BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Get the motoport gear in mesh; air blows right though it; you can layer easily if it's cold. Heat is not an issue with the bike. R12 is very reliable. I sometimes wear lighter non gear clothing and always chide myself and feel unsafe. Nothing will do much with blunt force trauma but road rash is no fun. BMW types wear gear generally; out of fear or being a more thoughtful crowd. HD types wear wife beaters and have girlfriends on the back. Go figure. Buy the bike. Ex Prof has worn jeans for 51 years but he rides with tremendous awareness and confidence. I still over-ride once in a while. Buy the bike.

The engine heat on the R is a non issue, really. I had a problem, or so I thought, last year after synching my throttle bodies: I thought I leaned the bike out drastically. As part of my trouble shooting process I quized the service manager at the dealer that did my warranty work and asked about the expected temperature of the heads/exhaust outlets. He could not find an exact number but thought it should be well below 300 f.

This past weekend I rode 250 miles or so prior to an oil change in 90f+ weather. When I got home I shot the heads with my IR thermometer and both were below 250f within 10 minutes of shutting the engine off. Part of that ride was in light traffic in downtown Louisville, KY and I felt no adverse heat from the engine. The wind over the cylinders at speed disapates the heat quite well. If you want to experience heat I suggest you take a Buell for a ride, you then know what a hota$$ bike is like.

As for gear, as was stated earlier if you can afford the bike you can afford a decent set of gear. I will only say that my opinion is riders should wear gear. But that choice is up to the individual, I've got no dog in that fight.

Go ride one and bring your checkbook

Only time I had my R creep over 5 bars and made me feel some heat from the engine was in the city in a major gridlock with 30 C temps after about 45 minutes.