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

When I ride a cruiser, it's heavier and hence less nimble, but moreso you sit lower and can't see around you as well.
FWIW I'd hypothesize that you have a better chance of avoiding an accident in an R1150 than *most* cruisers since they sit lower.
What do others here think?
Again, this is in reference to the ability to avoid an accident, notsomuch how safe you'll be after you're hit

The R will allow you to avoid a accident much better than a slower steering cruiser due to it's handling. Lighter weight, shorter wheel base, better tire options. Also the braking will be FAR superior with shorter stopping distance.

After Owning both, I almost whole-heartedly agree.

R1***R is really the perfect "middle ground" bike. fast and nimble enough to get you into trouble, fast and nimble enough to get you out, and comfy while doing it.

Again, smart riding can nullify this difference. IE: ride the machine as its designed to be ridden. Think further ahead. but that's good advice whatever bike you are on.

Also ridden full sport bikes. They get you into trouble where Only your skill can get you out. But, the skill is actually in not getting into trouble in the first place, so many don't learn that til its too late.

Tundra Dweller wrote:Lighter weight, shorter wheel base, better tire options.

Lighter weight: does that mean a Ducati would even be better at getting out of trouble since it weight around 100 lbs less?

Better tire options: can you elaborate pls

Yes, less weight = a more maneuverable Motorcycle. I.E. physics.
Tires are a major factor, your contact patch is the size of your palm.
Cruiser rims do not have the selection for tires like the R does.
When 1150 needs new skins I will be mounting Michelin Pilot Road 4's.
I've run May sets of PR2's and 3's. They stick like glue, wear like stone and are the best rain tires I have ever ridden on.
Enjoy the BMW!

I've probably not owned near as many bikes as many on this forum. I can remember an old HD 350 Sprint (69), a 74 Honda 360, 79 CB750K and an 80 Kawasaki 750LTD. I've ridden many others including new HD's and an 1800 Gold Wing. I've logged 124,000 miles between two R1150's. The BMW's hands down out ride and out handle all the others. I will say though the GW was tempting. I've ridden a couple big Harleys and a Vulcan. I could not wait to get off of them. I really don't understand the attraction some have to the cruiser machines. I love my Beemer, but do wish I had my first bike back. 1969 HD 350 Sprint, a piece of Italian junk. But wish I still had it.

Does anyone also have experience on a Ducati and can speak to which bike (BMW vs Ducati) handles better, tire options, etc...?

I currently ride an R and a cruiser, and recently a Ducati Diavel. I've owned quite a few bikes a of various types, and the same principles apply to riding all of them: ride within the bike's limits, and more importantly, within yours. That will keep you as safe as you'll ever be on a motorcycle.

Tundra Dweller wrote:The R will allow you to avoid a accident much better than a slower steering cruiser due to it's handling. Lighter weight, shorter wheel base, better tire options. Also the braking will be FAR superior with shorter stopping distance.

Not necessarily so on the braking. Due to a more rearward weight distribution, cruisers have the potential to brake better than bikes with shorter wheelbases. And sometimes they do: a few years ago MCN tested both the bikes I currently own. The R1150R stopped from 60 to 0 in 122.5 feet. The Guzzi stopped in 119.8 feet.

MThomas wrote:Does anyone also have experience on a Ducati and can speak to which bike (BMW vs Ducati) handles better, tire options, etc...?

depends on the model...

but, from Experience you wont find too many bikes that handle better than a 996. my opinion of course. and you'll find NONE that sound better. with some Fat race tires... just hand the keys back to the salesman.





but, I also wouldn't want to spend more than a couple hours on that Duc.

Never ridden a Ducati. But all I've ever heard says they're very hard to beat. And when it comes to braking........look at the single front disc you see on many cruisers. Then look at the front twin discs you see on BMW's, Ducati's and many other sport bikes. That speaks volumes as to which machine can really stop when it counts.

lcarlson wrote:

Tundra Dweller wrote:The R will allow you to avoid a accident much better than a slower steering cruiser due to it's handling. Lighter weight, shorter wheel base, better tire options. Also the braking will be FAR superior with shorter stopping distance.

Not necessarily so on the braking. Due to a more rearward weight distribution, cruisers have the potential to brake better than bikes with shorter wheelbases. And sometimes they do: a few years ago MCN tested both the bikes I currently own. The R1150R stopped from 60 to 0 in 122.5 feet. The Guzzi stopped in 119.8 feet.

I have to disagree with you. The bold type above is the reason for longer braking distances. On a typical (non cruiser) wheel based Motorcycle 75% of the braking force is at the front wheel. I've ridden many of all the above and my better half has a Kawi Vulcan V-tiwn with 40,000 miles on it.
Braking crusiers hard typically causes rear wheel lock up. My Bandit 1250, as heavy as it is can out brake it all day long.

On ANY motorcycle the vast majority of the stopping power is at the front wheel. But due to the longer wheelbase of a cruiser, it is HARDER for the deceleration to lift the rear wheel, and that relative increased rear-wheel traction allows the cruiser the POTENTIAL to stop faster when both brakes are applied for maximum effect. Of course, if you've got a crappy two-pot single disc setup in front, that potential won't be realized. Finally, the numbers I cited from MCN show an example of the actual realization of this phenomenon in a real-world comparison.

I believe the rear wheel weight bias does not allow a cruiser to properly load the front wheel for maximum braking....IMHO.
Real world comparison indeed. If it wasn't so darn nice outside I'd dredge up stopping distance numbers from various cruisers, sport bikes and standards.
Good point though, considering most, if not all cruisers have sub-standard brake components. Just changing the front pads to EBC HH's made a big difference on the Vulcan.
Do you consider your California a cruiser? I suppose it's Guzzi's version of one. Great Motorcycle, Cheers!

Tundra Dweller wrote:I believe the rear wheel weight bias does not allow a cruiser to properly load the front wheel for maximum braking....IMHO.
Real world comparison indeed. If it wasn't so darn nice outside I'd dredge up stopping distance numbers from various cruisers, sport bikes and standards.
Good point though, considering most, if not all cruisers have sub-standard brake components. Just changing the front pads to EBC HH's made a big difference on the Vulcan.
Do you consider your California a cruiser? I suppose it's Guzzi's version of one. Great Motorcycle, Cheers!

Yep -- the Cali is a cruiser, but good quality running gear (remote reservoir shocks, radial-mounted four pot twin front discs, radial tires, RELATIVELY light weight) make it a class leader in performance terms. Glad about your weather -- I gather from your username that you're not in the tropics.

lcarlson wrote:

Tundra Dweller wrote:I believe the rear wheel weight bias does not allow a cruiser to properly load the front wheel for maximum braking....IMHO.
Real world comparison indeed. If it wasn't so darn nice outside I'd dredge up stopping distance numbers from various cruisers, sport bikes and standards.
Good point though, considering most, if not all cruisers have sub-standard brake components. Just changing the front pads to EBC HH's made a big difference on the Vulcan.
Do you consider your California a cruiser? I suppose it's Guzzi's version of one. Great Motorcycle, Cheers!

Yep -- the Cali is a cruiser, but good quality running gear (remote reservoir shocks, radial-mounted four pot twin front discs, radial tires, RELATIVELY light weight) make it a class leader in performance terms. Glad about your weather -- I gather from your username that you're not in the tropics.

I really like the direction Guzzi has been going. More innovative designs, increased power and top shelf components.
Yes I'm in Wisconsin, beautiful summers, winters not so much Spent the day getting the Pontoon Boat ready to launch.
Most of my Winter was spent prepping this for ADV riding. Will be working on the R1150R later today.