[maverickma]

Second opinions are always nice so here's my brain dump. Take note I just picked up the bike a week ago and only have 150 miles on the 2016 R12RS so I'm still learning it so these are my observations so far. The rider...me...is 6' tall, 203lbs with a 32" inseam. I'm 51, but act like I'm 23. Fully geared I'm at least 15lbs heavier since I only ride my sportier bikes with my 1-piece Vanson leathers and all the gear. The bike will rarely if ever see a highway so this is all on twisty PA backroads which can be bumpy. I quickly got comfy on the R12RS, maybe takes a mile and it disappeared beneath me so bike zen arrives quickly. The front feels lighter than both my HP2 and my R11S, not sure why since I even have the shorter RT a-arm on the HP2 and raised the rear send 10mm to compensate. The bike, despite its weight, feels very light. The R12RS requires that you finesse it more around aggressive turns whereas the HP2 and the R11S, I can muscle them around a bit without protest. The R12RS has D-ESA suspension and 've been riding it in the "road" suspension mode which is softer. It's great until the speeds pick up (probably over 60mph?) on the twisty roads at which point it will protest and wallow a bit too much. I'll switch to "dynamic" suspension mode so the chassis doesn't protest. In this mode it feels and acts similar to the HP2 and the R11S. From a power perspective all I can say is that it's buttery smooth. It's faster than the R11S by far, but definitely not as fast as the HP2, but not by much. I can already ride it slightly faster than the HP2 on the road, but there is no way I could keep up with myself on the HP2 on the track or a smooth twisty road if that makes sense. By no means would I want to ride the R12RS on the track...not sure how fun that would be, but that is not what the bike is built for or why I bought it. Yes I know enough about suspension to have the ohlins on my HP2 set up correctly. At both ends I run the preload softer than recommended on purpose, because of the real world roads I ride on and the average speeds we do. I can get away with a more plush set up since I'm not ever doing any triple digit speeds in the turn. The R12RS is definitely a more relaxing bike on the road. Yes the instrument cluster is lacking, but I don't spend much time looking at it, only a quick glance at the speed sometimes. I spend more time looking at the GPS since I pre-plan and lead the sport rides each weekend. To some it up, the bike is completely worth it and it is what I was hoping for.

Had one more thought...as far as ride mode (not suspension ride mode) which impacts I think how quickly the bike revs and how early ABS and TC intervenes, I've been switching between "road" mode and "dynamic" mode, but with mine you can customize that somehow. I have not had time to read up on it.

Feel free to ask me questions! Doug