Preview of coming attractions...

[John Backlund]

Maybe. Test riding it next Friday morning at Sturgis BMW...one just like it anyway, 2008 K1200GT 15,000 miles...we'll see what happens then.




(If we end up trading the Concours in on it, we're going to name the topbox 'Maggie'.)

[davew]

very pretty bike
like the postcript

[billg]

very pretty bike
like the postcript

+1

[Strompilot]

Looks interesting.  Like a lot of fun.  Keep us posted.

[avachava]

John;  Not meaning to question your choice
but why?  Is the Beemer that much more
advanced?  Both bikes are off my radar but
it would be interesting if you would share
your perceptions.  And secondly, have you
looked at the new Concours?  I understand
they made a lot of changes.

Edit:  Found "the overly high-mounted single muffler which pushes the saddlebags into the atmosphere, the seat height, the key 'system', and the heat issue of the '09. I would miss that great engine though, but that's about it."
post in the consignment shop article.  Should
have done the research sooner.  Ignore this
or answer as you wish.  I was curious because
I always felt in awe of the Concours...

[bkg123]

I took an '07 for a test ride when I bought my Tenere, you could not slap the smile off my face. Very fun bike. There is a known issue with the cam timing chain. An updated tensioner is available.

[John Backlund]

Edit:  Found "the overly high-mounted single muffler which pushes the saddlebags into the atmosphere, the seat height, the key 'system', and the heat issue of the '09. I would miss that great engine though, but that's about it."
post in the consignment shop article.  Should
have done the research sooner.  Ignore this
or answer as you wish.  I was curious because
I always felt in awe of the Concours...

We keep Thinking that we 'need' a bike for both of us to ride together, for weekend trips (that we never seem to take) and possibly longer ones....like maybe heading to PA and then up to RI this September. The reality is that we almost never go on long rides anymore, but the 'ghost of bike trips past' makes us think we should have a comfortable intercontinental highway slayer of a motorcycle. We just can't get ourselves to buy a nice, used Gold Wing, even though in the end, it seems the overwhelmingly logical choice for such duty. The Concours is the equal (and in a few categories, superior IMO) to the BMW K1200GT in theory, but the reality is that the Concours has become something of an albatross around our necks and we really just want to get rid of it, and it's beginning to look like trading it is the only way that will happen unless we really low-ball the thing...which is something we've been considering as well, just sell it off for what we could get for it on trade.

We've been talking about the BMW this evening and find we are far from convinced we should buy it. In function, I'm pretty certain that it addresses all my negative concerns about the C14, the heat 'issue', the stupid key system, the overly tall bag system, etc....but unlike most of the bikes that appeal to me, it does absolutely nothing for me in the appearance department....and of course, I'm nothing if not shallow in that regard, favoring pretty colors and chrome over the traditionally conservative euro-drab aesthetics of the BMW. God forbid that I should ride a motorcycle that doesn't look like a refugee from a carnival ride.

[SilverBullet]

Probably is a Hoot to ride!!! Sure is an odd looking duck..........Then again so is my Helix! 

[Strompilot]

If you want a Beemer for 2-up riding, you might give the R1200RT a look.  Otherwise, don't discount the Gold Wing.  You might be surprised with its performance as well as its comfort.

[avachava]

Thanks for your post, John.  (It did make
me laugh!)

No time for a considered reply; getting
ready for a nice ride to Lake Point Resort
for their breakfast buffet.  Beautiful new
lodge at the facility in Eufaula National
Wildlife Refuge on the Chattahoochee R.

Susan has a new backroads route picked
that we haven't done before.  Gotta beat
the heat!



Hey, maybe you should look
for a nice Pacific Coast!

[John Backlund]

If you want a Beemer for 2-up riding, you might give the R1200RT a look.  Otherwise, don't discount the Gold Wing.  You might be surprised with its performance as well as its comfort.

