I like the new Rs and the K1200S/R.  I do love the Fs of all flavors, though!

Er, so to speak.

I'm still thinking of a CS down the line.  The single-sparkers are getting pretty cheap.

Quote from: makenzie71

Quote from: RoadstergalA beemer is a bike and a bimmer is a car.

It's aamazing how few people know that...

I think it's largely due to the fact that most people don't know that BMW also makes motorcycles.  You get strange looks when you say, "I don't have a beemer...mine has too many wheels."

Quote from: RoadstergalI like the new Rs and the K1200S/R.  I do love the Fs of all flavors, though!

Have you sat on a K1200S?  I haven't seen one up close, but they look huge.  I really like the styling, but I think 160+hp is freakishly excessive...not to mention the price tag.  

They actually come closer to fitting me than most beemers.  The low-seat-height GSs and CSs fit me best, but the K1200R and S fit me second-best.

So I'm thinking of finding an old salvage titled F2 or F3 for under $1500 and taking out the headlight and taping over to create a track-only bike. If all else fails I can put the lights back in and ride it around.

Anyone know much about the F2 or F3, or how it compares with the GS?



Those things are HUGE. Bulky as can be.

And they run the Nurburgring Nordschleife in under 8 minutes.


http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/specials/k1200s_special/download/onw_download_video_1.html

Quote from: RoadstergalAnd they run the Nurburgring Nordschleife in under 8 minutes.

Sure...but not with me on it.  

A friend of mine has one.  They are the damndest combination of sport and touring.  They have better sport credentials than any other sport tourer I know of out there, but they have ludicrous comfort features (you don't have to get your hands dirty to adjust the suspension - they have buttons for one-up, two-up, sporty, touring... etc.).

Not to mention that the yellow, black, and silver is purdy.

All that notwithstanding, it still seems like way too much bike.

I'd love a 500cc that's half the size and weight with the same amenities - but it just isn't worth it for them.  A 1200cc doesn't really cost them any more to make than a 500, and they can charge more.

You should find a cheap salvage-title bike and track it...  Use the GS for the street (until it has a salvage title  :lol: ).

Quote from: RVertigoYou should find a cheap salvage-title bike and track it...  Use the GS for the street (until it has a salvage title  :lol: ).

That's the new plan!

Oh... HA HA...  I didn't read page 2.  

If there is another bike out there that is more reliable than the GS500, then I'd surely like to know which one it is. I'd keep it and if you just GOTTA then buy your crotch rocket "catch me-f%$k-me bike" for your piece of mind/ego. You can envision all the townspeople that have turned out to cheer you across the finish line and all the women that want to be impaled atop your blatant 18 inch phallus.

Keep the GS for "short trips" to the store for beer.

Quote from: Old Mr. WilsonIf there is another bike out there that is more reliable than the GS500, then I'd surely like to know which one it is.

1983 Yamaha Maxim 400.  the mono-shock one.  Mine has endured:

5 minute ride with no oil (I hate my friends)
Sliding off a trailer at 60mph. (I really hate my friends)
Sliding out of the bed of the truck and lodging under aforementioned trailer.[I really hate my friends...)
Being looped by a noob rider because the throttle stuck and thought he'd turn around to us and hold his hands up in surrender without killing it. (but sometimes they're entertaining)
Never seen the enterior of a garage.
22 years, original filters, sprockets and chain.  Tires, too, i think...
22 years, no valve checks, cleaning or general asthetic motorcycle care.
3 gallons of water, 1 gallon high octane.
12 years, oversized open exhaust and no rejet.

some other crap, too...still ride it...awesome bike.

Hey McK! I stand in orthopedic shoes and a more learned man!
Now THAT sounds like a helluva bike! I've never seen one. I do remember the 550 Maxims somewhere around 1983 though. Thanks for the info and the tale! Wilson

Quote from: makenzie71

Quote from: Old Mr. WilsonIf there is another bike out there that is more reliable than the GS500, then I'd surely like to know which one it is.

