Any Beemer Boxer fans?....

I know this is a Honda VFR loyalist board as few motorcycles do so many things well as a VFR. I grew up riding standards and so have always loved that riding position. I have owned a few BMW cars as well and love the engineering. Have never owned a BMW motorcycle however and would like opinions on a particular bike if some Honda owners have actually been on that side of the ocean at some point. Below is a motorcycle that is reasonably priced used...BMW r1150r...BMW's standard... to me beautiful and very comfortable. Yes performance isn't particularly remarkable but enough grunt out on the street to eat up the miles and get lost on a nice day without sore wrists.
Would love to hear from those that may have sampled the BMW boxer in particular.
Many Thanks,
George

 

Nice bike, i have ridden the r1200a and the r1100s and I liked them both. I have heard good things about the 1150r and from what I have experienced and what I have heard they are bikes that I'm sure many of us on this board would own or considered owning. If the price is right its a great bike to just enjoy being out on and they get through the turns pretty well!!! Very usable power in that boxer and predictable handling..... Don't let the upright ergos fool you....

 

biker7, I have had a 2004 R1150R in our garage for 3 years, it doesn't stay in there very much. It was purchased to replace my 1993 ST1100. The Beemer has been a good addition to our family. The only drawback I can think of, is the short 6000 miles between valve adjustments. I do the valves myself, so it's no big deal. The closest BMW dealer is Fresno, where I purchased it. Miles per gallon range from a personal high 63 mpg( a slow putt through mountains) to a low of 34 mpg( chasing those pesky sportbikes through the mountains). Everyday riding to work and play nets 45-50 mpg of premium. When you buy I know you will love your's, as we have ours:smile: Greg

 

I had an '83 R80RT, an '85 K1000RT and lastly a '96 R1100R before i got the VFR bug. The last bike was fun but because i rode it like a sportsbike, not much fun in the mpg stakes sadly. Cylinder heads weep oil on a regular basis but apart from that, they are a top motorcycle, and keep your feet warm lol. Very comfy, easy to ride, just wish BMW would sort their signal switchgear out and conform to the regular standard. Oh finally, you really have to experience the suspension setup, that paralever system is something else.

 

Appreciate all the great advice. A couple of comments based upon what has been written so far:

Alter Ego...are the ergos i.e. being more upright that much different then a VFR? I presume a VFR with say Helibars is close in riding position to a R1150R...what do you think?

Greg...good to hear from someone that owns one. I am nonplussed about the valve adjustments being an engineer and try to do all my own wrenching and never go near a dealer if I can avoid it..lol. It is a bit surprising the valves do require adjustment so frequently. Presume air cooled heat cycling is most of the difference versus the 16K longer duration liquid cooled VFR valve adjustments. Greg can you comment on ergos comparing the R1150R to the VFR also? Which do you prefer?

John...Do you think the newer boxers have leaky cylinder jugs? Do they throw that much heat as you implied in your comments? Lastly, what do you mean about BMW switch gear? Can you provide a bit more detail?

Many Thanks guys,
George

 

@biker7

Yes they leak, haven't met an owner who doesn't suffer from this yet. They were down to a faulty gasket design which BMW fixed, and they still leak, just not as often. Might take 10k before it starts doing it.

As to the heat effect, great in winter because they do really keep the feeties nice and toasty, also good for warming gloves up. In the summer it can get a bit much, depends how fast you ride really lol.

By switch gear i mean the signal or indicator switches. On beemers you have 1 for the left, 1 for the right and a cancel button also on the right hand side. This can take getting used to as most new owners drive round blissfully unaware they have their signals going thinking that if they press the left button twice it cancels the signal. It doesn't, dumb idea, and BMW won't change it so there we go.

 

That's Sharp. I like it!

 

I think with heli-bars the bikes are very similar..... with stock bars there is more forward lean on a VFR. The tanks are similar in shape and width too. I never thought about the heat coming off of the heads but it makes sense. Most VFR owners would probably mention the heat on our bikes coming from the right side where the head is very close to your knee.... Gets toasty in the summer in traffic!!

 

Thanks guys. Since I took my Vegas out for the last ride of the year...stabilizer in the gas tank, pull the battery etc...sniff, sniff...I called Progressive to put only fire and theft on the bike for winter storage. So asked about the premium for the R1150R. Because it is a standard and not classified as a sport bike like the VFR, the premium is about the same as my Vegas. Insurance is such a racket on these bikes as you know. A
R1150R therefore is almost 50% cheaper to insure compared to the same year Viffer. Unreal...even though a Beemer maybe fractionally more expensive to replace. I really want a '07 RWB VFR but...don't really want to pay $613 a year to insure one. May have to pick up an older Viffer therefore and only put PL/PD on it...likely the best case.
Thanks for all your advice,
George

 

biker7, as far as the ergos are concerned they are two diiferent worlds IMHO. As you can see from the photo you posted the bars on the R1150R are similar to a UJM standard type of bend. Where our beloved VFR is more semi-sport/sport touring. As to my preference it depends the type of ride we are doing. I like them both for what they are. I did purchase the Heli-bars for my VFR, as I am going on a longer ride this summer to Canada. I will be riding the Honda on this one, because my wife will be riding her BMW. So what I'm saying is if I'm out riding turns with the guys VFR, rides with my touring friends, you know. Our bikes engine is completely dry, not seep anywhere. Good riding on whatever you choose:smile:. Greg

 

one day, before I'm done

The first sport bike I lusted for, and after all these years I still do...

