Discussion
I've had one since April and as a road bike I can't honestly think of anything at that price that i'd rather have. As others have said, the torque is great, and the quickshift was a bit of a revelation once I got used to it... every bike should have one!!
It's a good point about the standard tyres, they really are appalling in the wet so if you're gonna be riding in all weathers then get them changed sooner rather than later.
As for trackdays, the bike is great for the odd one or two, but to be honest they do have a few compromises, mainly the head covers can ground relatively easily at high lean angles. In the dry, the standard Metzeler tyres are so grippy, then it's easy even for a novice to lean the bike over far enough to have this happen. The mainly problem is you're then putting a force through the bike, effectively lifting the weight off the tyres, which can't be good!
If most of your riding is on the road, then from my experience then the bike feels special everytime you ride it, and really does have a road presence that only a few other bikes can match.
The looks are definitely a marmite thing, but i've had nothing but positive comments from people that have seen the bike up close.
Cue gratuitous photo!!!
It's a good point about the standard tyres, they really are appalling in the wet so if you're gonna be riding in all weathers then get them changed sooner rather than later.
As for trackdays, the bike is great for the odd one or two, but to be honest they do have a few compromises, mainly the head covers can ground relatively easily at high lean angles. In the dry, the standard Metzeler tyres are so grippy, then it's easy even for a novice to lean the bike over far enough to have this happen. The mainly problem is you're then putting a force through the bike, effectively lifting the weight off the tyres, which can't be good!
If most of your riding is on the road, then from my experience then the bike feels special everytime you ride it, and really does have a road presence that only a few other bikes can match.
The looks are definitely a marmite thing, but i've had nothing but positive comments from people that have seen the bike up close.
Cue gratuitous photo!!!
2seas said:
tori said:
bob1179 said:
lawrence567 said:
Or get a white GSXR and crash it into a wall!
I could never do that knowingly and there is only one person I know who can carry that off with any style or panache...
And he didn't!
If we plan a few track days, maybe a knee down school and a few scotland trips prior to the Italy/spain adventure, we'll have it in the bag! And see if you can get a two for the price of one, give the other to Woody and we can burn that bloody ER6 of his. I'm sure there's a film about a car possessed by evil, I'm damned if Kawasaki didn't call in the devil when they made this piece of s
t! i bought the latest issue of 'bike' and there's a feature on some irish racing guy who converted his er6-f into a trackbike and it's working out pretty well for him...
your plan of things to do sounds great!
I'd love to by you a bike Woody, I really would, but I don't think I could could stretch to thirty grands worth of motorcylces... I still love you though mate so don't take it too personally. How's about a beer when I come home instead?
Anyway Tori, what is this Spain/Italy trip thing? And when is it? Or wasn't I supposed to find out because you think I smell and nobdy really likes me...?
annsxman said:
The HP2 has a much higher spec than the basic 1198. If you want a similar spec you have to look at the 1198R and that is IINM at least £3k more than the HP2
The 1198S (they don’t do an R in the 1198 yet) is a little over £16k and is so far ahead of the BM that it isn’t really worth listing everything here....MrChips said:
I've had one since April and as a road bike I can't honestly think of anything at that price that i'd rather have. As others have said, the torque is great, and the quickshift was a bit of a revelation once I got used to it... every bike should have one!!
It's a good point about the standard tyres, they really are appalling in the wet so if you're gonna be riding in all weathers then get them changed sooner rather than later.
As for trackdays, the bike is great for the odd one or two, but to be honest they do have a few compromises, mainly the head covers can ground relatively easily at high lean angles. In the dry, the standard Metzeler tyres are so grippy, then it's easy even for a novice to lean the bike over far enough to have this happen. The mainly problem is you're then putting a force through the bike, effectively lifting the weight off the tyres, which can't be good!
If most of your riding is on the road, then from my experience then the bike feels special everytime you ride it, and really does have a road presence that only a few other bikes can match.
The looks are definitely a marmite thing, but i've had nothing but positive comments from people that have seen the bike up close.
Cue gratuitous photo!!!
Cheers MrChips!It's a good point about the standard tyres, they really are appalling in the wet so if you're gonna be riding in all weathers then get them changed sooner rather than later.
