R1200RS

[BobW]

So interested in this bike. I hope you/and/or Orion will start a thread about day to day, touring etc. A dedicated sport-touring bike deserves such attention. Don't you think ?

I agree and will add my $0.02 along the way. I have been a bikeaholic for 50 years now and try to get something "different" each time I change bikes. There really are no bad motorcycles out there today, but my Sprint ST, the futura and now the RS represent what keeps me returning to the sport touring platform (my Stelvio or a GS would be my second favorite). I still manage 15-20 thousand miles a year between our local, friendly old Smoky's and Blue Ridge mountain roads and annual family visits from here in NC to New England and the Pacific Northwest. The RS is slotted for those rides as well as a 2018 Canada and Alaska loop.

Cheers  

[Sport-Touring]

[Orson]

So far, so good after about 9,000 miles.

As I said previously, the RS reminds me a lot of my old 1984 FJ1100 which, pretty much set the standard for sport tourers in the 1990s. It ticks off all my sport touring needs; sure footed handling, good torque for riding "the Pace", comfort, good luggage, heated grips, etc.

I do miss the Guzzi soundtrack but, the fact that the RS does everything else so well helps to ease the pain  

[zer0netgain]

Hate to resurrect the thread, but I have another question I'm not seeing an answer to on the BMW website.

Is a "service plan" available?  How much?  Is it worth it?

I ask because basic things I can do myself, but given the demands on my time, I'd almost consider paying for a plan that covers any and all ROUTINE maintenance issues.  Of course, maybe the kinds of things I'd take it in for would be just as affordable to pay on an "as needed" basis, but I'd like to know if there's the option.  I know they try to sell that stuff on car sales.

[Stripes]

If you don't have one after a year and a half, my advice would be to move on and get something else.

[zer0netgain]

If you don't have one after a year and a half, my advice would be to move on and get something else.

I may be in a position to get one in the next few months.  That's why I'm reconsidering the situation.  

[radon222]

Zero,

  Unlike BMW 4-wheeled vehicles there is no manufacture 2-yr Free maintanence type deal.   Any plan of that sort would have to be dealer specific and I sure haven't heard of one.  

[Stripes]

I may be in a position to get one in the next few months.  That's why I'm reconsidering the situation.  

 

Good luck!

[BobW]

So far, so good after about 9,000 miles.

As I said previously, the RS reminds me a lot of my old 1984 FJ1100 which, pretty much set the standard for sport tourers in the 1990s. It ticks off all my sport touring needs; sure footed handling, good torque for riding "the Pace", comfort, good luggage, heated grips, etc.

I do miss the Guzzi soundtrack but, the fact that the RS does everything else so well helps to ease the pain  

Your assessment of the RS was a big help when I was narrowing my choices and I appreciate your feedback to my questions before I closed the deal. BTW, Eurosport would be great for Guzzi if Piaggio ever got their U.S. Operations sorted and if they offer a balanced lineup again. I get the cruisers and scramblers, but there is a big hole to be filled.

[BobW]

I just got a RS, do it! You will be a happy rider.

+1, it would be a dealer offer.

The service is only easier on a moto guzzi because of the perky jugs   sorry I digress  

6000 mile service is basically an oil and filter change and go over the bike looking at brake pads, tires, etc. No disassembly required. The RS uses a spin on oil filter that is easy to reach and while on the center stand slide a drip pan under the engine and remove the drain plug. After the oil drains, Replace drain plug using a new crush washer along with new filter and add fresh oil. Congrats! You have just serviced the engine in about the same time and effort it took to type this. Final drive can be done at the same time and it too has an easy drain and refill. The 12000 mile service is the same, but they add a valve check, spark plug, air filter change/inspection. Brakes should be "bled" at least every other year, but I do it yearly and it doesn't require a lot of time either.  You can do the "easy" stuff to enjoy playing Doctor with her and to save on labor costs and then have the Surgeons at the shop do a valve check etc. It isn't a bunch of man hours even if you had a shop do all maintenance and obviously any repairs are warranty work for 3 years or 36000 miles at no cost to you.

There are some great Ewe tubes showing the service and as suggested above the Jim VonBaden DVD is widely used and covers all you wanted to know about your BMW, but were afraid to ask......  

[Orson]

If Guzzi came out with an RS clone that wuz within 80% of the RS's capabilities, I would be sorely tempted just to have that Guzzi soundtrack  

The aural qualities of the Guzzi really make it an engaging bike out in the real world.

