Motorcycle rant - BORING!!!

[Chocaholic]

Last summer I bought a 2012 R1200RT ($13k) because my wife wanted to start riding with me more. She lied. One ride, two hours, done.

I can't ride this bike. It's like driving a mini-van. It's very utilitarian. Has cruise control, abs, traction control, GPS, even an elaborate audio system that I've never turned on. Heck, you can adjust suspension settings while you lope along. It's quiet, it's mostly smooth and even the windshield goes up and down with the push of a button.

But it's about as much fun as kissing your sister. Above 80 degrees you sweat if you're wearing clothes. God forbid you should get any wind on you. You sit upright just like at your kitchen table...all weight on your butt. With 110 hp, you'd think it would be exhilarating. It's not. You almost can't feel the rush of brisk acceleration.

It holds 7+ gallons of gas so you rarely get a break from the boredom for a fuel stop. It corners better than a bike this size should, but again, no excitement, no effort, no fun. Perhaps if I did multi-day trips I'd appreciate the luxury sedan numbness if I could stay awake that long. Heck, maybe that's what all those audio buttons are for.

This one is not long for my stable. I rode it 1000 miles in the first two weeks I had it, and since then, it's become a garage ornament. The RT is one of BMW's biggest sellers, so I just don't get it. Maybe at 57 I'm not old enough. At least that's what I've decided anyway.

Rant over.

[Gogar]

Well get it out of there and try something different!!!! Sounds like you wanted style and you bought function.

If the wife balks, tell her what you told us.

You could probably go straight across for a Hypermotard and get years worth of smiles for free!

Or a Bonneville. You could go straight across for a Harley even. Especially right now.

[dlockhart]

I need to sell a few of my street bikes first but oh yeah.

[Chocaholic]

Her stable mate may have something to do with it (175hp, 3 lbs/hp). Yet, BMW has discontinued this bike while the RT's sell like hot cakes. Clearly, something must be wrong with me...

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I can't ride this bike. It's like driving a mini-van.

Yeah, I'm sure it is nice but doesn't look much fun to ride. If you want to stick with Beemers, maybe swap it out for an S1000R?
The single R's are still very sporty, but a bit more upright/sane compared to the RR. Basically the polar opposite of that 2-wheeled Suburban you have there.

Or, maybe pick up a Hypermotard as Gogar suggested, and embrace the sumo life. Well, it's not really a supermoto, but close enough.
It would be way more user-friendly in the real world than a full blown supermoto IMO, yet maintain plenty of hooligan potential.
The sumo guys should still let you ride with them too...well maybe.

You'd be pullin some dank whoolies in no time bruh!

[Moses]

Soulless efficiency. Get one of Gogar's OLD BMWs. Damn...

[Chocaholic]

Actually I had an S1000R before getting the KS. Didn't care for it either, albeit for different reasons. Really, really buzzy through the bars and seat (vibes even killed a GPS I had mounted on the bars). At 75 mph on the expressway, bike would do about 6500 rpms. Not tolerable for long. Then you have chain maintenance, etc. Traded it for the KS above and couldn't be happier.

Just not sure what to do with the RT. Don't have time or patience for Craigslist and scammers. Will probably take it in the shorts on another trade, just can't decide what's next. I already have a sport bike, so possibly a GS or??? I just never expected the RT to be such a disappointment. Live and learn.

[ckelly78z]

Quite literally, a German Aspencade.....kind of numb feeling, way too heavy, too comfortable, too quiet, you lose the visceral sense of your face in the wind. I'm 51 and ride a KLR 250 on/off road, you might try something similar.

[creaturecat]

a new Yamaha triple.
best bang for the buck.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Quite literally, a German Aspencade.....kind of numb feeling, way too heavy, too comfortable, too quiet, you lose the visceral sense of your face in the wind.

You and A-burner are spot on. Thankfully I have an understanding wife!

[HardDrive]

Ducati is releasing a new SuperSport...

Ducati SuperSport S - Ducati

[Por_sha911]

I feel the same way about the new Porsches. Faster and high tech but...

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I feel the same way about the new Porsches. Faster and high tech but...

I would of thought the same, until I did a take home drive in a 2015 911 as a drawing winner from my local dealer. Really fantastic feel, very much enjoyed the car. I'd take it over any 944 I've driven. As far as normally aspirated Porsches goes, I'd say the current generation is the best 911. A modified 930 however, definitely packs more fun, but if you exclude turbo's and GT/RS versions, I'd take the current generation.

[Jeff Higgins]

My late neighbor and riding buddy sold his last (he thought) Harley in the mid '90's and bought a brand new Goldwing. His brief, to the point assessment was "riding it's like fornicating with a condom. You eventually wind up in the same place, but getting there isn't nearly as much fun." He sold the 'Wing in just a couple of months and went back to an outdated, slow, vibrating, ill-handling Harley and never looked back. His wife thanked him and started riding with him again.

[911boost]

The riding dynamic on my GS sound familiar to what you found on the RT.

Sounds like the bike for the wife to ride with experiment is over.

Time to move on.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

a new Yamaha triple.
best bang for the buck.

Sorry but I think you meant to say Triumph Speed Triple.

Have not ridden a BMW RT but the OP bike looks boring as hell. Top of class for its segment I'm sure...

[Gogar]

Oh yeah I totally forgot you had that one!

You definitely need a Moto or a naked bike. Or a cruiser, but I think you might be disappointed that way too.

I rode a R9T Sunday for a bit and it was fun. Has the same 110hp motor as the RT but much less weight. It DOES NOT push itself into the road at speed though. Total wheelie-popper. . The relaxed riding position was really fun and reminded me of my youthful dirt bike days. For less money I would take a Ducati hyper though, every time. Style be damned.

[Bill Douglas]

To me, sometimes the idea of boring is quite appealing. I think that bike sounds awesome.

[LakeCleElum]

Choc - Not sure of your question here. You bought this so your wife would be comfortable, not a race bike for you.......Motorcycles are all a trade-off......One end of the scale a 250 GP bike, a Gold Wing on the other end............

What works for wife may not be the most fun 4U, but better to have her along rather than have her wonder which other chick is off with you for the weekend.........

I put over 11,000 of my 17,000 MC miles this year on a touring bike keeping HER happy.........Not the most fun for me, but could have been doing something worse...........

[on2wheels52]

Maybe you're taking the wrong roads?