As for trackdays, the bike is great for the odd one or two, but to be honest they do have a few compromises, mainly the head covers can ground relatively easily at high lean angles. In the dry, the standard Metzeler tyres are so grippy, then it's easy even for a novice to lean the bike over far enough to have this happen. The mainly problem is you're then putting a force through the bike, effectively lifting the weight off the tyres, which can't be good!
If most of your riding is on the road, then from my experience then the bike feels special everytime you ride it, and really does have a road presence that only a few other bikes can match.
The looks are definitely a marmite thing, but i've had nothing but positive comments from people that have seen the bike up close.
Cue gratuitous photo!!!
Awesome pic by the way! Are they really that easy to grind the heads against the ground? It shouldn't be too much of a problem as I'm really a bit of fanny and I'm not actually that good at getting my knee down! I can however see it as a bit of an issue if you end up slinding along on the engine!
I've just downloaded the brochure and looked on the website again. I absolutely love the bike. You can also get it in Motorrad racing colours. Although very boy racer, I think it looks sweet!
bob1179 said:
2seas said:
tori said:
bob1179 said:
lawrence567 said:
Or get a white GSXR and crash it into a wall!
I could never do that knowingly and there is only one person I know who can carry that off with any style or panache...And he didn't!
If we plan a few track days, maybe a knee down school and a few scotland trips prior to the Italy/spain adventure, we'll have it in the bag! And see if you can get a two for the price of one, give the other to Woody and we can burn that bloody ER6 of his. I'm sure there's a film about a car possessed by evil, I'm damned if Kawasaki didn't call in the devil when they made this piece of s
t! i bought the latest issue of 'bike' and there's a feature on some irish racing guy who converted his er6-f into a trackbike and it's working out pretty well for him...
your plan of things to do sounds great!
I'd love to by you a bike Woody, I really would, but I don't think I could could stretch to thirty grands worth of motorcylces... I still love you though mate so don't take it too personally. How's about a beer when I come home instead?
Anyway Tori, what is this Spain/Italy trip thing? And when is it? Or wasn't I supposed to find out because you think I smell and nobdy really likes me...?
i'm on a bit of a health kick at the moment - no beer or junk food for the last 2 weeks. so by the time you're back i'll be ready to down a keg. when are you back?
can't wait for another road trip.
get the bmw!
Threeracers said:
annsxman said:
The HP2 has a much higher spec than the basic 1198. If you want a similar spec you have to look at the 1198R and that is IINM at least £3k more than the HP2
The 1198S (they don’t do an R in the 1198 yet) is a little over £16k and is so far ahead of the BM that it isn’t really worth listing everything here....bob1179 said:
I've just downloaded the brochure and looked on the website again. I absolutely love the bike. You can also get it in Motorrad racing colours. Although very boy racer, I think it looks sweet!
I think the Motorrad colours are a bit busy but someone on the Boxertrix website did this to his HP2 which i think is very tasteful:http://www.boxertrix.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=91...
2seas said:
no worries mate - i'm employed again now (dammit) so i'm just waiting out the winter before upgrading. the weird thing is i have come to love kristine because i respect the fact that she refuses to die despite all the abuse i've given her - so i'm not sure i'll sell... might just have to get a seconf bike too! the only thing better than a motorbike... is two motorbikes.
i'm on a bit of a health kick at the moment - no beer or junk food for the last 2 weeks. so by the time you're back i'll be ready to down a keg. when are you back?
can't wait for another road trip.
get the bmw!
I reckon you keep Kristine and get another bike too, there is 'nowt better than having two or more bikes!i'm on a bit of a health kick at the moment - no beer or junk food for the last 2 weeks. so by the time you're back i'll be ready to down a keg. when are you back?
can't wait for another road trip.
get the bmw!
Good job on the health kick, I'm doing the same now - I'm down to three (large) bottles of beer a day now and I'm eating at least two pieces of fruit daily. Go me!
I'm back on January 16th, get your drinking boots on for then!
annsxman said:
I think the Motorrad colours are a bit busy but someone on the Boxertrix website did this to his HP2 which i think is very tasteful:
http://www.boxertrix.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=91...
Now that is extremely pretty. I reckon that would be the prefect colour scheme for me too.http://www.boxertrix.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=91...
(Link noted.)
bob1179 said:
Cheers MrChips!
Awesome pic by the way! Are they really that easy to grind the heads against the ground?
