Went out for a wee play yesterday.... K1200S v R1200S
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:59 am
Hi all,
Not wanting to upset the site, but the weather has been perfect for riding these last few day around Sydney. So I took the opportunity to wander up the 'Old Road' from Sydney's northern suburbs to Gosford via the Pacific Highway to hit the new-ish BMW dealer (typical corporate jobbie with cars as well - even the bike salesmen don't like the car wankers!) for a back to back test ride on the K1200S and R1200S.
Lovely ride up on the 11S, filling at the south end at a servo where many meet. There was a large contingent of Ullyses (Grow Old Disgracefully) members there on a club ride readying for departure. Quick check of tyre pressures, declined an invite to join, and we're off. Took a while to get through them but once away had clear sailing up to the dealer. Not too quick initially as I was sussing out potential plod hiding holes.
Here's the route. Half the corners are not shown but you get the idea. Most are successive 45 or 55km/h and the speed limit has been dropped to 60km/h - it is a tourist route afterall! This is the top or north end showing where I test rode.
I'll preface the following with this. I tried to be reasonably sensible with the nonsensical speed limit and limit the upper end to 100km/h where I could stretch out a little. The K would have it over the R in outright slingshotting so I wanted to even the comparison (and hopefully save myself automatic loss of license with a little 'persuasion'
) 100 was about the top end... well maybe 110.
Worthington's demo R is one of the Nemo jobs. If I was a clown fish I'd be in love. Honest. ABS, Ohlins, Sportec M1 190 rear, Remus end can. About as kitted as you can buy here, currently.
A little settling in on the boring section for the first 4 k's southbound then into the initial 55km/h corners. Look down 105 km/h. Ohhh. Better keep an eye on that. BTW, the Remus is burbling beautifully away...
The cornering on slightly choppy reducing radius (copyrighted DMR/RTA build spec) corners and the two sweepers (if you can call 45 and 55km/h bends sweepers) was flawless. Seriousy, if they has a standard suspended demo (or any - all their floor stock is Ohlin's equipped) I would have taken it out to try as well. This thing seriously mumboed over the at times less than ideal road surface and I found myself going into corners over 10km/h faster than on the 11S fitted with Pilot Sports I know quite well.
A stop at The Road Warrior Cafe near Mount White for a long black (Café Léger) and a talk to some interested parties it was retracing of the route northbound. Again, no traffic of consequence was encountered and equal fun, if not more, was had on the return trip.
Time to take the K out. Yellow/graphite with Remus end pipe, ABS, ESA and hard bags! Pretty well stock apart from the pipe.
Competent. The same route taken southbound had me travelling between 10-15km/h slower than the R. Don't know what it was but couldn't get into the groove with it. Awesome motor, far more flexible than the R's which seemed to bog down in the 2500-3500 range and required more gear changing to keep it moving well. Maybe it was the Remus on the R?
Anywho... took a little getting used to unlike the R which I just hopped on and took near to the edge of the tyres from the outset. The return trip had me moving somewhat faster (Calga - F3 interchange at 88.1 av.) after two foiled attempts thanks to cars. Left foot down a couple of times on the unimpeded return trip.
In summary: Hard to say. Of course having more time on each would better acquaint me to their pros and cons.
The K. Plenty of fairing (so has my KRS) and lots of goodies and that K motor is magic. Everwhere in 6th not a problem unless you need to stop. In fact, save a kg or two and remove 1st, 3rd and 5th. Comfy, pillion friendly, has luggage available, and has that whizz-bang trip computer. The on-the-fly suspension adjustment is neat, though, but maybe a little too, dare I say, Japanese. I could say pedestrian but it's got wheels.
The R. Takes a bit of getting used to the look of it. Shades of 11S but something not quite right. I think it's side view and how they have dealt with the forward fairing. The back end on the other hand is sweet.
The Nemo scheme... nah. Apologies in advance if you have bought one but it's leaves me a bit cold, or maybe tropical would better way to describe it. Mind, when sitting on top it's not too bad.
The seat looks uncomfortable but suprisingly isn't (to me). Overall it's a neat, tight package and you can feel the weight loss program has worked well and I felt the stability was as good as the 11S where I was riding it.
