Images/Videos of K12GT & R12GS-Adv Press Ride in AZ

[SHIVA]

Please scroll down for images, videos and ride reports. New Images added on June 1.

It seems my K1200GT extensive ride report will happen sooner than I thought. I've been invited to go to the Press Ride of the new K1200GT and the R1200GS-Adventure in Arizona this week.

I'll try to post nightly reviews and diary of the day's events in this thread. This promises to be pretty incredible actually and is exciting.

I have ridden both of these bikes, but in all frankness K1200GT can't be understood or appreciated on a short ride, it needs a 300-mile ride to prove it's long distance prowess and perhaps reveal its shortcomings. It is a bike that should easily be ridden all day in total comfort. Can we call it a mini-LT? Naaa, the LT maybe a large GT. Is the K1200GT the ultimate long distance supersport-tourer? I'll find out and share the info with you guys in almost real time.

The new Adventure is an incredibly easy bike to ride. It appears to be massive, but it's relatively light. I rode one with a full tank of gas (US 8.7 gal) and the bike came off the sidestand easily. It corners well, like all new BMWs and comes with low seat optional. It may have one of the best shields that BMW has ever designed. It could be one of the most quiet bikes I've ridden. But then again, I only put a few miles on one, I'll know more after 250 miles. The new Adv has status symbol like no other bike. It's the Humvee of bikes and like the H1 (military version) attracts a lot of attention. Not as much as a K1200S, but it does attract plenty of eye-balls. Is it the unparalleled master of dirt and blacktop? Is it comfortable and reliable enough to go around the world the 'long way round' and back? I'll find out on Thursday and let you guys know.

The plan is ride the K1200GT for about 300 miles on Wednesday and the R1200GS-Adv for about 250 miles, including 80 miles of off-road on Thursday. We should end up in the Grand Canyon sometimes on Thursday. I'll leave NY on Tuesday. So will try to answer any questions you might have before I depart.

I haven't been to the Southwest US yet, so that's an extra bonus. S

[eljeffe]

Sounds like real tough duty, Shiva.

Some guys have all the luck.

[SHIVA]

Ha ha, look forward to it. We may actually be able to ride in certain parts of the Canyon, will keep you guys posted... S

[CamNeelyphile]

Shiva,

Call the Pirate and get one of those camera mounts for your ride!! Cheers and enjoy your desert riding. I look forward to your reports. Be safe.

[SHIVA]

Hi, No time, leaving first thing tomorrow AM. I'll do some wrap around videos and stuff and post when I return. I may be able to post some pics from the hotel, but I'll do a diary for sure. S

[eljeffe]

Ha ha, look forward to it. We may actually be able to ride in certain parts of the Canyon, will keep you guys posted... S

Tell them to take you on US191 from Morenci/Clifton to Alpine. I hear doing that road from south to north is a spiritual experience

[SHIVA]

I'll let you know which routes they'll take us through after the fact of course. I don't think they take "requests" though... S

[2xm3]

Ha ha, look forward to it. We may actually be able to ride in certain parts of the Canyon, will keep you guys posted... S

Tell them to take you on US191 from Morenci/Clifton to Alpine. I hear doing that road from south to north is a spiritual experience

I'll second that, that road is amazing, every bit as good as deal's gap but 75 miles of it, 1000 turns. Just did it last weekend. It used to be named 666 the devils highway Then come back through salt river canyon. Also if you go you must eat at the little german resturant in Nutroso (near Alpine), amazing food!!! Master chef from Germany retired and opened this little place as a hobby. It's called Beats cafe if I remember correctly. Reservations only and call in advance. Try thr Ruladen, yum..... OH, watch for elk

[SHIVA]

Thanks for the info. I'm in AZ will be at the hotel later on tonight. More info to follow... S

[eljeffe]

Thanks for the info. I'm in AZ will be at the hotel later on tonight. More info to follow... S

Stop teasing us with this "I'm in AZ" BS. LOL!!!

