The 13R is a beauty, no doubt, but the tipping factor for me, so to speak, is the weight. The 13R is about 540 lbs vs 403 (claimed) for the RR.

But I sure like that 13R Hossack front end for eating up the interstate miles.

 

Easy. Buy both.

Everyone needs more than one bike depending on the job at hand. I use a K1200GT for touring, and the S to blast around town and annoy people.

However, the issue right now is "Will the K1300R be around next year since they are bringing out the K1600 engine series in the K1600GT/L?" That might work to your advantage and you may get a substantial discount off the K1300 if you buy now. No one has said whether the 1300 anything will be around after the intro of the 1600 in October/November in Cologne. I doubt if you will get much off a S1000RR either over a K1300R.

If it is your primary bike and only transportation, I'd go to the K with bags. If you pillion about someone more than a few miles, they will not like the S seat over the K at all and one ride may be enough. The S is a "Lone Wolf" in its touring capability.

Also, call your insurance carrier and check the prices between the two bikes before you decide. The S may cost you a bundle over the K - or visa versa depending if your company goes by cc's or bike designation (i.e sport bike or not).


Mack

 

Yeah the weight is an issue. I like the twisties but insurance is not an issue here. They're both the same.
I would love to buy both but i'm not that well off.

I didn't know about the 1600 but i don't lke a big bike with fairings. The 1300R's looks appeal to me.
I really wanted the S1000RR for track days but i'm thinking realistacly that i'll only probably get out 2 or 3 times a year to the track because of work constraints.

I'm not a racer for the track and i've never done it before but i would love to give it a try but if it's only going to be a couple of times a year, what's the point?
On the other hand, i don't want to try and manhandle a huge bike through the twisties either. Is the 1300R capable in the curves when I go out for a sunday ride?

 

Here is a video of me on the K1200, it does just fine in the twisties.

 

I have both a S1000RR and a K1300S, I can tell you the S1 is an absolute friggin blast but it sure is not comfortable and you will have to use a backpack, tank and tail bags if you travel at all. I only use my S1 for pure fun, trailer it to good twisty road areas (since we don't have them here) and on a trip of any distance I use the K13 with the BMW expandable bags, that is a great sport touring bike plus it is no slouch in the power band. For an everyday driver, even though the S1 is a blast, I'd go with the K bike.

 

I have the K1200R-Sport and the S1000RR and my bike of choice for the street is the K1200 hands down, I use the S1000 for 95% track. If I just needed a bike to commute and some nice long trips the K1300 would be the one. Not sure about the K1300 but my K1200 is damn fast and lots of good low end. I am sure the K1300 would just be better.

 

If it was only one bike, I'd go with the K. Tomorrow I have a couple of meetings and there is a slight chance of rain. Taking the K bike is not an issue. If the S was back together, I wouldn't take it tomorrow.

 

I know this is BMW forum and I should not say this, but I think your riding style is better suited for something like Ducati Streetfighter S or MV Agusta Brutale.

I personally love Streetfighter. It has the same engine and performance as a 1098 with a street bike chasis and naked body. Test ride it and I am sure your daily commute will be even more pleasurable.

 

I own both a K1200R and S1000RR... I now ride the S1000RR exclusively on the track because for the street, I much rather ride the K1200R. So in your shoes, I would get the K1300R without hesitation. Like others said, the real difference will be weight - the K1300R is plenty powerful.

 

This kills me to say it (and agree w/the Devyl)... but it sounds like you need to stick w/the 1300 given your circumstances... if funds are able to promote it, then buy the second bike and make an S1.

At this point, personally, I'm only doing one bike in my garage, so given the choice, it's gotta be the S1. I don't get hung up in the traffic like you do... enjoy some Track Days, and (like you) enjoy the power and nimbleness.

 

The 1300GT does not like to be ridden slow, it bucks and kicks, I'd get the new 1200RT or better yet the F800ST for a daily bike.

Michael

 

I use my S1000RR for commuting. I've done 1500km so far, and 95% of that has been in commuting through heavy traffic in Seoul Korea.

So it's possible, and it's not hateful by any means.

I've done the same on a K1300R and it's a lot more comfortable though. My only issue with the K-bikes is that you RIDE an S1, but you DRIVE a K1300, if that makes any sense. You never really need to get out of the saddle on a K-bike.

On a K1300R, I could do it all. But I can manage most of that on my S1000RR, sacrificing some comfort (not in riding position, but in heat blast), pillion comfort, and overall luggage capacity (I do have the S1 luggage so I *can* tour with it), but then I do get the most performance you can get on two wheels when I want to cut loose

 

Fwiw I loved my K12R with Akra system. But as Kismet mentions you do drive a K more than ride it, and when I commuted I found its low speed running a bit jerky (tho I'm told the 13 is better) , and depending on the traffic conditions ( for the UK its just bumper to bumper ) the overall length was a bit bus like. Plus it weights the same as a small truck.

However I'd buy a nearly new Transalp or some such thing for the commute and stick with the S1 for your occasional trackdays and odd commute

Stu

 

Test ride the K13.

I prefer my K12S for the street and the S10RR for the track. The K is more comfortable has bags and heated grips when needed, and handles well.

Noel

 

I has the K1300R and now i have the S1000RR. Why don't you think to buy something in the midle? The K1300S!!

 

the K1300S weighs a lot more than the R, and is geared higher. Good for continuous autobahn cruising, but the R is far better suited for city riding.

 

My late, much-missed K1200R Sport, with its more upright riding position, greater weight, luggage capacity and longer wheelbase, was much more comfortable on lengthy trips It also had PLENTY of grunt. In fact, its power spoiled me to the point that nothing less than the S1000RR would do as a replacement.

