BMW K1200RS goes out of hibernation

Рет қаралды 15,476

Күн бұрын

Get your motorbike out of Winter storage and onto the roads safely, by following these 6 simple steps. My 2 cents apply to all motorbikes, generally speaking.
The first Spring outings are usually the ones with the highest rates of casualty, within the biker community. This is mainly due to poor maintenance, lack of common sense, and/or poor judgement. There is no such thing as bad luck. Be careful, take it easy, and don't forget that biking should be fun. Show your ride some love, service it regularly, and keep your gear in good shape.
Over the Winter months, we have lost our reflexes, and our senses have been numbed by being on four wheels instead of two. Keep this in mind at all times.
Make sure to get your intentions understood by other drivers, simply by making eye-contact and using your turn signals. It is better than just flicking drivers off. Car drivers have forgotten what bikes look like, and they too have lost reflexes with us not being around. If they didn't see you, you were not clear enough, or came out of nowhere too fast.
So be cautious, and make your first outing a short one. Firstly to get the mechanical side of things up to temperature in a gentle manner, and secondly to get some of your senses back. Get a feel for your bikes dynamics, the weight of it, the brakes, etc etc... Lastly, a short ride will show you how other drivers react, and remind them gently that we have come out of hibernation.
Make your first trip to the petrol station and back, for example. Give your bike some love by filling it up to the brim with the highest octane fuel that you can buy.
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Bio: I am a professional mechanic, focused on classic cars and bikes. I also write classic car reviews for an automotive blog, and provide "how to" type videos, to help the mechanically minded DIY'ers take care of their cars and bikes.

Пікірлер: 67

@therock8610 3 жыл бұрын

I saw that you are prepared on this bike .... since I'm looking for one, are there any substantial differences between this and the next model? Thank you

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Hi there! Thank you for stopping by! I have been asked this question a few times already, maybe I should do a video about it. :-) Here is what I can tell you for sure: As of 2001, the K1200 RS had a facelift, with a different headlight, and lowered foot pegs. Handlebars are slightly higher as well. As of 2001, the optional ABS system became standard equipment. In 2003, BMW introduced a GT version, with an electrically adjustable windscreen, and a few other things which I am not entirely aware of. In 2005 (or 2006, I cannot remember for sure), BMW stopped producing the "brick" engine, and changed to a completely different transversely mounted engine configuration. In my opinion, this first iteration that I have is absolutely fantastic. Worlds apart from the K100 which I previously owned. A technological leap forward, as it were. Hugely versatile with sporty touring in mind, it is as much at home on country roads as it is on longer stretches. It is also quite comfortable, and you can adjust handlebar and foot peg position to suit your preferences. I love this bike, and I intend to keep it for a long while. I will have to change the timing chains soon, and there is some work on the rear swing arm to be done as well... I will definitely document all of this, in due course. Thanks again for stopping by! Best of luck with your research!

@therock8610 3 жыл бұрын

@@gmcevoy Thanks a lot for the answer!! ✌✌

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

@@therock8610 You are most welcome. :-)

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

@@Pyrrho_ Thank you for your insight Craig! I didn't know that... Mine is one of the first, as it was manufactured in 1997. I did get it stuck in between gears for a split second once or twice, during hard accelerations. I must change the gearbox oil to see if it helps. I fully understand that you loved your KRS so much. It is a fantastic bike throughout, despite the weight of it. I had a K100RT before this one, which was a bit like a tractor in comparison, now that I think of it. I rebuilt it from the ground up with a strong 'cafe racer' taste to it. Great bike, with mountains of torque as well! Long Live the RS as you say! :-)

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

@@Pyrrho_ Agreed, weight is not so much of an issue when you are on the go, however it is less nimble than say a Honda CBR. Then again, this K1200RS is a compromise in between a crotch rocket and a tourer, which is exactly what I am in for. I think every KRS owner loves their bikes specifically for that reason. :-) Kudos for riding all year round! I am a true Sunday rider, so this bike knows only hot, dry tarmac.

@erock150 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed this video, I have a 2003 with 130,000 miles and still going strong.

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Just finished running in (breaking in if you are from across the pond) :-) Thank you for your comment!

@Mr_Dia-Tribe 3 жыл бұрын

Nicely done controlled excitement shall we say. i bet it felt every bit as good as it looks to be wizzing along those country roads on a glorious spring day

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Well said! Controlled excitement is a great way of describing such a behaviour. It feels fantastic indeed, a true sense of freedom, enjoyed responsibly.

@carlosfueyo 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Geoffrey for this video. I've been driving bikes for nearly 40 years and I have to say that this is one of the best videos I've seen giving the basic recommendations (and probably the ones you need) for a respectful and save ride.

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Thank you so much, Carlos! That is truly heart-warming. One can never be too careful, and I sincerely hope that this video finds many riders out there who might need a bit of useful advice that they don't already have. Thanks again!

@richardbonn3882 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Geoffrey ! Exactly as you say , great bike with respect = Great experience ! Also great to see intelligent bike videos !

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Richard! Much appreciated!

