My wife is on her second one. She had a 2016 and now the new 2018. Stunning bike. Best commuter I have ever used in traffic. Very fast too. Great in corners. We added a custom made large screen and it changes the bike so much. Makes the bike so much more pleasant to drive. Brings out the hooligan in me. Lovely bike but I think it would be crowded for tall people though. Overall great great great bike.
Had an 05 RTSE, 07 RT, 98 1100s and currently a 2013 R1200R Classic (I've had and tracked 5 RR's, one a 2015 I took the DDC off and installed Ohlins) I much prefer the telelever front ends, they just plain suit the way I ride as well as the crap roads in Australia, I had no problem scraping the rocker covers on any of the boxers... Oh and a 1974 R90s... Rode Harleys for years, even had two M8 engined ones a few years ago and after riding BMW's for around 12 years I don't care how cool a Harley looks any more, these specially my 2005 R1200RTSE was the best, it looked like it weighed 400kg and blew everyone away.
Great review, thank you for posting. I have a Feb 17 registered bike, but exactly the same. The gearbox is ridiculously clunky and I spent the first few months fretting about it. Fact is, it is a crash box and that is how it is supposed to be. It won't break and it works perfectly well with a bit of noise. I find it a brilliant bike. Goes like a bomb (if you need more power you are either mental or a very. very skilful rider!) and it handles really well. My first ride was almost 200 miles home after picking it up. I could have ridden it as far again. I've fitted an Ilmbereger carbon fibre rear hugger and it keeps the rear shock nice and clean while looking great. I got the Shad panniers as well but replaced the SHAD badges with some 3M white reflective tape and some neat 11mm BMW key fob enamel badges off eBay. I like the wind, it keeps you in touch with your speed and takes the weight off your wrists and shoulders! Cheers from the UK.
Excellent review. I had a 2017 but went down in a low water crossing and stopped riding for a year sold the bike. Came back to riding summer 2020 and worked my way back the the R again :) 2016...just love the jug head motor and how it handles. I also love flat footing a bike...BMW just has a feeling I like. As for wind, totally agree but I found a solution...Givi makes a replacement mount and screen that creates a nice pocket with no buffering plus much quieter. I bought it from Twisted Throttle for $170...worth much more as it has changed the ability to ride long rides for me. Great review!
Hi, I have the 2015 RS from new, now at 18000 miles and the gearbox does get better. I fitted the booster plug to aid fuelling and now feels super slick snick with the quick shifter!
My RnineT -17 had that clonk from neutral to first, but alot of that dissapeared when I adjusted the gearlinkage. Not by much but made a huge difference.
Nice review! I bought my 2016 new last April. It's interesting to hear the options you have in Canada vs. the US, keyless was not an option without the Cruise and Heated Grips here. Also, my dealer didn't have multiple seat heights. It just so happened they had a 2017 on the floor with the high seat (I wanted high, but not sport) and they were nice enough to swap the seats for me, but it wasn't standard option to give me the seat I wanted. Otherwise, I would have had to pay. I put a Puig screen on as well, got the full luggage package since I like to tour and it makes my fiance more comfortable (though now she just falls asleep on the bike, haha). Anyway, I think I got the top of the line model, sans the SAT NAV, just seemed too expensive, though I may upgrade to the latest SAT NAV soon. I love the heated grips and electronically adjustable suspension, rider modes are the bomb! I agree that this is an awesome canyon carver, good weight and well distributed for having fun. I also agree that it vibrates a bit. My fiance did say her hands were tingly after a longer ride. I've ridden many twins, so I didn't notice :-) I moved up from a 2007 Honda 919, awesome bike, but technologically inferior. For the slight increase in weight and slight decrease in response, this is a perfect all-around city-highway-canyon carver-touring bike that your partner will also enjoy. Yes, I spent a pretty penny, but I have a huge smile every time I ride and it's worth it.
