BMW R1200RT-Best Sport Tourer For 2014?

[Redfish Hunter]

I hate, Hate, HATE to do this but...

I have never been impressed with any of BMW's marketing. I have never made a decision to spend large quantities of money based on a commercial or advertisement. I have made expensive decisions (partly) based on the recommendation of folks that I thought were smart or well informed.

Based on the impression the new R1200RT has made on ALL of the motomag journalists it has to be a very good motorcycle. We can all say what we want about the journalists, only a very few of us here actually ride and evaluate motorcycles for a living.

I don't know how many of you caught this little snippet concerning the FJR in the MotorCyclist Magazine review of the '14 R1200RT but it is there. Apparently Editor in Chief Marc Cook has purchased a 2014 FJR ES. He was unable to stay with the R1200RT on a twisty road. We know he can ride and we know he knows how to set up his electronic suspension.

I have to say that none of the BMW owners I have met on the road were "drunk" on the KoolAid. They were more or less like us. Most of them ride their motorcycles a lot.

While it may be fun to joke about final drives and broken shocks do any of us really enjoy seeing a fellow motorcyclist broke down on the highway? How many of us would look over and say, "Ah. A BMW. Rich bastard got what he deserved." and just keep riding?

I hope the BMW is the best Sport Tourer on the planet. That just sets the bar higher for all of the competition. And competition improves the product for all of us.

Carry on with your joking and bashing. I do find it entertaining.

 

[BanjoBoy]

I hate, Hate, HATE to do this but...
I have never been impressed with any of BMW's marketing. I have never made a decision to spend large quantities of money based on a commercial or advertisement. I have made expensive decisions (partly) based on the recommendation of folks that I thought were smart or well informed.

Based on the impression the new R1200RT has made on ALL of the motomag journalists it has to be a very good motorcycle. We can all say what we want about the journalists, only a very few of us here actually ride and evaluate motorcycles for a living.

I don't know how many of you caught this little snippet concerning the FJR in the MotorCyclist Magazine review of the '14 R1200RT but it is there. Apparently Editor in Chief Marc Cook has purchased a 2014 FJR ES. He was unable to stay with the R1200RT on a twisty road. We know he can ride and we know he knows how to set up his electronic suspension.

I have to say that none of the BMW owners I have met on the road were "drunk" on the KoolAid. They were more or less like us. Most of them ride their motorcycles a lot.

While it may be fun to joke about final drives and broken shocks do any of us really enjoy seeing a fellow motorcyclist broke down on the highway? How many of us would look over and say, "Ah. A BMW. Rich bastard got what he deserved." and just keep riding?

I hope the BMW is the best Sport Tourer on the planet. That just sets the bar higher for all of the competition. And competition improves the product for all of us.

Carry on with your joking and bashing. I do find it entertaining.

1st off, glossy magazines are lame!

2nd I don't know how well that feller can ride, I ain't never rode w/ him?

3rd Maybe sum fragile, unreliable, over priced, pos duz ride real nice fer a 1,000 mi. weekend review, butt sum of us commute daily, rail the twisties, 'n sport tour on the weekends. Sum of us ride purdie much every day, and that's where the low maintenance & reliability are the most important thangs in a moto.

I dun tasted the Koolaide 'n spit that **** out! I wouldn't trust a Bring Mor Whiners any further than I could throw one.

I'm sure a $500 an hr hooker fornicates better than my wife/sister, butt I dun married her fer the over all package; companionship, humor, cook'in...

 

[ionbeam]

Rode this for ~1,500 miles.

I didn't like it, pillion didn't like it. We didn't go out to buy one.

In October I plan to put similar miles on a K1600. We will see if it's any more loveable.

The K1300 had cramped seating, had to shift the piss out of it to get performance (yes, it has 6 gears), bad clutch feel, bad brake feel, ****** gas mileage, handled no better than the FJR. I liked the headlights, I liked the electronically adjustable suspension.

 

[Top_Speed1]

I hate, Hate, HATE to do this but...
I have never been impressed with any of BMW's marketing. I have never made a decision to spend large quantities of money based on a commercial or advertisement. I have made expensive decisions (partly) based on the recommendation of folks that I thought were smart or well informed.

Based on the impression the new R1200RT has made on ALL of the motomag journalists it has to be a very good motorcycle. We can all say what we want about the journalists, only a very few of us here actually ride and evaluate motorcycles for a living.

I don't know how many of you caught this little snippet concerning the FJR in the MotorCyclist Magazine review of the '14 R1200RT but it is there. Apparently Editor in Chief Marc Cook has purchased a 2014 FJR ES. He was unable to stay with the R1200RT on a twisty road. We know he can ride and we know he knows how to set up his electronic suspension.

I have to say that none of the BMW owners I have met on the road were "drunk" on the KoolAid. They were more or less like us. Most of them ride their motorcycles a lot.

While it may be fun to joke about final drives and broken shocks do any of us really enjoy seeing a fellow motorcyclist broke down on the highway? How many of us would look over and say, "Ah. A BMW. Rich bastard got what he deserved." and just keep riding?

I hope the BMW is the best Sport Tourer on the planet. That just sets the bar higher for all of the competition. And competition improves the product for all of us.

Carry on with your joking and bashing. I do find it entertaining.

Very well said RFH!.

I've never thought anything (period) of BMW's marketing. Good or bad?. Don't really care I guess either.

All these 'journalist' have a lot more knowledge and a vast variety of bikes in front of them than myself). Believe them or not, it will always be the readers choice to agree or disagree ...gotta love Amerika!

