Harley advantages over BMW, any?

[peels]

r1200rt is too cumbersome, so lets buy a Fat Boy?

wow Syko. Not even sure what to say

unless he only rides in the city, I guess.... but still

[sweatmark]

....
Whatever you guys do don't ever ride a S 1000 XR, you'll end up buying one. As close to perfect as a bike can get.

Great motor, yes?

I envy the XR ergonomics sometimes, and the suspension travel all the time when riding my S1000R on average roads.

[gregor]

Fat Boy? Who thinks that name is in any way cool or acceptable? Is it named after a famous USA thermo nuclear device?
Very shiny , so did Jeff Koons do the styling?

[sweatmark]

A 62-yr-old pal of mine 20 years ago came from a Blackbird - whoosh ! - to the big boxer bikes. His latest is the twenty-thousand-pound R1200RT with every possible farkle added.
And now he tells me he finds it a touch cumbersome to manhandle around whilst not sitting on it. He says he's chipping it in - only 26 months old kept in a heated garage and has done the princely total of 925 UK miles - for a new...
wait for it..
HD Fat Boy.
I think that's the end of a long-term biking friendship.

People like that are good entertainment for the rest of us, always provide beer time stories. And occasionally the fickle bike owners create a good deal for barely used cast-offs. Habitual bike "flippers" become valued customers to dealers, who gladly feed the need for something new, while taking barely used bikes in trade at significant discount from new cost. We have a similar guy in the Portland area who always provides good stories for our local BMW group.

[gregor]

....
Whatever you guys do don't ever ride a S 1000 XR, you'll end up buying one. As close to perfect as a bike can get.

Looks interesting, and terrific performance no doubt, but I prefer the unique BMW boxer experience. I guess that's also the USP for Harley owners.

[lcarlson]

Every bike mag that has tested the XR has cited a high level of vibration, which would be a deal breaker for me. Comments?

[sweatmark]

Every bike mag that has tested the XR has cited a high level of vibration, which would be a deal breaker for me. Comments?

Yes - the S1000 engine is buzzy, like most other liter sports bikes. How buzzy? I broke a phone clamped to handlebar last year, with RAM mount apparently amplifying the vibration magnitude to point of electronics failure.

When tuned up, and in that 3-5k RPM sweet spot, my Rockster is smooth and very comfortable for the long haul. But sometimes frenetic and buzzy is soup de jour! And 160+ HP from the S1000R/XR makes the meal pleasantly spicy.

[peels]

^ i enjoy frenetic and buzzy for the day to day, especially leaving work. But I cant do it on long trips or two up. I also do not have the room for a second bike. So the roadster is the ticket.

Id sure love an s1000r.

[lcarlson]

Every bike mag that has tested the XR has cited a high level of vibration, which would be a deal breaker for me. Comments?

Yes - the S1000 engine is buzzy, like most other liter sports bikes. How buzzy? I broke a phone clamped to handlebar last year, with RAM mount apparently amplifying the vibration magnitude to point of electronics failure.

When tuned up, and in that 3-5k RPM sweet spot, my Rockster is smooth and very comfortable for the long haul. But sometimes frenetic and buzzy is soup de jour! And 160+ HP from the S1000R/XR makes the meal pleasantly spicy.

Hmmm...my departed Ducati Diavel also had 160+ HP, and it was not buzzy. It was, however, frantic, which is why it's gone. It was fun for short periods, but then became tiresome, to me at least. A lot of folks would disagree, though.

[swamper]

The S 1000 XR vibration isn't as reported. Yes the mirrors are distorted but they are the same as my R 1150 R. The new 1000 have a different mounting and the older ones you can retrofit. You can also change the bar end weights to a little heavier. I'm planning on some long trips and the vibration isn't bothersome. This engine is way smoother than the Boxer.

[peels]

Every bike mag that has tested the XR has cited a high level of vibration, which would be a deal breaker for me. Comments?

Yes - the S1000 engine is buzzy, like most other liter sports bikes. How buzzy? I broke a phone clamped to handlebar last year, with RAM mount apparently amplifying the vibration magnitude to point of electronics failure.

When tuned up, and in that 3-5k RPM sweet spot, my Rockster is smooth and very comfortable for the long haul. But sometimes frenetic and buzzy is soup de jour! And 160+ HP from the S1000R/XR makes the meal pleasantly spicy.

Hmmm...my departed Ducati Diavel also had 160+ HP, and it was not buzzy. It was, however, frantic, which is why it's gone. It was fun for short periods, but then became tiresome, to me at least. A lot of folks would disagree, though.

I have soft spot for that bike. but its completely impractical