Test rode some other brands today.

[andrewdonald1]

So I had a day to myself today.. which was really nice as I've been really busy at work for about 6 mos straight.
Today was a day just to enjoy and do what I wanted.

So I decided to head over to South Sound BMW and demo some bikes.

I've been considering picking up a second bike to play with or at least dream a little about.
Stelvio NTX isn't going anywhere, that's my truck of motorcycles.

I've been thinking about a super naked.  Something small, lightweight, with some power (I like the wheelie potential on demand) and decent comfort.
The BMW dealer had a used 2013 Tuono V4R with 7K miles on it for $8900 or so (included APRC).
I've wanted to ride the V4 Tuono, and I knew this dealership is pretty relaxed about test rides, in fact they encourage them.
So off I went this morning to ride the Tuono.  I've been thinking about getting an older V2 Tuono since they are pretty cheap and pretty fun to ride. But its been about 5 years since I rode one of them, so I wanted to try the upgraded V4R first.
Then I have some background if I decide to get the V2 version as I won't always be wondering if I should have did an upgrade.
That's ride 1.

Ride 2 - 4:  I've only ridden one BMW in my 35 years of riding and that was a 09 GS12.
In order of rides:  R NineT, R 1200 R, & finally the S 1000 R.

So a little history about me, so you understand where I am coming from.
I've ridden for 35+ years, everything from ATC's, dual sport 650 singles, 125 motor cross, Harleys, Guzzi's, GSXR crotch rockets for 20 years, NS400, CB550K1, Honda Shadow's & Aero 1100... Basically I've ridden/owned the spread of the Genre's.

Ok, so the Tuono V4R:  awesome motor, stock exhaust is GREAT!  That bike is a hot rod!  The brakes are awesome.  The seat sucks, but being an around town bike I'd be ok with the seat.  Overall this is a hot rod that has a serious growl and the teeth to back it up.  Usually with a bike of this performance, for me around town they are boring because its like you have this loaded gun between your legs that you can never open up.  It typically is frustrating for me.  But in this case, because it has such a hot rod motor with serious growl, you can zip around town and get a great connection to the bike without getting into serious trouble.
So I like it.  And the price is very good.

Next Up:  R NineT.  Ok I've always thought BMW's to be a little blah to me.. something the old stick in the mud dudes ride.  Typically more gadgets on their bikes and nannie safety clothing that it just wasn't my style. To each their own, but I just didn't get it myself.  Ok that's my story..and its just that so if I've offended anyone, please its just a story that isn't accurate.. I know.
So I expected the BMW's to be soul less and lots of widgets.
Ok now on to the R NineT:  I like it.  It's got the oil head boxer in it.  It's got nice fit and finish.  Enough power to blip the throttle in first and it'll wheelie.  Overall, I really like it.  Enough power to be fun but not crazy power, but honestly I thought the boxer was not bad.  Obviously smoother that the Guzzi, but its really not a bad motor.  I really like this bike, this is a bike you get up on Sunday and go for a 6 or 7 tenths ride on the back roads, then stop for a coffee.  I'd consider buying this bike which really surprised me.  IMHO its a relaxed cafe racer style bike, with sane handle bars and no clip ons.  Perfect for the 40'ish guy like me.

R 1200 R:  This was loaded with extra widgets.  This is the water cooled boxer motor.  Take the nannie safeties off and I was surprised how much power it has.  It'll power wheelie in 1st easy, and 2nd gets light.  When it lifts up in 1st, it feels like you are let down because you hit redline pretty quickly. Overall the motor feels more polished than the oil head.  At the intersections or very slow rolling, and you rev the motor up, the crank shaft inertia was much more pronounced then the NineT.  The bars are a little more relaxed then the NineT.  Overall, I felt this kinda is like the NineT but more I'd be hitting the back roads at the 8 tenths effort level.  I probably wouldn't consider this guy, because if I moved up to its power level I'd just move to the Tuono or S1000R and be done with it.  When this guy runs out of rev's, the Tuono or S1000R are just getting into their groove.