@calderarox 3 жыл бұрын

im just about to buy a 1999 one, really happy to see your videos!

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic! You are going to love this bike!

@grahamsavage4994 2 жыл бұрын

Keep up the good reviews mate , from Australia. We don’t have winter over here So we ride all year round. But still a good idea to check your bike on a regular basis.

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Graham! Definitely worth looking over once and again, for sure.

@thedubwhisperer2157 8 ай бұрын

Probably the prettiest motorcycle ever built, and in the best colour scheme!

@gmcevoy 8 ай бұрын

I agree! If you are to have a K1200RS, this should be the colour scheme to pick! I know it was an expensive option at the time, too. So people who bought these bikes new and ordered this paint job usually took good care of their bikes. As time flies and the bike changes owner, anything can happen though. :-)

@duke7888 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, love the RS 😎

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like it as much as I do, Daniel. Cracking piece of machinery indeed! Thank you for stopping by.

@racerrr2231 3 жыл бұрын

BEAUTIFUL BM 👍🏾💯

@RodriguesMedeiros 2 жыл бұрын

Great! Enjoyed it very much!

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again! You are most welcome. I am really happy that you enjoyed it!

@chrisholton6309 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 98' in Dolphin Blue, it has been a grin inducing monster since day one!! SportTouring= carrying what you need, at a high rate of speed!

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

I must absolutely agree... I was a little sceptical at first, mostly impressed by the dry weight of the bike. As of the first ride however, I told myself I would keep it for as long as I possibly can. It is a masterfully engineered motorbike, and a great joy to ride!

@faqtum 3 жыл бұрын

I ALSO OWN ONE 2002 KRS. THANK YOU!

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Great! Thank you for watching, and enjoy your wonderful bike! If you haven't already, head over to the maintenance video that I produced not so long ago. :-) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bdKPmJSf38esl5s.html

@atomicdmt8763 Жыл бұрын

love this bike - I have a 2003

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

I love it too. Such a well built machine. I hope I will find enough time to replace the clutch this Winter. So many other things to do though... Thank you for stopping by!

@shanelovell9767 Жыл бұрын

Nice Bmw.

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

Thank you Shane!

@SergeyAkhmanov 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Geoffrey, thank you for the great video. Do you own a 72 kW or 96 kW version? Which one would you recommend?

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Serge. Thank you for stopping by! I specifically wanted the more powerful one. It is a heavy bike after all, and the more power the better, in any case. Although I have not tried the 72kW bike, I am pretty sure it would feel lethargic. It has 34 horsepower less, which is roughly 25% less than the 96kW engine that I have. I bought this bike as an upgrade from the K100 I used to own, which was somewhat like a tractor compared to this K1200RS. I would personally recommend the more powerful one, even though it is entirely up to you.

@shiftyshamsk 6 ай бұрын

Swap the silencer for a performance type. Take the baffles out. Buy a smaller registration plate. Get yourself a tinted visor and scream through villages. Ride up close behind slower traffic. Give drivers the finger for not getting out of the way. Good times back in the 80's. 😂

@gmcevoy 6 ай бұрын

Those were indeed the good old days!

@nickwells55 3 жыл бұрын

Have you changed the brake hoses, there prone to collapse internally and block up, will also put a load of garbage through your abs pump.

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Nick! No I haven't. I am a distributor of Goodridge products among other things, and have a good mind to upgrade to a set of braided stainless steel hoses. Debris in the ABS module does not sound good at all...

@fiestavision14 3 жыл бұрын

Love this bike, ridden 125s for over 10 years and thinking this for my first real bike, i have riden big bikes before but never owned one. What do you think

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jeffrey! When I moved up from a 125, I bought a Honda CBR600, thinking that 1000cc and over would be too dangerous. How wrong I was. Although that Honda CBR600 "only" had 106 bhp, it was light and frighteningly fast. So I would say I jumped into the deep end right away. I kept it for two years, clocked a few thousand clicks on it, and sold it on. This K1200RS does have 130 bhp, but I feel they are more manageable. The 600 I mentioned red-lined at 14500rpm, and as a sports bike demanded to be thrashed flat out whenever possible. Hence why I sold it. I would have ended up either without a driver's license, in a wheelchair or dead. This BMW is more refined, has heaps of torque, and is generally more predictable (in a good way). It is highly efficient, I should say. It is a heavy bike mind you, and is a tad on the expensive side regarding maintenance. Other than that, go for it! Beautifully engineered, extremely solid and well built. It is quite comfortable on long rides, and is an excellent compromise in between a sports bike and a tourer. Look for one with maintenance history and a stack on invoices proving it has been well kept, otherwise you will be facing hefty expenses to bring it up to scratch. There is nothing more expensive to run than a neglected BMW, believe me. To give you an idea of the cost of things, a new clutch will set you back about 6 to 800€ for parts only. Add labour to that, and you are very near 1500€. Timing chains need changing every 80k kms, and valve clearance needs to be checked yearly. That too is quite expensive, with 1 single shim costing about 30€ a pop. There are 16 in there... So as long as you are aware that it does require good mechanical following and that it can be expensive at times, go for it. This is an excellent bike with which I am extremely happy, and I wish to keep it for as long as I can. All the best Jeff! Thank you for stopping by!

