Random Thoughts on My R1150R

[Bluehenrider]

I have ridden my first 500 miles on my R1150R and I thought I would share my random thoughts so far...

I love this bike. It runs like a dream now that I put new tires on it.
When you buy a bike on Ebay and they say "One more season on the tires." That is code for these tires are bald and cupped.
Even though my bike is a 2002 it looks much newer and it's a head turner.
I am glad I waited to get a black one even though it took a while to have it shipped from Wyoming.
This bike is so much better than my Suzuki DR650SE.
What's up with the turn signal cancel switch. Could they have put it in a worse place?

[f4tweet]

BMW's creedo: Ve made it dat vay,und u vill uze it dat vay.

[Bluehenrider]

Well I think they got 99.9% of it right!!!

[Sunbeemer]

This cures that...
https://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=4

The Signalminder SM-5 provides automatic turn signal cancellation and running lights - a big bonus for conspicuity.

[Bluehenrider]

Thanks for the signal minder idea.

[georgek]

you get used to it.

[grwrockster]

+1 on the 'you get used to it'.

I found that I got used to the turn signal buttons relatively quickly (the cancel button was the thing that I had to adapt to most as well). In fact, though I thought I thought I'd always dislike them at first, I actually quite like the signal button system now. It also maybe helps that, as I have a Rockster it came with self-cancelling indicators, so I don't have to use the cancel button all the time .

I have more issues finding the horn button TBH - after 4.5 years and 31k Miles on my bike, I still end up pressing the LH turn signal button instead of the horn button when rushed (which is of course, just when you need to hit the horn intuitively ).

[wncbmw]

My '02 Beakster still makes me smile while riding and at 65K, I guess I have decided to see if I can hit 100,000 on it.

And I agree its better than a Suzuki DR650, except when I want to hit the Forest Service roads and get dirty. Thats why I have both in the garage!

[BoxerSteve]

I have more issues finding the horn button TBH - after 4.5 years and 31k Miles on my bike, I still end up pressing the LH turn signal button instead of the horn button when rushed (which is of course, just when you need to hit the horn intuitively ).

I've accidentally hit the horn when I meant to signal for a left. Of course, I did this right next to a LEO who was sitting on the side of the road as I rolled up to a stop sign. Of course, his window was open too so he got the full decibel impact. He gave me a dirty look but thankfully, that was all he did.

[Bluehenrider]

WNCBMW,

You have a DR650 and a R1150R both in your garage? That's awesome. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have kept my 1996 DR650SE. I used to tell everyone when it gets off the ground it feels like you are riding on a refrigerator. I put street tires on mine and I mostly road it on the street. I did love it, but got tired of fixing it up every year.

On the R1150R I am glad I am not the only one who does not like the position of the turn signal cancel button. I also agree the horn is in a bad place for rapid use. I think using the horn would increase your chances of crashing in a moment of panick so I made a mental note to leave it alone.

More random thoughts:

I changed the oil for the first time. It went fine. I had no records of the last oil change and it looked pretty murky when it came out so I am glad I did. My bike now has 34,500 miles on it.

Driving below 40 miles an hour on this bike is painful. Driving in traffic is torture because you can't wait for the road to clear out so you can have some fun. Riding 60 MPH in 6th gear at 3,000 RPMs feels perfect to me.

[sstein]

I like 85 MPH at 4500 RPM in 6th gear (in a safe area). No vibration whatsoever.

[wncbmw]

I like between 5,000 and 6,000 rpms between 25 and 50 mph. On curvy mountain roads! Now that's perfect!

Heck, on most of my rides, the bike never sees 6th gear. Sometimes, it never sees 5th!

Of course, I live in a place that lets me get away with that.

[prachster]

I like between 5,000 and 6,000 rpms between 25 and 50 mph. On curvy mountain roads! Now that's perfect!

Heck, on most of my rides, the bike never sees 6th gear. Sometimes, it never sees 5th!

Of course, I live in a place that lets me get away with that.

Where the heck you ride, man? I wanna go there some day.. Here in Houston, its 6th, 4.5K and 85 MPH, baby..

Sanjay

[wncbmw]

Where the heck you ride, man? I wanna go there some day.. Here in Houston, its 6th, 4.5K and 85 MPH, baby..

Mountains of western North Carolina! Come on up sometime!

[Sunbeemer]

I think using the horn would increase your chances of crashing in a moment of panick so I made a mental note to leave it alone.

In my everyday commute a horn is a necessary piece of safety equipment. People in this city don't (and quite possibly can't) see me most of the time, so I ride like I'm invisible all the time. But when cages try to shove me off the road, I announce my presence with a 139dB blast. More often than not it freaks them out so bad they overcorrect, scaring the bejeepers out of me, so I use it only when absolutely necessary, but when I do, it saves my ...

Of course your riding area may be different, but developing the muscle memory to use the horn button might help keep you healthy.

[Bluehenrider]

Muscle memory to use the horn...Good point. If I get used to it I may be able to hit it by instinct.

I am glad I am not the only one who memorizes favorite gear, RPM and MPH ranges.

What kind of MPG does everyone get? I thought I would get 40 MPG, but I think its going to be less than that.

Sometimes I drive 50 MPH in 6th gear at about 2,500 RPM when I am trying to conserve gas, but that gets boring really quick.

Western North Carolina...Is that the Smokey Mountains you are riding in? That is one of my favorite places. I live in Delaware and the riding is fine, but probably nothing compared to Western North Carolina.

[gregor]

My 'favourite' is when I hit the rev limiter in 4th gear during a hard overtaking manouvre .
About 90mph I guess- but I'm trying to keep the front wheel straight at that stage.
I've got the lower gear ratio transmission here in the UK and all I can remember is 54mph at 3000rpm in 6th.

[Boxer]

+1 on the Signal Minder. You can also just hit the turn signal switch a second time to cancel it. I did that most of the time, and never waited for it to cancel by itself, but for those times you just forget about it, it will stop all by itself after about 15 or 20 blinks. That was one of the most helpful additions to my Roadster when I had it.

[sstein]

Re the horn - I can't imagine that the stock horn is loud enough to be worth hitting a all. I can barely hear it while riding practically directly on top of if.

[Sunbeemer]

when cages try to shove me off the road, I announce my presence with a 139dB blast

...from a Stebel Nautilus Air Horn