R90S, had an R80ST back in the eighties but it was no 90S!

 

my most common riding buddy, amongst other rides, has a R1100S. He loves it, and uses it usually on our longer rides. I have ridden it occassionally, just for fun, and too short to make a full evaluation. They are nice bikes. Not the power of the K's -- I bought a K1200RS at about the time he bought his R. But a fun ride, handles fairly well. His has been stone reliable to my knowledge and having spent time in his garage, I can say he doesn't have any oil leak problems with it.

 

I would kill to only have to pay $613 a year for insurance, up here that doesn't even cover the compulsory government insurance including maximum no claims etc....nuff said.

 

I own a 2002 vfr and a 2005 bmwr1200rt. I love both bikes. I have taken both on long trips and there is no doubt you are much more comfortable at the end of a full day of riding on the bmw. I take the vfr to track days with pilot powers and it does everything I need for it to do. Very stable machine. I have not had any mechanical issues with either bike. As far as turn signals my bmw came with self cancelling turn signals. My wife does not like to ride as a passenger on the vfr but really enjoys riding on the bmw. Again just much more comfortable for long periods. By the way the bmw handles the twisties extremely well. Very stable in the corners and with the rpm up you can exit with lots of speed. Cirv

 

I currently have an R12S and an 82 R65.
The R12S is a great bike. It is far and away
the best BMW I've owned and I've had quite a few.
I just bought a VFR today...picking up in 2 weeks or so.
Not my first Honda either.
I had an '00 R1100R which is a similar bike to the 1150
and really enjoyed it.
They can be tippy at slow speeds with a full tank so
engine guards are a good idea. The ones in the picture(hexhead)
are the black plastic and a worthwhile investment although
the oilhead guards are a little different.

 

Hi Cirv,
Thanks for your comparison. Horses for courses to be sure.
I am an older rider and honestly prefer an upright riding position albeit one with mid controls versus my forward control cruiser and hence my hunt for a different bike. I can ride my cruiser 50 miles OK but after that I feel it in my back because my legs aren't underneath me for support plus it is hard for me to maintain proper posture on my cruiser because forward controls rotate my pelvis underneath. The RR Beemer bikes have the best riding position for me and hence my hunt. The VFR as comfortable as it is to many may still be a bit too aggressive a riding position for me on longer rides but believe a VFR would still be much better on my back then my current bike.
Thanks for your comments,
George

 

Thank you infonm from a rider that knows Beemers. Your R12S is a gorgeous bike to be sure. Have to ask...are not the ergos and general target for the Viffer and R12S similar? Did you have an express purpose for each in mind when you bought your VFR? Please keep us updated with a comparison report as you put miles on your new VFR.
The other thing is do you find the R1200S lower handlebar more or less comfortable then your R1100R which as you know is more of a standard riding position?

I looked into insurance cost for the R12S and believe it is classified like the VFR as a sport bike...hence higher premium...about double the cost. By contrast the RR bikes which as you know is essentially the identical bike albeit with higher handlebar and no front fairing is considered a standard with lower insurance like my big engined cruiser with about the same power. Go figure.
Thanks again and congrats on your nice motorcycles,
George

 

I have noticed several people have indicated their insurance on a sport bike is higher than a cruiser or tourer. I suggest you look into State Farm. They do not distinguish between types, ie. sport, touring, cruiser. Rates are based on age, driving record, residence location, and cc's. Cirv

 

George,
I have been looking at VFRs for a long time. I got a great deal so I figured it was time. I think there is a little more forward lean on the R12S but I don't find it any more or less comfortable than the R11R. I keep very little if any weight on my hands and use mostly back and abs to sit on the bike. It's funny, the most uncomfortable seating position on a bike I have owned was a KLR 650. Not the notoriously bad seat, the upright ergos. It just never "fit."
I will probably pick up the VFR in the next 7-14 days so I'll keep you posted with a ride comparison.
You are right about the insurance issue. The S is classified as a sport bike and is considerably more than the R12R.
There is a difference in the engines though. I think the R12R is 109hp and the S bumps up a bit to 122.
Mike

 

Thanks for the tip Cirv.
I will contact State Farm and see what their rates are.
Appreciate it.
George