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

Chris...most of us have the rear pre load about one or two clicks off the firmest setting..just tighten it (clockwise) all the way then back it off two clicks.

Unless you're very light..or like it soft..or have trouble touching the ground.

Tire pressure is very important..I run 37 front and 39 rear.

If your tires are old they will most likely have lost their shape and squared off or started cupping.

The BMW system cases are not cheap but well worth it IMO...you can pick them up second hand for almost half price.

There is a standard lid that allows you to fit a full face helmet inside.

There's also a city lid which allows you to lane split.

And there's a wide lid...that's so wide a friend has to ride in front with a big sign saying "Danger Wide Load"...

DJ

Chris, welcome to the gang.

Cheers Doug & DJ
By pre load you mean the hand wheel not the damper screw on the shock bottom? If so mine is set as per manual instructions on the low setting. Will wind it up before I go home tonight.

Yes, hand wheel adjustment.

Lets see if this works! Here is the Lincoln bike! Btw - there is a village nearby called Cherry Willingham and every weekend - Saturday and Sunday - is a bikers meet at Willingham Woods. Some good rides from there too.

http://gclements1.photosite.com/Album8/P1010691.html

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Fixed URL-You hit "IMG" button instead of "URL" button - Doug
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Hi Croc
No pic there,something not quite right with your URL. Try again I wanna see it!
I see the guys at Willingham woods a lot as we pass there on the way to visit family. They own the farm and Willingham Fayre cafe just down the road from the woods. It's been really frustrating the last 5 years only having the XR and being passed in the car by hundreds of guys having fun on that road to Gainsborough but now!! My turn...

Just got in from a 100 mile trip after work with a friend who's running in his brand new 1200GS. Dunno if you know this area but I'm near Holmfirth, went over Holme Moss, Glossop, Edale, Hope and back up the Snake Pass on the way home. 100 miles of twisty mountainous roads like the mountain circuit on the Isle of Man. Fantastic!

Have to say this bike impressed me so much. I'm still getting used to the weight (the XR is almost exactly half the weight of the 1150) and travelling at speed, but I found that if I get the gear right, trust the bike in the corners and give it the berries in the middle it just fires out like a bullet! So solid and sooo much grunt. It did get a bit parky up there so I had to flick on the handwarmers a couple of times...how nice is it to have the warm fingers...it just gets better! Whatamachine! I love this bike!!!
It's gonna cost me a fortune in petrol!!

The embarrassing thing in all this is that my buddy is an academic who works in marketing and did a lot of research for BMW a few years back. Got a free GS1150 as part of the deal as well! I was a respondent in his research and at the time was a loony sport bike nut with ragged knee sliders and a death wish. To say I was less than complimentary about Beemers is an understatement...BUT now I see the light so forgive me. He did bring round a wheelbarrow full of humble pie for me when I told him what I'd bought and I promise to eat it all!

Am really settling in with this bike now. Even the switches are starting to feel normal-ish. It just gets better every day I ride it!
Can't believe my luck with the weather, it's been sunny and dry ever since I got hold of it. The rear tyre is almost squared off so I'll be putting a set of Z6's on it in a few weeks. Can it get even better yet?!

Can it get even better yet?!

From squared off tires to Z6s? Heck yes, lots better!

Welcome and enjoy the ride.

Now what moron decided we can't have the blacked out motor (except the YJ and rock of course) on this side of the pond?

That's probably project 2007...black out the entire motor and drivetrain.

Cris
I really have enjoyed reading this thread....makes me goose-bumpy sharing your excitement for this new machine. Takes us all back to the first ride we had on our R's.

She's pretty alright!

Does it gett any better?....

Yep, it just gets better and better!
(my signature line).

Glad you're enjoying it! Me too! Rode it home in the rain today, still very stable and confidence inspiring. Another nice thing I found is that I don't get blown around the road on this thing. I live high up in the pennines and the wind used to hammer me into oncoming traffic on cbr's XR etc but this thing stays put, fantastic! Just wondering how long this grin is going to last. I find it hard not to keep heading for the garage and find myself standing there looking at it with a smile on my face...my wife offered to bring me a sleeping bag out last weekend when I was still polishing and playing long after I'd normally have hit the sack!

Croc wrote:Lets see if this works! Here is the Lincoln bike! Btw - there is a village nearby called Cherry Willingham and every weekend - Saturday and Sunday - is a bikers meet at Willingham Woods. Some good rides from there too.

http://gclements1.photosite.com/Album8/P1010691.html

Hi Croc,
Just seen your photos. Looks great! See you got the rear luggage rack replacement for the pillion. Did it come with it or did you get it later? Fancy one of those so I can carry a bigger bag on long trips till I get some cases. Will have to drop you a line when I head over your way next so I can have a proper look

Chris
I went for a 3000 mile road trip last month with my husband. He has a 1200GS.
We hit some pretty impressive wind in western Nevada. He was leaning with the wind but I was less affected. I did not particularly like it, but it was managable. I think the R with the lower gravity and the fact that I am shorter than him (he is 6'5) really made me stable. I also found the wind less of a problem at faster speed...or so I think! oh yeah!

side note.: My husband thinks he is hot stuff with his 50cc of 'extra power'.
I hit a sage rat in south eastern Oregon. Squashed him dead. Felt like running over a garden hose.
He may have 50cc up on me but has he killed anything?

Hi Beeming - that wind thing, if you are getting a strong cross wind that is messing you about try hanging your knee out on the side that the wind is hitting you. For some reason it lessens the effect - dont know why or how, but it works. Go look for some wind and try it

Croc

Chris

I got the seat plate off e bay. There is one for sale on EB at the moment listed as BMW R1150R ROCKSTER & R850R REAR LUGGAGE RACK SEAT TRAY.

Give it a go if you are interested.

I'm off to France then Genmany and Austria in June so will be giving mine the ful test then.

Croc

I saw one on ebay not long back but before I got the bike. Mid March I think. Will have a look at the one on there now. Sounds like a great trip. Would love to tour on the bike but the missus won't go for it. Will have to be one up but now I have the bike to do it on it'd be rude not to!

Hi Beeming,
One to you then on the rat killing front. Got a little sticker for the tank with and x'd out rat?!

PS Did I mention that I love this bike?

Chris, I get mine on Saturday May 13. Can't wait!! Here are some pics of it in her crate...

Nice...

DJ

DJ Downunder wrote:Nice...

DJ

Thanks!!!!

How do you like that saddle!!! And hey, no plastic fairings, nope, thats genuine wood fellas!!