Test Rode A K-Bike Today

[BobFV1]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen.

This post has only good, wholesome, family-friendly BMW motorcycle content, which I hope will be of benefit to some of you, and will stimulate a constructive discussion.

I've been travelling a lot lately. The last two weekends I literally flew in to town and on each of the last two Sundays I did track days on my Yamaha R1. Back in town today, I decided to take my good old RT out for the first time in a couple of weeks.

It was a beautiful day here in the desert Southwest, clear and with the temperature up in the mid to high seventies. I rode my RT over to the local BMW dealership just to check in and to get some free coffee . I saw this beautiful and seductive K1200RS on the floor. It was a 2003 model, all black with the decals removed and with a Pirate's Lair backrest. About 10 minutes after I saw it I was out on a 45 minute test ride, and I want to share my impressions.

The bike was in very good shape, with a little over 4000 miles on it and shorn with Metzeler Z-4's. I took it out on to the freeway and really wrung it out.

My ride impressions are that the bike has very smooth power delivery, and feels substantial under me. It does not have the pernicious tendency my R1 has to do power wheelies, and I liked the feeling of stability. The front wheel tended to "fall" in to the corners - it was sportier than I thought and required good countersteering technique - no cheating on this bike! I had a squid on an FJR, riding 2up, pull up next to me. I smoked him up to 60mph, but we were in a 45 zone so I let him go after that. I don't like to encourafge squids with passengers to put their passengers at risk, either.

The windshield is manually adjustable, with two positions. Even in the high position, I felt that I would like a little more protection for my helmet. I think the KRS had less protection with it's Aeroflow (sorry don't know how tall it was) in the high position than my R1 does with the Puig Double Bubble screen.

While the motor and handling were very, very good, I need to comment on the ergos. Well, not bad! It had the stock handlebar setup in the rear-most position, and a stock seat in the low position. That was kind of a goofy setup - I would run the seat higher and adjust the bars accordingly, but I felt the bike would be quite comfortable on a 6 to 8 hour ride, but not a lot more. I could be wrong - only rode it for 45 minutes!

Well, when I got back on to my RT, I felt like an old man. I noticed the vibration, which was totally absent in the K bike, and the lack of power, but satisfying low-end grunt. I left the dealer with my name as number one on the list for the new K1200GT - that bike will have all the features of the RS, but more power, more weather protection, and a more goodies. Can't wait.

Well, thanks for listening! I would be interested in anybody else's impressions of the contrast between our 1150 boxer motors and the K-bike power plants.

Bye, and have a nice day!

Your friend. Bob

PS - if you send me a PM tomorrow morning, it's Sunday and I will be at church, so I may not be able to get back to you until the afternoon. Take care and ride safe!

[Bones]

Bob,
You want MORE power on the GT than the current R or S K bikes make? Now THAT sounds like an R1 owner!!!

If you like the feeling of an inline 4 and the usability of your RT, you might love the K GT, esp. with all that power on tap. As a current owner of an FZ1, I can tell you that it will boil down to a matter of mojo in the end. I love an inline 4 for the track, but prefer a twin for real world riding. Despite the invigorating pull of the monster R1 engine, I actually think a less powerful but very torquey twin is more "fun" in real world riding.

Enjoy and report when your GT arrives.

Bones

[BobFV1]

Thanks for your thoughts, Saw-bones! Cogent as usual.

I agree, having a big twin for a road bike is fun, but that BMW K is so darn seductive (can I say seductive???)

The R1 has too much power - no question. Riding it on the track, as I have said before, is just a contest against the bike to keep two contact patches stuck to the ground! But you know, this is the first weekend in the last three weeks I have not been on the track, but today I rode my bike down to Firebird and watched a group on the West track. Lots of beautiful and powerful bikes - an RC51, a couple of Ducs, a few CBR's. And mine is faster than all of them. Whoo-hoo!

Hope you are healing up well.

[Deans BMW]

Bob, don't know if you have had the chance to ride either the K1200S or K1200R yet, but the new K bikes will be as diff from the K RS as the K RS is from your R RT.

I am trying to figure out how to change my stable of bikes, I think that I want a R1200S...for squid hunting
A R1200GS ADV for the hundreds of miles of fantastic Western US dirt and fire roads,
And a K1200GT for traveling.

[BobFV1]

Bob, don't know if you have had the chance to ride either the K1200S or K1200R yet, but the new K bikes will be as diff from the K RS as the K RS is from your R RT.

I am trying to figure out how to change my stable of bikes, I think that I want a R1200S...for squid hunting
A R1200GS ADV for the hundreds of miles of fantastic Western US dirt and fire roads,
And a K1200GT for traveling.

Hi Dean-o,

I have not yet gotten a ride on a K12R or a K12S

I did, however, have the opportunity to smoke a K12R on the track a couple of weeks ago on my R1, which, characteristically undiplomatically, I gloated about in the K1200R forum a couple of weeks ago.

The sheer monstrosity of the R1 notwithstanding, I think the K-bike would be a great squid "seek-and-destroy" bike in the right hands. I think the K12R or S might be redundant with the GT, so perhaps we should get one of each between us and switch up every few months

How about the HP-2? Seems like it would be a great bike for tromping around the White Mountains. One of the BMW salesmen at the dealership in Chandler purchased HP2 frame number 12 and it has just arrived at the Port of L.A. - he will be picking it up within the next couple of weeks and trailering it back here.

Anyway, take a spin on the R1 and feel the power some time - my ride is street legal and is always available to you, but I don't think I'll be headed up the mountain again for a few months. Current weather here is 72 F and delightfully sunny. In fact - I am heading out to catch the afternoon CCS races at Firebird.

[AZ1150]

I traded my 1150R on an 03 KRS a year or so back, probably at the same dealer. I sometimes miss the twin, having owned three boxers. But every time I look around I can't find anything that does everything I want quite as well.

I'm certainly no Ricky racer, but I've managed to pretty much eliminate the chicken strips on my Avons. You always know the bike is a 600 pounder, but that has its benefits, she won't be pushed around at speed.

I've recently swapped my short Ztechnic screen for a Parabellum +8 windscreen for our brutal winters. Maybe a bit of overkill, but last weekend in Show Low it was quite comfy. I run the seat in the low position, feels a bit more like you're in the bike rather than perched on top. I run the bars in the mid position. I've tried all the way up and all the way back but seem to be most comfortable in the middle. I'm sure its height and reach dependent.

As you noted, she certainly has adequate power. Dyno tunning with a Power Commander netted 122 RWHP. Before mounting the Staintune, it seemed almost electric motor like. Now at least it sounds like a motorcycle.

All in all, its probably the best all around bike I've owned. Comfortable enough for easy 500 mile days. With the heated seat from a GT, heated grips, and an electric vest, visits to the high country don't end until the snow falls.

I still miss the boxer, but the next one will probably have to be an addition instead of a replacement.

Harry