Quandary Regarding the Purchase of a 2010 R1200R

[Ricco]

Greetings

This is my first post and thought that I'd bounce a question off you all for a response. I'm currently riding a 2007 Harley Davidson Ultra. Because of some recent medical issues, the Ultra is getting too heavy to ride with some degree of confidence. So, I'm considering down sizing to a smaller scoot to make it easier to manage. My local BMW dealer has a 2010 R1200 R with touring package for $13,290. I'm also looking at a 2010 Honda ST1300 in which the dealer wants $14385.

I have owned BMWs in the past (R100RT, K1100 RT, RS 1100, and a GS1150). I've also owned a Honda ST1100. I'm looking for something that will eat up Interstate miles and would be comfortable enough to do a 1000 mile Iron Butt ride.

Question is, which would you buy for the purpose intended? Any and all responses would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Frank

[Don C]

I'd look at a R1200RT.

[Neil]

If a lighter bike is your main problem have a look at the F800ST my wife has a F800R and it is very comfortable and will travel two up all day at put you in jail speeds

[sky_sailor]

I'd have to know a little more about you. Age, height, weight, nature of injury, or issue. The Ultra has a pretty low CG. As does the R1200R, but the BMW is a taller bike, granted a lighter bike than the Ultra, but after riding both, the Ultra's lower CG makes it feel lighter than it is.
You can do an Iron Butt on either. Looking at the "F" series is a good idea. If you're stuck on BMW. The big Bandit would be a good choice, as would pretty much any UJM with an after market seat. Ride safe.
Lyle

[Ricco]

I'm 55 years old, 5'9" tall, with a 30 inch inseam. The problem I'm having is not when the bike is traveling. It's muscling it around when stopped, or just moving it around using my legs. I've had a back injury, it's not continual, but occasionally flairs up. In addition to just being diagnosed with type two diabetes. I know that either bikes I mentioned, handle way much better than the Ultra.

[Liam]

Hi Frank,

Having owned an ST1300A ('04) I can't say I'd recommend owning one for any purpose. Nothing cured the heat problem including cutting holes in the tupperware, wrapping the pipes, putting on Staintunes to get rid of the catalytic converter, enriching the fuel mixture, plugging the holes under the seat, insulating under the seat, ..., so it was unridable any day over 80º F. On 90º days the gas in the tank sometimes boiled!! Honda said there's no problem. It had coolant leaks that were never found so the garage stank. It was unstable in conditions that my R1200R doesn't notice. Several police forces found the weave instability in their tests. It was scary, not fun.

Servicing the thing was a PITA. Even the dealer couldn't put the tupperware back on without breaking tabs or fasteners. It rides much better without the luggage, but if looks matter to you, it looks lousy with the bags off.

I test road the R1200R in 2008 and put a deposit down the next day. If you want to do things like 1000 mile days you will need, at a minimum, the comfort saddle. I'd recommend you install an Odyssey battery. You may want a good wind screen. There's lots of posts on those subjects to give you guidance.

All I can say is that riding the ST1300 was joyless. Riding the R1200R consistently puts a smile on my face.

Good Luck, YMMV,

Liam

PS Just read your latest post. I'm 64, 5'10" with a 29 inch inseam. Muscling the R around is easy.

[michael Tobias]

I also had a Road King and went to an 03 K1200GT, from that to an 06K1200GT and found them all too heavy and challenging. I am 61, 5'11" with barely a 30" inseam. I ended up with an 07 R12R which is almost 100 lbs lighter than my last K bike and 40% of what my RK. it is smaller, quicker responding and lighter, it gets blown around a bit more than the other bikes but manages to take lots of highway miles very gracefully... my longest so far was about 850 in one day....that did require an aftermarket seat though.

I also looked at the ST1300 and it is a nice bike but heavier and harder to deal with at low speed.....the heat was another issue entirely, not to mention the local dealer and I don't get along.

the R12R is a truely AMAZING motorcycle, it handles beautifully at any speed and in almost every situation I have been in....and can easily be pushed farther than my riding ability. it is more than fast enough. if you look into some of the epic rides by member of this forum, I think you wil see that this bike will do anything.

what really matters is how you like riding it.

