I took an R1300RS out today

[EKIMYRF]

I took it out because I am working on a video where I am comparing the Guzzi V100S the R1200RS and now the R1300RS

So ahead of that I thought I might put my thoughts down with some pics

First off I currently don't ride a boxer but have ridden lots and owned an R1200GS (First one in South Australia) and an R1100S, I have ridden all variants from the R90S onwards in fact recently spent the day on a 1974 R90S at the Hereford on the Edge rally. So I do know Boxers.

I have previously tested the R1300GS wasn't blown away apart from the oooh its a bit clattery and wow it pulls wheelies.

However I took the new R1300RS out to day and I can honestly say its by far the best bike I have ever ridden, first impression on firing it up hmmm still clattery engine, but I ride an air-cooled Ducati and test lots of classic bikes so that isn't a problem to me (character ?)
In traffic its really easy to ride feels light and flickable, light clutch, good brakes etc etc

then get it out on some more open roads change the mode to Dynamic open it up and ........ bloody hell 150nm hits like a hammer, I had a K6 GSXR1000 over Easter (some may have seen my video) this RS would clobber it to 100mph (on a private road m'lord), but it accelerates in a genteel controlled manner, where the Gixxer has you effing and jeffing in your helmet this thing seems natural and it goes like a Saturn five off the launch pad .

The seating position (to me) seems fantastic I am 5,11 and never really got on with the old RS that bike had a weird peg bars seat triangle that I couldn't seem to get comfy with
The new one actually feels more relaxed (To me !)

The handling is superb I had it down some Cheshire A and B roads and no matter what I did it just felt planted, brakes also brilliant I over cooked it into a couple of corners and a stroke of the lever got everything back under control.

I took it on the A55 (the varicose vein of a road into Wales) and it sat at 70mph (ahem) with no buffeting

This thing is a tarmac devouring monster, it would blast you across Europe without a bother

So best bike I have ever ridden ... yep absolutely

If I had the money to spunk on one would I.... Naaah A V100S Mandello in that Tasty new red would get my dollar, why ? because the Guzzi has something that touches my soul




Video to follow

But Feck that RS is good

 

[wessie]

The seating position (to me) seems fantastic I am 5,11 and never really got on with the old RS that bike had a weird peg bars seat triangle that I couldn't seem to get comfy with

did you ride a standard one or are you referring to my old bike (still unsold) that had lowered pegs and raised bars?

 

[EKIMYRF]

did you ride a standard one or are you referring to my old bike (still unsold) that had lowered pegs and raised bars?

I have ridden a couple of standard ones
Yours actually feels like the new 1300 with better legroom with the lowered pegs

Is it still unsold ? Might make Sally a daft offer

 

[wessie]

I have ridden a couple of standard ones
Yours actually feels like the new 1300 with better legroom with the lowered pegs

Is it still unsold ? Might make Sally a daft offer

https://www.admotorcycles.co.uk/used-bikes/?filter_Make=BMW and no price reduction yet. Needs an MOT soon as Cotswold Motorrad just sent me a reminder.

 

[Mr Derek]

I found the seat, bars, pegs triangle odd too on the 1250RS. Got cramp in my hips and it's bloody painful. Mind you, I find most bikes do that to me nowadays. The only sports/tourer that was truly comfortable was my Super Duke GT and that had numerous electrical faults so wasn't kept. Adventure bikes with a shallower hip angle suit me better but I really wanted to like the RS. Perhaps lower pegs and higher bars would sort it but it's impossible to get a test ride on one fitted with them.

 

[EKIMYRF]

I found the seat, bars, pegs triangle odd too on the 1250RS. Got cramp in my hips and it's bloody painful. Mind you, I find most bikes do that to me nowadays. The only sports/tourer that was truly comfortable was my Super Duke GT and that had numerous electrical faults so wasn't kept. Adventure bikes with a shallower hip angle suit me better but I really wanted to like the RS. Perhaps lower pegs and higher bars would sort it but it's impossible to get a test ride on one fitted with them.

