BMW K 1200 LT, Highspeed on german autobahn

Short video from a trip on the german autobahn A9 with my 1999 BMW K1200LT (98 HP/PS, 130000 km [about 81000 miles]).
Maximum speed is 211 km/h (131 mph), measured by GPS from Garmin Zumo (maybe 230 km/h on tachometer). Lightly downhill, no headwind.
And this is absolutely legal on that road!
Normal bustle on the street, average speed on the left lane maybe 160 km/h (about 100 mph).
Camera is a bullet HD free, attached to the helmet on the lower right side by hook-and-loop-fastener. Because the helmet in the left upper corner is also shaking, you may believe me that the attachment is responsible for the camera shacks, which seems to be much stronger in the video then on the bike.
Map is from Openstreetmap.

[@jeevespreston4740]

Look at that, slower drivers actually moving OUT of the left/passing lane... Something we can only dream of in the US...

[@Hogger280]

They have to by law - If they are caught holding up another vehicle in that left lane they will be ticketed.

[@rensgreuter8152]

Goed he

[@dasteknoviking]

Awesome video, can't believe that big land yacht can get up to 230kmh with under 100 ponies. I ride a K-RS and one day I will see what she can do in its homeland.

[@kingmancheung5511]

Wow! Over 200km/h still pulling! Amazing! Greetings from Hong Kong!

[@patrickcrowe5106]

Oh! You make me envious, my friend! I take my K1200 to 100+ every now and again, but the joy is always tempered with the potential for that speeding ticket here in America! I can attest though, the ride is super smooth on the K1200. That camera shake is a bit misleading. It's almost scary just how fast you can get going on those and they're STILL rock solid. Love it!

[@italod6872]

Thanks for sharing, it was fun to watch.

[@ericcommon3645]

I have driven about 138 in my patol car and doing it on my 1999 BMW LT. Well lets just say its not worth it in the USA, but in Germany its looks like fun.. There are to many idiots on the road and going that fast will turn you into a dead bloody rolled up carpet in a split second. Thanks for sharing your rush..OMG

[@trailingarm63]

Nice video. Bike looks rock steady and I'm sure it's comfortable given the styling. I used to ride like this on UK motorways, but with so many cameras, undercover police cars, etc, etc, I don't (well, seldom) do it anymore. Germany is probably the only country in the world where the drivers are intelligent & disciplined enough for the open speed limit to be successful.

[@sunideh]

Cars in the USA (especially California) don't understand the concept of "Left lane is for passing only" so they sit there going 45 mph, yapping on their cell phone, eating,...etc. creating traffic jams. People are simply clueless. CA has the worst drivers and most thoughtless drivers anywhere & the cops don't give them tickets for sitting in the left lane and impeding traffic. I miss Germany and the Autoban.

[@pneulancer]

So true. Having lived in Germany for many years I can certainly vouch for your assessment. A contributing factor to the lack of driving skills and courtesy of American drivers is the ease with which one can obtain a license. In Germany, the written test as well as the practical involves much more than what is typically covered in the U.S.

[@Hogger280]

They should ticket them !!

[@ikeeptime]

Appears to be minimal buffeting even at highest speed. Impressive.

[@14wntr]

Thank you for taking us along! Wahoo!

[@limbo1958]

I just bought a 2001 K1200lt awesome bike.

[@GuiRt1150]

After this video I have another opinion about this bike Better bike than I spect Nice 👍

[@stickitupyourasteric]

Imagine if it had a 6th gear like god intended.

[@TomasAWalker53]

No kidding eh?

[@huzoro]

It doesn’t have enough power in it to be faster!

[@Hogger280]

I don't think it could maintain that speed in a higher gear - it is pretty much tapped out - its at about 6300 rpm and torque is dropping as rpm's go up.

[@Val-xm4iz]

Nice one, stay safe.

[@zsolabola]

I'm surprised, too much negative comments! In Germany is perfectly legal to drive with that speed and nothings wrong with it. And I believe that the percentage of car/moto crashes isn't bigger than the other countries. I wish that all european countries have the same legislation, europe has a lot of fine highways. Where is possible, of course. I'm not stupid, even if you tempted to think that. By the way, good bike and nice ride! Drive safe!

