Picked up S 1000 R this morning
Discussion
Picked up my S 1000 R around 9:30 this morning. Have just got back in again. Did around 170 miles, mostly B roads (particularly the B660 from Bedford to Peterborough and back).
Overall of course I loved the bike. On the twisty roads it really was heaven. I have slowed down massively (now only corner so fast that I could stop in the distance I can see). Still, lovely to drop it in, wait until the corner opens out and then surf the torque on the way out. As the acceleration is so strong you can afford to drop a bit of corner speed. God knows how people use all the the available performance and not either kill themselves or get jailed!!
I have the sports screen and I found that cruising on dual carriageways was no problem. Even used the cruise control. Had I bought new (rather than a demo) I probably wouldn't have taken the cruise control but I'm glad to get it for "free" (sort of).
Although the bike was brilliant and I love it, it isn't perfect.
The mirrors are a pain. At 60 in 6th the view behind is crystal clear. Yet at 70 it is just a blur. Something that one can work around but still annoying on such an otherwise good bike.
I had a long ride last week and hadn't noticed the clutch being too much of a pain but today my left hand is aching. A joke that you can't adjust it. Might have to suck up the cost and go for the better levers. They standard ones look pretty cheap too.
Last problem is comfort. Or lack of it. Found it pretty uncomfortable today. Made worse by an old biking injury. Perhaps I just need more time in the saddle as don't usually spend all day riding. Will have to consider the comfort seat option.
Despite the small niggles above I love it. Out again tomorrow (have to pick up a new lid) and going for a ride out on Sunday. Last time I went (a couple of weekends back) I had the smallest and slowest bike. Kept up fine as we were not going that fast. But I had to rev it quite hard. Shouldn't be such a struggle this time!!
Overall of course I loved the bike. On the twisty roads it really was heaven. I have slowed down massively (now only corner so fast that I could stop in the distance I can see). Still, lovely to drop it in, wait until the corner opens out and then surf the torque on the way out. As the acceleration is so strong you can afford to drop a bit of corner speed. God knows how people use all the the available performance and not either kill themselves or get jailed!!
I have the sports screen and I found that cruising on dual carriageways was no problem. Even used the cruise control. Had I bought new (rather than a demo) I probably wouldn't have taken the cruise control but I'm glad to get it for "free" (sort of).
Although the bike was brilliant and I love it, it isn't perfect.
The mirrors are a pain. At 60 in 6th the view behind is crystal clear. Yet at 70 it is just a blur. Something that one can work around but still annoying on such an otherwise good bike.
I had a long ride last week and hadn't noticed the clutch being too much of a pain but today my left hand is aching. A joke that you can't adjust it. Might have to suck up the cost and go for the better levers. They standard ones look pretty cheap too.
Last problem is comfort. Or lack of it. Found it pretty uncomfortable today. Made worse by an old biking injury. Perhaps I just need more time in the saddle as don't usually spend all day riding. Will have to consider the comfort seat option.
Despite the small niggles above I love it. Out again tomorrow (have to pick up a new lid) and going for a ride out on Sunday. Last time I went (a couple of weekends back) I had the smallest and slowest bike. Kept up fine as we were not going that fast. But I had to rev it quite hard. Shouldn't be such a struggle this time!!
Life is full of surprises. Some in the past three years haven't been so great to be honest. Won't bore you all with the details. A year ago I would have put the chances of me riding back on the road to be pretty much zero. It was just amazing to be out today on brilliant roads on such an amazing bike,
knowing that it belonged to me. Quite a happy camper this evening!
knowing that it belonged to me. Quite a happy camper this evening!
bennyboysvuk said:
I thought this was standard for all bikes. Looking in them at 60+ gives you a vague idea of what's behind. Taking your hand from the bar and holding the mirror firmly to dampen the vibration then makes that view more accurate. I don't think I've ever known any different.
Nice S1000 BTW. Looks like it'll wheelie well.
Yes it is a problem on most bikes. I suppose I thought that being a BMW it might be a bit better. I think what is most frustrating is that the vibrations start at 70 - just when you need them if you are riding at legal speeds.Nice S1000 BTW. Looks like it'll wheelie well.
Still, at least I can see something behind me in the mirrors (other than my elbows) so better than some Italian bikes I've ridden!
gwm said:
So Esceptico, now you have had the bike a while. The novelty worn off? Things you love/ hate?
After your thread and steve954's, I fancy a proper look at the S1000R.
Check out this owner's review I wrote for MCN.After your thread and steve954's, I fancy a proper look at the S1000R.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/bmw/s10...
I think from my posts you can get the impression that I am more than a little impressed with the S 1000 R. It is a brilliant bike. Whether it is any better than the other naked superbikes is open to question as I didn't try them! I plan to correct that when I get a chance.
All the BMW dealers I have dealt with seemed amenable to giving long test rides so if you are interested try one for a morning or afternoon.
I think only Pirelli DRC and Continental Sportattack 2 (not sure if I have that correct) are officially approved tyres so would think it is one of those. Think I have only seen DRCs.
I bought a demo bike (I was trading in a fairly new bike and the hit I suffered on the trade in was offset by the discount on the demo bike). It came with cruise control which is an option. I wouldn't have paid for it. Have only used it twice so far. It is useful on the motorway but I do very few such miles.
