Which bike to get.....undecided right now

[bikerfish1100]

fwiw, my buddy put 120,000 miles on his R12ST, gave it to his wife, and picked up another R12ST for himself. His first one lunched the crown gear in the FD at around 80,000 miles, but it deterred him not from getting another.

[dorklord]

I think the BMW R12St is about the ideal sport tourer.  I really liked the one that I demoed at a BMW event, much more so than the RT.  Just more fun to ride.
Great handling, suspension, brakes, light weight, shaft drive, hard bags.  Really the perfect combo.
I wouldn't get a bike like a C14, FJR etc because I'm one of those doods that just doesn't understand why they are so big and heavy.

The R1200ST is really in a somewhat different class than the FJR or C14, the R1200RT is more comparable to the FJR or C14. The STs bags are optional, it doesn't have a lower fairing, it has a less comfortable rear seat (not as wide, flat, or long, up quite a bit higher, higher pegs), much lower clip-on style bars, smaller windshield, no area behind the rear seat, while the RT has a rack (I know you can put a rack on the ST, but you get the point).

I liked the used R1200ST that I drove, and if I had been looking for a 'solo' rig I probably would have gotten it, but I think if you are going to be carrying a pillion all the time, and that pillion isn't short/petite, something like a C14, FJR, St1300 or R1200RT may be the ticket.

Chris

[SLOspeed]

One thing I worry about is the rear end, I have quite a few riding buddies who all ride BMW's and 3 of them have had the rear end go out on a bike  

what do your buddies ride?  The FD was completely redesigned for the r1200 series (and revised a couple times since then, even).  From what I've read, it looks like the failure rate is much lower on the 1200's.

[YamadogR1]

I have had my R1200ST since October 2005 and it has 26,000 miles on it. The only problem I have had with it is that I had to buy a battery. It has been a fun and comfortable bike that will do quite well on a twisty road. Dunlop Roadsmart tires work very well on it. They quicken up the steering and the bike still stays stable in fast corners.

[cognosticator]

what do your buddies ride?  The FD was completely redesigned for the r1200 series (and revised a couple times since then, even).  From what I've read, it looks like the failure rate is much lower on the 1200's.

Now two ride a R12GS, one an R11S, one rides the R1150RS, another rides a K12S, one a K12GT, another rides the K1150RS

The two rear end failures were on older R11RS's

Compared to my SV1000S, even with swatt clipon at 2 1/2" rise the ST feel like I am sitting up straight.  I still like the upper body wind and the lower protection is nice, at least today in the cold and rain riding the bike home.  I just got to get this fuel deliver problem worked out,and my son sell his bike and buy mine.  This R1200ST comes with the larger system saddle bags too, nice addition and I have a Givi E52 to mount on the back.

[cognosticator]

I have had my R1200ST since October 2005 and it has 26,000 miles on it. The only problem I have had with it is that I had to buy a battery. It has been a fun and comfortable bike that will do quite well on a twisty road. Dunlop Roadsmart tires work very well on it. They quicken up the steering and the bike still stays stable in fast corners.

If I get this bike, I will be spooning on a set of the new Avon Storm 2 Ultra tires.  Right now the front tire on this bike is toast and the rear is flat spotted and the handling is a little quirky, but I know with good tires this will be a different ride.

[cognosticator]

Well, I could not get the R1200ST running right and it has burned up a coil, actually two.  I will be taking the bike back to the owner and start looking again.

Hmmmmmmmmm, C14 or FJR   LOL  The quest continues.

[Ves]

Horsepower to weight ratio  111/505=x/710...  X=156.  Connie would need to make 156 hp to equal the BMW in that department.

[falconati]

They are really very different bikes.  One is true sport tourer.  The other more of a hooligan bike.  

What do you want to do with it?

Yankee Dog

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Which is the hooligan bike?


Anyway, get the BMW.  Sure, the final drive will break every 5 miles, but at least you won't be riding a piggy

[cognosticator]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Which is the hooligan bike?
Anyway, get the BMW.  Sure, the final drive will break every 5 miles, but at least you won't be riding a piggy

The BMW keeps frying left hand secondary coils so that bike is out of the picture completely.  

[canyonchaser]

My advice is to go with your gut.  Never rationalize a motorcycle purchase.

To me, it's like buying art, or a toy.  You don't think much about it... you just buy the one you HAVE to have.

I completely agree. Motorcycles are emotional decisions and should not be demeaned with petty, and meaningless obsession with stats and numbers.  Listen to your heart.

dp

[Mastros2]

My advice is to go with your gut.  Never rationalize a motorcycle purchase.

To me, it's like buying art, or a toy.  You don't think much about it... you just buy the one you HAVE to have.

I agree but my motorcycles are more transportation than toys.  I say go with the bmw.  It's cheaper and has easier maintenance.  Go with your gut.

[Norwegian Blue]

I agree but my motorcycles are more transportation than toys.  I say go with the bmw.  It's cheaper and has easier maintenance.  Go with your gut.

Methinks a number of people posted while you were posting the bit about the coils frying themselves....

So what's the story with that? Is it a chronic problem the current owner has experienced? I've heard the coils are a weak point in some oilheads, but I don't know if it's a design problem or a bad batch of coils.

Trying to decide if I might be interested if it's for sale and you're definitely not going to pull the trigger.

[cognosticator]

Methinks a number of people posted while you were posting the bit about the coils frying themselves....

So what's the story with that? Is it a chronic problem the current owner has experienced? I've heard the coils are a weak point in some oilheads, but I don't know if it's a design problem or a bad batch of coils.

Trying to decide if I might be interested if it's for sale and you're definitely not going to pull the trigger.

Well  yesterday I bought a new '09 Kaw Concours C14. On the BMW  I was told to check the wire going to the coil. I am taking the bike back to the owner and let him deal with it.  He had 3,400 of engine work on it two years ago, put 2k miles on it in 2 years so I am not sure if it would be a constant problem or not, but I don't want to find out.  I got a new bike with a 3 year warranty so now I can ride and relax.

If you do decide you are interested I will get you in touch with him, he is in Richmond Hill GA and he was going to trade the bike in on a car.

[Norwegian Blue]

Well  yesterday I bought a new '09 Kaw Concours C14. On the BMW  I was told to check the wire going to the coil. I am taking the bike back to the owner and let him deal with it.  He had 3,400 of engine work on it two years ago, put 2k miles on it in 2 years so I am not sure if it would be a constant problem or not, but I don't want to find out.  I got a new bike with a 3 year warranty so now I can ride and relax.

If you do decide you are interested I will get you in touch with him, he is in Richmond Hill GA and he was going to trade the bike in on a car.

Thanks, but I found the threads you put up on a few other boards seeking advice and I think you made a wise decision passing on this one. I will do the same (there's clearly a reason the price was so low for a low-mileage example). No reason to buy someone else's headache.

[Motodisiac]

Get the Beemer. It fits you, you like it, and it will hold it's value better.

If you want better bike get the Kawi  

I'm a little sceptical about BMW's 505lbs wet weight...