Thanks for the great review. After having owned 6 brand new Harleys ( Fat Bob, Deuce, Street Glide, Breakout, V Rod and Softail Slim) I bought a First Edition with cruise control. What a difference in comfort, torque, quality and stand out beauty. I had ordered and paid a deposit on the new HD Lowrider 117 S (was taking months to arrive)and after an eventual test ride on the Lowrider back to back over the same roads and motorways with the BMW it was an easy decision to cancel the HD and buy the FE. I’m really enjoying the ride and recommend those thinking about it to take one for a cruise and compare.
Just closing in a deal on the first edition version here in God's own county in the UK , the girlfriend said if you get it you'll be living in the garage with it , just set up the camping bed ready for its arrival, 😌
As a ex BMW R1100S owner I'm really happy that BMW had the balls to make this bike after not the biggest success of the R1200C(for me it is a grate little bike much better bike then a HD Sporty) but I must say that being a current owner of a 2016 Moto Guzzi California Audace 1400 I think BMW should havr done a bit better. All the big block Guzzis have a far superior ground clearance/handling as well as brakes (320mm radial Brembos up front straight from a gen 1 Tuono V4) as standard all Guzzis get 3 stage traction control cruise control and abs and 3 riding modes (veloce-sport turismo-turing pioggia-rain that can be chamge on the fly independently from TC) the best way to describe the way the 1400cc Guzzis ride is more like a big naked bike (XJR1300 or GSX1400) rather then a cruiser. Plus the engine is an absolute pleasure to ride you can ride the torque curve 2500rpm-4000rpm but if you fancy some fireworks keep it spinning like a proper 90 degrees V-twin from Italy and ride thevpower curve 4.500-7000rpm and the Big Guzzi absolutely flys HD 114 has nothing on it. I really enjoy your RU-vid content! I hope You will have a chance to ride a 1400cc Guzzi Eldorado or an Audace or go all wild and try the MGX-21 with 21 inch front wheel
Thanks for your review. I have such mixed feelings about this bike. I like the concept and even idea, but am not 100% sold on the finished product. I think if the bike wasn't so big (and it looks big because of the chuncky proportions), it may work visually. But for me it doesn't jell and I think everything seems out of proportion. When I think of big bikes like this I inevitably compare them to the Yamaha XV 1900 Roadliner I owned for a few years. It had 168 Nm of torque and about 72 kw of power. The torque is something I had never experienced previously and the bike weighed a shit load at 340kg. The weight did not impede the forward motion of the scoot though. It was like a freight train straight from 1200 revs, up hills two up passing lines of vehicles and was therefore, in the speed danger zone in just a few moments. The G force rush was addictive. But it was too much of a good thing. I'd get back on my R1150 GS and wonder why I had any other bikes, it handled so well and didn't destroy my spine. The big Bee em would be a better bike (to my way of thinking) at 1/5 smaller scale than it is, in all dimensions including the engine capacity and size. 1440 or 1500cc would be big enough, in a smaller more manageable sized bike. Glad you liked it so much.
I think it’s an awesome looking bike with new tricks built in however, that scraping on the turn and not being able to stretch my long legs out during a long run would stop me from buying the bike. I’d re do the exhaust for better sound and clearance. BMW is a great bike but I’d either go Triumph or just stay with my Harley.
@@BigDavesPlace I told one of my friends who’s a blogger Robin The Lady Biker about your review of that beautiful 2020 Spruce Road King. That’s what she rides. :)
Proportions of the R5 is so much better than the R18. BMW wanted to build a 1,800 cc Boxer (because HD and Indian has those huge Engines) and there was no way around those enormous heads sticking out of the both sides of the bike. Dealers in the US are not able to move these bikes even with huge Demo discounts. Looks great but, it will not put a dent on the American cruiser Market. Just like HD's new PanAmerica model cannot put a dent on BMW's GS and GSA sales. Only BMW can harm it's own sales by using Hayes breaks and consequently, thousands of recalled bikes that could not be sold for months.
