BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

New to me, anyway. I've never bought a brand new bike. Something in me keeps me from doing it. But today I got a 2005 R1200GS with 12,064 miles on it. Its completely stock, very clean, and had all papers and service stamps. The warrantly is good through August of 2007.

Why a 1200GS? For one, I had the itch. That's probably the biggest reason. Secondly, I rode a R1150RS yesterday really wanting to love the bike and get it, but after 30 or 40 miles I could tell it just wasn't for me. I like the wider bars and more upright posture. I realized that I'd prabably have to wait until a good used 1200GS became available, since the 1150GS is, for me anyway, too heavy.

So this morning I drive to the dealership, innocently , mind you, intending only to buy a new windshield for my Shoei RF1000. But there in front of the dealership was the spotless 1200GS. Now I ask you... what was I to do? So I took it for a test ride.

My impressions were near immediate love. Some thoughts (particularly as they compare to the R1150R):

- The 1200GS really pulls nicely.
- It feels much smoother.
- Definitely faster.
- The 6th gear is not an overdrive so far more usable, IMHO.
- I can't believe how maneuverable the 1200GS is. Way easier to lean into turns than the R1150R. You can really flick that bike around! Forget the dirt... its a great street bike.
- As per my experience with other beemers, though, the stock saddle will have to go. I put 120 miles on it and got a similar butt burn to the one I experienced on my RR.

So that's it. I bought it, and never did get that darn shield for my helmet! It was completely stock, so I did get hard bags. And I had to buy a new tankbag as the tank isn't magnetic, so my old trusty Marsee 22 ltr teardrop magnetic had to be retired. I replaced it with another Marsee 22 ltr teardrop, just not magnetic, this time.

Sure hope I can still hang with you guys, as this is the best bike forum around. If you'll have me, I plan to stick around.

Don'cha' be going nowhere, Mistercindy!

No way! No how! Remember that an R-1150-R is nothing more than an R-1150-GS in street clothes...

*CONGRATULATIONS* on the "new" (well, new to you, right?) scoot!!!

Sounds like loads of fun, and that you made a great choice. Ol' Bones on the board here did the same thing (swapping out his R-1150-R and ending up with an R-1200-GS) and he *LOVES* his, and it sounds like for the same reasons...

Again, congrats - and I, for one, hope you stick around.

Cheers!

Dallara

Hey, we let the Mad Brit stay didn't we? He just has better things to do these days than hang with us Roadster goobers.

Mistercindy, your review is completely different than my experience on the 12GS, in no way did it handle better than the R. It always seems that everybody just thinks their existing bike is the best, which is ok, just don't expect a real review.

Oh, by the way, my Fireblade is definetly faster than my R, a 12GS is not definetly faster than a R.

Congrats, hope you have many years of fun on it!

Good stuff and congratulations on the new bike.

Don't you love that "going to the shops to pick up something and
come back with something completely different!!"
I have done that a few times and get home and think..what happened there!!. (though never with something as substantial as a new bike!)

Usually works out for the best though and usually turns out you have subconciously been thinking about it for a while.
"Or the devil grabs you in a weak moment!"

Well done.

Stick me and my dang short legs in the jealous category with Frank. I do hope BMW has a 1200 Roadster in the works. In the meantime mistercindy, stick around and tell us more as you learn the bike. In case you haven't already, check out the http://www.advrider.com Gspot forum. Sarah

I have been toying with doing the same thing as I think my back and knees would also like the more uprignt posture.
If I should run into a deal like yours prob would make the plunge :D

Congrats on your new bike

Congratulations on the 1200 GS purchase. I agree with those that note the R is a GS in different clothes. It is more upright. I ended up purchasing barbacks and peg lowerers to address that concern for my 1150R. The new engine is likely sweeter too. I have the standard 6th gear in mine, not overdrive. I like it better because it pulls better and requires less downshifiting. That said, its a little harder on fuel economy and can't cruise at the very high speeds as smoothly. In Canada, for the most part, the higher speed cruise is offset by road conditions and policing.

I don't have ABS and never did, so don't know what I'm missing. Is it a lot better? I truly believe that in a surprise bad driving situation, all things being equal, it could save your life. I try to drive for the conditions and rationalize not having ABS by doing that. But you can never do it all the time! Enjoy your new ride.

Dallara indicated my situation and described it accurately. I had the same thing happen. Went to the dealer for no real reason, test rode the GS and there was no turnin' back. It handles like no other real world bike out there. The boxer engine "love" is there, but it pulls harder, smoother and revs higher without arguing about it. Etc, etc, etc.

Fganger......I think we are the same height. If you try the 1200 GS with a low seat, you will be very very surprized!!!

I ordered a Corbin seat, tried it on the bike. Very well made, quality very impressive, but it is TOO wide and tall for me to reach the ground. So it is getting shipped back. I am afraid Sargent's answer to the seat situation will be the same: too tall or wide when compared to the stock LOW seat. No question the stock seat foam is too soft. Just stuck with it now. BUT, the bike is just ridiculously great. And I actually like the odd looks of the beast.

Congrats, enjoy and ride safe.

Bones

Thanks for the comments! Some thoughts and responses:

Dallara wrote: Again, congrats - and I, for one, hope you stick around.

Cheers!

Dallara

Thank you sir. I'll do so.

Wayno28 wrote:I have been toying with doing the same thing as I think my back and knees would also like the more uprignt posture.

Ian Leadley wrote:I agree with those that note the R is a GS in different clothes. It is more upright. I ended up purchasing barbacks and peg lowerers to address that concern for my 1150R.

