BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I have to take my hat off to you gents who are camping at 60+

I was recently defeated by the weather on a camping trip to Scotland, albeit in a storm and horizontal rain, but I found that I ached each morning, not from the bike, but from the concept of sleeping on the ground. I have a decent sleep mat but still found it hard. And I am just the better side of 50!

One comment made above, about how well the bike handles when loaded up rings true. I did 1500 miles in 5 days, loaded up, in winds that at one point were gusting to 114 mph!! I was astonished at how well this bike behaves under duress. I believe it really is the unsung hero of the BMW range.

Cheers guys, and I hope I'm as active as you are when I hit 70!!

Julian

Jeez, do all beemers attract geezers? The R1200R sure attracted this one. I'll turn 67 next month, and I've been commuting to work on a bicycle for over 40 years. I think it's probably made me a better motorcyclist, not so much for riding skills (although a bicycle does teach you extreme sensitivity to road surface conditions) as for a total committment to defensive riding. I love the beemer, and nowadays I motor where I used to pedal (and a lot farther, too). Hope to do some touring/camping when I retire this year.

Steve in VT wrote:… I've been commuting to work on a bicycle for over 40 years. I think it's probably made me a better motorcyclist, not so much for riding skills (although a bicycle does teach you extreme sensitivity to road surface conditions) as for a total committment to defensive riding. I love the beemer, and nowadays I motor where I used to pedal (and a lot farther, too). …

Well put. Years of cycling and commuting by bicycle helped make me a more confident commuting motorcyclist when I began two years ago. I think I've ridden my Giant road bike twice since buying the R12R. My gut confirms.