New bike, '11 R1200R Classic or '11 R1200GS

[fixinbones]

For those of you who can't stand threads like this asking for opinions on motorcycle purchases do not read further as this thread will likely annoy you. But for those of you with impressions and/ or opinions on the above bikes please chime in with any opinions regarding my purchase. Thanks in advance, sorry if I annoyed a few of you!!!!

I got rid of my 2005 R12GS about 3 years ago and replaced it with an '08 Megamoto. The Megamoto was a great bike that was both lighter and more powerful than my GS. However, it was not a good two up bike and I like to ride with my son once in a while. With that being said, not having a BMW boxer in the garage is starting to bother me!! I just love the low rpm grunt of the motor and the OHC motor must be a gem. I also loved the telelever front end which is great for rough pavement. My issue is whether to get another GS or the new R1200R classic.

I dont do any off road riding so the GSs offroad ability is really of no value to me. I ride two up 20% of the time only for short local trips. Most of my riding is local stuff, 30miles or less on back roads and I dont do any long trips. I take the bike to work once a week which is short commute-sounds boring but thats all the time I have to get on the bike.

When I originally started looking at BMWs in 2004, I wanted an R bike as my prior bike was a 1994 R1100R. Unfortunately, I didnt like the handling or riding position of the R1150R and I wanted the newer hexhead motor which was not available in the R model yet. That's how I wound up with the GS instead. The GS was a great bike which I regretted selling. I did everything well but I was looking for a smoother transmission and more power and thus the Megamoto. NOw with no boxer in the garage, I find myself lusting for a new one.

In conclusion, I guess I'm leaning towards the R bike. Both bikes would suit my needs fine but I'm wondering if there are any opinions of one over the other. BTW I'm 6'2", 190lbs, 35 inseam. Thanks.

[ContraMoto]

I just switched from a GS to an R. The only thing I miss from the GS is the wind protection. Nice thing to have, without really needing to mess with aftermarket windscreens. But the advantages of the R far outweigh that one thing, and I'll be getting a proper touring windscreen for the R for all-day trips.

The R is easier to handle in the driveway, in parking lots and on roads at all speeds. I like its function-over-form setup. No fake plastic tank, no fake plastic dirt-bike beak and no pretensions to be anything other than a roadgoing motorcycle. A proper metal tank and a minimum of art-school-student plastic design bits (like the F800R...yuk).

Where I ride (roads and maintained dirt fire roads), I don't need 8 inches of suspension travel.

If you ride two-up I recommend the rear rack and a top box of some type, either the factory one or a Givi or something. The rear rack also provides hangers for side cases and a passenger grab rail.

Think hard about the Classic model, though. Wire wheels are uber-cool, but those ones have tubes. And tubes = flats on a too-frequent basis.

[creamora]

Hey Jay, I admire your issue - "This BMW or that BMW..."

I can't speak from previous ownership, but from previous posts the handling from R1100R and R1150R to our new R1200R's has been improved. A little more digging here, or in replies, should yield those details. My short riding experience with the R1200R has revealed no handling demons as of yet, though I'm still gettting used to the low speed sensitivity of the ABS brakes up front.

A seat change sounds in order if you were to go with the R1200R - your knees may be bent more on the R vs. GS with it's higher seat.

Most dealers are fair as this is a major purchase - hit them up for a long test ride on both new models, and on different days, and compare notes. At my dealership, they also had the other BMW R1200R seats on hand to change out if I wished.

Let us know how things go.

[ContraMoto]

As mentioned above...you might want the tall seat, coming from a GS. That was the first thing I got for my bike...that's something I liked about the GS...stretched out legs and sitting up high. FWIW, I'm 5'11" with 32" inseam and I can flat-foot and unweight the bike at stops, even with the tall seat. (by "unweight" I mean, when I stand up the bike extends its suspension all the way out.) On the GS, I could just barely flat-foot with the stock seat on the lowest setting, but couldn't unweight the bike.