R1200R in the new issue of Cycle World

[NCGS]

Bottom line - they love it! If you're on the fence about a new R-bike, don't ride one and don't read about it - either way it's gonna cost you some money.

'nuff said.

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks NCGS...I'm one of those still on the fence...and my bank account says to stay there.

For me it's not so much about what the mags say..or what the spec's say..even performance figures.

I have to fall in love with the look..the shape..at all angles..the fit..and the ride..maybe it's just me.

With my R1150R I loved the look...maybe the new 1200 will grow on me once I see the real thing.

DJ

[r1150rider]

I have to fall in love with the look..the shape..at all angles..the fit..and the ride..maybe it's just me.

With my R1150R I loved the look...maybe the new 1200 will grow on me once I see the real thing.

Hey, DJ- I felt the same way. I never really got warm and fuzzy with any of the images of the 1200, but when I saw it in person it was so obvious that it has it's roots in the 1150... even the shape of the tank somewhat mimics the shape of the tank and oil cooler inlets of the 1150!

In the last couple of years I've tried bikes as diverse as an FJR and a Dyna-Glide with the thought of replacing the "R", neither were up to the task. But I think the 1200 will be... the extra power and lighter weight are fine and all, but "the look" is there (in my opinion) and I believe it will be every bit as popular as the 1150's have been. My problem is that I don't want to part with my 1150, it's easily the best moto I've ever owned...

[johno]

Hey DJ, any word on when we will see one in Australia??
Not that I can afford one either.
After spending a fortune on my R, I wouldnt be game to mention a new bike to missus.

[DJ Downunder]

Hey Johno...yes...the dealers have been told this month..well tomorrow's next month..so maybe they mean that..

We have the big Motorcycle Expo in Melbourne at the end of this week..( October 6-8 ) I'm hoping it will be there..I'm sure it will be..

btw...

Johno...how about posting a pic or two of the 'Blue Lake'...isn't that Mt Gambier's trade mark (big attraction). http://www.mountgambiertourism.com.au/ ..

It's a beautiful place...I've been through once ages ago..a great place to have a dirt bike..I might do a great ride over there one day..and catch up with you..

Ok...back to the R1200R...

DJ

[cmack]

My R has been gone for 6 months, and the Cycle World pic of the new 12R in black was enough to bring me back here... It certainly invoked a feeling, but I'm still not sure if it was a feeling of must have or nostalgia for the old beauty! The only design issue I have with the new 12R is the tank/oil cooler setup. It looked so agressive on the 1150, and it just doesn't do it for me with that exposed seam at the bottom of the tank. There is a heck of a lot to like though... but for the price they're asking, I doubt I'll run out to the dealer. I know better...

[AllanCook]

I just finished the Cycle World review, and Beau Allen Pacheco positively gushes about the R1200R. Coming in for particular praise was the new ABS system:

"Gone is the grabbiness caused by brakes that suddenly received a bunch of unexpected servo assist. In most ways, the R1200R's brakes behave like exceptionally good conventional stoppers, the ABS and linked functions seeming almost invisible. The bike stops remarkably well, but you end up believing that your skills, not any assisting devices, is what's responsible."

There also are a couple of nice sidebars on the ABS/ASC system and the recent BMW "meeting" in Garmisch-Partenkirken (where I spent my 20th birthday camping in the snow). The latter piece is worth it if for no other reason than the photo of the old Beemerphile in lederhosen. I guess that's what passes for ATGATT in Bavaria.

[socalrob]

Regarding 1200's lack of oil coolers on the tank, I'm waiting to ride one & see if the new oil cooler location smooths out some of the turbulant air issues so many of us had with various screens.

Function over prettiness for me.

[johno]

Good photo DJ, I live just down from the lake to the right of the picture.
If I could work out how to post picks, I would put some up.
Keith Haynes may come down someday, maybe come with him.

[ebiker]

Regarding 1200's lack of oil coolers on the tank, I'm waiting to ride one & see if the new oil cooler location smooths out some of the turbulant air issues so many of us had with various screens. Function over prettiness for me.

The roaring wind turbulance produced by the R1150R oil coolers was one major reason why I gave up any attempts at long distance riding with the Roadster. I even tried several helmet, windshield and wing vent combinations. I eventually traded off what I still consider to be a fine motorcycle.

On the subject of BMW's servo assist brake function, my '05 did not have servo, nor did it even need servo assist, thank you.

I'm told that for model year 2007, the only BMW motorcycle with servo assist will be the K1200LT, which IMHO, does NOT need power assist brakes.

[AllanCook]

"Roaring wind turbulence" is a new one to me. I rode 30,000 miles on my 1150 with just a fly screen and wind noise was never an issue. Maybe I wasn't riding fast enough. Let me ask you this, though: Do you use earplugs? I had never used them until a few years ago, but gave them a try after a friend suggested them. The effect was amazing. It eliminated wind noise almost totally and made riding long distances a good deal more comfortable. If you haven't tried earplugs, I highly recommend them. With a full-face helmet, of course.

[DJ Downunder]

I found the fly screen ok..a little buffertie at higher speeds..but if it's quiet that you want..you can't beat my little GS wind deflector.

It feels like no screen at all..but there's no real wind hitting you in the chest area like what you get having no screen at all..and it's soooo quiet..I love it.

