BMW R1200R Ride Review 

Great review, I bought the same bike 4 months ago and and have 5,600 miles on it so far and absolutely love it!

I have this bike with all options ticked by the previous owner. It’s a fantastic bike. I had the F800R before. I love all the luxurious options the bike has, center stand, luggage rack, and all electronic assistants and gadgets. I’m very happy the speedometer is analogue though. I removed the windscreen bc the airflow hit my neck which was uncomfortable. I like the even airflow on the full naked bike more. I installed Bar risers, grip puppies and a phone cradle in the BMW navigator holder. It’s a fantastic bike and we did a lot of adventures so far!

Once you have that keyless ride (GS) there's no wanting to go back. Hang on. When I ride my Kwakasaki now I'm forever going back to get the key. Same with the GPS and the wurly knob, changing music tracks, zooming in and out of the map, skipping waypoints, phone and tyre pressures it's the dogs danglies but as you say cost a good few bob. Don't reckon much on the shin ding on the starboard pot, and most of the bike out of the GS parts bin, test rode one and yours is a spot on cracking review. Nice one.

I know I'm tad late watching this 4 years late but good informative & fun review on a bike I've owned for just 4 weeks. Spot on with your observations in such a short period of time. Thank you!

just now finding this bike, this review Thank you Andy Man and your awesome Cam - just in time i'm hoping to buy my next last bike this year 2018 and this is the clear leader in the clubhouse

Sold !! I bought the Blue and White R today!! Safest bike on the planet!!

really enjoyed your review and had a great laugh also. had the pleasure to ride this bike for a day. the cylinders are a real pain in the shin but you forgive them immediately when twisting the throttle! I thought the gas mileage was amazing too. I averaged under 5l/100km and didnt go easy on it..

At last. A decent video with sensible comments. Thanks man.

Nice review Andy, I have been a BMW flattwin fan for many years, you will get used to the twin layout and save your shins. Looking at your great travelling videos and the fact that you mentioned you are quite tall, I believe the GS/ GSA would suit you better...but I did a eurotrips on the R too many years ago, its the most agile boxer, even more than the GS imo, great for riding the Alps or Pyrenees, in the end any bike works. The only thing is, the mountains are so far away, I live in Amsterdam, then the GS is more comfy. The older aircooled version are still excellent value without the modern gadgets! The paralever, well I got so used to it so much that I hate normall forks. By the way, the extras are not that expensive, and its worth it when freezing your hands off..

Finall, what seems like an honest bike review, not one that panders to the dealership just to make sure they get asked to do another!

Just to add - in case someone here is interested - I used to own the base model (Blue) which had no extras at all, so basic suspension and standard riding modes (road/rain) and I have to say it was awesome. I now have the Sport model (white/red) which as a ton of extras (dynamic ESA, extra riding modes) and I don't really notice any difference lol.

I have this bike too and kept it longer than any previous bikes just so hard to find a better bike that copes with everything so effortlessly

Thanks for a great review.... I'm very close to purchasing one....drooled over BMW's for many years but never had one.... Wondering about the higher windscreen option....have had several 'screens over the years and they usually end up as a compromise.... Interesting to read that the power and torque are almost the same as Honda's 1200 V4 Crosstourer.....a great trailie but very top heavy....

Good review , they are a great all round bike with lots of speed , comfort & handling , like u said u can live without some of the extras which is what I did , but there is some good ones to add on such as gear shift assist , ESA suspension & heated grips for the cold weather , those add ons will add to the value of the bike later , led indicators also tidy up the clean lines to the bike , I didnt get the keyless ride I prefer to have the key where I can see it , it's not a big job putting it in and turning it lol

ah, the joys of the huge-longitudinally-mounted-crankshaft-torque-induced roll. friend of mine low-sided his almost new R1200R during his first run in the twisties. can be quite...interesting if you do not anticipate it during cornering.

Good review Andy. It's a shame there are so many optional extras, granted you don't need them, but it's how they make their money...

Thanks for that spiffing review Andy old bean. (Only just watched as I am in gathering as much info as I can on the R1200R, as its on my short list) As a longus limbus chap, like myself, was the ride height okay for you?

Nice video, quite entertaining. Came across a tempting 2015 R1200R on Craigslist.

Ok I'm laughing pretty often now. Well done, you've got another sub. Looking at a 2015 r1200r now, where someone else has already mortgaged the house and sold the organs...

I really like this bike as well and would likely get the base model. I can just see dropping the key from my pocket during a ride or having the gas cap or steering lock malfunction after a few years. TPMS batteries could be an issue as well over our 6 months of winter storage here. I don't care for the gold forks either and would most definitely go for the base model and add my own GPS and accessories. Lovely engine, and I imagine it has some of the character of my TLS.

She's a beauty. Great review, Andy.

Nice in depth review again Andy. I do like the multi viewpoint camera work, I appreciate how much of a faf it can be to set up and edit, so well done you. P.S a question from one who still ides in the technological stone age- does the keyless ignition turn the bike off if the key fob becomes out of range ? any ideas on that.

