RE: BMW R1200 RS: PH2 Review

[offshoreeddy]

I've got an R1200 RS on order for June delivery, and I'm p/xing a 2014 Multistrada for it which, although I've enjoyed, also has it's niggles.

[Mad Jock]

spareparts said:

cpl_payne said:

black-k1 said:

Riding gods may find that the technology detracts from the fun while riding at the limit but for us mere mortals, the technology will only intervene when we get it wrong and likely need to be saved. There are a few on here who would not have had an accident had technology been available.

At the risk of derailing the thread (oops - too late!) I'm not sure I agree. IMHO things like traction control and riding modes are consequences of the arms race that manufacturers participate in to continue selling bikes, with ever growing performance figures dictating the need for increasing assistance to keep it rideable. Sure, on a 130+ bhp bike I might find TC and riding modes necessary, but I see absolutely no need for that on a mid-size motorcycle (unlike ABS which can come in handy even on a 125).

I've used the TC and anti-wheelie control on my 2015 1200GS quite a few times to great effect when making fast road progress. The venerable LC boxer (same as on the RS) does not have superbike levels of power, but 90+ ftlbs torque and when using it to make RAPID progress across country on patchy roads, it is a perfectly judged road motor allied to very useful electronics.

This past weekend, it never lacked for power and happily maintained a good lick of speed leading a group of 6 of us to the Ring and Eifel Mountains - 2 x twin spark Multistradas, a 1098, V4 Tuono, Hayabusa, and the GS. BMW's LC twin is a fantastic engine for anything but track use. It could benefit from an extra 30hp to help high speed Autobahn work when riding over 120mph, but how often is that?

Although this clip ends with a crash, TC and ABS had little to do with it, but this guy is certainly pushing it with his Air Cooled GS. You can see the camera shake when the TC engages when he powers out of corners, on a dry road, on a sunny day. I would say that 110 HP is enough to warrant TC if you want to ride with this degree of "enthusiasm",
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCqGm3Gd_E

[cpl_payne]

Mad Jock said:

Although this clip ends with a crash, TC and ABS had little to do with it, but this guy is certainly pushing it with his Air Cooled GS. You can see the camera shake when the TC engages when he powers out of corners, on a dry road, on a sunny day. I would say that 110 HP is enough to warrant TC if you want to ride with this degree of "enthusiasm",
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjCqGm3Gd_E

That's quite sobering, it happened so quickly. I'm not sure if this is the point you're making, but in my opinion TC might actually be a disadvantage in a situation like that, enabling you to just pin the throttle exiting the corners without regard for consequences. That is not to say lack of TC would automatically make him observe the speed limits.

[jackh707]

Very interesting vid, however GS's of that age, early 1200s have ASC, if it's specced.

It's not traction control, it's very very crude and just stops the wheel spinning up, it dosnt kick in right away and wouldn't stop you from losing the back end on a wet corner like the latest stuff would.

I'm pretty sure that's not it activating coming out of corners causing vibrating, I think that's just the engine vibration at around 2500rpm.

However good riding an an insightful vid, I wonder how he would have come off if he was on a smaller bike. There is a lot of mass and protection in front of you on a GS. A smaller lower bike like most would have probably had a far worse outcome.

[Speed addicted]

dc2rr07 said:

Speed addicted said:

I'm 38 and on paper this would be my ideal bike with comfort and power being about right plus the bility to take luggage for big tours.

Sadly it also looks boring.

Quite fancy a Diavel and lots of hassle when touring!

You should try a Multistrada if your after a Ducati for touring, still not keen on these and I am well over 40

Don't like the Multistrada either. It ticks all the boxes for what I actually use a bike for but I'd have to look at the thing at some point, thus ruining it for me.
Honestly I'd rather have a compromised bike that I like than something more capable that I don't. I'm in the process of selling my VFR1200 while keeping the CB1300 simply because the CB (while on paper being worse at pretty much everything) is more fun to ride at sane speeds.

[Silver993tt]

jackh707 said:

However good riding an an insightful vid

Good riding? He was traveling too fast around that last bend (and many others) and couldn't see as far as he needed to in case he had to brake. I see this very often in teh Alps, bikes going too fast around right hand bends, blind to what they can see and no chance of stopping should anything be in the road around the bend. The vid was very insightful, on how not to take bends at those speeds.

[jackh707]

Silver993tt said:

ood riding? He was traveling too fast around that last bend (and many others) and couldn't see as far as he needed to in case he had to brake. I see this very often in teh Alps, bikes going too fast around right hand bends, blind to what they can see and no chance of stopping should anything be in the road around the bend. The vid was very insightful, on how not to take bends at those speeds.

Agreed, he wasn't anticipating any other road users, and certainly isn't the finest in retrospect.

[LotusMartin]

I hope they handle better than the 2015 R1200R I had as a loaner the other day. To say the suspension was 'Harsh' would be a massive understatement and I tried all the modes! No way I could live with that. apparently you can spec them with just ESA and not the Dynamic ride whatchamacallit.