are you comfortable riding your r12s?

[dohc97]

Just wanted to get an informal poll in here. I am 51, 5'7", 165 lbs. I feel OK and can ride 2 tank fulls before needing a break.

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by dohc97

I am 51,
5'7",
165 lbs.
I feel OK and can ride 2 tank fulls before needing a break.

...43-and-a-half...
...5,97"
...190 pounds (86 kilo ; naked)...

...feel more than OK...
...seat looks like *****, but you can sit on it all day...
...did almost 400 miles (small country, very hard to do more on a day) in a 'few' hours, and no problem at all...

...in the beginning I had to get used to the thin grips...
...and the somewhat soft suspension...

...great bike (said that before)...
...great looks...
...and with the RapidBike + dyno tune up ; the performance is just great...

[kuyarico]

I'm 5'8" 180 lbs. I just got back from a short 100 mile ride. Could have easily kept on riding today, but my buddy on his V-Star Custom got tired.

[dradylee]

I'm 60+, 5'10", 175 lbs, regularly do 450 to 550 mile Sunday rides, comfort is not an issue at all on this bike.

[OpenBoatt]

...the S is like the rack (he said with a smile on his face). But I'm new to my R1100S, and just getting acquainted with the riding position and handling characteristics. Even with the stock GS, there are four alternative seat positions. The stock S seat can be hard on one's Package.

All day isn't a problem on the S, but that's because marathon riding isn't my idea of fun. I get breaks because I like to stop and contemplate the landscape, chat with the natives, even enjoy the occasional ale or lager.

On a comfort scale of 1 - 10, I'd rate the S a 5+ (for what it's worth, I'd rate my bone stock R1100GS an 8 on the same scale). tom

[johnty288]

Any of you above that previously had a 1100S--How do you compare the comfort of the two bikes?

[zx9rmal]

Originally Posted by johnty288

Any of you above that previously had a 1100S--How do you compare the comfort of the two bikes?

60 and 140 lbs. More comfortable than almost any other sportbike. IIRC, the 11S had higher bars than the 12S, but more of a stretch to the bars.

[mkletecka]

I am, 6’ tall, 36” arms, 32” inseam and here are my contrasts/comparisons

12S (lower & longer reach to the bars, thus more pressure on the wrists)
11S (higher & shorter reach to the bars, thus less pressure on the wrists)

12S (Seat, find that I can/could/and have done 350+ mile days, however on some days it’s comfortable, other days I am squirming around a bit to find the sweet spot)
11S (Seat was most always comfortable, and could easily do 350+ mile days)

12S (good front fairing wind protection, which I rate at 7/10 to 8/10, with cross wind effect on the bike at 8.5/10)
11S (excellent front fairing wind protection, which I rate at 9/10 to 10/10, with cross wind effect on the bike at 9/10 to 10/10)

12S (you can put the factory BMW luggage system on it if ya drill holes in it, but “one can argue” that it was not meant to have any. However, I use RKA/thecycleguys.com and find that’s it just fine, but “I” don’t like hard luggage for it is wide and impairs lane splitting on the crowded freeways of California)
11S (You can easily put the BMW luggage system on it, for it was designed for it)

12S (solo riding only, “unless ya don’t like them, then it’s perfect”
11S (can put a passenger on in comfort)

In conclusion, for “ME” the R1200S is a much more purposeful /single minded, refined, faster, better handling, has a better transmission and ABS system & lighter than the R1100S, which I put 20K miles on. However, when I first got my 12S, though very impressed with it, it took me about a month to adapt and “fully” appreciate it (unlike the 11S, which I adapted to immediately). But know that I am familiar with with the 12S there’s no looking back, for each and every time I ride it, I enjoy it more and more compared to the 11S. However, if I were to go on a cross country, one week 3000+ mile adventure, give me the 1100S, but if I am going to do 200 to 350 miles for two or three days at a time, give the 12S for it better suits my riding needs. In conclusion, and only speaking about BMW’s, I feel that if ya want the “best overall machine” also look into the GS, ST, RT or K1200S or Sport, for in my opinion (like the 1100S) they are not as single minded as the 12S. Anyway, one reporters opinion on the subject

Good luck in your decision making process.

