Gearbox choice
All of the sales blurb (which is quoted verbatim by most so called reviews) talk of the wonderful close ratio 6 speed gearbox fitted to BMW 1200 range, with an especially close 5/6 speed change.
Wonderful if I am racing or on a track day.
Unfortuantely I do neither, and the gearbox ratios as standard are probably the worst roadgoing ratios ever fitted to a modern vehicle.
1st is so high that if I stop on a steep hill with a passenger when fully laden, I either "smoke" the clutch, or ask him to get off & walk to top of hill.
In sixth, the bike is revving it's nuts off when cruising.
A 3 speed gearbox would work as well as the current gearbox for normal road use, with ratios at 1st, one half way between 3rd & 4th, & sixth.
Not very nice, but it would save all the current demented gearchanging.
The 1100 had perfect 1st ratio for low speed use, & 5th was geared around the same as current 6th.
A higher top gear would make the bike even more economical than it is now, but BMW think they know better.
BMW - both cars & bikes are always geared crazy. It is the price you pay for owning one.
If you can get a bike with a lower geared first, take it.
Police bikes have a lower first - current ratios are unacceptable for traffic duty. Can suggest nothing regards the overall gearing though.
Myke.