I woudn't say that it was easy, just that it is possible. Look at the pic on page 2 of this thread and you can see how close they are, and that rider can probably push things a little further. It wouldn't put me off the bike at all to be honest, only if I was buying it with the thought of doing lots of trackdays, would it make me reconsider, or more likely.... get a trackbike and keep the HP2 for the road. Best of both worlds!Awesome pic by the way! Are they really that easy to grind the heads against the ground?
I really like the HP2 - great looking. Modern, but embracing BMW's flat twin, which I love. It's the only BMW that I REALLY want.
Saying that, it's about £4K too expensive, which is a real shame and must blunt its sales.
A Ducati is not better or worst, just different, but at £15K instead of £11K, BMW are not going to pick up the purchases from people wanting a left field alternative to a 1000cc in-line 4. People wanting to be different and having more money to spend are likely to go the Ducati, MV Agusta type route. Probably why you don't see many on the road.
I just hope the HP2 survives the S1000's arrival.
Saying that, it's about £4K too expensive, which is a real shame and must blunt its sales.
A Ducati is not better or worst, just different, but at £15K instead of £11K, BMW are not going to pick up the purchases from people wanting a left field alternative to a 1000cc in-line 4. People wanting to be different and having more money to spend are likely to go the Ducati, MV Agusta type route. Probably why you don't see many on the road.
I just hope the HP2 survives the S1000's arrival.
BMW's are expensive. . .to put the HP2 Sport's price into context, I have it's little brother the R1200S which I think was around £12,000 new if not more with various must have options added. Considering just how much better the HP2 is I think it's a good deal. Its not a mass produced bike, its super limited edition and I'd bet BMW's profit margin on it is tiny in comparison to its other bikes.
Sure there are quicker bikes at a fraction of the cost, and its looks divide opinion but for me it's an instant classic.
Sure there are quicker bikes at a fraction of the cost, and its looks divide opinion but for me it's an instant classic.
Edited by xspencex on Sunday 22 November 12:02
BMW's are expensive. . .to put the HP2 Sport's price into context, I have it's little brother the R1200S which I think was around £12,000 new if not more with various must have options added. Considering just how much better the HP2 is I think it's a good deal. Its not a mass produced bike, its super limited edition and I'd bet BMW's profit margin on it is tiny in comparison to its other bikes.
Sure there are quicker bikes at a fraction of the cost, and its looks divide opinion but for me it's an instant classic.
Sure there are quicker bikes at a fraction of the cost, and its looks divide opinion but for me it's an instant classic.
Edited by xspencex on Sunday 22 November 12:06
MrChips said:
bob1179 said:
Cheers MrChips!
Awesome pic by the way! Are they really that easy to grind the heads against the ground?
I woudn't say that it was easy, just that it is possible. Look at the pic on page 2 of this thread and you can see how close they are, and that rider can probably push things a little further. It wouldn't put me off the bike at all to be honest, only if I was buying it with the thought of doing lots of trackdays, would it make me reconsider, or more likely.... get a trackbike and keep the HP2 for the road. Best of both worlds!Awesome pic by the way! Are they really that easy to grind the heads against the ground?
By the way, i've just noticed in your pic that you took the mirrors and rear lights/number plate off. Do they come off easily then for track work? The bike looks really cool without them!
bob1179 said:
Chilli said:
Bob,
Have you put a deposit down yet? We need to talk properly about this.....15 grand?
ps - Flying straight home??!!
I have to buy myself a decent Chrimbo pressie as nobody else will...Have you put a deposit down yet? We need to talk properly about this.....15 grand?
ps - Flying straight home??!!
How is Dubai? Is it time to come over and have a beer session with you?
Always up for a beer mate!
Chilli said:
bob1179 said:
Chilli said:
Bob,
Have you put a deposit down yet? We need to talk properly about this.....15 grand?
ps - Flying straight home??!!
I have to buy myself a decent Chrimbo pressie as nobody else will...Have you put a deposit down yet? We need to talk properly about this.....15 grand?
ps - Flying straight home??!!
How is Dubai? Is it time to come over and have a beer session with you?
Always up for a beer mate!
You've met me though and you know I'm a little odd, I reckon this particular machine is right up my street...
I'm out of Russia in January for a few weeks of R&R, I reckon a little sunshine, beer and beach type activity could be right up my street.
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