BMWRA.org
Though might be interesting read for a few guy/gals here,too.
"...you might be right that the marketing/product planners slap their corporate foreheads in frustration when they see the sales figures of certain new models.Let me try to help...
Sport ouring has nothing to do with boring,heavy,slow geezerism and we don't talk aftermarket saddles,bar backs or lowered pegs here either.A BMW "S" or "RS" always gave up a few hp and pounds on paper to the latest and greatest from italy or japan,but more than made up for it in real world usefulness.You had a sporty bike that was still able to get you to far paces with passenger and gear.The R90S and R100RS,and later the R1100RS and R1100S were fine examples.
R1100RS riders who wanted a little less weight and mor power and to get rid of the rubbery mounted handlebar finally found the replaceent in form of the R1100S.Unfortunately they had to give up fuel range and practical items such as luggage rack and underseat storage space in exchange for the added spice.
Now the R1200ST replaes the R-RS and it is so ugly and the handling not as nimble or stable as the R1100S.Hardly progress in 12 long years of development since the introduction of the R1100RS in 1993.Obviously a lot of other riders shared these sentiments as sales figures proved...
R1100S riders wanted less weight,more power and a smoother running engine.Some of them also wanted a bigger tank and a practical luggage rack to pack some gear on when running with a passenger to a rally or vacation trip.
The R1200S was the bike they were looking forward to and dreaming about.But unfortunately the dream of a sportier S-Boxer shattered quickly as it became clear that the R1200S was as single minded and impractical as any other sportbike from the far east or italy.
As impressive as the R1200S is for an air-cooled boxer motorcycle,themotorcycle world is not blue/white only.
The S has today the same performance and power to weight ratio as a Honda CBR900 Fireblade from 1992.Hardly the stuff t gain conquest sales from the apitalian pasture.Any japanese 600 has the same performance on the track.A jpanese 1000 has uch more performance for less money,at least on paper.The posers will still be drawn to Ducati becaus it gets them the image they are looking for.
So what is BMW left with in their Sport touring main market?
A goofy looking R1200ST that is not a great handler and not asdesireable as the R1100S was and an R1200S that tries to be something...
Image minded posers still look at Ducatis.
That is the reason the waters are so shallow BMW is fishing in with the R1200S and that is unfortunately a shame.Squids,lifestyle posers and a few track only riders are not interested.BMW riders and other Sport touring riders who would have loved and improved R1100S can't get over the ridiculously small tank and lack of practical options like a real 2-up seat,luggage rack,practical centerstand and bags...(small but now available)
It looks like th R1200S sits straight between the chairs,not bought by either sportbie riders or BMW Sport tourers.This is a shame since a lot of R1100RS and R1100S riders are still waiting for a true successor to their beloved bikes,one with real improvements that go beyond the new,smoother R1200 powerplant...
...not every BMW rider wants a GS or sit up and beg RT.
Just a sporty bike that is equally fun on twisty roads or track and can still be ridden and enjoyed on longer trips,even 2-up,in the best BMW "S" or "RS" tradition...
No need to reinvent the wheel or explor new markets following where ohers already are.Following some trends that might be dead tomorrow at the cost of the ore BMW market.Just build better BMW's,since Sport touring will never be out of style...
I seriously hope that when BMW brings out the HP-S imagebike they finally will give us a R1200S with all the Sport touring options to make it more attractive and a success to a much wider audience!
Until then we'll enjoy the best BMW so far,and still the best Sport tourer period,and live with the slightly coarse powerplant nd the nuissance of having to stop for gas every 150 or so miles..."
Taken without permission from the author...
