Okay, let’s talk about this BMW RS motorcycle journey I’ve been on. It wasn’t exactly planned, more like stumbled into it.
Getting Hooked
So, I’d been riding bikes for years, mostly older stuff, things I could fix myself easily. But I started getting this itch for something more… capable? Something that could handle a longer trip without shaking my fillings loose but still be fun when the roads got twisty. Heard folks talking about sport-touring bikes. Sounded like the sweet spot.
Started looking around. Saw a lot of options, you know? Japanese bikes, other European brands. Then I saw the BMW RS. Honestly, at first, I wasn’t sure. Looked kinda serious, maybe a bit too… grown-up? But the specs looked good. That boxer engine always intrigued me, how it hangs out the sides like that. Read some reviews, watched some videos. People seemed to love how it blended sportiness and comfort. Decided I needed to check one out in person.
Finding the One
Finding the right one took time. Looked at new ones first. Wow, the price tag! Made my eyes water a bit. So, I shifted focus to the used market. Scoured online listings, visited a few dealers, talked to private sellers. Saw some rough ones, some that were priced way too high. You know how it is. Patience is key, right?
Finally found it. A few years old, looked well-maintained, decent mileage. The previous owner seemed like a genuine guy, kept records and everything. Took it for a test ride. That was the moment. The engine felt smooth but had this underlying punch. Handled way better than I expected for its size. Felt solid, planted. Yeah, this was it. Went through the whole negotiation dance, settled on a price, and boom, it was mine.
Living With It
Got it home, spent the first weekend just going over everything. Checking fluids, tightening bolts, just familiarizing myself. The tech was a bit more than I was used to – ride modes, electronic suspension, heated grips (which are awesome, by the way). Took a bit to figure out all the buttons and menus.
First few rides were great. It eats up highway miles like nothing. Super stable, comfortable seating position, good wind protection from that adjustable screen. Then I took it on some back roads, the kind I really enjoy. And yeah, it can hustle. It’s no lightweight supersport, don’t get me wrong, but lean it over, trust the tires, and it just carves through corners. That low center of gravity from the boxer engine really helps.
But it’s not all perfect, is it?
- Maintenance is… well, it’s a BMW. Parts aren’t cheap, and some jobs are more involved than on my old bikes. Did an oil change myself, wasn’t too bad. But things like valve checks? Might leave that to the pros.
- It’s heavy. Maneuvering it in the garage or tight parking spots takes some muscle. You feel that weight at low speeds.
- Sometimes the tech feels a bit much. Do I really need five ride modes? Probably not. But hey, it’s there.
The Verdict So Far
So, where am I now? Still got the RS. Still riding it. Took it on a couple of longer trips last summer, and it was fantastic. Just loaded up the bags and went. It does exactly what I wanted: comfortably covers distance but wakes up when the road gets interesting. Despite the weight and the slightly higher running costs, it feels like a quality machine. It’s solid, reliable (so far, touch wood), and just works.
It’s definitely more complex than my old bikes, and I sometimes miss that simplicity. But for the kind of riding I want to do now – longer tours mixed with fun weekend blasts – this RS thing is proving to be a pretty damn good tool for the job. Was it the right choice? Yeah, for me, right now, I think it was.
