I hope I like my r1200s

[yinyang]

Hi everybody, i have been viewing the forum for a couple weeks but now I can contribute.....questions

2 week ago i bought my r1200s on a whim. Up to now I have always had Japanese or Triumph motorcycles, a leaning towards sports. I still have a couple of track bikes and completed 98 blade project on the road. I have always admired the r1220s from afar without really knowing what it is. I was after a sport tourer that would hold it's value with quirkyness included. Any way, since purchasing my 2006 titanium white bike and doing some research, it feels like I have a machine with some rarity. I am yet to ride it , just have not had time, so time will tell if she is a keeper. Only concern at the mo is the 8 year old BT023r tyres. They pass the obligatory thumb nail test, but still.....

[popsky]

Hello and welcome to our little corner of the www

Excellent choice hope you enjoy your first ride, I’d probably treat the old girl to a new set of boots though.

Does it have Ohlins by chance and if so have they been serviced recently? makes a world of differenc.

[Paul]

Welcome on board, and enjoy your first ride, which I suspect may be to your preferred tyre shop. Give it a good long go, before you form your opinion on the R1200S. If you have not ridden a telelever boxer before, it might feel a little "different" initially, but I'm sure it will grow on you once you learn to trust it. As Popsky said, probably not a bad idea to have the shocks serviced if they have not had any attention since the tyres were fitted.

Cheers,

Paul

[Mitch1100]

Ditch those tyres, way too old

[dave the german]

Welcome. Just sold my 12S but have to say it was a fantastic bike. Spares such as body panels are getting thin on the ground now so if you decide to keep it have a look at getting some spares for it

[yinyang]

Well I did like the ride.
Stand outs for me are,

Such a roomy and comfortable riding position.
Probably the most accurate chassis that I have ridden. You can pick out long fast lines from way back and not be disrupted by road bumps. Ohlins suspension seems to be in good condition so far.
Clutch and 1st gear a bit clunky but otherwise a nice "snickty" gear box.
I felt the expected sensation of zero front dive making me feel that I was not stopping, but the combination male gender and slippery seat soon let me know otherwise.
The engine is so quiet, (100% std bike), it is lumpy up to 3k, then smoothes out nicely for a big twin with a rewarding quick for the last 2k revs.

I will be replacing the 8 year old bt023r tyre but they were surprisingly good. They have about 500 miles on them and been stored in a warm garage out
of sunlight. I think bridgestone have high silica content so do not degrade with age as much as some others. But relax I will be putting Dunlop's best on soon, and then I will be able to test the Ohlins properly.
I have am growing to like the machine, a lot.
Even considering looking for a tatty r1200s project to use as a distinguished gentleman's track bike. Do they exist ? ( tatty bikes).

[Humbug]

Yes they do, mine for one, ridden hard in all weathers with 107,000 on the clock. Up for sale soon

[Mitch1100]

Highly reccomend MICHELIN Road 5 best tyre I've had

[Keith_P]

Highly reccomend MICHELIN Road 5 best tyre I've had

+1 for the Road 5s on mine too. Turns nicely and feel good.
I fancied Metzeler Roadtec 01SE to replace my equally aged Conti Sport Attacks that it came with last year but were out of stock at the time. The Road 5 looks very similar.

[yinyang]

New Dunlops fitted. Thanks for the tyre advice but I feel most comfortable on Dunlops. I have bought far too many 211s, 212s and TTs overs the years. I selected Roadsmart IVs for the r12s.
HOWEVER, the rear 190/55 does not work with the ilmburger carbon hugger. Having now researched the issue on here , it seem that this is well know and that I need a larger hugger off an HP2. So I might be selling my hugger and looking for the larger item soon.
Off to fit new domino grips next and then SBS pads. Oh forgot to mention that I found a hen's tooth this week, a silver rear seat cowl for sale 30 mins away. It is now fitted to Brünnhilde.

[boxerscott]

New Dunlops fitted. Thanks for the tyre advice but I feel most comfortable on Dunlops. I have bought far too many 211s, 212s and TTs overs the years. I selected Roadsmart IVs for the r12s.
HOWEVER, the rear 190/55 does not work with the ilmburger carbon hugger. Having now researched the issue on here , it seem that this is well know and that I need a larger hugger off an HP2. So I might be selling my hugger and looking for the larger item soon.
Off to fit new domino grips next and then SBS pads. Oh forgot to mention that I found a hen's tooth this week, a silver rear seat cowl for sale 30 mins away. It is now fitted to Brünnhilde.

Can i have the old tyres? I `m a cheap bxstard and don`t share groupthink on tyres. Pot holed roads are no respecter of any compound:wink:

Hope you are getting out on the bike and getting on with it!

chris

[yinyang]

Yes, I really like the bike. I changed the brake fluid last weekend as it was the colour of weak coffee. All went well, then I read the Haynes cartoon book that insists, only dealers should perform this as it is an ABS model. Hey ho. Also popped some new (SBS SP) pads in. Brakes are better now, more initial bite over the brembp pads and a firmer feel at the lever.

Sorry I left the 8year old Bridgestones at the garage. I think that they would have been fine given the storage conditions they had been treated to. However I do use my tyres from edge to edge and just wanted tyres that allowed my top 4 inches to relax.

First trackday of the year at Anglesey (James Whitham) coming up in the first week of May. The Daytona 675 is ready to go !

Cheers.

[boxerscott]

I think i can confidently say that all the tatty ones will have been broken for spares by now, if you can come to terms with the telelever then you are on your way into a rewarding relationship.

Chris

(i`ll find the tyres on ebay!)

[Humbug]

My tatty one hasn't been broken yet but i'm sure that's what will happen when it goes on eBay.
Just had the rear shock rebuilt as well!! I don't know whether to take off panniers and sell separately or leave it complete and ask a bit more.
It did make a great track bike at Cadwell and Donington.

[Humbug]

IMG_1949_Afternoon Session.jpeg (86.03 KiB) Viewed 11473 times