Wikipedia

[Pyrrho]

Hey all,

In obsessively attempting to accumulate encyclopedic-level knowledge of modern RSes, I looked up our beloved bikes up on Wikipedia. To my surprise the entry of the R1200RS is nearly an afterthought, with no entry on the 1250 at all! This should not stand, especially in comparison to contemporary peers' entries such as the Ducati SuperSport, Honda VFR800F, Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX & H2 SX, KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, or our host's own Yamaha Tracer 900 GT. I'd mention the S1000XR here too, but only as another example of something IMO to be ashamed of.

Grumpy and I were having a private convo about the importance of informational permanence and the idea of paying things forward. I feel contributing to the inclusion and expansion of Wikipedia's entries would be not only be creating something of value to be proud of as a community and owners & RS-curious world-wide, but a lasting resource immune to any one site, forum, or individual's neglect.

I'm offering my time to lead this project and do whatever digital bureaucratic hoop-jumping required to get it online but am looking to see if I could get help in any/all of the following subject areas. Use the previously linked bike entries as examples.

• Class – what defines BMW's Reisesport (travel sport) category of bikes
  
• RS history – from the first Rennsport (race sport) models to today
  
• Design & Development – of the return of the RRS from the ashes of the KRS
  
• Specifications
  
• References – can even be a way to give a nod to sites like rswasserboxer if we can link to something on the website (I don't think you can externally link to a specific forum post but could be wrong)
  
• Photos – of course!
  

Maybe this means entirely different full entries for 1200 & 1250, but I think a combined longer article covering both bikes — using deep link anchors within the article for 1200 & 1250 sections to be linked from other Motorrad-related Wiki articles as appropriate — would be best.

Let's get a discussion going. I think we could have fun and learn stuff doing this, and that's the goal of forums like this anyway.

[Paul911]

Hey all,

In obsessively attempting to accumulate encyclopedic-level knowledge of modern RSes, I looked up our beloved bikes up on Wikipedia. To my surprise the entry of the R1200RS is nearly an afterthought, with no entry on the 1250 at all!

It looks like the 1250 is now mentioned, though barely.

I've also noticed that even BMW barely mentions the R1250RS in their own parts catalog. If I'm looking for factory accessories at an online dealer, I typically have to refer back to the 1200.

[Pyrrho]

It looks like the 1250 is now mentioned, though barely.

Unless there's something new somewhere else I haven't seen, the only mention of it is in the R1200RS article with the line "For the 2019 Model Year, the R1200RS was succeeded by the R1250RS."

Look at the entry for the S1000RR in comparison.

I've also noticed that even BMW barely mentions the R1250RS in their own parts catalog.

Or on their BMW Motorrad YouTube channel. Separate and sometimes multiple videos on every other bike, except the RRS. Videos discussing new technologies that the RRS has like cornering ABS, the TFT, etc include shots of every bike except the RRS. On-the-scene reporting from bike shows where Motorrad reps are interviewed highlight the SXR and FXR as their performance sport tourers, GS as their adv tourers, and RT as full tourers. Occasionally they'll even reference a K1600, but only when asked directly about them. Nobody even bothers asking about RSes.

I get the impression that they wanted to kill off the boxer models and replace them with the K line a while ago but there was so much love from previous owners -- more specifically GS and to a lesser extent RT buyers -- it would have been financially injurious for them to do so. They still wanted a sport tourer though and the F & SXRs are those bikes for them now, with the RRS being a red-headed stepchild to somehow appease "those weird boxer people".

Why it's almost deliberately not marketed is more puzzling. Again just an impression, but it's as if the people into the RS in Berlin are a very small group and they're not liked very much. Personally, I'd want to give them all a big hug, thank yous, and offer to buy them a couple rounds of beer anytime I'd see them.

If I'm looking for factory accessories at an online dealer, I typically have to refer back to the 1200.

Larger BMW-focused accessory manufacturers have 1250RS-specific stuff but they're certainly the exception.

[Duccrazydave]

Here’s another example of RS exclusion. A 2020 version of historical to present BMW’s. In the “Motorcycles of the 2010s” section there are 5 scooters listed, as well as most everything else they make, but no RS.



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[Grumpy Goat]

These are all reasons why I started RSWasserboxer.com ... to help spread the word and to spread pride in our BMW model of choice. BMW Motorrad seems to give short shrift to this model and it is reflected in its unpopularity in the lineup. The website and this forum (and the YT videos) all take work and if the response is lukewarm then the incentive is greatly diminished.

Heck I once had to "sell" this model to a customer at a multi-line (including BMW) dealership I was stopping at that Saturday. He asked what it was and seemed amazed that it existed and asked all sorts of questions. Another time I stopped at a gas station during a ride for a break and to see what the group of BMW motorcycles stopped there were all about. Turns out that they were the core members of the local BMW riders club, and they too came over and asked about the RS and how I liked it. Again they seemed ignorant of the bike. They were on GSs and other older models I can't remember now, of course.

It is up to us who know about the RS to make it more popular, and I leave it up to you to figure out how best to accomplish this in your various necks of the woods.

[Lee]

I get the impression that they wanted to kill off the boxer models and replace them with the K line a while ago but there was so much love from previous owners -- more specifically GS and to a lesser extent RT buyers -- it would have been financially injurious for them to do so.

1984 was the year I bought my first BMW, a 1984 R100RT.
BMW stated 1984 would be the last year for the boxer and you could only buy K bikes starting in 1985.
They had Last Edition models painted white with the words Last Edition on the battery covers.

Here's a picture of the Last Edition R100RS
   

[Grumpy Goat]

Stunning bike!

[Pyrrho]

1984 was the year I bought my first BMW, a 1984 R100RT.
BMW stated 1984 would be the last year for the boxer and you could only buy K bikes starting in 1985.
They had Last Edition models painted white with the words Last Edition on the battery covers.

My first bike was an '83 R80 and the only reason it was a BMW was because a good friend of mine was willing to sell me his for a deep discount because he wanted me to start riding. I was so into any bike at that time I didn't know much about BMWs and was unaware of this "Last Edition" nonsense until today.

This was my R80. Originally an RT but the original owner (I was the 3rd) had removed the fairing and put on gauges from a naked.

[darrell]

These 1984 RS Last Editions were stunning bikes. I had one of the 250 RS models they made. Rode it for 49,606 miles before selling for it for more then I paid for it new. It also came with a dual seat and under seat tool box for the rear of the dual seat. Mine arrived at the dealer with the Last Edition stickers in a pannier and I never mounted them. Still have the stickers in a file at home. I added the aftermarket windshield, Reynolds ride off center stand and a German police bike front fender which SideCar Restorations out of St. Louis painted and striped for me.