I really notice the anti-wheelie. I get the feeling I would be headbutting the clocks a lot without out as bike gets quite lively under full acceleration or over bumps.
Not ridden it much in the wet. Partly because it has been reasonably dry since I've had it (although cold and windy).
There is a forum for the S 1000 R. I would recommend going on there if you are serious about getting one as lots of information about the bike and good mods. Forum members good at answering queries.
It is a really great bike.
I bought a demo bike (I was trading in a fairly new bike and the hit I suffered on the trade in was offset by the discount on the demo bike). It came with cruise control which is an option. I wouldn't have paid for it. Have only used it twice so far. It is useful on the motorway but I do very few such miles.
I really notice the anti-wheelie. I get the feeling I would be headbutting the clocks a lot without out as bike gets quite lively under full acceleration or over bumps.
Not ridden it much in the wet. Partly because it has been reasonably dry since I've had it (although cold and windy).
There is a forum for the S 1000 R. I would recommend going on there if you are serious about getting one as lots of information about the bike and good mods. Forum members good at answering queries.
It is a really great bike.
What was it about the active suspension you didn't like?
Generally I find it to be pretty good. I think it does smooth about the bumps very well. I drove down some roads near Finchingfield this week in my car and was surprised to find it was pretty bumpy: I hadn't noticed on the S 1000 R.
I am not sure if it is just me but I do get the feeling that it doesn't always work well or perhaps gets confused. I was filtering through traffic last week on a dual carriageway. The road surface wasn't great and there could have been cambers but for some reason the bike did feel a bit odd. I have had that sensation before on other roads but very infrequently. I wonder whether the electronic suspension gets upset by certain inputs.
I am still in two minds about the wide bars and seating position. I took out an RR last week for a coupe of hours and really loved being back on a sportsbike in the prone position. But after jumping back on the R and readjusting that is great too.
I think I was kidding myself when I thought a naked bike would make it easier to go more slowly. Maybe it does help stop you riding for long periods at three figure speeds on the motorway...but then I don't ride on the motorway unless necessary and on the best roads you aren't sitting at constant speeds for long.
Generally I find it to be pretty good. I think it does smooth about the bumps very well. I drove down some roads near Finchingfield this week in my car and was surprised to find it was pretty bumpy: I hadn't noticed on the S 1000 R.
I am not sure if it is just me but I do get the feeling that it doesn't always work well or perhaps gets confused. I was filtering through traffic last week on a dual carriageway. The road surface wasn't great and there could have been cambers but for some reason the bike did feel a bit odd. I have had that sensation before on other roads but very infrequently. I wonder whether the electronic suspension gets upset by certain inputs.
I am still in two minds about the wide bars and seating position. I took out an RR last week for a coupe of hours and really loved being back on a sportsbike in the prone position. But after jumping back on the R and readjusting that is great too.
I think I was kidding myself when I thought a naked bike would make it easier to go more slowly. Maybe it does help stop you riding for long periods at three figure speeds on the motorway...but then I don't ride on the motorway unless necessary and on the best roads you aren't sitting at constant speeds for long.
gwm said:
I'll take steve954 advice and set up it according to the manual. I guess it just feels weird coming off quite a stiffly sprung sportsbike. I was deliberately on rough country/farm style roads to see how it felt. Do you notice much difference between soft/norm/hard?
I'm lucky that I still have a sportsbike, as I know what you mean.
I haven't played much with the suspension settings. I did try hard briefly but it didn't feel that different. I just leave it in normal and dynamic.I'm lucky that I still have a sportsbike, as I know what you mean.
I've only recently got back onto bikes and my insurance is high. If I can build up some no claims and get the premiums down I would like to buy some more bikes. Or I might swap the S 1KR next year for a sportsbike.
Nakeds might stop you sitting on the motorways at high speeds for long periods but then that is a good way of getting caught and perhaps not recommended. If you think it will slow you down on A and B roads you might be disappointed (or having lots of fun - depending how you view it !!)
lucky5trike said:
Can someone here with a S1000r please do me a favour pretty please cherry on top;
With the bike on the sidestand, can you please measure the distance from the end of both handlebar levers to the ground (so one big and one small measurement). And if possible, with the bike upright (might a be a two person job!), can you measure the height again (one measurement).
I think I may have to modify the garage door width so that my new purchase can fit inside...........
Someone beat me to it with the measurements butWith the bike on the sidestand, can you please measure the distance from the end of both handlebar levers to the ground (so one big and one small measurement). And if possible, with the bike upright (might a be a two person job!), can you measure the height again (one measurement).
I think I may have to modify the garage door width so that my new purchase can fit inside...........
I'm struggling to imagine a garage that you cant fit a bike in - have you bought a house in Hobbiton
?steve954 said:
I'm just in road mode! I kind of don't feel I need anything else.
I used to ride in a Road but switched to Dynamic and never switched back.Even road in the rain at the weekend and forgot to switch. Personally I find the throttle so linear and the power delivery so smooth that even riding on quite wet roads was no issue (some other people in the group I was with on other bikes did complain of twitching rear tyres).
I haven't tried Dynamic Pro as haven't fitted the plug. Not even sure where the plug is!
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