Former 1150 guy seeks 1200 info....

[WhoZat]

A few years ago I logged a little under 60,000 miles on a Roadster with ABS. I loved it, and with the growing possibility of earning more money in my (near) future.... I want to consider the 1200 w/ABS.

You guys have been in the loop, while I've been busy doing Triumphs (Sprint RS & Bonnevilles), and the last 35,000 miles aboard a Yamaha FZ1. Here are some questions that I have, but couldn't find addressed in a quick cruise of your past posts. May I employ your help?

1) Is that sexy (expensive) Wudo screen available yet, and has anybody had any experience with mounting it up? Quality, fit, finish, hardware, etc?

2) I want to believe that the bombass exhaust might be the complete Remus system with the long Powercone. If I stand corrected, what other system is better and why? What power gains are there to be had by replacing the factory system with an after-market system? I think Remus claims a "10 to 12 hp increase at the rear wheel." Our 1150's gained virtually nothing but noise with a different can. Some systems just changed the power curve for improved ride'ability. Does anybody have any experience with systems and rear wheel Dyno results?

3) Though I am convinced I want heated grips and a center-stand, is there a common "must have" when I buy my 1200 Roadster?

4) Are there any quirks that have been discovered about the 1200 now that it's been out for a while?

5) I am fearful of the new (and old) final drive's reliability, any word on this? I sold my '01 at 58,000 miles because I didn't buy an extended warranty and I tend to ride 22,000 miles a year. I'll be buying or shopping around for an extended warranty, is the extended warranty offered through BMW dealerships the best way to go, or has anybody discovered any (better) alternatives???

6) Which engine guards should I consider? I want easy access to the valves AND good protection in the event of a parking lot tumble/tip-over.

7) What have guys had luck with when replacing their OEM suspension components with after-market?

Of course the obligatory:
Which color is the fastest & most cool,
and/or
which color handles spirited riding through canyons the best?

9) The newer 1200's don't have as aggressive a charging system as the older 1150's. If I want to add a pair of blatantly illegal (BRIGHT) driving lamps to my 1200, is the system up to the load?

10) What are guys customarily paying for their 1200's w/System Cases, center-stand, and heated grips?

11) What's the word about the new ABS sans servos? Do people like it, does it have any quirks, what are the maintenance intervals, are they still integrated between front & rear (via the front brake lever)?

Thanks in advance.
-= PAT =-

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(Oh and.... anybody in Central California in the market for an '03 FZ1? 35,000 miles with EVERYTHING taken care of.... and some new Diablos sitting in the living room. 130 hp at the rear wheel and 27,000 mile intervals for the valves(!!!) I've upgraded the suspension for my former 255 pounds, and lowered the internals an inch as well as cut the seat down for my 5' 2"ness. Don't buy this bike for your wife unless you're secure with her spanking you up to her 150+ mph....)

[deilenberger]

A few years ago I logged a little under 60,000 miles on a Roadster with ABS. I loved it, and with the growing possibility of earning more money in my (near) future.... I want to consider the 1200 w/ABS.

You guys have been in the loop, while I've been busy doing Triumphs (Sprint RS & Bonnevilles), and the last 35,000 miles aboard a Yamaha FZ1. Here are some questions that I have, but couldn't find addressed in a quick cruise of your past posts. May I employ your help?

1) Is that sexy (expensive) Wudo screen available yet, and has anybody had any experience with mounting it up? Quality, fit, finish, hardware, etc?

Which Wudo?

2) I want to believe that the bombass exhaust might be the complete Remus system with the long Powercone. If I stand corrected, what other system is better and why? What power gains are there to be had by replacing the factory system with an after-market system? I think Remus claims a "10 to 12 hp increase at the rear wheel." Our 1150's gained virtually nothing but noise with a different can. Some systems just changed the power curve for improved ride'ability. Does anybody have any experience with systems and rear wheel Dyno results?

You might get noise - but bet you a beer there is NO power to be found. BMW just isn't dumb enough to leave power laying on the table for some dude (I'm including every exhaust manufacturer in that..) to pick up and sell with their can. BMW has a bunch of experience getting power from their engines - and the testing needed to do it. If you send the can to me - I can dyno it.. and prove the bet.. On aftermarket systems on other BMWs I've seen 1-2HP gain at peak RPM, and sometimes a huge gaping hole in the midrange - net loss..

3) Though I am convinced I want heated grips and a center-stand, is there a common "must have" when I buy my 1200 Roadster?

