2010 BMW R1200R User Ratings

Purchased a used 2007 in 2009 and have put about 8000 miles on it. Have owned several bikes over the past 25 years and have made some long road trips on bikes (Colorado to Alaska and back amonst others)but hadn't ridden in 6 years, first day I purchased the bike was riding home and got caught in a hail storm 5 miles from my house, rode it home and on my way there came around a curve and of course someone was turning left and had stopped for oncoming traffic, road slick with hail on a curve and I thought I am going down, had to hit the brakes harder than I wanted and the bike stopped dead nuts straight, no fuss no muss, personally I like ABS. Have taken several long rides on it and it always works great, the two biggest issues I have had to deal with is the standard seat which is horrible, starts to hurt within 100 miles, no bueno, the other thing is I have finally learned what BMW stands for: Bring Money With, but I had a good idea going into it. Love the bike, handles well, great brakes and once I changed the seat comfortable for rides of 600 to 700 miles per day. Sounds like a sewing machine and not a bullet bike but was still pulling strong at 110 mph and very stable. Test ride before you buy cause it is different from any other bike I had but if it is your flavor, enjoy.

This bike is comfortable at any speed one is willing to ride in the non racetrack world. It is quick and fast. It turns great, leans way over and stops brilliantly. Telelever front suspension handles bumps potholes and everything else better thatn any other motorcycle setup on the market. If wheelies are needed, no problem. At high speed in windy conditions the bike is super stable. Even with no fairing, sitting up straight is easy at 100mph plus speeds.
Value? Japanese made motorcycles are...cheaper feeling and looking. American made motorcycles are typically more expensive, you pay for image, yet the motorcycles are just crappy. Italian motorcycles look great and are fast, as long as they don't malfunction.
If you are a rookie or a veteran, or you ride every day, fast, at night, all year long, this is your motorcycle.
If you are or poor, this may not your motorcycle. Test riding an R1200R without enough cash to ride away that day will sour you.

ergonomics are notorious on this model for being -- lousy. reliability -- questionable-- it's had brake issues, battery issues, final drive failures-- all these all known an documentented by riders.. brakes-- abs and grabby. transmission-- oh please-- typical bmw tranny -- cluny noisy designed to not shift into 1st gear easily on cold start up-- i could go on. resale value-- oh thats bmw's dirty little secret-- 35% loss right out the door. look im being kind here... compared to the old 1150 -- yes its a tremendous improvement-- then again -- i wouldnt own a bmw older than 2 yrs old...

I've owned a Cushman Eagle, two Sportsters, KLR 650, R1150R and now the R1200R. First, I am 6 ft 1 in tall and 200 lbs. The bike with a standard seat fits like a glove. There is NOTHING not to like about the R1200R..it has it all and does it all!! I did a 2 month ride around America on my R1150R and it was the ride of a life time. I was going to do a 4-6 month Mediterranean ride, but due to finances I am going to do another America's Ride...which will be just great. The R1200R is like the big brother to the R1150R. More HP, more Torque, etc., but one awesome ride. The 1200 is lighter than the 1150 and this makes it even more responsive and nimble. It is kinda like you think what you would like the bike to do and it is done! If this is the last bike I ever own I will not be disappointed. You owe it to yourself to ride, and hopefully own, an R1200R !! If you have time check out my web site. Thanks and good riding. http://www.bmwxplor.com/search/do?search[type]=Riders&search[term]=jsutton2825&x=41&y=14

I came to riding late in life and recently traded my first bike--a 2008 BMW F800ST--for a 2010 R1200R with the touring package. I was looking for something light and agile enough to be good commuter (including frequent trips into Washington DC), fun enough to make me grin during my 350 mile weekend rides through mountains and forests, and comfortable enough for multiday trips and 400+ mile days. The R1200R, with the addition of an aftermarket touring windshield, nails it.

Coming from my F800ST, I was expecting added power and comfort, but thought I'd give up handling. To my surprise, it is actually better in tight turns the result, I suspect, of a lower center of gravity and a superior front fork. The acceleration is not neck-snapping, but the bike pulls nicely from about 4,000 RPM. I've had it up to the mid 90s and it was very composed and still pulling when I ran out of straight away and had to slow down.

At first I was tepid about the looks, but they've grown on me. It's VERY German, with "engineering as art" and nothing other than the chrome on the exhaust added purely for aesthetics. In this regard, it's kind of the anti-Harley.

While I consider the bike excellent, let me list a few shortcomings or considerations:

--The stock low seat is horrible. It became uncomfortable in a matter of minutes. I was forced to buy an Airhawk until I can replace the seat.
--Since the headlight, instruments, and windshield are all attached to the front fork, handling is heavy at very low, parking lot speeds. I tried some cone weaves to practice for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Experienced Riders' Course and found them very difficult.
--The shaft drive means that it takes more power to get a smooth start than it did on my belt driven F800ST. This is something I'm sure I'll adjust to.
--I'm not sure if the dry clutch will be a problem in stop and go traffic in Washington.

I've owned it 16 days and put over 2,000 miles on it. It may be my favorite possession ever. Hopefully, it will be more reliable than my F800ST (which had six major warranty repairs in two years) and I'll keep it for a long time.

I have had a new K2GSXR 1000, a 2003 Hayabusa, then a 2006 K6GSXR1000 and each one was a japanese masterpiece; however, as time has gone on, I have lost the need for raw speed, and with the variable Australian country roads was looking for something that wasn't too heavy, could handle dirt roads, and provided sure footed grip. So I took a big leap and bought a new BMWR1200R. It was a big transition with very tentative riding in the first few weeks. The unit I got has all the bells and whistles except the tire pressure feedback. It has ASC (automatic stability control) ESP (electronic suspension) and ABS. The first few weeks I had it, the weather was rainy and I have come to really really enjoy this bike. It is just so stable in wet conditions, so much so, that some of the ex-racers with whom I ride, find me on their tail up through twisty roads, where on the GSXR I was more tentative. This bike has given me a lot more confidence. You brake (both brakes, front and back) through the front brake, mediated by the ABS, so you can't stuff it up, and when cornering even in the wet, every now and then when the back tyre starts to slip, the little ASC kicks in, manages the spark and brakes and you never get close to unpleasant moments. As the manual says, "subject to the law of physics" the bike provides great confidence and stability. It also has enough go in it, for me not to feel deprived leaving the suzuki in the trade-in yard at the BMW dealer. My advice is, if you're thinking of one, go for it. They are, as the dealer Peter Rock said, one of the most underestimated bikes around.