Is the R1200R Motorcycle Nirvana?

[badbs101]

Today was a perfect motorcycle day, no wind, slightly humid but not at all uncomfortable and neither hot nor cold. Perfect.

While out riding, I reaffirmed that my R1200R is the best bike I've ever owned. I can't figure out why the bike isn't much more popular. My current set up includes a Wunderlich Fairing, a Sargent seat and an Accelerator Module (Booster Plug), that's it. That's all the mods it took to make the bike perfect for me. The R1200R exudes quality. The motor, with the dry clutch is more like a car motor than a typical bike motor, smooth, balanced and well sorted. The gear box is refined and unlike other bikes, I have never missed an upshift when accelerating. It just plain works right. I've also really come to appreciate the linked brakes and not having to use the foot lever. They stop better than throwing out an anchor and the telever front end limits front end dive. The fueling, with the AM, is as good as it gets for fuel injected bikes, not snatchy or abrupt. The ergos are upright but have just enough slight forward lean to be sporty when necessary. Handling is spry and the bike feels planted, solid and sure footed whether cruising or cornering. The R1200R is deceptively fast! The acceleration is brisk enough to outrun any traffic. It can also cruise at 65-75 mph without feeling busy or twitchy at all. It even gets 55-60 mpg on the highway! It also looks great! I wouldn't want a bike that does it all but makes me cringe as I walk up to it. No one bike can do everything best, but the R1200R makes all the right compromises. It all works together extremely well and is truly a do it all street bike.

I may at times lust for a crotch rocket like a S1000RR or a dirt oriented dual sport like a XT600 but no bike will be as easy to ride and own on a daily basis as the R1200R.

Preaching to the choir?

[deilenberger]

Barry - yup. I haven't even looked at another bike since I got mine 71,000 miles ago..

[Newportcycle]

I have put over 100k miles on Triumphs since 1999, though they caused me hip problems I thought I'd about found the perfect bike. Until I sat on an R1200R this last January, I have to agree with most everything youve outlined here. Getting ready for my first trip on the R, we will see how she performs.

[xprof]

Absolutely!!!

[badbs101]

It's really got it all, comfort, looks, performance, handling. Not that the R is necessarily unpopular but maybe it's the (relatively) high price that keeps the overall popularity down. Maybe BMW doesn't send too many over hoping that people will go for the more profitable GS and RT models.

Another explanation may be that, for me at least, wanting an R was an evolution of owning several different bikes. Each successive bike I bought, addressed some shortcoming in the previous bike. Over time pet peeves developed that weren't apparent on first glance or test ride. (excessive vibes, excessive heat, buffeting, poor mileage, poor fueling, harsh suspension, poor seat, uncomfortable riding position, low power, too heavy in the garage, too light on the freeway) ..the list goes on. Each bike I've owned has more or less been better (for me) than the last. It may have been hard for me to appreciate the R without going through that process. I see GS and RT models pretty regularly but I rarely see an R out in the wild, besides mine.

[deilenberger]

I see GS and RT models pretty regularly but I rarely see an R out in the wild, besides mine.

Actually - in our local club, the R now leads in popularity. We have 6 or 7 owners out of about 65 members. Wonder if I had anything to do with that?...

[xprof]

I see a lot of them in Europe, though GSs are still the most popular model. I wonder what percentage of the BMWs sold in the US are Roadsters, and what percentage in Europe. Does anyone know?

[Steve H.]

Basically r12r designed for europeans tight streets and roads.I would be supriced,if it doesn't do the job here in north america,on lot more spaceous streets and roads.Basically,can not compare american made bikes to european bikes.They are a completelly diferent story.One is made for comfort,leissure driving-another is made for tight turns manuverability,and they are FAST.Still comfortables for touring.Witch one is better? Decide it yourself.It is up to your needs and taste

BRGDS,Steve

[Steve H.]

Here in Canada/USA people are oriented to "biger is better".Still have more money to spend,compare to Europeans.European guy hase to think a lot more abouth decession than American.American way of thinking is:if I dont like it I will sell it,and by another one-European thinking is:if I do mistake buying this I might be unable to by another one.Here is the explanation.R12R is just aperfect bike,easy to upgrade to whotever you like.So you do not have to think abouth biger bike.North american megalomania leads to by a BMW with full fearings,equippments,it isen't matter if it is too heavy,"but I am driving the bigest one".So I am american.By the way,BMW targeting north american market with 1600 GTL.Market evaluation?Exactly!They know ,americans willingness to buy a bigger one(i.e.P/ups ,SUV-s wersus cars).Everyone drives P/U or SUW on this continent,you can see less and less cars on the road.Advertizing for P/U or SUV 7 liter/100km(1.8gallons/62mls)is a BS.Another fuel crises is just arround the corner.A lot of Toyota Yarises and Honda Fits are going to be sold.Than you are bee able to buy aP/U or SUV for a bargain,everione going to get a rid of them.Interesting,isent it??

BRGRDS,Steve

[badbs101]

North american megalomania leads to by a BMW with full fearings,equippments,it isen't matter if it is too heavy,"but I am driving the bigest one".So I am american.By the way,BMW targeting north american market with 1600 GTL.Market evaluation?
BRGRDS,Steve

Usually, people buy a touring bike to tour and the US and Canada have plenty of wide open spaces to cover, no megalomania involved, just practicality. If that were my main purpose in riding, I may have bought a bigger bike. I mostly commute so...

.Another fuel crises is just arround the corner.

No Dakota and Canada have more shale oil than Saudi Arabia.

