[SYKOTYK]

I picked up my Granite Grey K1200S late Friday evening, and only put about 40 miles on it before I took it home. I kept out running the headlight and it was dark that night. First impressions where very good. Took it out Saturday with my wife and put on about 100 miles. Very good handling riding two up. I took it out Sunday morning alone on some of my favorite roads. Seeing as I live in motorcycle heaven, I can go in any direction and hit a twisty road in about 5 minutes or less.

Here's what I felt:
Even though it is longer, taller and heavier than the busa you would never even now it was a 1200cc bike. It felt more like my old 929 and I think it even handled better. I took off this morning in just blue jeans, boots and a jacket because I didn't want to get too stupid on the thing since I needed to get used to the bike. And with bedding in the brakes and scrubbing the tires, I figured just a nice easy pace was reasonable.
That didn't last very long, before I knew it I was leaning a little farther, setting up a little faster and I kept having to remind myself that I was not dressed for this kind of action.
It doesn't have the low down launching tork of the busa, but I don't really need that. I was finding myself at first, oversteering because I was used to having to pull the busa down into the corners. This bike just falls in like it is happier there than driving in a straight line. It is very confidence inspiring and felt like I was on rails no matter how fast I was going. The brakes are great, but the servo assist will take a little getting used too. The ESA is the greatest thing on the planet. The seat may be a little too soft as I felt like I had to lift myself out to move around. But Saturday with the wife it was great for just cruising around.

Here is my one complaint abut this bike. I use alot of engine braking when I am running the canyons so that I don't have to use the brakes as much. The injectors kick back on at 2700 rpm it is kind of unsettling as I am setting up for a corner. It is almost like you would pull in the clutch and just freewheel. But I am sure I will get used to it.

Other than that this has got to be the best bike I have ever owned. Once my Remus pipe gets here I can get rid of the monster they decided to put on the side. I love this bike....

[ReaperAZ]

Sharp lookin bike for sure. I saw a guy and his wife on one this past weekend and it's one of the better looking BMW's I've seen for sure.

[abtech]

"Here is my one complaint abut this bike. I use alot of engine braking when I am running the canyons so that I don't have to use the brakes as much. The injectors kick back on at 2700 rpm it is kind of unsettling as I am setting up for a corner. It is almost like you would pull in the clutch and just freewheel. But I am sure I will get used to it."

The engine is for accelerating, the brakes are for slowing it down . . .

[bwhip]

VERY nice bike! Congrats on the new ride...

[CVegas]

Thats a sweet bike, isn't that BMW's first attempt at a non-parallel twin?

[SYKOTYK]

Originally Posted by abtech

"Here is my one complaint abut this bike. I use alot of engine braking when I am running the canyons so that I don't have to use the brakes as much. The injectors kick back on at 2700 rpm it is kind of unsettling as I am setting up for a corner. It is almost like you would pull in the clutch and just freewheel. But I am sure I will get used to it."

The engine is for accelerating, the brakes are for slowing it down . . .

Thanks abtech, but i'm not racing either. I can never seem to get the timing right with the brakes applied. I either let them go too early or too late. These brakes are incredible so maybe I will actually try and use them once in a while.

CVegas, BMW has had inline fours out for many years. This is their first attempt at anything resembling a sport bike. As long as the technology works, they did an awesome job.

[Serial Thriller]

It seems like a great bike. It's definitely the best looking bike BMW has put out IMO. I'm glad they decided to put their resources into making a badass sportbike. Can you imagine "testing" it on the Autobahn?

[Baketech]

Great bike...

It will easily roll away from a stock 929...

Congrats Rich, nice looking bike!

[EDDIE110171]

Good looking bike!

[ReaperAZ]

At least you are calling it by it's "appropriate" name. I got yelled at by a co-worker for calling his Beemer a Bimmer. Won't make that mistake again.

[Mo Noyz]

The wheelbase of the bike and the Pilot in the background aren't that far apart!!

[rumpy]

Looks Smart
Can`t wait to see it with ya Remus installed

[oldgoat]

Great looking bike.

[Getsome]

Nice. I have a friend who is about to buy one of those. Gonna have to talk him into switching with me for a little bit one day in the mountains.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

The wheelbase of the bike and the Pilot in the background aren't that far apart!!

Scary part is I think thats an LX470 eek.

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by CVegas

Thats a sweet bike, isn't that BMW's first attempt at a non-parallel twin?

Where you bin?
BMW have been producing boxer engine since the year dot. I'm not sure they've ever produced a parallel twin. And they've been producing the K 4 and 3 cylinder engines since 1983. They are mounted like a car engine laid on its side. What is different (for BMW) about the K1200S engine is that it is mounted pretty much like a Fireblade engine except inclined 55 degrees forward at the top.

But what is really radical is the front suspension on this bike. How are you finding it through the bumpy twisties Sykotyk?

[cbr99xx]

... My dream bike!!!!

You can't imagine how long I drooled over this bike at the International M'cycle show this year.

Now... When is the next Lotto South draw??

BMW pushing the Bus? (don't look Chain)

[SYKOTYK]

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Scary part is I think thats an LX470 eek.

Close, it's a GX470. And it's about 8 feet away from the bike.

RP, I took it to one of my favorite roads today, put it in sport mode and it is stiff but still stuck to the road like glue. Then on the way home I put it in comfort mode and enjoyed a nice smooth ride on the freeway. You can see the paralever dancing up and down but you don't feel a thing.

[G-Force Junkie]

Good lookin' scoot Now update your profile

[RPinOZ]

Originally Posted by SYKOTYK

RP, I took it to one of my favorite roads today, put it in sport mode and it is stiff but still stuck to the road like glue. Then on the way home I put it in comfort mode and enjoyed a nice smooth ride on the freeway. You can see the paralever dancing up and down but you don't feel a thing.

Nice. Sounds very tempting. Unfortunately I don't have a spare large wad of cash sitting about.
My bike is in sport mode all the time. If I want comfort mode I have to stand on the pegs

[Getsome]

Originally Posted by RPinOZ

Nice. Sounds very tempting. Unfortunately I don't have a spare large wad of cash sitting about.
My bike is in sport mode all the time. If I want comfort mode I have to stand on the pegs

no doubt.... how much did that thing cost again?

[doct0rxnick]

That's a hot macine!

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/k1200s/index.jsp

[jaim]

Nice bike. Do you ever plan on taking that thing to the track? I would definitely love to hear how it handles running hard around a track.

[RPinOZ]

Looking at the specs it looks like a very capable, attractive and comfortable package for long distance fast riding.
But with a (Japan standard) dry weight of 221kgs compared to 168kgs for the 954 I think a well set up 954 is going to be less work and more fun to punt hard through the tight stuff. So that is some consolation for one who hasn't got the wherewithal for the "Rolls Royce".

[oldfogey]

Looks good, sounds as if you're enjoying it too. Certainly an interesting bike: I look forward to hearing over time how that technology works out .