[ka5ysy]

Good Morning and welcome to the group. Do a quick search on "Chitown". You will discover Joe takes his RR places some GS riders would think twice about. The RR is essentially the same bike as the RT but without all the plastic. It is very easy to work on, and an absolute joy to ride with a couple of modifications : Seat, windscreen, handguards and a throttle lock. You have an "RT-Lite" ! My usual range is 230 miles or so, and sometime up to 250 depending on wrist control. It carries the same luggage as the RT, so storage on a tour is not a problem, and the large top case makes a nice backrest for a pillion.

You can also embarrass a lot of crotch rockets in twisties

This in mine:

[Jed]

With all due respect, if Ricco's concern is moving the bike around while stopped or with just his legs - I don't see the R12R as the solution. I love my bike and would not replace it with any other but it's tall compared to the Ultra and not easy to move with my 32" legs. While moving - the R12R is a dream. Light, nimble and easy to control. But pushing it around on tippy toes? He'd have to try a low seat / low suspension I would think. I thought the suggestion to check out the F800ST made more sense from that limited perspective. In all other ways the R12R beats all other bikes hands down. On the other hand, I find ways to not need to move my bike off-power. So the tall posture isn't a problem for me.

cheers,

[deilenberger]

With all due respect, if Ricco's concern is moving the bike around while stopped or with just his legs - I don't see the R12R as the solution. I love my bike and would not replace it with any other but it's tall compared to the Ultra and not easy to move with my 32" legs. While moving - the R12R is a dream. Light, nimble and easy to control. But pushing it around on tippy toes? He'd have to try a low seat / low suspension I would think. I thought the suggestion to check out the F800ST made more sense from that limited perspective. In all other ways the R12R beats all other bikes hands down. On the other hand, I find ways to not need to move my bike off-power. So the tall posture isn't a problem for me.

cheers,

Gee - I wish I had a 30" inseam. I'm 3-4" short of that.. and I have no problems moving my R12R around, on or off it. That's with arthritis in both hips.. and shoulders. I have the low seat (redone by Sargent) and slightly lowered suspension, it's not a problem.

32" legs - I could only dream..

[Jed]

With all due respect, if Ricco's concern is moving the bike around while stopped or with just his legs - I don't see the R12R as the solution. I love my bike and would not replace it with any other but it's tall compared to the Ultra and not easy to move with my 32" legs. While moving - the R12R is a dream. Light, nimble and easy to control. But pushing it around on tippy toes? He'd have to try a low seat / low suspension I would think. I thought the suggestion to check out the F800ST made more sense from that limited perspective. In all other ways the R12R beats all other bikes hands down. On the other hand, I find ways to not need to move my bike off-power. So the tall posture isn't a problem for me. /quote] Gee - I wish I had a 30" inseam. I'm 3-4" short of that.. and I have no problems moving my R12R around, on or off it. That's with arthritis in both hips.. and shoulders. I have the low seat (redone by Sargent) and slightly lowered suspension, it's not a problem.

32" legs - I could only dream..

32" may have been a stretch, closer to 30" (32" pants).
My point was that any way you look at it the R12R has a higher seat height than the bike that Ricco is moving from, no?

cheers,

[mogu83]

I'm 55 years old, 5'9" tall, with a 30 inch inseam. The problem I'm having is not when the bike is traveling. It's muscling it around when stopped, or just moving it around using my legs. I've had a back injury, it's not continual, but occasionally flairs up. In addition to just being diagnosed with type two diabetes. I know that either bikes I mentioned, handle way much better than the Ultra.

My two cents. Ricco, I'm 67 years old 5'10" with a 30 inch inseam. Very few bikes will match the Harley in the seat height or the sidestand area, but most of your time on a Beemer your moving not sitting at a light or parked outside a bar.. One redeeming factor with the R1200R is the wide handlebars, which make it easier to move around the garage or handle at low speeds. I have an airhead with RS bars (short) and that little bike is a bear to roll around the garage, With stock suspension and a standard height Corbin seat I can flat foot at stops.