Lastly the S 1000 R:  I haven't ridden an inline 4 in 10 years.  They are just so smooth and sewing machine like to me now-a-days that they really don't interest me.  But I wanted to try this one, as it was a super naked but most importantly I could have cruise control on this.  That to me just speaks at my age/experience level. I like those little creature comforts including heated grips which it had.  So the bike.  Its a screamer.  Really nice bike.  It's impression to me is like a Ferrari motor.  Take the safeties off which I did:  1st gear anytime it'll power wheelie up, 2nd once it builds up to about 8 or 9K it'll wheelie up again.  Its tight, small, intense power and braking.. but strangely enough.. wait a minute I've got cruise control and heated grips.. WTF?  Crotch rockets aren't supposed to have these creature comforts.  So I opened it up where I had a safe area: it goes ballistic in 1st and 2nd before I shut it down.  Very intense, my adrenaline was flowing.  If the NineT is the bike you go out to relax on, look cool and pull a wheelie or two, the S1000R is the opposite.  Whatever your current state: the S1000R is going to amp it up, same with the Tuono.
But unlike the Tuono, you've got to push this bike to feel engaged with it.  But once there, its a beast as well.  But dang cruise control and factory heated grips on this thing.. kinda re-wrote that I might just be ok on this bike..even if it is a inline 4.

So there you go guys.

Over all impressions of BMW:  impressed.  The boxer's were nice.  I really like the NineT. 
The S1000R is a rocket ship but some convenience.. that blows my mind. 
R1200R, great bike but personally if you like power I'd just move to the next level up
Tuono V4R:  I like it.   That motor is awesome.  I wish you could get factory cruise control.  Overall compared to S1000R?
Apples and oranges:  If you like a hot rod serious growl, then the Tuono.
If you like a screamer, S1000R.  Both were great rides.

Next up down the road will be a ride on a Tuono V2.  I can pick one of those up around the 4 - 7K range, so that's a little cheaper.
I just don't know how much power it has and how easily it will wheelie.  If it does then that would be a cheap ride.
If money wasn't an object:  I really would consider getting a NineT or a S1000R. 
I never thought that I would consider getting a BMW, but today after 35 years, I can't believe I am saying this but I am open to it.

[bad Chad]

Glade you had fun.  But come on man, your complaint about the v4 Tuono is it doesn't have cruise control???   

Brother, if you need cruise control on a Tuono, you should be riding another bike.   Thats like asking for cruise control on a Shelby GT!

[andrewdonald1]

Glade you had fun.  But come on man, your complaint about the v4 Tuono is it doesn't have cruise control???   

Brother, if you need cruise control on a Tuono, you should be riding another bike.   Thats like asking for cruise control on a Shelby GT!

I didn't say it was a complaint.  Its creature comforts.. the little things. 
Funny you said that:  as I was waiting for the ride on the S1000R, I was actually talking to a guy on a V4R Tuono who stopped in for the free BBQ that was going on.  What was the one thing he said other than loving the bike?  Wish it had cruise control.
I know it doesn't make sense if you've been conditioned like me on sport bikes that its not required, but ride the S1000R.
Then when you're tooling back on the freeway and you stick it in cruise control.. its a nice creature comfort. 

That being said:  would it stop me from getting a Tuono?  Of course not.  But I suspect the 40'ish crowd would like it. 
2 guys out of 2 agreed on that today.

BTW:  my Covertte Z06 that I had also had cruise control which I used.  So believe it or not, with the S1000R doing it, the bar has been raised.  Once you experience it, and your paradigm is shifted.. you go hey.. why can't they do it since they have throttle by wire as well.  That's all. 

[Arizona Wayne]

Why don't you go to a BMW or Aprilia forum for feedback?  None of these bikes you mention here have anything to do with a Moto Guzzi.   

