Captain
17-02-2008, 05:49 PM
Some time back I test rode DanOz' Speed Triple and wrote a review so I thought I'd do the same for BeemerBoy's BMW. I find test riding a mate's bike not only a lot of fun but very instructive, I learn a lot about what I like and don't like, which I hope will help me when it comes to buying a replacement bike for the bird. Similarly, it's always intersesting to get another rider's opinion of my own bike.
BeemerBoy was kind enough to let me have a decent ride, maybe about 30 minutes; not enough to put the bike through it's paces, but sufficient to form an opinion and notice it's character.
First up the seating position; very, very comfortable, I can almost imgine some German engineer asking riders to think of the ideal seating position and then building a bike around it - it's that good. It's also low, so I cannot imagine anyone complaining about short legs :) . Once you put your feet on the pegs your knees tuck in very close, much like on Ducati's Testastretta (no, really). Not only is this very comfortable, it's great for holding on with your thighs. The riding position itself is fairly upright, this would be a fantastic bike to tour on.
How does she perform? Lots of grunt as you's expect from a big bore bike, and this is BMW's fastest, but also very civilised - smooth, very little vibrations. Whereas the Blackbird winds on and on and never stops pulling, the beemer feels much torquier down low - but the result is very similar performance, as Beemerboy and I have noticed off many traffic lights .... :)
The handling is a little difficult for me to explain, as I'm not so experienced, certainly not in a technical way; Since changing the steering geometry on the Blackbird she changes direction very fast, and at first the K1200S felt a fair bit slower to respond - and it is, I think. But it feels different because of its geometry (no front forks, telelever???), it seems to turn from the centre of the bike rather than from the front. Whilst at low speed it felt a little strange, as soon as you're moving it works, and it works very well. I was thinking that it was steering by ESP - you imagine where you want to turn, and it does it ! Nice, very nice. Combine this with a very sure-footed feel and I'd be very comfortable throwing this bike around a track. In fact, I reckon I could ride this bike faster than the bird almost immediately, even though I'm not familiar with it. I don't know if that's good or bad.
It's not a light bike, but as it has legs it also needs to be stopped - and it does, no worries. This bike can stop on a dime, the brakes feel very solid and they pull the bike up without nosedive - amazing. Plus they're linked, so you can use the back brake only (as I often do) and the damn thing pulls up like a car. I'm told it also has ABS, although I was not inclined to test it ......
Finally the gauges are large and analog, in a good position unlike many bikes where you need to move your head well down to read them. The quality of the finish is very high of course, as you'd expect.
There were a few things I’d change, but these are minor (such as the grips) and hardly worth a mention.
I don't think this bike will appeal to everyone of course, it's not a superlight sportbike as many RATS might prefer – although with a competent riders I’m sure it could give many sportbikes a run for their money, and BeemerBoy certainly held his own at EC - but as a sports tourer it's no doubt at the top of its' class. Sure it costs a little more, but in my opinion you get a lot of bike for your money, you’re not just paying for the name.
It's definetely on my list .... :ayyy:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/GBM2004/CraigatEC-1.jpg
BeemerBoy was kind enough to let me have a decent ride, maybe about 30 minutes; not enough to put the bike through it's paces, but sufficient to form an opinion and notice it's character.
First up the seating position; very, very comfortable, I can almost imgine some German engineer asking riders to think of the ideal seating position and then building a bike around it - it's that good. It's also low, so I cannot imagine anyone complaining about short legs :) . Once you put your feet on the pegs your knees tuck in very close, much like on Ducati's Testastretta (no, really). Not only is this very comfortable, it's great for holding on with your thighs. The riding position itself is fairly upright, this would be a fantastic bike to tour on.
How does she perform? Lots of grunt as you's expect from a big bore bike, and this is BMW's fastest, but also very civilised - smooth, very little vibrations. Whereas the Blackbird winds on and on and never stops pulling, the beemer feels much torquier down low - but the result is very similar performance, as Beemerboy and I have noticed off many traffic lights .... :)
The handling is a little difficult for me to explain, as I'm not so experienced, certainly not in a technical way; Since changing the steering geometry on the Blackbird she changes direction very fast, and at first the K1200S felt a fair bit slower to respond - and it is, I think. But it feels different because of its geometry (no front forks, telelever???), it seems to turn from the centre of the bike rather than from the front. Whilst at low speed it felt a little strange, as soon as you're moving it works, and it works very well. I was thinking that it was steering by ESP - you imagine where you want to turn, and it does it ! Nice, very nice. Combine this with a very sure-footed feel and I'd be very comfortable throwing this bike around a track. In fact, I reckon I could ride this bike faster than the bird almost immediately, even though I'm not familiar with it. I don't know if that's good or bad.
It's not a light bike, but as it has legs it also needs to be stopped - and it does, no worries. This bike can stop on a dime, the brakes feel very solid and they pull the bike up without nosedive - amazing. Plus they're linked, so you can use the back brake only (as I often do) and the damn thing pulls up like a car. I'm told it also has ABS, although I was not inclined to test it ......
Finally the gauges are large and analog, in a good position unlike many bikes where you need to move your head well down to read them. The quality of the finish is very high of course, as you'd expect.
There were a few things I’d change, but these are minor (such as the grips) and hardly worth a mention.
I don't think this bike will appeal to everyone of course, it's not a superlight sportbike as many RATS might prefer – although with a competent riders I’m sure it could give many sportbikes a run for their money, and BeemerBoy certainly held his own at EC - but as a sports tourer it's no doubt at the top of its' class. Sure it costs a little more, but in my opinion you get a lot of bike for your money, you’re not just paying for the name.
It's definetely on my list .... :ayyy:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/GBM2004/CraigatEC-1.jpg