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

Just back from a female only (!) BMW test ride event here in Vancouver. Rode the 1200GSA; the R1200RT and the F800GS. Am I glad that I own the R1200R! The F800 sounded like a lawn mower and was absolutely not my cup of tea. The 1200GSA has the new overhead cam motor and apparently they made it to sound louder as customers apparently wanted it to NOT be so silent. Don't get that... Now I understand why some people need ear plugs. I have realised I am absolutely not a GS(A) rider at all! (And I even dared to ask the guy whether everything was O.K. with the exhaust pipe as it was soo loud...) Anyhow the R1200RT was a very nice bike to ride- I really enjoyed it and could see myself going on a very long tour with it. It was surprisingly easy to ride and very good in cornering, but than it has so much gimickry on it that I will probably never need and it is quite heavy. Result? I am very happy that I bought the bike that I love best. It's great that I had the chance to double check on my purchase decision and that I am now NOT sitting here regretting it. The R1200R was and is the perfect choice for me.
Am a very happy bunny!

Stef.

Sounds like a day of successful test riding. Congrats... to us!

I'd like to give the new-cam boxer a try though...

Thanks for the report Stef., I will repeat your test ride vicariously. I felt that the RR was the best choice for myself also, though I wondered about the RT. I've only put 350 miles on mine so far, still a little cool here in Alaska. I did notice this morning that my temperature reading on the computer blinks when the temperature dropped below 38 degrees.

It has been great feeding off of the enthusiasm this forum espouses for this bike. I love this ride, after a few minutes on it, I hear the little voice inside, "life is good".

I was at my local BMW dealer yesterday and, for a moment, thought how great the appearance of the other tourers in the range looked. As owners were coming and going with their beautiful bikes with integral luggage, colour-co-ordinated leathers , pillions and helmets , I felt a tinge of envy for a moment (especially since I had ridden to the shop in old "favourites" jacket and jeans, Union Jack painted helmet and had a scabby Addidas bag lashed to the rack with some old bungies.
...Then I got on my R12 to ride home and instantly the envy was gone, and I was reminded why I love this bike so much. It speaks "fun" every time you ride it.
It also does everything. Just clip on the luggage (and the airhawk!) and its a competent tourer or, ride it in stock trim and its a light, powerful and very flickable machine great for scratching. It's great for the city commute, easy to get in and out of the garage, economical, and most of all, it can be the bike I want it to be to match the mood of the day.

... and it even looks good now - adorned with a new BMW rear carrier bag!

Rocket- you are soo right: the R1200R CAN be all and that's the beauty of it! It can be a nice quick little urban bike and at the same time a proper tourer. With the R1200RT you are sitting on a hell of a heavy, big machine that is quite impressive and certainly useful for longer touring but overkill for shorter rides. Like the idea of the music - integrated loudspeakers though...
Stef.

Stef,

I just traded a 2005 R1200RT for my 2009 R1200R. I bought the RT new and rode it for five years, taking about two touring trips per year. It is a fine touring machine, but I discovered most of my riding is either commuting or riding 100-200 mile loops on the weekends.

The RT for me is like riding a water buffalo. The R is like a quarter horse. I have a 29 inch inseam and was on my tip toes with the RT everytime I stopped it. It is a heavy bike, especially with weight of the ESA, both side bags and a top case. I figured I was lifting and balancing about 700 pounds. Not fun if, you can't flatfoot the machine. It was OK for long hauls on the Interstate, but around town, it was a chore to ride.

I just finished a 600 mile loop to the Atlantic Ocean coast of North Carolina on my R. I live about 150 miles inland from the coast. I left on Friday, rode all day Saturday, with three friends of mine and returned today. We had forty mile per hour wind gusts due to thunderstorm activity and the R was moving me sideways a bit. Not as much as my friends on a R1150RT and a Honda ST 1300. Their fully faired bikes with large windshields were acting like sails.

I was glad I was riding the R instead of the RT .

Bill

Bill- that's great to hear. Anything that confirms my choice of the R1200R is happily taken onboard. I was surprised to see/feel yesterday how horrible actually the GSAs were in the wind. The R1200RT though did not have that problem at least on my 40min test ride. I felt more protected from the wind than on the GSAs. On the other hand it makes fully sense what you are saying that they MUST to some extent act like a sail whne the wind comes fromthe side. Anyhow as said- I am very happy with my choice and I think I have the best of both worlds.
Stef.

Well- I have been out today test riding some Honda bikes. I rode the new 1300 Interstate which is a cruiser and the touring bike 1300STA. I have to say once again- my R1200R REALLY rocks....the cruiser (with ABS) was a nightmare for my back- the lower back still hurts after only 40min of riding it (admittingly over some potholes...) The touring bike was O.K. but compared to the R1200RT which I rode last weekend it really does not compare. No heated handgrips; no ESA; the seat is really uncomfortable and the space around my knees was not existent. I do think though it is probably a solid bike of the money you have to spend on it, but I wouldn't want it for the world.