[pebra]

Thanks for the report, you covered a number of bikes with varying characters giving interesting assessments.
I've seen the Nine-T a couple of times and it looks attractive. I figure the Griso fits the same bill though so no urge to swap. You did make me think about trying the Nine-T for a test ride though.

[lucian]

Thanks for the great ride report, I have been contemplating a Tuono or Rsv4 recently. Love the v4 sound and I would imagine the performance is awesome. I am hesitant to give up my griso as I can do most of the servicing myself. Maybe Pete will chime in and give some feedback as to the cost of ownership and dependability on the Aprillias.

[Stormtruck2]

I test rode a S1000RR a few weeks ago.  I was disappointed. I like the feel of the bike, but I couldn't get the safety nannies turned off, so it really didn't perform any hotter than my Ballabio.I want to ride it in the cut free form, with all the nannies turned off.  I see the temptation of the BMW. What has held me back to this point is our local dealer was very poor.  It has since been bought out so maybe, down the road, in the distant future, when I can afford it, am debt free, don't have to work to survive, momma is okay with it, and I have all the Guzzi's i want, I may buy a BMW s1000RR.


I declined buying my buddies 2013 MV F4RR for $13,000.  It was a killer machine.  Beautiful and fast as sin.  I understand your attraction to the Tuano. Scary power is attractive isn't it.

[jackson]

I have ridden the newer 4 cylinder Tuono and I used to own the V2 version.  The V2 was a terrific bike but I sold it because it was the first bike that I ever owned (out of around 50 that I've owned since 1969) that had so much power that I was afraid that I would kill myself if I kept riding it.  It would stand up on the rear wheel in an instant if you gave it too much throttle at lower speeds. Sold it to a guy who wanted that massive power and understood the danger; saw him around six months after he bought the bike and he was very happy with the bike.
RE. the new BMW's.  Too much nanny stuff for me and the primary reason that I quit riding Beemers after a very long love affair with BMW airheads.  The closest thing that I've ever found that suits me as much as a BMW airhead is the smallblock Guzzi.  I get the same feeling with the Guzzi that I get with a BMW airhead that keeps my interest in riding motorcycles.

[segesta]

So... sounds like you like wheelies. 
Sorry, I couldn't resist.

And nothing wrong with cruise control on a sport bike. Maybe it's because I live in dull, long-distances-to-interesting-roads Illinois; but you have to do some boring interstate stretches sometimes. Save that right wrist for the twisties at your destination.

[guzzi4me]

Why don't you go to a BMW or Aprilia forum for feedback?  None of these bikes you mention here have anything to do with a Moto Guzzi.   

I enjoy reading impressions of other bikes.
Makes me appreciate my Guzzi even more!

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

[andrewdonald1]

I enjoy reading impressions of other bikes.
Makes me appreciate my Guzzi even more!

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

That was my whole point.  We are an "experienced crowd" here.  I like to think we can cover the spread of genre's of bikes.
I doubt we all just subscribe to guzzi's only.. we are beyond that limitation I suspect in general.
Personally anything on two wheels with a motor is great, for me it was just a check in and experience some different hardware and I thought folks may be interested. 

[pebra]

Pile it on, it's interesting stuff for most here I think, but sometimes someone gets out of bed with the wrong foot first (I hope that's a saying in English too)
Whenever I've ridden 20 minutes on a straight I start missing cruise control!
And I'd love some fancy ABS.

[Arizona Wayne]

Pile it on, it's interesting stuff for most here I think, but sometimes someone gets out of bed with the wrong foot first (I hope that's a saying in English too)
Whenever I've ridden 20 minutes on a straight I start missing cruise control!
And I'd love some fancy ABS.

Save some $ and get a Throttlerocker you can put on any bike throttle. 

[Camn]

Enjoyed the story also.

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?306751-V2-to-V4-regrets&highlight=Geni+Gen


http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?304655-Gen-1-Tuono-or-Gen-2&highlight=gen+gen
(Gen.1=2002-2005, Gen.2=2006-2010)