DJ

[ebiker]

"Roaring wind turbulence" is a new one to me. I rode 30,000 miles on my 1150 with just a fly screen and wind noise was never an issue. Maybe I wasn't riding fast enough. Let me ask you this, though: Do you use earplugs? I had never used them until a few years ago, but gave them a try after a friend suggested them. The effect was amazing. It eliminated wind noise almost totally and made riding long distances a good deal more comfortable. If you haven't tried earplugs, I highly recommend them. With a full-face helmet, of course.

Oh Gosh, earplugs and a fullface helmet.....why didn't I think of using that in my past 40 some years of riding a motorcycle, behind every BMW windshield or fairing the past 30 years, thru damn near very state in the US and into Canada. Yes "Roaring Wind Turbulence" or "Dirty Air" coming up from the oil cooler areas, at speeds of 70-80PMH, was enough to give me a splitting headache after 450miles. You said you rode 30K miles on your R1150R? Wow, I ridden only 21,000 miles since January 2006.

OK, sarcastic mode is turned off! Sorry! I guess you meant well.

I used the BMW Touring windshield on my '05 R1150R, used several types of ear plugs and tried several different helmets, to include Shoei Elite and Shoei Syncrotec. However, I didn't install the Aeroflow tank wings due to their interference with the touring windshield....

http://www.aeroflowscreens.com/images/R ... ings/1.jpg

Say...you don't suppose Aeroflow sells these wings to R1150R owners who don't experience "Roaring Wind Turbulence"?

Oops.... Sarcastic mode slipped out again, sorry.

[socalrob]

Hey, I didn't mean to start a flap.

I have a sport screen with tank bag on my R1150R, and find that there is more tiurbulance than I would find ideal (but not all that bad) in the 70-95mph range. Below & above that very smooth air (bike is really smooth & stable with the sport screen well above 100), unfortunately that 70-95 is where I tend to cruise on the highway (well, at about 80 really).

With earplugs it is still a bit louder than I would prefer, but NEW earplugs do work better.

As I understand that the tank wing things reduce the turbulance, it does not seem to me a stretch that our oil coolers may very well be the source of said turbulance.

BTW, a summer or two ago I took off the screen and liked that very well. I'd like to try that little fly screen thing on the new 1200.

All speeds above are indicated. My speedo is 9 percent optimistic.

[Biff's R]

tank wings = fugly

[peterbulgar]

Regarding 1200's lack of oil coolers on the tank, I'm waiting to ride one & see if the new oil cooler location smooths out some of the turbulant air issues so many of us had with various screens.

Function over prettiness for me.

I'm not so sure that an oil cooler mounted directly behind the front wheel will be very functional when it gets clogged with mud thrown up by the front wheel, or punctured by a rock. I forsee a big market for mudflaps and fender extenders.

Re the turbulence issue: This is the first time I've seen the twin oil radiators blamed for turbulence - interesting. FWIW I've done two longish trips of over 4k miles with the touring screen, and two trips of the same length with the CEE Bailey sport screen (similar to the BMW sport screen but slightly wider at the top). There was more noise behind the touring screen, but it was certainly tolerable to me with earplugs. When I got my bike three years ago and discovered this site I was alarmed to read about buffetting with the touring screen - some riders said that it was so severe that they couldn't see where they were going at high speeds. It was never an issue for me beyond a sense of a drumming noise above 75 mph. I suspect that taller riders have more of an issue with the touring screen than I do. On the other hand at 36k miles my bike still goes through a quart of oil every 2500 miles.

ebiker: you say that you gave up on your R for long distance riding, but then say that you've ridden 21k miles since January of this year. Not on the R then?
Peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA

[ebiker]

ebiker: you say that you gave up on your R for long distance riding, but then say that you've ridden 21k miles since January of this year. Not on the R then? Peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA

No, only put 1,000 miles on the '05 R1150R this year. (It had nearly 7K on the ODO when I traded it in May '06) This year I've ridden 15,000 miles on a 2006 GL1800 and 5,000 miles on a 2006 Harley Davidson FLTRI (Road Glide).

At times I miss the Roadster, but I haven't enough garage space for a third motorcycle.

[exp-plane]

Is there a different head design between the R1150RT and R1200RT? Specifically, does the 1200 head still use a single rocker arm for both intake and exhause valves, vice a normal design of two rocker arms?
This seems to make the valve adjustment rather tedious (say either expensive if done correctly, done half-*$s) and more frequent.
I currently ride a bike with hydrolic lifters that need never to be adjusted.

[ka5ysy]

Fence sitters: I happened to be by the local BMW dealer on the morning they received it and were pushing it out of the workshop after setup. It had a grand total of 3 miles when I took it on a test ride. 40 Miles later, I handed over my credit card for a deposit. 690 miles later it still is great.

Only thing I am still desiding on is the usefulness of the "sport screen". The wind blast is definitely off my chest, but at highway speed seems to be hitting my X-11 about midway between the chin bar and the top of the face shield, causing buffeting and rumble. I will probably order the tall screen which should solve that probem.


For those concerned about the oil cooler turbulence, there is none. I have no buffet at all on my legs. The front forks have airfoils on each side to direct air into the cooler, which works very effectively.

Summary: This is one really FINE bike. You get what you pay for.


Doug