Long term love - R1200S vs HP2S

[hawkeyejohn14]

I would take keep my 04 11S and get the HP2Sport, if it's either or, the R12S. I thought I would go back to a RT but the new ones don't feel right after riding an S. The bars seem to close and off road is all but out with degenerative disc in my neck and back. The shoulder gets fixed Friday, so hopefully that will help my riding, if not my S might be up for sale.

[squall_line]

Originally Posted by hawkeyejohn14

I would take keep my 04 11S and get the HP2Sport, if it's either or, the R12S. I thought I would go back to a RT but the new ones don't feel right after riding an S. The bars seem to close and off road is all but out with degenerative disc in my neck and back. The shoulder gets fixed Friday, so hopefully that will help my riding, if not my S might be up for sale.

I have a frankenstein 1100RT right now as a loaner while my bike gets an estimate for repairs from the parking lot incident. While I sincerely appreciate some of the updates and upgrades made to the bike (monoblock 6-piston front calipers, 6-speed transmission), the bike itself is WAY too mundane for my tastes now that I've had my S for almost 3 years.

I certainly appreciate a good fairing, but even on my old R1150RT, it was either get NO air at all, or get buffetted. The 650ST was a great bike, but chain maintenance and I don't get along that well, and the lack of a 6th gear eventually caused me to trade it when I started to commute on the interstate again. I love my S, and it has just enough of a body and windscreen to keep me comfortable without feeling like I'm pushing a barn door around.

I still miss my 650, though. Once I put a Corbin on it, it was one of the best bikes I ever owned.

First Moybin, and now you? Iowans are dropping like flies around here...

*sigh*

[hawkeyejohn14]

I am going to, the Doc said I should be much better. So I am hoping for the best, just preparing myself mentally for the sacrifice if I have to make it. I am hanging in there, anything will be better than the way it feels now.

[RC51DRAG]

Often when I've run into people who like the HP2 the next comment I get is that they wanted it but the R12GS suited them better. The other comments are why the same money (HP2) or in the case of the HP2S, these days, twice the money for the same performance?

This is often the case with flagship/special models. Ducati sells more monsters than they do the 9 and 10 series superbikes but its the superbike that often gets people in the door.

The HP2 and HP2S filled the same role for BMW - get people in the door and interested in BMW even if they ride out on another model.

The HP2S is closer to the R12S than the HP2 is to the 12GS and that's always been an issue for me when considering the HP2S but bottom line if you want the ultimate boxer sportbike its got to be the HP2S.

I've read on a Canadian racing forum for the Thunder series where the R12S and HP2S are raced that the lap time differential between them is likely 1-2 seconds. That is common among specials when they have an excellent base model. The R1LE was less than a second faster than the R1 at 2.5 times the price. It wasn't until TC on the 1098S that there was a significant performance differential ( a few more seconds in hand) over the base model and specials but look at the price you pay for that!

I'm considering the RC8R (BTW iirc I read on another site that the guy riding the RC8R in the same race(s) as Nate took the lap record), a used HP2S with more CF and full Akra (reduced by 10K) and a stock R12S. The R12S is also reduced by 10K and is the best deal but there is something about an exotic like the HP2S that might make me spring for it. I keep my bikes so a bookend set of HP models will look quite nice in the garage and living room today and tomorrow when they are really rare on the roads.

[OwenM]

Road riding enjoyment has little if anything to do with track lap times.
My 1098S was a race track weapon but for street use my Aprilia RSV1000R is a much better toy, both are way ahead of my R12S.

[Bob Hancock]

While I appreciate the motor in the HP2S I never liked the look of the fairing and the cost was out of line for what you get. So....was never really tempted by this bike. Right now the only bike I have that is NOT FOR SALE is the R12S. Now at 30,000 miles it just keeps getting better and I don't see any others on the road so it's kinda special. If I didn't have the R12R I'd be looking for an R12GS with the new engine. I was talking to a BMW Atlanta wrench the other day who was servicing a new GS Adventure and asked about the valves. He said they are easy to check and since they have a tolerance he hasn't had to adjust any yet. This includes Nate's race bike. So the 6k service would consist of checking the valves, finding them still in spec, and moving on to something else. I suspect it's gonna be the boxer motor to have. Sure hope they come out with another S model before I get too stove up to ride one.

[MaineRoads]

Originally Posted by RC51DRAG

I keep my bikes so a bookend set of HP models will look quite nice in the garage and living room today and tomorrow when they are really rare on the roads.

Thats my game plan eventually...all three HP!