[Uncluesteve]

Thanks for the info. I'm in AZ will be at the hotel later on tonight. More info to follow... S

Have fun trying out the new bikes. Hopefully you get to ride in northern Arizona. It is going to be the the low 100's all weekend in the Phoenix area. Thankfully I will be up in the mountians of arizona with my "S" all weekend long.

I look forward to reading your review of both bikes.

[SHIVA]

Hi Guys, Sorry about the tease. There is no freaking cell coverage in this nice hotel and we have been kept pretty busy. OK, the K1200GT, great bike. Next topic... Haha, just kidding...

I want you guys to be a little patient with me until I get back to New York.

Today I along with about 14 press people and about 10 BMW folks rode brand spanking new K1200GTs, equipped with all the available options for about 250 miles through some fantastic scenery in Northern Arizona. I've got videos, and pics (pro pics were taken also which should show up on here in a couple of weeks). Can't upload now, please be patient. This bike is perhaps the best sport Tourer (capital T) BMW has ever designed. I think they have outdone themselves. It does everything a ST should do very well and has very few faults. Basically all the things I didn't like about the first-gen GT has been addressed. It's fast, it corners excellent for a bike in this class. The ESA is a blessing for such a machine. The side cases swallowed my XL Arai helmet to my amazement. And you know what's even more amazing they don't exceed the width of the mirrors. You clear the front mirrors, the bags will fit.

We rode from Sedona, through Flagstaff to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Lots of twisties and plenty of straights to see how well this bike functions. This area is magnificent. We rode through the Painted Desert, what an awesome experience. I was awestruck. There is lots to tell and not much time right this second.

I love the GT with the bars in lowest setting and the short shield. All of our GTs had the standard shield and not the large one. The standard won me over.

Tomorrow 200 miles of primarily off-road, ending up at the Grand Canyon on the R12GS-A. That should be amazing too, maybe more so.

It got real hot in the afternoon here, I was cooking in my Vansons.

More later... S

[Gravity]

Great report, we know details and pics are coming!! Ride safe,

Gravity

[LitreBike]

Shiva -- where in AZ? North-East-South-West. I'm a native of Phx and wherever you are I can provide some ride advise. I'd even be glad to meet you if you're so inclined. PM me if you like I'll respond with how to reach me.

I was on the ride over the 191 with 2x last weekend! Great run and good guy. Everyone was safe and rode with responsibility!

[KT]

Hey Shiva, (it's wierd to call you that) I hope you have a great ride in Arizona. Don't get too HOT!! Enjoy

KT

[SHIVA]

Thanks for the well wishes KT... S

[SHIVA]

"Sport Guy Goes Extreme Off-Road on the 'Humvee' of Bikes"

Yesterday we rode 250 miles on the GS-Adv with about 175 miles on dirt with some extreme road surfaces. I'll post a proper ride reports. Also there are lots of pro shots of the event that will come later.

I had never ridden off road before yesterday!!! What a way to start. We road through dirt roads, narrow rocky canyon roads with up to 500 feet drops, fire roads, through streams, rocky roads, mud, loose sand and you name it. I rode at the bottom of canyons in 106 deg temperatures flying over loose dirt and rocks at about 50 mph. At some point on a long hard-packed road a few of us were pulling a sustained 80 on the Adv. The Adventure loved that road. These Advs were geared for off-road: Knobbies, no ABS and no luggage (except for tank bag). I don't remember how many bottles of water I drank yesterday and I was still dehydrated. I was part of group of about 14 press riders. In about 2 to 3 months you should see more write ups and pics from this ride in several mags and also some popular online sites as well.

