I've joined the R1200R fold after 6 years of GS. Had decided to go sensible for all the reasons pointed out in other threads. Resisted going down the K1300 path.
Collected my baby and rode home. It used to look something like this - may seem a bit familiar
R1200R 90 Anniversary
Now it's already been heavily modified to look like this. Spot the difference?
I arranged with this well respected bike removal chap to bring the bike from pastures South to pastures North
but a late change of plan saw it dropped off at the Keihan Pipework Emporium instead, where Mark and his team used it as the guinea pig for the 2013 model and saved a jig for future use.
So this beautiful shiny de-cat tubing is serial number 001. Nice work
It's not shiny any more as I endured almost 4 seasons riding 368 miles home.
I still can't believe it took 9 hours including a few stops to refuel me and the bike - and to thaw out. Fuck, it was cold on the fingers
Traffic on the M42 and M1 was horrendously queued back in places. Thank goodness for filtering. I've never filtered for so many miles. Only 1 twat in an S2000 decided he had to give me a toot.
In homage to all the rufty, tufty RTW types who,live on their bikes - on a cold and wet A1
So, what's the bike like after enjoying an 06 GS12?
Very good. Lighter. More easily handled.
More power. Seems turbine smooth in comparison with older engine. I never rode it with the standard pipe, but this one seems to run smoothly all through the rev range.
OK I haven't red lined it yet.
Mirrors vibrate and lose focus around 70.
There's an annoying reverberation from a panel or bracket around 4,500 RPM so I'll have to figure that out.
Hot grips are hotter than the S Thou I rode last week. Will be looking to add hand guards. Already have a radiator guard ready to fit.
Struggling to spot the difference between the 3 ESA Modes. Wasn't looking for an ESA bike, but will live with it till it breaks.
The handle bar button deals with the trip computer but I'd trade off the pointless instant mpg to be able to step through the trip miles - instead of hunting for the micro dot button beside the clocks which is pretty impossible on a dark night with wet gloves.
Quite a bit of wind noise which disappears if I stand up a few inches on the pegs so I'll have to try a higher or lower screen.
Headlight is very good. Beam was initially blinding low flying aircraft and this was pointed out by a kind Audi driver who flashed his rear fogs. But as it's a simple old fashioned headlamp mount, 3 or 4 tweaks later, i.e. grab and tilt, I had it set just right. Pity my thumb was losing the will to live as frostbite set in towards the end.
Can't wait to get an HID lamp in there.
Looks like 200 miles per tank will be easy, whereas I never trusted the GS to 200.
Will be hunting for top box and/or panniers. Crash bars of some sort.
But today's job is to dig it out of the garage it was thrown in late last night and give it a good clean.
Then I'll be ready for summer. Tell me summer is coming this year . . . .
Collected my baby and rode home. It used to look something like this - may seem a bit familiar
R1200R 90 Anniversary
Now it's already been heavily modified to look like this. Spot the difference?
I arranged with this well respected bike removal chap to bring the bike from pastures South to pastures North
but a late change of plan saw it dropped off at the Keihan Pipework Emporium instead, where Mark and his team used it as the guinea pig for the 2013 model and saved a jig for future use.
So this beautiful shiny de-cat tubing is serial number 001. Nice work
It's not shiny any more as I endured almost 4 seasons riding 368 miles home.
I still can't believe it took 9 hours including a few stops to refuel me and the bike - and to thaw out. Fuck, it was cold on the fingers
Traffic on the M42 and M1 was horrendously queued back in places. Thank goodness for filtering. I've never filtered for so many miles. Only 1 twat in an S2000 decided he had to give me a toot.
In homage to all the rufty, tufty RTW types who,live on their bikes - on a cold and wet A1
So, what's the bike like after enjoying an 06 GS12?
Very good. Lighter. More easily handled.
More power. Seems turbine smooth in comparison with older engine. I never rode it with the standard pipe, but this one seems to run smoothly all through the rev range.
OK I haven't red lined it yet.
Mirrors vibrate and lose focus around 70.
There's an annoying reverberation from a panel or bracket around 4,500 RPM so I'll have to figure that out.
Hot grips are hotter than the S Thou I rode last week. Will be looking to add hand guards. Already have a radiator guard ready to fit.
Struggling to spot the difference between the 3 ESA Modes. Wasn't looking for an ESA bike, but will live with it till it breaks.
The handle bar button deals with the trip computer but I'd trade off the pointless instant mpg to be able to step through the trip miles - instead of hunting for the micro dot button beside the clocks which is pretty impossible on a dark night with wet gloves.
Quite a bit of wind noise which disappears if I stand up a few inches on the pegs so I'll have to try a higher or lower screen.
Headlight is very good. Beam was initially blinding low flying aircraft and this was pointed out by a kind Audi driver who flashed his rear fogs. But as it's a simple old fashioned headlamp mount, 3 or 4 tweaks later, i.e. grab and tilt, I had it set just right. Pity my thumb was losing the will to live as frostbite set in towards the end.
Can't wait to get an HID lamp in there.
Looks like 200 miles per tank will be easy, whereas I never trusted the GS to 200.
Will be hunting for top box and/or panniers. Crash bars of some sort.
But today's job is to dig it out of the garage it was thrown in late last night and give it a good clean.
Then I'll be ready for summer. Tell me summer is coming this year . . . .
