R1200R vs. R1200GS

[sky_sailor]

Before I pull the trigger on a very nice '09 I'm looking at, or even a brand spanking new R1200R in RED, how do they compare/handle etc., with a 1200GS. I rented the GS in AZ last month, and to be really honest, I didn't like it at all. Very clunky transmission, Way to heavy, although it certainly got around higher speed traffic in the slab. So, since NO BMW dealer in Canada will even entertain the idea of a test ride (FOOLS!!!) I'll be going in pretty "cold". Not overly worried, just need some comparisons.
Lyle

[Remow2112]

I can help here!

I currently have a 07 r1200gs. It is a great bike and is very capable. It will handle every bit as well as a R1200R but due to the height and size of the front tire (19") it feels very odd. I just test rode and 08 r1200r.

1. R is lighter and feels much lighter then the GS.
2. R does not feel top heavy like GS or my old R1150R.
3. R has a more cramped riding position after riding a GS. This is in the leg area.
4. R luggage is nice but very hard to top what you can get for the GS.
5. R will not hold value as well as a GS.
6. R with mag rims is much easier to clean then spoked GS rims. (ugh!)
7. R feels much more nimble. (probably the 17" up front helps with that feel.)
8. R wind protection (at least the couple I have ridden) not as good as GS.
9. R has a little more aggressive lean to the handle bars. GS is neutral.


To me, the R is a Ford Mustang and the GS is a Ford F150. If you want to ride in the dirt get the GS, there is no question about it's pedigree. But in regular street, slab riding. Get the R. Much more fun in the twisties and much easier to move and and manhandle as needed.

I am seriously considering seeing if I can find someone to trade my GS for there R. For my riding style I would rather have the sports car (R) then the fancy truck (GS).

Hope this helps,
Dan...

[MTBeemer]

The R can be made into just about whatever kind of bike you want. I have mine set-up to be a longdistance tourer, but pull off the Hepco Becker bags and tank panniers and it is a competent sport bike. This summer we are riding back up to Alaska and the Yukon. I'll put a set of Scortian Trail tires on it and will have no qualms about riding the Top of the World Highway or the Elliot Hwy out to Manley Hotsprings as we plan to do. When I lived in Fairbanks I knew three people (2 women and a man) who rode their R1200Rs all over Alaska. They used tires such as Avon Distenzas, Dunlop 616s and the aforementioned Scorpions. These folks have been up the Dempster, the Dalton and many other dirt roads many times without issue. I'm not saying the R is a match for the GS in "off" road conditions, but it's lower CG and easier handling give it some advantages in all but the most muddy or sandy conditions. I understand Continental is putting out some new sizes for the TKC80. If you can get a knobby on at least the front of the R it will make it a great dirt road bike.

[FBB]

"To me, the R is a Ford Mustang and the GS is a Ford F150. If you want to ride in the dirt get the GS, there is no question about it's pedigree. But in regular street, slab riding. Get the R. Much more fun in the twisties and much easier to move and and manhandle as needed. "

Hope this helps,
Dan...[/quote]

That is about as good a description as I have ever seen about the 2 bikes. I have a 2011 GS and my wife has a 2011 1200R. I was riding hers last night and all I could think of is it felt like a sports car in comparison to my GS. Don't misunderstand, I love my GS and it suits my size and riding style perfectly but that R is a fantastic bike.

The R will handle gravel roads and camp site roads with no problems and remember if you need to you can fit a skid plate off a GS on it as well.

There are even aluminum aftermarket cases for it if you need to go that route.

As others have said it really can be anything you want it to be.

[sky_sailor]

As for heading to Alaska, or TDF, even Mexico, Belize and Central America, I'll slap a couple of Happy Trails panniers on my DR650 and go that route. The R will be a pavement eater for me. I'll need windshield suggestions. The bike I'm looking at has the "sport" shield. Looks like "decoration"?
Lyle

[KMalo]

As for heading to Alaska, or TDF, even Mexico, Belize and Central America, I'll slap a couple of Happy Trails panniers on my DR650 and go that route. The R will be a pavement eater for me. I'll need windshield suggestions. The bike I'm looking at has the "sport" shield. Looks like "decoration"?
Lyle

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience with the BMW Sport Shield on the R1200R, it's there mostly to keep bugs off the instruments

Chuck

[sky_sailor]

As for heading to Alaska, or TDF, even Mexico, Belize and Central America, I'll slap a couple of Happy Trails panniers on my DR650 and go that route. The R will be a pavement eater for me. I'll need windshield suggestions. The bike I'm looking at has the "sport" shield. Looks like "decoration"?
Lyle

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience with the BMW Sport Shield on the R1200R, it's there mostly to keep bugs off the instruments

