I've done big miles on a 1100, 1150's and now a 1200. The illusion of lack of grunt in the 1200 is, in my opinion, just due to the fact the power comes in with a kick at 5500rpm after a pretty ordinary power deliver at lower revs whereas the earlier bikes had the feel of having a much flatter torque curve which gave an impression of turbine like limitless grunt from tickover to red line. If you were able to somehow tune-out the kick at 5500rpm I reckon you'd think you were riding the earlier bikes, it's just a case of what you get used to, and therfore very subjective.
Ever ridden a tiny two stroke? even 15bhp feels epic when it all comes in with a bang even though trucks are out-dragging you.
There's no getting away from the figures that show the 1200 is making more power and is significantly lighter so it simply must accelerate harder - as long as you are revving it. It may be the reluctance to do this is why some owners prefer the low down grunt of the 1150 in particular which therefore 'feels' more torquey.
I do miss the lazy top gear of the 1100/1150 on the motorway but there's no doubt that for me the 1200 is a far quicker bike on 'A' roads. For riders that are happy to cruise along and never really explore velocities above the national speed limit, or shy from driving the engine with a degree of verve and gusto I can again see why the 1200 could be seen as a bit flat, and in this respect BMW may alienate their traditional buyers, but that's progress, or at least where BM see their future market!
Finally, the gear-change does get smoother as the miles increase, as does the engine. Remus headers do seem to unleash more power but it they won't transform the bike into a torquier 1150, if anything they enhance the kick at the top end.