That's one thing about the 1200GS that surprised me. I didn't expect the seating position to be more upright than the R1150R. Not so much the sitting posture so much as the angle of the knees is significantly less aggressive than the RR.

Ian Leadley wrote:The new engine is likely sweeter too. I have the standard 6th gear in mine, not overdrive. I like it better because it pulls better and requires less downshifiting. That said, its a little harder on fuel economy and can't cruise at the very high speeds as smoothly. In Canada, for the most part, the higher speed cruise is offset by road conditions and policing.

Agreed. And that 1200 engine is very sweet. The only part of the 1200GS's performance that disappoints me relative to the R1150R is high speed cruising. But, at the same time, my real world driving is on the highways of metropolitan Dallas/Ft. Worth where you pretty much stay between 60 and 70. With the R1150R's overdrive gear I got the feeling no gear was quite right at those speeds. But the GS's 6th gear is perfect for those speeds, and is very comfortable up to 80. Above 80 I start to notice the higher revs on the GS where the RR was just beginning to hum.

Don't get me wrong, though, I just love that the R1150R's overdrive gear will go 85 mph humming along at just over 4,000 RPMs. At 85 mph the GS is a bit closer to 4,700 RPMs and you can feel the difference. I'm looking at it positively, though. I found yesterday that me and the 1200GS are quite comfy cruising at 75 mph, yet me and my R1150R didn't get particularly comfy 'till 85 mph. It occurred to me that the 1200GS may keep me a bit saner on the highways.

Bones wrote:Went to the dealer for no real reason, test rode the GS and there was no turnin' back. It handles like no other real world bike out there. The boxer engine "love" is there, but it pulls harder, smoother and revs higher without arguing about it. Etc, etc, etc.

Been there...

Bones wrote:I ordered a Corbin seat, tried it on the bike. Very well made, quality very impressive, but it is TOO wide and tall for me to reach the ground. So it is getting shipped back. I am afraid Sargent's answer to the seat situation will be the same: too tall or wide when compared to the stock LOW seat. No question the stock seat foam is too soft. Just stuck with it now.

Thanks for the Corbin tip. And you're probably right about the Sargent. I got a Sargent for my R1150R and it was great. But the greater width of the Sargent effectively made it a taller seat. I was comfortable with the Sargent and the R1150R as I could easily stand flat footed. Not too sure that'll be the case with the 1200GS. I rode it yesterday on the higher seat setting and I was close but not quite flat footed.

The Sargent 1200GS seat will be out soon. In fact, they're taking "pre-registration" orders for it. The Sargent web site says the new 1200GS seat it will have the same height settings as the stock seat. But, if my Sargent experience with my R1150R is any indication, I suspect the lower Sargent setting will be the same effective height as the higher stock setting. I can certainly live with that given the greater riding comfort.

Bones wrote:BUT, the bike is just ridiculously great. And I actually like the odd looks of the beast.

Agreed!

Sara and Bones,

On the way back home from the Ohio Rally, we met up with a couple that were riding two GS's. I was quite surprised when the guy got off his machine; he was a tad shorter than me.

Of course I had to ask how he did that. He told me to sit on his machine; I did and was able to flatfoot it. He had lowered it with shocks, a longer torsion arm, and seat. Pretty neat. Of course it did cost about $1400.00.

BMW of Daytona also had a new R12RT, which they lowered. I was able to flatfoot that as well. Of course Sara's comment about BMW coming out with an R version makes sense to me.

I was going to “drop” my R bike a bit when my shocks were replaced. However, I bought a brand new set off of E-Bay for $100. Well perhaps the next time I need to replace them. Let's see that would be at about 75,000 miles.

Frank

Other than the seat height, the ergonomics of Doug's GS suit me better than my Roadster. I find the high, wide handlebars make me feel more confident in parking lots and up and down our gravel driveway; that is, until I need to put my feet down. I'm wondering about a different handlebar/footpeg setup for the Roadster vs shaving a seatpan down to nothing on a GS. Sarah

$1400 US dollars to lower the GS? Ouch!!

Very good choice.

I have an R1200GS Adventure on order (release date 4/06) so every time I read about someone changing their R for a GS, I'm delighted when it appears to be a step up in the right direction.

I'm not selling my R though. She's way too sweet. I think she might just suit Elaine when she's passed her bike test and has the full Category A on her driving licence.

J

I am looking forwards to each service on my Rockster as they'll give me *something* else free for the day of the service.

My question (mostly to myself) is K1220R or R1200GS.... :eek:

rockster.ch wrote:I am looking forwards to each service on my Rockster as they'll give me *something* else free for the day of the service.

My question (mostly to myself) is K1220R or R1200GS.... :eek:

More likely a F650CS beater, if your dealer is like mine.

Now that I have my computer back, those of you with a new to you R1200GS, the addition of a complete Remus exhaust including the Remus head pipes will realize a 7 to 8 Rear Wheel HP increase with out any other mod. I have been involved with the dyno testing of two diff R1200GS's with similar results.

MattPie wrote:More likely a F650CS beater, if your dealer is like mine.

Absolutely not! Given notice, I can have anything I want...
In fact BMW Switzerland were trying to give me test rides on anything after calling me in follow-up and being told that I bought Lob...

Gotta love the Swissies....."do you want my address?" "if you want".....keys, bike, byyeeeeeee!

what's a 'Lob'???


mistercindy, good luck with yer new GS. suppose you can stay here along with the madbrit.


where is that madbrit anyhow?????????

Alas,

The Maddbrit can be found here... (maybe?)

ADVrider.com

He's a dirty GS'er now...