Good Weather - R1200R

[Rlmx]

The weather here has been good for riding over the past two days. The temps do typically rise into the 50's F for one or two days in January in Indiana. However the warm-up is usually accompanied by extremely high winds. Not so far this year.

The brake pads on my K were a bit thin ( wonder how that happened ). So she is in the shop for a couple of days.

The Falcone BMW dealership in Indy (a great dealer!) has a R1200R maintained as a loaner. Stately is the word that comes to mind when I think of the R1200R. A naked bike that is a joy. The bike is a comfortable two-up ride. The motorbike is responsive and nimble. I rode it home in heavy rush hour traffic. The R1200R handled the traffic well.

The R1200R is a great ride, but I am looking forward to getting my K back.

[PaulC]

Pretty much my experience when handed the same bike as a loaner when they didn't have the spark plugs for my bike and it had to remain overnight. My commute means that this meant about 200km on it.

Very friendly thing and supremely easy to ride, you can pretty much select a gear while in town and let the torque happy nature of the boxer do the rest, the wide bars and light weight of it make it supremely 'chuckable' in that environment.

Out on the road, I found it surprisingly rapid for the power available and once more a very friendly thing. Attacking bends was quite a lot of fun on it.

Would I rather have it than my K? Not a chance; I missed the power, smoothness, the seating position and the sure-footedness of it. The torque moment of the boxer on the chassis of the R can be 'interesting' too.

I would commend it as a first 'big bike' for a novice looking to upsize however, it's laughably easy to ride and holds no real surprises in power delivery or handling. In fact, I have done so and a friend of mine who is looking to get something bigger than his learner legal G650GS when the size restriction is lifted from his licence is more than likely going purchase the R1200R Classic. I'm yet to meet anybody who thinks that particular iteration of the R is not at least cool looking.

All in all, it surprised me. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Nice machine.

[FreedomRider]

I would LOVE to have a R1200R parked next to my Bebe. I'd prolly' name er' "Dolly".

[Eka]

At my dealer i have drooling one R1200R couple years. It is blackish with white strips and comfortable looking saddle. I wonder how that kind of cool bike hasn't sold yet. It is totally undervalued bike. Must be also lighter than GS. I just wonder how it would look with panniers.

[mondrage]

Yesterday I had the long awaited chance to ride an almost brand new R1200R (2009).

The story about that bike and I... I would drool about it for the longest time. I would finish work, and every Saturday morning, it was me turning that bike on, at the dealer.
Everytime I came in, even for whatever other reason, they would just hand me the keys... i couldn't buy it though, they were selling it for close to $21,000 here.

So, finally after 3 long years, and 3,000km later (done by my friend), I rode the R1200R.

What a fine piece of machinery, almost no noise. The motor torque moment is awesome (as it tilts to the right).
The power delivery is smooth, and completely predictable. A regal boxer.
My girlfriend thought it was smallish in comparison to the K12R, but she loved the smoothness of it.

I tackled traffic, like never before. I felt I was in complete control, and that I was able to do controllable magic.
The K12R... it always feels that it will bite me in the rear if I'm not watching...

Wonderful machine.... if only...