Why you love BMW R1150R?

[eroson]

Only a few people ride R1150R in South Korea, so to get informations about it, I registered today.

I am riding Yamaha FZS600 now and want to buy R1150R. Once I rode my friend's R1150RS, but it was too heavy and accelerated very slowly comparing with my fazer. I never experienced R1150R, but design attracts me a lot.

Comparing wiht Janpan's motorcycles, roadstar is heavy, expensive and it has low power. But why so many people love it?

Can you explain me the advantage and disadvantage of roadstar?

[Ves]

The easy answer is... I don't know. I just like them.

Here's the longer answer. I had a Yamaha 650, then a Suzuki 750, then a BMW R850R, then a Honda CBR1000RR, and now I'm going back to a BMW R1150R. Why? Because I missed owning a BMW. It is not the best in anything, but it does all things well. It is the combination of features. It is the balance of features.

If you remove the nameplate from a Japanese motorcycle it is hard to say what it is. There is no mistaking a BMW twin for anything else. It is unique, and the way it feels and performs is unique.

I appreciate unique solutions to problems... the anti-dive front suspension design, the single sided rear suspension design, those weird turn signal controls, the dual oil coolers, the weird headlight design on my Rockster...

[Arbreacames]

The R is not for everyone, and neither are Harleys or roadsters: it all depends on what you want. If you enjoy looking for power at 13,000 RPM, stick with sportbikes. If you enjoy giving people the time to look at you as you pass by, choose a cruiser. BMWs attract mostly experienced riders who enjoy a spirited pace but who keep their margins of safety. It's a lot like playing golf: the pleasure of hitting it just right instead of the pure adrenaline that comes from risk. If you don't need to go faster than 160 kph to have fun, if you enjoy riding twisty mountain roads without the need to slam on the brakes, then you're an R rider!

[REDSTAN]

every time i go for a ride my R makes me smile that's before i start her up
AND WHEN I STOP THERE IS A BIG GRIN FROM EAR TO EAR THATS WHY I LOVE MY BIKE

[John I. Stephen]

I think I may have a perspective on this. I have owned my R1150R for but over 3 months and am starting to really love the bike. I was out yesterday with a friend with a BMW K1200RS; a VERY fast bike. And whereas I zipped up and down the gears revving to 6000 rpm and enjoying every minute, my friend admitted that his bike was so fast that he rarely gets out of 3rd gear. In other words, the R is a bike that one can really ride and enjoy without too much fear of going suicidally fast!
Oh yes, and it does have soul

[1150929]

Like you I always loved sportbikes, like my Fireblade. But performance wise I can't push my Fireblade outside of track days, even on the deserted unpatroled country roads that I ride on. Even on the track, I'm not good enough to take 100% out of it, it's like it keeps on telling me "I could have gone faster", even though I pass more than I get passed.

But the 1150 has accessible performance; I actually feel that I'm pushing it. The weight mostly disappears and I can feel the chassis flex, and the motor vibrate when pushed, always controlable but really communicative and 100% stable. On sprited rides with sportbike mounted friends, what I loose on the straights I usually make up in braking, because anybody without ABS would be a fool to maximize their braking on street surfaces.

So performance wise, it's a different but still fun experience compared to sportbikes. But the real plus is that it is still a serious tourer, while still having the appeal of being a naked bike. Oh, and it's the most distinctive bike out there IMO.

[OU812]

I love the BMW's. The K bikes are not nearly as maint. intensive as the R's. I must say, I ride with mostly Harley owners, and the bikes do have their own ups and downs. But you will not find a better handling "sport tourer" than the R series. That is just my own opinion. I have owned around 25 bikes,(in the last 32 years) and BMW's are the only bikes I have owned for the last 13 yrs. Only 4 bikes in that time.(2 "K's" and 2 "R'"s) But, that is only me. Very Happy So, maybe some other riders on this website who can write better than me will post. Embarassed

[DJ Downunder]

The looks...the comfort...the grunt...the handling...the quality and finish...the reliability and long lasting...and...the do-it-all ability...it's all good..

DJ

[motorcyclepanzer]

The looks...the comfort...the grunt...the handling...the quality and finish...the reliability and long lasting...and...the do-it-all ability...it's all good..

DJ

What DJ said. Everything about the roadster is great. It looks tough, it does have grunt, the torque is amazing, the growl from the airbox is intoxicating, the suspension removes bumps without feeling like you're bouncing, I could go on and on.

I can't really put it in any one category except perhaps handling. My Roadster is the only motorcycle I've ever ridden that felt like an old pair of slippers from the very first ride from the dealer.

On any other bike I haven't really felt that connection. You know what I mean. You forget that the bike and you are two separate entities. I look and the bike tracks exactly where I'm looking seemingly without any conscious input to the bars. I want to stop and it stops exactly where I want it to.

[triggerfish]

When you're pushing 50 and feel you have arrived, then you deserve a BMW beakster.


Check out our average age in the poll.

