Page 143 - Motoring World (January 2020)

tourer designed for gobbling large
distances and that became apparent
the moment I jumped onto the
Beemer after riding the Triumph.
The R69 was way more silent than
the Triumph. Sure, the Triumph
was boisterous and loud, but after a
couple of hours, all that hooliganism
that was once fun became painful. I
slid my feet onto the pegs, each one
nestled behind a cylinder. I have
large feet and it took some getting
used to in order to find the precise
position which would ensure that
the soles of my boots could access
the controls yet maintain enough
distance from the air-cooled blocks.
I plugged the R69 into gear, and
with a short lurch, we were on the
move. The clutch was light and the
gears clunked into place with a
mere dab on the lever. The gentle
pendulum-like sway at idle caused
by the movement of the two pistons
vanished as the engine revs kept
climbing and the motor sounded
like the distant drone of a propeller-
driven aircraft flying overhead. It
never got intrusive and it could
never substitute for a horn. The
Earles fork absorbed potholes like
a champ and not even the deepest
ones could unfaze this Bavarian
beast. The ride quality was simply
superb and whatever little jolts made
it past the suspension were tackled
by the solo sprung saddle.
bay. When pressed through some of to have the rear shocks bolted on If any current motorcycle
the severely limited corners the city for some weird reason. An old timer manufacturer needed a good
of Mumbai provides for enthusiastic walking by pointed out the Beemer’s benchmark for the rider triangle
motorcyclists, the Tiger held its lines forks and said ‘Rajdoot’ with a grin, of a touring bike, the R69 is still a
well. It would be safe to say that the obviously referring to the Earles fork forerunner in the list of bikes to be
Tiger could very well hold its own design that was also employed by considered. The handlebar reach
even in today’s traffic. the Rajdoot 175 sold in India. coupled with the footrest position
Although the Tiger was gorgeous And the eccentricities of the and the location of the seat sum
and loud and old, it still kind of BMW continued. The ‘southpaw’ up to a motorcycle that could have
blended into what people would kick starter was positioned been ridden for days. In short,
term as familiar. The forks were, behind the engine on the left side of the Triumph is the hooligan you’d
well, forks and the engine cylinders the motorcycle and pivoted in the take along for a pub brawl, while
are pointing the right way up. The same axis as the rear wheel axle, the BMW is what you would ride
BMW, however, was as familiar to which was turned by a propeller across continents on. Two very
Mumbaikars as pothole-free roads shaft encased into the right side different takes on a twin-cylinder
and stellar governance. The engine of the swingarm! 30-something-bhp motorcycle.
jugs stuck out from the sides of the But this was all done by BMW Whoever said engineering was boring
motorcycle and the forks seemed because they were out to build a obviously never rode motorcycles! ■

JANUARY 2020 | MOTORING WORLD 143