BMW K1200r As First Big Bike

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

Looking for some advice on the BMW K1200r as a first big bike. To give you a little background, I am 44 years old and have no interest in travelling at warp speed. I have been running around on a Yamaha YZF 125r for 5 months and have put around 2000 miles on it - a combination of commuting and runs with friends on "big bikes".

I have seen a 2008 K1200r with very low mileage and appreciate that these are 160 plus BHP and fairly heavy. No ego or need to be a hero and keep up with pals. Laughing

I am 5ft 10 so could flat foot it. Insurance is only around £300 a year (probably due to my age). Would it be too much bike for someone with my limited experience?

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

What do you plan to do with it?
It's probably inadvisable to move to something so much heavier and more powerful - not to say bad things will happen.
It would make more sense to put some miles in on a sub 1000cc cheaper big bike though.

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

I'd be more cautious about the weight of that bike rather than the power.

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

Buy it. You know you want to.
Riding in a group and trying to keep up with more experienced riders is going to be the bigger risk. The bike will keep up with anything else on the road and easily take you past your skill level so it comes down to how good is your self control?

Freddyfruitba... · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2016 Karma :

BTTD · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

What issues do you guys have with the weight? I've had a few heavy bikes and disliked pushing them in and out of the garage, but in terms of actually riding them had no issue.

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

I wouldn't worry about the power of the big bemmer. As others have said it weighs as much as a small moon.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
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J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

My concern would be less that the performance will result in insta-death and more that going straight to such a big bike could stunt your skills development. You'll learn to corner more effectively on a smaller and lighter bike that you will have to work more and can steadily push yourself on than one you'll be having to reign in a lot.

jeffyjeff · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 May 2020 Karma :

defblade · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Karma :

I had the R Sport for a while.

It was an amazing bike, off the scale in every single way.

It was massively competent at any sort of legal speeds; so much so that I often found myself well over those, even when "taking it really easy" (and I'm a rider with self-control in my 40s, too).
Very comfortable, long distances just disappeared.
It was definitely capable of engaging warp speed, just like Star Trek, in any gear from any speed.

However...

I never even got to the top end of third gear - 2/3rds or 3/4s of the way through third at you're heading through 130mph, which is plenty even on a private road Wink

And being able to ride from about 25mph up to god knows where in sixth all the time with plenty of acceleration actually gets a little, dare I say it, boring in some ways. No need to actual make any effort to control the beast. Less involvement in the ride.

Also, I had a constant awareness that they can be slightly prone to borkage, and every single thing about them is ££££.
For example, one day it started holding the revs just a tiny bit as I came off the throttle. Luckily, switching off-and-on-again when I got home, it cleared, but a google suggested the most likely cause if it continued would be the throttle bodies - IIRC, about £1800 + fitting for a new set, and you'd also need the re-designed airbox to go with them, another £200-odd Sad

In the end, I sold it after 4 glorious summer months for a grand or so less than I paid. I'm kinda glad I had it for a while, as it let me find out that very fast bikes just aren't my thing at all... I much prefer staying somewhere the good-boy side of licence losing in the UK.
If I was heading out across Europe touring on a regular basis, the answer might well be different - but I'd want a cast-iron warranty and RAC cover just in case...
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp Twisted Evil

=> Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

DownHillMania... · Derestricted Danger Joined: 28 Aug 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

I'm 5'4 (and a half) and weigh 10 stone but that doesnt stop me riding big ones. Picking the things up after I've dropped them is another matter....
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

It's a lovely bike and will serve you well, the weight disappears once yo start to move. The main issue with any BMW bike is cost to service and parts. I'm finding that out big time with my GS Adventure.

other than that it's a great bike and one that you will learn on and enjoy.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

PotatoHead202... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Feb 2020 Karma :

I had one for about a year (2007 r sport model).

I really wouldn't recommend one as a first bike as they're quite unlike almost every other bike out there.

They have duolever front suspension which means a few things. They are INCREDIBLY heavy to steer at low speed (almost feels as though the head bearings are too tight) and somewhat vague re feedback until you learn to trust it. Having said that absolutely no other bike will be as stable as a BMW K - it's the physics of how the suspension works and the enormous length of the bike.

I've ridden a number of throaty bikes but as some have alluded to the k's will pull in almost any gear at almost any speed. The torque is insane (more so on the K1300)

Also take into account that the 1200 range had a lot of niggles: weak gearbox, dodgy esa, unreliable ABS (both servo and later). The K1300 in contrast has upgraded suspension, MUCH stronger gearbox and seemingly better ABS.

So yeah, they take a fair bit of getting used to and certainly aren't for the fainthearted. If you're of larger stature like myself these issues will be negated somewhat but it's still an enormously powerful bike (i'm also talking torque figures here which however around 100ft lbs).
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Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

DownHillMania... · Derestricted Danger Joined: 28 Aug 2020 Karma :

J30NNN · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :

Nobby the Bastard · Harley Gaydar Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :

There is a trick to it and it's quite simple.

Don't drop it in the first place....
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050