[coho]

Nothing beats good aural.

[howardrichman]

I've been researching various rides in the last 6 months. this RS is on my short list. I'm riding a Ninja 650r now and want more character and performance. I'm trying to decide between the Yamaha fj-09, the Honda VFR interceptor, and the BMW r1200rs.  If I can swing the RS, in the long run, will there be electronic problems that will cost me trips to the dealer or $ out of pocket often w/o a long term warrantee ? The 650R doesn't even have a fuel gauge, and don't need one using a trip meter.  The fj-09 has great reviews, but not into adventure style rides (unless I'm convinced that'll change); but now it feels like sitting on a big dirt bike. The VFR looks great, like the center stand and single side swing arm, but not the vtec. these two rides can be had for nearly half the price of the RS, and have to guess that's attributed mostly to its high technology. I guess I'd be concerned about the reliability of the whole bike; electronics and mechanically as the odometer runs near the 60K mls +    

                                                                                                                                             Please reply, Thanks

[Jetpilot5]

As a base line, I don't think any BMW will be as reliable overall as a Honda or Yamaha and I've had three BMW's and multiple Honda's and Yamaha's. That said, my BMW's have been pretty good, very good mechanically and a few minor electrical issues. For example I had the right hand switch-gear replaced under recall on my K1300S. I did almost leave me stranded though. The VFR is very nice, I had a 99 model.  It won't have near the power and isn't as comfy as the RS. Can't speak to the FJ as I've never ridden the triple but I read good things.

If you'd like to get the price down and are worried about electrical issues you can do what I did.  I bought a base RS demo bike. Even the base BMW is well equipped. Then I added a center stand, heated grips and electronic cruise. That's all I really wanted and now don't have to worry about expensive electronic suspension components failing out of warranty or a gas cap that wont lock because keyless ride failed and it got the price down into the low teens for essentially a new bike with a full three year warranty. I will tell you that base BMW's are rare.  I had to travel 10 hours to get mine. If you're committed and can't find one you can always order one.

Which bike do you want? I've always been happier with bikes that had a high want factor over bikes that made more sense to me. If it's the BMW that you really want then get it, you'll most likely be fine.  If you get the BMW and like it but spend all your time sweating whether it'll leave you on the side of the road then it won't be fun and you won't like it.

Hope that helps. Oh, and I'm just getting ready to take my RS in for it's second replacement water pump.

[kver]

As a base line, I don't think any BMW will be as reliable overall as a Honda or Yamaha and I've had three BMW's and multiple Honda's and Yamaha's.
...

Which bike do you want? I've always been happier with bikes that had a high want factor over bikes that made more sense to me. If it's the BMW that you really want then get it, you'll most likely be fine.  If you get the BMW and like it but spend all your time sweating whether it'll leave you on the side of the road then it won't be fun and you won't like it.

Hope that helps. Oh, and I'm just getting ready to take my RS in for it's second replacement water pump.

Funny how people always seem to be worried about BMW reliability on this forum while most of the best ride reports and the most miles seems to be ridden by BMW riders...
 

BMW must be doing something right or maybe BMW owners just like to blog while everyone else is busy riding???  

but that wouldn't explain DD or Gene and Neda...


 

[RBEmerson]

Or maybe the many happy riders are riding, and the (relatively) few unhappy campers are doing all the posting?  

[kver]

Or maybe the many happy riders are riding, and the (relatively) few unhappy campers are doing all the posting?  

Ah the voice of wisdom...  

[RBEmerson]

Dunno why I have time to write here... must be the snow...  

[Orson]

I've been researching various rides in the last 6 months. this RS is on my short list. I guess I'd be concerned about the reliability of the whole bike; electronics and mechanically as the odometer runs near the 60K mls +    

                                                                                                                                             Please reply, Thanks

I have about 12,000 miles in 12 months on my 2016 RS.

I have had one electronic issue where the digital tachometer flashes. Nothing that distracts from the ride. Will have it checked next service. The digital tacho irks me a bit. You'd think Germans would follow Porsche's lead with a big, fat analog tacho front & center  

Other than not sounding like a Guzzi, it does everything else extremely competently  

[RBEmerson]

C'mon... two cylinders is two cylinders is two cylinders... How much different can the sound really be?  

[Orson]

I have had one electronic issue where the digital tachometer flashes. Nothing that distracts from the ride. Will have it checked next service.

Update: The mechanic told me that the tachometer flashing indicates that the engine hasn't reached full operating temperature and you should keep rpm down until then.