Got an opportunity to ride an aeroplane on the road. Featuring BMW K1200S Recorded with Garmin Virb Ultra 30 IG: bugzapper1 bugzapperbiker/ bugzapperbiker@gmail.com
I owned a 2005 K12S several years ago. Unforgettable relationship with this beast. I'm 6'2 and found it reasonably comfortable on ~400 mile trips. The "Squat" is more due to the Duo-Lever Suspension. No front forks. A very good bike for Western Colorado Roads and open landscapes. Heavy, Tremendous Power , Brakes, and smooth precise handling. A gorgeous bike. In the sparsely populated and open landscapes, mountain roads of Western Colorado it was very at home. I was often stretching its legs. In one instance, on a deserted stretch of clean highway, I redlined up to 5th gear/ ~168 mph. 1 gear left but that was enough. Sold it 4 months later.
I had many bikes, fast bikes.When i bought k1200s i said "w.t.f. is this?????".Now after 6 years and many many many thousands miles still have it and make me happy every time ride it, its unique, enough fast, stability, monster, love it.
Great review... You feel this bike your spot on !! Only thing I disagree with is your point on not being great for city commute. When you get used to one you can carve through city traffic with ease. Total precision due to the duolever suspension. In the future these will be looked upon as one of the greats. Don’t tell anyone they might get too expensive ..
Sinds 2013 heb ik deze ook in mijn bezit (nu 2020), de motor heeft mij zoveel plezier gegeven dat ik besloten heb de motor te houden en daarnaast een K1600Gt te nemen. De reden is omdat ik steeds meer last van mijn polsen en nek kreeg door de sportieve houding en wat rechterop wilde zitten. Nu staat de motor warm en droog gestald naast m'n andere motoren. Tot op de dag van vandaag nog steeds verzot op deze schitterende motor.
After being an owner from 05 I have to completely agree with you, motorcycle worlds best keeped secret! Around town is effortless once you get used to it, all depends on rider. Another thing is you can do clutchless shifting on these so effectively, I never use my clutch anymore except at stops and takeoff, few years back tried clucthless shifting by blipping throttle and shifting up or down and it’s smooth as silk, no need to engage clutch at all, I’m spoiled now, makes long rides so much more comfortable.
It's all about the engine. I bought a Ninja ZX-11 when it came out in 1990 and used it to tour Colorado for a couple of years. I feel the performance of my current 2005 K1200S is equivalent. On both bikes, the impression I received upon incrementally opening the throttle was not of increasing power to overcome inertia and accelerate, but rather to release the bike from an unseen retardant that had been artificially holding the machine back from its normal velocity. Ninety mph for the Ninja, closer to 100 for the Beemer. From that speed upward, everything clicks, everything works as designed, riding becomes instinctive, and time seems to slow down. If I had it to do over again, I should have kept the Ninja. It was lighter, more reliable and less fussy, plus I preferred the telescopic front fork. On the other hand, the shaft drive, fuel injection, and ABS are huge advantages for the Beemer. The main reason I miss the Ninja is the comfort deficit of the Beemer, caused mainly by the bars and seat, and maybe a bit by my advancing age. I hope to improve the comfort with new bars and seat while I fix the inevitable clutch problem that seems to infect every K bike ever built.
Thanks for being honest. If you believe the ZX11 was better in certain places; I’m definitely keeping my ZX14 and boosting that instead of this K1200S and nitrous. Clutch issue being a common K series thing….enough for me. I guess when your brought up riding Japanese, there is a certain “reliability and durability” that is overlooked when trying to”non-Japanese” motorcycles. Maybe I’ll swap for a Honda CBR1100XX for total security….😊
Hope you got it before the world collapsed? Mine has been off the road since November 2019 - waiting for me to replace both front discs and fix the hole in the header (great sound when it pops etc but the MOT testing guy wasn’t so keen🙄. The only downside is you need quite high speeds to take the weight off your hands - other than that , it’s amazing👍👍
Be aware of the clutch springs and basket they are no good If they are original you have to change them out to the new one that comes in the 2008 model.
@@MicMurphy1981 you don’t know what your talking about! I have a 2005 with original clutch and 64k miles and no problem at all and I ride very spirited. Don’t give bad information that is incorrect. 08 has has tapered synchro’s 05 has straight cut, no other difference both work perfect. Some say 08 shifts tad smoother I actually own both 05 and 08 there’s no difference.
Was about to get one, coming from a ZX14. But not sure on the parts (BMW dealership only?!) reliability (against the Japanese) and ease of maintenance to work on. It looks great, but the ZX14 had me thinking of more power (turbo kit). The only option for the K would be nitrous. I like be different, that’s why no Hayabusa, but somehow I keep coming back to this or the R1100S air cooled boxer twin (even slower I know)….
