Well sorry to disagree but it seems youhave never really ridden a serious sport bike and put it through someturns.If you did, you would know that theBMW is no sport bike.
I have owned both an rg500,and a gsx-r750,both of which are extremely good handling ,highly tuned bikes.However a bike does not have to be so radical to be considered a sportbike.Look at the lists below.Notice that both list the k1200s as a sportbike?
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/galleries/ig/Bike-Types/SportDucati1098STri.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_bike
From the bottom link
Hyper sport bikes are bigger and heavier than super bikes with wet weights generally being close to 500lb (227kg). The increased weight compromises race track capabilities in favor of stability at very high speeds that can exceed 180mph (290km/h). This compromise also allows manufacturers to design much more comfortable rider ergonomics. Examples include the
Honda CBR1100XX,
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14,
BMW K1200S and
Suzuki Hayabusa.
Throw on a tank bag and some saddle bags and the thing is a comfortable sport tourer good for a weekend.
The so called tank bags that are available for the k1200rs are so small that they are far more suited for a day ride than any type of turing,sport or otherwise.
The idea that a sport tourer should have huge fuel capacity and "luggage capacity" is a contradiction of the very term.
I chose the BMW r1200st,which is considered to be a very good sport touring bike by several motorcycle magazines,and although it weighs only 450lbs dry,and handles quite well,it can travel over 400km on a tank of fuel,and it does come with optional 33 liter side cases and a 28 liter top case.So yes a sport tourer can have good fuel range,and a fairly good luggage capacity as well.
That BMW is more in the FJR ZZR class, a sport tourer.
The FJR is a very good sport touring bike,but it has a much larger luggage capacity than is available for the k1200s.
To me asport bike is a canyon carving beast that will weigh under 400lbs.
And some sources would disagree.Many of the bikes listed below as sportbikes weigh far more than 400lbs?
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/galleries/ig/Bike-Types/SportDucati1098STri.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_bike
Again from the bottom link
Hyper sport bikes are bigger and heavier than super bikes with wet weights generally being close to 500lb (227kg). The increased weight compromises race track capabilities in favor of stability at very high speeds that can exceed 180mph (290km/h). This compromise also allows manufacturers to design much more comfortable rider ergonomics. Examples include the
Honda CBR1100XX,
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14,
BMW K1200S and
Suzuki Hayabusa.
And more sources that consider the k1200s a sportbike.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=4877
http://www.bmwk1200s.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1727&sid=132cbe05d3dbe2f388e3c 952a19a3ee7
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-4823252_ITM
http://www.motorsports-network.com/bmw/2005/k1200s.htm
http://www.amadirectlink.com/riding/reviews/2006/K1200S/K1200S.asp
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051210/news_lz1d10bmw.html
http://www.webbikeworld.com/BMW-motorcycles/bmw-k1200s/
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/2005_bmw_k1200s/index.html
So,the choice is to either believe you and chuckhawks,or believe all of the sources above,not a difficult decision at all.
