darrylri
Cannonball Rider #52
I really like these bikes. I have a '94 with 197k on it, and I had an 1150 that I put 86k on.
Versus your Airhead, it's a heavier bike, and probably a bit slower steering at parking lot speeds. Otherwise, there's nothing about the RS, except the nostalgia, that's not better. More power, better (much better) brakes, leans more, requires less maintenance, takes modern rubber that holds the road better, and on and on. This is no gummikuh!
However, like every series of BMW bikes, this has its potential foibles. Just as Airheads can have problems with diode boards and rotors -- though not all do, of course -- so the RS has some well known issues. Hunting or surging at small throttle openings and a couple transmission issues are the ones that come to mind immediately. The ABS is very sensitive to the condition of the battery and will fail its self check if the battery is at all low; ride it for a couple minutes, then "reboot" the bike and usually the ABS will work fine.
The RS is very adjustable to fit your ergos. The bars come with two adjustments and the seat with three. I have mine set with the bars back and turned in, and with the seat always on the highest setting, even though I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam. I have a Rick Mayer seat on mine, I couldn't stand the stock seat. I also put a set of Ohlins on it at about 50k miles.
My bike is essentially stock otherwise, and I still find it a joy to ride. I've got it stored in Germany and it loves the Autobahn, though it guzzles the gas at 130mph. It also loves the Alps; I was just there this past summer and I put 2k miles on it in two weeks.
My bike has not been completely trouble free over the years and miles; I have probably put $5k into it in repairs. I blew up the engine at 180k miles while cruising the Autobahn at 110mph (read the story here); I had to buy a transmission 50k miles ago and a driveshaft 40k miles ago. I got a new RT motor for about $2400 and the tranny was about $1500.
You'll note, however, that it took 150k before things needed "freshening", and I have never babied this bike. It has done Keith Code and Reg Pridmore track days, 3 days at the famous Nuerburgring in Germany, and generally a lot of canyon carving.
Versus your Airhead, it's a heavier bike, and probably a bit slower steering at parking lot speeds. Otherwise, there's nothing about the RS, except the nostalgia, that's not better. More power, better (much better) brakes, leans more, requires less maintenance, takes modern rubber that holds the road better, and on and on. This is no gummikuh!
However, like every series of BMW bikes, this has its potential foibles. Just as Airheads can have problems with diode boards and rotors -- though not all do, of course -- so the RS has some well known issues. Hunting or surging at small throttle openings and a couple transmission issues are the ones that come to mind immediately. The ABS is very sensitive to the condition of the battery and will fail its self check if the battery is at all low; ride it for a couple minutes, then "reboot" the bike and usually the ABS will work fine.
The RS is very adjustable to fit your ergos. The bars come with two adjustments and the seat with three. I have mine set with the bars back and turned in, and with the seat always on the highest setting, even though I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam. I have a Rick Mayer seat on mine, I couldn't stand the stock seat. I also put a set of Ohlins on it at about 50k miles.
My bike is essentially stock otherwise, and I still find it a joy to ride. I've got it stored in Germany and it loves the Autobahn, though it guzzles the gas at 130mph. It also loves the Alps; I was just there this past summer and I put 2k miles on it in two weeks.
My bike has not been completely trouble free over the years and miles; I have probably put $5k into it in repairs. I blew up the engine at 180k miles while cruising the Autobahn at 110mph (read the story here); I had to buy a transmission 50k miles ago and a driveshaft 40k miles ago. I got a new RT motor for about $2400 and the tranny was about $1500.
You'll note, however, that it took 150k before things needed "freshening", and I have never babied this bike. It has done Keith Code and Reg Pridmore track days, 3 days at the famous Nuerburgring in Germany, and generally a lot of canyon carving.
