The 2009 BMW K1300S is, according to InfoMotori, much better than its predecessor...
Among current BMWs, our no.1 favourite is the naked, funky-looking K1300R. But we do suppose the fully faired K1300S would be a more sensible choice for long-distance touring. InfoMotori recently had the chance to ride the new-for-2009 K1300S, and here are some excerpts from what they have to say about the bike:
With its bigger engine (about 150cc up on the old K1200S unit), the K1300S has an 8bhp and 10Nm advantage over its predecessor. Other changes on the new bike include a modified shaft drive, lightened Duolever suspension, mildly reworked bodywork, improved gearshift mechanism and revised instrumentation for better visibility.
BMW have also fitted with K1300S with the all-new ESA2 electronic suspension, which is easy to fiddle with, but which doesn’t ‘remember’ your chosen settings when you switch the bike off. What’s really surprising on the new bike is how quiet the engine is – much, much quieter than the old 1200. All the mechanical noise seems to have been removed from that big, four-cylinder engine.
With 175bhp and 140Nm of torque, the K1300S should be quite all right on the street...
Unlike the K1200S, the K1300S offers smooth, seamless power delivery, with the engine and transmission working in perfect harmony at all times. The brakes are more powerful and effective than ever before, with two fingers on the front brake lever being quite sufficient to haul up the bike very quickly. The ABS system, which comes as standard equipment on this bike, also works admirably well, though we’re not as sure about the ASC traction control system, which is supposed to prevent wheelspin. We wish BMW had provided the option to switch the bike’s ASC system off…
As you might expect, the K1300S feels nimbler and handles better than its predecessor, though without losing its trademark high-speed stability. The bike’s quickshifter lets you change gears faster, without using the clutch or having to roll back the throttle, though it does work better at higher revs and is more useful on the highway rather than in urban use, in slow traffic.
Overall, the big BMW is much improved compared to the K1200S, though it still isn’t perfect. Then again, which bike is?
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