On the other hand, I love my S1000RR for its track-friendly, grin-winning performance (and its looks) but it's, understandably, a relatively lousy sport tourer.

Neither bike was/is a comfortable commuter. The K-Bike was jerky at low speeds (and heavy for a little fella like me) and the S's neck and shoulder pain inducing semi-tuck riding position and its leg-burning catalytic converter radiation are certainly not traffic-crawl friendly.

Since I cannot afford a pair of dedicated machines, I plan to tame the S a bit by installing Helibars and eliminating the white-hot cat with a full aftermarket exhaust system.

I suppose my dream combo would be an R1200GS for Charley Boorman excursions and an incomparably built HP2 Sport for the track and twisties. I don't plan to divest myself of the S1000RR, however. It's a terrific bike and, with a few tweaks, can be made even better for my purposes.

 

I own the K1300R for 6 months. I love it for its comfort for touring and its high speed stability. In fact i was amazed the little fairing works even at 260km/h. However when it comes to the b road twisties, i find its a lot of hard work trying to catch up with my buddies. The wheel base is too long, the suspension is mushy and you could start to feel the weight! The brakes has a lot of free play before you feel the bites.

I sold the bikes and bought the S1000RR instead.

So it really depends what kind of riding you do mostly.

 

All good inputs, thank you very much.
I like the idea of a little passenger comfort but I am single so it's no big deal. It would just be a nice to have. Getting out for the weekend is also a nice to have but I only have one off which doesn't leave me much time to get out for a ride.
I guess I have to weigh up weight, agility and comfort.
It seems the S1K will be great for grins and moving between traffic and my comfort is not much of an issue as my commute is only 20 - 30 mins.
The 1300R has stella looks but will be heavier in traffic but more comfortable once I go for the odd ride on a Sunday and also for the stray passenger I might pick up The bags would be nice also but i'm on a solo seat Sportster right now so I use a back pack everyday anyway.

Damn this is a difficult decision.

 

I ordered the S1000 in Feb. Then while waiting for the delivery date of April, I was talking to other riding friends who thought the K1300s a much better choice than the "track only" S1000rr.
So I bought a K1300s in Lava Orange loaded instead.
I loved it on the street, but like the S1000, it is stupid fast...
On the track days however, it was a heavy bike to push around.
Although my lap times were faster apparently then guys on R1's, GSXR1000's at that track day (meaning only the K1300 is NO dog at track days).... It was HEAVY.
I have a GS Adventure for my daily driver, nothing beats it in versatility.
In short, I traded my new K1300s in for a new S1000, which I picked up last week, and couldn't be happier.
It's a Demo with 2500k on it, and it's a rocket!
It is the greatest bike made in the sportbike world, the K1300s, although a great bike, is a bike that no one really even knows about!
Ego? Sure.... Why not?
It's great owning the two greatest bikes made.

 

My s1k is my daily ride, whether it's to work or to cruise on the highway. Rode the K1300s before and find its wheelbase a little too long for tight manoeuvres in traffic. I don't find the S1k uncomfortable at all and I would highly recommend it for a daily ride. Enough juice on tap for spirited rides and yet can just creep with traffic at 20km/h. Rain, hail & shine, the bike performed really well. No issues at all.

 

My S1000RR is also a commuter - a testament to the flexibility of the bike.

I did find the K1300R (not S) to be a very good urban bike as well. It's a bit long, but the handlebars have good leverage and I didn't have any problems filtering through seriously heavy Korean traffic jams. I prefer faired bikes as they are better at high speeds, but if I had the cash to splurge on an intra-city runabout, it'd be the K1300R. Makes for a decent touring bike as well.

One "drives" a K-bike however - the geometry really wants the rider to stay seated and just steer. The S-bike, being a race bike, shines when you start actually using advanced riding techniques. I keep getting better and better, learning more about bikes at the limit. I wouldn't be improving much on a K-bike...they're just comfortable and fast machines.

 

I own both a '07 K12S and the S1KRR. For street riding, the K12S is just fine, albeit a little heavy. But comfort-wise, there is no comparison: I can ride it all day long without much fatigue. If I could only have one bike out of the two, it would be the K12S, not the S1000RR. The K is fast enough and nimble enough to allow you to do, on the street, 99.5% of what the S1000RR can do (the only thing it doesn't do well is wheelies). If you occasionally carry passengers on your bike, then there is only one choice between the two bikes and it's not the S1000RR.

 

I'm pretty fit for a 70year old windbreaker.. Tested them both, I'm going to get
a s1000rr. If I can stay on my mountain bike all day I can cruise on any sportbike,
esp with a pr of helibars.

 

There is a big difference in the way you sit on a mountain bike vs. a sportbike: on the mountain bike you sit more erect, carrying your weight on your hips and legs, whereas on the sportbike you're leaning forward carrying a lot more weight on your arms, not to mention that your neck will be bent in a upward angle that spells discomfort after some time. How long of a test ride were you able to do? The Helibars will help some, I'm sure...

 

With what you describe as your riding, it seems pointless to get the s1000rr, you will never be riding at the revs or speeds where it outperforms other bikes and unless you only want it for the looks i'd go for the k13, which, btw is no slouch and could very likely outperform your abilities in any situation and embarass many a sports bike.
All the reviews on the K in the UK have been very favourable

 

Comfort wise to me the S1000RR with Heli bars and grip puppies is far more comfortable then the K1300S. I had a K1300S and now have the S1000RR. It really is a treat when those 2 items are added. The R version though hands down will be more comfortable as I also have naked bike a 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 it's fast 10.30's quick and comfortable as heck. Here's a few Pics. If it were me I would get the S1000RR as neither is really as comfortable as a naked so get the better of the 2 and in my opinion S1000RR does all the same stuff as the K only twice as fast.