Road test: 2003 BMW R1200 CL

Dominating the look of the CL is that fairing. Believe it or not, but the handlebar-mounted item is the product of wind-tunnel design, and it's certainly the first thing you notice about the CL.

It's also the first thing I noticed when I hopped on board, as there's quite a pendulum' effect at slow speed as the bars flop from side to side. I guess that's to be expected with big mirrors, speakers for the stereo, comprehensive instrumentation, large indicators and chunky switchblocks all adding their mass to the already large fairing itself.