2007 1250s v 2007 K1200R Sport ??????

[sprintamx]

Just received the July Motorcyclist; one of their comparos is the 1250 Bandit to BMWs new K1200 R Sport.  WTF!  

Did I make a huge mistake when comparing bikes before I picked up the beautiful new Bandit!?  Silly me, I was comparing it to the new Tiger, my then Sprint ST, the FZs, the DLs, even a Multistrada.  Let's face it, you can call those bikes what you want, but they can all go the same places to a greater or lesser degree.  Ok, the DL's and Multi should make it farther down a fire road with confidence, but any of the bikes can get there if you don't mind the bouncing and paint chipping.  But, what a fool I was!  How could I possibly have been focusing only on riding position, usable power (torque) and standard features?  I guess I should have also been looking at ESA, a really interesting ABS setup, shaft drive and rather advanced front and rear suspension set ups.  Then of course, there are the service and maintenance costs we have to consider for every bike.

Maybe because the article was not well written, but I could not fathom what prompted this particular model comparison.  The theme appeared to be "Should you pay $9,000 more for the K12R Sport than . . ."  They then decided to fill in the blank with the new Bandit.  Why?  Engine displacement?  Frankly, I could not care what their opinion of the Bandit turned out to be (those boys get rather jaded after all), but they actually ranked the Bandit very favorably against an $18,000+ machine.  In fact, their conclusion was that there was no good reason to consider the BMW over the Bandit, and the Bandit may very well be the best deal--dollare for dollar--anywhere.  Well, I have to agree (after all, I bought one  ).   Even still, maybe I am missing something, because I don't quite see that this was the reasonable comparison to make.  And, no explanation was ever given.

Well, I can at least be thankful that I did not spend an additional $9K for that Sport, right?

Signed,
Happy and Thankful Bandit Owen a/k/a Aaron

[Mr Sunshine]

sounds to me you are trying to justify your bike purchase to an article written in a magazine.  Just go ride your bike and enjoy it....who cares what anybody else says.

[sprintamx]

Actually, my point is that I don't understand the choice to compare these two particular bikes, and am seeking insight into what I am missing.  I did plainly state that MC's "opinion" of the Bandit is not important to me.  I do not seek, nor am I interested in somebody else's approval/opinions to justify my choices after I have made them.  I make my justifications prior to exercising the choice.  And, yes, I agree with you that I should be out riding . . .  Again, I am trying to understand why the BMW v Suzuki was a meaningul test, use of resources, etc.

[SLK50]

Well, let's see. Liquid-cooled, transverse 4 cylinder engines. Quarter ( or is it half? ) fairings. Based on "standard" style frames. And so on....Other than the BMW's shaft drive I see more similarities than differences between these two bikes. Seems like a logical comparison to me.  Especially since I am interested in both bikes. Looks like the only real question is: is the BMW worth the extra money?
Same old same old.  

[dangle]

Tou can't get the Bandit in Cosmic Blue Metalic can you?

[Red01]

The way I see it, they comared the most expensive "sporting standard" to the least expensive... and the least expensive did quite well.

[denydog]

Funny things go on in the motorcycle magazine world.  As odd as you find Motorcyclists comparison report of these two bikes, Sport Rider magazine's July issue did exactly the same thing.  

[VAX]

Funny things go on in the motorcycle magazine world.  As odd as you find Motorcyclists comparison report of these two bikes, Sport Rider magazine's July issue did exactly the same thing.  

Sport Rider and Motorcyclist are both part of the same company and frequently use the same bike for test reports.

[MinnGreenGT]

   I guess I don't see what you're quite so worked up about?  They compared two "similar" class bikes (as far as I can see, I'd agree that they're more the same than different) with largely different price points.  And the cheaper one (the one YOU already bought), came out more favorably in the long run (only giving to the BMW in somewhat inconsequential places).

Enjoy the final outcome of the comparison - then smile and think of the extra $9k in your pocket the next time you pass a BMW on the road!  

[sprintamx]

It looks like I came across as having my shorts a bit twisted.    My apologies people--that was not my intent.  I was not looking for justification, etc.  I agree that those kinds of posts are rather senseless.  All those who said fuh-get-about-it! and ride the damn bike: hey, you are right!  I wasn't worried about that point.  I was seriously pondering the choice to compare the Bandit to the K12, regardless of the outcome.  I dunno, maybe I have a totally incorrect view of how the target market for the two bikes and whether folks would really be looking at each as an "either/or" or "somewhere close on the same list" type choice.  If so, then that's all there is to it.  I've been wrong before, and, unfortunately, will be again.  

Again, no intent to start a rant, buy I was just wondering if the more practical or meaningful comparison would have been against the Tiger 1050, etc.  As already mentioned, that the Bandit did compare so well against the K12 says a whole lot about Suzuki's and BMW's latest efforts.

That's all.  Feel free to let this thread decay into the archives.  I'll try to do better with some pics of the mounted GIVIs and Yoshimura RS3.  

Aaron

[s boy]

 I'll try to do better with some pics of the mounted GIVIs and Yoshimura RS3.  

Aaron

depending on how that looks - we might absolve your sins...  we're waiting