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

Hey all,

I'm a newbie, and really enjoying your board. I just bought my black 2010 r1200r used a few weeks ago. Only two rides on the thing and once I get out of the habit of pressing my rear and front brakes together (I thought it was a good habit! Go figure) I'm sure I'll be happier and safer. I'm coming from a Ducati Monster so this bike is just a joy to ride in every way.

Anyway, I thought I'd ask a possibly foolish question. Why don't I see more customized versions of our bike? Especially paint. I mean, where are the flames and the red on white racing stripes and that kind of thing? I guess, deep down, I wish the thing looked a little more "badass" alongside it's beauty and I have been trying to think of ways to get there. Don't get me wrong it's gorgeous, like a nice sports car but I feel so "sophisticated" on this bike. Maybe it's because it is so quiet that it almost removes noise from the environment which I think might be my first modification.

If I wanted to pretend I'm a tough guy what can I do to the look of my bike? Anybody have some pictures of our bike like that? I've seen this one http://www.r1150r.net/board/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17146 and the beautiful white one owned by a guy who's name starts with Z or something (gorgeous).

Maybe this bike is too "perfect" to be turned dirty and mean and I need to add an angry old Harley (or BMW) to my collection for when I'm feeling insecure...

I'm planning a matt black when the bike celebrates its 3 year birthday (out of warranty; things paid off). I know most prefer the candy gloss finish, but I do like the matt and think it gives a sophisticated if less refined look. e.g.:



Then checking out the link you sent I see that a R1150 Rockster has already done it. I think it looks pretty good:
http://www.r1150r.net/board/viewtopic.p ... 46#p166376

Add bar-end mirrors and you'll have a grizzly ride.

Here are a few photo's of my bike with the new screen on it, and the rest!

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5984/1001984w.jpg
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/7730/1001986m.jpg
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9783/1001987.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6888 ... esized.jpg

If I wanted to pretend I'm a tough guy what can I do to the look of my bike?

As a mechanic friend of mine used to say, I'm not man enough to ride a hot pink motorcycle!

:-)

Good roads, and welcome!

- lewellen

Not wanting to steal the thread ( welcome and enjoy), I think those Rizoma bars just Rock! I have them on the list a ways they look good. Hows the ergos on them??

I'm very happy with Alpine White, but a Frozen Gray R12R would be awfully tempting. I wonder how close it is to the Granite Gray.



Apparently, you have to be very assiduous with the paint care of these matte M3s.

And what kind of cylinder head covers do you have on there Kieran?

Frozen gray... that would be a great start on the road to badassitude...

I've been longing for a racing stripe but I'm not sure it can work on this bike, maybe I'm asking for too much old school on my new school BMW.

drbright wrote:And what kind of cylinder head covers do you have on there Kieran?

Frozen gray... that would be a great start on the road to badassitude...

I've been longing for a racing stripe but I'm not sure it can work on this bike, maybe I'm asking for too much old school on my new school BMW.

Cylinder head, and all cabon fibre was from these guys!
www.ilmberger-carbon.de

rokinrider wrote:Not wanting to steal the thread ( welcome and enjoy), I think those Rizoma bars just Rock! I have them on the list a ways they look good. Hows the ergos on them??

Absolutely fantasic. I have a high seat and the bars are as flat as they can go without anything touching the tank.
A gentle lean to the bars and my arms are at a low forward position and not forward and up on the stock bars.
I can ride all day and no issues.

Kieran R1200R wrote:Here are a few photo's of my bike with the new screen on it, and the rest!

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5984/1001984w.jpg
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/7730/1001986m.jpg
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9783/1001987.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6888 ... esized.jpg

Those wheels and handle bars are making my mouth water this Sunday morning.
Good on you.

Mark

I've posted some pics of a drop-dead orange R1200R in the Pics-section:

Boxerpunk wrote:While looking for a replacement for my total-loss Rockster (which has been replaced by an '95 R1100R for the time being), the tradesman I bought my bike from had just sold this wonderfull Rockster-like R1200R


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And so did Celticus with a black-and-yellow conversion:

celticus wrote:A different paint scheme with "S" wheels. I like it. I like the head lights also. Just for a change. I wonder how it would affect the "Wind Noise and Buffeting" thing?