[motorcyclepanzer]

Like you I always loved sportbikes, like my Fireblade. But performance wise I can't push my Fireblade outside of track days, even on the deserted unpatroled country roads that I ride on. Even on the track, I'm not good enough to take 100% out of it, it's like it keeps on telling me "I could have gone faster", even though I pass more than I get passed.

.

The only thing I can add is that I've seen some pretty old guys on R1150GSs make complete fools out of squidleys on twistey roads.

The naked oilheads (Rs and GSs) have the torque (the don't need to constatly shift) and handling to have an advantage that can reall make them shine in the curves.

[dubble8s]

I have had my R for two years now, silver. I went alot of years w/out a bike, and always wanted a BMW since I was a teenager. So far I've experimented with several windshields - now I have the BMW Touring, and with the hardbags and a backrest from Pirate's Lair, I love my R. Sounds stupid, but I still go out on the garage and stare at it once in a while. I rode yesteray afternoon - it is the cat's ass. Just looking at it, you know it's got power - the whole look just reeks of power - but it's a Beemer, so it's still a bit reserved. The Touring windshield makes a huge difference now, compared to the speedster that I had - I find now I'm liking to go longer, so it was the way to go. The backrest is nice for my kids - they love going on it with me - my Dad took me riding, and that's the stuff you remember when you get older. Go buy one, you will not regret it for one second. Good luck and be safe.

[Ian]

I love mine - cause its the only in the group of people i ride with and always stands out against suzawahda sitting beside her.

[leoquattro]

DJ's summary is perfect! Get an R and you will see people of all ages (teens and grown ups) stopping you and complimenting about the bike, the youngster listening at the deep growl and looking at how tough it looks (especially black ones) and the over-50s remembering old days when they drove bikes and lingering on the idea of buying a bike again.

Beauty is not only in the eyes of the beholder!

Ciao
Leoquattro

[R4R&R]

Unfortunately you'll get a heavily biased opinion from this site so take it as it is. We love the bike for what it is - a naked bike with classic lines and newer technology. BMW has been known for it's reliability, but I'm sure you'll hear about the few that have problems. After saying that, the bike will not have as much power as most sportbikes and will weigh more. The R1150R is similar to the R1150RS with a few exceptions: slightly lighter, carries it weight differently, has more low-end torque (different power band), and IMO, looks better. Of course the RS will give you more luggage options, weather protection and some other creature comforts.

You're best bet is to find a dealer and test ride one to see for yourself. I came off a Suzuki RF900 and while I miss the top end rush, I can actually ride this bike faster in the curves, ride it longer, do some light touring, and be comfortable while doing it all.

You like the looks of it, so that's a start. Don't expect to be riding any 100+ MPH wheelies, or breaking any land speed records, but expect to have a bike you can ride all day long, and still hang well in the twisty roads. If you would be looking for more power, look at the R1200R - apparently considerably lighter and much more power. Of course that all comes with a new, redesigned higher price.

Good luck with your decision.

[Beemeridian]

56

[motorcyclepanzer]

It's not a perfect bike, but it's the perfect bike for me.

What does "slow" mean anyway? With over seventy pounds of torque on tap at only 4k rpm blasting you out of curves, where you have picked your line flawlessly, where the riders on the Japanese fours behind you are wondering why the hell they can't catch you, where you can hold a lean angle with the best, where their suspension gave them headshake but yours was solid as a rock,
You've got a BMW R1150R!

The only other bike out of the guys I ride with that can give me a run for the money is a friend on a Vstrom 1000.

The torque and cornering ability of the 1150R (and I suppose the new 1200R) is wonderful. I live in a fairly rural area and the curves on the twistier roads have been washboarded from the late summer convoys of potato trucks. You can hit these washboarded undulating apexes at a real good clip.

Know what happens?
Nothing. The Telelever sucks them up without bottoming the forks. No head shake as you said, then launches out.

On a section I know is going to be curvy I put her in 4th and leave it. $th gear on the Roadster gives you real good engine braking for controlling entry speed while also giving you a good launch out.

[MartinW]

My R was, dare I admit it, my first motorbike for 35 years and I felt immediately at home with it, although the indicators took a bit of getting used to as my previous bike had to rely on hand-signals (anyione remember those?).

I looked at quite a few bikes before deciding on the BMW. What impressed me about it was overall looks, handling, comfort and component quality. Some of the new jap bikes I looked at already had a bloom of rust on some of the components.

Five years on and I still love the bike and, apart from the exhaust pipes, it still looks like new. What it may lack in top-end speed it makes up for in dependability, feel and class.

[yjleesvrr]

Unique, bargain for the price, durable, fine balance between being smooth and having character, highly versatile, comfortable over hundreds of miles, shaft drive, build quality, stable, handles well, looks good, decent mileage, gives an uncanny sense of comfort when you're many states away from home.

[Buckster]

My 2 cents: I can only have one bike. This one does alot of things well.