I'm curious as one I looked at recently ('07 blue) at a dealership had a windscreen that was about 4 inches below my eyes when fully raised. Don't know if that is the standard screen or maybe a short screen? I'd like a screen that comes to maybe 2 inches higher than my eyes when fully raised. I'm willing to look through the screen to get occasional maximum protection from wind and a quiet pocket to ride in but I don't know if there is an OEM option for that or if I'd have to go third party.
You did not give your height so it's difficult for us to guess which one you were looking at. Having said this, it's on the tag...the tall one costs extra.
Nevertheless, did you ride the bike to see if you were inside the bubble, in turbulence, etc? Everyone finds the screen size effect different depending on their height, distance from the screen, and helmet, so it's totally empirical.
Cheers, Greg
I'm 5 foot 9 inches. The bars on the bike I rode were in the high position. I was surprised that the screen on the bike I rode was way under my eyes when fully raised. My helmet was fully in the wind and I actually thought there was more helmet buffeting with the screen up than down. I know BMW offers a tall screen and also that there are after market screens available. I think the stock standard screen is 22 inches and the tall screen is 24 but geez, the screen on the bike I rode seemed of little value from the standpoint of pushing air over the helmet. I'd actually like the option of looking through the screen when fully raised but if the tall screen is only two inches higher than the screen on that bike, it still wouldn't be even close.
I'm going to check that bike (consignment bike) out on Friday and compare it to those on the showroom floor. I loved the ride, but think occasional full protection from the wind during a long ride is something I'd want.
I had the same issues. I'm 6'0 exactly and I was looking over the top of the screen when I had the stock screen fully raised.
I bought a Cee Bailey +3 +2 screen and it's better, but I found that I was hunching over just a touch to see right through the top of it on the highway (I'm the same as you it sounds and often want a quiet bubble and don't mind looking through the screen for a bit). Well, that was causing my shoulders to cramp up from hunching just that little bit to see through and not at the top edge, so I've ordered another CB screen, this time a +5 tall. We'll see how that is and I'll have a Cee Bailey +3 +2 screen for sale soon if anyone wants it.
Options for aftermarket screens are: Cee Bailey and CalSci (available now), or V-Stream and Aeroflow (coming out in the next month or so).
My Tall screen never even made it onto the bike, as I had the dealer install a Cee Bailey shield during the initial bike setup. The factory windshield is in my garage, still in the original packaging.
Ken: I have a test ride lined up for today at BMW Newbury Park (George). I see you live just up the road in Oxnard. I've ridden with George, my brother, and others to Tonopah, Pahrump, etc in the past on my current bike. Did a round trip to Phoenix a couple of weekends ago.
My current ride is a Honda ST 1300 ('04 blue). I did replace the windscreen on that bike with a taller one, plus Heli Bars to bring the bars back some, plus a Seergeant seat to replace the factory seat (which was really poor), plus highway pegs. My ST 13 is set up really well for long distance now. I can sit in a pocket of quiet air when I want to and there is room to move around on the seat to change positions.
My brother rides an '06 1200 RT and loves it. I prefer the V 4 in my ST 13 to his boxer. I envy his cruise control and other techno gadgets on his RT though and have been sereiously thinking of moving to the K 1200 GT. But I wonder how much touring comfort I'd lose in the switch. Seems nuts to walk away from my ST 1300 to a K 12 GT only to have to do the windscreen / seat thing again. But I rode the K 12 GT a week ago and loved it on at least a short haul including freeway and twisties (45 minute ride). Great suspension and smooth power. I like the smaller top box too. Really fine bike! Don't want my head in the airstream 100% of the time though and would also like to avoid butt burn at 150 miles or so.
Tonopah: I put 42K+ miles on my blue ST w/ CB shield etc, and loved it. Now have 4.5K miles on the new GT. I find it as comfortable as the ST on long days, although the +3+2 CB does not give me the silent bubble (I'm 6'2") that I liked on the ST. I'll be trying a different shield soon. The motor(!!!), suspension and handling, heated seats, ESA, ASC etc, etc....all make the GT a superior bike for my money. Bad switch on the ESA out of the box, but now that it's resolved I'm loving the GT. I would be surprised if you made the switch and were unhappy.
David: do you ride with the bars adjusted up? Just wondering. Also, the pegs on the K1200GT are somewhat back whereas the pegs on the ST 1300 are more straight down under the rider. I did not mind the K12GT pegs but the positioning is a bit different from what I am used to.
I have a feeling that the K12GT is sort of intended to be ridden with the bars down/pegs back -- more sport bike position. You can alter this by raising the bars but you are left with head higher, and more in the wind, and feet back. Not bad though. I'll know more later today.
George is a good guy and will take care of you. I bought my first (well used) BMW from him over 10 years ago. When it was time for a GT, I knew it was going to come from him.
The GT is a bike that straddles two different segments. Bars down, pegs back, bags off, and it's a pretty decent sport bike. Bars up, pegs forward/down, better seat and windshield, and it's a excellent LD bike.
In fact, I did a Saddle Sore on mine this week, and will do another on Monday on the way back to my client. I may even stretch it out and take Highway 36 out of Red Bluff so I can wear out the sides of the tires as well.
And that's what I love about it. It does everything I ask for, and more than I really need.
Decision made.
I rode home on a new K 1200 GT today. The seat that is OEM now seems pretty good to me actually. The tall screen makes a positive difference too. I have the standard seat in the up position (for now) and can still flat foot the bike. The screen raises to just below my eyes but I can ride comfortably with my visor open and that's pretty much all I ask. The bars were adjusted to the extreme up position on the bike when I took delivery but I will probably experiment with putting them down somewhat later.
Sweet ride. I look forward to learning this bike.
It was nice to meet you today. I was there when you made your purchase and I know you won't be sorry. I had a great ride home myself with a new set of Metzlers. I decided to replace at 8700 miles even though they probably had 1K left on them.
My brother rides an '06 1200 RT and loves it. I prefer the V 4 in my ST 13 to his boxer. I envy his cruise control and other techno gadgets on his RT though and have been sereiously thinking of moving to the K 1200 GT. But I wonder how much touring comfort I'd lose in the switch. Seems nuts to walk away from my ST 1300 to a K 12 GT only to have to do the windscreen / seat thing again. But I rode the K 12 GT a week ago and loved it on at least a short haul including freeway and twisties (45 minute ride). Great suspension and smooth power. I like the smaller top box too. Really fine bike! Don't want my head in the airstream 100% of the time though and would also like to avoid butt burn at 150 miles or so.
The other thing that you will probably notice pretty soon is big buffets from strong side winds. Try to get a ride on a windy day to see if it bothers you too much. I think the fairing is narrower which makes the air flow closer to the rider. I think side winds tend to push this faster air towards the rider to give you a big hit every now and then that I never noticed on my GTR1000.
Apart from that the engine and suspension are brilliant when compared to the ST1300, especially the front suspension. You can really have fun on it and never run out of revs like you seem to do easily on the ST.
I was on CA1 north of Big Sur last week and the winds were pretty strong...much less side pressure and getting pushed around than the ST, IMHO.
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