Seducedby the Dark Side

JonyRR · 09-03-2007, 08:27 PM

well...
Got to follow and trade off on a new K1200R-S this weekend over about 300 miles thru Western Washington. This one had all the goodies; ESA, ABS and hot grips.
I was impressed.
It stopped WAY better than the last ABS-equipped beemer I tried. It didn't do anything weird, it just stopped like it hit a giant marshmellow. Very cool.
No injection mapping glitches I could tell; it pulled cleanly from any RPM and any throttle position in virtually any gear.
The ESA was PRETTY good, but I predict a pair of well-sorted Ohlins or Wilburs woould be better. Not bad for OEM.
Rapid very badly needs to make some barbacks for this model; that's the only thing keeping it from being perfect for me.
The bags work better than they looked at first glance. Now they make sense.
Dam, now I remember why I'm normally a four-cylinder guy.
Oops, this IS an oilhead board...I forgot

foobeemer · 09-04-2007, 05:28 AM

I am so in love with that bike. I know if I rode one obsession would set in and it would be all over. So far I've managed to stay off of it. I like hearing your reaction and descriptions though.

sfarson · 09-04-2007, 06:32 AM

It is an outstanding bike.

cyotee01 · 09-04-2007, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonyRR

it just stopped like it hit a giant marshmellow. Very cool.

I'd love to see that for real!

DanGreene · 09-04-2007, 08:01 AM

I put about 80 miles on an 05 K1200S as a loaner from my dealer while my bike was in for a service last week. I am sure the one I tried was an anomaly, but I did not like it very much. The ride and suspension seemed OK, but the fuel mapping was terrible. At low speeds in first gear it was like riding a bucking horse. Also the first three gears were the loudest and roughest shifting transmission I think I have ever ridden...and this from someone who recently bought a 97, five-speed Moto Guzzi! After the engine got warmed up good and the temps got up into the low 90s, the bike simply would not idle. At every light the bike died. I always like to bring my loaner bikes back with a full tank, and after I filled it up, it would idle again.

The service manager said there was a problem with some (all?) the bikes with the stepper motor and the air box. Something about not working right when hot. When I put all the cool fuel into the tank it cooled everything off enough to make it run again.

Anyway, this was the third one I have ridden, although for the most miles. The first two I don't remember having these issues to the same extent as this one did.

All that power is nice of course, but still.

slowrider · slowrider's Garage

When I first took delivery of my K1200S, the fueling was pretty bad. At low speed, it would lurch quite a bit, and constantly trying to contain it with the clutch. At speed, getting on the gas on any corner exit was a little nervous feeling. I believe it came with rev 6.X software.

Since then, I got it upgraded to 9.X software and the fueling is A LOT better. Almost night and day difference. I think on a closed throttle, there's less engine braking than before, and that's probably some extra fuel so that opening the throttle is less of a transition? Who knows, I just know it feels a lot better now...I also prefer the engine braking now, before it was a little severe.

Anyway, for what I do with the bike, its nearly perfect now. Great power, great comfort, very good handling, great luggage, even great gas mileage...

wswartzwel · 09-04-2007, 03:43 PM

Jony on an inline four= suspended drivers license

gigantic · gigantic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Jony on an inline four= suspended drivers license

Bill, he's already working on that with his 'tard.

Flatbutt1 · 09-04-2007, 03:49 PM

Come on Jony, who ya trying to kid? You ARE the darkside.

JonyRR · 09-04-2007, 06:34 PM

flattie;
yeah, I'm busted. I need a K12R-S....preferably matte black.
can you picture it? the CIA-GSA motor pool has a fleet of black K12's ready for assignment in the name of fuel conservation!

Dr. Curve · 09-04-2007, 06:38 PM

For a big bike they sure work well in the Mountains. We ran'um hard in N. Georgia one year. Lots of serious pull out of corners..........

Still, Dan pegged it.........the transmission was/is rated only a 3 on a 10 scale. I did not keep mine because of the transmission and as I have got smaller, bikes like a K12S seem larger...............

Its (the transmission now used) going to be perfect for the new chain drive design however, as BMWs new 190/190 will be a four cylinder in a chain drive packet, Right?