2020 R1250RS tomorrow!

[runnerhiker]

I am trading in my 2016 Lupin Blue for a 2020 Black Storm Metallic, picking it up tomorrow. I wasn't planning on doing this, it came over me all of a sudden. I got an e-mail from my local dealer in Fort Collins about end of year discounts and 0.9% interest loans, I started looking at it, and decided, what the hell, let's get a new one!

I've had the 2016 for five years and one month and 27,000 miles on it. I think it's the best bike I have ever owned. So I am starting a new odometer!

   

[darrell]

Congratulations Ron. Somebody will get a nice used bike with the 2016.

[Lee]

Congratulations Ron. If we had to trade now we would also get black.
That's the only color I like this year.
Will you paint your pannier lids gloss black, or buy new lids?

[Grumpy Goat]

Y'all are making Mike blush. Congrats on the new ride Ron! Looking forward to your impressions after riding it for a while.

[MrVvrroomm]

Atta boy Ron! Congrats!

[runnerhiker]

Congratulations Ron. If we had to trade now we would also get black.
That's the only color I like this year.
Will you paint your pannier lids gloss black, or buy new lids?

I ordered the black panniers. The grey panniers also fit my XR and the grey color looks good on the HP XR, black would not look good on the XR. So I am keeping the old ones.

[Duccrazydave]

Nice, Ron! Looking forward to your thoughts on the differences between the 1200-1250.


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[Liteitup]

Congratulations Ron. If we had to trade now we would also get black.
That's the only color I like this year.
Will you paint your pannier lids gloss black, or buy new lids?

I ordered the black panniers. The grey panniers also fit my XR and the grey color looks good on the HP XR, black would not look good on the XR. So I am keeping the old ones.

Wait, you have an XR and a RS?
I ask because I just bought an XR (2016) to go with my RS. Right now I feel like I will sell one of them in the spring. You find enough difference in riding situations to justify both? I only have 200 miles on the XR, so too early to decide.

[Liteitup]

Oh, congrats on the new ride.

[Ray]

Good man. As Darrell points out, you've made someone with more limited resources the gift of a less expensive and barely broken-in 2016 Lupin Blue RS.

Enjoy.

[runnerhiker]

Congratulations Ron. If we had to trade now we would also get black.
That's the only color I like this year.
Will you paint your pannier lids gloss black, or buy new lids?

I ordered the black panniers. The grey panniers also fit my XR and the grey color looks good on the HP XR, black would not look good on the XR. So I am keeping the old ones.

Wait, you have an XR and a RS?
I ask because I just bought an XR (2016) to go with my RS. Right now I feel like I will sell one of them in the spring. You find enough difference in riding situations to justify both? I only have 200 miles on the XR, so too early to decide.

Yes, I have both. I've had a variety of two motorcycles at the same time for some years now. I don't know what to say other than to say the obvious, you keep the one that rings your bell the most.

The XR has a more exhilarating engine and a better quick shifter. The RS is better at everything else: better clutch, better ergonomics, more comfortable overall, more HP up to 6,000 RPM.

The XR has more character, but damn, that clutch is terrible, the seat is too high, the frame makes it impossible for a seat manufacturer to make a properly shaped seat unless they go 35" off the ground. And yet I am extremely happy with it. It rings my bell.

I would not sell either one. But if I had to have ONE, I would keep the RS.

[Upinsmoke]

Congratulations on the new bike!!!


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[Liteitup]

Congratulations Ron. If we had to trade now we would also get black.
That's the only color I like this year.
Will you paint your pannier lids gloss black, or buy new lids?

I ordered the black panniers. The grey panniers also fit my XR and the grey color looks good on the HP XR, black would not look good on the XR. So I am keeping the old ones.

Wait, you have an XR and a RS?
I ask because I just bought an XR (2016) to go with my RS. Right now I feel like I will sell one of them in the spring. You find enough difference in riding situations to justify both? I only have 200 miles on the XR, so too early to decide.

