R1200st Nla

[mikeb921]

According to the Planning and Development Manager and BMW Motorrad Customer Information...The BMW R1200ST is no longer available. I wonder how many were manufactured in their brief run. I have an 05 and love it. I know many didn't care for the styling, but it's a fantastic motorcycle none the less. No more R/RS or R/ST. I know it was a small market, but one BMW did a great job of providing us sport tourers with a good choice. Having come from an R1100RS, the R1200ST felt perfectly normal to me. I'd better put on my flame retardant suit, I'm sure I'm going to hear how ugly it is, but to me it is a work of art. To those of us who have one, enjoy one of the most well rounded bikes ever built by BMW. I can see this model reaching( I'm still wearing my suit) cult status in the future. Long live the sport touring enthusiasm in all of us.

Ride Safe
Rideoften

[DarrylRi]

I moved this thread to the Hexheads area where it is more relevant.

[DarrylRi]

<doffs moderator hat>
I also have an ST, a 2007 model, and I came from a couple of R11xxRSes, so it was a natural thing for me. I find it to be a great bike.

I had to special order mine and wait 3 months for it to arrive, because last year BMWNA did not import any of them for general sale. Indeed, the styling proved to be "controversial", but it was never a problem for me, and the dual H4 bulbs in front -- that are both lighted on high or low beam -- is a great feature.

I am disappointed that BMW didn't offer cruise control a la the RT, and that I've had to wire up my own powerlet outlet for my Gerbings jacket. The only other changes I've made to the bike are a Rick Mayer seat and the Verholen bar risers (which give the ST a similar crouch to the stock RS position).

I have really enjoyed the bike this way, so far, and am looking forward to many miles down the road on it!

[Jamming]

I have an 05 ST. She's a daily rider. LOVE IT!!!!!! I too rode RS's for 20 years. From a 77 RS100 to a 1100RS.

I've heard there were less than 700 made..worldwide. I don't know how true that is.

All I have to say is my ST is going to be a permanent member of the family. I have the Verholen risers. Need to do something about the seat...it sucks.

[DarrylRi]

Regarding seats, here is relevant posting I made (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=262330&postcount=17) a while back in the gear area.

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2007/seat/PB205063_resize.JPG

[R80RTJohnny]

Will be interesting to see how future generations treat the ST. I agree that it will develop a "cult" status for it was a great bike that was misunderstood. BMW needs a kick for not supporting this bike more - listening to potential customers and making the necessary changes.

Some people dismissed the toaster tanks of the early 70's and now their classics.

In 20 years the "ugly" part will disappear and the "hey it made sense" will appear.

[bmwson]

I have a 2007 R1200ST that I also had to special order and wait for three months to get. But it was worth it. I now have two collector bikes.

[grasslander]

I know many didn't care for the styling, but it's a fantastic motorcycle none the less. No more R/RS or R/ST. I know it was a small market, but one BMW did a great job of providing us sport tourers with a good choice...

I think the looks of the ST were only part of the problem. The "sport" sport touring market is miss-understood. I stopped at a Honda dealer this weekend and asked to see the VFR or what ever other "sport" sport touring Honda offered. They kept taking me to the darn near 800lb ST1300. I said "sport" sport touring... Those of us that grew up with the R90S, R100RS R100S, Oilhead RS, or really knew the Hex ST are a disappearing breed I think. Same for the other brands. Maybe part of it is poor sales staff or just plain misunderstood or misplaced marketing. Maybe we are becoming to fat, to lazy, to soft, or just out of shape. When a Honda dealer tries to sell the performance of a GoldWing as close enough to a ST1300 or FJR or Triumph Sprint --- what's wrong with this picture? What is happening to motorcycling?

Don't get me wrong, The RT, FJR, ST13, Kaw Concours, and to a smaller degree the GW and LT can be ridden in a more sporty way. I just don't want 700+ lbs when I tip into into the corner. The RT and FJR come close, nice tourer that can "sport". The R12ST did it for me 'cause in the BMW sport touring tradition you got close enough sport ergo, light handling (+lighter by 60-150lbs), and the ability to carry gear and wife coast to coast (unbelievable freeway manners). Drop the bags and tear up 191 in AZ !

Sorry to see one of the few true "sport" sport touring bikes to be gone. Shame on you BMW for not supporting this bike. Maybe with better demo opportunities others could have sampled the sweet handling both on and off the bike.

[R1Zst]

I think the looks of the ST were only part of the problem. The "sport" sport touring market is miss-understood. I stopped at a Honda dealer this weekend and asked to see the VFR or what ever other "sport" sport touring Honda offered. They kept taking me to the darn near 800lb ST1300. I said "sport" sport touring... Those of us that grew up with the R90S, R100RS R100S, Oilhead RS, or really knew the Hex ST are a disappearing breed I think. Same for the other brands. Maybe part of it is poor sales staff or just plain misunderstood or misplaced marketing. Maybe we are becoming to fat, to lazy, to soft, or just out of shape. When a Honda dealer tries to sell the performance of a GoldWing as close enough to a ST1300 or FJR or Triumph Sprint --- what's wrong with this picture? What is happening to motorcycling?