1983 Yamaha Maxim 400.  the mono-shock one.  Mine has endured:

5 minute ride with no oil (I hate my friends)
Sliding off a trailer at 60mph. (I really hate my friends)
Sliding out of the bed of the truck and lodging under aforementioned trailer.[I really hate my friends...)
Being looped by a noob rider because the throttle stuck and thought he'd turn around to us and hold his hands up in surrender without killing it. (but sometimes they're entertaining)
Never seen the enterior of a garage.
22 years, original filters, sprockets and chain.  Tires, too, i think...
22 years, no valve checks, cleaning or general asthetic motorcycle care.
3 gallons of water, 1 gallon high octane.
12 years, oversized open exhaust and no rejet.

some other crap, too...still ride it...awesome bike.

Sounds like an old mopar 4 banger I had...had a major oil burning issue but I never worried about it...OK sometimes I put oil in it but most of the time I wouldn't bother until smoke was pouring out from under the hood and you could smell it....Yea I know thats bad for it but what can you do... I sometimes would put gear oil in there or any kind of lubricant didn't matter much, cornered like it was on rails but had no balls...usually I would put used oil in it, when I changed my truck oil I would put fresh into the truck and the old, used oil into the 4 banger just to keep it from smoking, hit some snowbanks, had no heat, 4 bald tires, no headliner...demised was due to the large crack in the windsheild.....was pulled over by an officer of the law and was forced to surrender the car to the state of NY or fix it, $150 beater car not worth fixing at that point.....atleast not for the $250 it would have cost...Yea I coulda took got a junk yard replacement but didn't want to fool with it in winter.

Cool. Phaedrus.    :lol:    

Quote from: RoadstergalAnd they run the Nurburgring Nordschleife in under 8 minutes.

Last year a gentlemen I work with (and also the majority owner of the company I work for) was invited by BMW to test the K series bike at the track prior to its debut.  He was one of 30 people invited world wide to Nurburgring for free track day lessons and three days on bike with the local instructor.  Contestants had to complete a three part entry test; i) demographic information (aka "Can this dude really afford the bike and provide free advertising for BMW"), ii) technical questions, and iii) an essay in any reasonable format (document/presentation/video) explaining why the contestant should be selected.  

Anyhow, he had an amazing time.  Although the bike was a blast to ride around the track, he found that the engine vibration was a bit too pronounced for his taste.  He said the engine on his VFR felt more smooth banging up and down gears.   I think in the end BMW called back the bike for a year or so to fix engine related problems.  

All that being said, the ergos on the bike are fantastic.  The picture of AlphaFire on the bike is a perfect example.  That just looks comfortable.  It was by far the most comfortable sport touring bike I sat on at the Toronto Motorcycle show this month.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5So I'm thinking of finding an old salvage titled F2 or F3 for under $1500 and taking out the headlight and taping over to create a track-only bike. If all else fails I can put the lights back in and ride it around.

I've heard very good things about these bikes, especially for track use.  Parts are readily available, they're relatively easy to wrench on and built tough, meaning they'll hold together reasonably well if dumped on the track a few times.

Quote from: sys49152All that being said, the ergos on the bike are fantastic.  The picture of AlphaFire on the bike is a perfect example.  That just looks comfortable.  It was by far the most comfortable sport touring bike I sat on at the Toronto Motorcycle show this month.

It was pretty comfy, but heavy as hell, especially for its dry weight. I'm sure it's a great sport tourer though. Bulky as hell though. It dwarfs my skinny ass frame, as you can tell.

Quote

Quote from: AlphaFire X5So I'm thinking of finding an old salvage titled F2 or F3 for under $1500 and taking out the headlight and taping over to create a track-only bike. If all else fails I can put the lights back in and ride it around.

I've heard very good things about these bikes, especially for track use.  Parts are readily available, they're relatively easy to wrench on and built tough, meaning they'll hold together reasonably well if dumped on the track a few times.

Yeah, likewise. I've heard they are about as reliable as the GS with better aftermarket support and lots of people who know how to work the kinks out. Dry weight on one is only a tad more than the GSF's dry weight (408lbs compared to 397lbs) and it makes roughly around 100HP and 46ft-lbs of torque. It'd also be a track only bike, which means I could drop the unnecessary bits like lights and stuff to bring the weight down a few more pounds.

I know there are always tons of parts availible on the WERA boards for decent prices, so I think I'll be good on hard parts if I crash. I'll just zip tie the bodywork back together and epoxy it if it cracks too badly.[/quote]