Akrapovic Bolt-on / Slip-on line Street Legal Exhaust - BMW R 850 R

Advantages: excellent torque and performance and excellent chassis
Disadvantages: riding position can be a strain after a fir bit of miles on a trip

...I have owned my 636 since it first came out. I have found the sharp response of the chassis when cornering to be close to perfect. I have ridden an R6 and also ridden with R6's on rideouts and I would say the 636 (2003 model to present) has the edge on corners. I would say the R6 wins on comfort (easier forgiving seat) and also riding position. I did feel the strain after around 70 - 100 miles on the bike on some trips. That however is due to the race nature of the bike. The riding position is one of which was designed more for a racetrack. I have many good rideouts on my 6r and find that when I let a rideout 'friend' take the bike for a spin; they always come back with a smiling face and praise the bike then-on. I have attached a 'slip-on' Akrapovic aftermarket exhaust on it now and the sound is one which will make you speechless... Read review

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Advantages: Real BMW, docile, light feel, enough power, pulls well all gears, economical, good handling
Disadvantages: Needed higher saddle, and variable height options on bars.

...Riding 45 years, Police, courier, instructional and pleasure (BMs since a T reg R100RS 1978) now having two new knees and having sold an R1100RS, and an R1200, I felt I needed a lighter feel for my native Yorkshire dales and Scottish island trips, yet have a biggish bike around me. ( I'm 6' 1") I also felt a more docile performance without big engine grunt and go more suited me for current and prospective use. The R850R does it all. Very well! The 6 speed box is well spaced, 1 and 2 are bit low for me on tarmac but very controllable on loose with only throttle trickle style like on trials needed, the softer response from the 850 engine stopping wheel slip and potential slide. The luggage carrying capacity solo using rear seat is as good as a big cruiser with a carrier, and it still pulls well. It pulls from 30mph upwards in 6th... Read review

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Advantages: Big, comfortable, everything you'd expect
Disadvantages: Heavy, expensive, needs a different riding style

...the Autobahn of course) will happily stay there all day, every day, as long as you keep pouring fuel in it. Your typical BMW is an object lesson in defining motorcycling your own way. Take the engine. BMW made their first horizontally opposed twin (or BOXER) in the 1920s - and have generally stuck to that in one form or another for the remaining seventy five years. Yes - they've toyed with other configurations, the rather odd in-line triple which was featured on the 'K' series engines, and they make a 'lightweight' single (that's in BMW terms!) but the Boxer has been an enduring theme, and is what they do best. My first and only experience of BMW bikes is on an R1100R. The first 'R' identifies it as a 'boxer' engine (all the 'R' series machines are based on this configuration) and the final 'R' indicates 'Roadster' - or put it another way... Read review

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