Woke up today and deceided to buy a R1200R

[Philbie]

Yep, that's right, Woke up and thought - time for a new bike i'm going to buy a R1200R. Now i haven't ridden one, and don't think i'll need to (but i will) I love the look and have had a R1150RT and think it's just the way to go. I like naked bikes better, so it seems the obvious choice. I don't want new, cause i do such few k's a low milage one will suffice.

I don't want many extras either, ABS, centre stand, Tyre pressure monitors and the computer. I'll put luggage on it and a screen later.

so if you have any other suggestions, i'd love to hear them and why.

Now to sell the Yamaha and start hunting around.

Exciting really! it's a good way to start the winter, so i have something to look forward to next summer.

[Caol]

Marvelous decision!

[Rocket]

Good decision!
...Good choice of extras but suggest you test ride it naked before you decide on a screen. IMHO, the sports screen is worth considering. Doesn't detract from naked looks but helps reduce the wind blast.

...Hardest choice is probably colour.

[celticus]

Welcome. For a recovering Yamaha guy you've got a cool avitar.

Mark

[Tom B]

Someone got up on the right side of the bed!

Heated grips are very nice, even if your winters aren't cold. ABS is a must (at least for me), and the rest is all jazz.

Good luck with your quest!

[dumfounded]

ABS is a must (at least for me)

I agree! ABS has saved my back side several times in the past few months.

I don't think you're going to get many arguments against your choice here Philbie! As far as bolt-ons go, I agree with Rocket- try it naked first and then make it yours from there.

BTW- the search tool here is your friend. Tons of good input here on all the farkles your heart desires. Welcome to the nut house! I look forward to hearing more about your search for your [motorcycle] soul-mate.

[Stef.]

Good choice! Did the same two weeks ago- changed from a cruiser to the BMW R1200R and have hardly come of the saddle since...
Stef.

[rokinrider]

I love my newR12R!!! It's fun looking for seats windshields and gear for this baby. Kinda like a box of chocolates Ya never know what your getting. I went to Ginas BMW open house today stuff overload.
Enjoy! Rokin

[celticdriver]

Go for it ! You'll love it. Torque, handling, looks, comfort. Have mine for a year now, wouldn't ride anything else. A no brainer !

[Philbie]

6th May update:

Someone posted a post "do you ever feel like you need a GS?".

Honestly, that post couldn't have come at a better time, cause i'd been keeping myself awake at night trying to decide if i wanted a GS or a R. For a while there it was really getting to me, looking at all the different bikes for sale, comparing prices and trying in my own mind, to justify the reasons why one would have been better than the other, until I stumbled across this section in a post:

"By the time I was ready for something new the updated GS had the horsepower I wanted but unfortunately GS's had gotten rather trendy and it seemed too many "adventure" wannabe/posers had one outfitted with every part guard and oversized bag known to mankind."

then this:

"The thing about BMW's is they are are great at what they were designed to be. You want a dual purpose bike bike for long distance - the GS and Adventure are great pack mules. Touring bike - the RT or LT depending on how big you want to go maybe even a GT. Midsize dual purpose - the F800GS is a good choice. They each have a purpose.

The R1200R is the sleeper in their line up. Maybe the best all-round road bike out there. Many don't notice it but those that do, and test ride one, always seem to be impressed. You have standard sized wheels which allow sticky rubber. Put some good shocks on it and you'll really be surprised at how sporty it can be. Want to tour...load her up. Just beat around town...no problem. It's great for what it was designed to be."

Well, i have to say, you guys really wrapped it up for me and answered the questions I actually didn't want to ask myself in fear of not liking the answers!

So this brings me back to the R1200R, and the firm decision of "it" being the right bike for me. I'm glad i have arrived at this point now, cause finding one will be a whole lot nicer process.

[Stef.]

