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

TT RDHS wrote: Just to check it out, I did some low speed FULL LOCK figure eights in my parking lot today. What you said makes a lot of sense.
Although, personally, I still feel more comfortable doing it using the front brake (rather than the rear). Unless I'm in a low traction situation.(like dirt, etc.) But I see the logic there.

Yeah - counterbalacing seemed a bit wierd to me, too, the first time I was taught it in an advanced riding refresher course. But it works. I'd always dragged my rear brake a bit to sharpen up in turns, so that came a little more easily. I tend to use second gear (as taught here) to try to be less jerky - which means lower revs. Mebbe I'll try more revs and see how smelly I can make my R12R clutch!!

Ah well - I'm off to the Queensland mountains and outback next week to avoid winter. Hopefully not a low-speed manouver in sight!

TT RDHS wrote:

Caroanbill wrote: Just to check it out, I did some low speed FULL LOCK figure eights in my parking lot today. What you said makes a lot of sense.
Although, personally, I still feel more comfortable doing it using the front brake (rather than the rear). Unless I'm in a low traction situation.(like dirt, etc.)
But I see the logic there.

Be careful with touching the front brake on any bike performing low speed maneuvers. Two things will get you doing the "MSF Box" or the wide weave maneuvers:

1. Using the front brake will cause the bike to fall into the turn in the direction the bars are turned, and dump you on the ground hard. Rear brake only in tight low speed turns.
2. Pulling in the clutch fully. As long as the engine is driving the rear wheel the bike will hold itself up. When you pull in the clutch fully, the bike will fall into the turn.


As an aside to the front brake situation, remember that you must always square the bars when making a quick stop or the bike will tend to pull hard in the direction the front wheel is turned, resulting in a dump.

Counterweighting is easy to do on the RR; Simply slide over to the outside of the turn you want to make, put most of your weight on the outside peg by pressing hard with your foot, and then look as far over your shoulder into the turn as you can. The head turn is the trick; the farther back you look, the tighter your turn will be. Notice that when you do this, your butt and most of your body will tend to rotate to the outside of the centerline of the bike and improve the counterweighting.

One other thing that people have trouble with in the box maneuver: Part of the trick to a good turn is to have a little bit of speed in order for the bike to hold itself up. It is much easier to do a tight U-Turn moving faster than it is to do it dead slow.

I pretty regularly make drink money betting the HD guys that their big Ultra's can make the 20 Foot wide U-Turn box . They will readily plunk down $$$ betting the bike cannot make the turn

Oh yes, it's AMAZING what can done on a big bike. Check out the Japanese bike cop drills. Those guys have to do incredible things just to be considered worthy of attempting the position.

Well, it seems my goal to steal a thead has been accomplished! Sorry Motorcycle_girl!

No worries about stealing the thread...insight into riding techniques is always welcome in my book. As an instructor I am always looking for new ways to explain such things to my students. Other points of view are very important. We are always learning...if we stop then it is time to hang up the motorcycle keys and walk away. No one will ever know everything there is to know.

Celeste

I just got back from a round trip through Los Angeles to Beverly Hills and back home. Full speed freeway with light traffic (indicated 80+mph), freeway with traffic at 60mph, slow freeway traffic with lane-splitting, 2 & 3 lane city streets with cars parking and going every which way with some lane splitting through stopped cars, and a couple of tough parking situations. I'm not sure any other vehicle would have done ALL of it as well for me. R1200R, just King of the Alps or King of the World?

Back to the original thread, I think pretty much all has been said. Here are some thoughts though:

What I have given up on, and don't expect to ever like are the blinkers. In particular, the switches and the timer. The off switch on the right side feels awkward to operate since I usually have to operate the throttle at the same time when accelerating out of a turn. Ergonomically that's not a design highlight. The result is that I do not use the blinkers in some situations where I usually would use them. I'd much prefer a traditional left/right/push switch on the left controls.

And what's it with that timer? Am I missing something here or does BMW indeed tell me it is not necessary to have the signals on for more than a predetermined distance? If I set the blinker a bit earlier than what BMW thinks is necessary and forget to look if it is still on when I arrive at an intersection, then I sometimes end up waiting for my turn without indicating that to the other drivers.

More miles will help re map the switch use in your mind.

