2011 R1200R
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:39 pm
Thought I would put this here for the BMW fans too
OK, I have had the bike for over a month now, had my first service and put a few ks on.
WOW, what a bike. This is everything I wanted and more.
Every review I read said that this is a cornering demon, they were right. The bike is not just agile and nimble it is is phenomenally quick to turn, from upright or leaned over hard. The balance and synergy between the chassis and the power output is spot on. The power from an on road performance aspect is massively up from my 07 GS, the twin cam engine moves this bike effortlessly. I am not one for specs and data, I tell it how it feels, this bike feels fast. Short shifting through the gears between 4000 and 5500 rpm will see at 160 kmh by the time you hit 6th.
The general feel of the bike is solid and my choice came with the ESA system (the first bike I have chosen to have this on, I declined on my K1200S and my GS) which makes for some very interesting riding. I found the suspension to be harsh both on the demo's I rode and on this model. However, having now done a few Kms and a Marshaling event through mountains, I now appreciate why. This bike sticks to the road like a booger flicked from a toddlers pushchair. The screen, although tiny, provides just enough to keep you comfortable to 180 without any helmet wobble. The once or twice I have pushed above this meant getting a bit closer to the tank, something my gut complains about. A slimmer person would not have the same problem.
The cockpit is modern and the electronics in the form of ABS, traction control and tyre pressure monitor are easy to understand and implement, even for an old fart like me. A full on computer is supplied with trips and juice remaining and kms left in the tank, what a pleasure.
Seating for both rider and pillion is plush and has a single seat with the pillion end raised putting the pillion's head above the rider, HA HA no sleeping on the back now.
Tyres came OE as Metzler Z8 and I am not a Metzler fan after scrubbing so many off on my K12S, but both grip and feel leave nothing to complain about. The lean angle on the bike is far more than I have tested yet, my GS I ride on the edge, this bike still has chicken strips and I am chucking it all over the place. Ergo's are good and no complaints from old bones yet.
The odd few KMs I have done in cruise mode (me, not the bike) have had the bike behave perfectly as a long distance tourer, solid, comfy and inspiring a lot of confidence.
To compare the GS and this bike as has been done on the thread is like comparing a street car with a SUV. The bike is just so much more hooligan than the GS and worse still brings the hooligan in you out too. A street fighter of note, in the tight stuff and traffic most other bikes would be hard put to perform as well.
I wanted an all rounder with an edge, I got what I wanted with some attitude thrown in.
OK, I have had the bike for over a month now, had my first service and put a few ks on.
WOW, what a bike. This is everything I wanted and more.
Every review I read said that this is a cornering demon, they were right. The bike is not just agile and nimble it is is phenomenally quick to turn, from upright or leaned over hard. The balance and synergy between the chassis and the power output is spot on. The power from an on road performance aspect is massively up from my 07 GS, the twin cam engine moves this bike effortlessly. I am not one for specs and data, I tell it how it feels, this bike feels fast. Short shifting through the gears between 4000 and 5500 rpm will see at 160 kmh by the time you hit 6th.
The general feel of the bike is solid and my choice came with the ESA system (the first bike I have chosen to have this on, I declined on my K1200S and my GS) which makes for some very interesting riding. I found the suspension to be harsh both on the demo's I rode and on this model. However, having now done a few Kms and a Marshaling event through mountains, I now appreciate why. This bike sticks to the road like a booger flicked from a toddlers pushchair. The screen, although tiny, provides just enough to keep you comfortable to 180 without any helmet wobble. The once or twice I have pushed above this meant getting a bit closer to the tank, something my gut complains about. A slimmer person would not have the same problem.
The cockpit is modern and the electronics in the form of ABS, traction control and tyre pressure monitor are easy to understand and implement, even for an old fart like me. A full on computer is supplied with trips and juice remaining and kms left in the tank, what a pleasure.
Seating for both rider and pillion is plush and has a single seat with the pillion end raised putting the pillion's head above the rider, HA HA no sleeping on the back now.
Tyres came OE as Metzler Z8 and I am not a Metzler fan after scrubbing so many off on my K12S, but both grip and feel leave nothing to complain about. The lean angle on the bike is far more than I have tested yet, my GS I ride on the edge, this bike still has chicken strips and I am chucking it all over the place. Ergo's are good and no complaints from old bones yet.
The odd few KMs I have done in cruise mode (me, not the bike) have had the bike behave perfectly as a long distance tourer, solid, comfy and inspiring a lot of confidence.
To compare the GS and this bike as has been done on the thread is like comparing a street car with a SUV. The bike is just so much more hooligan than the GS and worse still brings the hooligan in you out too. A street fighter of note, in the tight stuff and traffic most other bikes would be hard put to perform as well.
I wanted an all rounder with an edge, I got what I wanted with some attitude thrown in.