The K1200S in the photo on the left was my favourite. She was the only one of the three sport or sport/touring models that came even close to the response level I get from my Kawasaki ZX-7R (which is 750cc's, compared to this bike's 1200).
I don't know if this was an intentional component of design - but doesn't the top fairing, combined with the mirrors, look like the face of Minnie Mouse?
The K1200S had power to spare in the top gears. At 80 kph and even 100 kph, she didn't even need to move past 4th gear. There were two more gears on top of that. While she had power to spare, the throttle to engine response time did not feel as immediate as it does on my Kawasaki ZX-7R.
The red bike to the right is the F800S. Unlike most sport bikes, BMW's F800S, with a low seat installed, was a comfortable fit for me. I'm 5'4" with a 27-inch inseam and could get the balls of my feet firmly on the ground on both sides. You can order these from the factory with a lowering kit installed that lowers them another 1.25 inches.
The riding ergonomics of the F800S were not as extreme as on my ZX-7R, which forces you to lean far over the tank with your head down to reach the handlebars. Although the footpegs were as far back, I did not have to lean far to reach the handlebars. On the ZX-7R, I can rest my chest comfortably on the tank, taking the weight off my forearms. On this bike, your forearms take all your weight. After almost three hours on this, the F800ST and the K1200S, my forearms were sore and tired.
Because it's a twin, the F800S, despite having another 50cc's more than my four-cylinder ZX-7R, did not feel as fast or responsive.
The power and responsiveness on the F800ST (in the photo on the left) was about the same as the F800S. I thought the 800s would be the closest to what my ZX-&R feels like, because it's a 700 -- but BMW's 800 sport models felt mushy and a bit wuss compared to my Kawasaki. The K1200S was closer in power and throttle response.
The only difference I could see between the handling of the F800S (sport model) and the F800ST (sport touring model) was that the handlebars weren't as short -- so steering was more like a touring bike or cruiser. And the throttle, oddly enough, seemed twitchier on the F800ST. I would have expected the F800S to be the twitchiest of the two, but there we are.
The R1200R (in the photo on the right) is BMW's roadster. Didn't catch the name of the woman testing the seat height in this photo. It was a little tall for me. At 5'4" with a 27-inch inseam, I wasn't quite on my tippy toes but could not get full purchase with the ground on the balls of my feet on this bike. Nonetheless, despite its almost 500-pound weight, this bike felt light for a 1200. And the engine was incredibly powerful. Only needed three gears to move it up to 80-100kph. Wonder when you'd be able to use the last three gears.
That's Liz Jansen, of Trillium MC Tours, in this last picture on the left. She was one of the demo ride guides who led groups testing the bikes during BMW Motorrad Demo Day on a route of country roads in and around Orangeville. That's my crazy helmet on the table in front of her.
1 comment:
This is really cool! Next time I'd make sure I join the fray. Registration is not that complex, right? I just hate standing in a long line. Thanks for sharing! More power to you and to your site!
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