BMW K 1200 RS reviews

This bike corners, cruises and tours like all the best of everything I've owned. The only thing I could find to be critical about is the 6th gear. My 1150 had what seemed to be an overdrive 6th gear. My new 1200 seems to be geared a little lower in 6th. Still if you can afford it, I believe this to be the best bike around. Show less

Three weeks ago I purchased a used 2005 BMW K1200LT with 2900 miles. I was dead set on a new Gold Wing, but at the price, this bike was too good to pass up. I sold my 2006 1600 Nomad within the week and have never looked back. As a tall rider I'm used to spending some money getting comfortable. I spent for a driver's peg lowering kit, Mick O Pegs and for a driver's backrest. Now I'm good to go. I have ridden this bike to work daily and more on the weekends. It gets better and better. It handles like a sport bike. You can cruise down the highway as smooth as silk with a great sound system and perfectly designed ergonomic comfort. My wife loves her seat and never wants to get off. I have averaged 45 miles per gallon and have a range of over 250 miles. The seats are good, but I always ride with my Sheepskin/foam/gel pad combo, so all bikes feel good to me. Everything is well engineered and simple. The lines are beautiful and I draw a lot of comments and questions wherever I travel. Show less

I bought this bike with 4k miles on it. I changed all the fluids, filters and readjusted everything to fit me and loved the bike more than the original test ride. Having ridden a few 750 Japanese cruisers, this BMW is leaps above anything Japan could have to offer. For average cruising of any distance, this bike is more than enough. The acceleration is somehow topped in performance in braking power at any speeds. Shifting is quick and reliable. Twisties are cheerfully greeted with the chrome of my floor boards from time to time :). I rode Deals Gap within a month of owning this bike and loved the Dragons Tail; I rode it three more times that week. Aside from it being a BMW, it has all the quality forethought of any premium machine; I appreciate the complete took/repair kit. I have no second thoughts of taking this bike on a week long solo trip. Exciting, reliable, sexy and easy to ride both around town and long distances. THANKS BMW, I look forward to a new K1200GT some day. Show less

I've owned other sport touring models, but the 1200 RT is bar-none the most incredibly good riding machine I've ever owned. Intuitive in the corners, 52 mpg on the road, and extremely good for long distances. I've found that for those that complain that it won't do the distances I would reply, break it in. This bike doesn't really wind out until a few thousand miles. Number 2, get a new seat. I have the Rick Mayer and have easily done 700 to 800 miles in a day. Number 3, change windshields. There are a number of windshields that are better for wind protection. The Boxer engine is easy to work on and will save you money if you can do your own valve adjustments. I've had mine for 2 years now and not one problem with even the smallest things. It is a perfect bike that needs to be ridden. Show less

After hours of research, I decided that I wanted to seriously investigate the R 1200 GS Adventure. I have been a motorcyclist since 1974. I've had everything from a Gold Wing to a 250 KLR and many in between, but never had I walked into a showroom and was greeted by such a friendly staff and awesome display and atmosphere. I scrutinized the bikes available and had every question answered with honesty and. In addition, a couple of very knowledgeable BMW Club members were present, and they, too, took the time to point out features and functionality of the GS from their own experiences. With all this friendly expertise, I was even more impressed with the bike. The financing went extremely smoothly, and within a short amount of time, I was the owner of my very own, brand new red and black 2008 R 1200 GS Adventure! And the icing on the cake was the ride! It was unbelievable! Everything from freeway to off road. This was the most incredible machine I had ever ridden! It does it all! I even took my wife for a ride on several miles of dirt road, where with previous bikes, with her aboard, it was dicey at best. With this machine, it was like she was not even back there! Then, I took us out onto the highway, and even with crosswinds blowing at 34 mph, it was like the bike was glued to the road. BMW outdid themselves when they designed this bike. The computer system was a snap to work. I must admit that when I went into the dealership, I commented that I thought it was a little 'pricey'. Now, I've changed my mind! It's worth every penny! Show less