If I am in a turn and accelerating out of it, I would wait a few feet until I was able to relax my grip a bit and then thumb off the signal or let it do it itself.

Most states require a signal approximately 100 feet prior to a turn. If I signal early due to my error or wanting a longer signal in heavy traffic, I just depress the switch again without looking. It won't hurt anything.

IMO a signal left on is more of a hazard. I know I and others I ride with have forgotten to cancel signals on rides so I appreciate the minor quirks VS the overall benefit.

YMMV

Cheers

Along with most of what has already been said, I would have to say I like how quiet the bike is. I know, vroom vroom is
really appealing to many. I like not upsetting the neighbors, sneaking up the middle of lanes unnoticed at intersections, embarrasing super expensive sports cars without getting even close to loud from light to light. It makes the whole giddy experience that much more effortless.
Leo

Yeah me 2. It growls enough when pulling 2nd and 3rd gear twisties, doesn't blow my eardrums on the highway, and is a true stealth bike in the neighborhood. Suits me fine! OTOH, my wife and I were having dinner in a patio café on the coast near Marseille 2 nights ago when an HP2 Megamoto blew by at full throttle. It sounded sweet! (Even impressed her, and she is not easily impressed...)

Yeah we have a little straight stretch of Coast Highway here in Carlsbad near my house where a police officer waits behind some trees for oncoming speeders. He hears the choppers and the bend overs, looks in his rear view and pulls out right behind them, lights on, game over.

I pull into the same section at silly, giddy speed, back down a couple hundred yards before the trees, officer remains at ease while I role by at speed limit.

I officially do not recommend this behavior.
Leo

because i got tired of dealing with issues on the italian bikes that i've owned (namely the Aprilia ones). yes, bmw's are not problem-free, but they're known to last, and high mileage doesn't seem to scare away the next customer. why the R specifically? because it compliments the Stelvio that sits next to it in the garage, and makes for a comfy canyon cruiser, perfect for the roads I ride each Sunday (Angeles Crest HWY). it's not pretentious, it is quite simple, and obviously a proven model. plus, mister R90S/6 needed to have a garage buddy as well.

looking forward to taking delivery of it.

I'll give my answer to the original post. I wanted an R because I like the tradition. But then I wanted something agile enough for commuting, including frequent trips into the zoo of Washington, DC traffic. I wanted something that would make me grin on my weekend fun rides through the local mountains, state parks, and rural areas. But I also wanted something I could ride for 10 hours a day and take trips on. So an R1200R with a touring package was the perfect combination.

Hmmmm


I had too many bikes, I was always riding the neglected bike.

I considered my collection and:

The KZ 650 had to go, no matter what. Paid $1,200 spent $1,200, sold the bike for $1,200. the TRex 1200 was easy, a friend was Jonesing for my Aprilia Falco (Great Bike!), I figured I couldn't sell my Ducati 1000 Sport (in butterscotch!) so I trade her in at my almost local BMW, Triumph, MV Agusta, Ducati dealer (where I bought her).

And I walked away with my R.

I liked the print/Internet ad. so I'm an advertising sucker.

26,000+ miles, two track days and 36 months later..... I love my naked 2007 R bike.

So....sheer dumb luck! Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart.

parkec wrote: I had too many bikes.

That's an oxymoron.

I wanted a proven, reliable engine. What better than a foundation design that's decades old and still improving year over year? And a bike that's classic and somewhat unusual in looks, average or better in performance, and readily mod-able. Plus of the right size for my 6'4" height. And good on the highway. Able to carry a pillion without running out of breath in the mountains. And with the BMW signal system which I have grown to love. I could go on...

I was choosing between the R1200R and Ducati's Multistrada 1200s Touring , which are decidely different bikes, but both of which could meet my need for a bike which could serve both as a nimble commuter and a long-haul tourer, as occasion demanded. This forum was the deciding factor for me. The bike is everything I was hoping for and more. Thanks everyone.

Performance, comfort, and ease of maintenance.

I wanted:
Upright seating
Good range
Easy maintenance
Shaft drive
No fairings.

the Roadster fit the bill. I prefer the electric motor feel of the K bike, but they are way to hard to work on today.
(you can do a valve adjustment on the R12 in the time it takes to change the oil on a K1300).

Scott