RE: R1250RS in the USA soon! - 4

I brought my new 1250 home last Saturday (today is Tuesday) and have around 250 miles on it now. The engine is impressive. At low speed in first gear it's easy to apply small throttle changes without any jerkiness, which turned out to be handy when I got stuck in weekend traffic riding out to the Hamptons on Sunday. Creeping along for an hour is never fun on a motorcycle, but was much easier on the 1250 than on my '16 1200. So far, all riding has been with the Road throttle map. Haven't tried Rain or Dynamic modes.

There is a very sharp turn near my house normally taken at a speed that's a bit high for first gear and a bit low for 2nd on the 1200. The 1250 pulls smoothly and enthusiastically around that turn in 2nd gear.

At highway speed acceleration for passing in 6th gear, without shifting down, is distinctly better than the 1200. In general, the engine has a significantly broader happy RPM range in each gear. There is even less need to select a specific gear for riding in any situation than was the case for the 1200. The 1200 engine is very good, and I was always happy with it, but the 1250 engine really is even better.

On the 1200, cruise control disengages when shifting up using the shift-assist. On the 1250 the cruise speed setting is maintained after shifting up. No need to re-engage cruise control after an up-shift. The cruise control does disengage when downshifting.

The TFT display is pretty looking and quite visible in bright sunlight, even with the tinted sun shield on my Schuberth helmet lowered. The display on the 1200 washes out when viewed through the sunshade making it hard to read it. Not so with the TFT. On the other hand, the TFT seems needlessly complex. In fact, I still haven't figured out how to reset the trip odometers, which is something I normally do each time I fill the tank. Also haven't managed to bring up the Mile per gallon readout. Fiddling with buttons without the manual handy was unsuccessful. I'll have to read the manual while pushing buttons in the garage until I learn how to use it. Improved readability aside, I find no advantage to the new display.

I really dislike the Metzler tires that came on the new bike, as compared to the Michelin Road 5 tires I have on the 1200. They do make the bike turn with less effort, which I never felt was necessary, but the trade-off is some loss of the planted stability that I always valued on my older RS. The bike also squirms around much more on tar snakes on the road. I'm assuming the difference between the new and older RS is only the tires, since BMW has not claimed any change to steering geometry.

The suspension seems plusher in Road mode than Road mode on the 1200RS. Haven't tried other suspension settings yet.

I had the BMW auxiliary lights on my '16 1200RS, but didn't put them on the new 1250. BMW claims that they will shut off when engaging high headlight beam, and only turn back on when lowering the beam. On the 1200 they can be on all the time. I bought Denali lights instead which mount in the same place and can be activated all the time. They also change brightness when high headlight beam is activated and flicker when honking the horn.

These are my impressions so far. I'll add additional thoughts as they occur.

Zitat von Long Island im Beitrag #46

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On the other hand, the TFT seems needlessly complex. In fact, I still haven't figured out how to reset the trip odometers, which is something I normally do each time I fill the tank. Also haven't managed to bring up the Mile per gallon readout. Fiddling with buttons without the manual handy was unsuccessful. I'll have to read the manual while pushing buttons in the garage until I learn how to use it.

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Which Metzler's did they put on your 1250, the Roadtec 01 or the Z8 Interact? I've read good things about the 01 and have had friends with the Z8s who were not fans. I was considering the 01s when the time came based on good reviews.

Thank you MrVrroomm. Given time and repetition that will become do-able, but compare that to doing the same operations on the R1200RS. Resetting the trip odometer is two or three presses of the top end of the menu button. Resetting the average mileage is similar. I habitually reset those displays each time I fill the gas tank. Knowing total mileage on a tank is a back-up for the fuel level gauge. Probably not necessary but I'm used to doing that. I also reset the AVG MPG readout every fill-up, just to learn what kind of mileage I can expect for various riding conditions. Also not necessary, but I've been doing it for years on various bikes, and it was always very easy, quick and intuitive. I guess I'll get used to the 1250 display, but it's needlessly complex to do simple functions.

Im a big fan of the Z8. Great grip all conditions and very good mileage. I prefer the rounder profile compared to the 01.

