Nandi 2.5 - Badder and Blacker [Images & Video]

[SHIVA]

The photographer Dominic Bolton http://dominicbolton.com has done a series of beautiful studio shots of Nandi. These shots are of the bike itself and some with a model. I am waiting to get a few images from Dominic to share with you guys. But here's a teaser! I took this with my cell phone, while Dominic was setting up the lights...

To see larger: http://bmwsuperbikes.com/Images/Nandi_shoot.jpg

[SHIVA]

BACK ON THE ORANGE POWER

I got Nandi (my custom K12RS) back exactly 1 month ago from being in storage for a year and having done some fixes including a rebuilt final drive. Since I got Nandi back in the beginning of July, I loved riding it so much that I decided to give the K13S a bit of a break after 10,800 miles (17,000 km) so, she was Geza covered and was put on a BMW battery charger.

After exactly one month I am back on the K13S and what a difference compare to the K12RS. As superior as the K1300S is to the K1200RS in almost every aspect (performance, cornering, agility, looks), there are things about the K12RS that I still love. It's good to take a break from your normal ride and try something else, because when you get back on it, you have new appreciation for it.

K1300S
The K1300S feels extremely nimble and flickable. The bike is much more responsive and has seemingly endless torque available from idle. The K1300S feels like a genuine high-power sport bike. The suspension is taught and the bike is planted on the highway (A roads). The ergos are sporty yet less aggressive than the S1000RR. This is a genuine big bore sport bike. Sounds good too...

K1200RS
Although this bike is known as a great cross country runner, it makes a superb long distance commuter as well. Of course if your commute is only a few miles and involves riding in major cities K12RS is overkill, but if you do need to commute on a mix of city and highway, then the K12RS can shine. It's hyper smooth, or better yet glass smooth. There aren't enough "OOO's" in Smoooooooooth to describe the K12RS. The smoothness of the KRS isn't a byproduct of some weird engineering lab incident, its by design. The K12RS' engine is not a stress member and is totally isolated from the frame and the rider. So, no matter what gear you're in, you do not feel any buzz or vibration and this is ah so sweet if you use it for daily commute.

To see larger: http://bmwsuperbikes.com/Images/Nandi_shoot.jpg


It Feels like a Muscle Bike
It has massive torque and pulls in any gear. It feels like a muscle bike. 20 MPH in 4th? no problem. Redlining in 1st in traffic, no problem. And once you get the RPM above 6K the bike gets very fast. However, it never makes you forget its weight, even though is can carve corners beautifully once you get used to handling a bike of this size (630 lbs) and wheelbase (62") [it's similar to the K1300GT].

My K12RS still gets looks and thumbs up from drivers. No one believes when I tell them that the bike is now 11 years old with 75,000 miles... I have to say, black in beautiful!

The Time Machine
Switching between the K12RS and K1300S is like being in a time machine and playing around with the date indicator (1990s.... 2010s.... 1990s.... 2010s... ) The K12RS is like a BMW 850 CSI, totally unique, a top player when new, and still get looks. The K1300S in LOM (Lava Orange) is like a Lamborghini Murcielago Superleggera and makes Ferrari drivers jealous and of course everyone wants to race you....



Ah, it's good to have choices....

[SHIVA]

In order to make the differences between the K1200RS and the K1300S more clear I have put together a visual aid: let me know what you think and what other type of images I could add to this...