Modern Vespa

It pays to know the right people, I guess.

I got a chance today to go on an extended test ride on a BMW R1200R. They gave me a loaner bike and said "Have it back by 4:00".

No problem!

So I took it out for a couple of hours, riding as broad a variety of roads as I could manage.

The R1200R is, without hesitation, a magnificent bike. It's larger in person than it would seem from pictures, but even with a 30-inch inseam, I was able to put my feet down without too much of a problem. It handles beautifully, and really put my Moto Guzzi to shame in just about every respect. With 109hp, it's also got serious pep. At 80mph on the freeway, I was in fourth gear with two more gears to go.

And the freeway is really where this bike shines. BMW says the second "R" in "R1200R" stands for Roadster, and there's certainly something to that. This bike is closer in spirit to the BMWs of yore than any of the giant gulfstream models they're selling. Cruising along on Skyline Blvd, I was really feeling the "Roadster" vibe. Still, being a scooter guy, I couldn't help but be reminded of the fact that it was still a motorcycle, and there were still things that motorcycles don't do as well as scooters.

Case in point: Going down a tight, twisty road, I was having some minor trouble with fine throttle control. I was right at the balancing point between acceleration and engine braking, and the bike was kind of see-sawing back and forth under the force of the enormous engine, alternately loading the front, then the back, then the front. Going into a downhill right-hand turn of very small radius (at no more than 15mph), with the rear brake dragging slightly to control my descent, I felt the rear wheel lock up and slip out from under me. In retrospect, I think I might have just shifted to engine braking, and hence lightened up the rear end to the point that it had very little traction. I immediately stood the bike up and went intentionally wide in the turn to try to recover, only to have the rear end lock up again. I *think* I stalled the bike, although I'm militant about pulling in the clutch whenever anything even remotely difficult is going on. It's just hard for me to believe that I didn't automatically pull the clutch, but I can't come up with any other explanation for the rear wheel to lock up again. As I was skidding down the hill, headed straight for the oncoming car that magically appeared on the other side of the double yellow, I wobbled and somehow steered back inside, freed up the rear wheel, and coasted (with the engine off) to the side of the road.

I did not go down. I rode the skid out.

This made me realize, once I had kind of gotten my wits back about me, that this is something that scooters just don't do. I can only remember one case where I've had the rear wheel actually slide on my GTS, and ice was involved. It seems to me that the massive amount of unsprung weight of the engine on a GTS gives scooter riders a much wider latitude to misuse their rear brakes in a turn. I've always kind of intellectually understood that, but this is the first time it was really demonstrated to me in a way that really got my attention. I could have navigated that turn on my GTS under the same exact conditions, and I'm virtually certain my rear wheel wouldn't have locked up or skidded. In fact, I was kind of shocked that anything went awry at all. It was an easy turn, by my (scooterist) estimation.

Okay, so that pucker moment aside, I was still extremely impressed with how well-engineered the R1200R is. I have a couple of minor gripes, but they're very minor in the grand scheme of things. If my wife would let me, I would probably have bought that bike today.

As it was, though, I got back on my GTS and rode back to work, and was instantly reminded of how much I love my slow, pathetic scooter with all the unsprung weight over the rear wheel.

It's all about the clutch. You must become one with the clutch.

Have you looked at the new Beemers they showed at Intermot?

K 1300 S


K 1300 R


K 1300 GT

So when you bring it home.....

How long will it take to master 'OBR'....(other bike recognition) so you will never, not even once wave to the "unwashed"(read non BMW rider)?

This rule of thumb is so firmly established I think they make you sign a waver at the dealership.....

Lovely toy thou....I'd still have mine but for the trouble I got into with it.

Just do it. You know you want to.

R

8)

And who might these gracious & benevolent "They" be??? BMW-SJ perhaps?

\osc

Mums the word.

I actually waved at every other motorcycle I saw today. Some of them looked rather surprised.

No offense Jess..But I owned a 1150Gs and test rode the 1200GS..And the owner of San Diego BMW saw my MP3 and wanted 2 be able 2 sell them..I love my MP3... I guess I am built for comfort now and not 4 speed. 8)

Following in Jess's footsteps and in the interest in making sure making sure my GTS is the right bike also, I test rode this.

It had a Buddy 125's worth up upgrades, and four or five extra gears that weren't really needed with 168HP.

I can understand the rush from 0-100 in 3.5 seconds now but don't need it.

I would pick the K1300GT hands down for touring. I just wish they were a little cheaper. Who knows, maybe I will break down and buy one someday. I nice touring bike is so sexy to me.

None taken. I really love my GTS, and have never gotten tired of riding it. I think I'm yearning to take long-distance trips in something resembling comfort (at least more comfort than riding cross-country on a GTS) and I'm looking for a touring bike. Of course, being a scooter guy, the usual suspects of touring bikes just seem way too big for me, and so I'm looking for something smaller.

