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

"the R1200R is involving and a ton of fun – not quite what you’d expect from the conservative low-key looks... and this sort of behaviour is obviously best done in a 20 year-old Belstaff jacket for effect" - One Wheel Drive

"a neatly detailed but otherwise restrained roadster" - Motorcyclist

"a vintage charm" - Cycle Canada

Okay, not that i really care, but sometimes I do wonder why there seems to be an overwhelming response that the R1200R is best suited to Sunday rolls under the cherry blossoms. I mean, since when did 100hp at the rear wheel become geriatric qualifications?

I was reminded of this today when i parked next to a Ducati Monster -- a fine bike i would also be proud to own -- but I was curious how similar the two bikes look, at least superficially. There's differences in rake and wheelbase and such, but is that enough to render one a "Monster" and the other "vintage"?

I think the majority of 12R owners might have or have had a 20 year old Belstaff Jacket... but that just goes to show the more experienced riders have good taste.

Personally I enjoy not having to have a red Ducati to show my manhood or coolness.



And for those that don't like it:

The color choice does affect the way the bike is perceived. Red would have been cool. Daytona orange would have been perfect for this bike. But I have the black with stripes, and the cops ignore me. That's pretty cool too.

ChiTown wrote: And for those that don't like it:

Best . . . photo . . . ever!

Make it your personal goal to go out and school a Ducati or Triumph or Honda or Kawasaki in the twisties. Do it with your BMW hard bags on. If possible school someone born after the 1st term of the Reagan Administration.
It is satisfying.

And besides there are some old wimmin who ride R1200Rs too.

Mark

celticus wrote:Make it your personal goal to go out and school a Ducati or Triumph or Honda or Kawasaki in the twisties. Do it with your BMW hard bags on. If possible school someone born after the 1st term of the Reagan Administration.
It is satisfying.

And besides there are some old wimmin who ride R1200Rs too.

Mark

DONE ! Victims: R6, GSXR



And, with the LARGE top case on it too !

Doug: Age 61 and not participating in the "age" thing

I got that comment nearly every time when i mentioned that i was buying a beemer, but then again i could't care less what other people might think.

When my father & i go riding (a few times a month) he rides the R12R & i ride the R65, & when we stop for lunch or something & start chatting to the other bikers around they ALWAYS seem to think my father owns both bikes "how long have you owned the R65/R12R for" "when did you pick up R12R", but the old man proudly answers back "the young lad owns them", there faces tell the story when they hear this (& we have a laugh later), its like there speechless after hearing this. Like how can a 35yr old own a boxer let alone two, only old men can own & ride the flat boxer twin.

And thats the reason i ride a 'beemer', for the flat boxer twin, not because its a 'beemer'. Not my fault BMW make one of the best engine layouts around.

LumpyCam wrote:I mean, since when did 100hp at the rear wheel become geriatric qualifications?

Since they started making bikes with 175hp

I guess in my case this is true, and I'm proud of it.
I've been riding on the street for almost 50 years (next year it's 50), every year, I didn't go away and come back. I've been told I wouldn't make 21, then 35, then it was you better slow down, then don't you think your getting a little old to do that. I know my eyesight,strength and reflexes are going away and I can't ride as well as I used to, but knowing the problem is half the cure.
Those years and miles have given me a very specific idea of what I want to ride. For me, I know one bike won't do it, but one of my bikes is a R1200R and it fits its role perfectly.

I ride a Beemer (actually 2) and I'm old.
And-YES I did just pass him.

mogu83 wrote:And-YES I did just pass him.

A wolf in old sheep's clothing.

Hey Harry, I too just hit 49 years of motorcycling. Old guys rule!

I just threw together a minute's worth of R1200R footage from a recent shoot. So, in addition to the R1200R being the best all-around bike I've ever owned, it's also one of the most handsome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY9Ai6_E0BM

Oh yeah, I'm old... old enough to appreciate a great bike.

>--
Peckhammer

And besides there are some old wimmin who ride R1200Rs too.

Am a "wimmin" but with 45 since two days ago- feel still very young and will be riding my first R1200R from tomorrow onwards! BTW love the pics posted here- both a great!
Stef.

See, they breed us smart down here in Aus. Dav from Sydney already has two boxers and he's the tender age of 35 and I bought my R1200R 8 months ago when I was 30.

We have more room for luggage too as we dont have to carry our zimmer frames with us......


My terrible joke is followed with much respect.......

I've had the surf-board colored crotch rocket challenge of "Wanna race?"

My reply is - "Sure, for title, but I get to pick the race.."

That's usually met with puzzlement (as much as is possible - hard to actually spot since they have little to puzzle with..) and I continue with "How about here (NJ) about to Los Angeles? Been meaning to visit my son.."

That generally shuts them up.

I think it's great when I roll past a police check and the sportbike behind me gets tagged...

If they only knew what a hooligan bike this can be... in the wrong hands, of course.

Don't let it get out, an uninformed public is our friend!

Peter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Drj3AXHet8

>The R1200R is for old men!

Well, in the boxer world, I think the R1200R is about the youngest crowd. To be fair, I don't think most 20-somethings can afford one if they wanted it.

The question is, how old do you have to be ride an LT or Goldwing?

Scott (who is 50 for 17 more days).

Mollygrubber wrote:I think it's great when I roll past a police check and the sportbike behind me gets tagged...

If they only knew what a hooligan bike this can be... in the wrong hands, of course.

Don't let it get out, an uninformed public is our friend!

Peter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Drj3AXHet8

A nice quiet ( stock ) exhaust is good for that too.

Mark

celticus wrote:A nice quiet ( stock ) exhaust is good for that too.

Mark

ha, if you rode open piped, I bet the police would be looking around for the bike making all that noise... "it can't be that old man bike..."

I wonder what people make of Chitown's footpegs (or remainder thereof). Dammit Joe, get some new ones on there, you're blowing our cover!!

tinytrains wrote:>The R1200R is for old men!

The question is, how old do you have to be ride an LT or Goldwing?

It depends on the rider and it depends on the 'wing.

I was 25 when a friend and I rode Gold Wings (a '75 and a '77) from Menlo Park, CA to Prudhoe Bay, AK.

With the R1200R ... I think it's simply that it's *gasp* a standard, and it's not a Ducati. People just don't know what to make of them; they tend to defy categorization and pigeon-holing.

Just the kind of bike I like, actually.

Good roads,

- Lewellen