Potential new R12R rider...

[airhead_irl]

Hi All,

New to the forum but not new to the brand. In the past, I've owned a '98 R1100RT, '99 R1150GS and a 2005 R1100S Boxer Cup Replika. I'm an Airhead rider at heart and I currently have a '73 R60/5, '82 R100 and a '92 R100GS. These bikes are primarily used to two-up touring, locally here around Ireland and also around Europe for summer holidays/vacation. Last month, we completed a 5,000 kilometer trip, mainly around Germany, Holland and Belgium on the R100GS. After the trip, we broached the subject of possibly acquiring a more modern bike for two reasons: to preserve the Airheads a little but more importantly, safety - better brakes, handling, more power for safer overtakes etc. After a brief flirt with the thought of a Moto Guzzi Stelvio, we decided on an R1200R circa 2007/2008 as it ticked the boxes and falls within the piggy-bank budget
So, over the weekend we viewed a nice '07 bike with approximately 41k miles on the odometer. The bike is fully serviced, recent tyres and comes with Givi V35 panniers and a Givi top box. It's a no frills example i.e. no ABS, ESA etc, only heated grips which suits me fine (less to go wrong !). I've read multiple threads about the infamous fuel strip. On this particular bike, I did not notice a fuel gauge on the display ? Did some bikes come without one or is it "switched off" ? Do I rely on the low fuel light or the trip mileage method ? Are there other potential issues that I should look out for ? Those of you that ride with a pillion: how is the comfort ?

Cheers,
Mark.

P.S. Any future R12R that we might buy will have serious boots to fill !!

[mogu83]

IMHO I think the 1200R will fit your needs nicely. It's the closest thing BMW makes to bikes from the 80's, add the proper accessories and it will fill any niche you ask it to fill. I use mine mostly for extended motorcycle camping and going to rallies with very little use in my home State (other lesser bikes fill that need).


Cordova Pass 11,200+ feet:


Mt. Evans 14,200+ feet:



In the Smokies:



When it was brand new, meeting it's stable mate:

[airhead_irl]

That's a sweet looking bike ! And that R90S style screen suits it very well I think. Very interesting.....are they Krauser heads on your R75 ?
I notice you have a tank bag on the R12. What type is it ?

[mogu83]

They're actually custom valve covers made by CC Products in California (long out of production).


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The tank bag is the one that BMW makes for the R1200R. A relatively well made bag except that the map case (clear plastic) disintegrated after three years, totally unacceptably for a product with such a high price tag. I picked it up on the internet on a closeout from a BMW dealer.

[airhead_irl]

Both very nice bikes there - I like the old and new theme going on there !! Most unusual valve covers. I don't think I've seen those before.

[airhead_irl]

Should these bikes have an oil temp display and a fuel gauge on the display ? Or did some come without ?

[mogu83]

Most (if not all) of the ones that came to the States had the computer and I think that is the fuel gauge and oil temp. Maybe not, I've never seen one that didn't have the computer.

[dbrick]

I think the fuel gauge and oil temperature indication are independent of the computer.
Like Harry, however, every Hexhead R I've seen has the computer.
I've heard of ones without ABS, but never seen that, either.

[airhead_irl]

That's interesting. Not a deal breaker for me either way but it's nice to know what's what. It would appear to be a really non-frills bike so if it doesn't have these features. The display merely had the time and odometer besides Trip I and Trip II in miles. Oh, and the gear indicator.

[mogu83]

Over here they call people that trust the fuel gauge ------------pedestrians.
I've put in 5.7 gal when the computer told me (and the gas gauge showed) 40 miles to go. Once I ran out at 30 miles left to go and the gas gauge showed two bars. I usually fill at 200 miles.

[airhead_irl]

Thanks for the heads up - I'd best not become one of those pedestrians then !!!
Is 200 miles a reliable reference ? All good information here !

[gibbo111]

I have the 2007 non ABS no fuel gauge or oil pressure indicator, have 112000km and goes very well still. I reset the trip meter every time I fill up and find the fuel light that comes on at about 60km left is quite accurate. I have had lots of BMW but this 1200r has been in the shed for 10 years , by far the longest I have kept a bike . Recently did an 1100km day on a trip to north Queensland , no screen and an air hawk seat pad, oh and a big speeding ticket!!. I am 64.

[airhead_irl]

64 ? A mere whipper snapper.....you're barely run in !!
So, it looks like I have a 2007 R12R coming into my garage very soon.....pics to follow.

[mogu83]

Longest day on my R, 1280 miles (18 hours) but that was in my younger days back when I was 72.

[airhead_irl]

Sounds like an Iron Butt kinda day ! 72 ? What age now ?

[mogu83]

75 - I have 130,000+ on the bike. it's been in all the lower 48 (except Rhode Island) and most of the Canadian provinces. Across the Country four times. The bike is set up for long days in the saddle, with everything that makes for an easy day. I've found it willing to do everything from long days on the superslabs in the center of the Country, goat paths in the Colorado Rockys or dirt (mud) roads along the cliffs on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Although it seems to still be running OK I know it can't go on forever (myself and the machine share that), but I don't see anything out there to replace it.

[airhead_irl]

R1200R LC maybe ?