How sad, though, that 1200cc is in the "smaller" category.

submitted without comment....

Your quest for the long distance comfort machine will lead you to the obvious answer... Goldwing.

The sportbike posture most bikes take today, making you lean forward over a huge bulbous tank just isn't comfortable for the long open road.

Do the goldwings have butt massages built in yet?

Or a bun warmer for your wife's seat? I saw one the other day with dual cupholders that slide out of the armrests on the passenger seat.

In all seriousness, the MP3 with the 850 Mana engine could be a serious touring bike, if they put a saddle on it that was engineered for comfort. I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Jeez, Len. I'm not that old yet. I'm still resisting Large Unwieldy bikes.

Hahaha...I know what you mean. I was in for a new tire today, checked out the new lineup of Guzzis, and they all just seem so HUGE to me. The tanks are enormous, and on some forward-oriented bikes it seemed like a stretch for me to actually reach the handlebars. I did kinda like the retro California police bike replica, but it's still too big.

Hopped on my MP3 to ride home, and it's so maneuverable in comparison. Then after getting home, I did some work on the Rally, I took it for a ride around the neighborhood, and the Rally feels so perfect for taking it easy and enjoying the scenery, it's great for errands around town.

I guess I'm really just a scooter kind of guy, not really at home on a motorcycle. At least not yet.

Nice bike but I am so shallow I can't imagine myself on something so ugly.

I had 2 BMWs, my wife also had 2 (still riding her 1984 R80), and I love the brand, but man oh man, the new oilhead boxers are hideous, and I hate those wide bulbous tanks.

Now if they'd do like Guzzi and Ducati and try a styling excercise bringing back the classic look--say the old R100S (Silver Smoke!!) I'd be putting my pennies away fer sure.

P.

PS--its the crazy rearward weight bias on our Scoots that keeps the rear brake from being touchy. A few more hours in the saddle, and you'd be feathering that pedal like Troy Bayliss.

Jess- From the number of them that I see on the freeways around here loaded down with "touring paraphernalia" the Suzuki Burgman 650 might be what you're looking for. It's a motorcycle pretending to be a scooter. The Executive model has real ABS. I've never ridden one but I'd like too!

Bob

I rode this R1200GS for a few days in Arizona...pure joy. The thing I liked about it, and the thing I like about my scooter is that they are effortless to ride. The even power, low center of gravity, and nimbleness make it a nice contrast to my torquey, challenging Guzzi.

Jess, I've owned a bunch of Beemers over the last 37 years and one of my "top 3" favorites was a non-ABS, R1150R that I had in 2005. Great handling bike without all of the extra weight that has become associated with Beemers over the last decade. I only sold it because I decided to give up motorcycling in 2006................Of course, the scooter bug hit me during the summer of this year and that has turned out to be a very good thing in my life.
Glad you enjoyed the R1200R.

Did this bike have ASC control on it???

Great write--up Jess, big bikes are fun also. I would hope a 1200 would put your 750 Moto Guzzi to shame however if I loaned you a Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 this would make a much better comparison, handles better and has that Moto Guzzi soul.

I am so the scooter guy also, take a scoot over a motorcycle anyday.

Best,
SDG

This is great information!
I really like the independent experiences noted here. Scooter people commenting about motorcycles. I rode a P200 about thirty years ago and sold it for motorcycles. I purchased a LX150 in May to commute and fell back in love with scoots again. Motorcycles and scooters are totally different when you compare countersteering. Motorcycles respond to upper body movements while scooters respond to hip movements. Totally different but both are equally great experiences. I feel sorry for my 'macho' friends that will not give scooters a try.
I sell BMW, MV Agusta and Ducati motorcycles. I also sell Vespas'.You people are true when you note BMW's ugliness. Function, form and engineering have killed the classic looks of the old Boxer/German bike.
Ducati remains the true superbike and MV Agusta the hot rod.
Vespas' provide a unique feeling that breeds smiles. They are simply FUN!
My current 'other ride' is a Harley Davison FXDWG2. Do a Google search and look at one. Truly a magnificent bike.......but I love the LX 150 equally.

Nope. Being the loaner bike that it was, it was fairly stripped down. No ABS, no ASC, no ESA. Just heated grips.

That said, I don't think ASC wouldn't would have made any difference in this case. I wasn't accelerating into the turn, I was actually being very cautious about it. As I understand it, ASC reduces power to the rear wheel when it senses that the rear wheel is slipping, i.e. accelerating around a wet turn.

