A process of elimination P2.

[MiFra]

After the first 1000 miles what are the conclusions?

Pros:
Good useful midrange, ideal for my daily commute.
Good handling albeit in a slow sort of way. I`ll call it `stable`!
ABS works! (Damn holiday makers :mad: )
Reasonable mpg, approx 45 to the gallon.
Cheap insurance, £188 FC with BMW.
Road `presence`. Might have something to do with the colour :D
Good comfort although seat could be better.

Cons:
Starts easily but fiddly cold start positioning (all or nothing).
Surging at low speeds. Annoying? I should say so.
Noise and buffeting from screen despite trying all positions.
Headlight. What`s in there, a candle? Is there a twin bulb conversion?
Petrol gauge/warning light. Last bar disappears and light comes on at 175 miles on the trip. Woss that all about? Still over a gallon left in there.
Petrol tank. Takes ages to really fill it up. Design fault?

Conclusions:
It`s a likeable enough machine but suffers from niggly faults. I guess most owners do what they can to lessen them or put up with them. As I`m in the process of selling the house and a change of address will mean a change of route, I`m not convinced I`ll be keeping it. At this stage I`d have to say that I prefered my old K100RS :eek:

[Terry]

MiFra,

Like the colour :Beer: . The last time I rode a yellow BMW it had flashing lights and reflective stripes on it. http://www.tgibson.dircon.co.uk/images/aabmw.jpg

Most of your "cons" have solutions or at least work rounds. On the old board we had all of the answers - not all of them may have made it here yet.
"Fiddly" cold start - Shouldn't be, hold the lever past the detent as you hit the starter, let go as soon as it fires, then back off to halfway as soon as it settles (should be almost immediate). I'd say back it right off at 2 bars of oil temp but it does depend on how/where you're riding.

Personally, I don't have probelem with the headlight but hten I rarely ride on unlit roads. The "70s" solution of a higher wattage bulb will work - but there are wiring caveats. I'm not convinced by the "immitation HID" type bulbs, but others rate them. Finally, the Americans are much taken by "Motolights" and similar but they are very expensive over here.

There are two solutions to tank filling. One is to fit the filler neck from an RT (which is shorter), the other is to drill one or mode bereather holes around the top of the neck.

Finally, the screen discussion has made it to this board - a seach should help. I rate the Wudo - but if you go for it, buy direct from Germany and save a few bob.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Welcome to the club. Somewhat like you, I chose the R-RS through a process of elimination, rather than because it was a bike I loved. I too had strong reservations about the R-RS during the first month or two. However, give it time and it will grow on you. Some of the niggles won't appear important after a while, and others have solutions. I agree though that such an expensive bike should come "right" straight out of the crate.

There is a solution to the surging problem (http://www.bikersoracle.com/rs/forum/showthread.php?t=232) in the "How To's and FAQs" forum. The headlight and fuel guage problems are both due to poor electrical connections, and I hope to get good explanations of how to fix them in the same forum in due course. The low fuel warning light is supposed to come on when there's a gallon (4 litres) left.

You're only supposed to fill the tank up to the bottom of the "bronze" anodised neck. It should fill quickly up to that point; if you keep going to the top it's going to take a long time!

Screens seem to be problematic on any make and model. Most R-RS owners ride with the screen in the lowest setting, and raise it only when it rains (so the rain droplets flip over your shoulders!) There are a variety of after-market screens. Another popular mod is to trim an inch or two off the top of the stock screen, but if you're 6'3" you're probably after a taller screen. I'm sure other members will be along with their suggestions soon. Or you can do a search for "screen".

[MiFra]

Thanks for the replies guys. Glad you liked the colour Terry, someone else liked it enough to spend a £1000 on it!