[@22lovejon]

that was great

[@sunideh]

Would your bike go only to 131 MPH or would it go to 150 MPH? I can't really see in the video how fast you are going. I have the same bike and got it up to 125 mph then packed off since I didn't want to risk a ticket, but it seemed that it would go till 140 or 150. Even at 125 it was amazingly stable. It is a great bike, I just wish it wasn't so heavy. Danke.

[@Josch001964]

131 MPH is the upper limit on my bike. But this was GPS-based, not speedometer. Speedo ends at 220 km/h (137 mph) and at 131 MPH on GPS speedo shows 230 km/h (143 mph).

[@felgercarb3803]

My friends K1100LT from 1992 with 150000 miles on it does 130 gps mph when using Shell V-Power gas. It does 10 mph slower using less octane rated fuell. My on Honda CM 400 from 1984 will do 101 gps mph with V-Power gas but only 90 mph with lesser graded fuel. In Denmark we have 100 octane (V-Power) 95 octane and 92 octane rated fuell. The octane ratings in Europe and in Usa are not the same.

[@grandpapa2134]

I'm from California. Strange that people there actually get over for faster traffic. Oh ya I ride in California...... Thanks

[@jn2foq]

comfortable！

[@sturan286]

congats....

[@felixcat4346]

Love the autoban.

[@sugarboyxl]

voll der Drängler :D

[@00K1200LT]

Its agents the law to brake down on the audubon. Cars and Bikes travel at over 365km/H (230mph) Open road sign (no more speed limit): goo.gl/74xHmR Passing is on left side ONLY. You dont pass on the right. Like they do in the USA. Video: speed change ahead 4:07 on ground (3 lines) speed sign 4:22 (End of all restrictions) Signs PDF: goo.gl/NffPG7

[@TomasAWalker53]

How is the handling and feel at that speed? I'm looking for either a K1100 or K1200, I prefer the slightly smaller 1100.

[@dnswhh7382]

I have a K100 RS with 4 valves, which is almost the same as the K1100. The handling at top speed is great for me. Maybe modern bikes are even better, but you can really go for 230 km/h and not feeling insecure: It‘s made for that. The K100 with 4 valves is a bit more sporty concerning the engine character, and it is said even a bit more reliable compared to the 1100. If I drive my K 100 RS soft and smooth, it only reqiures around 5 l/100km. If you’d like to go for long trips in a tourer, a K100 LT with 2 valves and 90 horses might also be an option: Very reliable, better power at low revs. Should go for about 200-210 km/h. Consider to check out the channel of Chris Harris here on YT.

[@TomasAWalker53]

@@dnswhh7382 Thanks for the info. I do follow Chris on YT. He has saved me a lot of headache over the last couple of years.

[@user-wn7tm3tn8z]

👍👍👍

[@TheBeemerfan]

Cool video!! Is that drivers and riders heaven??? Actually drivers move to right for the faster vehicles.. different culture. Vancouver BC is a nightmare for drivers that are respectful to others. Motor vehicles driver licence dept. should be more strict when providing drivers licences. The passing lanes are longer than the right lanes at all times.

[@Josch001964]

Mario Lemoine Hi Mario, in Germany you have to drive on the right lane if it is free by law. You are only allowed to overtake on the left. That's why it works so well...

[@TheBeemerfan]

Lucky you. I understand is the law in BC as well but is not enforced and creates incredibles traffics jams. Actually "some"drivers merge into the hwy and move and stay in the passing lane driving parallel and at the same speed than vehicles in the right lane, they don't pass and don't let any body pass, in my opinion is no respect to others. Is so frustrating . All come down to educating the drivers. In WA I understand that the police is really enforcing this law about "not passing"? move to the right! according to the chief of police some people got shoot for not getting out the way. Hopefully Bc is not waiting for this to happens here in order to enforce this simple law . I rode from chile to canada last year, looking forward to ride from Munich to Greece next year with a friend, riding the autobahn....aaaaah

[@td9020]

Yahoo!! Fastest legally here in Texas is 85mph on 130 South.. roll on ...

[@lumpyren]

more importantly what did the BC tell you your fuel economy was doing that run :-)

[@Josch001964]

I have no problem spending my money for having fun ;-) You may go to cinema instead.

