R1200ST

[JohnC]

My GS1100 is having a bit of a spat at the moment and I've been give a R1200ST as a courtesy bike. All I can say after my 40 mile ride back home is 'wow'. What a stonking engine.

Now I know what 1200 owners traded up for. This bike makes me want a sports bike again, it thrives on revs and is simply balistic after a slight flat spot at 5000 rpm. The gearbox is spot on and the engine is a marvel, smooth and fuels perfectly. A bit much weight on the wrists and feels tiny after the GS are my only quibbles.

It's going to be a hard one riding the 1100 again

 

[Alte Wolf]

My GS1100 is having a bit of a spat at the moment and I've been give a R1200ST as a courtesy bike. All I can say after my 40 mile ride back home is 'wow'. What a stonking engine.

Now I know what 1200 owners traded up for. This bike makes me want a sports bike again, it thrives on revs and is simply balistic after a slight flat spot at 5000 rpm. The gearbox is spot on and the engine is a marvel, smooth and fuels perfectly. A bit much weight on the wrists and feels tiny after the GS are my only quibbles.

...

Had exactly the same sentiments after riding the ST John.

I couldn't help thinking if it had raised bars like the GS and just an extra inch ground clearance it would have been a giant killer

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I had one as a loan bike last week and I agree its an excellent bike. But I'm not built for that position any more.

Paul

 

[Geeza]

I came across a Audi TT Quattro 4x4 3.2 (V6) who wanted to play on saturday. From 20mph upto 110 -115mph the GS kept with the TT with no problem (it ended at 115mph because we entered a 40 zone).......like you said this engine starts to kick from 5k onwards

 

[JDH]

I came across a Audi TT Quattro 4x4 3.2 (V6) who wanted to play on saturday. From 20mph upto 110 -115mph the GS kept with the TT with no problem (it ended at 115mph because we entered a 40 zone).......like you said this engine starts to kick from 5k onwards

Nice one

 

[GSmonkey]

Have done about 2k on an ST loan bike from Vines when the GS was in for work (twice). All I can say is what a god awful bike - it was a real pleasure to get back on the GS.

 

[Gonzo]

Have done about 2k on an ST loan bike from Vines when the GS was in for work (twice). All I can say is what a god awful bike - it was a real pleasure to get back on the GS.

Yup.

Too much plastic, aching wrists around town, gear lever too small and steering geometry that takes toomuch getting used to.

Best thing is that the engine was smoother than the GS but that's about it.

Wouldn't mind trying the RT (if that's what the touring one is called).

 

[paddy]

1200 ST

Well I Had a 54 Plate 1200 GS and now have a 1200 ST. Its not got the big following the GS has but that doesn,t make it a bad bike.
In fact I think it is seriously underated. Let's face it the GS is no beauty and a TAD common now. I might try the 1200 R or S next for a change from the GS mould I was set in.

Try one.

 

[Schnell Panzer]

I've heard it described as "being the best shag you could get, but its so fecking ugly you wouldn't want to be seen with it"

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Isn't the ST engine in a different state of tune to the GS? The same as the RT, I think I read somewhere.

I had an RT as a loan bike a couple of weeks ago and, after a brief spell getting used to the heavier steering, I thought it was great. Spent time mainly on M20 and A20, but playing with the screen to get everything quiet and smooth made me realise that for motorways and fast A roads, the RT would be a cracking tool. Was still raving about it until I got back on my GS in the afternoon, which was like taking off the new shoes you've decided to buy in the shoe shop and slipping your trusty trainers back on. So it's GS's for a while for me yet.

 

[GSmonkey]

Best thing is that the engine was smoother than the GS but that's about it.

I too noticed that - I think its more to do with the higher gearing than anything else. Payback for higher gearing is that it was more of a pain round town - the GS is still traffic light GP King

 

[JohnC]

Agree with the aching wrists as I had too filter through 5 miles of M8 traffic, not pleasant! it is more powerful than a GS, 110 bhp I think. I think the looks could grow on you, but it's a completely different bike from a GS i.e. I doubt it would tour well. Anyway I'm off to work, 30 miles of very twisty B roads so I think I'll soon have a better idea of how it performs in the real world

 

[dave hendy]

I tried a 1200ST last summer from Vines when I was waiting for there K1200S to come back off test. My wife persuaded me to as I don't like the look of the front of it. She came out on the back and we both loved it!! Only real reason I got the GS over the ST was the ST can only have a small topbox which is no good to me...with my wife.

 

[JAY]

Well I Had a 54 Plate 1200 GS and now have a 1200 ST. Its not got the big following the GS has but that doesn,t make it a bad bike.
In fact I think it is seriously underated. Let's face it the GS is no beauty and a TAD common now. I might try the 1200 R or S next for a change from the GS mould I was set in.