@anonamous365 Жыл бұрын

Pay no mind to the badged rapusts

@80a7x 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video!..I am interested in a 2000 K1200RS, now I have been a fan of these bikes for quite some time, but to be completely honest, I know nothing about them, I managed to find one being sold on kijiji for a good price (Canadian classifieds website) and have contacted the owner to book an appointment for a viewing, can you advise me on some of the areas to look into, or perhaps some questions that I should ask the owner , perhaps on specific service history, any help is greatly appreciated....likes and subbed

@gmcevoy 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ahmed, thank you for reaching out! Glad to know that you are looking into ownership of these fantastic bikes! Service history is a must have, as things can get quite expensive. Timing chain has to be renewed every 80k kms, and that's usually an expensive maintenance procedure. Check for that "box of rocks" noise on idle. Highly likely it will make that awful sound. It is only the clutch actuating shaft rattling about. There is a fix for that, which usually ends up with changing the clutch. one of those "while we are at it, we might as well" jobs. A new clutch will set you back a good 6 to 800€ in parts only, so that's definitely one thing to look out for. Check that it doesn't slip by wringing the throttle at low RPM while on the go. Try not to exceed speed limits while doing that (*ahem*). Otherwise this is a fantastic bike in need of little more that an oil change every year and fresh petrol whenever required. You will love it. Have fun out there, and let me know how your viewing goes!

@80a7x 3 жыл бұрын

@@gmcevoy Thank you so much for the prompt response, I will keep you updated .cheers

@Butts0hboi Жыл бұрын

Is this a good “Beginner” bike I see one for 2600

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

They are indeed excellent value for money right now. I picked this one up for 1700. A great deal, even though it needs a bit of work. So if you see one for 2600, that means they are already rising in value, and I made a good choice (for once). Haha! Plus, they are great bikes to ride. Honestly, I would not sell this unless I really have to. I love it! It is great for touring, really comfortable and brilliantly engineered. It is a BMW of course, so you are really making a great deal even at 2600. Go and see it if you can, and you might be able to negotiate the price! Just look out for slipping clutch, because that is expensive on parts (over 600€) and quite complicated to change. One of those jobs where you end up throwing 1500€ at it because you might as well change swing arm bearings etc etc... Also, know that the timing chain (steurekette) needs to be changed at 80.000 kms. Anyway, best of luck, and thank you for stopping by! Kind regards, Geoffrey

@ivancardenas2860 2 жыл бұрын

What’s the PSI (tire pressure for this bike?)

@gmcevoy 2 жыл бұрын

2.9 bar (42 psi) in the front, and 2.5 bar (36 psi) in the back, regardless if you are riding alone, with a passenger or heavily loaded.

@philbryce5398 5 ай бұрын

How about u try those pressures in reverse. 42 in rear, 36 in front. Might handle a bit better. You’re welcome.

@SsgtHolland Жыл бұрын

Is this a nice first bike for an older starting rider?

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

Hi there! It is quite user-friendly, but rather heavy. It can be difficult to manoeuvre at slower speeds, but as with everything, it needs getting used to. One of the great things about it is that you can adjust seat height, handlebar and footrest positions to suit your size. I would recommend you go and see one and get a test ride, that would truly be the best way to get a sense of what it is like. :-)

@SsgtHolland Жыл бұрын

@@gmcevoy Thanks for the reply! There is one for sale in exactly that paint scheme...and I'm afraid I'm a bit in love. I might have to take a drive now..:)

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

@@SsgtHolland Much obliged. To be fully honest, I initially bought this bike to scrap for parts, as I needed an engine to fit in a Lotus Seven track day project which I have going on. I rode it and also fell in love, so I decided to give it the attention it deserves and enjoy it. I hope never to part with it. I cannot encourage you enough to go and see the bike near you. Look at the mileage and service history if it has one. Just know that the timing chain needs replacing at 80.000kms, and that a clutch replacement is expensive (600€ in parts, plus labour if you are paying someone to do the job). Use this as a lever for negotiating the price. Also, and this is just a fun fact, this paint scheme was among one of the most expensive options you could add to this bike when ordering it from new, as it had to be done completely by hand. In a way, each one is unique. Nobody cares these days really, but I find it amusing to know this. Somebody painstakingly laid the colours and stickers down and gave it his best. Pretty cool, don't you think? Let me know how the visit goes! I would love to know if you end up buying it. I hope to produce more videos about this marvel... Speak soon I hope!

@SsgtHolland Жыл бұрын

@@gmcevoy Thanks for the great tips, man! I will be going to see it on Tuesday, I will definitely let you know. Amazing fact about the paint job, I would have never guessed it was done by hand! The bike has 95k km's on it, so history and timing chain will be crucial to check out. Can't wait to see more of your bike!

@gmcevoy Жыл бұрын

@@SsgtHolland Looking forward to it! Mine is just about to clock 80k kms, so I must change the timing chain, among other things. Not sure when I will be able to do that, but it has to be done. :-)