Chuck

If I go ahead with this, the shield will be the first thing to go. Does BMW have anything a little more "tour" orientated? Or do I go aftermarket?
Lyle

[KMalo]

As for heading to Alaska, or TDF, even Mexico, Belize and Central America, I'll slap a couple of Happy Trails panniers on my DR650 and go that route. The R will be a pavement eater for me. I'll need windshield suggestions. The bike I'm looking at has the "sport" shield. Looks like "decoration"?
Lyle

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience with the BMW Sport Shield on the R1200R, it's there mostly to keep bugs off the instruments

Chuck

If I go ahead with this, the shield will be the first thing to go. Does BMW have anything a little more "tour" orientated? Or do I go aftermarket?
Lyle

Lots of bandwidth used on windshields for R1200R. I'm in the same boat looking for something a little more than the BMW Sport Screen.

I'd like to eventually have the functionality my late lamented K75 with "C" screen and "C" bars. That would likely involve me mounting a Wunderlich or Wüdo quarter fairing. As an intermediate step, however, I'm looking at the Cee Bailey's Sport Screen (http://www.ceebaileys.com/bmw/bmwr1200rss.html) which looks to increase coverage a lot more than the BMW Sport Screen. Hopefully, it will also not generate the buffeting that many complain about most of the screens available for the R1200R.

If there's a consensus windshield/fairing solution out there, somebody PLEASE speak up!

Chuck

[lynnboyd]

If there's a consensus windshield/fairing solution out there, somebody PLEASE speak up!

Chuck

There is no consensus on the forum, and a number of members don't even have consensus with themselves on the subject of windshields. Many people seem to be happy with a Cee Bailey or CalSci with the Don C. block to tilt it back. I have a Memphis Shades Alley Cat with custom brackets and the headlight moved out and up about 1.75", which works great for me but fitting windshields is a very individual thing. Windshields have been the most discussed subject on the forum in my 2+ years here, so there's a lot of information available. Good luck finding something that works for you.

Lynn

[karamazov2]

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience with the BMW Sport Shield on the R1200R, it's there mostly to keep bugs off the instruments

Just goes to show how varied the opinions are... I had both the touring screen and the sport screen on my first R1200R. I absolutely hated the taller screen. The sport screen moved the air off my chest and left my helmet in clean air. I put over 25k miles on with that screen with zero complaints.

And I agree on the dual-sporting. I'm sure the R would do just fine in light conditions - I'm sure lots of street bikes would - but having done my time in the dirt and seeing what it does to a bike, I'd rather not subject my beautiful roadster to it.

[deilenberger]

And I agree on the dual-sporting. I'm sure the R would do just fine in light conditions - I'm sure lots of street bikes would - but having done my time in the dirt and seeing what it does to a bike, I'd rather not subject my beautiful roadster to it.

As Joe Finn (Chitown) has shown many times.. the R12R can go about anywhere a GS can, and he's taken his to places GS owners didn't think they could go.

R12 = Swiss Army Knife of Bikes

[nielsm]

I can help here!

I currently have a 07 r1200gs. It is a great bike and is very capable. It will handle every bit as well as a R1200R but due to the height and size of the front tire (19") it feels very odd. I just test rode and 08 r1200r.

1. R is lighter and feels much lighter then the GS.
2. R does not feel top heavy like GS or my old R1150R.
3. R has a more cramped riding position after riding a GS. This is in the leg area.
4. R luggage is nice but very hard to top what you can get for the GS.
5. R will not hold value as well as a GS.
6. R with mag rims is much easier to clean then spoked GS rims. (ugh!)
7. R feels much more nimble. (probably the 17" up front helps with that feel.)
8. R wind protection (at least the couple I have ridden) not as good as GS.
9. R has a little more aggressive lean to the handle bars. GS is neutral.


To me, the R is a Ford Mustang and the GS is a Ford F150. If you want to ride in the dirt get the GS, there is no question about it's pedigree. But in regular street, slab riding. Get the R. Much more fun in the twisties and much easier to move and and manhandle as needed.

I am seriously considering seeing if I can find someone to trade my GS for there R. For my riding style I would rather have the sports car (R) then the fancy truck (GS).

Hope this helps,
Dan...

I have both a 2007 R1200R & 2012R1200GSA. I would generally agree with the comments here. The GSA is surprisingly nimble for such a tall, top heavy bike, but the R is much more so. Due to the higher gearing, the R feels faster, as the GSA needs lower ratios for off road. The GSA is more comfortable on the slab highway though, both due to the better wind protection and the less cramped ergonomics. But I find the R is much more fun in the twisties.

