How much vibration ?

[meloman]

I'm considering buying an R1200R which will be my 10th BMW out of 43 bikes. I rode one for a short distance some years back but never got out on the freeway with it. That ride was impressive in terms of power and handling. Unfortunately, at this time, there are none around to test ride. I've read on various forums that this model has a lot of vibration in the bars and pegs above 80 MPH.
Here in Colorado the speed limit is 75 so I'm frequently riding at 80+ and out in the open spaces much faster.
Can anyone describe the amount and intensity of the vibrations at those high speeds. If my hands and feet went numb after continuous riding at high speed, that would be a deal breaker.
I know all BMW's have that "twin vibe" which has never bothered me as I don't like a sewing machine smooth motor. But high frequency buzzing and tingling, the type that gets really uncomfortable would be a bummer.

I would appreciate any feedback that is offered.

Oh also I heard that the stock seat sucks. I'm 6' tall with a 33" inseam. Any comments on that would be great too.

[red baron]

In my case I have absolutely no vibration either in the handlebars nor in the footpegs, I just returned from a 2,300 miles trip to the Big Bend National Park via the Texas Hill country and I can assure you speeds mentioned by you are very normal out there. For me 400 to 500 miles a day are absolutely no problem. I have at this time a 2008 R1200R with 24,000 miles on the odometer and I am 73 years old and 6.2 tall. It is a wonderful travel bike and is more comfortable when compared with my previous bikes: K1200S and K1200R and R1150R. Hope this helps.

Peter

[hjsbmw]

I didn't like the stock seat at all for longer, i.e. 2+ hour trips. I put on many miles with an AirHawk cushion. I ultimately got a modified seat by Rick Mayer with which I no longer need the cushion. 3 hours on the plain stock seat made me truly sore.

I am not bothered by vibrations at all. I only ever do Interstate riding at 75-80mph for prolonged periods. Our backroads are the 55-60mph kind. 80mph in 6th gear puts you around 5-5.5k rpm. A moderate rpm rate.
I only get the bike above 80mph for very short sprints. Accelerating up in 3rd or 4th towards the red can feel buzzy, but that's not my cruising mode. You have to test ride one and see for yourself. There have been people on here complaining about engine vibes, but I think this is a very personal perception.

[DeltaDagger]

No vibration issues here.
I see vibration complaints from others on every bike I have in my stable. I don't seem to have these issues. Perhaps it's a sensitivity issue, or bike state of tune, or some other variable.

[Jed]

My R12R used to buzz a bit when I was riding for the first 4K miles or so. Every now and then I'd notice my right hand going a bit numb. It might just have been excessive gripping of the throttle or putting pressure on the wrong part of my palm since I'm just getting back into riding after a 20 year break. At any rate I used an O-ring to hold the throttle so I could shake my hand out back then, but I haven't felt the need for that ever in the past 6K miles.

It might be that the bike vibrates less now that it's a bit more broken in. My bike doesn't vibrate at all now, at least nothing high-frequency. There is of course that low frequency pulse from the twins but that's why I love this engine. No sewing machine here, just a delightfully smooth pair doin' the dance beneath me. But the thrump I get with heavy engine breaking from a 7K+ section is just a thing of beauty. Not quite sure how to describe the engines vibs, you certainly know you are on a twin but it's the most agreeable twin I can imagine.

The airheads I've ridden used to have a narrow rpm range where they would just "lope along". The R1200 engine seems to have that BMW lope'ing thing at any speed above 15 mph. This guy describes it better than I can:

... I find the hexhead to be a perfect balance of tractability and flexibility - in a way my airheads never were (even the renowned short-stroke R65LS). The (1130) oilhead was a great tractor too, but lacked the flexibility of the (1170) hexhead. I can ride this bike a bit like a multi in that if I stuff up on entry (waaay too often!), I can still power out of a corner ... yet it will still do something like the boxer 'lope' I love, out in open sweeper country in 6th. For me, that 'lope' is the great heritage and character of the boxer line ... kinda swells the soul as you just roll along and soak in the whole sensation of the bike, along with the visceral connection to landscape ...

cheers,

[ipokebadgers]

How much vibration is a very subjective question, or at least the the answer would be. 20 plus years ago I put a whole lot of miles on a R100S. I was a lot younger then and my hands got numb. But in the 160K miles on the bike it was not painful. I just found ways to be able to stretch my fingers. I have a 2000 K1200LT that also makes my hands numb after a while. I put grip puppies on it that seems to help me. I just bought a 2007 R1200R that had 250 miles on it when I picked it up. I took a pair of grip puppies and a throttle lock with me and installed them before the 900 mile ride home. My hands still go numb if I don't stretch them often enough. The vibration in the R12R is not that noticeable. I still ride the K1200LT and it is a lot smoother just because it is an inline four. The R12R doesn't vibrate as much as my old R100S did, nor would I expect it to. I hear from folks who have put a lot of miles on newer R bikes that they get smoother as they break in. And that break in can last for thousands of miles. If mine gets smoother that will be fine. If it doesn't I am happy as a clam (are clams really that happy) with it the way it is.

I have heard a lot of people say they don't like the seat. I put 400 miles on mine the first day and over 500 the next day. I had no issues with the seat. I don't expect to ever ride further than that so I hope I an good. A lot of peole don't like the stock K1200LT seats. Again, I can put 400-500 miles in a day on it without butt issues. My large butt may just have more padding than most.

Back in the late 70's I put some miles on a HD FLH, not a good experience . I have also spent some time on a KZ1000. I prefer the boxer to them all.

Good luck in your search. The R1200R is an awesome bike, in my opinion.

Sean

[Mark_1]

No vibration problems with mine. 80+ is very comfortable.

Many of the vibration comments on the forum seem to reference to the high speed characteristics of the stock mickey mouse mirrors rather than rider discomfort. The Issue disappears when the mirrors are changed. Cheap and easy upgrade.

Mark_1

[xprof]

I thought about your question today as I pushed 200 miles at 80+, and I concluded that the bike is actually smoothest at about 85mph. I've got the F800GS mirrors and they were clear at that speed. The saddle, well, I would recommend any of the customs over the stock, as soon as you can afford it. I sure like mine, from Rocky Mayer.

[wabeers]

I installed the Throttlemeister throttle lock model FH & FB14-H which have heavier bar end weights which helps reduce the handlebar vibrations.
It is well worth the money.

[ka5ysy]

I have the standard Throttlemeisters combined with the GS handguard modification, and no vibes cruising at 80+ which is where the bike loves to run. It hums along quite happily at speed.

[tinytrains]

The bike has very little mechanical vibration. Cruises very smooth. If you open the throttle wide at a low RPM, the power pulses are quite strong, but go away as RPM picks up.

As for the seat, it looks like the 2011's come with the comfort seat stock. I added on to mine and it is a huge improvement.

Scott