Try this now one I was surprised at the comfort

 

[wessie]

I found the seat, bars, pegs triangle odd too on the 1250RS. Got cramp in my hips and it's bloody painful. Mind you, I find most bikes do that to me nowadays. The only sports/tourer that was truly comfortable was my Super Duke GT and that had numerous electrical faults so wasn't kept. Adventure bikes with a shallower hip angle suit me better but I really wanted to like the RS. Perhaps lower pegs and higher bars would sort it but it's impossible to get a test ride on one fitted with them.

you might find a used one with the factory fitted tubular bars from the R version

or my old R1200RS is at A&D in Denbigh and that has both bar risers and raised pegs fitted.

 

[zoltan]

Got cramp in my hips and it's bloody painful.

Weird found the 1300 like that. Had a test ride on 3 different models and the same issue, crap in the right hip. The 1250 for me is super ergonomically, has tubular bars and raiser, HP foot pegs, Sport seat which is the highest. The only one I would have is one with the ASA. Two things. The difference between the 1250 & 1300 dynamically, engine it's not huge. Secondly the price. The ASA in black comes in at £18115 or £17710 in blue without any luggage or luggage grid. Add grid and luggage it jumps to £20231. So will stick to my 1250 Sport.

 

[PubLandlord]

I took it out because I am working on a video where I am comparing the Guzzi V100S the R1200RS and now the R1300RS

So ahead of that I thought I might put my thoughts down with some pics

First off I currently don't ride a boxer but have ridden lots and owned an R1200GS (First one in South Australia) and an R1100S, I have ridden all variants from the R90S onwards in fact recently spent the day on a 1974 R90S at the Hereford on the Edge rally. So I do know Boxers.

I have previously tested the R1300GS wasn't blown away apart from the oooh its a bit clattery and wow it pulls wheelies.

However I took the new R1300RS out to day and I can honestly say its by far the best bike I have ever ridden, first impression on firing it up hmmm still clattery engine, but I ride an air-cooled Ducati and test lots of classic bikes so that isn't a problem to me (character ?)
In traffic its really easy to ride feels light and flickable, light clutch, good brakes etc etc

then get it out on some more open roads change the mode to Dynamic open it up and ........ bloody hell 150nm hits like a hammer, I had a K6 GSXR1000 over Easter (some may have seen my video) this RS would clobber it to 100mph (on a private road m'lord), but it accelerates in a genteel controlled manner, where the Gixxer has you effing and jeffing in your helmet this thing seems natural and it goes like a Saturn five off the launch pad .

The seating position (to me) seems fantastic I am 5,11 and never really got on with the old RS that bike had a weird peg bars seat triangle that I couldn't seem to get comfy with
The new one actually feels more relaxed (To me !)

The handling is superb I had it down some Cheshire A and B roads and no matter what I did it just felt planted, brakes also brilliant I over cooked it into a couple of corners and a stroke of the lever got everything back under control.

I took it on the A55 (the varicose vein of a road into Wales) and it sat at 70mph (ahem) with no buffeting

This thing is a tarmac devouring monster, it would blast you across Europe without a bother

So best bike I have ever ridden ... yep absolutely

If I had the money to spunk on one would I.... Naaah A V100S Mandello in that Tasty new red would get my dollar, why ? because the Guzzi has something that touches my soul


View attachment 437907View attachment 437905View attachment 437906

Video to follow

But Feck that RS is good

Just picked up an ex-demo bike from Halliwell Jones in Chester, it could even be this bike you've tested. I'm 5'10" and the bike is super comfortable. Only ridden a couple of hundred miles so far and mostly in the wet so haven't had chance to give it a proper test. Looking forward to getting out on it properly.

 

[Smartbazza]

Just picked up an ex-demo bike from Halliwell Jones in Chester, it could even be this bike you've tested. I'm 5'10" and the bike is super comfortable. Only ridden a couple of hundred miles so far and mostly in the wet so haven't had chance to give it a proper test. Looking forward to getting out on it properly.

