Why the R1200R?

[daveyator]

I had a R1100R. The best bike I'd ever ridden. I couldn't get enough of it until I rode one of these damn things. The 1200R fixed all of the flaws (well the 2 for me namely the seat and not the "zip" level I'd like). Now I'm just scared of when BMW improves this bike!

[vodka]

Hi all from Oz... I've had my licence for 2 1/2 yrs. Went from good ol GS 500 . Test rode the 1200R and started laughing during the test ride. I didnt do this testing any other bike and I test rode about 6 different bikes from street Triple to Kawa ZRX 1200. Like I said I just started laughing. Second test ride ...started laughing again felt like as its been said before, I had come home. The screen etc issues just keep me thinking . Problem solving is good for your soul..........

[xprof]

Why the R1200R? For me the criteria were: (1) naked bike, no fiberglass panels, (2) sit-up-straight "standard" configuration, (3) single, round headlight, (4) shaft drive. I also like steel gas tanks and tubular bars. And my wife said I could have any new bike provided it was a BMW. When I saw the R1200R I just knew it was the one, and bought it without even asking for a test ride. Is there another choice? Not for me!

[xprof]

Why the R1200R? For me the criteria were: (1) naked bike, no fiberglass panels, (2) sit-up-straight "standard" configuration, (3) single, round headlight, (4) shaft drive. I also like steel gas tanks and tubular bars. And my wife said I could have any new bike provided it was a BMW. When I saw the R1200R I just knew it was the one, and bought it without even asking for a test ride. Is there another choice? Not for me!

[kidtwist]

No fairing and general good looks are why I choose it among the BMWs, though it was tough choice between it and the GS. The lower cost of the R1200R made the difference, also I'm not crazy about the beak on the GS. I choose a BMW boxer because I wanted the distinctiveness of the boxer engine, rather than all the inline fours and twins (or v-twins) available. I also wanted to buy a motorcycle from a manufacturer with a long history.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

I am limited in my choices due to being vertically challenged...I like everything about the R1200R so I can't wait until next week when I actually get to ride one. This past winter at the motorcycle shows I just kept going back to it.....There is something about hte bike that just catches my eye...

[icecave]

In the 70s, I tested a R90 (?) following a number of years of dirt bike riding. After that ride, I said to myself I'm going to get a bimmer someday. Looking back, I must of had that same grin when I got of it when years later I finally got my R. Simple, elegant, and all-around. Recently, the BMW demo truck was in town and test rode the K1300S, R1200 GS (low suspension), and R1200 RT. Each is a unique experience but as I rode home that day...I can still say I'm very happy with my bike.

[LumpyCam]

My R12R commutes every day, covers 1,000km days on tour, and survives the Canadian winter. The hard cases hold everthing i need, but pop off in seconds. It looks great. The ESA makes it a breeze when a pillion jumps on and the ABS saves me more than i'd wish to admit.

There's nothing left wanting.

[Josh_S]

The R1200R is the best all around bike around. I rode fro LA to Mote Rey, its wonderful on the highway and comfortable. I dropped my side cases in a hotel and spent the day Riding the Laguna Seca track, it is wonderful on the track. Rode through the Santa Cruze mountains, loving every curve then a long slab ride home. It was wonderful at every task I asked of it. I knew I wanted a standard, Naked. At 6'4 the beemer is the best fit for me. and once I test rode it... well I bought it on the spot.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

It is wonderful to see such glowing reviews...you guys are making me wish that my test ride was booked for tomorrow and not next Saturday...

[snag]

Motorcycle_Girl,

I bought my 08 in February last year, in the middle of the Canadian winter. No test ride, no thorough, exhaustive plow through specs on websites, none of that. We had just bought the bride a new CBR125R and I thought that going to the BMW dealer would be a nice stop on the way home. Looked at it on Saturday, bought it on Tuesday. In between, I did my research, a lot of it right here. The neatest little factory farkle (sorry) was getting the bags keyed to the ignition key which has been a real treat.

Now to my point: Unbeknownst to me, one of my buds had ordered a new K1200S the same February weekend and the bikes would be coming on the same boat in early June and we wound up picking up the bikes the same day. When I talked to him the night before, he was giddy with excitement. As we finished up our conversation he said: Tonight feels like Christmas Eve when I was a little kid. He's 38, I'm 55 and I thought wow, that's how I feel too! It's great to be a kid again at 38 or 55! It was a good Christmas Day.

You're going to love the bike. As mentioned above, it will fill any role that you want it to and I think that that is what is truly special about this bike, it's a true reconnaissance machine. Soooo capable in so many roles, you couldn't ask for a better riding companion (except for the significant other, of course).

As said many times here, take your checkbook to the 1st demo ride, you'll need it.

Doug

[grapeman!]

For me, I had my eye on a Triumph Tiger. Even went to the dealer with checkbook in hand. Did not even know the r1200r existed. The Tiger sat just a little to tall for me. So in the process of working out the details of getting the Tiger lowered, the dealer suggested the r1200r. Frankly it had/has everything I wanted, without having to do surgery to the ergonomics.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

There are so many bikes that dropped out of the running for me because I don't want to get into the whole lowering thing...it limits my options but when one of the options that is still on the table is the R1200R it can't be all bad can it?

[grapeman!]

Doing surgery to the ergonomics (raising or lower the bike) is a risky thing. I have known folks who have spent more then a couple grand getting the bike to "feel right again". For me, the R12R was correct in standard setup (middle size seat and standard height). If I needed a lowered bike, I would trust the BMW engineers to do a better job (i.e. the lowered version of the R12R) then I could do with the aftermarket trial and error process.