Another entertaining vid. Are there any future plans for a Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport review? I Haven't had the opportunity to sit on one yet. Thanks and ride safe amigo! :)

i have a 2016 r1200r with everything , and i put 160 miles on rides , and it is comfortable, total mileage is 36k miles. michelin tires going on 14k miles on them, probably change them in 1~2k miles. 2 batteries changed under warranty. i use the heated grips, quick shifter a bunch. the left hand side foot peg rubber gets destroyed easily, and bmw does not sell them anymore, so i zip tie it to the foot peg, problem solved. the mirrors are useless at highway speeds due to the vibration. i get 50 mpg at 65mph ( i like to cruise at 65mph, cause gasoline prices are close to $5.00 here in northern california and also to keep down tire wear ) gear shifting is smooth compared to my formerly owned japanese sportbikes. on twisty roads, it turns quickly, but i am always aware of the engine cylinders and i try not to lean in so hard( i had the dealer install the bars for the cylinders cause i never know when i might drop it,anyhow, i scrubbed my leftside peg feeler once and my right boot a couple of times.it is easy for me to do left/right u turns, and i am amazed that i can do so on a bike that is 500 pounds +, i guess it is well balanced. the ESA is not that great , i keep it in single rider no luggage or extra rider, road mode, ABS on, i did have the fork oil changed at 20k miles . the acceleration is great , i just leave it in 6th gear and feed in the gas and it goes. i haven't gone to it's claimed top speed cause i don't want a ticket, besides i've gone 170 mph on my ex~ 2003 R1 a few times and i played with fate those times, so no more high speed runs.....i do have the lowest seat available, cause i am only 5 ft 2 inches tall , but i use the middle seat at 29 inches for comfort. besides i wear logger boots which give me an extra 3 inches, i still can only touch one foot at a stop, but i have adapted to it just like every bike i have owned. i do have a middle height wind screen mounted , it helps a little. i toggle the display between tire pressure and engine / ambient temp. the fuel gauge is very useful and it has gone as low as 1/2 tank. i think the fuel tank holds 4 1/2 gallons. road noise is bad so i use foam ear plugs,and i can still hear the engine so i don't have that isolated feeling. i wish i could wear an open face helmet , but bug strikes are painful so i go with a full face arai or shoei. i leave all the maintenace to the dealer , although maintenance costs are pricey. oh, the price of the bike when i bought it was $21k in december 2015 with every option available, no discounts whatsoever. i'm a lousy bike buying negotiator. by the way, i had a 2013 gsxr 750 at the same time and after riding the r1200r , i really thought there was something wrong with my gsxr~ the gear shifts, the suspension, cause the r1200r was so smooth and the gsxr felt like a clunker..... real quick, but clunky~ highest speed on the gxsr 750 i did was only 120mph , no need to do a top speed run.....

Great video. I got one of these last summer and posted a review on my channel. Best bike I ever owned! I love it. I disagree with you about the comfort. I find it perfectly comfortable but then I prefer to have some wind on me. Although, towards the end of the video you said you could ride it all day so I guess I find it as comfortable as I do. Did your test bike have the quick shift option? That's a great feature.

"Thrusted towards the future" with a "stressed member". OMG, AMC, you are a sick man. :DDDDDDD

Good job with the review ! Are you planning on reviewing the Bmw f800r ? The f800r and the r1200r are bikes that I'm looking at mainly because I am interested in a bike for commuting. The f800r seems to have a lower bar for entry as far as DIY maintenance is concerned mainly because it's chain drive. What are your thoughts? As a side note, this is becoming one of my go to channels for bike reviews and bike maintenance so I'm waiting with bated breath for any more videos that you may be putting up !

Cheers Andy, as always.

A review with no idiotic jokes and with a normal narration voice as well.Well done!

now i have my own one, bought today and i like it really, its a great bike, expensive but very nice to handle and to drive! maybe i will make also a Review within Schleswig Holstein!

I think style-wise the new R1200Rs are a massive leap over the previous version which were definitely catered for the more senior gentlemen lol.

Nice Bike. Thanks for the great Review. Keep having fun.

Nice review. Looking to swap my Triumph Explorer for one of these... was just wondering, when are you going to do your next bike review? I kind of miss them.

So .....a new bike coming then?........when you win the Lottery eh Andy?😉Nice review as always mate.😎

Think I will buy one.

i like the Bike, but in this Video i like the landscape, its very near from my home in the northern Part of Germany!

well, i live in Itzehoe, a Smalltalk town at the westcoast area, 60km from Hamburg

"Heated grips probably cost the blood of your first born". That sums up BMW costs! Very witty mate!

Nice review thanks. Better than many of the others, who try too hard to be funny.

Heated grips are stock in Australia lol

Quality as always....😆👍🚵

72 ft lb of torque from 2,000 is very obvious when riding this excellent bike, max torque of 92ft lb at 6,500rpm cheers tony

Enjoyed your review on the R12R. I swapped to one just before lockdown. Can't understand how you kept banging your shins into the head though ?

