A new R1200R

[BCC]

My wife and I are serial motorcycle owners, with a preference for BMW's.

I've recently purchased a 12GS ADV and my wife got a R12R last week.


Before she purchased, we both tested a demo R. This bike rocks. I've never ridden a 1150R so I can't offer a comparison, but my last bike was a K12S and I've had a RC-51, 600 f4i and other sportbikes in the recent past.

The 12R is the best roadbike by far of the bunch. My fav bike previously was a friends Tuono. The R handles just as well and goes like stink.

I realize the 12 costs more than the 1150r and that's putting some folks off. But try it, if you are looking for a nakedish bike.

Flickable, comfortable & extremely well balanced. Rock steady at triple digit speeds.

My wife won't let me ride hers. Dammit.

[socalrob]

BCC,

I've been itching to buy an R1200GSAdv for a month or two. My dream is to sell my R1150R, buy the GSA, & then pick up a Ducati S4RS as an about town/commuter.

Let us know how you like the GS & the new RR.

[Ric]

Hey BCC !

The bag on the back of you wifes RR, what make is it ? Where'd she get it ?

The bike is sharp....not sure how one can compare it to an RC51 & f4i, those are way total "back-Breaker" bikes set up largely for serious track time.

[DAV-AZ]

Socalrob--- I traded off my S4R after discovering it makes a lousy commuter. Too high strung for droning along to work. Never ran right at lower revs. Geared too high for practical use and not exactly comfortable. The R1200R is a much more satisfying ride. Will do freeway miles without drama, zip through traffic and then flat out git when conditions allow. In my humble opinion a much better bike than the Ducati for real world conditions. To further emphasize how much I like the R1200R, I got rid of my R1200GS within weeks of picking up the R. It's that fine a machine.

[BCC]

Hey BCC !

Ric,

The bag on the back of you wifes RR, what make is it ? Where'd she get it ?

The bike is sharp....not sure how one can compare it to an RC51 & f4i, those are way total "back-Breaker" bikes set up largely for serious track time.

The bag is a Chicane. It's actually meant for a tailrack, but by crossing the straps under the seat, it seems to work quite well. It comes with an attached rain cover too.

We got panniers for the bike, but wifey prefers a tailbag for every day riding.

I got the bag at Carolina BMW in Greensboro when we bought the bike.

I didn't mean to compare the riding position of the R to a RC51 & f4i, etc. I meant to say that the handling of the R (imo) is better as a roadbike than any of the sportbike I've had.

I'm sure I'd be faster at the track on my track bike (f4i) 'cause it's lighter with ohlins, higher top speed, etc. But on the street, with varying road surfaces, I'd be faster on the R. It's that good.

I'd love to take the R to a track day.

[BCC]

BCC,

I've been itching to buy an R1200GSAdv for a month or two. My dream is to sell my R1150R, buy the GSA, & then pick up a Ducati S4RS as an about town/commuter.

Let us know how you like the GS & the new RR.

Will do (Can you tell I just got a camera for Christmas?).

[Ric]

The bag is a Chicane.

ThX BC^2

[socalrob]

Thats a sharp looking GSA. My dealer has one in the crate last I was in.

People complain about the weight, but from what I've looked at it appears the GSA (without the extra gas) only weighs the same as the R1150R.

How tall are you, what inseam, & how close to flat footing it are you?

I hear you need to watch out for pulling out of a gas station driveway with a full tank to a nicely crowned street, stoping with one wheel on the drive apron & one on the asphalt, & trying to reach for the gutter with your feet.

[BCC]

Thats a sharp looking GSA. My dealer has one in the crate last I was in.

People complain about the weight, but from what I've looked at it appears the GSA (without the extra gas) only weighs the same as the R1150R.

How tall are you, what inseam, & how close to flat footing it are you?

I hear you need to watch out for pulling out of a gas station driveway with a full tank to a nicely crowned street, stoping with one wheel on the drive apron & one on the asphalt, & trying to reach for the gutter with your feet.

