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

This thread and "should I buy ______" are kind of universal moto forum threads. I can't help myself. Anybody migrate from some variety of GS to the R12R?

Hi All,

I have just joined this forum.
I currently ride a Triumph Springt RS, or at least I did until several days ago when some idiot in a car pulled out on me when I was travelling at about 60mph. By grabbing too much front brake in the damp conditions, my bike and me parted company, and I went flying up the road. The reason I came off was the lack of ABS on the Sprint.
Fortunately I am ok, but am keen to replace the bike with something with ABS and linked brakes. Now Triumph make 2 models with ABS (Sprint ST and Tiger) but I am most interested in the concept of the brakes being linked.

I like the look of the R12R and am impressed by the braking and other safety features.
Can anyone comment on its use as a day-in-day-out commuting machine, used in all weathers, as well as for scratching and the odd tour?

Advice appreciated.

Dokotela

dokotela wrote: Can anyone comment on its use as a day-in-day-out commuting machine, used in all weathers, as well as for scratching and the odd tour?

Here's an example of the extremes you can go to with the R1200R:

http://www.r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.p ... 24#p121924

dokotela wrote:I am most interested in the concept of the brakes being linked.

Linked brakes on the R12R work very, very well. Pulls up very rapidly - better than the complicated, powered Evo II system on the R1150 series (can't comment on the Triumph). No dive - the bike just squats a little as the suspension closes up. You can still use the rear indepedently to steady a take-off or trailing through a tight corner.

dokotela wrote:Can anyone comment on its use as a day-in-day-out commuting machine, used in all weathers, as well as for scratching and the odd tour?

Plenty of commuting / scratching comments from others ...
As for touring - I ran my R12R in on a 4500km run through rain, some heat (30C) and it was as capable as any bike I've had (including R-RS, K-RT and K-LT) I have the low seat, lowered pegs and raised bars, and use an airhawk. Obviously, the R12R has less weather protection than a faired bike - but the tank does shield my knees, I swap from the OE windscreen to a large Parabellum one in under 1 minute for touring, and I have lower guards on order (whenever Wunderlich get around to manufacture). GS handgurads would complete the picture, but so far I haven't needed them (heated grips work well, too).

This is a GREAT all-round bike.

dokotela wrote: I like the look of the R12R and am impressed by the braking and other safety features.
Can anyone comment on its use as a day-in-day-out commuting machine, used in all weathers, as well as for scratching and the odd tour?

Advice appreciated.

Dokotela

Hi,

I use my R1200R for daily commuting - until it gets too damn cold (I live in Sweden) - and its pretty much the best commuter I have had - the milage is fantastic, its light and easy to ride, you sit nicely upright so have a great view over the traffic, the mirrors work (I used to have an Aprilia), and the fuelling is spot on making driving in traffic a breeze. I use the BMW topbox.

Then, on the weekends I ride the local (and sometimes not so local) backroads. It's great in the twisties - at least as much fun as either my old Aprilia RSV1000R or my previous bike - a K1200S.

It's also a decent two-up tourer. My wife had no complaints about the seat last year, the only negative for touring being the wind but then you can always get a larger screen - I have the sport screen and find that adequate.

Finally, regarding all-weather riding: it is by far the most confidence inspiring bike I have ever ridden in the wet!

dokotela wrote: ...
Can anyone comment on its use as a day-in-day-out commuting machine, used in all weathers, as well as for scratching and the odd tour?
...

I'd say that's pretty much "the mission statement" for the R1200R. I commuted almost daily on my R850R for over two-years & the 1200 is better in almost every respect (esp. weight for in town). Only potential downside is the width of panniers which makes filtering more tricky - top box?.

The 1200 is fast enough & handles well enough to scratch at the weekends & will cope easily with a 10-day tour. Go take a test-ride when your insurance money comes through, but be prepared to buy...

I commute on my R12R everyday rain or shine and the bike is fun and stable on the freeway or secondary roads. It also gets great gas mileage. The bike handles well in the rain and on dry asphalt. The weather protection really isn't much of an issue for me as it really doesn't get that cold here (lowest temperature I've riden in this year is 24F) and we didn't get any ice or snow this winter. I do have a tall wind screen that helps on the freeway.