A lot of changes compare to older R1200R models at beginning of production 2007 , also BMW reversed side of driveshaft and exhaust to a right side of motorcycle , wonder why they did that , for more stability driving control ?
very nice review gotta say! something i would really appriciate if i was going to buy this bike; as a BMW rider (R1150R Rockster) i am really into the boxers and i appriciate this bike even if at the moment i didnt had the chance to ride one; as far as i saw (and i heard from your test) this LC likes also high revs, unlike my bike that its done way before redline; good oil consumption i would say (my Rockster, ridden normally/hard, drinks an average of half a liter every 1000km); good to see you are going to stay on boxer engine, that personally i love both for sound reasons but expecially for the torque at low revs and no (or, at least, less than other 2 cylinder bikes) shakes at low revs (i used an Hypermotard at my riding licence exham and it was a disaster!) cheers from Italy Loris
Owned a 2016 BMW r1200r, my 2 cents, great roadsters bike, lots of electronics, rider modes, esa, traction control, luggage is extra 1000, windshield extra, GPS prep but 900 for nav 6, phone works much better, great brakes, jet ski styling, ridiculous pricing and maintenance, heated grips, plenty fast, rode it for 5000 miles and sold it, its the middleman between r9t and r1200rt, still like my r75 /6 with drum rear brakes and beautifully front end wobble when u left go of the bars, lol no shift assist here or computer telling u ur rear tire is down 1psi lol please!
I keep hearing reviews from people under 6’ tall saying the stock or high seat are comfortable for them height wise. To me that means none of the seat options will make the height correct for a tall person.
I still love the F6B, but it would be a bit too big for commuting I think. Also, I would want updated electronics on it.. integrated BT and such. That all said, its still on my list for my next bike ;) Thanks for watching!
Hey Grumpy Man, I'd been considering the Barkbusters for my bike for weather protection. They have two varieties - a single point mount (bar end only) and a two point mount, which is what you appear to have. At Revzilla (online retailer), a commenter commented that they interfere with the "wonder wheel" (first I'd heard of that term - I like it). Did you find that to be an issue?
I have bark busters with 2 point attachment (Givi version). No issues with any interference with the Wonder Wheel - love that term too. My only small gripe would be that they are very warm in summer - but we have been having 25 - 35 °C (77 - 95°F) temps this summer here in NZ - and I'm too bloody lazy to take them off.
Very nice review. I have the 2015 Blue model with full option, 40K on it. What i wanted to tell you is that earlier this year i had a quckshitfer/gear box software upgrade and it works a bit smoother (not night and day difference but still..)
good review buddy ... I love this bike but too costly here in India USD $26550 (base model) so dosen't make sense. How much do you get it in your city again the base model?
LOVE YOUR BIKE, GREAT REVIEW MATE... I AGREE , THE STOCK EXHAUST SUCKS,, I THINK BMW CAN GET A BETTER GOOD LOOKING STOCK EXHAUST FOR THE R1200R/RS. CHEERS MATE.
We have quite the same experiences with the bike :) I have 2016 model, same colour scheme as yours, same equipment, even my height/inseam is same as yours. I went for the high rider seat, it works better than standard. And yes, gearbox is definitely clunky and some wind protection would be nice. My next bike will also be the one with more wind protection, but it won't be a GS. From my experience with R, boxer is too flat and it can be boring sometimes. Yes, it has a bunch of torque in the low rpm's, but it lacks character when the rpm's rise. Have you considered an S1000XR ? I believe that it's a much better choice than the GS.
I will try an XR for sure, but would have to be with the low seat. It would have to be pretty good to get me away from shaft drive.. I am very lazy, I hate chain maintanance! Thanks for watching!
XR with standard seat is fine too. With 32" inseam, you should be able to reach the ground with both balls of the feet. That is acceptable for such a high adventure bike. If you take the XR for a test ride, please make a review :) I would really like to hear an opinion about XR from a perspective of an R owner. I would do it, but my local BMW dealer doesn't offer test rides...
The standard seat on the XR is 840mm, that's 50mm higher than the R medium seat.. its high but doable, i've sat on one at the dealer. I will for sure post video when I test one.
Hi, thanks for nice video.I want to buy this motorcycle. I am from Slovakia in the middle Europe. I should have a few questions. What is the wind protection at around 130-150 mph on the higway? Is it possible to travel for longer?Thanks for answer and I wish you all the best.Tomas.
I've done 9 hours days on it no problem, but remember, its a naked bike, even with a touring windscreen you will still get wind on you. I have the sport screen and I am 1m85, the wind hits me directly in the face. My average speeds are much lower than that. Did you mean 130-150 kilometers per hour?
