Goodbye Goose hello Beemer

[dave1068]

After 6yrs with the Stelvio, I traded her in on a 2012 BMW R1200R Classic. Very smooth ride and the one thing I find about BMWs, they are easy bikes to ride. They almost make you feel like you are a better rider....

[Kev m]

Enjoy. Lots to like about that.

[ohiorider]

After 6yrs with the Stelvio, I traded her in on a 2012 BMW R1200R Classic. Very smooth ride and the one thing I find about BMWs, they are easy bikes to ride. They almost make you feel like you are a better rider....

Dave, it appears you gave the Stelvio lots of riding time.  Was your switch from Stelvio to R1200R to go with something a bit lighter and somewhat closer to the ground?  Or just time for a different bike?  Both of us go back to Bonneville days!

Best wishes for lots of pleasant miles with the Beemer.

Bob

[dave1068]

Thanks guys,

Bob-Right on target, I was looking for something a bit lower and a smoother ride. Plus the 12r came with a russell day long seat. Adds about  2'' seat height which is good for me, my lower back also appreciates the notch that it rests in.

Still miss my Triumphs, great bikes.

Hope all is well with you and your health.

Ride safely!

[Perazzimx14]

Enjoy. Lots to like about that.

Save for the looks

[Kev m]

Save for the looks

I would disagree... But arguing taste is useless.

[ohiorider]

I would disagree... But arguing taste is useless.

[flip]

Nice bike!

[Arizona Wayne]

This is funny.  At first it sounded like Dave sounded like he preferred the BMW to the Guzzi for whatever reason.  But then it turns out his preference is personal comfort reasons, which is fine, but why not say that at the begining?  We all are plumbed differently and therefore have different basic desires in the end for different reasons.  Why suggest brand X is the culprit for why we no longer want to ride it anymore?  As if brand X has issues.  When the only real issue is at X point in time we have a different desire.

[Kev m]

AW, I think you're projecting something or making assumptions about the OP that isn't there. My re-read of it this morning gives me no suggestion of such intent.

[ChuckH]

That's exactly what I did a bit more than a year ago.  My '12 Stelvio had gotten a bit heavy for me to comfortably manage when loaded and I did not want to drop it.  So I sold it -- it now lives near Cleveland, OH with Mark E. -- and bought an '07 R1200R that had 58K miles on it at the time, it now has 70K miles.

The R Bike came with some nice accessories and I added a few more to make it fit my needs.  Weight wise, it's a legitimate 100# lighter than the Stelvio and that's a big deal.  My riding needs (long distance touring and camping trips) have not changed and my riding style (old man, mildly aggressive) is still the same.

What's not to like about that?

[JJ]

Congratulations Dave!  Cool bike, and I like the looks as well.  :1:    

I have owned 4 in my time (airheads and modern), and probably logged >75,000 mile :1:s on them. 

A lot of people "Poo-Poo" BMW's, (in general), but the bottom-line, they are excellent motorcycles.   Personally, I would have no problem owning another one... 

[Lannis]

Congratulations Dave!  Cool bike, and I like the looks as well.  :1:    

I have owned 4 in my time (airheads and modern), and probably logged >75,000 mile :1:s on them. 

A lot of people "Poo-Poo" BMW's, (in general), but the bottom-line, they are excellent motorcycles.   Personally, I would have no problem owning another one...

I've swapped rides with folks with the big Beemer equivalents of my Stelvio, and I can't personally see any reason to switch, even though it could be done easily and cheaply.

Having a Russell Day-Long seat myself on my Stelvio, I have the sneaking suspicion that if the OP had been on a BMW originally and ridden a Russell-equipped Stelvio, he might have swapped the OTHER way .....

Lannis

[Carlo DeSantis]

After 6yrs with the Stelvio, I traded her in on a 2012 BMW R1200R Classic. Very smooth ride and the one thing I find about BMWs, they are easy bikes to ride. They almost make you feel like you are a better rider....

Congrats on the new bike, Dave.

I made a similar switch (to a 2011 R1200R) a few years back and have no regrets.  In my case, I was replacing an EV but the idea was similar.

I've owned a few Beemers over the years and feel that the R12R is the best of the ones I've owned.  (Relatively) light; very agile; more than adequate power; good luggage.

Enjoy it!

Best,

Carlo

PS: I have the faster red color ;)

[Kev m]

I've swapped rides with folks with the big Beemer equivalents of my Stelvio, and I can't personally see any reason to switch, even though it could be done easily and cheaply.

Having a Russell Day-Long seat myself on my Stelvio, I have the sneaking suspicion that if the OP had been on a BMW originally and ridden a Russell-equipped Stelvio, he might have swapped the OTHER way .....

Lannis

If I'm reading his posts right the change was for a slightly smaller/shorter/lighter chassis.

[Huzo]

Why pull his decision to bits one way or the other?  The guy altered his choice of bike to suit his requirements so he can enjoy the wonderful lifestyle that he loves. Bloody good choice BTW. It shits me to death to see good old guys staring  languidly at my Guzzi at shopping centres or whatever and saying " Jeez, I miss my old *******" I usually ask why they got out of bikes and they offer, " Oh my ****** was too big for me, but shit I had some fun" and then walk away quite well with no obvious signs of decrepitude. For heaven's sake, as I usually point out, they can go and get something manageable and wander off to local or semi local rallies, and get a room if a tent is to much rooting around and lurch around the campfires and talk crap like the rest of us. I think it's a cop out, they've just lost the spark and want to blame something else.

[Lannis]

If I'm reading his posts right the change was for a slightly smaller/shorter/lighter chassis.

No, you're reading them right ... and I bought the Stelvio originally over a Beemer because the Stelvio had a bigger and longer chassis (a GOOD thing, to fit me and Fay on long trips); the "heavier" isn't a positive but I put up with it.

I was sort of hinting that the goodness of a Russell Day-Long seat can make ANY bike seem nicer and a better fit ..... !

Lannis

[boatdetective]

There must be something in the air. I sold my 1200S and bought a 14' R1200R. So far, it's a really nice ride. I really like the engine. Handling seems fine. It definitely feels lighter.  As for the looks- i actually really like it. The lines and creases are not unlike the panel lines in the German autos.  I don't expect it to look "Italian".

I'm kindof glad that this machine has a pretty strong base as well.


http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh62/boatdetective/2014-BMW-R1200R3_zpscnpcxl3t.jpg

[dave1068]

Appreciate all the positive comments. After having the Stelvio for several yrs I wanted a change as well as something a little lighter, lower to the ground and smoother. The BMW hit all those marks. Always liked the look of the naked R1200R. Found a dealer that had one last summer and saw it here a few weeks ago. Got them to come down on price plus it had 2 new tires, a new battery put in, sport screen, OEM panniers and OEM tank bag along with the RDL seat. Only had 8200 miles plus a good trade in value. Plus ABS and ASC is nice to have.

 

[kirkemon]

Congrats on the new ride!
I'm not familiar with that front suspension. Is it only on the R1200 ?

[Nick]

Very nice choice. Some of my riding buddies have that same bike. Great all-around machine. 

[Lannis]

Why pull his decision to bits one way or the other? 

I still don't think you've quite gotten the concept of a

DISCUSSION LIST!

That's what the list is FOR.    Sitting and cooing "Oh, I know, I know, Oh, it's SO different isn't it ...." isn't what guys do ...

Lannis

[LuftWolf]

Good on you.   I split the difference and just aquired a BMW R80, with a sidecar no less, to go with my California 1400 Custom.  Love both bikes.