When I ride w one of my buds, be it with a HD, Triumph or a Japanese bike.... we all have one thing in common when we all get off our rides and start talking. "Hey, did you see that..." or "man!, we gotta do that ride again sometime!". And then there's the ever so common "where we goona stop and eat?". NEVER (evah!) is it about a brand or model that took you to that point (of smiles). It's all about the fun. Yes, some bikes "fit" some riders better than others, so be it, and let that person decide what's best for them and then go out and have the same common fun that we all enjoy

So speaking of riding?... my g/f has my bikes grounded (ever since I got back from Minnesota, yes, without her). She said I blew my wad enough, and now it's her time. Hard to really put up an argument as that means boating, booze and bikinis. Terrible I know, but I am geeking to get back out there on 2 wheels. Fred W's RR's are really hitting the spot (for teasing).

Ride happy guys, and on whatever scooter you choose!

 

[Twigg]

I hate, Hate, HATE to do this but...
I have never been impressed with any of BMW's marketing. I have never made a decision to spend large quantities of money based on a commercial or advertisement. I have made expensive decisions (partly) based on the recommendation of folks that I thought were smart or well informed.

Based on the impression the new R1200RT has made on ALL of the motomag journalists it has to be a very good motorcycle. We can all say what we want about the journalists, only a very few of us here actually ride and evaluate motorcycles for a living.

I don't know how many of you caught this little snippet concerning the FJR in the MotorCyclist Magazine review of the '14 R1200RT but it is there. Apparently Editor in Chief Marc Cook has purchased a 2014 FJR ES. He was unable to stay with the R1200RT on a twisty road. We know he can ride and we know he knows how to set up his electronic suspension.

I have to say that none of the BMW owners I have met on the road were "drunk" on the KoolAid. They were more or less like us. Most of them ride their motorcycles a lot.

While it may be fun to joke about final drives and broken shocks do any of us really enjoy seeing a fellow motorcyclist broke down on the highway? How many of us would look over and say, "Ah. A BMW. Rich bastard got what he deserved." and just keep riding?

I hope the BMW is the best Sport Tourer on the planet. That just sets the bar higher for all of the competition. And competition improves the product for all of us.

Carry on with your joking and bashing. I do find it entertaining.

Much of this is quite correct.

If you can get a motoring journalist in a bar, and get an honest opinion out of him, it might read a little different to what ends up published in the magazine. They are expert at what they do, and that includes selling magazines and remaining in the good graces of the manufacturers.

BMW are a technically innovative company. They are to be applauded for their efforts because their research and engineering informs us all and has produced some wonderful motorcycles. They still do, but that complexity and ground-breaking approach comes at a price. The price is cost and, increasingly, reliability plus a uniquely "German" way of accomplishing many mundane tasks.

The Yamaha FJR1300, by contrast, is the complete opposite. Simple concepts, well-implemented but also well-understood technology in a typically reliable package at a good price. There is nothing remarkable about the FJR except the way the whole package just works!

I am glad BMW do what they do. I hope they keep doing it and that they get over the recent issues. They will always end up being rated highly by the press, but you, as a buyer and rider, simply have to be able to read between the lines if you want to end up with a bike that suits you.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I hate, Hate, HATE to do this but...
I have never been impressed with any of BMW's marketing. I have never made a decision to spend large quantities of money based on a commercial or advertisement. I have made expensive decisions (partly) based on the recommendation of folks that I thought were smart or well informed.

Based on the impression the new R1200RT has made on ALL of the motomag journalists it has to be a very good motorcycle. We can all say what we want about the journalists, only a very few of us here actually ride and evaluate motorcycles for a living.

I don't know how many of you caught this little snippet concerning the FJR in the MotorCyclist Magazine review of the '14 R1200RT but it is there. Apparently Editor in Chief Marc Cook has purchased a 2014 FJR ES. He was unable to stay with the R1200RT on a twisty road. We know he can ride and we know he knows how to set up his electronic suspension.

I have to say that none of the BMW owners I have met on the road were "drunk" on the KoolAid. They were more or less like us. Most of them ride their motorcycles a lot.

While it may be fun to joke about final drives and broken shocks do any of us really enjoy seeing a fellow motorcyclist broke down on the highway? How many of us would look over and say, "Ah. A BMW. Rich bastard got what he deserved." and just keep riding?

I hope the BMW is the best Sport Tourer on the planet. That just sets the bar higher for all of the competition. And competition improves the product for all of us.

Carry on with your joking and bashing. I do find it entertaining.

Very well said RFH!.

I've never thought anything (period) of BMW's marketing. Good or bad?. Don't really care I guess either.

All these 'journalist' have a lot more knowledge and a vast variety of bikes in front of them than myself). Believe them or not, it will always be the readers choice to agree or disagree ...gotta love Amerika!

When I ride w one of my buds, be it with a HD, Triumph or a Japanese bike.... we all have one thing in common when we all get off our rides and start talking. "Hey, did you see that..." or "man!, we gotta do that ride again sometime!". And then there's the ever so common "where we goona stop and eat?". NEVER (evah!) is it about a brand or model that took you to that point (of smiles). It's all about the fun. Yes, some bikes "fit" some riders better than others, so be it, and let that person decide what's best for them and then go out and have the same common fun that we all enjoy :shades:

So speaking of riding?... my g/f has my bikes grounded (ever since I got back from Minnesota, yes, without her). She said I blew my wad enough, and now it's her time. Hard to really put up an argument as that means boating, booze and bikinis. Terrible I know, but I am geeking to get back out there on 2 wheels. Fred W's RR's are really hitting the spot (for teasing).

Ride happy guys, and on whatever scooter you choose!

OMFG...KJ finally said sumthin' smart. Better get your guns out boys. The apocalypse is coming.