While I wait for my K16 to be delivered, my dealer has lent me one of these, its a R1200 R Sport and is brilliant fun. It has all the tech gubbins on it but more importantly it has Gearshift Assist Pro and in essence, its a seamless gearbox. Just select the gear lever to go up and down without the clutch. It gives a lovely little burp as you downshift and the overrun is to die for even the standard exhaust is gorgeous when on full chat. I can honestly say it handles really well and nearly tears your arms off on acceleration. Brilliant fun and recommended even if you just have a demo go but be careful, you will be hooked.
I have the twin cam version, I use mine for touring, however it's far from standard and even has a quickshifter and cruise.
A mate has an hp2 sport and I must say it's bloody brilliant, in fact one of the traveling marshals at the nw200 has been using one. Would love to try one of those 1200r thingys. The mate mentioned yesterday he's thinking of selling the sport.
I'm a big fan of the water cooled boxer engine. Only sampled it in GS form but it is a peach. And they do sound nice. But I like these even more. I've gone orange. I envy the BM's quick shifter though. Should be standard on the SDR.
I've had a GT i loved the 1290 engine in the SA so with the added Hp and Quickshifter it should be really good, my build date is 23 May . I met a fella yesterday whom I've brought an akro end can to fit to the GT when it arrives, he's done 7k in 6 months on his SDR riding it everyday thro winter and the bike was mint, no corrosion, no issues, nada .
Threw a leg over a GT at the dealers when the SDR was in for its first service. Not nearly as big and bulky as I expected it to be. Didn't feel from the saddle noticeably bulkier than the SDR, even with the bigger fuel tank. Much the same really but with a screen. I think this bike is going to be a big hit. It think its could shake up the sports tourer adventure/upright market. I hope they do an orange one. Bought an ergo seat for my SDR and it is pretty sumptuous. All day comfortable and how they've done it I don't know but 100 mph cruising on a naked with a relaxed riding position..? Only worry is this is a real a license loser. Its just so easy to go very fast and keep going very fast. A ton feels like 60-70 would on other nakeds I've ridden, including the SF.. Some people feel its over geared and 6th is too tall. They're not going fast enough. At 120 in top the amount of tug is amazing. I'm searching for another gear and the front is going light. I know it'll wheelie easily off the throttle in 4th and I reckon it will in 5th..
I demoed the R1200rs last year, lovely to ride for sure, but it wasnt as good as the XR1000. The gearbox on that is just incredibly smooth. And FAST !
I'm surprised the R1200R hasn't made more of a splash really. Nakeds are the in thing right now and this one has had nothing but praise from everyone who's tried it, riders and journalists alike. You'd think it would have been one of the year's big sellers but it seems to be a slow burner.
Nice to ride but I think the naked version is a bit ugly. Quite small too. The XR was much better imo
Over shadowed by the launch of the XR perhaps. I must admit, I'm not a fan of the red and white colour scheme or the big graphics. Restrained blue and white/silver/grey like the HP2 would have looked better. Nor the brown/mauvey colour of the top spec version. Plain black and polished alloy with gold bits would have been my choice. But I guess that would have been too close to the RnineT. Young and jazzy doesn't work with the boxer engine. Looks like your Dad trying to dance at a wedding.
