K1200

[nick]

I have a K1200 on loan while my bike is being repaired.

163 bhp ...... mmmmmmmm

Now could this lump be mounted in a GS style frame

 

[Tsiklonaut]

The same bollox goes on and on, it never ends. ...to be mounted on GS frame is

...pointless, no use for high end power on loose surface and offroad. If it were, they'd already done that, the road racing prone GSX-R/ZXR/CBR etc engines weight alot less btw and their hp/weigh ratio is ALOT better than ANY single cyls or twins btw, but still no manufacturer doesn't put them on any dual sports or offroad machines with simple reason mentioned above. If you've already noticed the GS has always had less horsepower than it's road-only boxer brothers as well with the same engines, because the GS engine is tuned for more low and mid rpms and for flatter torque curve, for added traction on loose surface and better driving comfort indeed - no need to rev it hard, it goes like a tractor on low compared with racing inline-4s that start to take first stronger breath past the 6K rpms and the maximum is very near to the redline 10-12K

There's no compromise, you need two bikes (road racing inline-4, and factory replica 1-cyl offroader) if you need maximum on both worlds.

Cheers, Margus aka sits on compromise - twin, 101Nm@5250rpm

 

[Aurelius]

If you've already noticed the GS has always had less horsepower than it's road-only boxer brothers as well with the same engines, because the GS engine is tuned for more low and mid rpms and for flatter torque curve

If you compare the horsepower and torque curves of the R1200GS with that of the R1200RT, you'll find that the GS has no advantage in terms of low end torque. The power curves of both bikes overlap precisely, the only difference being at the top end where the RT produces significantly more power than the GS.

for added traction on loose surface and better driving comfort indeed - no need to rev it hard, it goes like a tractor on low compared with racing inline-4s that start to take first stronger breath past the 6K rpms and the maximum is very near to the redline 10-12K

You really must test ride one of the new Japanese liter bikes. You'll feel like you've been shot out of a cannon from the moment you crack open the throttle. And while its true that bikes designed for track use are tuned to produce most of their power at the top end of the rev range, an inline 4 engine can be designed to produce lots of power at lower revs; bottom end power is not the exclusive domain of twins or singles.

 

[Tsiklonaut]

R1200RT: 110bhp@7500rpm
R1200GS: 100bhp@7000rpm

R1200RT: 115Nm@6000rpm
R1200GS: 115Nm@5500rpm

Both horsepower and torque peaks 500 rpm lower meaning it has the power torque reaching more lower rpms, read: curve is more "flatter" (less -10hp horsepower peak as well while torque momentum stays the same 115Nm and shifted lower as well as you can see).

The compression ratio is 12:1 on the RT while it's much lower 11:1 on the GS. Meaning the GS has less stressed engine, so it's more low power prone, but lacks the high peak power where RT is more "peaky" (in cost of some cuting the low rpm power as you can see on the specs).

Who drives all day long dial at the redline anway? If i somehow did drove weekend race track, for that purpose i'd probably buy the new superior GSX-R, not the new K1200, with a lot less £££.