rinty
10-28-2006, 11:39 AM
I normally don't read Sport Rider, but they have an R 1200 S / Suzuki SV 1000 S comparo in their November issue, so I picked it up. To my surprise, Kent Kunitsugu was impressed with the BMW and felt it stacked up well against the SV, which, of course, is an excellent machine. In a nutshell, here are his comments:
transmission - a "massive improvement" over the old boxer unit
switch gear - "frustratingly idiosyncratic"
engine - "makes a surprising amount of power"
throttle action-requires an "inordinate amount of throttle rotation"
handling - "a level of chassis and wheel control we've never experienced with previous Telelever/Paralever setups"
Telelever - "numb feedback"
ground clearance - "exemplary"
overall - "the best performing air cooled production twin we have ever tested"
As expected, he didn't like the ABS, (except that it can be turned off)particularly after a cage driver veered into his lane in a turn, he picked the bike up while turning, and a collision almost ensued when the ABS freewheeled for a short distance, apparently fooled into thinking that the tire was locking up "by the sudden deceleration of the wheel from lifting the tire up from its smaller circumference sidewall..."(this fascinating bit reads like part of a Kevin Cameron column).
I think the R 1200 S is the best bike I have ever ridden, and while I have never worried too much about moto journalists' opinions of BMW's, I find it interesting when they find one that they like. Marc Cook and Andrew Trevitt also liked it. If you're an S fan, you'll find this article interesting, and the issue also has a good comparo of 4 sport tourers from Ducati, Honda, Guzzi, and Triumph.
Rinty
transmission - a "massive improvement" over the old boxer unit
switch gear - "frustratingly idiosyncratic"
engine - "makes a surprising amount of power"
throttle action-requires an "inordinate amount of throttle rotation"
handling - "a level of chassis and wheel control we've never experienced with previous Telelever/Paralever setups"
Telelever - "numb feedback"
ground clearance - "exemplary"
overall - "the best performing air cooled production twin we have ever tested"
As expected, he didn't like the ABS, (except that it can be turned off)particularly after a cage driver veered into his lane in a turn, he picked the bike up while turning, and a collision almost ensued when the ABS freewheeled for a short distance, apparently fooled into thinking that the tire was locking up "by the sudden deceleration of the wheel from lifting the tire up from its smaller circumference sidewall..."(this fascinating bit reads like part of a Kevin Cameron column).
I think the R 1200 S is the best bike I have ever ridden, and while I have never worried too much about moto journalists' opinions of BMW's, I find it interesting when they find one that they like. Marc Cook and Andrew Trevitt also liked it. If you're an S fan, you'll find this article interesting, and the issue also has a good comparo of 4 sport tourers from Ducati, Honda, Guzzi, and Triumph.
Rinty