[deilenberger]

Doing surgery to the ergonomics (raising or lower the bike) is a risky thing. I have known folks who have spent more then a couple grand getting the bike to "feel right again". For me, the R12R was correct in standard setup (middle size seat and standard height). If I needed a lowered bike, I would trust the BMW engineers to do a better job (i.e. the lowered version of the R12R) then I could do with the aftermarket trial and error process.

What the BMW engineers did is exactly what I did a year before they did it - put on shorter shocks. What I haven't been able to determine is if they did it a way that retains normal suspension travel, or if they did it the cheap way (spacer inside the shock), which means you loose suspension travel. I've been trying to get to a BMW lowered one to do some shock measurements.

It's not really trail and error if you work with an experienced suspension vendor.

[Phillo]

Early 2007 I was keen on the F800S or ST but then I took the "R" for a test run and that was it. Then when I had a problem with the "R" (see Firing on One) one of the loan bikes I was given by the dealer was a 2008 - R1200GS. Someone told me prior to this that the GS was the best handling of all the Beemers but I did not believe it - Im not knocking the "R" at all it's a magic bike but now having bought a 2009 GS with all the options I do believe. It is difficult to describe the handling - the only way I can is to say - if you go winding it into a bend too fast and start running out of road you just lean it a little more and you are through.

[gersh10]

I picked the R1200R because I’d fallen in love with the looks of the R1150R a few years back, and when the R1200R came out my heart skipped a beat and I just knew I was in love…

I was looking at several bikes the Honda ST1300, Aprilia Shiver and the Manna, also love the Ducati Monster 696. But what it came down to was I wanted a naked bike that had the option to tour on. After a lot of research it came down to the R. It’s the only bike you can go from touring mode to naked sexy street fighter in less than 5 minutes. It’s the only bike that if you mount hard bags on the side that when you take them off you don’t have an exoskeleton hanging where the bags use to be. I also wanted a bike that could carry two up through the mountains without working too hard. I’m also a big fan of the drive shaft vs. chain.

What I see in the R1200R is a versatile dependable motorcycle that looks awesome!!!

Todd

[Bheckel169]

Bought a new 06 1200 RT and loved it for open roads and touring. It was a great bike for roads in Utah. Then I moved to western North Carolina and there are so many more twisty roads here and I found the RT to be a bit top heavy. So, I did my homework, got on this forum and read everything about the bike and everyone here liked about their bike. Went into the local BMW store in Greenville and bought the bike with no test drive at all. While servicing the bike, one of the mechanics took the bike out and came back and said it was his favorite bike. It was smooth as butter was the way he put it. The owner also said the 1200 R was his favorite and when I rode the bike home I knew what they meant. This is one of the best kept secrets in the BMW motorcycle line and I absolutely can't wait to get on this bike every free moment I have.
Bruce

[Caroanbill]

I was keen on the F800S or ST but then I took the "R" for a test run and that was it.

Ditto. I'd always liked the R1150R but felt it was too heavy for a naked bike - its ergos were almost perfect.
Went looking for intermediate power and weight, up from my F650CS and the F800 just diidn't do it for me.

30 seconds into my R1200R test I thought I'd be buying one - 30mins of test ride later I was sure. Factors were:
- great seating/riding position (since tweaked to perfect riding position)
- telelever (already a great open road suspension) sharpened for city and tight work, with zero brake dive
- great brakes (without the whine of the R1150xx) power brakes
- good middling weight (enough for open-road ride comfort, light around towns)
- full luggage available (hated the F800 / K1300 panniers)
- strong open road power with a good top end
- better shaft system (the old paralever was way too heavy)

20 months of ownership and 20,000km in open and mountain roads have completely confirmed my decision. This bike has the best combination of vestatility and competence of any bike I've owned. If I lived in slightly more open streets (I'm in tight inner city streets and have short legs) it would be my only bike.

I need the low seat, but not the lowered bike - though I would want it lower if it was my city scoot (F650CS does that role). I also lowered the pegs to unbend my kness and added the MV bar-backs - this was to perfect the great seating position rather than to cure any problems. Replaced the OEM shocks (to harsh in the front for my taste) with Wilbers. Added an Airhawk seat pad (also got a Corbin seat but it's useless for my size).

There are other all-round litre-class bikes available, but none have this combination of mid-weight, advanced suspension and brakes, shaft (or belt) drive and integrated luggage.

[lowflying]

Good...and...Bad!

Good:

I can echo a lot of the comments above. I was trying to cut a deal on an F800ST and was having no luck getting down to a figure I was happy with. To kill time mostly, I took a slightly used R1200R for a ride. I always thought they were an old man's bike and absolutely knew I would NEVER be seen on such an oddity! Well, I came back from the ride absolutely stunned and confused. I couldn't believe the riding experience.

Anyway, for the price of an F800ST, I rode off with a 1400 kilometre, granite gray (my fave colour), ABS, OBC, akrapovic can and sport screen-equipped '07 R12R. I didn't have to wait and I haven't regretted it for a second since, especially when I twist the throttle!

Bad:

BUT...I feel it's important to include the bad part. I keep my bike garaged and generally avoid the rain, however there is more corrosion on my R12R than on my '83 Honda CB1100F Bol D'Or! My bike is just out of warranty but when I go in for my 20000km service I will be (diplomatically) pointing this out to my dealer. I don't honestly expect any action but I feel I have to point this out and am actually moved to the point where I will write a letter to BMW Australia about it. My mirrors are rusting where they screw in to the bars, there is rust on the metal bit that houses the throttle cable as it exits the twist grip, and there is general corrosion on various fasteners elsewhere.

So, love the techology, performance and riding experience. I am totally underwhelmed by the apparent quality of the manufacturing though. I seriously did not expect this of BMW (after all we pay more!) and it makes me question whether I would buy another...