Thanks for your answer. Yes, I thought approximately 140-150 km per hour. Is it very annoying? I hope no :-)This bike is very nice. i want to buy tourig windscreen.
Why do you want it? Okay, so I get that the telelever has the "no-dive" feature, but other than that, the lack of road feel always left me feeling insecure with the telelever front-ends. I would not have purchased my 2016 R12R if it weren't for 3 main things; the change to telescopic forks, the change to water-cooled engine giving considerable more horse power, and the change to a wet-clutch which is by far more forgiving than the stand dry clutch that has been on BMW Boxers for an eternity. These changes made a lackluster (and by that I mean no grin-factor) BMW R1200 series into something that is actual a fun and exiting bike to ride. Granted, this is only my opinion, but my other choice was going to be the CB1000R or the S1000XR (if it weren't for the tiny passenger pillions on both).
My wife is on her second one. She had a 2016 and now the new 2018. Stunning bike. Best commuter I have ever used in traffic. Very fast too. Great in corners. We added a custom made large screen and it changes the bike so much. Makes the bike so much more pleasant to drive. Brings out the hooligan in me. Lovely bike but I think it would be crowded for tall people though. Overall great great great bike.
I own the dark (shorter) now discontinued Screen.
The mounts are all the same.. for all three sizes. Top Quality
Had an 05 RTSE, 07 RT, 98 1100s and currently a 2013 R1200R Classic (I've had and tracked 5 RR's, one a 2015 I took the DDC off and installed Ohlins) I much prefer the telelever front ends, they just plain suit the way I ride as well as the crap roads in Australia, I had no problem scraping the rocker covers on any of the boxers... Oh and a 1974 R90s... Rode Harleys for years, even had two M8 engined ones a few years ago and after riding BMW's for around 12 years I don't care how cool a Harley looks any more, these specially my 2005 R1200RTSE was the best, it looked like it weighed 400kg and blew everyone away.
Great review, thank you for posting. I have a Feb 17 registered bike, but exactly the same. The gearbox is ridiculously clunky and I spent the first few months fretting about it. Fact is, it is a crash box and that is how it is supposed to be. It won't break and it works perfectly well with a bit of noise. I find it a brilliant bike. Goes like a bomb (if you need more power you are either mental or a very. very skilful rider!) and it handles really well. My first ride was almost 200 miles home after picking it up. I could have ridden it as far again. I've fitted an Ilmbereger carbon fibre rear hugger and it keeps the rear shock nice and clean while looking great. I got the Shad panniers as well but replaced the SHAD badges with some 3M white reflective tape and some neat 11mm BMW key fob enamel badges off eBay. I like the wind, it keeps you in touch with your speed and takes the weight off your wrists and shoulders! Cheers from the UK.
Thanks for watching!
Sounds like the first version of the engine before BMW upgraded to the new air/liquid engine with front-mounted multi-plate wet clutch.
Excellent review. I had a 2017 but went down in a low water crossing and stopped riding for a year sold the bike.
Came back to riding summer 2020 and worked my way back the the R again :) 2016...just love the jug head motor and how it handles. I also love flat footing a bike...BMW just has a feeling I like.
As for wind, totally agree but I found a solution...Givi makes a replacement mount and screen that creates a nice pocket with no buffering plus much quieter. I bought it from Twisted Throttle for $170...worth much more as it has changed the ability to ride long rides for me.
Great review!
Thanks man, and glad you’re back on a bike! I’ll hopefully be back on one myself later this year. Ride safe!
Hi, I have the 2015 RS from new, now at 18000 miles and the gearbox does get better. I fitted the booster plug to
aid fuelling and now feels super slick snick with the quick shifter!
My RnineT -17 had that clonk from neutral to first, but alot of that dissapeared when I adjusted the gearlinkage. Not by much but made a huge difference.
I can't wait to try my '20, supposedly even more improvements! Thanks for watching!