Davidnapo, they are the Metzler Z8 tires. I'm very unimpressed with them on this bike. I've had them on other bike and didn't dislike them so much, which is why i'm wondering if there is some other difference between the new 1250 and my '16 1200RS that might explain how different the steering of the two bikes feel. I guess I won't know until I wear out the Z8s and replace them with the same tires as on the 1200.

Zitat von Long Island im Beitrag #51

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Davidnapo, they are the Metzler Z8 tires. I'm very unimpressed with them on this bike. I've had them on other bike and didn't dislike them so much, which is why i'm wondering if there is some other difference between the new 1250 and my '16 1200RS that might explain how different the steering of the two bikes feel. I guess I won't know until I wear out the Z8s and replace them with the same tires as on the 1200.

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The new suspension components of the R1250RS might affect tire performance and feel, also.

Zitat von Bunter im Beitrag #52

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Zitat von Long Island im Beitrag #51

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Davidnapo, they are the Metzler Z8 tires. I'm very unimpressed with them on this bike. I've had them on other bike and didn't dislike them so much, which is why i'm wondering if there is some other difference between the new 1250 and my '16 1200RS that might explain how different the steering of the two bikes feel. I guess I won't know until I wear out the Z8s and replace them with the same tires as on the 1200.

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There are differences between the 1200 and 1250 which could explain the difference in steering feel, I felt that difference when I demo'd the bike so looked into it. They have slightly different caster and wheelbases but I'm not sure what changed to cause those differences. Also check the wheels, someone here was told the Sport version has lighter wheels than the other versions.

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Zitat von Long Island im Beitrag #49

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Thank you MrVrroomm. Given time and repetition that will become do-able, but compare that to doing the same operations on the R1200RS. Resetting the trip odometer is two or three presses of the top end of the menu button. .

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Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #54

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The standard wheels are the same across the range but forged wheels are available as an extra. These are lighter - not sure how much

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Zitat von Bunter im Beitrag #56

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Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #54

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The standard wheels are the same across the range but forged wheels are available as an extra. These are lighter - not sure how much

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Arrh my bad I read your other post and assumed the Sport version came with the lighter wheels.

Bill

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I think that's per wheel ! Roughly £2000 in Uk per pair

*** Edit cancel that its £995 per pair

So yesterday was new bike day; I picked up a R1250RS in Imperial Blue. My last bike was a 2004 R1150R Rockster which I bought slightly used in 2006. I rode the Rock a lot and like it a lot, but it was time to get a new bike. I really like the boxer engine which influenced the decision to go with another Beemer. I also really like shaft driven motorcycles. There’s going to be some gushing in this review, but this is my first bike bought new, so c’est le vie.

Firstly, I love the looks of the new RS. The blue is dark in the shade, but brightens considerably in direct sunlight, with even a bit of metallic glint. I like the subdued look. The new headlights with LEDs are wonderful coming from 04 era bulbs and I like the symmetry. Coming back from the dealer, I took a long meandering route home that included some highway and a lot of twisties and there is a huge difference in the engine compared to my old bike. The 1250 pulls like a freight train and feels like it gets instantly to 35mph off a start and my guess is that to 60mph is under 4 seconds. The new RS hums in third gear at 55mph with no problems and will happily do 65mph in 4th. Even with brand new tires, the Metzler Z8s, everything felt very smooth and planted. I road on wet roads this morning and no slippage and I wonder how much the electronics played a part. The Brembo brakes are amazing, especially coming from the mid-oughts shift assist ones which always felt wooden.

With the exception of ABS and the mid ought assisted brakes on the Rock, I’ve never used bike electronics. Going from nothing to 2019, I guess, means I don’t get to feel anything, because I didn’t really feel them except for the one time I tried the hill start which worked well in the uphill 90 degree right onto another uphill instance I used it. The shift assist was smooth in higher gears but felt clunky going from first to second and vice versa. I absolutely love cruise control. It is fantastic to put it on when stuck behind a slow-moving car or to stretch my fingers.

I have a few quibbles, but ones I knew were going to exist before giving the dealer money. The handlebars are probably a touch too far forward for comfort, so I think some risers are in my future. I’ll also very likely swap out the stock seat for an aftermarket one as my Sargent on the Rockster is very comfortable. Though I can guess why BMW moved the position of the center stand, I do miss the ability of my Rockster to easily pivot 180 degrees on my center stand.
In short, I’m loving my new RS and hope for many fun, safe, miles on her.