BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Another long time Guzzi rider here,
Two things put me on a R1200R, first, while on my Guzzi I was severely dusted off by a rider less competent than me on a R1200 and that got me interested in the new R1200 engine. Second, I didn't have a warm fuzzy about putting down about $17000 ( I would have been looking at a Norge) on a bike made by a company that may or may not be around five years from now. Naturally we're talking my personal feelings and opinions here.

My feeling was that the new Guzzis don't have the low end grunt that the older ones did and they don't have the top end that the Beemer does. The Norge doesn't seem to have the ground clearance in the turns that the R1200R has, and that's with the cylinder heads sticking out the sides. The Guzzi dealer network is a lot more than inadequate, it's a disaster. Their are about four or five dealers in the country that I feel would have the equipment and competence to work on my bike if I had a new Guzzi, while BMW seems to usually have at least one and sometimes more well equipped and trained dealers in just about every state. I'm talking ABS and electronic everything Guzzies, not the old ones.

It was with much regret that I walked away from Guzzi, although I've had a Beemer in the garage for a few decades it was always the second bike, but Guzzi just doesn't make a bike I want. I still visit the Guzzi lists now and then,I'm active in the local club (such as it is) and go to the Guzzi Rallies. Friendships made over three decades don't go away because I changed bike brands.

Paul I note your from Virginia - I'll assume your going to the Va Guzzi Rally in two weeks. I'll be there on my Black R - stop and say hello. Harry

I just picked mine up on Saturday....still smiling. Hoping for some good weather this week so that I can spend some more time in the seat...

Motorcycle_Girl wrote:I just picked mine up on Saturday....still smiling. Hoping for some good weather this week so that I can spend some more time in the seat...

Congratulations on your new bike! Is it brand new? Have you take any photos of it yet?

Yes, it is brand new....no pictures yet. Hopefully on the weekend. It is supposed to rain here for the next few days. Once I get a nice sunny day I will get some pictures. Spent the whole day Saturday riding it after I picked it up. Rahter ride thna take pictures...Took it for about a 300km trip (the long way home)

Congrats on the new bike and the blue looks great!

Cheers!

Bob

The R1200R is quite simply the nicest motorcycle I have ever ridden. My first BMW motorcycle was a 1970 R75/5 (which at the time I thought would never be topped) and over the years have over a half million miles on beemers as near as I can recollect. But I am so old my memory ain't reliable.

The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree as both my daughter (2009 R1200R) and son (1995 R1100GS, and 1965 R50/2) love the marque too.

Bill

Love it. Best motorcycle I've ever ridden. Ride one, no words necessary after that.

Ah, another Biarritz Blue connoisseur! Come for a ride to Vancouver, Motorcycle Girl, AFAIK I have the only one in this city - getting lonely!

I'm getting to love mine more each time I ride it. It's getting much smoother, engine and tranny both. The brakes don't freak me out so much - I think I was using muscle memory from the last 10 bikes that had sh*t brakes... all in all it's a very pleasant relationship. Like meeting a lovely woman and 'getting to know her' before you start tearing each others clothes off. I guess breaking a bike in properly makes you behave yourself. Kind of like having a chaperon.

First oil change tonight, sans torque wrench. Hope I've still 'got it'.

Mollygrubber wrote:Ah, another Biarritz Blue connoisseur! Come for a ride to Vancouver, Motorcycle Girl, AFAIK I have the only one in this city - getting lonely!

I do plan to get out to BC to ride some day...it is that huge flat middle part of the country that makes that trip a bit boring. This year the summer vacation will consist of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Gaspe Penninsula and then back to Ontario through Quebec.

After just taking my 24 yr old Nighthawk to Rhode Island and back on my own it will be like a luxury cruise with R1200R and a travelling partner...

Motorcycle_Girl wrote:

Mollygrubber wrote:Ah, another Biarritz Blue connoisseur! Come for a ride to Vancouver, Motorcycle Girl, AFAIK I have the only one in this city - getting lonely!

I do plan to get out to BC to ride some day...it is that huge flat middle part of the country that makes that trip a bit boring. This year the summer vacation will consist of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Gaspe Penninsula and then back to Ontario through Quebec.

After just taking my 24 yr old Nighthawk to Rhode Island and back on my own it will be like a luxury cruise with R1200R and a travelling partner...

You just reminded me of Lois Pryce. You may of heard of her. If not, I truly recommend you read her book "Lois on the Loose". It's the diary of her bike adventure on her humble Yamaha 225 Serow from the north tip of Alaska to the southern most town in Chile.

Trust me, if you are into doing long journeys on bikes and the sense of adventure, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. I couldnt put it down. (Available from Amazon.com)

Lois' trip sounds like quite the adventure...I will definitely check out the book...thanks!

Motorcycle_Girl wrote:Lois' trip sounds like quite the adventure...I will definitely check out the book...thanks!

Her husband Austin Vince did the Long Way Round with some friends way before Ewen McGregor , and without all the support. He's doing a talk at one of our locals tomorrow night. Should be fun.

Hope you get some decent weather to ride the Beema

Ron

Motorcycle_Girl,

You can pick me up in Edmonton, or I'll meet you in Southern Alberta somewhere, on your way through to the West Coast and me and the Bride will show you a good time (good roads that is).

Congrats on the new bike; one more convert!

Doug

P.S.

There is a certain beauty to the wide open prairie skies. It can be quite breathtaking, as long as you don't live there. Best observed and absorbed from the saddle of an R1200R.

D.

snag wrote:Motorcycle_Girl,

You can pick me up in Edmonton, or I'll meet you in Southern Alberta somewhere, on your way through to the West Coast and me and the Bride will show you a good time (good roads that is).

Congrats on the new bike; one more convert!

Doug

P.S.

There is a certain beauty to the wide open prairie skies. It can be quite breathtaking, as long as you don't live there. Best observed and absorbed from the saddle of an R1200R.

D.

I will keep it in mind when I start to plan the westward journey...I have relatives in Calgary. Been in the area several times over the years as I had a job that brought me to Calgary regularly a few years ago...it is beautiful out there....

West will have to wait for a bit...coordinating that much time off can be difficult

While my bike was being serviced at the dealer I took a new K1300GT for a ride down the freeway. Really ridiculous level of power and incredibly smooth acceleration, no sense of speed at all except the other cars on the freeway were suddenly barely moving. ESA on soft smoothed out any freeway bump-d-bumps. Nice airflow with screen all the way down. Did not feel heavy at all, even in town on the way to the freeway. Fantastic mirrors with no vibes and great visibility. High speed curves were awesome. Certainly felt more engine heat, not like an ST1300, but noticeable when combined with more wind protection. Riding position was a complete disaster, I thought my back was destroyed before but the GT knocked me out for a couple of days.

In retrospect, I like mine better. I never feel like I want/need more power, I really like the nimble handling, the complete lack of engine heat, and the lighter weight is nice for most of my riding, let alone the uphill, uneven paving, diagonal, backwards push into the garage threading between the car and the wall, could not do it with the GT. Okay, and there's always the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...

ps Just for more contrast, when I got back my bike wasn't ready so they gave me a loaner, F650 single cylinder, what a dog!!!