Should I?...Should I really? But I've always owned Harleys.

[choppertodd]

First let me say that I truly enjoy reading all of your very informative posts. Here is my dilema. I am a recovering (or soon to be) Harleyholic. I've owned probably 10 of them. However, I am very disgusted with Harley's focus on T-shirts and coffee mugs and I feel the motor company has lost its way. I simply don't have anything in common with the folks I see on Harleys. To me they are trying to buy bada$$ and it simply isn't for sale.

I like to ride. I love it. I would love to have a performance bike that is as good on the curves as on the highway as on the city street. I'm not a full fairing guy as they remind me too much of a Ninja. I'm torn between at R1200R and a K1200R. The nostalgia of the box is great and so is the HP of the K12. Its spring time and my throttle hand is rested.

I truly need your help. Thanks in advance.

Choppertodd

[ErikM]

Welcome Todd. Simple answer is ride them both. My previous ride was a K1200S, basically the K1200R but with body work. The R12 and the K12 are about as different as it gets. I could go on about the differences but if YOU ride them both you will totally understand. Great thing about BMW dealers is that they have demo bikes and will not just let you ride them but will encourage you to. It's spring, have at it :-)

[NCGS]

First let me say that I truly enjoy reading all of your very informative posts. Here is my dilema. I am a recovering (or soon to be) Harleyholic. I've owned probably 10 of them. However, I am very disgusted with Harley's focus on T-shirts and coffee mugs and I feel the motor company has lost its way. I simply don't have anything in common with the folks I see on Harleys. To me they are trying to buy bada$$ and it simply isn't for sale.

Todd, You've heard it before.. "Been there, done that"...I've walked a mile in your shoes. I still have a Harley, 2002 Firefighter Edition Road King.. and I still enjoy riding it. My son rides a Harley, and a Triumph Bonneville, so owning a Harley is almost a prerequisite for those times when I ride with him. However, I find that when I walk to the garage to get on a bike, more often than not it's my R12R.

I like to ride. I love it. I would love to have a performance bike that is as good on the curves as on the highway as on the city street. I'm not a full fairing guy as they remind me too much of a Ninja. I'm torn between at R1200R and a K1200R. The nostalgia of the box is great and so is the HP of the K12. Its spring time and my throttle hand is rested.

I truly need your help. Thanks in advance.

Choppertodd

If you have your heart set on one of the two Beemers you've mentioned above, the only way you're really going to know for sure is to ride them both. Most BMW dealers have a decent demo program (if your local dealer doesn't, find one that does). Call and see if they have K12R and a R12R, then set up a ride on each bike. Don't ride it around the block, put 20 miles on each bike. Then you'll know.

Obviously we tend to be a bit biased toward the R12R in this forum, but the K12R is a fine bike as well. They're just a bit over the top for me, and I find the R12R so easy to ride through the twisties that it's simply amazing. I prefer the torque of the opposed twin to the high rpm power of the in-line four... but that's just me.

Not sure where you live.. if you're able to ride where you are, go for it. You won't hate yourself in the morning.

Chris in NC

[choppertodd]

Chris,

Thanks for the insight and it sounds like you have some experience with them both. Does the K12 lack torque and demand that you stay in the 4k rpm range? Can you expand? I love the dialogue.

T

[ErikM]

As a former K1200S owner I can tell you that the K motor has more torque than the the R motor and it has it everywhere. It also has 167hp vs the 109 of the R motor. That being said I sold my K12S because it was just to damn easy to go really fast. I mean 80 in a 40 fast, 120 in a 65 fast.. But what makes the K bike great is also what makes it less fun than the R bike. On the K bike 60, 80, 100 all feels the same. The bike just isn't fun to ride at sane speeds, it's just so smooth so composed that it only gets fun at high velocity, the k is in it's element at hair on fire speeds. Twisty back roads at 20 30 over are boring, so one ends up just flying all the time. I got tired of worrying about my lack of restraint. On my R12 I can ride at reasonable speeds and have fun, I don't feel like I have to always rip it. I actually find myself just cruising along enjoying the ride.

[NCGS]

Chris,

Thanks for the insight and it sounds like you have some experience with them both. Does the K12 lack torque and demand that you stay in the 4k rpm range? Can you expand? I love the dialogue.

T

Todd, As a guy who's only ridden a K12 one time, but spent many hours in the saddle of a R12R or R12GS, I'd have to agree with everything that Erik said above. He said more than I ever could about why riding a R12R is such a pleasure.

[mogu83]

Naturally most of the folks on this list have a prejudice for the R1200 twin. I've also tried four cylinders and in fact a Valkyrie sits next to the Beemer in the garage. The Beemer twin has the feeling of a big twin, but as the Harley runs out of steam as the revs go up, the new Beemer in the 1200cc configuration will definitely bring a smile to your face.
On the down side: The bike is light and will take some time getting used to when your used to having 700 pounds of American steel under you. The other thing is the sound, the damm thing sounds like a sewing machine and their isn't much you can do about it. Thing is, I'm getting used to it and it's kind of nice ridding along a back road in high gear (6) at 55 and all you can hear is your tires running on the pavement.

[fly]

Get the R12R and keep the Harley too! You will love either of the BMW's but I guarantee you WILL miss the Harley too, whatever the model.

