BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Knowledgeable, I'm not so sure. Opinionated for sure.
Most of my riding experience is on BMW's though, I've not rode a Guzzi let alone a well setup one - 12R, F800R, F800GS, G650GS and the nineT. Our dirt bike don't count in this context of handling talk. Bikes I had when much younger don't count either, I don't remember specifics enough. lol

I guess the easy way to put it would be it's all the good things about the R12R (boxer, shaft drive, trans, etc) with a much more sporty feel when pushing it. The forward leaning position is a more aggressive stance and perfectly fitting in the twisties. It feels 75 pounds lighter too, even though it's not.
I will have no issues doing exactly what I did on the 12R with this bike, though undoubtable I won't be quite as comfortable.
Comfort is over rated though when it comes to riding one of these instead of my 12R.

I have more rides planned, once I get back I'll have a thread in the nine section with comparison thoughts (and what can be moved over to a nine from a 12R) , hopefully the (3 I think) other forum members will join in with their thoughts.

I'm in pretty much the same boat as Finn. F800GS, F650GS, G650X, and two R1200Rs. Now the NineT. Fork dive is a non-issue, it travels about as much as tele-lever front end does under heavy breaking. On a GS, totally different story - a fistful of front break will drop the front end like the Time's Square New Year's Ball. There is more feed back from the front end. I need to dial in my rear shock, but overall I'm pretty happy with the stock suspension. It's stiff, but in the twisties, it's really an amazing bike to flick around. Low, light-feeling, shorter wheel base, and the sportier ergos make it a real canyon carver. For someone who likes the sport side of sport-touring on their R1200R (like me) it's a no brainer. I think the lower weight is a plus on handling too. Cornering on the R1200R, you kinda get used to that all-at-once weight shift when you hit the right lean angle - it's a bike that just kinda drops into a corner. It's particularly noticeable in low speed cornering. The NineT doesn't have that at all. Very smooth, hassle free cornering. I usually take a few weeks at least to get comfortable on a new bike, but I already feel like I've been riding the NineT for a year - it's really that compliant.

Comfort has never been a thing for me. I've put tens of thousands of miles on 2X4 bench seats. The seat on the NineT, while not as comfy as the R1200R, is close enough to not matter. I supplement with natural padding

I'll be riding this bike everywhere. I can see why people think it's just a city bike with a sporty fun side, but for me it's the perfect bike for everything. An engine with two wheels. Done and done.

Harry - I was on track to get 7k out of my Scorpion Trail rear and it was wearing pretty nicely. No cupping. I was only getting 5k or so out of the stock Z8s (for reference) and the Trails handle much better everywhere, especially the wet, IMHO.

All smiles with the 12R.

Lost, Love tall the pics you post. But tell me, how many pairs of glasses does Sandy own???

I think Chinacat belongs to this board.

David R wrote:I think Chinacat belongs to this board.

Nice, twin bikes getting ready for a little ride to Mexico, NY.

Here is another one, same two bikes in Adirondacks.

Was the second bike already there?

Scota wrote:Was the second bike already there?

No, we rode together.

Catchina,

I'm curious about the Crampbuster on the LHS "throttle". Tell us more.

One propeller and many windmills:

Lost Rider wrote:

You two look way too happy! I bet under those helmets you are trying to suppress those SEG!

Stay tuned, next week have a surprise.

arp wrote:Catchina,

I'm curious about the Crampbuster on the LHS "throttle". Tell us more.

Arp, just saw this. That's Dave R's bike with the LHS crampbuster, need to ask him. My guess is that they work as a hand rest on either side.

Awesome trip down through the Appalachians ... 12 days, 10 states and 4k miles of awesomeness


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and yes ... I went there. It was a blast, get in/get out early and you're golden

My 2008...my farm...Sweden...Olympus TG820 camera with dramatic effects:

Having fun with my R (I am more and more in love with this bike.. every ride I fall more in love with it..)

First, here a few pictures from my total control class (wish I had they would have taken one with my knee dragging (me and my R were the only ones to get that far down that I dragged a knee and foot peg..even if that is not captured on picture, at least I have pictures of part of the course! I do have some footage with my gopro, but from far away..might upload that at some point too)





some other pictures from this spring (have been mostly riding in Kentucky, on the search for windy roads)

She's a nature girl:


and she loves to cross rivers by ferry (well I do apparently): crossing the green river from KY to TN





in southern IN now with a nice overlook over Louisville, KY.

jeverett486 wrote:My 2008...my farm...Sweden...Olympus TG820 camera with dramatic effects:

Nice first post, welcome!

Ceramic coated headers: before and after shots.





Done locally for about $160. I really like the way they look. As for durability of the coating, only time will tell.

Lost Rider wrote:All smiles with the 12R.

No surprise ... the girls love the R ...

are any of your shots not amazing?!