2005 Motorcycle of the Year Award

Motorcyclist magazine announced its 2005 Motorcycle of the Year award, as BMW's K1200R.

It boasts an 1157cc inline-four engine with 150 horsepower. Motorcyclist magazine gave this bike its award because it gives a motorcycle rider everything...

Buyers who want everything—power, comfort, technology and attitude—in one package. No concessions. No apologies. No kidding.

It certainly is a nicer looking bike than what BMW has put out in previous years. In the past, BMW seemed to have focused on performance without regard to looks, and this particular model is definitely an escape from that tradition with its sleek lines, reminiscent of crotch rockets made by the Japanese manufacturers.

Personally, I prefer the cruisers, taking power and comfort over speed and thrills. But I won't take anything away from BMW. It was interesting that they could make such nice looking cars, but yet their motorcycles had always looked weird. Perhaps they finally learned something about the American motorcycle rider.