[Acpantera]

R1200R is better.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

Before I pull the trigger on a very nice '09 I'm looking at, or even a brand spanking new R1200R in RED, how do they compare/handle etc., with a 1200GS. I rented the GS in AZ last month, and to be really honest, I didn't like it at all. Very clunky transmission, Way to heavy, although it certainly got around higher speed traffic in the slab. So, since NO BMW dealer in Canada will even entertain the idea of a test ride (FOOLS!!!) I'll be going in pretty "cold". Not overly worried, just need some comparisons.
Lyle

Well I cannot speak for the GS as I am way too short to ride one. 29" inseam. But I love my R1200R. You are quite a way up north but the dealer that I bought my bike from in London Ontario does test rides every spring. Plus there are also test rides at Mosport as part of the SuperBike double header/BMW Summerfest weekend in August.

Good luck in your search
Celeste

[sky_sailor]

Wolf? That's where I'm looking. They have a great reputation.
Lyle

[MTBeemer]

Or...........

We could say that the GS is the spawn of the devil, and the R is the second coming. After all this is an R forum.

[Woland]

I can help here!

I currently have a 07 r1200gs. It is a great bike and is very capable. It will handle every bit as well as a R1200R but due to the height and size of the front tire (19") it feels very odd. I just test rode and 08 r1200r.

1. R is lighter and feels much lighter then the GS.
2. R does not feel top heavy like GS or my old R1150R.
3. R has a more cramped riding position after riding a GS. This is in the leg area.
4. R luggage is nice but very hard to top what you can get for the GS.
5. R will not hold value as well as a GS.
6. R with mag rims is much easier to clean then spoked GS rims. (ugh!)
7. R feels much more nimble. (probably the 17" up front helps with that feel.)
8. R wind protection (at least the couple I have ridden) not as good as GS.
9. R has a little more aggressive lean to the handle bars. GS is neutral.


To me, the R is a Ford Mustang and the GS is a Ford F150. If you want to ride in the dirt get the GS, there is no question about it's pedigree. But in regular street, slab riding. Get the R. Much more fun in the twisties and much easier to move and and manhandle as needed.

I am seriously considering seeing if I can find someone to trade my GS for there R. For my riding style I would rather have the sports car (R) then the fancy truck (GS).

Hope this helps,
Dan...

I second this, have a an R for the past year and ridden a GS for about 1500km before that. Mostly I felt the GS was boring in comparison, the R is much more nimble and responsive. If I´d go down the GS track I would for sure go with the GSA (which I haven't ridden but feature wise I figure its more worth the sacrifices from the R).

[KMalo]

An observation and a question for you folks with GS and R experience.

The observation is the the pictures I've seen of GSs have windshields that resemble those used on the Rs in size, shape, and attitude angle. In addition, the windshields seem to be set farther forward than on the Rs.

The question is do the GSs have buffeting and noise problems like the Rs? More? Less? Different?

Just wondering . . .

Thanks,

Chuck

[nielsm]

An observation and a question for you folks with GS and R experience.

The observation is the the pictures I've seen of GSs have windshields that resemble those used on the Rs in size, shape, and attitude angle. In addition, the windshields seem to be set farther forward than on the Rs.

The question is do the GSs have buffeting and noise problems like the Rs? More? Less? Different?

Just wondering . . .

Thanks,

Chuck

Depends on your height. At 6' 4", my GSA does have buffeting with the stock windscreen. If I duck down about 2-3 inches, it's quiet as could be. I have the sport screen on my R, so there is less buffeting & more general wind blast. I'm going to get an extension for the GSA, but I like the feeling on the wind on my chest on the R. But, then again, I like the different feelings between the 2 bikes. The GS is a lot taller, so you are catching more wind anyway. Comparatively, my R feels like a little sports car.

I am taking the R on my trip to the Gettysburg getaway, so it's not left out of long travel, but I also try to avoid highway with the R, while the GSA, is fine with it. Then again, I generally avoid highway, as I find it boring.

[lynnboyd]

An observation and a question for you folks with GS and R experience.

The observation is the the pictures I've seen of GSs have windshields that resemble those used on the Rs in size, shape, and attitude angle. In addition, the windshields seem to be set farther forward than on the Rs.

The question is do the GSs have buffeting and noise problems like the Rs? More? Less? Different?

Just wondering . . .

Thanks,

Chuck

When Motorcycle Consumer News did a comparison of the Concours 14, FJR1300 and VFR1200 in August 2010 they used an R1200GS as a camera mule. They couldn't help but point out that the GS had the best wind protection of the four (in addition to the best engine, handling, ergonomics and riding impression.) I've never ridden a GS but I'm guessing the stock windshield works better than the factory windshields we can get for the R1200R. The beak and side panels on the tank probably improve the wind protection on the GS.

Lynn