Should I trade my K75rt for a K1200RS??

[Smackover]

I've been looking to sell or trade my 1994 K75RT with Pichler fairing and I have an offer for a 1998 K1200RS. Important questions I have are if the K1200 produces a lot of engine heat between the legs, if it's okay for two-up riding, and to a lesser extent the MPG. Also, the overall maintenance reputation it has. I perform most of my own maintenance.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks ahead of time for your wisdom.

[johnny]

the k1200 is a top heavy poor handling underpowered marginal straightliner at best...

Ive seen one lumbering behind lifestyle riders in the santa cruz mountains with just one side bag...

j o

[bdamm]

The K1200RS rider must have been really enjoying the ride, since that's the only reason for them to be lumbering behind the lifestyle riders...

I love my K1200RS.  I think it's nimble, but you absolutely *must* get the weight distributed evenly or else that big bike pushing back at you all ride long gets rather tedious.  Mind you, the only other bike I ever rode was a Ninja 250, so take my experience for what it's worth.

It's great for 2-up but I would definitely recommend a saddle mod.  The stock saddle is not so great for 2-up.  Really barely sufficient for 1-up.  Mine is disintegrating and I'm really looking forward to its replacement :)

[Grim]

I was drooling all over my Keyboard at a Yellow checker board RS when I was shopping for my bike. I just knew after looking at pictures of them it was the bike for me.
 I had just come from a test ride on a R1100RT and it just felt good to sit on. I had also Went and sat on a K1100LT and it felt natural.  I sat on that RS and quickly realized the riding position was very aggressive. The bars are way down and you are basically laying on the tank with your arms out like Superman. There is almost no options for changing the bar position the way BMW set them up. You can change the angle and get about 1in of elevation and thats it stock. The foot pegs are high and my long legs felt very cramped. There was about 1in you could drop the pegs in its factory dress. To me at least it was not a Natural position where I would want to spend a lot of time. The owner even told me that the bike doesn't conform to you you conform to the bike. There were peg drop kits and bar relocation kits but getting hard to find. Its very good at going very fast. Its not good at creeping around low speed. He had a full dress Harley parked next to it and said putting around town the Harley was easier to deal with even at 200+lb more weight. Told me you get that thing on the hwy and the faster you go the better it feels and he was repeatedly looking down to see the needle tickling 100mph. Its love or hate.

If you like that racing riding position you may feel differently. I will admit I'm getting close to 50 and my values of what I want out of a bike have changed but you really need to sit on one for a little when before dropping cash.
 When I replace my LT I want to look at a K1200GT. Its between the RS and LT riding position.

Heat wise I'd venture to say would be better (less). Everything is fully enclosed so all the heat has to come out the side vents not up around the tank when you are going slow.