You did what I dared not to do...
I sat on an R12R recently at a local dealership. It fit like a glove. They offered a test ride on it. But I needed to resist the temptation. The bike was so comfy and balanced sitting still. I knew it could be bad news if I got it out on the road and fell in love with it since my budget wouldn't allow me to keep my current scoot and get a new one too. I just wasn't willing to part with my BV500 as a trade. Pretty bike though. Black with the white pinstripe...
I did succumb to the call of the demo ride during this years Bike Week at Daytona. The Speed Triple (Triumph) was a heck of a lot of fun. But that bike is almost too fast and sexy for it's own good. I really couldn't see trading for that. Its meant for playtime only. I can't imagine it being as practical as what I have now. (adding any storage would ruin the lines)
I'm looking forward to next years Bike Week though. I really prefer the demo rides from the manufacturers over test rides at a dealership. (it seems like they don't push you to buy at a demo ride. I suppose it's more about brand awareness than making a sale)

Heh. I see your point. I'm also a big fan of things that are so ugly and utilitarian that they come out on the other side of ugly and become attractive again. The Honda Big Ruckus is a good example of that, but an even better example is the 1969 Nissan Patrol I used to own. Man, that thing was so ugly, I couldn't help but love it.

What attracted me to the BMW (and the Boxer-engined bikes in particular) was their devotion to utility at the expense of everything else.

Jess,

You mentioned something about wanting a smaller cc bike, would you consider a BMW 800ST? This is the sexiest smaller cc touring bike!

OK. Here's a 'switchblade"

The F800 series is very nice, although I've been kind of fixated on the Boxer engine and shaft drive. At least the F800ST comes with belt drive, which is an improvement over chain. Still, I'm having a hard time "settling".

But perhaps it's worth a test ride...

Think positive, biker dude.



Let's talk about GS rental on Tuesday...

Heh. You just really want that Beemer, huh dude.

I admit I've looked at that bike before, adn it's hot. I'd buy one if I had an unending source of cash. There are a lot of things I'd buy, though, and as a result, I dont' know that'd be on my short short list.

T-Max probably first, for a tourer. Load it up and go!

Or, mayhap, a properly configured MP3 500.

Or, because I love Hondas, find myself a Pacific Coast 800...

The F800ST was the runner up once I settled on the Shiver. The F800ST is very nice, but it's got all sorts of "quirks" that are deal breakers for some people (not me). Plus the F800ST was about $4,000 more with the stuff I would have wanted.

Yeah, it's always a difficult thing "settling" on one. Why do you think I've had three motos in the last year? Each one of them had something I loved about it. The Shiver is pretty close to having them all though - if I could only ride it now

Seriously, Jess, you can have both scooter and tourer, as someone mentioned in an earlier post , a 650 Burgman. This machine is motorcycling's best kept secret! Take it from one who put over 38,000 miles on one which included mainly cross country trips from Minnesota to Texas and California, but also a few track days and an endurance event. I sold it when I moved to CA and realized that for the kind of roads I would be riding on here, I needed something more nimble. If I could have afforded to keep it for touring purposes only, I would have. I won't go into the technical details of the machine, as you possibly know them already, but so far it is still has the most advanced CVT system on a motorcycle that I know of. And, the belt is guaranteed for the life of the scooter! Check one out, you'll be surprised.

Burgman = rox0rz.

If you want the best tourer for two people, you should ride the R1200RT! The roadster will certainly do long rides, but the R1200RT is the most popular bike for touring that BMW makes. I resisted the touring bike image for a long time, but have now given in to the need for some comfort! I pick my RT up Monday!! If i was riding single I would seriously look at the f800ST. I think it was motorcycle consumer news that called it the best light tourer ever. You should ride one - they are serious fun! As to your braking fun with the roadster, all BMW bikes have touchy rear brakes. Personally I would not have one without the ABS. Everybody should see a BMW breaking demo if you ever get a chance! After you see the difference you would always spend a little extra for it! Have fun in your search!

I totally agree with you that the 1200RT is the best all around touring bike. I too would pick it over the Goldwing BUT the final drive issue took it out of the running for me. This is a well documented issue that BMW does not seem to want to own up too? By the way congratulations on getting an excellent bike!

Okay, I was trying to narrow my choices, not expand them.

Burgman is nice, but I would probably sooner buy the MP3 500 and fit it with a long-range gas tank. R1200RT is exceptionally nice, but it's both out of my price range and one mother of a big bike. I sat on it the low-frame version of the R1200RT, and couldn't see the 20 feet of asphalt in front of me for the mass of dashboard. I was looking at the R1200R as a compromise to my desire for the R1200RT.

Hey Jess- just to tweak you a little bit, my wife and I picked up our new bike in Burlington, Vermont on Monday last. Then we drove to Northern New Hampshire and from there to the Maine coast(Camden) the same day. Good golly, when I got there I wasn't even tired! The next day we rode to Beals Island (about to Lubec) then back to Acadia National Park rode the loop rode and up Cadillac Mountain then to Camden. Next day to Burlington,VT. 600Mi service next day and rode the length of Vermont to Bennington. Next day to home.1500 mi, 5 days. No complaints from the wife or me. Highest temp we saw was 56. Lowest was 46 and raining in the White mountains! That was a litttle cold, but he heated grips and seats saved the day! I wouldn't give up my scoot for local riding - but if you want to travel you need the right tool.