K1200GT road test: Rider magazine

[wuli959]

Just got my new Rider magazine in the mail and they have a comparison test for "sport touring" bikes.

BMW K1200GT, Yamaha, Kawasaki, & Honda.

You know which one was the most expensive :brow

Ouch. Guess who came in last :banghead

[john1691]

I'm assuming it was the ST1300 from Honda, FJ1300 from Yamaha, and the ZG-14 from Kawasaki? Tough competition, for sure. I'd be interested to see how the R1200ST would compare to the others. I'd guess the Kawasaki would still dominate, being the newest Japanese design and the largest bore motor. Call me silly, I'm still partial to the B-mer, regardless of model, it's the interesting people I meet on a B-mer that keeps me loyal!

[eric81]

I’ve given up on reading the comparisons. This time they at least had the right BMW in the mix. Usually the R1200RT is compared with 4-cylinder, liquid cooled bikes that can crank out more horsepower and greater torque than the boxer twin. Then the test riders complain about lack of power. Oranges to apples.

The K1200GT did get respected as the most powerful (131.3 HP), best gas mileage (43.2mpg) , lightest wet weight (666lbs) with highest GVWR (1147lbs) and load capacity (481lbs) during the Rider magazine review. Somehow the test riders still picked the bike with the heaviest wet weight (716lbs) with lowest load capacity (395lbs), oldest design and lowest horsepower (111.4 HP). Final results: 1) Honda ST1300, 2) Yamaha FJR1300, 3) Kawasaki Concours 14, and 4) BMW R1200GT.

And, as always, they have to throw in the price difference between the BMW and the rest of the field ($5,000) but fail to point out during the final ‘Conclusion’ that the BMW had Equipment Package 2 which includes ESA, heated grips, heated seat, cruise control and the Onboard Computer. Obviously if the other bikes had this included they, too, would have had higher prices which would have lowered the difference in price.

When the R1200RT came out, it was top of the field. When the K1200GT was introduced, it was top of the field. When the Kawasaki Concours 14 came out, it was top of the field. Now the Honda ST1300 is top of the field. Next years Yamaha FJR1300s have some improvements to the transmission and instrument panel. Any guesses as to who will be ‘Top Dog’ next?

Enough ranting from me. Sorry for the interruption.

[wuli959]

except that the #1 bike was the oldest design.

I'll pass over their complaint of vagueness in the front end due to the special design but for the incremental $$, it's still hard to believe that the GT struggled with the basics; braking & transmission.

[rinty]

The GT has done very well in other recent comparos. If I have time, I'll dig them out and list them here, but that'll be a big job.

Regardless of what the moto jocks say, the GT has them beat on weight, and that's a major issue for me. These are sport tourers, after all. I've ridden the FJR 1300, and it's very capable, but an appliance, and not enough leg room for tall guys (I'm 6' 1"). I haven't ridden the ST, but just looking at it you can feel the weight.

And the Kawi is really complex.

But it's great to have such a variety of models available in this category, which is not a big seller in North America. You can just do your research, figure out which one best fits your mission profile, and then make your selection.

But FWIW, the GT would be an easy choice for me.

Rinty

[samburnett]

I think that Rider liked the F800, but other than that it seems to me that Rider and MCN are harsh toward BMW. Maybe I have not been following those magazines long enough to be objective.

[Braddog]

Motorcyclist did a sport tourer comparo, but the BMW in the group was the R1200RT. That one came out like this:

1.) Kawasaki Concours 14
2.) Yamaha FJR 1300
3.) BMW R1200RT
4.) Honda ST1300

The K12 should've been the choice from BMW in this group, although they really didn't knock ANY of the bikes when they rated them.

[Bob_M]

I think that Rider liked the F800, but other than that it seems to me that Rider and MCN are harsh toward BMW. Maybe I have not been following those magazines long enough to be objective.

The high cost of the BMW implies superiority bordering on perfection. When the moto journalists do not find perfection (or at least $5000 worth of superiority) the value of the bike is diminished and this could color the editorial opinion of the testers.

Time was that motorcycle manufacturers would blue print a bike before giving it to a magazine for road testing. Right or wrong, this practice delivered a stock bike to the journalists that, most likely, worked better than one off of a show room floor. The shifting problems and perhaps even the front end vagueness of the K12GT would have been sorted out if a skilled tech had detailed the bike.

If this practice is still done I do not know. In all the on-line and MOA reports about the GT this is the first I had heard about the shifting problem. It would have certianly been prudent to deliver to a motorcycle magazine a properly operating machine.

[lvmar123]

I read the Rider comparison. Their comment on shifting is accurate-- especially in first and second gear. The clunking is something we have grown used to and accepted. If I was buying a lawnmower I would buy a Honda for its reliability. When I bought a bike the K1200GT was my choice. I know I made the right decision-and like a good Mercedes diesel, I expect to enjoy this bike for many miles. Yes, there are imperfections-on any bike. We are a picky lot!
There continues to be a strong relationship between BMW owners and their bikes.
No review can change that. They are worth the extra $.