It's a great feeling coming home after these test rides- knowing that I have the best bike on the planet!!!
Stef.

Hi Bill - I have a 29" inseam as well - what windshield are you using on your R1200R?

fastdogs2 wrote:Stef,

I just traded a 2005 R1200RT for my 2009 R1200R. I bought the RT new and rode it for five years, taking about two touring trips per year. It is a fine touring machine, but I discovered most of my riding is either commuting or riding 100-200 mile loops on the weekends.

The RT for me is like riding a water buffalo. The R is like a quarter horse. I have a 29 inch inseam and was on my tip toes with the RT everytime I stopped it. It is a heavy bike, especially with weight of the ESA, both side bags and a top case. I figured I was lifting and balancing about 700 pounds. Not fun if, you can't flatfoot the machine. It was OK for long hauls on the Interstate, but around town, it was a chore to ride.

I just finished a 600 mile loop to the Atlantic Ocean coast of North Carolina on my R. I live about 150 miles inland from the coast. I left on Friday, rode all day Saturday, with three friends of mine and returned today. We had forty mile per hour wind gusts due to thunderstorm activity and the R was moving me sideways a bit. Not as much as my friends on a R1150RT and a Honda ST 1300. Their fully faired bikes with large windshields were acting like sails.

I was glad I was riding the R instead of the RT .

Bill

I test rode a R1200GS adventure today. I thought that I was in trouble with the seat height, but they put the low seat on for me, and with a bit of toe tip paddling at stops I was OK. I couldn't get used to the distance from the ground at first, it seemed that when I leaned over from the center of the lane, my head was crossing the center line. Near to the end of my 20 minute ride, I was getting used to it, but I never saw any advantage over a 1200R. Then I got back on my R1200R to ride home, it had transformed itself into a Rupp mini bike. Very odd. It took about 15 minutes to get used to my own bike again.

Stef. wrote:Rocket- you are soo right: the R1200R CAN be all and that's the beauty of it! It can be a nice quick little urban bike and at the same time a proper tourer. With the R1200RT you are sitting on a hell of a heavy, big machine that is quite impressive and certainly useful for longer touring but overkill for shorter rides. Like the idea of the music - integrated loudspeakers though...
Stef.

Talking about :Integrated Loudspeakers

I have a set of stero speakers which I installed into my helmet
See attached link

http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?products_id=5118

Only took about 5 minutes too install
The speakers always stay within the helmet.
Cable hangs out the back of the helment, maybe about a foot long
Then you plug in the extended cable the to the cable hanging out of the back of the helment, and the other end into your ipod.

Works great

Blueview,

I have the BMW "tall" windshield. I am not sure it does much. I am 5' 8" and I have buffeting at Interstate speeds (65-70 mph).

I have read the posts of others and what they have to do with tilting the aftermarket screens to make them work. I am not a "tinkerer" and prefer to buy farkles that work without modification. It appears there is no consensus from board posters about which aftermarket screen will work best.

I am waiting for aeroflow to make a screen for the R1200R. They don't have one in production, yet, but I read a post that suggests they are working on one. Their products seem to be quality products that work without modification.

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for your reply - I was curious what W/S would prompt you to say that you preferred the R1200R to your 05' RT even if a 600 mile trip is part of your usage.

I am 5' 8" and have had the 20" Cee-Bailey's W/S on for the last 1700 miles. It provides dirty air that buffets my helmet at a resonance point between 55-60 and then generally above 70 mph. Since I had gone to the low seat (placing me 30mm lower in relation to the W/S, I wanted to give the BMW tall one more try.

I found that the The Cee-Bailey W/S is affected by cross-winds a lot more than the tall BMW (sail effect on fork) and the clean air pressure from the BMW tall seems to be much more tolerable than the turbulence slapping my helmet around when using the Cee-Bailey's. I did experience buffeting before too (with the standard 800mmseat) with the BMW tall, but I think the lower seat may be helping to reduce the buffeting I felt before.

I think I will stay with the tall BMW since I don't like the additional concentration required to fight the increased sail effect of the CB during cross-winds at 80-85 mph.

fastdogs2 wrote:Blueview,

I have the BMW "tall" windshield. I am not sure it does much. I am 5' 8" and I have buffeting at Interstate speeds (65-70 mph).

I have read the posts of others and what they have to do with tilting the aftermarket screens to make them work. I am not a "tinkerer" and prefer to buy farkles that work without modification. It appears there is no consensus from board posters about which aftermarket screen will work best.

