My First Time

[Ric]

Picked up my "One-of-a-Kind" R1200R today at Pandora's in Chattanooga Tn. My first BMW. After decades on the fastest bikes the Japs could produce, the Beamer is, well, weird. Definitely has personality. I like it. I like it a lot.

I got the touring pkg with top-case and insert bags as well as a few other goodies.
I'll let ya'll figure out what makes it "One-of-a-Kind".

[websterize]

Wahoo! What a beauty.

Does the U.S. touring package omit the comfort seat? I thought the comfort saddle was part of the touring package, and it looks as if they gave you the standard saddle.

[rockbottom]

Wahoo! What a beauty.

Does the U.S. touring package omit the comfort seat? I thought the comfort saddle was part of the touring package, and it looks as if they gave you the standard saddle.

I thought the same thing when I bought one a few weeks and found out that the "special edition" (white only) includes the comfort seat; the standard "touring package" does not.

[dav]

Nice bike , does that say 'ROADSTER' on the tank under the R1200R decal .

[hankth]

Chrome pipes???

[Ric]

"Nice bike , does that say 'ROADSTER' on the tank under the R1200R decal ."

It does.....I wanted a black R12R. The dealer had a grey and couldn't find a black at another dealer. So, the dealership had the bike painted Night Black, no charge. Since it was being taken to a custom paint shop I had a chance to add my own touch and have a one-of-a-kind R12R. I ponder many wild ideas for a couple days and finally settle on something fairly modest. I think BMW has the style right as it is; the only thing missing is the word "Roadster", so I addded it. The paint came out better than stock. Smooth as glass.

Hope ya'll like it !!!

[Ric]

Yes...that is a standard seat and, yes, chrome pipes.

Chrome pipes come with the touring pkg as does the sport windshield, panniers, heated grips, onboard computer, white turn signal, center stand, and luggage grid. I added a top case, luggage inserts for panniers and top case, hand protectors (not yet installed), and back rest pad on the top case.

I put on 80 miles the first day and found the seat comfortable; more miles will tell.

I have the day off.....I am outta here !!!

[Sander Abernathy]

You painted a BMW roadster black to make it unique!?! That's like a stripper getting breast implants to go to a DDD cup to differentiate herself from the competition. (It really says something that the last sentence is probably the most risque thing ever said on this board.)

Seriously though, I know you had "Roadster" added to the R1200R logo to make it unique. I like that a lot. Is the R1200R on the tank a decal or painted on? Is it under or over the clear coat?

Do you know what the dealer paid to have it painted? I'm thinking of getting mine done in the acid green metallic they use on the S1000RR or a similar color that BMW used on the E46 M3 cage from 2001 to 2006.

You're the second person to post recently who said they didn't like the color available at the dealer and the dealer just painted it for them in a choice of BMW colors. I wish I had known that was a possibility when I bought the bike. We should create two sticky threads. The first should be titled "Tips for Those Buying a New R1200R" and the second would be "Tips for Those Buying a Used R1200R". There's a lot of collective wisdom here that would be very useful to those purchasing their first R1200R. Someone could dig it out by reading a lot of threads and running the search function but putting it all in one place would be very helpful and far more likely to be accessed by those who need it.

The only bike I've ever ridden (other than the MSF bike in the beginning rider course) is an R1200R so I'm curious about what you see as the biggest differences and pros and cons of the R1200R versus the fastest Japanese bikes.

Finally, I just got here myself but welcome. You should know however that you aren't actually allowed to post here during acceptable riding weather until you turn your pipes a nice deep shade of brown. Anyone with an R1200R that new should be riding the bike rather than reading and writing about it.

[Tarmac]

Congrats, and welcome to the club!

I too came from the world of crotch rockets, and you'll be pleased to know that the R1200R does fine at track day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgDgAxVDu4s

Yeah, you'll get your doors blown off on the front straight, but the upright seat, lower center of gravity, and wide handle bars make it handle quite nicely in the turns. Yes, thats me passing a GSXR-1000 into turn 2!

