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

A friendly Hallo!
Not new to boxers but new to R1200R ownership.Not wanting to preach to the choir
and bore people a few impressions about the R1200R for people not (yet) riding one.
I myself come from a R1100S a bike I love(d) for the last 10 seasons.
Sporty,good looking,fun to ride,solo fast or touring 2-up,it covered the whole spectrum almost perfectly.The tank range was a little smallish and later I started to lust over the smoother,faster revving and more powerful 1200 boxer engines.
Bought an R1200S.Great sporty bike but unfortunately challenged on the practical side of life.Definately no 2-up bike and after 300 miles or so your bum starts to burn where the old 1100S was good for 600 miles and more.I did 1200 on it and was still able to enjoy the evening afterwards!
The R1200ST could have been the logical choice.But looks and handling left me cold.
The R1200R is a very overlooked bike.Not a model but the girl next door...
Beauty is only skin deep...
I must say the R1200R is the most practical and fun bike I ever rode!
Much better than a GS which is already a very good bike.
The best BMW and probably the best motor-cycle,period!
And I will try to explain why I think so...
First the engine.Great.Very smooth and strong enough.Very good fuel economy and easy for do it yourselfers to adjust the valves.Try that on a japanese,italian or austrian machine...
Also much more characterful than any boring inline-4.
Put a full Staintune system on it.Beautiful boxer sound and 10 lbs less weight.
Worth the money if you like some music.
The handling is awesome.As easy to ride as a moped and still super stable.
For beginners and experts alike!
Did not get the ESA but put Ohlins on my.Not cheap but definately worth the money as the stock suspension feels a little soft/underdampened.
And the yellow springs look so purdy,especially on a black bike...
Very comfortable and practical.Have the high seat on it.No need for an often ugly looking "tractor" aftermarket seat.
Big bags,practical luggage rack,centerstand and underseat storage.A real BMW!
Just wish BMW would still put a quality toolkit and tire repair kit under the seat!
But we all know BMW never break down or catch nails in the tires...
The brakes are amazing.Better than even the great EVO-ABS system without the added complexity of the servo system.Very good.
The tranny on my 09 R1200R shifts smoother than on my 07 R1200S which clunks in the 1st and 2nd gear.Definately an improvement since they put in the new HP2-S trannys beginning in spring 2008...
Comfortable,sporty,practical,what is not to like?!
A little pricey but it is really one motorcycle that does it all without any real alternative on the market.Characterful boxer engine,great handling,powerful,smooth,easy on gas,cheap on maintenance,shaft drive,ABS,the whole enchilada
I'm very happy with the "queen of the alps" according to european moto mag "Motorrad".
Or as british mag "Bike" wrote,"Better than a GS"!
Besides the full Staintune system and the Ohlins I did a few other useful (for me) modifications.A lower LSL superbike handlebar to sit less upright.Coming from the S I don't like the sit up and beg seating position.Two PIA H11 bulbs for a very bright headlight.An oilcooler screen to prevent the oilcooler from getting pepperd by debris,BMW forgot to put on.And also a K1300S 14 LED taillight much better looking than the "baboon/tongue" K1200S taillight,that come stock on the 1200R.
The R1200R is much more than the sum of it's parts.
Don't judge the book by it's cover like I did...
The R1200R is a true sleeper and fantastic motorcycle
I'll keep the R1200S,though,for my shallow moments...

Boxer-Lust wrote:.And also a K1300S 14 LED taillight much better looking than the "baboon/tongue" K1200S taillight,that come stock on the 1200R.

would you mind posting a picture ? how was the installation ? plug & play ?

I don't have a picture but is is the same unit as the new K1300S has.
Looks much better I.M.H.O....
Plug and play?Almost.Buy the taillight and the K1200S harness.
Have to crimp a few wires,that attach to the taillight bulb and on a few bikes you have to put a "flashkiller/5 ohm resitor" beween the power wire if the burnt out taillight warning comes on.On some bikes it does,on others it doesn't...
The unsolved mysteries of the can-bus system...
Proff that the R1200R has soul to it...

welcome!

u pretty much summed it all very good.

too bad you have the wrong color.

How much is a staintune system? tks.

It retails for $600 each,headers and muffler.But especially in this economy it never hurts to ask for a discount...
Definately woth the money if you like a bike that sounds like a motorcycle
If you like it quiet stay stock.I don't think there any power improvements with aftermarket exhaust systems.All you get is a better sound,weight savings and if you change the header a more linear torque curve...

