Yes, this was the near enough best geared BMW. Still not good, but better than the later ones or any 1200.
BMW have never since produced a properly geared touring bike.
They install a 5 and a half speed gearbox suitable for drag racing.
Why 5 and a half speed? 500 rpm drop between the first 5 and 250 between 5 & 6.
Bike so high geared in first that one cannot take off on a hill with a passenger on board without smoking the clutch. So bad that Police refused to take the bikes until a lower first was installed, which later became common across much of the range.
They never cured the "rev itself to death" 6th gear. An overdrive 6th would have been lovely, but they don't think like that.
I have a 1200RT, and would love the combination of police first and an overdrive 6th for relaxed cruising, but it will never happen.
Myke