I am waiting for aeroflow to make a screen for the R1200R. They don't have one in production, yet, but I read a post that suggests they are working on one. Their products seem to be quality products that work without modification.

Bill

fastdogs2 wrote:Blueview,

I have the BMW "tall" windshield. I am not sure it does much. I am 5' 8" and I have buffeting at Interstate speeds (65-70 mph).

I have read the posts of others and what they have to do with tilting the aftermarket screens to make them work. I am not a "tinkerer" and prefer to buy farkles that work without modification. It appears there is no consensus from board posters about which aftermarket screen will work best.

As you may have noted - no one shield is a magic bullet. Tilting them back is really a trivial thing to do if you use the easily available blocks (right here from a forum member and fellow R12R rider) and DOES make many shields available work acceptably. I am working with a chap in Florida on an intermediate mount for the touring screen mount that will allow for both tilting (to any reasonable angle) and raise/lower the height of any shield that fits the touring mount. That may be as close to a magic bullet as you'll find since it allows you to tailer the screen to YOU - with your size/dimensions/seat/desires. Should have one for testing in a few weeks I hope.

I am waiting for aeroflow to make a screen for the R1200R. They don't have one in production, yet, but I read a post that suggests they are working on one. Their products seem to be quality products that work without modification.

Bill

I've heard nothing from Aeroflow on making a screen for the R12R - if anyone has any solid info on such an endeavor by them - please let us know.. be one more to add to the collection in the garage. If the Aeroflow uses the stock touring mount - my WAG - it may be difficult for them to make one that meets their standards for performance. The touring mount was made specifically for the BMW tall shield - and it is very much a curved low shape. Most people seeking more protection end up with a much more upright flatter screen design, and I think that's the problem.

blueviewlaguna wrote:I found that the The Cee-Bailey W/S is affected by cross-winds a lot more than the tall BMW (sail effect on fork) and the clean air pressure from the BMW tall seems to be much more tolerable than the turbulence slapping my helmet around when using the Cee-Bailey's. I did experience buffeting before too (with the standard 800mmseat) with the BMW tall, but I think the lower seat may be helping to reduce the buffeting I felt before.

I think I will stay with the tall BMW since I don't like the additional concentration required to fight the increased sail effect of the CB during cross-winds at 80-85 mph.

I'd REALLY suggest you try tilting the CB back with the block beneath the bottom touring screen mount. What I found to be annoying sail effect and buffeting with the 20" CB are greatly reduced with the screen inclined more. I believe so far - everyone else who has tried this has also found the same, and not just on CB screens (Cal-Sci ones come to mind also..) I did do a distance today at high speeds in cross-winds, following trucks, and while I can feel them a bit on the bars - I never felt I was fighting them. I think fighting the movement tends to make you tense up which seems to make the problem worse. Loose-elbows seems to work best for me.

I did love the airflow off the sport screen - my Schuberth helmet never felt as stable and quiet as it does with the tiny screen (and basically very clean air around the helmet..) Problem was holding on for hours at speed was difficult and very tiring. The BMW Touring screen took some of the pressure off (air hit me about mid-chest - ie - nipple height), there was some turbulence and the lack of protection in rain was a problem.

Summer use - the 16" CB - in the tilted mount - seems great. Wish I had it on today (saw 93F on the NJ Turnpike when it crawled to a stop..) If I'd thought it was going to get this hot, I would have swapped them (the great thing about the touring screen mount is the ease of changing screens.).. but you don't expect 93F on May 2nd..

MJB wrote:Talking about :Integrated Loudspeakers

I have a set of stero speakers which I installed into my helmet
See attached link

http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?products_id=5118

Only took about 5 minutes too install
The speakers always stay within the helmet.
Cable hangs out the back of the helment, maybe about a foot long
Then you plug in the extended cable the to the cable hanging out of the back of the helment, and the other end into your ipod.

Works great

Wow that's interesting! I would love to get these but where is the difference between the little ipod earplugs and these ones? I guess your are legal and putting the ipod ones in isn't?
Stef.

Stef. wrote:

MJB wrote:Talking about :Integrated Loudspeakers

I have a set of stero speakers which I installed into my helmet
See attached link

http://radioworld.ca/product_info.php?products_id=5118

Only took about 5 minutes too install
The speakers always stay within the helmet.
Cable hangs out the back of the helment, maybe about a foot long
Then you plug in the extended cable the to the cable hanging out of the back of the helment, and the other end into your ipod.

Works great

Wow that's interesting! I would love to get these but where is the difference between the little ipod earplugs and these ones? I guess your are legal and putting the ipod ones in isn't?
Stef.

I find the ipod earphone hurt my ears....the pressure of the helmet pushing on the earphones.
The ones I mentioned are flat, only abiyt 1/4 thick

Michael- are these ear phones that are build into the helmet (as the above ones) legal or not?
Stef.