Newbie question

[bduke]

Hello everyone. I am considering buying a R1200R but before doing that I wanted to pick your brains on one issue: the bike will be used mainly for work commuting, which will take c. 10min/3 miles each way. I am concerned that the bike might not be happy to be used for such short periods of time/distances (not enough time for the battery to charge, for the engine to warm up, etc). Your views would be much appreciated.

Thanks bduke

[Dan-A]

Hello everyone. I am considering buying a R1200R but before doing that I wanted to pick your brains on one issue: the bike will be used mainly for work commuting, which will take c. 10min/3 miles each way. I am concerned that the bike might not be happy to be used for such short periods of time/distances (not enough time for the battery to charge, for the engine to warm up, etc). Your views would be much appreciated.

Thanks bduke

A moped would work, doesn't mean you want one. It is a lot of bike for that use, but what the heck, if you like it, buy it. 3 minutes is short for any engine. You can park it on a battery tender at night, which is recommended anyway.

[OlyVR]

I don't think the bike would suffer too greatly if you keep the revs down.
I have a 15 min - 10 mile commute and it doesn't fully warm up until the end.

If I were you, I'd change the oil every 5,000 km, run Synthetic only, use only Premium/Super gas and clear out the carbon every weekend via a longer tour (1 hour minimum), but I'm sure you're planning on riding this bike and using it also to commute.

If you really are only looking for a bike to commute on, I'd get something smaller like a scooter.
Of course you know what they say: Riding a scooter is like making love to a fat girl: "You wouldn't want your friends seeing you on one, but they sure are fun to ride"

[WILDPIG]

WELL WELL WELL - YOU WOULD DO WITH WITH A 65cc 6 SPEED MO-PED. ON TO OTHER ISSUES- I JUST GOT BACK FROM MYRTLE BEACH RALLY-- I TOOK THE R12 DOWN GREAT RIDE,, LOW BIKE NUMBERS, EXECELLANT WEATHER. I HAVE 1400 MILES ON THE NEW R1200-- HELLUVA BIKE.

[ShinySideUp]

3 miles? Bicycle!

[bduke]

Thanks everyone - I know that a scooter would be a much better suited machine, from several points of view, for this kind of work, but the thought of going back to one, after "graduating" to a motorbike (I used to ride scooters for a couple of years and I've been on a motorbike for the last year) is not appealing

bduke

[deilenberger]

bduke..

Nothing says you have to take the direct route to and from work. It's the journey not the destination..

Don (who frequently manages to find 50 mile routes to the corner to the mailbox..)

[Lost Rider]

Once you get a 1200R, you will be riding it much more that just 3 miles to work. Maybe even find a nice coffee shop 30 miles away for your morning coffee...

* edit * I mean for your morning tea...

[Ves]

3 miles? Bicycle!

+1 Seriously... you'll save gas... and get exercise... If my commute was that short I would definitely ride a bicycle...

[bduke]

It looks like it will be the bicycle for the direct route and the bike for the "long way around" route.

With 2 small babies, the opportunities for enjoying the bike are more limited and the commute on the bike is one way to turn something that is, at least in Central London, a pretty miserable experience into something fun (that is if you and the bike make it in one piece!!!).

thanks

bduke