Just back from a spin on my R9T.
It is the more "raw" 2018 version with John Sharrad tuned Ohlins front and rear suspension.
For me, this bike is a "keeper"!
Just back from a spin on my R9T.
It is the more "raw" 2018 version with John Sharrad tuned Ohlins front and rear suspension.
For me, this bike is a "keeper"!
The HP2 Sport is one of my fav bikes ever made (looks alone). I saw one in person at Mosport VRRA weekend in the back of someone's truck and fell in love.
The HP2 Sport is one of my fav bikes ever made (looks alone). I saw one in person at Mosport VRRA weekend in the back of someone's truck and fell in love
I was sooooo close to buying one at BMW Toronto when they first came out. They had discounted it over $5000 and it was sitting on the showroom floor for almost a year.
The MSRP was super-expensive, which is why not many sold, but it was packed full of features not found in many bikes at the time. It was the most powerful air(oil)-cooled boxer motor at 128hp, when the base R1200 boxer only made 105hp. It would take BMW over a decade until the water-cooled R1250 shiftcam engines finally surpassed the power output of that motor.
Also, quickshifter as standard, which for 2008 was quite ahead of its time.
Now that bike, along with its brethren the HP2 Enduro and HP2 Megamoto, are quite the collector's item.
Not picking one up when I had the chance remains one of only a handful of motorcycle regrets I've ever made.
I never understood why pavement guys go for Adventure bikes with a 19/21" front, tall-seat/high centre of gravity, 90/10 chunky adventure tires, and tall, bouncy suspension travel when all of those are liabilities on the pavement.
The trouble with the smaller GSes is that they are chain drive and although I still have a KLR 650, i much prefer shaft drive.
When that R1300 GS came out, talk about ugly compared to those earlier GS models. Strange in that I can flat foot with a bend in my knee all the GSes that I own.
I own GSes as a stanard bike offering range and comfort. They are far too heavy for serious off roading.
It's a bit of a Catch-22, smaller the bike, the more it suffers due to the drive train power loss of a shaft drive and the additional weight penalty. A chain drive is almost a necessity for a 60-70hp bike.
On the bigger GSes with over 130hp, they can afford a bit of final drive power loss and the ensuing weight gain... which makes them more suited for touring rather than off-road use. Nice not to have to clean the muck off the final drive when you do take them dirt biking though.
Having said that, to this very day, BMW still hasn't perfected thier shaft drive. My old R12GS had 4 final drive failures and my new 1250 has already had a recall for the Cardan shaft.
The trouble with the smaller GSes is that they are chain drive and although I still have a KLR 650, i much prefer shaft drive.
When that R1300 GS came out, talk about ugly compared to those earlier GS models. Strange in that I can flat foot with a bend in my knee all the GSes that I own.
I own GSes as a stanard bike offering range and comfort. They are far too heavy for serious off roading.
It's a bit of a Catch-22, smaller the bike, the more it suffers due to the drive train power loss of a shaft drive and the additional weight penalty. A chain drive is almost a necessity for a 60-70hp bike.
Well my 1980 R65 that I bought used for my Euro tours with what...45 HP had a shaft drive and no torgue due to a different crank that the 600+ boxers had. It was a rever. It did quite well in the 9 years I used it in the Alps. It was cheaper than renting and if I didn't like it, I could have kicked it off the cliff after two years and still be ahead dollarwise.
On the bigger GSes with over 130hp, they can afford a bit of final drive power loss and the ensuing weight gain... which makes them more suited for touring rather than off-road use. Nice not to have to clean the muck off the final drive when you do take them dirt biking though.
My 1990 BMW R100 GS with only 60 HP was never an issue. I could pass several cars on the highway. It was my first BMW that I still own and it makes a perfect "standard" motorcycle. I have done a few thousand milers on it going to the EAA in Oshkosh, WI. As for dirt bikes, I had non-street legal dirt only dirt bikes, so I know the difference.
Having said that, to this very day, BMW still hasn't perfected thier shaft drive. My old R12GS had 4 final drive failures and my new 1250 has already had a recall for the Cardan shaft.
I've never had a problem yet since first owning them in 1991 and these are motorcycles that I kept. OK, some are parked now and I am not willing to get rid of them.
First, I do not take it on a trail; I'll take a 250 pound throw-away bike on it. Strange that the guy standing behind him, his shaft is just fine.
I also noted that some people always seem to have issues with anything that they own, usually co-workers and acquaintances and I'd have to listen to their whining.
I maintain what I own, actually I over maintain it. I call it mental therapy.
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