The differences between them.... weight. Pillion comfort. And price.
I'd rather be manuevering 200kg than 230kg in and out of the shed. Nikk's SV is a doddle - like a bicycle by comparison.
Pillion comfort is mute, really. Nikk has her SV and if we have to opportunity to have Jackson minded, we'd prefer to get out on two bikes rather than one. We'll not be doing any long distance two-up riding in the foreseeable future so it's not important.
Price. The list is just over 5K dearer for the K over the non-ABS R (1500 less difference with ABS) on the road. Yes, you are getting more motorcycle for your money with the K but do I need to spend that? The 11S and KRS will both go and be replaced by one and the left over for Nikk's SV replacement. Nikk's curvy SV will probably be replaced by an '07 SV650S (or maybe a F800S?) or maybe a firesale 06 model (available in any colour as long as it's red!).
The choice of colours for the Beemers? Yellow/graphite for the K12S. No argument unless a keenly priced ex demo blue/white unit with all the fruit (incl Remus) comes up at Procycles (hint hint). The blue and silver are a little boring to me.
The R12S. Black (how original!) but the yellow is a definite possibility.
Wothington's have made a tempting offer on any of the R1200S floor stock. As mentioned above, all floor stock have Ohlins and 190 rears. Two yellows one with, one without, ABS. One black sans ABS, one silver with ABS. I mentioned black rims on the black would be nice. No problem - swap the non-ABS yellow's black rims out. Silver would work on the yellow. No charge. Want the black in ABS, too? We may charge you shop time for swapping the body panels between the yellow ABS and black. At least the wheels can stay on that machine.
AU$21500 ride away non-ABS, AU$23K with. That's with Ohlins and 190 rear. Didn't ask about the K....
I'm heading off to Procycles in Hornsby in a week or two to do the south end of the 'Old Road' on their demos. Both theirs have Remus rear ends and the R has Ohlins and a 190 rear as well. Bugger. More suburban riding getting to and from the playground which should give a better idea of average daily riding here in Sydney.
Decisions, decisions....
Not wanting to upset the site, but the weather has been perfect for riding these last few day around Sydney. So I took the opportunity to wander up the 'Old Road' from Sydney's northern suburbs to Gosford via the Pacific Highway to hit the new-ish BMW dealer (typical corporate jobbie with cars as well - even the bike salesmen don't like the car wankers!) for a back to back test ride on the K1200S and R1200S.
Lovely ride up on the 11S, filling at the south end at a servo where many meet. There was a large contingent of Ullyses (Grow Old Disgracefully) members there on a club ride readying for departure. Quick check of tyre pressures, declined an invite to join, and we're off. Took a while to get through them but once away had clear sailing up to the dealer. Not too quick initially as I was sussing out potential plod hiding holes.
Here's the route. Half the corners are not shown but you get the idea. Most are successive 45 or 55km/h and the speed limit has been dropped to 60km/h - it is a tourist route afterall! This is the top or north end showing where I test rode.
I'll preface the following with this. I tried to be reasonably sensible with the nonsensical speed limit and limit the upper end to 100km/h where I could stretch out a little. The K would have it over the R in outright slingshotting so I wanted to even the comparison (and hopefully save myself automatic loss of license with a little 'persuasion'
) 100 was about the top end... well maybe 110.
Worthington's demo R is one of the Nemo jobs. If I was a clown fish I'd be in love. Honest. ABS, Ohlins, Sportec M1 190 rear, Remus end can. About as kitted as you can buy here, currently.
A little settling in on the boring section for the first 4 k's southbound then into the initial 55km/h corners. Look down 105 km/h. Ohhh. Better keep an eye on that. BTW, the Remus is burbling beautifully away...
The cornering on slightly choppy reducing radius (copyrighted DMR/RTA build spec) corners and the two sweepers (if you can call 45 and 55km/h bends sweepers) was flawless. Seriousy, if they has a standard suspended demo (or any - all their floor stock is Ohlin's equipped) I would have taken it out to try as well. This thing seriously mumboed over the at times less than ideal road surface and I found myself going into corners over 10km/h faster than on the 11S fitted with Pilot Sports I know quite well.
