It's sort of caught in the middle of so many things....it's not a SuperMotard, nor a superbike.
It's not a tourer or even a commuter
It's not a poseur or a tarty farkler, nor an
objet d'art that could be parked in your living room as a very cool thing to fondle like some bikes are (to some)
It's not an offroader or a 'fun' bike
It has no luggage capacity nor pillion appeal
No, bikes do not 'have' to be 'for' anything, but it helps when they have at least some purpose or role to fulfill
If you are in the really nice position of being able to enjoy it for what it is, that's great, and more power to your elbow
but otherwise, I honestly don't get what it's for.
Sorry, Fanum - you are missing the point a bit, and obviously haven't ridden the r1200r, and appear to have completely forgotten the fact that all motorcycles are unnecessary - we ride em because we love to ride em - simple!
No, it's not a supermotard -
But it goes like one - will lift the front in third - seriously frit me up the first time I gave mine a big handful.
It's not a super bike - but has 110 BHP, and will out drag many "superbikes" to a ton with consummate ease ( I did it so many times it was embarrassing) but it hasn't got the maintenance burden of a super bike.
It's not a tourer - no, but would you want the weight of the r1200rt to lug around? Besides, panniers are available
It's not a commuter - sorry, wrong again, it's a great commuter - narrower bars and 17" front, very low CoG - really quick and precise turn in - great for the commute - I loved mine.
It's not a poseur??? Sorry mate, you lost me there, I think it's a very nice clean looking bike - in fussy and uncomplicated No oil painting, no gorgeous nine-t, but I liked its simplicity - my new gs looks like a tart in comparison.
No, it's not an offroader - but how many people do take an RT off-road, or a GS for that matter? For serious off-roading, you don't buy a 1200 - and before I get lots of complaints - I've raced off road, and have ridden my 1150 off road too.
It's not a fun bike - boy, you really haven't had a go on one, have you?
Unlike the previous R's the R1200r has the more powerful engine of the RT, but with a lot less weight, 17" wheels off an rt - it's not fun - it's huge fun - in the first two gears, you have to work to keep the front end down, then throught third and fourth, you are playing a frantic game of catchup with the gears, and the top end is a very satisfying 145mph plus ( on private roads ).
Dare I say it on this forum - it handles better than the LC gs. The r1200r is a fabulous tool for scratching around the countryside.
It has no luggage capacity? - only the same panniers as the RT, and a 25 litre top box! There was a downside though - with the panniers loaded up, you could get the front up in 4th!
No pillion appeal - does it sound like I care - I don't do the pillion thing.
All in, the r1200r is an absolutely storming bike, better handling than the r1200s or GS, better acceleration than all but the r1200s, a nice relaxed top gear (1000rpm less in top gear at 70 than the gs). It has a longer tank range than my 13 GSLC, and I regularly got 48 to 50mpg ragging it senseless.
With the R1200R, BMW designed it to be a naked bike from the very start. It wasn't a de-frocked RT or RS that it was previously.
It was designed from the ground up, and in doing so, BMW created something very special and in a class of its own in many ways.
In comparison, the competition either felt inadequate and plastic, or simply didn't ride right.
The only downside for me was the lack of wind protection. Some will cope with the small screen, but I couldn't bear to fit a carbuncle of an aftermarket screen onto such a clean smooth design of bike - it would make me hate the bike if I did.
The R1100GS was scoffed at by many when it was originally released - who on earth would want to ride such a rediculous machine?
With a beak? How silly! Why try and sell an everyday bike with such a high saddle - how daft of BMW. And a 19" front tyre - this will surely be a niche bike, and won't sell.
We all know how wrong the pundits were.
Before you make the same mistake and relegate the R1200R into the "dull naked bike, it's not a GS So it must be crap" division, I dare you to take one out for a test ride, and not come back grinning. BMW created a bit of a nutters tool - but the nutters haven't realised it exists yet!
The r1200r is one seriously underrated bike, it's got serious handling, serious performance, serious brakes, and ( apart from the wind blast) was seriously comfortable - and has a sensible seat height.
It will be interesting to see if BMW put the LC motor in it, with the dynamic suspension - if they do, it'll be even better.
Fix the wind blast with a half fairing or screen that looks nice, and they might even get me off the GS and back onto an R.
Mike.