Yes, I have both. I've had a variety of two motorcycles at the same time for some years now. I don't know what to say other than to say the obvious, you keep the one that rings your bell the most.

The XR has a more exhilarating engine and a better quick shifter. The RS is better at everything else: better clutch, better ergonomics, more comfortable overall, more HP up to 6,000 RPM.

The XR has more character, but damn, that clutch is terrible, the seat is too high, the frame makes it impossible for a seat manufacturer to make a properly shaped seat unless they go 35" off the ground. And yet I am extremely happy with it. It rings my bell.

I would not sell either one. But if I had to have ONE, I would keep the RS.

Thanks, I haven't had a chance to ride them back to back. Sorry for the hijack.

[Grumpy Goat]

The XR has more character, but damn, that clutch is terrible, the seat is too high, the frame makes it impossible for a seat manufacturer to make a properly shaped seat unless they go 35" off the ground. And yet I am extremely happy with it. It rings my bell.

I would not sell either one. But if I had to have ONE, I would keep the RS.

I agree with the last sentence 100%. I am surprised that you think that the XR has more character. I don't think any S bike has more character than a boxer.

I too am happy with the S1000R but, unlike the RS, I never get off an say "Damn I love that bike!" But it does also ring my bell.

LiteItUp - you only put 200 miles on the XR; not nearly enough to make a decision on whether to keep it. You need to ride it more and in varied scenarios including a long trip, and then you might be surprised at what you decide.

[Liteitup]

[quote='runnerhiker' pid='4501' dateline='1603936923']


LiteItUp - you only put 200 miles on the XR; not nearly enough to make a decision on whether to keep it. You need to ride it more and in varied scenarios including a long trip, and then you might be surprised at what you decide.

Agreed. I was just surprised to find someone else with the same combo of bikes.

[Olgry1]

Congrats on your new RS Ron!

[runnerhiker]

I only have 50 miles on my new 2020 RS, some things that I noticed today, some very quick first impressions.

The 1250 engine is smoother, less vibrations, than the 1200 engine. Not a big difference, but noticeable.
The 1250 front brakes bite harder, quicker. The first touch of the brakes gets stronger stopping on the 1250. I like it.
The 1250 transmission shifts smoother. My 2016 RS was an early model, it didn't have the shaft rubber, that might be it.
The 1250 Dynamic vs Road engine mode is very noticeable, in the 1200 it was barely noticeable.
The 1250 TFT screen quality is excellent, it was clearly legible in a very difficult sun condition today.
The gearing on the 1250 seems taller, I need to check this, just a curiosity.
The side stand on the 1250 is a little better, leans over just a bit more.
BMW did an outstanding job of designing the handlebar controls on the old 1200 R, every button available to do all things, no scrolling through menus! The TFT is good, I like it, I'll get used to it, but nothing is one click away, although the Wonder Wheel beats the hell out of anybody else's joystick or "four arrows".
The 1250 is hard to push out of my garage, it has a high level of rolling resistance, like the bearings are over packed with grease. Weird.

More later with more miles.


PS: checked the gearing, it's the same, no change. All six gears and final drive ratio are identical.

[Lee]

The 1250 front brakes bite harder, quicker. The first touch of the brakes gets stronger stopping on the 1250. I like it.

The side stand on the 1250 is a little better, leans over just a bit more.

That's good to hear.

Is there still a switch for heated grips, or is that a menu item now?

[MrVvrroomm]

Is there still a switch for heated grips, or is that a menu item now?

Switch is still in same spot.

[Grumpy Goat]

Good initial feedback on the new bike Ron. Similar to my impressions when I test rode one. Don't forget though, this is a new bike vs your previous RS so that has to be considered with comparisons. That said, the engine is a new design so it is likely inherently smoother, and the brakes are also different (Hayes?) so that probably accounts for the difference. My RS also has "progressive" brakes, unlike the S1000R, although their calipers are the same.