Nice review! I bought my 2016 new last April. It's interesting to hear the options you have in Canada vs. the US, keyless was not an option without the Cruise and Heated Grips here. Also, my dealer didn't have multiple seat heights. It just so happened they had a 2017 on the floor with the high seat (I wanted high, but not sport) and they were nice enough to swap the seats for me, but it wasn't standard option to give me the seat I wanted. Otherwise, I would have had to pay. I put a Puig screen on as well, got the full luggage package since I like to tour and it makes my fiance more comfortable (though now she just falls asleep on the bike, haha). Anyway, I think I got the top of the line model, sans the SAT NAV, just seemed too expensive, though I may upgrade to the latest SAT NAV soon. I love the heated grips and electronically adjustable suspension, rider modes are the bomb! I agree that this is an awesome canyon carver, good weight and well distributed for having fun. I also agree that it vibrates a bit. My fiance did say her hands were tingly after a longer ride. I've ridden many twins, so I didn't notice :-) I moved up from a 2007 Honda 919, awesome bike, but technologically inferior. For the slight increase in weight and slight decrease in response, this is a perfect all-around city-highway-canyon carver-touring bike that your partner will also enjoy. Yes, I spent a pretty penny, but I have a huge smile every time I ride and it's worth it.
A lot of changes compare to older R1200R models at beginning of production 2007 , also BMW reversed side of driveshaft and exhaust to a right side of motorcycle , wonder why they did that , for more stability driving control ?
Hi, great review. Which handbars you installed and how they worked? Cheers, Slawek
Thank you for all informations you give here.. I’ll buy one with same equipment this monday morning, in thundergrey color. :)
Congrats! You'll have a lot of fun with her! Thanks for watching!
very nice review gotta say! something i would really appriciate if i was going to buy this bike; as a BMW rider (R1150R Rockster) i am really into the boxers and i appriciate this bike even if at the moment i didnt had the chance to ride one; as far as i saw (and i heard from your test) this LC likes also high revs, unlike my bike that its done way before redline; good oil consumption i would say (my Rockster, ridden normally/hard, drinks an average of half a liter every 1000km); good to see you are going to stay on boxer engine, that personally i love both for sound reasons but expecially for the torque at low revs and no (or, at least, less than other 2 cylinder bikes) shakes at low revs (i used an Hypermotard at my riding licence exham and it was a disaster!)
cheers from Italy
Loris
Ma786sai
Superb review. Buying a new 2018 R1200R tomorrow. In Light White and Cordoba blue frame. God bless
Cyrus
I've got the 2018 one in those colours, brilliant bike 👍
Owned a 2016 BMW r1200r, my 2 cents, great roadsters bike, lots of electronics, rider modes, esa, traction control, luggage is extra 1000, windshield extra, GPS prep but 900 for nav 6, phone works much better, great brakes, jet ski styling, ridiculous pricing and maintenance, heated grips, plenty fast, rode it for 5000 miles and sold it, its the middleman between r9t and r1200rt, still like my r75 /6 with drum rear brakes and beautifully front end wobble when u left go of the bars, lol no shift assist here or computer telling u ur rear tire is down 1psi lol please!
I keep hearing reviews from people under 6’ tall saying the stock or high seat are comfortable for them height wise. To me that means none of the seat options will make the height correct for a tall person.
Thorough review...
Why a GSA or RT for next bike?! Can you compare this with GSA/RT ? Regards, M.
Did you fall out of love with the F6B? Your excellent review of the Honda F6B makes me wonder why you do not want it over another BMW.
I still love the F6B, but it would be a bit too big for commuting I think. Also, I would want updated electronics on it.. integrated BT and such. That all said, its still on my list for my next bike ;)
Thanks for watching!
Hello there..thank u for wonderful video.. R u still using this bike?
good review.
Thanks, and thank you for watching!
im just curious as to what your next bike(s) was/were.
I picked up a 2020 R1250RS, and I am loving it!
The main difference with pther naked bikes is the weight..
Are you related to Grumpy Goat?
Hey Grumpy Man, I'd been considering the Barkbusters for my bike for weather protection. They have two varieties - a single point mount (bar end only) and a two point mount, which is what you appear to have. At Revzilla (online retailer), a commenter commented that they interfere with the "wonder wheel" (first I'd heard of that term - I like it). Did you find that to be an issue?
