Looking for thoughts on the ST

[Bulldog]

My wife and I are currently looking at a pair of R12STs. She's currently on a 00 K12RS and I am on an 02 R1150R Yellowjacket. She's only 5'2" and we have made some minor modifications to the RS for her--super shaved down seat, low profile tires -- but the thing is still hog heavy. I love my R, but have lusted after the 1200 engine. Sport touring is the kind of riding we do, sometimes taking along our 11-year-old.

I'm hoping to hear from folks who have had their STs for awhile and their thoughts on:
Comfort during 500-800 mile days
Responsiveness in twisties
Riding two-up
Moving it around at slow or no speed (especially from a short rider)
Any mechanical problems.

I know there have been threads on the ST previously, but in searching the site, I only found discussions from shortly after the STs arrived. Now that you've ridden it for a season, what are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Bulldog

[R1150RDave]

The ST is great bike to drive, but the negative reasons start to add up when you start to "spec it up" ABS, center stand, heated grips, chrome pipes, luggage. Here in the UK your over £10000. Then the waiting list.

The price is very close to the RT that comes with more goodies as standard.

More intresting though is "her--super shaved down seat" tell me more, have you any pictures?

[Bulldog]

We had a custom seat made by Corbin with virtually no paddin to get her close to the ground.

[Massive Attack]

I can’t answer the question you ask as I only test rode one. It felt like a well-made bike (like the R in fact) and you knew that you could eat up a lot of miles on it. I agree with Dave that the RT is better value for money, but then I guess that is a bit big and heavy for your wife. The only concern I would have about the ST, and this is just my opinion, is resale value. In the three BMW dealers I have been in within the UK I don’t see any in stock bar the demo. Here the bike in the showroom is owned by BMW and if not sold within 6 months the dealers have to buy it. Now I see lots of Rs, RTs and Gs’s which makes me wonder how confident they are of selling the ST. Also in all the magazine comparisons I have read the ST has been last compared to other sports tourers (e.g. VFR, Triumph ST). This is not the case for other BMW models, which do well against the competition in their class. If you intend to keep them for a while then resale value might not be an issue, if it is an issue of course. My impression of it was that is was a good bike, more tour than sport, solid handling (I do think the Triumph ST handles better), great riding position, took a pillion with ease and my wife (an experienced pillion) said it was comfortable and roomy on the back. Hope some owners answer your question. Just my 20 cents worth

[Deans BMW]

I now have just over 14,000 miles on my ST. Absolutely no problems at all, gas milage in the high 40's to low 50's, have added no oil in the last 4,500 miles and is still just above the center dot. Tranny like butter, lots of 650 mile days and several 750 mile days. Ran 144.4 MPH on the Bonneville salt flats, in the rev limiter in 6th before the first mile marker. I have yet to find any one that can keep up in the mountains, both twisties and sweepers. Road 600 miles with a guy on the Nor Cal Range of Lights Gypsy tour, he on his K1200S, a veteran of many track days on his K1200S, no matter what he tried, he could not get away from my ST, no long streights to be fair and when I wanted to, could pass him and within a mile or two, he would be completely out of sight.

At the Golden Gate with all my camping gear.



On the Bonneville Salt Flats



In the Navajo Reservation north eastern Arizona.



Getting a full Remus installed at the 49er.



Full tank bag and side cases somewhere in Utah.



Alices up on Skyline in the Santa Cruz mountains, california.



Can you tell, I think that it is a great bike.

[Bry]

The ST is great bike to drive, but the negative reasons start to add up when you start to "spec it up" ABS, center stand, heated grips, chrome pipes, luggage. Here in the UK your over £10000. Then the waiting list.

The price is very close to the RT that comes with more goodies as standard.

More intresting though is "her--super shaved down seat" tell me more, have you any pictures?

Interesting... over here they came with all that... standard..

Bry

[R1150RDave]

Does the K1200S come with a center stand, or could you have one fitted in OZ?

[DJ Downunder]

Does the K1200S come with a center stand, or could you have one fitted in OZ?

It's an optional extra.

DJ

[FGanger]

When I first read your post, the “hog heavy,” caught my eye. I wasn’t sure if your were referring to your wife or the bike. I read it again and realized it was the machine you were talking about - I hope for your sake.

My wife is about an inch shorter than your wife. Bonnie sat on a ST in a dealer in Daytona. It was heaver than her F650GS to be sure, but to her, it seemed lighter than my R1150R bike. I’m sure it was due mostly to the balance and weight placement. Also I have a lot of “stuff” on my machine. The one Bonnie sat on was one the dealer lowered. She could reach the ground better than on her factory lowered GS.