Here are 11 video clips from our 4 day Press intro in Arizona:

My short K1200GT walk-around and intro by the Black Rocks in Sunset Crater National Park, AZ
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/1-Shiva-K12GT-Intro.MPG

We stopped for lunch after 177 miles. The group arrived here at the end of a long tough desert road winding through the bottom of the canyon. This road had mud, sand, large rocks and streams (pro pics to come).
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/9-Shiva-R12GSA-Intro.MPG

Start of our K1200GT 200 mile test ride in the beautiful Sedona, AZ
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/2-K12GT-Start.MPG

BMW set up a tent with refreshments in the park, just past the Painted Desert.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/3-K12GT-Rest.MPG

Clip of a quick stop by the Black Rocks.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/4-K12GT-BlackRock.MPG

Start of our 250 mile R1200GS-Adv test ride, which included 175 miles of dirt.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/5-R12GSA-Start.MPG

3 Clips of the Gold King Mine and Ghost Town, in Jerome, AZ.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/6-R12GSA-Ghost1.MPG
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/7-R12GSA-Ghost2.MPG
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/8-R12GSA-Ghost3.MPG

A quick 360 of the Grand Canyon, with the group.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/91-GrandCanyon.MPG

We took a small plane back to Sedona from the Grand Canyon to wrap our incredible 250 mile adventure on the aptly-named Adventure.
http://www.bmw-k.com/video/AZ/92-PlaneBack.MPG



[rep]On Wednesday, May 24, I along with about 14 press people and 10 BMW folks rode the new K1200GTs, equipped with all the available options for about 200 miles through some fantastic scenery in Northern Arizona. This bike is perhaps the best Supersport-TOURER BMW has ever designed. I think they have outdone themselves. It does everything a ST should do very well and has very few faults. Basically all the things I didn't like about the first-gen GT has been addressed. It's fast, it corners excellent for a bike in this class. The ESA is a blessing for such a machine. The side cases swallowed my XL Arai helmet to my amazement and they don't exceed the width of the mirrors. You clear the front mirrors, the bags will fit.

We rode from Sedona, through Flagstaff to Sunset Creek National Park. Lots of twisties and plenty of straights to see how well this bike functions. This area is magnificent. We rode through the Painted Desert. What an awesome experience! I was awestruck.

I love the GT with the bars in lowest setting and the short shield. All of our GTs had the standard shield and not the large one. The standard won me over.

More in depth report on both the K1200GT and R1200GS-Adv later.


All images of the Grand Canyon area, including the main shot of me above by the Colorado River are on the Hualapai Indian property and have been taken with their permission. For more information about this Native-American Tribe please visit: http://www.grandcanyonresort.com

[SHIVA]

More Images:









MORE IMAGES BELOW

[eljeffe]

Shiva,

Are you going to do an official write-up for BMW ON or some other publication? If so, let us all know when it will be coming out. If not, make sure you do one of your extensive write-ups here. We'd love to hear your opinion of both bikes.

[SHIVA]

Hey man, The write-up is for Iron Horse and this site and possibly BMW ON as well. It was definitely a trip worth reading. Kudos to BMW for organizing an amazing event... S

[SHIVA]

Here's a good shot showing some of the roads we were on. This is a shot of me riding through canyons in 106 degs heat in my full-leather Vanson sport suit By the way, I learned how heated grips can come in handy even in the 100+ temperatures. More info later...

This is the long stretch of desert road winding its way through canyons, after our lunch (see videos above) by the Colorado River.

[SHIVA]

More images. These are pro shots that taken by http://www.KevinWingPhotography.com

Shots of GT and GSA in Arizona with your favorite admin at the helm.





The Adventure loved this road--hard-packed gravel. I was doing a steady 80 when Kevin took this shot.

[Eka]

This picture put it all together:


What a feeling....

[SHIVA]

This is a good shot of what happens to a leather sport suit on the dirt. Can it get any more dusty? S

[SHIVA]

Another cool moment on the Adventure. We hit this stream on the last mile of a 20-mile desert road that led to our lunch picnic by the Colorado river. If you pay close attention to the image, you'll see that the bike is fishtailing.