[mogu83]

At first I thought Steve might be a European (no location on signature) but maybe not.
Their's an obvious reason why North Americans buy big vehicles - The United States and Canada are BIG countries and when we ride we cover big distances. I was once brought to task for having too many lights on my bike, by someone from across the pond. I explained that I had just crossed the entire state of Oklahoma and on to Santa Fe at night and needed those lights. He still didn't get it till I explained that that was like riding from the Polish border to Paris on a very dark two lane back road. And when I got to Santa Fe I still had a few hundred miles to go.
The vastness of North America is something that really can't be explained or shown in videos and pictures. It has to be experienced, and what better way than from the seat of a motorcycle. The R1200R with a few modifications is perfectly suited to that task, and still light enough for the smaller or older rider to manage. Back to back 1,000 mile days are entirely possible, something most European riders don't get a chance to experience.

[MTBeemer]

If Steve were from Germany he would only need to ask one of his Grandfather's generation about vastness... as in the Russian Steppes.

[hankth]

badbs 101, your review/opinion of the R1200R is right on. I'm a 50 year rider with an '07 R1200R, and I feel as you do that it is the best bike for me that I have ever had. I don't ride as much or as far as I used to, but every time I ride the R it is fun again. The mix of performance, ergos, and looks just works so well. I still love to look down at the cylinder heads sticking out in the breeze as they do. I, like you, was very surprised at how hard the R can accelerate if you want it to. I don't go there much but it is exciting once in a while on an open road. Ride safe, Hank.

[badbs101]

I keep thinking of more reasons why I am so fond of the R1200R; I forgot to mention the shaft drive, beats a chain or belt any day. Also, I can't say enough about the lack of excessive heat with the boxer twins. Newer bikes run lean (hot). Several fuel injected bikes I've owned or ridden were hot. My full fairing F800ST was a real bun toaster on a hot day. The heat came through the seat and also blew back on to you when you started moving. The boxer with the cylinders out in the breeze doesn't feel near as hot.

[Martyn]

Here in Canada/USA people are oriented to "biger is better".Still have more money to spend,compare to Europeans.European guy hase to think a lot more abouth decession than American.American way of thinking is:if I dont like it I will sell it,and by another one-European thinking is:if I do mistake buying this I might be unable to by another one.Here is the explanation.R12R is just aperfect bike,easy to upgrade to whotever you like.So you do not have to think abouth biger bike.North american megalomania leads to by a BMW with full fearings,equippments,it isen't matter if it is too heavy,"but I am driving the bigest one".So I am american.By the way,BMW targeting north american market with 1600 GTL.Market evaluation?Exactly!They know ,americans willingness to buy a bigger one(i.e.P/ups ,SUV-s wersus cars).Everyone drives P/U or SUW on this continent,you can see less and less cars on the road.Advertizing for P/U or SUV 7 liter/100km(1.8gallons/62mls)is a BS.Another fuel crises is just arround the corner.A lot of Toyota Yarises and Honda Fits are going to be sold.Than you are bee able to buy aP/U or SUV for a bargain,everione going to get a rid of them.Interesting,isent it??

BRGRDS,Steve

It's English Jim. but not as we know it.

[websterize]

Just back from West Virginia. Don E., could not find that straight road. The "Wild, Wonderful" state + an R1200R would be a compelling argument for moto nirvana.

[BoxerSteve]

"Is the R1200R Motorcycle Nirvana?" Not for me it wasn't, because it wasn't really all that comfortable for long rides, not enough legroom for a tall guy like me. Other than that I loved the R1200R I used to have.

But the R1200GS I ride now is considerably better for long rides. For me the GS is Motorcycle Nirvana.

.Another fuel crises is just arround the corner.

No Dakota and Canada have more shale oil than Saudi Arabia.

Yes but extracting oil from the tar sands takes much more energy. And lots and lots of water. And it leaves behind an environmental disaster. You can see the horrendous scars from the tar sands oil extraction going on in Alberta, Canada from space. It is very sad to see such destruction. Check it out on Google Maps if you don't believe it: Alberta Tar Sands

Oil from tar sands is far more costly, in many ways, than oil from more traditional sources. Say goodbye to cheap energy! Well actually we already did that.

[Steve H.]

Boxer Steve you are right on,many people can not understand,but it is the rough and real thruth.By every day passing on we have less and less oil.Oil from Alberta is WANTED,NEEDED for USA.But put economikal politcs a side(personally I don'tlike it at all).Excuse me for my "bad english,realised by other guys-responded adekvatly-Thanks".I finished mechanical engineering in 1976.I am speeking 4 lenguechis, including a littlebit english as vell.May be my english is not good enough for some folks on this forum,but as I can see they understand me well scince they ansvering.By the way I would have only one question for perfect english speaking guys-How mani legueches do you speek???Wher are your anscessors coming from,do they speek english at the time arriving to this continent??Well,let me please to introduce myself-I was born in former Yugoslavia,1957.Mother tong is Hungarian,speeking allmost on same levell Serbian,Croatian,Understand/speaking some German,and a littlebit English as you are realised allready.I come to Canada in 1991(civil war started).God bless this country!!!My home.I was 34 years old arriving to Canada.Today I am56.I served army as well.But that isen't matter

Please excuse me for my bad English!

brgrds,Steve H.

[badbs101]

duplicate.

[badbs101]

Enough gushing about the R1200R, I have now thought of one of the annoyances of owning this bike. Checking tire pressure and getting air in the front tire is a pain. With the dual disc front brakes, it's virtually impossible to fit any type of pressure measuring device securely on the stem. Filling the tire is almost equally as awkward requiring the finger strength and dexterity of a concert pianist. Maybe I need to work on my technique? To make matters worse, I have a slow 1-2 psi/week leak in my front tire. Murphy's law states that if you are to have a slow leak in a tire, it will be the most inconvenient tire to fill. Couldn't they have put some of those nifty side mounted stems on these rims?

Anyone else have trouble filling the front tire?

(sigh) Every rose has a thorn.