I’d say go with it.

Frank

Oops, Bonnie came in and said that it was an RT and not a ST. Never mind.

[Bulldog]

Thanks Dean, and everyone else, for your responses.

Yes, hog-heavy was in reference to the 720-something pound K12RS.

It looks like we will be going ahead on one for my wife. I'm torn on the second because I really do love my Yellowjacket. But the engine improvements are really attractive.

Bulldog

[NancyK]

We had a custom seat made by Corbin with virtually no paddin to get her close to the ground.

I don't think he was talking about the Corbin...

[jonothan]

I now have just over 14,000 miles on my ST. Absolutely no problems at all, gas milage in the high 40's to low 50's, have added no oil in the last 4,500 miles and is still just above the center dot. Tranny like butter, lots of 650 mile days and several 750 mile days. Ran 144.4 MPH on the Bonneville salt flats, in the rev limiter in 6th before the first mile marker. I have yet to find any one that can keep up in the mountains, both twisties and sweepers. Road 600 miles with a guy on the Nor Cal Range of Lights Gypsy tour, he on his K1200S, a veteran of many track days on his K1200S, no matter what he tried, he could not get away from my ST, no long straights to be fair and when I wanted to, could pass him and within a mile or two, he would be completely out of sight.

This is what biking - particularly on a BMW - is all about. Great pictures and a real inspiration to me (and my wife Elaine) to tour the USA on motorcycles.

Thanks

Jonothan

[Bulldog]

Well, we did it. We will be picking up to R1200STs, red and graphite for her, blue and silver for him.

Thanks for the input.

Scott

[Bry]

COOL!

Great color choice, the red and graphite!

*tis the fastest you know!


Bry

[FGanger]

Before our Pat says it, "Pictures, we need pictures."


Wow! What a deal, a dream actually. I wish Bonnie and I had a matching brace of bikes, I'm jealous.

Frank

[new2BMW]

Bulldog,
Congratualtions on the new bikes. I am sure you both will be more than satisfied.

I can't wait to read both rtreactions though.
You will find that the engine is lacking in the solid vibrations that the oilhead produced. At first you will feel it kind of empty until you look down at the speedo and see how fast you are going. I took and extended test ride and had that sensation. After the first few minutes, I adjusted to the power delivery and found the engine to be very satisfying.

Your wife on the other hand will find the engine a little leaner on power than the KRS, but the delivery is in a place much easier to reach. On the other hand, she will be soooooo happy with the weight and balance of the ST.

[Promethean]

Dean-O. That's a beautiful bike. I've spent many hours on weekends drooling over the ST at my dealer.

I now have just over 14,000 miles on my ST. Absolutely no problems at all, gas milage in the high 40's to low 50's, have added no oil in the last 4,500 miles and is still just above the center dot. Tranny like butter, lots of 650 mile days and several 750 mile days. Ran 144.4 MPH on the Bonneville salt flats, in the rev limiter in 6th before the first mile marker. I have yet to find any one that can keep up in the mountains, both twisties and sweepers. Road 600 miles with a guy on the Nor Cal Range of Lights Gypsy tour, he on his K1200S, a veteran of many track days on his K1200S, no matter what he tried, he could not get away from my ST, no long streights to be fair and when I wanted to, could pass him and within a mile or two, he would be completely out of sight.

[rivi7777]

GOODNESS!!!

Dean, this is a beautiful shot!

[Deans BMW]

Thanks Rich (rivi777).

Just so you know, Rich and I spent the first Saturday in last April riding my new ST and a new K1200S furnished by Chris at San Jose BMW all thru the Santa Cruz mountains switching back and forth on the bikes, a lot of fun was had by all.





And finally at Alices for a bite. By the way, the first appearance of either model at Alices.

[Bulldog]

Nancy got hers on Thursday (has already finished the break in) and I am supposed to get mine on Tuesday.

Hers: Graphite and Red, low seat, intro package including clear lenses on signals, chrome exhaust, heated grips, heads color-matched to the bike, saddlebags, rack and tail case.


His: Sydney Blue and silver, heated grips, saddlebags, rack and tail case.

The bike is more than 200 lbs lighter than her K12 and her footing (she's 5'2") is a little better. She said she is very confident moving it around and finds it more flickable than the K12. She said she finally understands what I meant all these years when I said the R bikes just have more heart than the Ks.

Anyway, looking forward to getting mine.

Scott