A stop at The Road Warrior Cafe near Mount White for a long black (Café Léger) and a talk to some interested parties it was retracing of the route northbound. Again, no traffic of consequence was encountered and equal fun, if not more, was had on the return trip.
Time to take the K out. Yellow/graphite with Remus end pipe, ABS, ESA and hard bags! Pretty well stock apart from the pipe.
Competent. The same route taken southbound had me travelling between 10-15km/h slower than the R. Don't know what it was but couldn't get into the groove with it. Awesome motor, far more flexible than the R's which seemed to bog down in the 2500-3500 range and required more gear changing to keep it moving well. Maybe it was the Remus on the R?
Anywho... took a little getting used to unlike the R which I just hopped on and took near to the edge of the tyres from the outset. The return trip had me moving somewhat faster (Calga - F3 interchange at 88.1 av.) after two foiled attempts thanks to cars. Left foot down a couple of times on the unimpeded return trip.
In summary: Hard to say. Of course having more time on each would better acquaint me to their pros and cons.
The K. Plenty of fairing (so has my KRS) and lots of goodies and that K motor is magic. Everwhere in 6th not a problem unless you need to stop. In fact, save a kg or two and remove 1st, 3rd and 5th. Comfy, pillion friendly, has luggage available, and has that whizz-bang trip computer. The on-the-fly suspension adjustment is neat, though, but maybe a little too, dare I say, Japanese. I could say pedestrian but it's got wheels.
The R. Takes a bit of getting used to the look of it. Shades of 11S but something not quite right. I think it's side view and how they have dealt with the forward fairing. The back end on the other hand is sweet.
The Nemo scheme... nah. Apologies in advance if you have bought one but it's leaves me a bit cold, or maybe tropical would better way to describe it. Mind, when sitting on top it's not too bad.
The seat looks uncomfortable but suprisingly isn't (to me). Overall it's a neat, tight package and you can feel the weight loss program has worked well and I felt the stability was as good as the 11S where I was riding it.
The differences between them.... weight. Pillion comfort. And price.
I'd rather be manuevering 200kg than 230kg in and out of the shed. Nikk's SV is a doddle - like a bicycle by comparison.
Pillion comfort is mute, really. Nikk has her SV and if we have to opportunity to have Jackson minded, we'd prefer to get out on two bikes rather than one. We'll not be doing any long distance two-up riding in the foreseeable future so it's not important.
Price. The list is just over 5K dearer for the K over the non-ABS R (1500 less difference with ABS) on the road. Yes, you are getting more motorcycle for your money with the K but do I need to spend that? The 11S and KRS will both go and be replaced by one and the left over for Nikk's SV replacement. Nikk's curvy SV will probably be replaced by an '07 SV650S (or maybe a F800S?) or maybe a firesale 06 model (available in any colour as long as it's red!).
The choice of colours for the Beemers? Yellow/graphite for the K12S. No argument unless a keenly priced ex demo blue/white unit with all the fruit (incl Remus) comes up at Procycles (hint hint). The blue and silver are a little boring to me.
The R12S. Black (how original!) but the yellow is a definite possibility.
Wothington's have made a tempting offer on any of the R1200S floor stock. As mentioned above, all floor stock have Ohlins and 190 rears. Two yellows one with, one without, ABS. One black sans ABS, one silver with ABS. I mentioned black rims on the black would be nice. No problem - swap the non-ABS yellow's black rims out. Silver would work on the yellow. No charge. Want the black in ABS, too? We may charge you shop time for swapping the body panels between the yellow ABS and black. At least the wheels can stay on that machine.
AU$21500 ride away non-ABS, AU$23K with. That's with Ohlins and 190 rear. Didn't ask about the K....
I'm heading off to Procycles in Hornsby in a week or two to do the south end of the 'Old Road' on their demos. Both theirs have Remus rear ends and the R has Ohlins and a 190 rear as well. Bugger. More suburban riding getting to and from the playground which should give a better idea of average daily riding here in Sydney.
Decisions, decisions....
- (thats why I'm up in the middle of the night.)