[Ric]

You painted a BMW roadster black to make it unique!?! That's like a stripper getting breast implants to go to a DDD cup to differentiate herself from the competition. (It really says something that the last sentence is probably the most risque thing ever said on this board.)

Well...as I stated: I pondered many wild ideas. I thought of adding a naked woman with half her head blown off and skull showing through, maybe with a tat reading "My Momma Didn't Love Me Enough".

Do you know what the dealer paid to have it painted?

No. Things where going my way with the dealer so I decided not to bring up his cost.

You should know however that you aren't actually allowed to post here during acceptable riding weather until you turn your pipes a nice deep shade of brown. Anyone with an R1200R that new should be riding the bike rather than reading and writing about it.

You're absolutely correct. I wrote this morning while having my coffee before hitting the asphalt. I just completed 160 miles including a few through a battering storm. And the pipes are Chrome so they should turn a nice bluish brass color. Here's a tip. Wash the pipes off with alcohol before ever starting the engine. It will help keep them from getting splotchy looking.

I'm curious about what you see as the biggest differences and pros and cons of the R1200R versus the fastest Japanese bikes.

Obviously the "Fastest" Jap bikes (i.e. ZX-10R, R1, etc...) are, well, faster. The R12R has more a upright seating position which is more comfortable. And the seat doesn't push you forward like on say an R1. The R12R wheelbase is a little longer so it's a bit slower to turn in on the slower curves.

Having said that the R12R is fast, good and stronge from down low. You don't have to have the rev's in the stratosphere like on the Jap bikes. And, with a low center of gravity it is very flickable although, using a ZX-10R as an example, the ZX is 50 pounds lighter which helps to it's favor. Of course the R12R is intended to accomplish more than just good track times so, to me is a very good trade off from the fastest Jap to gain some great long distance crusing ability.

I wanted everything in a new bike: saturday night hotrod, canyon carver, wheelie fun, light weight, fast enough to at least throw the 600 kids into shock, and long distance capability. I closely examined all my options from every manufacture. I made a quantative analysis of all the things I had to have, wanted to have, and definitely didn't want in a bike. The R12R came out soundly on top. Of course that was using my parameters, my priorities, my metrics. I was glad it did because I think it's a beautiful machine.

Just for kicks....so you can see where I'm coming from....here are some of my other bikes....of which some are recently sold and some are for sale.....I'm cleaning house to afford this BumW. I've had a bunch of other Jap sportbikes which I just don't have pictures of.

[Stef.]

Superb cool bike- great idea with the "Roadster! Congrats!!!
Stef.

[Ric]

Is the R1200R on the tank a decal or painted on? Is it under or over the clear coat?

No decals, It's painted and covered with multiple clear coats. It had to have been rubbed down between each coat as it is smooth as glass; not the first hint of orange peel, ripple, or otherwise. I've had a lot of bikes painted and this is hands down the best paint job I've ever seen.

[firedfromthecircus]

Lovely bike there. The fact it is customised, but only just a little bit is pretty cool I think.

Lusting after some of your other bikes too. Very nice collection.

. We should create two sticky threads. The first should be titled "Tips for Those Buying a New R1200R" and the second would be "Tips for Those Buying a Used R1200R". There's a lot of collective wisdom here that would be very useful to those purchasing their first R1200R. Someone could dig it out by reading a lot of threads and running the search function but putting it all in one place would be very helpful and far more likely to be accessed by those who need it.

That sounds like a fantastic idea As someone who is hoping to be in one of those positions shortly I hope the mods see this and action it

[Ric]

Lovely bike there. The fact it is customised, but only just a little bit is pretty cool I think.

Lusting after some of your other bikes too. Very nice collection.

The 69 Kawasaki 175 Bushwacker and 74 Kawasaki H2 are for sale if you'd like to do more than lust.
I could kinda use the cash right now; if you know what I mean.