Thank You and Belated Introduction!

[kudzu]

Needing some information quickly, my first post to this board was a question without the courtesy of introducing myself.

First, I want to thank those who responded to my question about BMW OEM vs. Zumo GPS devices. Their input nudged me towards a little further research and crystallized my thinking, helping me make a decision with which I am comfortable. Thanks all!

Though I registered on the board several years ago and have stopped by occaisionally to see what the hot topics were, it was only after deciding to finally buy the "R" that I spent some time lurking and posted the question mentioned.

In and out of motorcycling all my life, when I retired in 2003, I gave myself an '04 RT as a retirement present. The RT has 42k on the clock now including a wonderful tour of the southwestern US, primarily the four-corners states, and the maritime provinces of Canada as far north as Red Bay, Labrador. During that time I also picked up an F650GS and did an Alaska trip on it. I don't know whether I burned out or if, after the "big trips," noodling around locally just lost its appeal, but my enthusiasm for riding dwindled for awhile. Trying to get excited about riding again, I bought a Ducati ST4s ABS and enjoyed a little fling with it. Until recently, I had only ridden two or three times in the last year. Having gotten back into riding a bit and enjoying it again, I want something smoother and stronger than the thumper but smaller, lighter and less complex than the farkled-out RT - sounds like an R1200R to me. This is my back-to-basics bike and phase.

Again, thanks to those who helped me with the GPS issue. I look forward to visiting here regularly, asking a lot of dumb questions and contributing when I have information or an opinion that might be helpful.

[celticus]

Statistically speaking you will not be sorry. I love mine as do most of the rest of us on this list.
Just last weekend in the lovely and very twisty North Georgia mountains a riding buddy who is a fast smooth rider told me I was riding faster and better than he had ever seen me go. I told him it all the R1200R.

Mark

[deilenberger]

Needing some information quickly, my first post to this board was a question without the courtesy of introducing myself.

Snippage..

Again, thanks to those who helped me with the GPS issue. I look forward to visiting here regularly, asking a lot of dumb questions and contributing when I have information or an opinion that might be helpful.

Welcome to the best Roadster forum around!

What is your name? Most of us are on a first name basis here (I personally hate the anonymous forum personas..)

BTW - You're located in one of my favorite cities..

[kudzu]

What is your name? Most of us are on a first name basis here (I personally hate the anonymous forum personas..)

Glad you asked! I hadn't realized that my name doesn't show up in my profile. My name is Ernie Middleton and, like you, I prefer environments in which people are accountable. I'll create a sig that includes my name.

Yes, Charleston is a beautiful area but the roads are flat and straight...

[kudzu]

Statistically speaking you will not be sorry.

I am sure that you are right. Of all the motorcycles I have owned, including a few other BMW's, the bike I most regretted selling was my first BMW, a '93 R100R. The comparison is only relative, of course, but I perceive the merits of the two bikes to be similar - technological sophistication for the time, light weight, superior handling, adequate performance and the beauty of simplicity.

[daveyator]

I figured this is as good a place as any to introduce myself. I just bought a 2007 R1200R after a convoluted journey. Having ridden most of my adult life on Hondas I finally managed to get a a '99 R1100R. Probably the best bike I ever had. After 8yrs however I just wasn't riding much at all so I some how convinced myself to sell it. Well that lasted 6 montns or so and somehow I wound up buying a Harley Superglide. Not a half bad bike compared to what I was expecting but after a year I got the "this isn't a beemer is it" notion and sold it. Believe it or not I test rode a R1200R but also an '02 K1200RS. Because of mostly price I wound with the K1200RS. A very fast sewing machine for lack of a better description but the whole time I kept thinking about the R. FINALLY I snapped after 6 months and traded for a '07 R1200R. It seems to be better in most respects (aside from not being blue) to my 1100. I'm excited to have it now and look forward to riding it more than I ever did the K1200. Anyway the name is Dave (the first name thing) from so cal and thanks for listening. A final thought...am I an airhead or an oilhead as the dealer says these new ones are oil cooled and not aircooled?

[Dr Grabow]

Actually I think you're a "hexhead" with a 2007 R ...

Cheers

[tobes]

Welcome Dave,

Fellow SoCal rider here. It's called a hexhead because of the shape though an oilhead since it's oilcooled. Nice writeup on the Wikipedia on BMW history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_BMW_motorcycles

I went from a standard Yamaha to a Honda Cruiser and then rented many a Harley. None of them had the performance and fun factor I was looking for. Swore I was going to get a V-Rod but then rented the R for a day out of curiosity. Sold!

Mike...

[daveyator]

I like hexhead! It's also funny that I totally hummed and haaed about the V-Rod when I bought the used Harley.

[ka5ysy]

Welcome Dave !

The RR was summed up best by the mechanic who delivered my R1200R: "That is the only bike you ever need".

Enjoy !

Doug

[Dan-A]

"That is the only bike you ever need".

Might be, but it is still fun to have more than one. I bought my Harley after I bought the R, and have them both (and a couple of others).

If I had a bigger garage, I'd have more bikes. (don't know how my wife puts up with it).

Welcome to the newcomers!

[mogu83]

"That is the only bike you ever need".

Might be, but it is still fun to have more than one. I bought my Harley after I bought the R, and have them both (and a couple of others).

If I had a bigger garage, I'd have more bikes.8-

I'm with you Dan.
I don't know how a person could have only one bike. I have a Valkyrie (best long distance, laid back, superslab bike) an old R75/5 thats been café and a couple of café CB125Ss (yes -125cc) that are my Motogiro bikes. I sold a M-20 BSA and a Moto Guzzi to finance the R1200R but I miss the Italian bike in the garage. I'm starting to feel a recurrence of MBD (Multiple Bike Disease) and I think that something red with Ducati on the tank will cure it.