Yesterday I found a unicorn

"Vracktal" (Vracktal-) 04/19/2015 at 04:51 • Filed to: BMW R1200S

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I like to think my R1200R is pretty rare, but the R1200S is almost impossible to find in England. Sadly, this one looks like it’s led a hard life, scrapes on both sides and tears down the seat.

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pip bip - choose Corrour > Vracktal 04/19/2015 at 06:26

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at least it’s being used and not squirrelled away in a museum.

Vracktal > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/19/2015 at 06:41

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Yeah, and all the damage is cosmetic rather than mechanical, so a couple of new panels and a respray and it’ll be good as new!

KatzManDu > Vracktal 04/19/2015 at 06:59

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Charlie Boorhman’s bike?

jkm7680 > Vracktal 04/19/2015 at 08:43

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Give now.

Vracktal > KatzManDu 04/19/2015 at 11:56

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Same mainframe, suspension and engine, but Boorman rode a GS rather than an S.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Vracktal 11/19/2015 at 23:55

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One of my very favorite bikes. It was a shame that it was only offered for a year in the US, and barely two overseas.

It coincided directly with one of my other favorites, K1200R-Sport, both offered in the US in 2007 only. Barely given a chance.

I want to like R1200RS with the DOHC wasserboxer, but it isn’t very attractive.

If I could combine R1100S’s gorgeous flowing lines and under-seat exhaust (with Duc 1098-style exhaust ovoid mufflers that look similar to the boxer engine’s cylinder shape) with the new R1200RS drivetrain, and K-series Hossack/Duolever front end with ESA-controlled front and rear coil-over dampers, and full LED lighting throughout... that would be an epic road sport bike. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind a K1600R-Sport I6 successor to the 1200 I4.

R1200S was almost truly great, with better performance than R1100S, but died off before DOHC in favor of the HP2 Sport unobtainium and carbon fiber race bike. While R12S was lighter than R11S, the styling is a little more controversial, and the practicality for the pillion seat and optional bag attachment isn’t as well integrated as R1100S or R11oo/1150RS. R1200ST was far more controversially styled, and R1200S is a supermodel in comparison, though.

Red7 > Vracktal 11/20/2015 at 08:37

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R12S Beemahs are indeed a great find, and often overlooked for a real world usable road bike. The HP2Sport stole its thunder when the HP line arrived (and used essentially the same underpinnings, albeit on steroids).

That said, I’ll never part with my HP2 Megamoto, which looks ungainly on paper but is possibly one of the best bikes I’ve ridden to date. The hexhead Boxers still have plenty of grunt to make things fun.