Any pics? I was looking at these on Thursday. Factory fit high bars look like ‘normal’ bars unless you see another bike beside it. I quite like the look of the r/s.

Barry

 

[EKIMYRF]

Just picked up an ex-demo bike from Halliwell Jones in Chester, it could even be this bike you've tested. I'm 5'10" and the bike is super comfortable. Only ridden a couple of hundred miles so far and mostly in the wet so haven't had chance to give it a proper test. Looking forward to getting out on it properly.

This is the one it was a fantastic thing

 

[PubLandlord]

This is the one it was a fantastic thing

That's the one, reg wasn't on your original post

 

[PubLandlord]

Any pics? I was looking at these on Thursday. Factory fit high bars look like ‘normal’ bars unless you see another bike beside it. I quite like the look of the r/s.

Barry

I think the optional high bars are the tubular ones. Wunderlich do a riser kit for the standard yoke mounted individual bars.
For pics of the bike see the original post as this is the bike I've now purchased.

 

[EKIMYRF]

I think the optional high bars are the tubular ones. Wunderlich do a riser kit for the standard yoke mounted individual bars.
For pics of the bike see the original post as this is the bike I've now purchased.

Wunderlich also do a conversion to tubular bars

 

[EKIMYRF]

That's the one, reg wasn't on your original post

Brilliant, you have a fantastic bike probably the best bike I have ever ridden
The only thing I wasn't keen on was the heated grip control (I struggled to turn it off, maybe I am a bit thick)
Apart from that is superb

I am currently working on a three way video, your 1300, Wessie's old 1200 and the Guzzi V100 S

 

[PubLandlord]

Brilliant, you have a fantastic bike probably the best bike I have ever ridden
The only thing I wasn't keen on was the heated grip control (I struggled to turn it off, maybe I am a bit thick)
Apart from that is superb

I am currently working on a three way video, your 1300, Wessie's old 1200 and the Guzzi V100 S

I'm somewhat impulsive and traded my '23 plate R9T in for it without ever having taken a test ride, love the boxer engine in all it's forms and the price was about the lowest in the country for a fully specced bike like this one. Think I made a good move
Personally I don't think heated grips are great on any bike, I much prefer heated gloves tbh. Also having the heated grip button on the right isn't such a great idea as getting to it can be awkward.
And BMW need to sort out illuminated switchgear too, but I guess that's another story
I'll look out for the video

 

[wessie]

Personally I don't think heated grips are great on any bike, I much prefer heated gloves tbh. Also having the heated grip button on the right isn't such a great idea as getting to it can be awkward.

you get used to it. It's not like using a cruise control button where you might want to operate it with the throttle open. Adjustments to the heated grips are not time critical, you can wait until a point where you have the throttle closed or the cruise control engaged. After a couple of winter rides I did not need to look for the switch and even with the bar muffs on, manged to prod it without much thought.

 

[wessie]

I am currently working on a three way video, your 1300, Wessie's old 1200 and the Guzzi V100 S

No jury will be needed to work out which is the prettiest of those three

 

[Smartbazza]

Wunderlich also do a conversion to tubular bars

I looked at two bikes side by side on Thursday evening, both 1300RS, and one had risers that were shaped identically but were c. 50mm higher (wish I'd taken photo). I believe the 1250RS got flat bars if you spec'd higher bars.

Barry

 

[Arsey]

I'm somewhat impulsive and traded my '23 plate R9T in for it without ever having taken a test ride, love the boxer engine in all it's forms and the price was about the lowest in the country for a fully specced bike like this one. Think I made a good move
Personally I don't think heated grips are great on any bike, I much prefer heated gloves tbh. Also having the heated grip button on the right isn't such a great idea as getting to it can be awkward.
And BMW need to sort out illuminated switchgear too, but I guess that's another story
I'll look out for the video

Enjoy the bike.
Can’t see BMW fitting backlit switchgear -there would be uproar on here as it removes some masculinity. You’re supposed to know where every switch is on your steed. Read it here