Sold my FJ and picked up an R1200R

[Fudge]

My thoughts regarding the R1200R 'R':

The R is an interesting bike, a flat 2-cylinder engine with a suspension and wheels bolted to the engine.  There is no ‘Tupperware’ hiding much of anything on the bike, everything is out in the open including two big cylinders.  The bike is really a minimalistic design, having everything you need and nothing you don’t.  I am a sucker for a single sided swing arm and the R design is beautiful, especially with the new K bike wheels for 2011.  My only wish is that the muffler was a little smaller so you could see the rear swing arm and wheel better.  Fit and finish is very nice, everything is very well integrated and there are some nice standard features like braided lines, heated grips, etc. that I wanted in a bike.  Almost all of the fittings are torx head fasteners which necessitated I purchase some new tools.  When you sit on the bike you immediately notice the large wide tank that dominates the bike and the new instrumentation for the 2011 model.  I was not a fan of the previous stacked instrument cluster for the R and I think the new instrumentation is visually much more appealing.  For me the ergos were almost ideal, the only issue I noticed were the foot pegs seemed a little closer to the seat than they were on my FJ.  The bike had a standard height suspension and seat and with a 30” inseam I was very comfortable with getting my feet down.   The bike feels light (100lbs+ lighter than my FJ), and weight is carried down low.  Compared to the top-heavy FJ I can easily move the R around in my garage or a parking lot with confidence.  Once the R is moving the bike feels very light and nimble, and the wide handlebars give a ‘dirt bike’ feel.  My R has the sport shield, which is small but I was surprised at the amount of wind protection the tank and shield provided for me (I’m 5’9” on a good day).  I rode the bike back home over 500 miles from where I bought it and I could comfortably cruise at 75.  Yes, there was a fair amount of windblast but it wasn’t ridiculous.  I had thoughts of changing the shield, but for now I think I like the ‘naked’ bike concept.  

Starting the R the first thing you notice is the vibration, it is not bad like a Harley, but it is definitely noticeable.   I would describe the vibration as more of reassuring rumble in the chassis letting you know the two big pistons are doing their work.  On the road, the vibration is a non-issue and the bike is very pleasant on the highway.  Quite a few times, I found myself forgetting to shift into a higher gear since the bike felt smooth at higher RPMs and the engine never seemed stressed even at red line.  The bike also has a nice power band; with power everywhere once off of idle.  I was spoiled with the tremendous low-end torque of the FJ, but the R also seems to have good low-end torque on tap making real world riding effortless.  I can easily pass in 6th gear.  The transmission is very slick and refined especially compared to the clunky FJ gearbox.  Shifting is effortless and the gear spacing seems ideal.  It’s also nice having a gear indicator, one of those features you don’t really need but once you have it you get used to it quickly.  I did notice some differences with the dry clutch compared to my previous experiences with wet clutches.  It could just be me, but it is more challenging being smooth on the R than the FJ when pulling away from a stop.  The dry clutch seems a little more “grabby”.  One issue that may contribute to the dry clutch is the fueling at small throttle openings.  At low speeds and small throttle inputs the bike can feel a little jerky, kind of either on or off not a smooth transition.  I already installed a ‘Boosterplug’ to address the issue so I’ll see how it works out.

The bike feels very lightweight when moving and effortlessly falls into turns.  I am still getting used to the front-end feel with the telelever front suspension design, but my first impressions are this bike is a joy when leaned over in a corner.  The bike is very confidence inspiring and in the back of my mind I am always thinking one of those cylinders is going to make contact, but as I understand it that the peg feelers will give you lots of warning before that would happen.  What I really don’t like about the suspension is the front shock, when you hit an expansion joint on the highway the bike almost throws you off the seat.  When you sit on the bike the shocks feel compliant when you bounce it up and down, but the front shock high speed compression dampening is not capable of handling quick movement.  Now mind you I had an FJ with a Penske shock and I spent a lot of time tuning the front forks so maybe I was spoiled, but for the price of the R I expected the shocks to be more compliant.  My plan is to eventually replace the front and rear shocks.  The brakes on the R are phenomenal.  Since the front brake lever actuates both the front and rear brakes I need to get used to not using the rear brakes for normal riding.  The bike can stop scary fast and with the telelever design it’s also nice not to experience fork dive when braking.  

Overall, I really like the R it fits my riding style and I really like the simplicity of the bike.  I have always been a fan of air/oil cooled bikes since I’ve had older GSXRs, 3 FJ’s and now the R.  Also since I do all of my own maintenance and the R seems very easy to service, albeit you need some special tools.  My only concerns with the bike will be the long-term reliability of all of the gadgets.  

Picture included, I installed an SW-Motech EVO rack and my GIVI cases.  IMHO the BMW bags are too big for the bike and I don't need all that space.


 

[Scratch33]

Very nice.  

[Snapping Twig]

Good choice of ride!

I didn't know the 11's came in that red, I thought that was a '12 color. 13's are Mediterranean Blue and a beautiful (IMO) metal flake beige. Mine's panzer grey.