[seangd]

Having just purchased a 2009 R12R I feel like it's important to check the options list on the bike you're looking at. The "Touring Package" on alot of those 2010 model bikes have no ABS, so if you're looking for that (a big reason I bought a BMW) you need to keep looking. When those bikes were ordered without ABS they were having a hard time selling them, so many dealerships put the bags and windshield on and called it a "Touring Package", hoping to distract buyers from the fact the bikes didn't have ABS. If you don't care about that feature, then it's all good. But if you do...

I've ridden Harleys, Japanese bikes, and Europeans. The BMW is going to feel like a mini-bike compared to the Harley you just got off of. In terms of moving it around the garage, or low speed turning, it's going to be awesome. No surprise really; whats the weight difference? Something like 250-350 lbs?

[sky_sailor]

Wow! ABS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?
Fact is. many dealers ordered the "touring" package directly from BMW because of the great deal to be had on non-ABS bikes.

[Michael Hart]

I am 5'5" 30" inseem on a good day. I used to ride a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 at 835lbs. The seat height was wonderful I could reach the ground with room to go. but the damn bike was so heavy I had a hard time muscling it around. very similar to the Road king. Every time I need to maneuver my R1200R I can't believe how easy it is. I have had a couple of 800 plus mile days and could have gone longer but I reached my destination.
Mike

[fastdogs2]

I am 66 years old, 5'8" with a 29 inch inseam. I switched to the R1200R from a R1200RT because of the weight and low speed non-maneurverabilty of the RT. The R1200R is a lightweight compared to the RT. I have done 500 mile days on my R1200R with no problem. However, I have the BMW comfort seat. The stock seat is terrible. The R1200R is a joy to handle at low speeds. While I cannot completely flatfoot it, I am able to move it around with relative ease in parking lots. If it gets to be a problem, I dismount and back it into a space while standing on the left side of the bike.

My friend has a 2004 1300ST and just purchased a R1200R after I let him ride my bike. I never rode his ST, but I have helped him move it around in parking lots. At 700 + lbs., that beast is heavy! I would not recommend it, if you have any issues with strength. The ST also has overheating problems, which may be OK if you live/ride in Canada in the winter, but the summer riding in the southern part of the US can be brutal.

Bill

[PhilSB]

64 years old, 27inch inside leg. I have the low seat option and have to use the balls of my feet to manoevre my bike around but I manage it without too much difficulty.Though I do have to admit to 2 or 3 carpark drops. I am careful with road camber and sloping parking. The weight isn't much of a problem and I am quite happy with the practicality of moving it about with no speed. The seat is OK, perhaps I have my own seat padding to help with comfort . On the road it's great and I am very pleased with it. No thoughts of changing it yet.
Phil

[mogu83]

[quote="sky_sailor"]Wow! ABS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?
quote]
I think the answer is not well. If you ask guys that started riding in the 60s and continued till today (not those that rode for a year or so and then took a 20/30 year hiatus) to show a, motorcycle related, nasty scar or a body part that doesn't work too well, most won't have a problem complying. Back in the day most motorcycle riders were young men and only interested in going fast - not stopping fast. Now with the average age of NEW bike buyers creeping into the 50s the manufactures are answering their concerns about seriously injuring themselves, seeing as I intend to ride into my 70s that's a good thing.

I know, for sure, that if I had ABS a few decades ago I would be able to feel my left leg from my knee to my ankle today.
For me to buy a serious new road bike without ABS the seller would have to just about give me the bike.

[deilenberger]

Wow! ABS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?

I assume this is to prove you're a manly rider? Do you also ride without a helmet? Being rude on this forum really isn't the popular thing to do.

Fact is. many dealers ordered the "touring" package directly from BMW because of the great deal to be had on non-ABS bikes.

Fact is. The reason they were a great deal is BMW-NA couldn't sell the damn things. Sorta like the last of the ST's which came without ABS - BMW was almost giving those away just to clear the warehouse.

[gezerbike]

I'm looking for something that will eat up Interstate miles and would be comfortable enough to do a 1000 mile Iron Butt ride.

Question is, which would you buy for the purpose intended? Any and all responses would be greatly appreciated.


Just staying to your question above, as much as I find the ST 1300 a little souless, it would probably be a better high speed slab bike than the R.