Boxerpunk wrote:Not exactly the colours I would choose, but the headlight conversion (from AC-Schnitzer: http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/no_cache/en/ ... 1#zoom1479 ; don't like that colours either ) is awesome.
Planned to do this with my Rockster, still have the headlight, but not the Rockster.
Still don't understand why BMW don't make a version like this themselves; the R1200 Rockster (yes, I am and will always be a Rockster-fan !)

Being that you're coming from a Ducati Monster this question is understandable. However, I've always felt that's it's kind of difficult giving a BMW any kind of "hooligan" feel (except maybe the K1200R). Sure, you'll see the once in a while custom job where somebody has another $10,000 into the bike making it look like a street fighter of some kind, but most of the time it involves making the R12R less utilitarian, which is the R's strongest suit.

Now that I'm on that, let me just say that I like all bikes. I'd love a Ducati Diavel or Monster, or a Triumph Speed Triple, an R1200GS, or even a KTM Super Duke, but here's the problem: My 2009 R1200R with ESA, Wunderlich fairing, panniers and rear rack does EVERYTHING pretty well. Sure, a Monster probably handles better, but there's no cool pannier system for touring like the BMW. Then you have the occasional off-road moment when the Ducati will be left behind. Finally, it's Italian. How far are you planning on going? How about an R1200GS? Sure you get a little better comfort and much better off-road, but the R1200R can go almost any place that the GS can (feel free to chime in ChiTown) and it's cheaper and better looking IMHO. I'd love to have another bike, but there's nothing out there that really provide something so different that the R12R can't do fairly well already - it just doesn't make sense.

Why would I buy a Monster when a R12R is already a great roadster?
Why would I buy a GS when the R12R will kinda go off-road okay?
Why would I buy some touring thingie when the R12R can do that VERY well?
Why some commuter when the R1200R does that?
A Ducati 1198 will be a top performer at the track, but it can't do anything else really. And there's people that track their R12R too.


Sorry. Enough ranting. I LOVE MY BIKE!

seangd wrote:....However, I've always felt that's it's kind of difficult giving a BMW any kind of "hooligan" feel .....

I can tell you that the Rockster absolutely has and can give you the "Hooligan" feel !!
(And the orange R1200R has been sold for a price about 30% lower as a regular dealer asks for a standard R1200R with the same options)

Seems to me that the CF wheels and nice handlebars Kieran R1200R has in his photos would be a great start in turning the R1200R into a hooligan bike. Sometimes it's mainly in your head. From what I have heard the CF wheels really affect the performance.
They should have made a Rockster R1200

Mark

LumpyCam wrote:I'm planning a matt black when the bike celebrates its 3 year birthday (out of warranty; things paid off). I know most prefer the candy gloss finish, but I do like the matt and think it gives a sophisticated if less refined look.

Here is what it looks like in full mat black (now it also has rizoma black & lower handlebars which makes it look even better) :

I hate to say it but that looks awesome!

This would sure look great on the 2011-model with dark grey engine and drive train; put on some orange accents and you'll have the 1200 Rockster

This is kinda like asking "Is there any mean & dirty, tough-guy-looking farm equipment out there?"

And to the chap with the white bike... hello? Mean & dirty? Tough guy?

I don't think so... Looks like the sorta bike you'd only see in a war if it had a red cross on the side of it.

Show us your mean, ugly tattoos, rancid jeans, stinking leathers, ripped up Old Milwaukee t-shirt, dog-poo covered cowboy boots, scars and broke-nosed unshaven face along with the bike and then maybe we can talk... or fight.

That looks really good. The black wheels are very good looking also. Good job.
So lets see it with the rizoma black & lower handlebars .

Mark

I think that looks fantastic!
I think that's my next color...