Try one.

Oh good Another one who sold a GS and bought an ST
I did the same last summer after trying out all the 1200s. Kept coming back to the ST and cancelled my order for the GS and got an ST instead. Looks apart (and I like them because they are different!) it's a cracking bike if you want to stick with BMs and whilst the riding position comes as a shock after the GS my aching wrists soon went as I got use to it and the seat is miles more comfortable too!

Mind you - I had to get an airhead GS to compensate for the loss of my 1150GS though

 

[JohnC]

Well I had a good run to work today (wet roads) and a cracking run back (dry and sunny). At work I noticed that the bike had only done 200 miles so I decided to behave for the sake of the next owner (100 mph at just over 4K in top ). If this is how the engine feels when it's still tight then it will be amazing when run in. I still reckon it's a cracking machine, very light and nimble, turns in well, powerfull brakes, if you hold the tank with your knees wrist ache isnt a major problem. The ST doesnt seem to suite very bumpy roads as well as the GS, but then I'm not sure how well the suspension is set up on this one as it shakes its head a fair bit over bumps and crests. I'm pretty certain a GS would cope much better on this sort of terrain. Other noted points, no buffeting, seems to be clean air over the little screen, less vision over crests etc than the GS, so real world speeds seem similar on v.twisty B roads, the (rear) seat doesnt seem to fit well with a huge gap below the passenger. I'd deffo buy this over a VFR any day

 

[Brian ROSEN]

The 1200ST 'in the flesh'

Like so many BMW's (including the GS) they look so much better than they appear in photographs. There were a number of ST's on show at the weekend - all in two tone, for instance red/black. Nobody could say that they weren't elegant! The riding position, particularly after a GS, feels very low & I am too old for that.

 

[Schtum]

I'd buy this over a VFR any day

I wouldn't, I much prefer my VFR800 FiW. I'm really not sure who it's aimed at and the sales figures seem to bear this out. For example, it's by no means a sports bike so why would anyone want to adjust the clip-ons any lower than they are already...?

I think BMW missed a trick with this bike. It could have been a very fine Multistrada competitor if they'd fitted higher bars, half way to GS suspension and some nice underseat cans instead of that ridiculous chrome cigar cannister hanging off the nearside.

And yes I have ridden one......

 

[JAY]

The ST doesnt seem to suite very bumpy roads as well as the GS, but then I'm not sure how well the suspension is set up on this one as it shakes its head a fair bit over bumps and crests. I'm pretty certain a GS would cope much better on this sort of terrain. Other noted points, no buffeting, seems to be clean air over the little screen, less vision over crests etc than the GS, so real world speeds seem similar on v.twisty B roads, the (rear) seat doesnt seem to fit well with a huge gap below the passenger. I'd deffo buy this over a VFR any day

It takes a fair bit of fine tuning to get the suspension working and mine goes very light over crests - good fun though
That screen works really well and I discovered that my S5 wasn't as noisy as I thought it was when I had my 1150GS. The rear seat should sit down really snuggly - the front part was probably not slotted in properly. Feck all space underneath though to fit anything!

 

[JAY]

I think BMW missed a trick with this bike. It could have been a very fine Multistrada competitor if they'd fitted higher bars, half way to GS suspension and some nice underseat cans instead of that ridiculous chrome cigar cannister hanging off the nearside.

I thought the Multistrada was the Ducati take on the 1200GS? I agree with the silencer though and that soon came off mine! Looks bad enough on the RT!!

Whilst I like the bars on the highest position, I think BMW should have set the top adjustment higher and done away with the lowest setting, which fouls the tank on mine anyway.

 

[JohnC]

I wouldn't, I much prefer my VFR800 FiW. I'm really not sure who it's aimed at and the sales figures seem to bear this out. For example, it's by no means a sports bike so why would anyone want to adjust the clip-ons any lower than they are already...?

I think BMW missed a trick with this bike. It could have been a very fine Multistrada competitor if they'd fitted higher bars, half way to GS suspension and some nice underseat cans instead of that ridiculous chrome cigar cannister hanging off the nearside.

And yes I have ridden one......

I tried the VFR800 myself last year, had it for a full day. I thought the VTEC was a bit gimmicy and intrusive at certain speeds, seemed a waste of time tbo. I've heard the new models VTEC will be better. Most owners I've spoken too felt the pre VTEC VFR's were better bikes. The VFR was pretty gutless two up and didnt feel anywhere near as torquey as the RS (54 ft.lb VFR v 85 ft.lb ST says it all). And the VFR (imo) deffo doesnt sound as gutsy or have as much character as the 1200. Horses for courses I guess, bleh, nasty chain driven things

You can also get high bars and different cans for them no problem. Dont care much for underseat exhausts myself.

I feel a second bike purchase coming on