2:02 not true. The bike has a Telelever/Paralever suspension. The wheelbase doesn't change due to the compression of the forks, causing the dynamics to change
Sim. Têm muito em comum, mas o resultado final é bem diferente. Tive oportunidade de conduzir uma VFR800 há pouco tempo, também vou publicar esse vídeo em breve
Shame they have so many major problems. Bmws used to be class bikes ,1200 onwards were their downfall,sooo many recalls and breakdowns,theyre worthless now
2005 through 2008 I own both years and are almost identical, between the two my 05 has been my favorite with 64k miles put on. 08 feels a little more refined but 05 is a true pleasure to ride in its raw form and is a beast. Key is to keep them maintained. 05 has been the most reliable bike I’ve ever owned, don’t let them sit around, ride them often and spirited, do the maintenance and there bulletproof. ( just seeing a lot of misinformation and had to comment).
@@spaceexplorer6636 I heard that 2005s had more engine issues compared to 2008? Are 2008s more reliable? I heard issues with the transmission and shaft.
@@atillaadn most of what you hear is just internet rumors and unreliable sources. As a actual owner for many years I put a lot of miles on my 2005 and those are hard miles too, very spirited riding using all power and all rpms, bouncing it off the redline, 11k rpm shifts, basically everything I could throw at it. Rode with superbike guys and the k1200s did so well it surprised everyone. Engines are extremely reliable after 64k miles it gave me no problems, transmission and shaft no problems either. Doesn’t burn or leak oil period. It’s such a underestimated machine and until you own one you can’t understand how great it is. I think the Key is to use full synthetic Top premium oil only and change every 3k not 6k as recommended by manual. I also changed rear end fluid every 7.5k easy to do, drain and refill. Reason you hear about rear end failure because no one was changing fluid regularly and when they did they didn’t fill it with right oil or quantity, also lubing the shaft drive splines at same time, takes 30 minutes tops to do it with oil change as a diy. These bikes need to be riden, most let them sit and not ride them, not good for any bike. If your thinking of buying a k1200s go for it, easily the best bike I’ve owned. I also have a 08 that I’m selling because I can’t ride two bikes!
@@spaceexplorer6636 agree with you i have 2006 k1200s and the last of the 1300s motorsport 2015 do the maintenance and they will serve you well Bullet proof motor Both mine are keepers
I owned a 2005 K12S several years ago. Unforgettable relationship with this beast. I'm 6'2 and found it reasonably comfortable on ~400 mile trips.
The "Squat" is more due to the Duo-Lever Suspension. No front forks.
A very good bike for Western Colorado Roads and open landscapes.
Heavy, Tremendous Power , Brakes, and smooth precise handling. A gorgeous bike.
In the sparsely populated and open landscapes, mountain roads of Western Colorado it was very at home. I was often stretching its legs.
In one instance, on a deserted stretch of clean highway, I redlined up to 5th gear/ ~168 mph. 1 gear left but that was enough. Sold it 4 months later.
I had many bikes, fast bikes.When i bought k1200s i said "w.t.f. is this?????".Now after 6 years and many many many thousands miles still have it and make me happy every time ride it, its unique, enough fast, stability, monster, love it.
Have you got any issues with engin? ABS? Clutch? I have Yamaha BT1100, and I want to buy a second bike, BMW k1200r / s.
Great review...
You feel this bike your spot on !!
Only thing I disagree with is your point on not being great for city commute.
When you get used to one you can carve through city traffic with ease.
Total precision due to the duolever suspension.
In the future these will be looked upon as one of the greats.
Don’t tell anyone they might get too expensive ..
Sinds 2013 heb ik deze ook in mijn bezit (nu 2020), de motor heeft mij zoveel plezier gegeven dat ik besloten heb de motor te houden en daarnaast een K1600Gt te nemen. De reden is omdat ik steeds meer last van mijn polsen en nek kreeg door de sportieve houding en wat rechterop wilde zitten. Nu staat de motor warm en droog gestald naast m'n andere motoren. Tot op de dag van vandaag nog steeds verzot op deze schitterende motor.
After being an owner from 05 I have to completely agree with you, motorcycle worlds best keeped secret!
Around town is effortless once you get used to it, all depends on rider. Another thing is you can do clutchless shifting on these so effectively, I never use my clutch anymore except at stops and takeoff, few years back tried clucthless shifting by blipping throttle and shifting up or down and it’s smooth as silk, no need to engage clutch at all, I’m spoiled now, makes long rides so much more comfortable.
Actually the turn signal switches are superior. Once you get used to them they offer more control during use.
It's all about the engine. I bought a Ninja ZX-11 when it came out in 1990 and used it to tour Colorado for a couple of years. I feel the performance of my current 2005 K1200S is equivalent. On both bikes, the impression I received upon incrementally opening the throttle was not of increasing power to overcome inertia and accelerate, but rather to release the bike from an unseen retardant that had been artificially holding the machine back from its normal velocity. Ninety mph for the Ninja, closer to 100 for the Beemer. From that speed upward, everything clicks, everything works as designed, riding becomes instinctive, and time seems to slow down. If I had it to do over again, I should have kept the Ninja. It was lighter, more reliable and less fussy, plus I preferred the telescopic front fork. On the other hand, the shaft drive, fuel injection, and ABS are huge advantages for the Beemer. The main reason I miss the Ninja is the comfort deficit of the Beemer, caused mainly by the bars and seat, and maybe a bit by my advancing age. I hope to improve the comfort with new bars and seat while I fix the inevitable clutch problem that seems to infect every K bike ever built.