I have bark busters with 2 point attachment (Givi version). No issues with any interference with the Wonder Wheel - love that term too. My only small gripe would be that they are very warm in summer - but we have been having 25 - 35 °C (77 - 95°F) temps this summer here in NZ - and I'm too bloody lazy to take them off.
A great review. I also have 15' R1200R. Can you tell me which brand and model for the tank bag?
Its a givi bag, not sure of the model, they don't seem to have it on their site anymore. Thanks for watching!
Very nice review. I have the 2015 Blue model with full option, 40K on it. What i wanted to tell you is that earlier this year i had a quckshitfer/gear box software upgrade and it works a bit smoother (not night and day difference but still..)
Good to know, I am due for my 20k service, I'll see if there are any updates available for mine. Thanks for watching!
good review buddy ... I love this bike but too costly here in India USD $26550 (base model) so dosen't make sense. How much do you get it in your city again the base model?
SUHRUD it starts at $16000 CDN
Oh my god that's less than half of indian pricing Lucky you buddy :)
Base model in Germany was € 12.500 for the 2015 model and since 1.August 2018 it is € 13.100 INCLUDING Tax
LOVE YOUR BIKE, GREAT REVIEW MATE... I AGREE , THE STOCK EXHAUST SUCKS,, I THINK BMW CAN GET A BETTER GOOD LOOKING STOCK EXHAUST FOR THE R1200R/RS. CHEERS MATE.
What about the throttle response..is it smooth and gradual or a little sudden or abrupt on off at lower rpms?
We have quite the same experiences with the bike :) I have 2016 model, same colour scheme as yours, same equipment, even my height/inseam is same as yours. I went for the high rider seat, it works better than standard. And yes, gearbox is definitely clunky and some wind protection would be nice. My next bike will also be the one with more wind protection, but it won't be a GS. From my experience with R, boxer is too flat and it can be boring sometimes. Yes, it has a bunch of torque in the low rpm's, but it lacks character when the rpm's rise. Have you considered an S1000XR ? I believe that it's a much better choice than the GS.
I will try an XR for sure, but would have to be with the low seat. It would have to be pretty good to get me away from shaft drive.. I am very lazy, I hate chain maintanance! Thanks for watching!
XR with standard seat is fine too. With 32" inseam, you should be able to reach the ground with both balls of the feet. That is acceptable for such a high adventure bike. If you take the XR for a test ride, please make a review :) I would really like to hear an opinion about XR from a perspective of an R owner. I would do it, but my local BMW dealer doesn't offer test rides...
The standard seat on the XR is 840mm, that's 50mm higher than the R medium seat.. its high but doable, i've sat on one at the dealer. I will for sure post video when I test one.
We like Montreal.
Hi, thanks for nice video.I want to buy this motorcycle. I am from Slovakia in the middle Europe. I should have a few questions. What is the wind protection at around 130-150 mph on the higway? Is it possible to travel for longer?Thanks for answer and I wish you all the best.Tomas.
I've done 9 hours days on it no problem, but remember, its a naked bike, even with a touring windscreen you will still get wind on you. I have the sport screen and I am 1m85, the wind hits me directly in the face. My average speeds are much lower than that. Did you mean 130-150 kilometers per hour?
Thanks for your answer. Yes, I thought approximately 140-150 km per hour. Is it very annoying? I hope no :-)This bike is very nice. i want to buy tourig windscreen.
There is no clonk, it’s no BMW. Have a 2018th - still clonking every now and then.
Why did they do away with the telelever suspension?
I think packaging.. when they went to liquid cooling they needed space for the radiator.
Why do you want it? Okay, so I get that the telelever has the "no-dive" feature, but other than that, the lack of road feel always left me feeling insecure with the telelever front-ends. I would not have purchased my 2016 R12R if it weren't for 3 main things; the change to telescopic forks, the change to water-cooled engine giving considerable more horse power, and the change to a wet-clutch which is by far more forgiving than the stand dry clutch that has been on BMW Boxers for an eternity. These changes made a lackluster (and by that I mean no grin-factor) BMW R1200 series into something that is actual a fun and exiting bike to ride. Granted, this is only my opinion, but my other choice was going to be the CB1000R or the S1000XR (if it weren't for the tiny passenger pillions on both).