I'm 6' 3", pant inseam is 34" and I can flatfoot it on the higher of the 2 seat settings.

I read numerous stories about its weight before I took the bike out for a demo ride. I am not the greatest rider at parking lot speeds, so I was a little concerned. The 12GS ADV is easier, even with a full tank of gas, than the KS I had. It's flat out an easy bike to ride. I've only got 700-800 miles on the thing, but I find I usually don't even bother putting both feet down at a stoplight.

I think the 12GS ADV looks so big that it intimidates some folks when they first ride it. But I would guess a person with a 32" inseam could flat foot it and someone shorter could do it with the right boots. I'm 210 lbs without gear, so I might be compressing the suspension a little.

It's a great bike. My knees are the first things that get sore on me if riding all day. The legroom on this bike is great and I don't think I'll have a problem.

BTW, the regular GS is about 3/4" lower.

Having said all that, if I was not tall and didn't ride gravel or dirt, I'd look really hard at the R12R. Though I must admit I like the looks of the ADV, the panniers are great and the suspension makes the ride wonderful. And I can (theoretically) go almost anywhere.

Hope this rambling helps.

[yjleesvrr]

I think the GSA looks like the bomb. It looks like the SUV of motorcycles in a lot of ways. I'd love to own one, but at 5'10" and 30" inseam, I'm not sure about the seat height. At 209 lbs, I wonder how much I'd compress the suspension. I can ride the regular GS with no problems.

[celticus]

I rode a 05 GS this summer and had adaquate feet on the ground . I also have a 30" inseam but the bike was fine for me. It had one of those fine big butt hunging aftermarket seats too.
Mark

[Boxer]

Yong, I don't know how different the GSA is from the regular GS, but I test rode one at the open house. The GS that is. And I'm almost your identical size, 210lbs 5'10", with the same inseam and the new GS felt just about perfect. I came very close to flatfooting it on both sides. Next year my plan is to get a R1200GS, and the wife will hopefully be ready to inherit the Roadster.

[BCC]

Yong, I don't know how different the GSA is from the regular GS, but I test rode one at the open house. The GS that is. And I'm almost your identical size, 210lbs 5'10", with the same inseam and the new GS felt just about perfect. I came very close to flatfooting it on both sides. Next year my plan is to get a R1200GS, and the wife will hopefully be ready to inherit the Roadster.

GS ADV is 3/4" higher than the GS. Seats are interchangable. If you are comfy on the GS, I think the ADV would be fine.

Some guys concerned about the extra weight of the 8.7 gallon gas tank, don't fill it up for around town riding. Me? I'm not sensitive enough to notice the difference.

[Deans BMW]

Here is a good thread over at Adventure Rider about the R1200R.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192109

[celticus]

I think it would be nice if you could get the R1200R with a silver frame. Mix and match. Black body silver frame. Or red frame. How long till we see that someone has done that to their bike?
Mark

[Racegun]

Does the tail light look like the light on the K12S?

[celticus]

I don't think so. I only remember pictures of the "ape's ass" tail light on the KS and all of the bitching about it on K-Bike lists. I think mine has a less apeish but vaguely similar look. Doesn't bother me a bit.
Mark

[qgaex]

Hi

Rear light is the same as K12S.
BMW part no 63217680762.

Cheers

qgaex
*ofthelightbrigade*

[celticus]

I guess I'm easy to please.
Mark

[Racegun]

OUCH.... I will HAVE to change it out.....heck even a aftermarket light like what you can buy at an automotive parts house...they look like the tail lights on a step side chevy circa 1950's to 1960's....module effect, total self contained ect.

On the other hand, I also am super interested in the Megga Moto. The deal will be done if ABS is available on the megga. I road and like the HP2, it was just to tall to be used ( by me) for mostly street. Sence the roads in south louisiana are third world in quality, I am thinking the megga moto would handle the roads a bit better than a r1200r....

.BTW DEANSBMW, could you find out from Chris if he thinks the megga may allow for the option of ABS????? TIA!