Demoed a few bikes today

[shreddr]

As i waited at Max's for them to NOT fix my digital dash I had the opportunity to take a few bikes out. First up:

SKRR!



I didn't take it too far, maybe 15 minutes, but long enough to get the idea. first off it is SMALL you sit ON it, and reach DOWN for the bars, it almost feels like a mini bike in comparison to the R12S. down the road i go in SPORT mode, knees under my chin and hands near my ankles and for the most part this thing feels gutless. at 7000 rpm just a lot of buzz but no real frantic activity. i got it out on the highway and took it to redline in third and it finally came alive around 11,000 rpm, i was probably doing about 120. the bike is very reminiscent of the 125 two strokes i used to race, pretty much all or nothing. as i took it back to the shop i noticed there was quite a bit of heat coming from the bike, a perceptible amount, which i never notice on the R12S. i took it back to the showroom, content in the knowledge that i will never NEED one (meaning convince myself to buy one)

interestingly enough there was an SKRR in the service area that was in need of help, alot of help!




that #1 piston must have really grenaded, the rod had quite a kink in it, and the intake was full of metal chips!


i next took out a 2011 R1200RT. the seating position is very comfortable, and the saddle composition is nice and firm. i actually liked the saddle on the SKRR as well, i need to do something about the R12S saddle, but anyway. the RT feels big because it is, and the fairing lowers whack your shins when your feet are on the ground, wierd! there are all kinds of do dads on the bike; radio, electric windshield etc... i played with the radio, but radio and wind noise are a crappy mix. i played with the windshield and i either got turbulence from the shield or my helmet, but it was far from a silent ride. the motor is very torquey, but nothing to write home about, and certainly doesn't have the snap of my bike. the handlebars are a little strange, and the whole thing feels bulky. i actually had the sensation i was riding a Bergman or some kind of big scooter. after about 20 minutes i took that back, and although that riding position would probably be easier on my hip, it is a BIG tradeoff from what i am riding now!

i didn't take a GS out, but my guess is that it would have been similar to the RT. They didn't have a demo HP2S but they did have 2 on the floor, although one might be the lemon that just sold.

the HP2S is beautiful, the blue is darker in person than pictures, i actually don't care for it, but it is lightly pearlescent. the CF is gorgeous, and the top triple clamp is offset almost 3" down from the R12S, i am thinking that it might be tough on my hip joints if i had one.

so, bottom line, it appears that the best bike for me in the BMW line-up is the one i currently own! what luck!

[jaytee]

Kinda the same thoughts I have had especially since I want to be able to commute as well. Until BMW builds a new stripped down sport boxer with bags and a reasonable seating position I am all about the S.

[Guest24]

i need to do something about the R12S saddle

Yeah, it works great if you have an a$$ shaped like a triangle.

[chewie]

lucky there wasn't one of these laying about

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by shreddr

1) i next took out a 2011 R1200RT.

2) the seating position is very comfortable, and the saddle composition is nice and firm.

3) the fairing lowers whack your shins when your feet are on the ground

4) there are all kinds of do dads on the bike; radio, electric windshield etc... i played with the radio, but radio and wind noise are a crappy mix.

5) i played with the windshield and i either got turbulence from the shield or my helmet, but it was far from a silent ride.

6) the motor is very torquey, but nothing to write home about, and certainly doesn't have the snap of my bike.

7) the handlebars are a little strange, and the whole thing feels bulky.

8) i actually had the sensation i was riding a Bergman or some kind of big scooter.

...first of all you need more than 20 minutes to get used to a bike...
...take the RT out for a couple of days ; and you'll love it...


1) good choice

2) and with a set of Touratech seats it's even better

3) don't recognize that

4) had a radio on my former 1150RT ; and decided a radio on a bike is completely useless, and therefor I didn't had one on the red RT.

5) get another helmet ; we both use BMW Sportintegral (silver on the RT, and red one on the S... ) helmets, and they are very quiet

6) the RT was never designed to be a sport bike, so the engine set up is very different. I must say, I like the new DOHC motor

7) strange...

8) a Bergman is a small RT...

[Noblehops]

The GS is totally unlike the RT. Night and day.

N.

[Kieran R1100S]

why not try the R12R?

[2wheelmike]

Originally Posted by shreddr

down the road i go in SPORT mode, knees under my chin and hands near my ankles and for the most part this thing feels gutless. at 7000 rpm just a lot of buzz but no real frantic activity. i got it out on the highway and took it to redline in third and it finally came alive around 11,000 rpm

I guess they wouldn't let you take it out in RACE mode. That could very well contribute to the gutless feeling. Kinda like an R12S at 3k rpm.

