanese cruisers of
63-736: The early cruisers in the mid-1980s, and by 1997 the market had grown to nearly 60 percent of the US market. A number of motorcycle manufacturers including BMW , Honda , Moto Guzzi , Yamaha , Suzuki , Triumph and Victory have currently or have had important models evocative of the American cruiser. Harley-Davidsons and other cruisers with extensive luggage for touring have been called, sometimes disparagingly or jocularly, baggers, or full baggers, as well as dressers, full dressers, or full dress tourers. These terms are no longer limited to cruisers, but may be any touring motorcycle . Cruisers are often
72-641: The models did not all have the same significance and relevance of the other brands represented, given BMW's role as the main corporate sponsor of the show. In 2012, the bike appeared in the Bond in Motion. 50 Vehicles. 50 Years exhibition at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu , England. Cruiser (motorcycle) A cruiser motorcycle is a motorcycle in the style of American machines from
81-640: The unavailability of a suitable engine for further development, but did not rule out BMW pursuing a reinterpretation of the cruiser idea at a later date. In 2004 a final special model of the R1200C Montauk (sold as a 2005 model and registered as such) as a commemorative Montauk model was presented, of which 350 units were built. Only six of these units were shipped to North America, all six to the Canadian market. 4 into Ontario and 2 into Quebec. Since originally shipped to this market, one has been imported into
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