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BMW K1200LT SE (2003) - Arthur Callaghan is onto his second one, so he knows his K1200 series. Here are his thoughts.

Are you a mile muncher? Then the BMW K1200LT could be the bike for you This is the second K1200LT I have owned and I have covered 16,000 miles in the last year on them so I should know what I like and don't like about the bike.

I use the bike to commute from Suffolk to London (Canary Wharf) four days a week, a round trip of just under 200 miles. As you can imagine, the bike is great at cruising but a little more challenging in City traffic. I wanted something that I would feel comfortable riding all year round and although I have had cruisers before (Suzuki Intruder 1400cc and 800cc models) I wanted the protection that a fairing would give me, added to the comfort of being upright to avoid back strain.

The idea of an electric screen seemed novel to me as well but as I have ridden more I value what it offers. If the weather is damp but not raining I keep the screen up otherwise the filth from the road splatters the visor and you can only wipe clean a couple of times before your gloves are adding grease and dirt rather than taking it away. If it is raining I wind the screen down and let the rain wash the visor clean as I ride along. Putting the screen up cuts down the buffeting of the helmet and if you are carrying a pillion they will certainly appreciate the effect, rather than feeling like their head is being separated from their body by the ram air.

I was very impressed with the specifications of the bike and can attest to the usefulness of the heated seats and bars on a cold February morning. I didn't think that the cruise control would be of much benefit to me as I couldn't imagine not wanting to be in control on the throttle. In any event I was pleasantly surprised because the cruise control is easy to set with your left thumb and then allows you to rest your throttle hand and flex the wrist to take out any cramps. Most noticeably I do this sitting behind an HGV on an A road waiting for him to complete his overtake. Anyone riding in heavy traffic will understand the wrist ache that comes when you spend long periods accelerating and decelerating with all your weight going forward onto your wrists.

Getting used to the weight and size of the bike took some time. I wasn't truly comfortable with it's bulk until I had covered 5,000 miles or so. I still treat the bike with a lot of respect when manoeuvring at low speed as it doesn't take too much of a miscalculation to drop the bike. Picking it up usually means you need help so be very respectful of this bike.

One of the first things to do if you buy one of these is to order the OEM steel wire additions to the snap off wing mirrors. If you brush something with the mirror you will be very unhappy if the mirror gets mashed by a vehicle tyre and at over £125 to replace (and you can no longer get them in any colour except grey/silver) it will hurt your pocket.

BMW K1200LT gives an imposing image from the front - ideal for scaring dozey car drivers The luggage is obviously a great boon for a commuter. I always ride in leathers with a cold killer suit underneath and take my work clothing in the panniers. When I get to my destination I can change my boots and leave them and my helmet with the bike.

The stereo system is a nice touch if you are going to be cruising at 60mph for long periods but as envisaged I might ride faster than this, I had an Autocom system fitted and the traffic updates are very useful. Without the Autocom I think the stereo system would be most useful when you are washing the bike outside your house

The ride on the bike is probably the most comfortable I have ever experienced. I have Bias Belted tyres on the bike as I find them a smoother ride and I get less road noise. I don't think they last any longer than radials but we all have our preferences. The gear change is smooth and sweet going up and down the box. The fifth gear is really an overdrive and just drops the revs down to help with fuel consumption. A full tank will carry me 220 miles in the manner that I ride and so I fill up every day. Steering and balance of the bike are very good and considering the weight of the bike it is quite surprising how hard you can push the bike before you feel any lateral movement.

Braking is superb and the ABS system has been very well thought out by BMW. Applying the front brake also applies the rear brake with a 60/40 split to the pressure applied and applying the rear brake does only that. It takes a while to get used to but after a few thousand miles it is second nature because you feel the balance of the bike through your seat. I have severely tested the stopping power and have always been impressed by the firm, balanced slowdown they can achieve.

After the amount of miles I have ridden the bike I would have hoped by now to have mastered getting the bike on its main stand but I have to shamefacedly admit that I still can't do this without help. I'll no doubt have another attempt at it this weekend when I want to clean the wheels but I suspect that after an amount of straining and grunting I'll sheepishly ask the neighbour to give me a hand.

Verdict For a long commute I wouldn't recommend anything else and once you are used to the size it is quick and surprisingly nimble - at more than 10mph.

If you are a summer rider then this is unlikely to be the best bike for you. The size and weight of the bike take a few miles to get used to and if you don't use the bike regularly it will always seem cumbersome.

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