About $15k..

4) Are there any quirks that have been discovered about the 1200 now that it's been out for a while?

It's hard to stop riding it - and some people had the top of their heads fall off from the silly-ass grin they get riding it.

5) I am fearful of the new (and old) final drive's reliability, any word on this? I sold my '01 at 58,000 miles because I didn't buy an extended warranty and I tend to ride 22,000 miles a year. I'll be buying or shopping around for an extended warranty, is the extended warranty offered through BMW dealerships the best way to go, or has anybody discovered any (better) alternatives???

Much too long/complicated question. BMW doesn't offer an extended warranty - they are ALL aftermarket. Less than 4% of the bikes with the new drives appear to have problems - and with one exception (someone with > 50k on his bike) - BMW picked up the tab every time. Wait until the factory warranty is almost up and THEN worry about it. Meanwhile - try to make it fail by riding the wheels off it.

6) Which engine guards should I consider? I want easy access to the valves AND good protection in the event of a parking lot tumble/tip-over.

Dunno. I don't believe in dropping bikes.

7) What have guys had luck with when replacing their OEM suspension components with after-market?

Dunno if anyone else has done aftermarket yet - I had good luck with Hyperpro - I'm quite happy with the setup once I got it dialed in.

Of course the obligatory: Which color is the fastest & most cool, and/or which color handles spirited riding through canyons the best?

Black with white pins of course. Everyone knows that.

9) The newer 1200's don't have as aggressive a charging system as the older 1150's. If I want to add a pair of blatantly illegal (BRIGHT) driving lamps to my 1200, is the system up to the load?

Yes. I'm running 110W of Hella lights (IMHO PIAA sucks lemons) and have had NO problems. The system is only very slightly less powerful - handles the lights and my heated gear and grips at the same time with no problem.

10) What are guys customarily paying for their 1200's w/System Cases, center-stand, and heated grips?

$15k

11) What's the word about the new ABS sans servos? Do people like it, does it have any quirks, what are the maintenance intervals, are they still integrated between front & rear (via the front brake lever)?

It's wonderful Partial linking, front does both, rear does rear. It works marvelously well - saved my butt with a few Bambi's today..

Thanks in advance.
-= PAT =-

Buy it - enjoy it. It's a wonderful bike..

[mcooperstein]

buy it now for $15K ...or wait 15 months and get it for about $9K. Maybe more..but you *know* it's gonna depreciate fast, like our bikes did.

[deilenberger]

buy it now for $15K ...or wait 15 months and get it for about $9K. Maybe more..but you *know* it's gonna depreciate fast, like our bikes did.

But - the $9k one will never be a "new" bike again - and for some of us - that IS important.

[ka5ysy]

+1 on most of the posts above.

Disagreement: Actually, stealthy Granite Grey Metallic is the fastest color. The pinstripes on the black cause aerodynamic drag, which increases exponentially as speed increases. Example: Speed doubles, Drag increases four times!

Final Drive???? What final drive? If stuff breaks I fix it ! It is also very easy to change fluids in the bike, and I change everything every oil change. Currently using Amsoil synthetics only.


Stuff you need with this bike:

As mentioned, permagrin is a medical condition quite common to RR drivers. I suggest a large bottle of tylenol or whatever your favorite is... you will need it so stop the face pains.

See report/blog here:

http://www.dualsportridersoflouisiana.c ... php?t=2378

Doug

[mcooperstein]

Good Lord...I thought the verbosity level of this board was bad. There are over 8 pages of blather on Doug's 'other' site about his bike..mostly congrats from frieinds and miscreants. Well, I'll add my congrats too. You'll need to go to page 3 to see pics. Beautiful bike, even if it's the wrong color (we *all* know Atlanta Blue was the fastest). I really love my R1150R. After reading Doug's description of it, it sounds almost identical to the kind of comments people made about the R1150R when it first came out. I'd really like to get an objective review of the differences between them. Somebody who's spent a lot of time on an R1150R, then traded up to the R1200R. I know that the engine is a redo, along with some other features, but is it really that different? People talk about the 'whine' of the ABS being 'fixed' in the R1200R. My comment about that is...so what! The servo's only whine noticeably when your at a stop, and even then I think they sound cool. I do like the styling of the R1200R, although I was sort of 'fond' of the beak, and will miss it sorely! I wonder if the front fender of the R1150R would bolt on to the R1200R...hmmm..is this a blasphemous thought guys?