Great description of the power delivery. V12 car is similar to this.
Thanks for being honest. If you believe the ZX11 was better in certain places; I’m definitely keeping my ZX14 and boosting that instead of this K1200S and nitrous. Clutch issue being a common K series thing….enough for me. I guess when your brought up riding Japanese, there is a certain “reliability and durability” that is overlooked when trying to”non-Japanese” motorcycles. Maybe I’ll swap for a Honda CBR1100XX for total security….😊
Really good video mate, straight to the point and no music, waiting for mine to be delivered any day now, cant wait ;-)
Thank you. You’re going to have a good time on this one.
Hope you got it before the world collapsed?
Mine has been off the road since November 2019 - waiting for me to replace both front discs and fix the hole in the header (great sound when it pops etc but the MOT testing guy wasn’t so keen🙄.
The only downside is you need quite high speeds to take the weight off your hands - other than that , it’s amazing👍👍
Assembly day tomorrow...?
I’m buying one the weekend you’ve made my mind up
Hey!! how is it? im thinking about buying one myself aswell
Be aware of the clutch springs and basket they are no good If they are original you have to change them out to the new one that comes in the 2008 model.
@@MicMurphy1981 thanks for that!
@@MicMurphy1981 you don’t know what your talking about! I have a 2005 with original clutch and 64k miles and no problem at all and I ride very spirited. Don’t give bad information that is incorrect. 08 has has tapered synchro’s 05 has straight cut, no other difference both work perfect. Some say 08 shifts tad smoother I actually own both 05 and 08 there’s no difference.
Was about to get one, coming from a ZX14. But not sure on the parts (BMW dealership only?!) reliability (against the Japanese) and ease of maintenance to work on. It looks great, but the ZX14 had me thinking of more power (turbo kit). The only option for the K would be nitrous. I like be different, that’s why no Hayabusa, but somehow I keep coming back to this or the R1100S air cooled boxer twin (even slower I know)….
2:02 not true. The bike has a Telelever/Paralever suspension. The wheelbase doesn't change due to the compression of the forks, causing the dynamics to change
Great review !
Thank you
Sehr gut👍🇨🇭
Ola. que tal? Vale a pena? a moto da muitos problemas?
Obrigado
There is no combined braking system on the K 1200 S. Just assisted one.
Yes there is
Front & rear are linked and assisted on my 2005.
É uma sport-touring certo?
Quando a vi fez-me lembrar a Honda VFR800F :P
Sim. Têm muito em comum, mas o resultado final é bem diferente. Tive oportunidade de conduzir uma VFR800 há pouco tempo, também vou publicar esse vídeo em breve
Shame they have so many major problems.
Bmws used to be class bikes ,1200 onwards were their downfall,sooo many recalls and breakdowns,theyre worthless now
2008 Models are better than these do your research before you buy a used one!!
2005 through 2008 I own both years and are almost identical, between the two my 05 has been my favorite with 64k miles put on. 08 feels a little more refined but 05 is a true pleasure to ride in its raw form and is a beast. Key is to keep them maintained. 05 has been the most reliable bike I’ve ever owned, don’t let them sit around, ride them often and spirited, do the maintenance and there bulletproof.
( just seeing a lot of misinformation and had to comment).
@@spaceexplorer6636 I heard that 2005s had more engine issues compared to 2008? Are 2008s more reliable? I heard issues with the transmission and shaft.
@@atillaadn most of what you hear is just internet rumors and unreliable sources. As a actual owner for many years I put a lot of miles on my 2005 and those are hard miles too, very spirited riding using all power and all rpms, bouncing it off the redline, 11k rpm shifts, basically everything I could throw at it. Rode with superbike guys and the k1200s did so well it surprised everyone. Engines are extremely reliable after 64k miles it gave me no problems, transmission and shaft no problems either. Doesn’t burn or leak oil period. It’s such a underestimated machine and until you own one you can’t understand how great it is. I think the Key is to use full synthetic Top premium oil only and change every 3k not 6k as recommended by manual. I also changed rear end fluid every 7.5k easy to do, drain and refill. Reason you hear about rear end failure because no one was changing fluid regularly and when they did they didn’t fill it with right oil or quantity, also lubing the shaft drive splines at same time, takes 30 minutes tops to do it with oil change as a diy. These bikes need to be riden, most let them sit and not ride them, not good for any bike. If your thinking of buying a k1200s go for it, easily the best bike I’ve owned. I also have a 08 that I’m selling because I can’t ride two bikes!
@@spaceexplorer6636 agree with you i have 2006 k1200s and the last of the 1300s motorsport 2015
do the maintenance and they will serve you well
Bullet proof motor
Both mine are keepers