Is the LC RS just an R with fairings?
Is ride position, suspension, dynamics etc similar?
When did production of the RS cease (no longer seems to be available here in Australia)
Thanks
Now that I've had a few hundred miles on the '22 RS, I have to say that it's definitely a winner for me. As much as the 1200R was the right bike for me over the past few years, the RS looks to be a great sequel.
Much of my riding, especially during the "P" was a mixture of half day 100 milers around my general area. I took advantage of the light traffic to wear out my personal favorite roads.
First impressions of R1250RS compared with R1200R (LC)
1. Smoother power delivery and decel with the 1250 motor. Upshifts from 1 to 2 are much less notchy than the 12R.
2. The longer WB is makes for a slighltly heavier cornering feel, but on some of the bumpier, more technically challenging roads is a plus. I found myself over-thinking my steering input after reading about how slow the RS is supposed to be.
Over the course of a few days, I was picking later turning points, and letting the bike just handle any drama. Funny how a few comments can prejudice your expectations. If anything, the thing that needs help is my confidence. Like every other bike I have ever spent time on, it's a matter of finding your limits and letting physics do it's thing.
Downhill offcamber diminishing radius turns are my acid test, and the RS sniffed at the most menacing stuff. Nice.
Wider, sweepy stuff lets this bike really shine on exits, like most big twins you can pour it on early and size up your next corner.
3. Ergos. The first couple of rides I rode without the Helibar riser blocks. With the stock high seat, I found it to be a tolerable fit for me, as long as I was face down into the next corner. On a long freeway ride back, in a steady cross wind...not so much.
I fitted the risers, and Sargent Seat, which is about an inch lower for my last couple of rides, and my neck and shoulders thanked me. I can't believe I spent nearly 40 years riding torture racks like the 916. No wonder I don't have any cushioning material in my upper spine...
4. Controls , display. The TFT thing is pretty. But I don't like to scroll around looking for indicatior output. The most annoying thing, the Low Fuel pop up, that camps on top of the other display info even when you have 75 miles of range left in the tank. Hopefully I can adjust that somehow. I do have a WunderlinQ that I can refer to for range and other data, so it's not detestable, just annoying.
All the other buttons, switches and whatever are like the '18 12R, so I felt at home right away.
5. Interchangeability of bits. My '18 R12 side cases were easlily rekeyed and needed no adjustment, my Sargent seat also a straight pop-on. My WunderlinQ and phone cradle also fit nicely on the Nav prep.
6. Stuff I've gotten. I bought Machine Art cyclinder covers and slapped them on without any struggle. I have a Vario touring screen sitting on my workbench and haven't put it on, yet. I hate getting blown around, so first long ride I'll put it on and give it a try.
Else. It is beautiful to look at. I was stopped briefly by a California Highway Patrol motor officer who just wanted to look at it. He said it's a "bummer" that CHP chose Harleys over BMW RTp bikes and that it's "like torture" to ride the Harley all day.