[@lumpyren]

Only when it's 40C out. Otherwise I ride my 2003 LT here in florida :-)

[@kellyw1648]

I've only had mine to about 110 mph (177 kph). I have a taller windshield and it cracked it :>(

[@donspurlock7124]

did 120 mph and the windshield starting bending ...didnt crack ..and it either seems like or did take a long time to get from 100 ....

[@woodmaster8677]

Yeah.. what 14wntr said. Wahoo!

[@user-gs1yo4hv2u]

good!!! но спидометр шкалу надо менять!!!! Не 220km/h !!!! A 280km/h !!!!

[@libertyman3072]

✌🏿😜 🏍 🏁 🏍️ 🏁 🏍️ 🏁 🏍️ 🏁✌🏿😜

[@TheBeemerfan]

Sunideh, I agree with you. But I disagree about that you in CA have the worse drivers, come and visit Vancouver BC.

[@joelletendre1011]

I am from BC, and while the drivers are terrible compared to Germany, they are dream compared to Italy. I have driven in Italy twice, and never again.

[@westvandude]

2 years ago Vancouver was semi-ok. Now it's a nightmare! It's like twice the population and they are all idiots now. Half the cars have an "N" on the back. Next step is to get the heck out of Vancouver, it's turning into a toilet.

[@Europelama5292]

What is the highest speed you ride it?

[@j.bleymehlsmusicchannel8699]

211 km/h 😁

[@Europelama5292]

Thanks for the answer

[@philippkosel8993]

Warum bist du nicht zwischen den Blechkisten durchgefahren? Die BMW ist gebaut für 240km/h

[@j.bleymehlsmusicchannel8699]

Die LT Bj. 99 hat eine Höchstgeschwindigkeit von ca. 190 km eingetragen. Und so bescheuert, mit dem Tempo zwischen den Autos durchzufahren bin ich auch heute noch nicht ;-)

[@Josch001964]

Of course joy is a very individual feeling, some like base jumping... This speed is absolutely NO problem for the engine. It's just 6500 rpm. The engine feels quite well at this speed. BMW builds engines for that speed. At that speed you have to be high concentrated and observe more than the licence plate of the car in front of you or the nice landscape around. This minimizes the chance of being surprised of a sudden emergency stop of the car in front of you. Nevertheless... shit may happen.

[@Nobrun1]

Good drivers. They all let you have the left lane. You'd be surprised how undisciplined and entitled drivers are where I live.

[@randolphguerrero1416]

muy buen video, la K1200 LT es una gran maquina para el turismo de confort en dos ruedas, con detalles de imnovacion para el momento que salio al mercado... ya el modelo salio de produccion con la 2009 y dio paso a la K1600 GTL, pero aun quedamos muchos con esta bella pieza de la manofactura alemana BMW... [e-mail]

[@B.Ruslan1978]

It's very slow. Should be at least 250 km/h

[@Josch001964]

Nowadays no problem with my BMW K1600GTL 😃👍

[@RetiredAtenPilot]

I do not think you will be getting the best KPG doing that.........

[@Josch001964]

Sorry, don't know what KPG means 🤔

[@RetiredAtenPilot]

Kilometers per gallon

[@Josch001964]

oh ok. Not really. Let's say less than 50 km/gal. Fun has it's price :-)

[@ScaramouchedaVinci]

This is not a good video, because you are not an exemplary driver. You have had far too little distance to the front cars and pressed them. I know it's annoying, when slow cars occupy the left overtaking lane. Yet.

[@Josch001964]

Thank you for watching my video. I don't believe that you were watching this video to see an exemplary driver, aren't you? ;-)

[@westvandude]

On video things look closer. Keep in mind the throttle and brakes are better than a car. My SV1000S does 0-100km/h in 2.7secs and 200 comes up almost as fast. Then 200 to zero is also crazy good. Sure, the K1200LT isn't a formula 1 car, but it's better than most cars. If you want watch something slow look for electric scooter videos.

[@g41thomas]

There is absolutely no joy to drive that fast! you are over working your engine big way. In addition what chance will you have if the car in front of you dead stop!!? NOTHING... so going fast is not an art...