Mate, ive got 4 more longgggg days till i pick up my new beast , & after reading your write up iam pulling my bloody hair out, so thanks for that .......HURRY UP SATURDAY!!!!!

dav,it will be worth the "wait"...
Like I said,the best "motor-cycle" you can buy right now...
Pro's;
-great engine (strong,revvy,smooth,economical,characterful)
-comfortable (even 2-up)
-practical (bags,rack,centerstand,underseat strage)
-superb handling (quick steering and still stable)
-timeless design
-sporty and comfortable enough to tour on (a backroad blaster!)
-easy to do the maintenance yourself (screw type valve adjustment)
-great brakes!
-ABS
-shaft drive
-telelever (no fork dive)
-boardcomputer (gear indicator,time,temp.,mpg,miles until empty)
-good windproctection with factory sport-shield (big enough to keep tiring windblast
off your body and not too big to cause annoying buffeting like a lot of other bigger aftermarket screens I tried...
Con's;
-a little pricey (but definately worth the money and really no alternative from
other manufacturers)
-quality tool-kit is missing (should be included for the money)
-showa shocks a little soft and not of best quality or rebuildable (nothing more $$$
for a quality Ohlins pair couldn't solve... )
-mine came with not the latest rubber you would expect on a BMW like this;instead
M3,Z6,PP or PR2 with older Pilot Roads...

I have done the same mods as you have.
Ohlins, lower fat bars, remus exhaust, and BST carbon fibre wheels.
Would post pic's if I new how too!
Come from the R12S and the same.
This bike turn in quicker, steers quicker and I can ride it faster because I have better control.
Also the motor is fatter down under 6,000 rpm.

Kieran R1200R wrote:I have done the same mods as you have.
Ohlins, lower fat bars, remus exhaust, and BST carbon fibre wheels.
Would post pic's if I new how too!
Come from the R12S and the same.
This bike turn in quicker, steers quicker and I can ride it faster because I have better control.
Also the motor is fatter down under 6,000 rpm.

I would like to see a picture of those lower fat bars and BST fibre wheels. Tell us about them.
Somewhere on this site a good "how to" on posting pictures.

Mark

Boxer-Lust wrote: Definitely an improvement since they put in the new HP2-S trannys beginning in spring 2008...

I didn't know this. I have owned a 2007 and now own a 2009 and didn't notice. What is the difference? I'd love to see pics of your bike.

Ohlins, lower fat bars, remus exhaust, and BST carbon fibre wheels.

+1 on the pictures, I'm interested in seeing those rims too...

Here's a few, exhaust comes on Tuesday.

I had two R1100S's here's the second, first one I dumped bad!





This was a sport with higher suspension, then I put wilbers on it.

Had it for about 2 years and the wife didn't want to ride because she fell pregnant, so I did a silly thing and went out and bought a R1200S.





Had this for 16 months and was tired of having sore wrists, besides I wanted to go touring again, so I went and bought the R1200R.



This bike is fantastic, I love riding her and she turns and steers faster than my S. Has a beautiful tourquey motor with enough grunt for me.

Exhaust came today, here are a few photo's with it on.

Man, I LOVE the look of the Remus, and performance is supposed to be excellent.
The Ohlins look great, too. Form and Function!!

Regarding Remus, back in F800 world, one of the members there did an *exhaustive* dyno test comparing Stock vs. Remus vs. Leo Vince.

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread. ... light=dyno

I think the Remus won the comparo...

The new tranny (from the HP2-S) with bigger bearings and slightly different gear ratios was put on R1200R bikes from spring 2008 one.I think build date 3/08 on...
You can see if it has a cast looking like a T above the bearing where the shift mechanism attaches to the tranny.Older trannies have like a circle at the tranny casing.
Shifts a little quieter and has bigger internal bearings...
Kieran,had/have the same bikes like you.R1100S,ex and now R1200S and R1200R,but black...
Decided on the aussie-made Staintune pipe.They always make a beautiful sound regardless what bike they are on and I don't know if Carbon fibre is such a good idea on exhaust systems with heat and vibration,even if it looks pretty.
My handlebar is from LSL in germany for $99.Goes with the stock clamps and you can save the risers.I thought the stock handlebar was too tall...
Otherwise same modifications;Ohlins,tintet BMW sports-shield,Ilmberger hugger to protect the Ohlins,BMW bags and K1300S LED-taillight...
Love the bike even more than the R1200S which is a prettier bike and has a little more steam on top... But beauty is only skin deep...

Forgot to comment about your carbon fibre BST wheels.
They sure look pretty but honestly can you feel the difference in handling?
Or only in your wallet... $3000...outch!
I wouldn't trust any mechanics doing tire changes as hamfisted and non caring most are unfortunately nowadays...

Keiran,

You mention sore wrists on the R12S.

You have changed the handlebars on the R1200R. Do they perform as well as they look.

I have wanted to change the handlebars but haven't done so because I was worried about two issues:
(1) clearance between bars & tank when steering (obviously parking, moving the bike around - not when under motor)
(2) fatigue - just returned to Sydney from Phillip Island for example, over 1,000 k's not a prblem with OEM bars but a potential issue with flatter bars.

If you haven't encountered any negatives I'm going shopping!

That is one great looking bike!