Glad to see you have the booster plug installed. I did it and it was a night and day difference.

Shocks... You hit it on the head. I just dumped the factory Showa's for some Yacugar's. More supple and smooth now. More secure handling too. Had to get a hugger and went with Ilmberger.







Ceebaily sport screen for me, moved the mirrors out with the Wonderlich extenders and lost the buzzyness, now they are clear and have a better field of view.



Love the bike, took it for a week long California tour already with a friend on his FJR.



Ride it in good health!

[squeezer]

Ooh, I like the way that looks. Congrats on the new bike. Not much is more fun than that. ;D

[BobW]

Congrats! I loved my 07, they are such a "sleeper" for BMW and just a beautifully updated "classic" motorcycle.

Safe travels!

btw, try her w/o a screen, very nice clean air and a tank bag will provide some protection too.

[Jetpilot5]

Wow, very nice!  I like the red and wasn't aware that the K bike wheels came on the R bikes too.  I always thought they were good looking stock wheels.

Is there a reason you shouldn't continue conventional braking with the linked system? On my K bike the front lever got you both front and rear brakes and the pedal got you rear brake only.  I never really changed the way I used the brakes and it was nice to have the rear brake independent for times when you wanted it.

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the informative write-up.  Nice looking bike.  

I wasn't aware that they had gone away from the stacked instruments.  They look much more traditional now, sort of like the 919 clocks.  

[scottzilla]

I like it.

[ConPilot1]

Nice bike.


For real. I sat on one once and it felt like it was made for me personally ergo-wise. Felt very lightweight too compared to the pig I'm currently piloting daily.

[Cricket1]

Fudge-

Congrats!  That's a nice looking ride. I've always thought the 1200R is one of the best looking bikes out there.

Recently BIKE magazine, had a long term comparison with a whole bunch of different bikes, in different settings. Tiger 800, Ninja 1K, CBR600, R1200R, and a few others I cant remember off hand. Anyway, the 1200R did very well overall and won a couple of rounds.

I'm curious how the power compares to the FJ. I realize it doesn't have the top end hit of a big bore I4, but it seems to be a very good all around street engine.

Have fun!

[Fudge]

Is there a reason you shouldn't continue conventional braking with the linked system? On my K bike the front lever got you both front and rear brakes and the pedal got you rear brake only.  I never really changed the way I used the brakes and it was nice to have the rear brake independent for times when you wanted it.

My theory was the bike probably would do a better job balancing the front/rear brakes than I would for most riding so I've been trying not to use the rear brakes for every day riding.  I still use the rear for parking lot maneuvers and such.

I'm curious how the power compares to the FJ. I realize it doesn't have the top end hit of a big bore I4, but it seems to be a very good all around street engine.

The FJ truly felt like an electric motor, very smooth and instant torque.  My guess is that the FJ was quicker than the R even though I had an 18 tooth front sprocket (1 tooth larger than stock).  The FJ would rev very quickly and before you know it the bike was going over 100+.  Although I know the FJ engine is 'old school' it was always felt willing to rev and go, and the higher the RPM the more the power would build.  

The R revs a little slower, and as you approach red line the power rush subsides unlike the FJ.  The R engine just seems a little more relaxed than the FJ, but it has ample power for my needs.  I do like the 'character' of the engine, a little lumpy, good low end grunt and tractability.  

One thing I do like about no fairing compared to the FJ is it keeps my speed down.  Speed was deceptive with a fairing, but with the R you notice the speed more.

[sagerat]

Gorgeous bike and probably the best bike BMW makes, even though I've had GS and now have a GSA.  

Just classic looks and a great all-arounder.  I've often thought of hanging a hack off of one.

[Bounce]

So you held on to an FJ all this time and just sold it for this?


Or was in an FJR?

[Fudge]

So you held on to an FJ all this time and just sold it for this?


Or was in an FJR?

Had my most recent FJ (not FJR) for 8 years and sold it for this.

[Orson]

You should have posted a "Whut Should I Buy?" thread first.

That way we could have all offered our patented "Experts On everything" advise  

[Huron52]

I just got back from riding a R1200R in the ALPS for a week. Two up. Going up the mountain passes the power created the front wheel to become very light.  I agree on your assessment of the bike. It was a hoot! I like the instrument custer. Lots of nice information in there.  

 I ride a FJR and I didn't find the small sporty windsheild to be too bad.  Yes a little buffing but unless you are running interstate roads all the time, it's doable.  The BMW bags were not too large for us because we had to carry all our gear on the bike.  The top box could have been bigger. I normally run a Givi 46 liter top box.

Would I buy it? No but for the other reasons  (Rear drive, cost)

I would remmend some sort of crash bars for those ends of the boxer motor.  Don't ask me how I know  

[Carbonero]

BMW's Rxxxx-R bikes are among the few BMWs that I'd consider short-list bikes. I really like the package they have with the R.  

[Virginian]

Fudge,

Awesome bike and a great write up. Now get out there and do a ride report!  