[famousperson]

Todd,

I traded in my '03 1200XL Sportster for an R1200R last May. I couldn't believe the difference! It's like the two bikes aren't just different marques but completely different modes of transportation. Sometimes I think that for the money I got for the Sportster I should have kept it but quite honestly, if deciding between the two bikes in the garage, I'd take the R out every time.

Be prepared for some culture shock, though. I admit that the Harley schtick is just that, all blow and no go, but there is still a strong Harley Brotherhood that you will no longer be a part of. I have still not quite adapted to being a beemer person. For instance I violate the ATGATT mandate more often than not. On the other hand, this forum, as well as other predominately BMW forums (adventure and touring) are much friendlier, less cliquish and far less flame prone than the Harley forums.

I more or less stumbled on my R1200R, not knowing what I was getting into, but since then, reading this forum, I am convinced that the bike is one of the best BMW has ever made, and better than any other sport/touring bike out there.

Go for it!

PS I do miss that Sportster. Sigh.

[AllanCook]

Funny, I see a lot of old Harley dudes in the BMW shop these days.

[mogu83]

Funny, I see a lot of old Harley dudes in the BMW shop these days.

Maybe that's why you can park your Beemer (any year) out front of a 'Biker' bar and not have a problem, except of coarse answering questions about Rs , Ks , ABS , tele-levers and driveshafts. Strange how many Harley faithful are quite knowledgeable about BMWs.

[hankth]

Todd,
I've owned 3 Harleys, and loved them all. They are just a different kind of ride than the R1200R. When I was on a Harley, I always had someone behind me. When I'm riding my R, I always have someone in front of me. You can ride the R either way, but not the Harleys. In any case, ride safe, Hank.

[Echo]

I had a Ducati 999. The raw power was intoxicating. However, in the real world, the R12R is more fun for me. Great power and handling. The Ducati was just too powerful for the street. I tried a K12S. Wonderful bike but it tempted me to play all day at speeds that are not license retention friendly. Also, the R12R is so nimble and light.

[mechanic savant]

I 've said it before n I'll say it again ..I love k-bikes , but I own an R1200ra more smiles per mi. than any thing I've evr swung a leg over in 37 yrs of riding !!! & the saftey factor , hopefully you'lle never have to find out that if ya lay down an r-bike w/bags there's enough room between the jug & saddlebag fer a leg when it's on it's side I don't recomend testing this ...but if or when stuf occurs its nice to still be bi-pedal ...Also when at said h20 hole ya dont have to explain "yeah it really is a BMW" when folks ask about your k-bike one look at an R-series & yup its a beemer
ps R1200's are way better dirt road & campground bikes..

[alaskaflyer]

I sold my Road King for my R1200R. I liked the Harley (which was my third) but I love the versatility of the R12. I've owned a Triumph Daytona, Yamaha R1, Honda RC51 and my Harleys. I like the fact that if I want ride the back road twisties or cruise with my Harley buddies I can do either with my R12. I've only had the R12 for little over a month now, 1500 miles and going strong. The bike actually rides better every time I get on it. As far as it being too quiet, it is. I put the Staintune exhaust on and it helps, it's still quiet which I as well as my neighbors enjoy when I leave the house at 0500 for work.

If you Demo ride you'll be done though! just be prepared for that!

Good luck

Gary

[lucagoa]

Hi choppertodd,

I'm from Italy and I own a R1200R (since few months). I've to tell you that I'm not a "fast and furious" driver and R1200R is just fine for me. You can have lots of fun, especially on streets where lot of "curves" are present
You have enough torque everywhere to enjoy even though it is not as "massive" as on the K1200. Furthermore Italy is becoming hassling with speed limits .........
Luca

[qgaex]

Hi Todd

Methinks you should keep the Harley and buy the beemer. If you have the garage / wallet space for it.
Why?
Because you cannot compare these two objects.

A Harley is a fashion statement.

A BMW is a motorcycle.

Cheers

qgaex
+whooncerodeaharleyaroundneworleansandbasicallywasgladtogetofftheheapofironafterwards+

[AllanCook]

A Harley is a fashion statement.

A BMW is a motorcycle.

[towerworker]

A Harley is a fashion statement.

A BMW is a motorcycle.



I really like that!
That's a keeper.

Wayne

[Dan-A]

Get the R12R and keep the Harley too! You will love either of the BMW's but I guarantee you WILL miss the Harley too, whatever the model.

I agree with Mark. I have a 2007 R1200R and a 2000 Road King. I enjoy them both. They are quite different riding and ownership experiences.

The Harley guys I ride with ride far and often, and think the BMW riders sit around and talk more about riding than actually riding. They think the BMW's are overpriced and OVER engineered and break down more than they should for what they cost.

The BMW riders I ride with ride far and often and think the Harley guys ride from bar to bar and never go anywhere. They think the Harleys are over priced and UNDER engineered and break down more than they should for what they cost, and that they are too loud! (they may have something there).

Truth is I get more crap from my fellow Beemer riders about the Harley than the other way around, and that was a big surprise.

Unlike you, I am a newcomer to the Harley side of things and an old timer on all (4) of the bikes I own, or have owned. The R1200R does EVERYTHING better than the Harley, but the Harley still has that certain something, so for me the novelty has not worn off.

BTW, I can see more clearly in the Road King mirrors at 70 mph than I can on the BMW.