First ride report

hass · Post by **hass** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:54 am

Well, today I finally collected my R1200R:

The weather wasn't great but I have to take it easy anyhow - both because of the run-in and being unfamiliar with the bike.

So, first impressions:
The seat sucks!!!! My backside is killing me. Hopefully I'll get used to it, otherwise I'll have to buy an aftermarket for the first time.

The gearbox is a dream! Snickety snick! Wow! I am amazed at the difference between it and my old K12S.

Handling: It steers amazingly lightly with very predictable and progressive handling. In slow corners it was much better than my K12 but at no cost to the handling in long sweepers.

The brakes are at least as good as the previous servo ones.

The engine revs easily and the fueling is a revelation - oh how I wish the fueling on the K12 had been this good: in tight turns I just pick a gear (pretty much whichever I feel like) and then drive through the turn, no lurching, no feathering the clutch. Perfect!

My arms are tired though - coming off sports bikes this thing feels like it has ape hangers! But this is just a case of training other muscles in my arms.

I felt some intrusive vibrations but really no more than on the K12. A little lower frequency maybe. My right thumb has a tendency to go numb (it did on the K12 too) so maybe I'll buy some grips and see if that helps.

Oh, and the fuel economy is amazing! 4,7L/100km = about 50MPG (US) or 60 MPG imperial!!!

Summary:
I feel like I have three bikes in one:
1. A sports bike with great handling for the twisties.

2. A cruiser to putter along on admiring the scenery or when in traffic with a motor full of character and buckets of torque.

3. Put on the enormous side bags and the topbox and suddenly I have a tourer.

Post by **celticus** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:32 am

That is a good looking bike Hass. You need to get that beat-nick away from it before he turns it over.

Mark

Post by **Dauntless** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:27 pm

How do you guys get such good mileage? I have only been able to get 42 mpg according to the computer.

hass · Post by **hass** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 3:10 pm

Dauntless wrote:How do you guys get such good mileage? I have only been able to get 42 mpg according to the computer.

Well, it probably helps not being able to rev past 4000 rpm and not opening the throttle more than about half way - due to the run in instructions. But I am sure my fuel economy will take a nosedive after the bike is run in

I am amazed at the low revs I can corner this thing at and it will still pick up smoothly!

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:01 pm

Congrats hass...Look'n good..

DJ

Post by **Dauntless** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:36 am

Hass,

Be careful when you clean and wax your bike. I have a black bike as well and I already put micro scratches in it from waxing. I used brand new polishing cloths but it didn't matter. I talked to a friend who owns a body shop and he said that's just the way black paint is. It allows you to see everything in the finish.

hass · Post by **hass** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:31 am

Dauntless wrote:Hass,

Be careful when you clean and wax your bike. I have a black bike as well and I already put micro scratches in it from waxing. I used brand new polishing cloths but it didn't matter. I talked to a friend who owns a body shop and he said that's just the way black paint is. It allows you to see everything in the finish.

Thanks for the tip. I'll be very careful!

Post by **zooomart** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 7:40 am

Very nice bike. The 3 bikes in 1 concept is what makes it really standout for me. How does that windscreen perform? Much helmet turbulence above 100KMH?

Have a great summer!!

hass · Post by **hass** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:28 am

zooomart wrote:Very nice bike. The 3 bikes in 1 concept is what makes it really standout for me. How does that windscreen perform? Much helmet turbulence above 100KMH?

Have a great summer!!

I don't think so... I don't notice any turbulance and not really any more wind noise than I had on the K12S. However, I have a noisy helmet!

baffler · Post by **baffler** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:38 pm

hass wrote:... I am sure my fuel economy will take a nosedive after the bike is run in

Actually, my economy got better after about 2000 k's. Before then I was running at about 5.1, but now I'm running at 4.6. You're right though, keeping the rev's low, i.e. stay in a higher gear, helps a lot. It also makes for a somewhat smoother ride as minor throttle twists (as a result of bumpy roads perhaps) do not cause the bike to hop. Fortunately with this bikes torque though, when you do yank on the throttle in a high gear, she will pause to catch her breath, but then whamo.....you're off like a rocket. Me likey.....me likey a lot.