Mark
-------------------------
member #3 since 2001

[celticus]

Black with pin stripes is a fine paint color if you are an old person or a mortician or just work in a funeral parlor or just work with the dead in any capacity. The Crystal Grey metallic now there is a color for a young virile man.

Mark

[Lost Rider]

At least 3 State Troopers in 3 States could testify to the fact that Black with Stripes R1200R is the fastest.
Fast yes, stealthy no.











I also traded in a 1150R for the 1200R.

As someone else has said( in so many words ), and I agree:
R1150R = A stout, strong, reliable Bavarian woman.
R1200R = A young long legged athletic girl in her prime.



The wudo fairing is available, not sure if anyone's mounted it yet. The Wudo thread is here, just look around.

after 23,00 miles I'm due for new shocks. I'd imagine riding off road wears out the shock faster. After much research I'm going to be "upgrading" my shocks with Wilber's. Report to follow.




*edit

Cool R1200R video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zec8rvhyguo

[celticus]

23,00 or 23,000? If it's 23,000 my hat's off to you. How much off road do you do? I do a bit.
Mark

[Lost Rider]

23,00 or 23,000? If it's 23,000 my hat's off to you. How much off road do you do? I do a bit.
Mark

23,000

I do a little, maybe 10% of my riding.








here's a report with a little off road riding.

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... highlight=


or here
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... highlight=


I'll be heading into eastern tennessee next week! Maybe you could show me some nice trails. The last trip of the year.... maybe.

[hass]

I feel really sorry for your bike!

[celticus]

Great pictures. You are the man.
Mark

[ka5ysy]

At least 3 State Troopers in 3 States could testify to the fact that Black with Stripes R1200R is the fastest.
Fast yes, stealthy no.

Holy Crap ! I notice that warp speed is burning the paint off the bags

Maybe we need to have some of the leftover SR-71/YF-12 guys design some titanium heat shields for RR.


So, HOW FAST WERE YOU GOING in the said 3 states ????? Inquiring minds want to know

BTW: What kind of tires are you running ?

[ka5ysy]

At least 3 State Troopers in 3 States could testify to the fact that Black with Stripes R1200R is the fastest.
Fast yes, stealthy no.

Holy Crap ! I notice that warp speed is burning the paint off the bags

Maybe we need to have some of the leftover Skunkworks SR-71/YF-12 guys design some titanium heat shields for RR.


So, HOW FAST WERE YOU GOING in the said 3 states ????? Inquiring minds want to know

BTW: What kind of tires are you running ?

[Lost Rider]

I feel really sorry for your bike!

Don't feel sorry for it, just think of the stories it can tell other (shiny)bikes when it's parked next to them!

So, HOW FAST WERE YOU GOING in the said 3 states ????? Inquiring minds want to know


BTW: What kind of tires are you running ?

86 in a 70 in AR. 89 in a 65 in NC. 76 in a 60 in WI. All 4 lane divided highway, where in my opinion I wasn't hurting anyone, and driving well within safe speeds......... The thing is I haven't had a ticket in 6 years, and only 1 in the last 10. Until this year. A lawyer took care of the one in NC, had to do a silly driving course.... but it won't go on my record.
It's nothing to be proud of...... getting caught. I actually had one of the cops ask why I stopped, telling me they're not allowed to chase bikes....... I thought that was kinda weird.



Mine came with Conti Attack's, I replaced the Conti attack rear tire twice, then put on a set of Metzler Z6's, replacing the rear again twice. I just ordered a set of Pirelli Scorpion Sync's that will be delivered tomorrow.
The search for the perfect tire continues.

[britguy]

. I just ordered a set of Pirelli Scorpion Sync's that will be delivered tomorrow.
The search for the perfect tire continues.

Make sure you let us know how they perform , as they may well be my next tire choice

[celticus]

Getting ticketed for speeding on the open road is indeed nothing to be ashamed of. Getting caught is regretable and being parted with your money is even worse.
Mark

[Lost Rider]

Very true Mark, especially the increased insurance rates....


I'm due to pick up the Pirelli's from fed-ex tomorrow morning. As you can see, I'm a little excited.
My first DIY tire change, on top of fresh rubber....
The money spent on ALL the tools needed to do it myself is exactly the difference between paying retail for the tires with labor at the dealer or ordering online and DIY. Including the wheel balancer.
Plus I found my rear brakes to be ground down close to nothing and replaced them also today. Would a dealer mechanic have noticed while doing a tire change? dunno.
100% DIY maintenance now for me.










-Joe