For me, this bike is the perfect combination of speed, power and agility. It has performed flawlessly under every condition I have encountered. It serves very well as a daily commuter and a weekend hell-raiser. It has more than enough torque to pull through the corners. There is no need to downshift to pass, but it's too much fun not to. The suspension inspires confidence in any situation even when traveling over unexpected gravel roads, wet roads, or tight West Virginia switchbacks covered with dirt and leaves. You can't truly appreciate this motorcycle until you decide to push it hard through the twisties. Thanks to the ABS, it is forgiving enough to enter curves way too fast, yet powerful enough to torque your way through in style. 109HP and 85ft lbs of torque! Who could ask for a better balance? I would recommend an R1200R to anyone looking for a fun bike that will help increase your riding abilities so much so that my wife has one too. Show less

This is my first BMW. I have never dished out so much cash for a bike (I have owned mostly Hondas and Suzuki). But I wish I had bought it sooner. The heated grips, cruise control, ESA and ASC and tire pressure monitor; this bike eats miles for breakfast! The engine is well balanced and the linear power acceleration is deceiving! Goes from 0 to 70 mph and you don't even know it! Suspension is adjustable for those really bad freeways and you can take it to the hills, and you have a sport demon. This thing can be flicked in an instant. It has a low center of gravity! If you are short, get the optional low seat; it's worth it. But I did not need it! You pay more, and you get a lot in return! Show less

I started riding again and recently bought a 2005 R1100S. It's a great bike for short rides. I started to do 300+ miles per day and got too sore after the ride. It could just be I'm not as young as I used to be. This past fall I purchased a used RS and 500-mile days are now followed by dinner and dancing with my wife. This bike has it all; looks, speed, handling and all day comfort. Switched to city lids and carry just enough for a quick change of clothes and snacks. If I had to choose just one bike, the R1100S would have to go. Show less

I have spent the last 32 years owning dozens of different bikes. The R1200GS is the hands-down winner by far. The tall saddle not only helps you see better in traffic, but it allows you to corner much better in that it allows you to lean more. The power output is gut-wrenching from take off to rev-limiter (100 mph in third gear). The bike's off road agility is almost frightening in that the only way you can tell that it is off-road is that you can sometimes feel the bumps. It is just as stable off-road as it is on road. You may think you want to own a hog, but if I were you I would invest in a horse - BMW, there is no substitute. Show less

Okay, so I'm 37. My last bike was a Honda Blackbird 1100XX that I rode from the UK to the South of France (top speed, 135MPH), then shipped it to TX and rode to Dallas, Albuquerque, Phoenix, San Diego and Long Beach to ship it home to the UK. Then I moved to Arizona and bought a K1200LT. All my friends said it was an old man's bike. It has an electric windshield, automatic center stand, REVERSE gear, heated seats and grips and CD player. Yes, built for comfort, but WHAT A BIKE! I get just as much fun riding, accelerating and cornering the BMW as I ever did on the Blackbird, but then on the open road, hit cruise, put the windshield up, turn on the CD player, talk to my wife through the intercom, and suddenly it's serious comfort. Get to the windy roads in Northern Arizona and push it from side to side, it feels like a sport bike with excellent handling. A little intimidating at first to push an 800 lb. bike around like that, but it doesn't care. My first day on the bike (I hadn't ridden in a year, so I was a little rusty) I was turning left onto a main street when someone flew out of a gas station on the other side of the street, cut me off and obviously never saw me. Being rusty, I did exactly the wrong thing, I grabbed both of those big brakes with full hand and foot. STUPID! The bike should have low-sided, but it didn't! It stood straight up, chirped a couple of times with the ABS and stopped - amazing! It is heavy, and the reverse comes in useful backing up hill into my garage, but once you're above 10 mph, the weight doesn't take away from handling. It only serves to stabilize the bike in wind and on bad roads. The BMW suspension is 2nd-to-none, no nose-dives with hard braking, and best of all, the wife loves it! Show less