Don't get me wrong, The RT, FJR, ST13, Kaw Concours, and to a smaller degree the GW and LT can be ridden in a more sporty way. I just don't want 700+ lbs when I tip into into the corner. The RT and FJR come close, nice tourer that can "sport". The R12ST did it for me 'cause in the BMW sport touring tradition you got close enough sport ergo, light handling (+lighter by 60-150lbs), and the ability to carry gear and wife coast to coast (unbelievable freeway manners). Drop the bags and tear up 191 in AZ !

Sorry to see one of the few true "sport" sport touring bikes to be gone. Shame on you BMW for not supporting this bike. Maybe with better demo opportunities others could have sampled the sweet handling both on and off the bike.

Dont let the "800 lb ST1300" fool you. A bike that doesnt suit you, may fit someone else perfectly. I have a friend who takes it to the track and most 600 SS could not keep up with him. Just imagine him on the street.

I too have an 07. And I love it. Maybe its best its not on the 08 line up. It just makes our model a little more exotic.

[grasslander]

Dont let the "800 lb ST1300" fool you. A bike that doesnt suit you, may fit someone else perfectly. I have a friend who takes it to the track and most 600 SS could not keep up with him. Just imagine him on the street.

Just imagine him on a real "sport" sport touring machine!

[briana]

I have an 05, and i love it. It has the best performing headlight out of any bike i've ever seen. I love the looks of the bike too. It's nice to have something different.
Brian

[rinty]

I think that the problem is that in North America, the sport touring sector is just not a big enough part of the market to be attractive to the manufacturers. So the only way Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki will even participate is with "heavier" models, and for a long time Yamaha was not even contemplating introducing the FJR here.

I have always thought it fortunate that BMW built lighter versions i.e. in the 500# range, of the type. Certainly Triumph and Aprilia have good units in the Sprint ST and Futura, respectively, but the Triumph is a totally different cat than our RS's/ST's, and Aprilia dealers are few and far between.

Exacerbating the problem for BMW is that their sport bikes are good enough to tour on and their light touring bikes are good enough to sport on, leaving you wondering how they manage to sell any sport tourers.

But I'll always be a big fan of the genre.

Rinty

[R1Zst]

Saw this on the internet, rumored the 2009 model. I like the non current model better.

[rinty]

That's looks pretty sweet, Ron. Is there any more information available on it?

Rinty

[grasslander]

Saw this on the internet, rumored the 2009 model. I like the non current model better.

Ron this was an aftermarket fairing available in Europe for about 2000.00 Euros - the R1200ST is extra if you can find one. This is a link to the company

http://www.motorrad-martin.de/news.php

[Jamming]

Regarding seats, here is relevant posting I made (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=262330&postcount=17) a while back in the gear area.

http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/mcpics/2007/seat/PB205063_resize.JPG

Dang Darryl...how'ed I MISS that thread???? You rode by my house and didn't even stop for coffee:drink

The ST looks great!

[DarrylRi]

Dang Darryl...how'ed I MISS that thread???? You rode by my house and didn't even stop for coffee:drink

The ST looks great!

Hey, I did ride by your house, didn't I? We took that AZ-85 cutoff down to I-8 at Gila Bend. Maybe this November?

[R1Zst]

Ron this was an aftermarket fairing available in Europe for about 2000.00 Euros - the R1200ST is extra if you can find one. This is a link to the company

http://www.motorrad-martin.de/news.php

My apologies. I got the rumor from here http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558
I feel so ashamed I'm going to spank myself.
By the way nice fit and finish for an aftermarket.

Ron

[stew12st]

That's a shame that they are not going to produce the ST anymore. Writing was on the wall when they stopped stocking them in North America in '07. I agree, it is an underrated bike. I am just getting back into riding after an 18 year lay off and chose the ST after almost a year of looking / researching. I use it as a daily commuter into the city, I've taken it on some semi-long trips with ease (plan to do much longer) and I've taken it to the track and felt great on it considering I have no idea what I'm doing out there, (still managed to get my butt off the seat in corners and lose the chicken strips :D ).

I also notice at charity rides my '05 ST draws lots of looks from other riders, some are confused by the front end but most seem to like the lines. When I tell them I always lead when riding at night because of the functional headlight / deer spotter there is always an approving nod of the head.

Yep...too bad. :dunno

[Jamming]

Hey, I did ride by your house, didn't I? We took that AZ-85 cutoff down to I-8 at Gila Bend. Maybe this November?

Dude, let me know. I live 6 miles East of the SR85(Gila Bend) cutoff and the I-10.