Difference between 2011 vs 2010 R12R's and earlier?

[LeonardoNYC]

been a while since I have been here. My 07 R120R was sadly stolen in Jan of 2010 and last year was my fist year in 20 years without a bike and I miss it.
Been perusing some 2008-2010 R12Rs and I have read about some differences in torque and of course the new instrument cluster which is totally how they should have made it the first time. While I wasn't a big fan of the old instrument cluster I found I got used to it. While I can afford a new bike, if I can get a 1-2 year old model and save the depreciation that comes with a new bike --it leaves more $ for farkles etc.

Has anyone ridden both a 2011 and earlier R1200Rs and notice any perceptible difference? I hear there's more torque but honestly my 2007 was more than enough bike for me. The colors they have for 2011 aren't anything to write home about except for the grey. There's a sweet 2010 barritz blue leftover a few hundred miles away --and I love that color!

Also if I go with the 2010, wondering if there's a rule of thumb for negotiating for a leftover bike at a dealer? Realize this is subjective but any tips or advice when negotiating with a dealer are appreciated.

And finally, there's also another 07 for sale , --there was some chatter on the boards a while back about an extended warranty from BMW? Did that ever materialize?
Any other issues on the 07s except the battery and the antennae ring for the key I remember reading about.

Much thanks!

[ipokebadgers]

First off, bummer about your 2007.

I purchased a very slightly used 2007 last December. It still has the same battery it came with and it had sat for a while. I haven't experienced any problems with it yet.

I was really wanting to buy a left over 2009 from a dealer. It was the blue which is a great color. I test rode it and talked to them several times in person trying to deal with them. They would not come down off of the original MSRP at all. I talked to a dealer 200 miles away about a 2010 but they wouldn't deal either. I wasn't asking for anything ridiculous and end the end I was just asking them to throw in a the rails for a set of bags and hey wouldn't.

So I found the 2007 500 miles away. Took a train ride and road the bike home.

I guess what I am saying is you might not get much of a deal on a left over. It depends on the dealer. I know people have been able to get deals but I haven't experienced that and I have owned three BMWs.

Good luck.

Sean

[websterize]

See the Ash on Bikes review of the 2011 R1200R Classic

A useful side effect is that the tingling, high frequency vibration which blighted the older, high cam boxer twins at high revs is reduced almost to nothing. The previous valve gear was responsible for this and the vibes have gone with it.

[mvk]

Hi Leonardo, I have just sold my '07 with 63,000km and now have 2,000km on the '11.

They are more different than you would anticipate from the stats (see my post -'the king is dead' and various other posts also). I think it is the low down torque that really gives it a different feel but top end power just keeps pouring on.

I don't know Ash's claim to fame but I never noticed significant tingling on the 07 and the 11 is not any different in that regard. He also claims that the Classic is tubeless which contradicts every other report I have read - does he know something no one else does? I also don't understand his comments on the suspension - this is such a strength of all RRs that I do wonder if he even rode it on really rough roads at speed to appreciate its strength. Not the best review I have read...

I like almost all the changes on the new r1200r but I am not convinced by the plastic box on the exhaust which opens a butterfly valve - I know it is necessary for noise compliance but it is another complication and the whole exhaust system looks somewhat bloated compared to the Staintune I had previously - sounds marginally better than the previous OEM. I am also weird in that I preferred the previous seat to the new blancmange seat which puts me in a definite minority!

So different bikes, but nothing wrong with the previous model at all, particularly if you get a decent discount. If it feels good buy it!

[Sander Abernathy]

I had an 09 and I'm on my second 2011. I don't notice less vibration in the bars. Though the engine does sound smoother. The stock exhaust sounds better also.

I do notice that I am caught in the dead zone below the effective portion of the torque curve less frequently with the 2011. My impression is that the 2010 and prior bikes pulled strongly from 2500 to 3000 RPM whereas the 2011 pulls strongly from as low as 2,000 rpm.

Extensive crash testing shows they absorb impact equally.

There's a grey 2007 with 12,000+ miles, Bill Meyer seat, and a BMW tall windscreen on consignment at Blue Moon Cycle in Norcross Georgia. Give Stephen Larson a call if you have an interest. It has caliper mounted Motolights and the OEM topcase rack. I'm sure there's more bolted onto it I didn't look that closely.

Sander

[deilenberger]

See the Ash on Bikes review of the 2011 R1200R Classic

A useful side effect is that the tingling, high frequency vibration which blighted the older, high cam boxer twins at high revs is reduced almost to nothing. The previous valve gear was responsible for this and the vibes have gone with it.

He lost me completely with:

The air-cooled boxer twin

Duh. It's oil cooled you dolt..

And I've never been troubled by vibes on my '07 (I was on my '04 R1150RS - which is why I'm riding the R12R). Other people have been, and I've been able to help them with a rocker-arm endplay adjustment followed by an OCD valve adjustment. I got real good at thos with my old RS - not that they helped.

[firstforward]

See the Ash on Bikes review of the 2011 R1200R Classic

A useful side effect is that the tingling, high frequency vibration which blighted the older, high cam boxer twins at high revs is reduced almost to nothing. The previous valve gear was responsible for this and the vibes have gone with it.

He lost me completely with:

The air-cooled boxer twin

Duh. It's oil cooled you dolt..

And I've never been troubled by vibes on my '07 (I was on my '04 R1150RS - which is why I'm riding the R12R). Other people have been, and I've been able to help them with a rocker-arm endplay adjustment followed by an OCD valve adjustment. I got real good at thos with my old RS - not that they helped.

Just to clarify, my handbook states its air cooled with oil cooled exhaust ports, so its both

[Jedi5150]

... Though the engine does sound smoother. The stock exhaust sounds better also...

I agree that the stock exhaust on the 2011's really doesn't sound bad. it's a bit too quiet for my taste but the tone isn't aweful. What shocked me was the stock sound on the 2011 R1200GS that I rode home for a day while my R1200R was being serviced. The new GS had a sound like an aftermarket, very loud, deep, cool sound. I hopped off it when I got home just to double check it was all stock (which it was). I have no idea why the new GS's sound so much louder than the new R's.