2005 K1200S vs. 2005 Triumph Sprint ST

[Montyburns]

My current ride is a 2005 Triumph Sprint.  I love, love, love it in the twisties.  However, despite raising the bars and putting on a more comfy seat, it's still kind of uncomfortable for long days in the saddle (I know that this means I'm getting old but there's not much I can do about that).  Also, I would love to have shaft drive, esc, and abs.  

So here's my question, is the K1200S any more comfortable?  Other than the price difference (I can discern that one on my own) does anyone have any thoughts about this comparison.  I've heard that the 05-06 K1200s had some issues (software stuff?) but they were corrected with updates.  Is that true?  

FWIW-  I'm 6'02", 195 lbs (brown hair, blue eyes, reasonably fit, and financially secure if any of you have hot, single daughters).  

[The Shepherd]

I've never rode a Sprint but own a 2007 K1200S.

Mine is stock and is all day comfortable. There is a slight lean to the bars, legs are bent up but without the sport bike lean which hurts the wrists. The balls of my feet are directly below my ass.

I get no wind buffeting off the stock windscreen.

I am 6'1" and around 220lbs with long arms and legs.

[phaze5]

my buddy rides a bmw 1200, i don't know if its a k or not i sat on it and after wiping the drool from the tank,i realized it fit me perfect, 6'1'' 200#

then when we have a go at it he leaves me like i am not even riding, i am gonna ride that bitch somehow this week, show him how to loft the front wheel maybe even, i only really need one ride anyway and theres a chance thats all i will get so i may as well test ride it right??????? i'm even bringing the gopro for prosperty reasons,

[Jetpilot5]

I ran an 06 K1200S for five years and almost 50,000 miles.  Comfortably sporty for me at 6'2" and 205lbs.  Good stock seat, fast, decent stock suspension and I really liked the Duo Lever front suspension.  Not the easiest bike for a home mechanic to service, but common items aren't too bad.  There are a few things you will need to see your dealer about.  A good dealer is very helpful.

I will say as the bike got older it had me worried about major failures.  It's not just software issues that are the problem.  Some bikes had 2nd gear problems, and there have been some cam chain tensioner failures resulting in jumped cam chains and the mayhem that produces.  An 05 will still have the servo brakes which are pretty reliable but expensive to fix if they do fail.  Do some reading over at  http://www.i-bmw.com/ or http://www.k-bikes.com/forums/cmps_index.php? to get an idea of what some of the issues are.

Buying a used BMW that old will mean it's well out of warranty so if something crops up, it's on your dime.  They're great bikes, I still miss mine sometimes, but have your eyes open to what you may get into if you decide to buy.

[2DFlyer]

I don't know that arm chair demo rides get you very far but this is a good place to start in comparing ergos.  Looks like the K bike is a bit more relaxed than the Sprint ST.  

Every time I start to give into the VFR craving I only have to go here to remind myself that the ST3 I couldn't get comfortable on for more than 30 minutes at a time sits exactly the same way.  

http://cycle-ergo.com/

[sfarson]

Have owned an '05 K12S since, well, '05.  Except for a fuel level sensor failing this past summer, zero issues.  The tranny is a bit unrefined in lower gears, some have complained about the FI (later maps help), but I'm OK with the preceding.  At 6'4" 195lbs I find the K12S comfy for longer rides.  It is one of the finer bikes I've owned.

I did give a Sprint ST a healthy ride one day as a service loaner.  Great bike.  The Sprint ST is "cozier" than the K12S.  The reach to the bars will be longer with the K12S.  It's a long sporting bike.  The seat to pegs gap seemed comparable.  You might find the K12S more accomodating when facing long stints in the saddle, but I think it would only be marginally so.

For sure, for the price one can pick up a K1200S nowadays, one is getting quite a bike...

[GilaMonster]

My current ride is a 2005 Triumph Sprint.  I love, love, love it in the twisties.  However, despite raising the bars and putting on a more comfy seat, it's still kind of uncomfortable for long days in the saddle (I know that this means I'm getting old but there's not much I can do about that).  Also, I would love to have shaft drive, esc, and abs.  

So here's my question, is the K1200S any more comfortable?  Other than the price difference (I can discern that one on my own) does anyone have any thoughts about this comparison.  I've heard that the 05-06 K1200s had some issues (software stuff?) but they were corrected with updates.  Is that true?  

FWIW-  I'm 6'02", 195 lbs (brown hair, blue eyes, reasonably fit, and financially secure if any of you have hot, single daughters).  

If you are not fixed on an '05, I have an '06 K12S for sale with over two years left on the extended warranty.

See:

http://tucson.craigslist.org/mcy/2581541736.html

[Dan K]

There's another thread on this topic somewhere....I posted in it.  Ergos won't be all that much different.  I have an '06 Sprint, and have spent a lot of saddle time on a k1300S as well as a K1200R (naked version).

The K1300S is waaaaaaaaaaay more refined than the K1200R, so I suspect the same for the K1200S.

Handling and power delivery are better on the Sprint to my taste, but the overall power of the K1300S is amazing.  The duo-lever front end takes a bit to get used to and trust, but it works very well.  The on the fly adjustable suspension is amazing.  I'm sure the lighting at night is better stock. (Still getting my Sprint to where I want it...)

Try to find the other thread - good stuff there.  

- Dan