Eric

[Cricket1]

The most recent issue of BIKE magazine has an article about the R1200R, a very positive review.

I think they look great, and can easily be used around town without the screen and bags. But also be great for long trips too.  Pop on the screen and hard bags, ready to go for a week or more

[RedCBRRider]

My theory was the bike probably would do a better job balancing the front/rear brakes than I would for most riding so I've been trying not to use the rear brakes for every day riding.  I still use the rear for parking lot maneuvers and such.

Flawed theory.  Use the brakes like you always have.  They still work together.  The front lever does not fully active the rear brake.  You will not get the full stopping power without using the rear brake.

[Fudge]

This is BMW's statement regarding their Integrated ABS system:

"As with the previous system, the advantages of this integral brake are ideal brake force distribution on both wheels under all conditions, naturally taking load conditions into account, as well as enhanced control enabling the rider to detect at an early point the risk of the rear wheel lifting off when applying the brakes all-out, and to take appropriate counter-action.

To provide the desired integral function, brake pressure for the rear-wheel circuit is generated and built up by an electronically controlled hydraulic pump.  This offers the advantage of pressure management and control completely independent of the front wheel circuit - which is the prerequisite for dynamic, adaptive and, ultimately, consistently ideal brake force distribution to the rear wheel as well as fully independent brake management and control."

All I know is that if I grab a handful of the front brake lever this bike stops incredibly quick.

[Snapping Twig]

Agreed. I don't touch the rear brake on this ride.

I could, but with this technology, I don't see a reason to do so.

[sagerat]

Keep using both; don't want to develop bad habits.  

[2RR2NV]

wow, that bike actually looks really nice? never really been a fan of BMW, but dang, that looks nice.

GRATS!!!!

[Cricket1]

Fudge-

Any update on how you are liking the bike?

[Fudge]

So far the bike has been great, more than adequate power and it handles really well.  My only mechanical complaint is the harshness of the suspension on expansion joints (high speed compression).  I will eventually change out the shocks and springs to improve the ride quality.  I'm finding a lot of details that BMW seems to add to their bikes that are unexpected pleasant surprises.  Things like a thermometer that flashes near freezing temps, self-cancelling signals, gear indicator, air pressure monitor, pre-wired for GPS, front wheel valve stem sideways for easy access, etc.  Overall the bike is very well thought out.  I'm getting used to somewhat less wind protection than I had with the FJ.  I rode the bike back from TN to Chicago over 500 miles when I bought it and although I was a little tired I could easily do it again.  If I'm riding under 70MPH the fly screen works great and I enjoy the clean air, over 70MPH you do feel some pressure on your chest from the wind.  I tried the BMW tall screen but I felt like a bobble head since the air at speed was directed right at my helmet.  Mind you I'm about 5'9" and depending on height you will have different results.  I need to take the bike on a longer tour to get a real feel for the bike, but overall so far things have gone well.  

I'm going to adjust the valves next week and do the 6K maintenance.  I've found the bike is very simple to work on since it's such a basic design and everything is out in the open.

Changes I've made to the bike so far:
Wunderlich Mirror Extenders - the mirrors vibrate on the OEM mounts, with the Wunderlich's you get a wider view and don't you know the vibration stops.
Kaoko Throtttle Lock - Poor mans CC, always nice for long distance riding.
SW-Motech Evo Mounts & Givi E21 Luggage - BMW luggage is too big for me and I really like the size and top loading Givi E21 bags.
Booster Plug - ah forgot to add low speed fueling is a little snatchy.  I added the Booster Plug and it made a nice difference in low speed throttle transitions.  
European Tail Light - The SW-Motech Mounts required the removal of the license plate lights and side reflectors (which I didn't like anyway) so I got a European R1200R tail light because it has a clear bottom that lights the license plate.
Canisteroctomy - just looks cleaner in front.

BMW tall screen on bike:


Rear with no rear side reflectors:

[falconati]

   What a beautiful bike.

[Royal Tiger]

Looks great in red!   My R1150R was black.  The blue is my favorite.

[james_g]

That is definitely a good looking bike. I had one as a loaner and it handled really, really well.

james

[DrD]

Is that the low seat on it?

Looks great in red.

[Royal Tiger]

I'm going to have to add those mirror extenders.  Can you fill me in on the "booster plug" and a source?   Thanks.

[Fudge]

Is that the low seat on it?

Looks great in red.

No that's the stock seat.

[Fudge]

I'm going to have to add those mirror extenders.  Can you fill me in on the "booster plug" and a source?   Thanks.

http://www.boosterplug.com/shop/frontpage.html

[R Doug]

No that's the stock seat.

Great looking bike , congrats. How does the slope on the seat feel on the boys?

[Fudge]

Great looking bike , congrats. How does the slope on the seat feel on the boys?

The 'boys' feel fine on the seat, thanks for asking.

[Royal Tiger]

http://www.boosterplug.com/shop/frontpage.html

Thanks!

[Baz]

County will be proud I'm sure.

[hexkopf]

welcome to the club!