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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :
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Posted: 17:11 - 28 Aug 2020 Post subject: BMW K1200r As First Big Bike |
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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. 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? |
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doggone |
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doggone World Chat Champion
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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BTTD |
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BTTD World Chat Champion
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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BTTD |
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BTTD World Chat Champion
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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jeffyjeff |
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jeffyjeff World Chat Champion
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defblade |
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defblade World Chat Champion
Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 07:06 - 29 Aug 2020 Post subject: |
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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
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
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... ____________________ Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp |
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 07:45 - 29 Aug 2020 Post subject: |
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DownHillMania... |
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DownHillMania... Derestricted Danger
Joined: 28 Aug 2020 Karma :
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :
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Posted: 09:19 - 01 Sep 2020 Post subject: |
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defblade wrote: | 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
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
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... |
Great to get some advice from a former owner. It sounds like you had fun with it but can appreciate the gear situation and the potential to gather licence killing speeds! However, the downsides that you mention (e.g. the throttle body costs) sound frightening. The one that I was looking as was from a private sale and the bike has done tiny miles (2,200 at 12 years old). Therefore, there would be no warranty.
Given your advice and experience, I think that I will look at something else like a Street Triple or a Monster. Thanks for all the advice. |
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 14 Jan 2020 Karma :
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Posted: 09:23 - 01 Sep 2020 Post subject: |
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Thanks Ste, yes - can imagine the moving speed/weight is not so much a factor. Had a couple of scares with cambers and gravel in the past so don't really fancy trying to pick up a quater of a ton. I think that I will go with something a little lighter! |
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Skudd |
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Skudd Super Spammer
Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :
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PotatoHead202... |
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PotatoHead202... Scooby Slapper
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DownHillMania... |
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DownHillMania... Derestricted Danger
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J30NNN |
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J30NNN Two Stroke Sniffer
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 3 years, 231 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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