Hallo...danke für das wertvolle rewiew. Ich wollte fragen was für eine freigespräch einrichtung du dabei hattest? Super qualität..etwa integriert in dein helm oder original austattung vom helm? Dankeeee Grüsse

I didn't see any fuel stats come up on screen during the refill and I have had to write to my MP.

It does looks like a nice bike, but I'm not a fan wind blast. Ride safe.

How does one choose between all the great standard/ naked bikes these days? My god, Ducati monster, BMW r1200r , triumph street/ or speed, R9T, aprilia shiver, Kim Duke, & on and on !!!

Excellent commentary!

Great review , I like that idea with the valve on the wheel spoke. RSM8

Honestly some of you modern riders the wind is hurting you , the little screen doesn’t help much. I used to ride a Kawasaki 1000st everywhere , down to London , all round whales , I used to do it 12 months of the year , rain or shine and many times in the snow. I had no heated grips no fairing , for 11 years , I used to do 120 down to London as the cops were not about like they are today. You modern lot need to get some back bone.

Quite a balanced review, a few errors with the features and functions, but then it's not your bike. (why do dealers give bikes to people who have no intention, or the money, to buy?) The R1200R is a great bike in every respect except for wind protection where it is merely good, it's a naked bike so that is almost irrelevant anyway. Touring is certainly possible and holding 80 MPH/130 KPH for extended periods isn't a problem at all. BMW list a higher accessory screen that doesn't totally blow the looks, and of course there's a choice of 4 seats. Two tours to Germany (from the UK) on my R1200R Sport last year with two trips to Austria, plus Spain/Portugal later in the year. I'm coming round to conventional forks after numerous "funny front enders" the last being a K1600GT, and the ESA helps with that. Much prefer the R to the GS, the GS is too tall, there's too much noise coming up from the front wheel/tyre, and there's millions of 'em! The R is definitely more fun as an everyday bike, although arguably the GS may be better for touring due to slightly better weather protection. Get saving, you won't regret it!

Any plans to get a test ride on a R1200GS? Would be a rather splendid thing to see...

I wish you had at least familiarized yourself with the electronics on the bike. It makes all the difference in the world. And as far as all the things you mentioned as an "add-on", 99% of all that stuff is included in the model. The Dynamic suspension is an add on, which brings so many other things along with it. The GPS mount is an add on and rather inexpensive. And the small windscreen is an add on. There are 3 sizes to choose from if you need one. From that one which is the small version, all the way up to a damn near full car windscreen. Oh, and the R and the RS are the same bike except for the added fairing on the RS. It's not until you get into the RT that things get bigger, heavier, longer and wider. And one of the most exceptional Sport Touring bikes in the world today.

Great review, as always, and like I said on twitter, no bullshit! Lovely looking bike, would not own one, though, as I just don't trust BMW shaft drive bikes. Also not a fan of "optional extra's" just sell the bike as is, if you ask me.

nice review, already wanna one to buy :)

Hi Andy, hesitating between the r1200r and the Triumph 800 xrx (and even the Street Twin!). 90% city riding and some weekend trips in the country. Very occasional pillion riding. What's your take? Cheers, Tony

You seem to be getting a lot of wind noise on that bike, I have the same issue with my Street Triple and its tiny screen. Have you got a new camera? There seems to be a lot of crushing on the blacks losing detail.

Nice. Not a big fan of beemers but nice.

Nice but I think the RS would suit me better. Maybe one day I'll trade in my trusty Guzzi.....maybe.

Parabéns.. vocês só não mostraram a moto ...só o velocímetro

VFR 800F I will always keep, BUT i WILL have this in my evil stable some day.......some.....day

i could have done without knowing the cyls are offset. my ocd is going to go ham on me whenever i ride mine, now.

Can you tell me what upside down forks means?

Are we too tall for all but the GS?

nice review !

quality review! subbed and whitelisted ;)

How would you compare the power to the MT09 tracer?

I really enjoyed my test ride on that bike. Pity I cannot afford it.

The roads are so dirty , what do you want the council’s to wash them for you. First thing I would do is remove that screen

:D You should have a go on a Moto Guzzi Griso or Stelvio if you're looking for something similar but cooler :D.

360° firing order twin cylinder engines are SO BLAND sounding. None of the raspy, burbbly, barky noises from the 180º or 270° firing order. I guess that's what you get with a perfectly even number of explosions happening every 4 cycles. Kind of boring.

So admit it, deep down u love those fat asymmetric cylinders no matter how many times u hit them :D

Rider distraction thing... lol

Is that all you can do is moan and find fault , the truth about that BMW is it’s outstanding , nothing wrong with shaft drive , mirrors are great , new tyres are not slippy as you say , the old tyres I had to put up with you modern riders couldn’t handle , it’s your lack of confidence not the new tyres are slippy . Yes you have to run new tyres in but they are not slippy , it’s you?

You modern riders the wind is blasting me , not the most comfortable . You modern riders are all hairy fairy. In my day fairings didn’t exist , I used to ride hundreds of miles in rain all we had was leather suits and waterproofs , winter or summer no fairing.