I test rode an R1150RS today. My impressions.

[mistercindy]

Here's the ad from cycletrader.com showing the bike I rode. I gave it a good 40 miles including up to 85 mph into a stiff wind, and some two lane roads that were moderately twisty. My impressions of the R1150RS relative to the R1150R:

- Its more refined. The bike seemed a lot smoother when shifting to higher gears. It certainly seemed to accelerate a lot smoother and a bit quicker. That's the best part of the machine compared to the R1150R.

- A bit more buzziness in the hands. That surprised me.

- I didn't much care for the ABS at first. It seemed squishy. Particularly the front brake. After a few minutes, though, I got used to it.

- Seating position more upright than I expected (I had it on the middle seat level).

- The narrower grips (ie., not as wide as the RR) would need gettin' used to. Some sense in the wrists that wasn't comfortable after a half hour. Don't know if I'd eventually get used to the position.

- Great wind protection. Great even compared to my RR with the touring screen. I was going 80 into a stiff breeze and there was no helmet buffeting at all.

- The previous owner used a peg lowering kit which made shifting gears odd. With the lowered pegs the left foot just didn't fit as well. I'd put them back in stock position or not get it.

Conclusion: A heckuva bike. And pretty. But, I'll keep my RR for now. Maybe I'll look at an ST after next summer's season. But the way and places I ride, the 1150RS, IMHO, isn't worth the cost difference over my R1150R.

[queenpdog]

Beautiful bike. That screen doesn't look stock. I wonder how wind protection is with the stock screen.

[R4R&R]

Befroe I finally decided on the roadster, I test rode both the R and RS back-to-back. I noticed that the RS put more weight on the hands, probably from the more forward riding position. Also the RS didn't have the lower rpm 'grunt' that the R does. The engine was in a different state of tune that the R and GS.

It would've been nice to have a little more wind protection and the lower pipe (=full size left case), but not exactly the 'looks' that I was looking for.

A nice bike but I think it's lost somewhere in between the RT and the R.

[dallara]

God, but those R-1150-RS's are beautiful bikes, aren't they?

I, too, looked at those when I was shopping, but when I sat on one in the Austin BMW shop I just knew it wasn't for me. Bars too narrow and rubber mounted... Riding position too "leaned forward" for me with too much weight on my hands and wrists... Etc.

But they are great looking... Almost the epitome of what a Beemer "should" look like... A true "Autobahn" look.

Glad you got to try one.

Cheers!

Dallara

[Capt. Blackadder]

God, but those R-1150-RSs are beautiful bikes, aren't they?

They sure are. I have this book on BMW Motorcycle history, and in the Oilhead chapter there are several large photos of a red RS. One of those, a sort of three-quarters-rear shot (if that's the terminology) is one of the most beautiful motorcycle images I've ever seen. I really need to get my hands on an RS, if only for a test ride.

[Simon D]

That is soooo not the stock screen! Good looking bike though. I have a riding buddy with an '03 1150RS and I get to ride it quite often. He and I dissagree over a couple of points - he says the engine "provides plenty of feedback" but I say "it's as rough as a badgers bum". He likes the high (overdrive) top gear but I find it difficult as I like to "snick" between the upper gears on fast corners. It's like a seven speed box but with sixth missing.
He does get amazing fuel economy though with the high gear and that aerodynamic shape. We went over to Germany last month and I have to admit that on those fast roads his was the better bike for that trip. The boxer that I really lust after though is the 1100S, one day, one day Simon.

[mistercindy]

You folks are quite right, that is not the stock screen. They had the stock screen available, though. I put it next to the screen on the bike and it was several inches shorter and a couple of inches wider. The salesman explained that the former owner was 6'5" feet tall. Little wonder, then.

He likes the high (overdrive) top gear but I find it difficult as I like to "snick" between the upper gears on fast corners. It's like a seven speed box but with sixth missing.

Well put. The overdrive is nice on long highway trips where you're comfortably humming along at 75+ mph, but for normal city type highway driving I really wish there was something between 5th and overdrive.