Thinking of drinking the Kool-Aid - a 2006 K1200S

[redsled]

If you end up needing Heli-bars give me a shout.  I purchased my K1300S used with them installed but I went back to stock after I brought it home.  They'll fit the 1200S and they're just sitting here on a shelf, maybe we can work out a deal.

Good luck.

Will do.  

[Sport-Touring]

[Royal Tiger]

I posted this in another thread, but I was talking to a tech while looking at the new water cooled heads 2013 R1200GS and the issue of FD failures came up.  His shop is convinced it's over shimed bearings.  They got a hold of a GS that went through two final drives set to factory specs.  They put one in and didn't shim it as tight. It had over 65k on it I believe with zero issues so far.

[Volfy]

My (not so) local dealer has a 2006 K1200S in that beautiful blue/white paint scheme.  8200 miles and according to a friend in Seattle that works at Ride West BMW, it was a press/fleet bike until 2008 when it was sold at a dealer in Daytona, FL.  I *really* like the wedge K1200GT's but those are out of my price range right now.

It appears to be very clean and taken care of.  This bike is speaking to me.  What gives me pause on potentially buying this is the whole final drive thing and increased maintenance.  And while I'd like to be in the position of being free enough to put 20-25k miles a year, I don't anymore.  I will put about 10k or so on whatever I have every year.

Also, I have a Speed Triple that I'll be getting rid of in favor of whatever I buy.  I want a sportbike with luggage which this has.  I just don't know how comfortable it would be on my trip to Colorado in July.

Am I worrying about nothing with the final drive thing?  The maintenance thing has me more gunshy than the final drive.  I'm used to years of Honda and since 2004, Triumphs that are bulletproof.

Ok Beemer guys.  Hammer away.  I want to drink the Kool-aid, but might need to be talked into it!

{Edit} I almost forgot, the bags that come with the bike are those weird looking ones with the black stripes on them. Can you change those out for the solid color ones like the K1200GTs?

Not sure about press bikes.  Moto journalists are not the kindest to the bikes they test ride.

[redsled]

Very true. As it stands today, it doesn't look like I'm going to get it. The bike rode well (kinda slow, but I digress <- kidding), but the clutch has a much stiffer pull than me ever-weakening wrist can probably take on a big ride. So I don't think it's going to come home with me. If I were going back to a two bike garage, I'd definitely buy it and get a cheap ST11/13 for touring duty.

So back to the drawing board it seems.


Chris Pope
Locust Grove, GA
10 Speed Triple SE - for sale
57 Cushman Eagle

[miles]

They do have very stiff clutches, that's for sure.

[Volfy]

Very true. As it stands today, it doesn't look like I'm going to get it. The bike rode well (kinda slow, but I digress <- kidding), but the clutch has a much stiffer pull than me ever-weakening wrist can probably take on a big ride. So I don't think it's going to come home with me. If I were going back to a two bike garage, I'd definitely buy it and get a cheap ST11/13 for touring duty.

So back to the drawing board it seems.

I test rode both an '05 K1200S and a demo '12 K1300S, and I don't remember the clutch being stiffer than most other bikes in this engine size range.  Sometimes bleeding the hydraulic clutch or lubing the cable and/or lever could lighten it up.

Hey, it's always fun to look around and try out candidate bikes.  When I knew I got too old to keep riding litre sportbikes, I started looking for more of a "gentleman's sportbike" that can do double as a sport tourer.   I looked at a whole bunch of different bikes from the K12/13S to the more traditional Sport Tourers.  I bought and rode a Sprint ST 1050 first.  Loved the powertrain but didn't care for the spartan packaging.  Traded that in for a C14.  Loved the touring amenities and comfort, but didn't care for the 700 lbs weight and too-upright ergos.  Meanwhile, I also dabbled in the lightweight class, first an FZ1, then now an SV1000S.  I finally traded in the C14 for a VFR1200, which finally hit the sweet spot between sport and touring for me.  I almost pulled the trigger on an '09 K1300S in the gorgeous burnt orange color, but in the end, I just felt the VFR1200 is a bit more refined and the V4 tickles me better than I4's.

[Jetpilot5]

They do have very stiff clutches, that's for sure.

They do.  On both my 1200 and now the 1300 I changed out the levers ( Wunderlich Vario and Pazzo) to ones with more of a dogleg so the lever was closer to the bar.  It helps with the heavy pull when you have a shorter reach.

[Grizz]

  I saw that bike on their web site and rode up to check it out also, great looking bike. Got home and started researching and the cam chain issues scared me off. Always wanted a BMW, still do but I just can't talk myself into it. Would love to hear some high mile guys speak up. Till then I will keep racking up miles on the Blackbird.

[Jetpilot5]

  I saw that bike on their web site and rode up to check it out also, great looking bike. Got home and started researching and the cam chain issues scared me off. Always wanted a BMW, still do but I just can't talk myself into it. Would love to hear some high mile guys speak up. Till then I will keep racking up miles on the Blackbird.

I put 49,850 miles on my 06 before I traded it.  I put on the cam chain jump guard and the new cam chain tensioner.  Never had a problem but I certainly understand your concern. I also realize that's not huge mileage, but its what I have experience with.

[miles]

The 35,000 miles I put on my K1200R involved no cam chain issues at all.  No new tensioner, nothing.

[Major 662]

A few random thoughts from a 2010 K13S owner:

I wouldn't avoid a BMW due to FD issues any more than I'd avoid a Honda due to rectifiers or a Ducati due to flaking rocker arms and so on. Pretty soon you're limited to a 2005 Concours.  All due respect to Concours owners - we just like to have choices.

IMHO the side bags are small but well engineered.  I never extend 'em out for touring.  You lose some space inside because the side wall is curved to allow it to fit in close against the bike's tail.  Even extended out, I can't fit my XL Shoei Qwest inside.  I recommend finding a good tail pack and you're good to go.  I mean the hobbits hiked all the way to Mordor with way less, right?  As MisterSmooth says, you really just need a cell phone and a credit card.

I'm surprised to hear about the clutch pull -- maybe they changed it from the K12S to the K13S?  Then again, my previous bike was a Duc ST3 with a dry clutch, so anything compares well to that. Plus I think typing on a keyboard all day gives me huge forearm muscles.  

There are plenty of bikes out there that are more comfortable on the long haul or faster through the hairpins, but the K12/13S bikes strike the right balance for me. Plus every now and then you gotta unleash the beast within.

[throttlemeister]

I'm surprised to hear about the clutch pull -- maybe they changed it from the K12S to the K13S?  Then again, my previous bike was a Duc ST3 with a dry clutch, so anything compares well to that. Plus I think typing on a keyboard all day gives me huge forearm muscles.  

They did actually. The K13S has a different size slave cylinder on the clutch to make for a lighter pull. The slave can be retrofitted to a K12 btw.

[aerografixs]

can anyone tell me with your personal experiences if the Helibars make a difference in touring comfort on the  K 1200 S

[tonysrep]

can anyone tell me with your personal experiences if the Helibars make a difference in touring comfort on the  K 1200 S

I have them since the bike was new and it is a huge difference from stock in comfort