Philbie- I can't remember: did you test ride both? My opinion is go for what feels better when you sit on it and ride it. I do agree: a lot of people who ride the GS(A) do not ride it to its full potential by i.e. really taking it off road. Nevertheless, they are very different bikes and you might find that one of them just "feels" better for you. Peter, my husband is a die hard GSA rider and for him the bike is just more comfortabel to ride than mine. (Might be that he is just not used to mine) I don't care frankly what other people think about the style of bike I am riding and I would ride a GS without a doubt if I would find it more comfortable to ride, eventhough I would not take it off road necessarily.
As said before, I test rode a GS with a lower seat and just found it not to be the right bike for me. So in a nutshell- ride them both and see what you think after that.
There is nothing wrong with being torn between two bikes but I certainly wouldn't go by "image problems" the one or the other bike might have. (What would influence me though is reliability issues...) You are spending a hell of a lot of money on these bikes and you don't want to regret it.

Best of luck with your decision and with finding the right bike.
Stef.

[Philbie]

8th may update:

found a nice bike today.......going to ride it on Tuesday......

but, bit expensive...........I'm leaving the checkbook at home.

[Caol]

tch, tch, tch....

all that wasted gas, to go back and get the cheque book! LOL!

enjoy the ride - I hope you find what you want!

[celticus]

ABS is a must (at least for me)

I agree! ABS has saved my back side several times in the past few months.

.

It was either the ABS or my cat like reflexes that saved me coming to a hard (too hard) stop riding at the Ga. Mtn. Rally week before last. Anyway I thought I was going to have a down bike some dents and a rash or two but somehow I did not go down. I'm changing my mind about the ABS.

Mark

[deilenberger]

Mark, you only need it once to be convinced that it's a necessity, not an option.

[ShinySideUp]

Mark, you only need it once to be convinced that it's a necessity, not an option.

Or just watch, as I did about a month ago, while a grizzled Harley rider in his "colors" comes barreling up a long hill to the light where I'm waiting to exit my housing complex to go to work.

My bike triggered the signal and he apparently didn't see his red until about 200 feet before the intersection.

He responded by slamming on his brakes, producing a loud squeal of his rear tire as he slid half-way into the intersection before stopping in a cloud of smoked rubber, fighting to keep upright.

I proceeded, quietly, around him, not overly impressed, and trying, successfully, to stifle my smug and derisive laughter.

I remember seeing a table of stopping distances, and at 106 feet from 60 mph, our bikes, with ABS, will stop faster than just about anything but a Ferrari or Veyron, IIRC.

If my bike is ever in that Harley rider's predicament, I sure do like the fact that my braking will be correctly proportioned front to rear (it looked like he just tromped the rear pedal) and that the force will be modulated in such a way to actually keep me from skidding. (I wonder if he had to change his chaps?)

[celticus]

I was pulling over to the side to wait for a friend on a Buell. Little gravel just larger than sand.

Shiny Side. The Harley guy might have liked a noxious cloud and lots of attention getting noise. Who can figure.

Mark

[dutchie]

Philbie, Take the computer, tire monitors, center stand exc. My bike did not come with the tire monitors. I wish it did. You would quickly know if the tires are low. My snow flake wheels loose 4lbs or so a week. The computer has a neat feature miles to empty. Finely the center stand is just handy. Never had one on any of the bikes I owned before. Good luck. Jeff

[Philbie]

12th May 2010

Yesterday I rode my first R1200R. Had a small ride on it through the Dandenongs in Melbourne.

later that afternoon, i got to try it out in city traffic.

I didn't buy the bike, it's a long story but the dealer and i didn't see eye to eye price wise, and the condition of the bike was not what a traditional BMW rider would keep their bike in. Alarm bells were ringing which scared me away rather quickly. It's amazing how cold dealers become when they know you don't want to buy.

What i did find out, is that it is very much the bike I hoped it would be and that I will without doubt be buying one when the right one comes along.

It's funny, but now i seem calm, knowing that it doesn't matter how long it takes to sell my bike and or finding the right R1200R, that i know it's the right thing to do, and the wait will be worth it. Thats a nice feeling to have......

I am SO glad i had that opportunity. Pity the bike wasn't up to scratch.

[eddiepat62]

I bought an '07 with 10200 miles on it last June. Today it has more than 38K.
Sport Screen, heated grips ands center stand are a must.

I wanted exactly what I ended up with: A bike that responds to my input - not what a servo thinks I want to do.

LOVE MY BIKE!