Mike K.
Gray/silver 12S
Dana Point, CA

[ckcarr]

I'm far more comfortable riding the R1200S than I was on the R1100S.

The 1100 felt topheavy, the 1200 feels more balanced.

The seat on the 1200 is more comfortable, although it looks like a plank. I tried stock and two different aftermarket seats on the 1100. Neither was truly to my liking.

Riding for extended periods is not an issue with the bike, more whether I am conditioned and stretched well before the ride. Just like my other bikes.

[Fenring]

The suspension is excellent, comfortable, but not soft. The only thing I noticed is that on longer rides my shoulders start to feel sore, probably because my reach is not long enough to be able to completely relax my arms, so I'm stretching them too much, especially when the tankbag is on the tank. I'm 5'8".

[BMathison]

6' and 175lbs -
Have put 6 - 8 weekends of 1100+ miles on mine. As long as I take a break every 100 miles or so, I can keep going. The only part that finally gets to me is the seat after that 100 miles or so. Of course I couldn't sit in any chair for more than an hour and not have to move around or get up. I had a Corbin on my last sport tourer and that didn't seem to be much better, so I will be keeping the stock seat for right now.

With only a throttle rocker, my shoulders or wrists don't bother me. I ride 250 to 350 mile rides on various weekends and arrive back at the house ready to go on another.

My only complaint - As Roloo mentioned, the thin grips. I really need to get out there and swap them out for something with a little cushion. Just lazy about it I guess. (Or too many projects.)

Right now, it is my "Do it all" bike.

[shreddr]

i agree with most of you here, the R12 for me is in every way better than the R11, comfort and performance, i hated the stock R11 seat, but liked the Corbin I had on it although it weighed 20 pounds, the R12 stock seat is great! The R11 always felt really top heavy to me, sometimes i was afraid i was gonna drop it over at low speeds and i am 6' 185lbs. the Ohlins susp on the R12 is way better than the Wilbers i had on the R11, and a few orders of magnitude better than the "sport" BCR shocks. the grips are thin, but i am actually getting used to them. my only thoughts for modifications ergonomics wise, would be rear sets like the new HP-2 is gonna come with to keep the shifter and brake pedal in proximity to my foot when using a more aggressive foot position on the footpeg. i doubt i will ever do a 3000 mile trip anytime soon, but i am guessing i could do a 500 mile day onthe R12 with minimal aches and pains, probably just like the R11 but i would be having much more fun on the R12!

[dradylee]

I did about 51K on my R11S. Only comfort mod was a really teriffic Sargent seat. The stock seat on the R12S, while not a Sargent, really does not need replacing. R12S comfort overall just as good as thr R11S, and much better when you turn up the pace.

[vanzen]

new 12S owner for 1.5 months, 3,500 miles.
54 yearsold, 170lbs, a shade under 6'0".

recently completed a trip to visit some friends in Oklahoma USA.
distance from the District #8 old stone school house, (home)
to the *** homestead in the Kiamichi Mountains is 1,128.4 miles.

after a liesurely trip to that location,
the return home was a long Sunday ride of 16hrs, gas stops included, and straight through.

comfort is a personal and relative term ... the 12S passed my shakedown test.

[signit98]

Side to Side... I find the 11S considerably more comfortable... but it's a different bike with a different orientation! So, it's not apples to apples...

The first two rides where somewhat comfortable, but my a$$ DID hurt after about 100 miles or so... with the Corbin on the 11 I have done 550+ mile days with NO ISSUES at all...

Yet, I did not buy this bike for touring...

5'10", 46 years young and in decent shape...