The headlight is a real problem as 15 miles of my journey is an unlit country road, although it is an A road! Apart from the villages I go through the rest twists and turns like a snake on acid. Add to that quite a few crests and troughs, farms, X roads, mist from the lakes/fog from the hills (or is it the other way round :dunno: ) and a decent headlight is an absolute must. Unless I can sort it before the winter (yes, I`m an all weather biker) this may be one short relationship. Any easy, improving suggestions are welcome but I`m no mechanic/electrician.

As for the rest on the list, well, as has been pointed out, they`re not insurmountable. In fact I`ve sorted the start procedure out already so that`s one less problem. A bigger screen may have to be purchased, I`ve looked at the suggested ones on this forum and at the moment a CeeBailey looks favourite (sorry Terry!) Luckily I have an understanding partner, `of course you can spend even more on your motorbike dear... if you really have to` :laugh:

I must admit to having quite a bit of fun on it so far, which, I suppose is what it`s all about.

[lorazepam]

I would have to say that the lights are the only real problem that I have with the RS. I have added two sets of aux lights, a set of Motolights with wide beams to fill in where the low beam does not, and a set of driving lights to augment the high beam. My theory is it is better to be seen and to see, than to worry about bothering someone with too many lights. It is really easy to install a set of aux lights, I have a post on here about the installation. If I weren't so lazy, I would get some pictures of how the light are wired. If enough people say please, I just may take the panels off and get the shots for you.

[TrevorW]

MiFra,

Try getting a premium H4 bulb of some sort. I fitted a Halfords own-brand Xenon bulb and it's definitely better than the standard one.

[MiFra]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I`ll try Trevors suggestion first and fit a different bulb and see what that is like. Somewhere I have a Ride mag with a bulb comparison of about 30/50 bulbs, I`ll dig that out and see what the winner was. If that fails to impress I may need a more illuminating (sic) method. So I may have need of Lorazepam`s diagram/pictorial yet but I hope not as I`m bound to wire the indicators into the brake light or some such foolery.

Back on the subject of turbulence/buffeting from the screen, has anyone used different crash helmets with the same bike and noticed any change in noise levels? I`m using an Arai Astro J, the third Arai I`ve had in my biking life as they fit me superbly well. Up to now, on other bikes, they`ve been quiet and one gave up it`s life in saving mine (80mph highside... on a private road... honest guv ;) ) so I`ve got a deep affection for them :Bow: . It`s a shame you can`t `test ride` lids as well as bikes. Anyone use a Roof Daytona on their RS?

[MikeH]

I can recommend Philips Vision Plus as supplied by Powerbulbs here in the UK. I've fitted them to the car as well.
http://www.powerbulbs.com/products/product.php?prodid=pvp&type=H4

[JimVonBaden]

I would have to say that the lights are the only real problem that I have with the RS. I have added two sets of aux lights, a set of Motolights with wide beams to fill in where the low beam does not, and a set of driving lights to augment the high beam. My theory is it is better to be seen and to see, than to worry about bothering someone with too many lights. It is really easy to install a set of aux lights, I have a post on here about the installation. If I weren't so lazy, I would get some pictures of how the light are wired. If enough people say please, I just may take the panels off and get the shots for you.
Like Gail, I have mounted aftermarket lights on my bike. I found them to be quite effective in the rain and light mist here in VA. I am considering, however, adding Motolights for distance as well. The high beam is OK, but the beam is too focused for me.

http://www.bikersoracle.com/rs/forum/showthread.php?t=54&highlight=garmin

This is a link to my installation with pictures.

As for your other niggles, I am sure you will figure them out and love you bike as we do!

Jim:cool:

[lorazepam]

Jim,

The motolights are great fillers. but they aren't the best for distance. I have tried them with narrow spots, and they just don't go really far. I added the driving lights up top to throw a longer beam, and fill in with the moto lights.

[JimVonBaden]

Jim,

The motolights are great fillers. but they aren't the best for distance. I have tried them with narrow spots, and they just don't go really far. I added the driving lights up top to throw a longer beam, and fill in with the moto lights.
Hmmm, is there a light that is fork mountable that will work?

Jim:cool: