Test rode a K1200S this weekend

Post by **socalrob** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:32 pm

My local dealer had a contest with a K1200R as the prize. A one in 5000 chance to win, so I had to stop by on Sat. Was running a bit late, started the 40 mile ride just a bit before 3, with closing time at 4. Crap, I won't make a demo ride.

The traffic was just terrible getting there, some kind of major accident on the freeway, so I'm just cruising along splitting lanes just a bit fast than normal. I actually passed a couple of lane splitters, a rarity for me, and then a guy on a GS zips by me. I guess you can split lanes with the GS too.

I make it out to the dealership at about quarter till, still lots of people about. I try my key to the treasure chest, doesn't work, oh well. I spy a K1200R on the floor, and it looks pretty cool. Sitting on it, fits very well (I'm 5'10", 190 lbs). Actually seems a bit lighter than the RR.

Salesman comes over, we talk, no test rides on the KR, but I can have a test ride on the K1200S. Closing times no problem. Pretty nice guys. They obviously don't know that the only modern road bike I've ever riden is the RR, which now has a bit over 10,000 miles on the clock. Prior to that it was 2 stroker bikes in the late 70's & dirt bikes. Oh, I remember riding a Suzuki GS750 in the early 80's a few times. So I'm not really a superbike kind of guy, I like the RR specifically because its not too likely to get out of hand too quick. So I'm thinking, sure, a ride on a rocket sounds like Sat. afternoon fun.

I sign the form (most likely my widow gets nothing, I didn't read it) & I go out to the bike. Its pretty scratched up on one side, oddly makes me feel better knowing I won't be the first idiot to ride today. I get on, peer down & around at the front wheel, and god bless, theres an ABS ring. This should be easy.

My fellow riders are the leader on a year or two old K bike & another customer on a R1200RT. The leader says to be careful, hit a pothole & jam the throttle may end in wheelies. I'm just looking to survive. They start up, & head out. Wait, wasn't somebody supposed to tell me something? I start the beast up, & there's a big red ABS Brake Failure light on. I'm thinking, is this right? I flag down an employee, & they say yes, thats the failure light that blinks till you move. I wanted to be sure. Last thing I need is 160 HP & residual brakes. I tap the shifter to get out of nuetral, & of course nothing happens. I give it a good solid whack, & KerPlunk, audible from 100 ft. away, its in gear. Hey, this things a BMW afterall.

I take off down the road, catch the other 2 at the stop light. Man this bike is smooth. The power feels huge compared to the RR, pulling strong at low RPM's. The 'zine testers that complain about bad fuel mapping must be awfully sensitive, cause this bike just feels smooth, smooth, smooth. Nice 4 lane street with limited industrial access, & I try some rollons to about 70mph. I pass the RT, grab the brakes pretty hard to avoid passing the leader. The brakes do feel noticably smoother than my '04 RR with ABS. I think I'm now laughing.

We get on the freeway. Light traffic, so now I'm doing roll ons to about 110. I think I get it up to a bit past 7000 rpms. What's it like over 10000 rpms? The bike is a rock at speed. I've been having trouble lately speeding on the RR, hitting 100 or so on a regular basis. I don't think the K bike is going to help.

The K bike is very quiet, I suspect the airflow was quiet too, but I was having too much fun to take notice. Something on the bike makes a nice whine on occasion, almost like a jet turbine. I do notice that vibration in the bars is almost not there. Just a hint that your on a screaming beast hitting maybe 100, not sure why there need to so many gears as I'm sure it pulls strong from down on the bottom to the redline. I did manage a few moments at WOT, not that I really needed to.

We pull off the freeway, onto a curvey road. The bike at below 40 or so seemed to tip into corners just a bit abrouptly. My RR tips in perfectly smooth & linear. It would take a bit of practice to ride as smooth on the KS as my RR. I understand the KS had a fairly stiff steering damper that might affect low speed every day riding. The suspension worked very well on some rough pavement, I did not try mid corner braking to see how she stood up or not.

Made it back to the shop with the rubber side down. Boy what a hoot. The KS is very luxerious, very smooth, & very well manered. I never felt the bike reacting more to my throttle hand than intended. The riding position was comfortable, I tried both agressive & relaxed. I did find my wrists sore some at one point, one of the riding positions was most likely weighting them too much or maybe, the angle of the bars might not be ergonomic for me. My RR, stock, has perfect ergos for me, but it took me about a week before I felt that way.

The difference between my RR & the KS? I guess about the same as between a Cesna prop & a jet. With the RR your on a classic Motorcycle. A bit of shake, a bit of rattle, & I can at least ride it to maybe 60-70 percent. The KR maybe 20 percent. But oh what a twenty percent.

When the KR came out I didn't really consider it as a possible bike, thinking all that HP would not be manageable. But now I'm not sure. The big question is life expectancy. It might still be longer on one of the boxers, & I would be much more likely to avoid jail.

How much fun can one guy stand?

BobFV1 · Post by **BobFV1** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 8:51 pm

Rob - thanks that's a great report. I really appreciate hearing from someone who actually got to ride the new KS!

I am going to try going to the liquor store, buying beer for some underage kid in exchange for having him sneak in to the BMW dealership to push the K 1200S over on it's side. Once the bike is all scratched up, maybe they will let me take a test ride on it!!!

Hey and by the way - I had an early 80's GS750E which I bought brand new - that was a great old bike. Did you have one or have a friend who had one? I can barely even find pictures of this great-great grandfather of the GIXXER!

Ride safe.

big papa · Post by **big papa** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 9:48 pm

Some people are soooooooooooo lucky. My local dealerships suck assss.

Post by **socalrob** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:27 am

Bob, it was my ex brother-in-law's bike in Naples, FLA. He was a great guy. He moved to Colorado about 15 years ago & then died in a plane crash (he was the pilot, engine loss I believe) about 10 years ago. He lived life. I remember being blown away by his 750, with I'm guessing less HP than our RR's. Of course I wieghed maybe 135 in those days.

Big Papa, You have a KR on order don't you? Seems like they should give you a ride. Between your riding a Hyabusa & an RR, & your size, seems like a KR should be right up your alley. I saw a big guy (tall) sitting on the KR, and what with me on it I'm sure looks like a long bike looked just perfect. I know from your posts you like your Busa, I'd be interested in your take on the KS or KR. I guess the Busa may have an edge on very top performance, but in the real world I suspect the BMW's would be much easier to ride at high end & every day.

The length of the KS & KR would have some positive benefits on concrete freeways (I'm thinking joints) I would think. The bike felt tight, like driving a German car. Not knocking HD's, but when I've sat on them I don't feel I'm on cutting edge modern quality. On the BMW's I do.

I think its interesting how all the new bikes seem to cost about $15,000 to start, within a few thousand. The choice is then more what you want, not what you can afford.

big papa · Post by **big papa** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:37 am

No bike on order for me. A while ago when I went to my local dealership, they told me there would be no stripped KSs, and very few KRs. The only KR they had was sold. Then they told me no rides on any KS or KR! I was so irritated I just pushed the BMWs out of my mind and went and sat on one of 2 FJRs at the place down the street. A little time passed and I started reading about many stripped Ss and Rs, and listening to all the reports got me excited again.

I have now promised my wife I would wait til next Spring to buy another bike. For now I'm riding the Rock and like many have said, it is getting better w/ more miles.

So I'll stick to enjoying everyone's ride reports for now...

Post by **socalrob** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 10:48 am

BP

Brown Motor Works in Pomona CA has at least 1 KR with a sticker of I think it was $14,750, which I think is striped. I would think about buying with help of Dean though as I believe Brown at least wants to add assembly charge of $750 or so. I saw all your posts in the KR section & for some reason I thought you had an order. Spring will be here before you know it.

Quality of BMW with HP of Huyabusa. How can that not work?

Post by **Deans BMW** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:21 am

big papa · Post by **big papa** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:57 pm

Quality of BMW with HP of Huyabusa. How can that not work?

Amen

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:21 pm

Assembly charge? On a BMW? That sounds like a blatant rip-off to me. MSRP is MSRP on a BMW.

Post by **socalrob** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:42 pm

The bikes come in a crate & do have to be assembled to some degree. Looks to me like it would legitimately take several (4?) hours. I doubt the shop wants to do it for free. Others might know more if its supposed to be included in MSRP. Don't assume Brown's is doing something bad, I could be mistaken, I though thats what I saw on a tag or two but could be wrong. They seem to be a decent & reputable dealer. The charge may also be a starting point for negotiations so some $$ can be knocked off without raping the dealers slim profit.

PizzaMan · Post by **PizzaMan** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 5:16 pm

Brown is FAR from doing anything underhanded. They have been around a loooong time and have a dealership built on pride, performance and fair deals. The new models have the assembly charge built in from the factory. It is listed on the sticker from BMW. The older models are the ones, like the R's, that used to sometimes carry the dealer prep fee. There may be a handling fee of 500.00 sometimes.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:32 pm

I haven't been to Brown BMW but I've heard quite a bit of good things about them. I'm just saying that I have yet to see a dealership tacking "prep" fee or "shipping" fee onto the MSRP on any of their new BMW. I've been to numerous BMW dealerships in three states (California, Arizona and New Mexico) and I have yet to see any additional fees on BMW sticker price. I don't know if Brown marks theirs up or not, but apropos of nothing, I wouldn't buy a Beemer from a place that charge "prep" or "delivery" fee. But that's just me.

Post by **NoRRmad** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:51 pm

I've been to Brown; they put on a pair of Pilot Roads after I had to Pocket Tire Plug my rear coming south from Las Vegas. They slipped me into the front of the service queue since I was touring, talked me through my tire choices, had the bike ready to go in the time it took me to get lunch at the comideria across the street. I don't remember that they were particularly inexpensive, but they are a nice bunch o' guys.

Post by **socalrob** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:27 pm

NoRRmad

I think you hit the nail on the head. Browns isn't cheap, but I think they are an honest, knowledgeable, hard working bunch of guys trying to make a decent profit.

I personally value business relationships more than absolute $$, but thats most likely because I'm self employed & have no common sense of money as I see alot of it flow through (not into, you note) my hands in the course of business.

I like Browns the best out of 3 possible local dealers for me. I also hear very good things about Irv Seaver's in Orange County. But knowing the OC, I doubt its cheap down there either.

I just can't get the KS ride out of my head. I may be looking at a KR in my future. One sweet engine. One cool bike.