[zx9rmal]

Shred, shred, shred........S1KRR gutless? YOU WERE IN THE WRONG MODE, MAN!!!!

If you would have had the thing in slick mode, you WOULD have possibly scared yourself above 9K rpm, and the bike is very lively below that. As torquey (in ft.- lbs.) as a twin down low? No, but no matter because even with lower torque numbers down low, the acceleration is stronger because of the much lower gearing. Check out the 60-80 and 80-100 roll on times in the published tests. Both UNDER 3 seconds, unlike the R12S or HP2S, as well as most, if not all, the other sport twins. 60 mph on the S1KRR is just over 4K rpm, hardly peaky I would say.

Come on down this winter and ride mine for the day. A touring bike it's not, but.....

[MaineRoads]

C'mon, The guy is trying to talk himself into not liking bikes while his is being worked on. Perfectly understandable but very dangerous.

[zx9rmal]

Originally Posted by MaineRoads

C'mon, The guy is trying to talk himself into not liking bikes while his is being worked on. Perfectly understandable but very dangerous.

Good one Steve. BTW, hoping to visit Maine in August for some lobster. Unfortunately, NOT on the bike.

[poldar12s]

Originally Posted by RoLoo

...first of all you need more than 20 minutes to get used to a bike...
6) the RT was never designed to be a sport bike, so the engine set up is very different. I must say, I like the new DOHC motor

But our motorcycle cop on RT chased from nowhere and gave my two canyon rider buddies on Duc for tickets doing 93 mph at the twisties. Perhaps it is designed to catch sportbike riders.

[shreddr]

i could switch modes, but i left it in sport not sure how race is gonna add any torque. i am guessing i could come to an understanding with the SKRR engine but the riding position is a definite no!

how different is the GS from the RT? don't they share the same engine and ergos?

as an FYI Max was taking out a full tilt GS, Wossner pistons and rods, ECU rewrite, and full Akra Ti race exhaust. it sounded like my bike going down the road!

maybe that is what i need?

[zx9rmal]

Shred -

Totally different throttle response. Again, IMHO, the roll on times tell the torque story. Nonetheless, I still want another sport twin......a nice watercooled, DOHC, R13xxS would do nicely. Where (when) do I sign?

[2wheelmike]

Originally Posted by shreddr

i could switch modes, but i left it in sport not sure how race is gonna add any torque.

It's traction control. That's EXACTLY what it's supposed to do!

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by 2wheelmike

It's traction control. That's EXACTLY what it's supposed to do!

i think you may be confused on how DTC works, it engages WHEN the wheel loses traction, depending on the mode it kicks in sooner. here is an explanation.


How does it work?

BMW
BMW's S1000RR has the most complex TC system on a current road bike. It has a number of different power modes to suit wet conditions: road use, normal track use and riding with slick tire fitments. In addition, it has a lean angle sensor so the ECU has more of an idea about the actual conditions and situation.

The system has two approaches depending on how far the bike is leaned over. When the bike is mostly upright, the ride-by-wire throttle system allows normal throttle performance, and if any rear wheel spin is detected it then retards the ignition to reduce torque and stop the spin.

But from 38-53 degrees (depending which mode you're in), the system actually reduces the amount of throttle that the ride-by-wire will allow, thus reducing the chance that the tire will spin in the first place.

The dash indicates the selected power mode, and different levels of traction control are applied depending on the selection.The system even acts to prevent wheelies (in certain modes) using the same underseat gyro that senses lean angle.

Read more: Traction Control Technology Explained - Super Streetbike Magazine

[RoLoo]

Originally Posted by poldar12s

But our motorcycle cop on RT chased from nowhere and gave my two canyon rider buddies on Duc for tickets doing 93 mph at the twisties. Perhaps it is designed to catch sportbike riders.

...never underestimate an RT...


...never...

[2wheelmike]

Originally Posted by shreddr

i think you may be confused on how DTC works, it engages WHEN the wheel loses traction, depending on the mode it kicks in sooner.

I *think* I understand it (without having ever ridden one), and the rest of your rebuttal makes my point. It might not be the bike for you and I think your mind was made up before you ever rode it. Like you, I'm happy with the R12S just fine-

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by 2wheelmike

I *think* I understand it (without having ever ridden one), and the rest of your rebuttal makes my point. It might not be the bike for you and I think your mind was made up before you ever rode it. Like you, I'm happy with the R12S just fine-

i actually was thinking i might have liked it, and i have been jonesing after the shine yellow one, but the riding position and lack of low-end really soured the deal. the linear way my bike comes on out of the turns and that exhaust note are going to be a hard combo to beat.

[Guest24]

I have no complaints about the two R12RT's I've owned. They do quite well in the twisties.