The R1200RT probably costs every bit as much as the K1200GT with little to nothing in the way of advantages over the four-cylinder, which at least is about 95% as powerful as the Concours at around 152hp vs 155 for the Kaw, though the BMW doesn't have the torque of the larger C14 and must be wound higher to make it's power. I have a local friend who owns an R1200RT and I rode his bike a year or two ago and though I don't recall the details why, I didn't seem to like it enough to be interested in buying one, at the time anyway.

[Dan]

Name the topbox Maggie...  perfect! 

[Maggie]

I'm honored 

[John Backlund]

I'm honored 

It's up there high enough, maybe 'Maggie's attic' would be better.

[billg]

I'm honored 

It's up there high enough, maybe 'Maggie's attic' would be better.

[jim63]

If you are looking for a 2up riding bike, do yourself a favor and at least take a wing out for a test ride. My wife loves riding on the back of ours, she said it is the most comfortable bike we test rode by a mile. Maybe preaching to the choir but if the passenger is not happy the rider will not be happy either.

[John Backlund]

If you are looking for a 2up riding bike, do yourself a favor and at least take a wing out for a test ride. My wife loves riding on the back of ours, she said it is the most comfortable bike we test rode by a mile. Maybe preaching to the choir but if the passenger is not happy the rider will not be happy either.

I rode an 1800 GL some years ago. The whole reason for us to consider such bikes is to accommodate 'queeny' as sumptuously as possible, and we know that the 1800 GL is as good as it gets. The 'problem' is that we don't want to buy an 1800 GL (yet). Once you get one of the damn things, there's just no where to 'go' anymore in the way of large tourers, end of the line. Teresa's actually concerned that if we bought a GL, she'd no longer want to pilot her own bike and would spend the rest of her motorcycle days wallowing in that over-padded vinyl womb they call a GL pillion.

GL's are just too good to consider considering. We still think we need a little pain in our riding.

Another thing is that, being unrepentent cheap-a$$es, neither of us think that a motorcycle for several thousands more than the price of a new, well-equipped, Hyundai Sonata is much of a deal, and a ten-year old Goldwing costs as much or more than the BMW 1200 does. Yes, bikes are fun and all that, but dollar for dollar and pound for pound, I have a hard time not feeling that I'm getting a royal screwing when motorcycles get near the 20G level unless they have air-conditioning, four-wheel stability, power windows, etc,etc,etc,etc...

[SilverBullet]

Once you get one of the damn things, there's just no where to 'go' anymore in the way of large tourers, end of the line.

One of the reasons I caller it quits after purchasing a new 1500 & buy the time I got done with it I prolly had $20.000 into it. Rode it for 99.000 miles & 11 years. Only to start over with an 1800? I think not. Yes I test rode a couple 1800's. Just couldn't justify spending the money again. Been there done that & have many T-Shirts. I'm very happy with my choice's I've made since then.

I never thought I would ever own another Goldwing. Then along came my old baby. My GL1000. Been having a blast with it. Don't think I'll ever own a bike heavier that it.

[John Backlund]

Another little side-preview is this, a separate deal from the potential BMW (which is looking less and less likely at this point), but I'm trying to swing a deal on a 2006 Harley-Davidson VSRCR Street Rod that's at the same dealership as the K1200...the only fly in the ointment is that I must sell the KLR650 before I can buy this.....It's a consignment so I can't trade on it....

[billg]

...the only fly in the ointment ....

Isn't another fly that it's a Harley?  Or is Teresa getting a second bike?

[John Backlund]

...the only fly in the ointment ....

Isn't another fly that it's a Harley?  Or is Teresa getting a second bike?

Since Teresa bought her own Harley in the form of her 2003 V-Rod, she has modified her former restriction on 'Milwaukee Iron' in the house to exclude Liquid-cooled Harley Davidsons, which everyone knows aren't real Harleys anyway.

Therefore, on the domestic front, I have been officially 'pre-approved' for the aquisition of one, liquid-cooled, fake, Harley Davidson in the form of a VSRCR Street Rod.

I suspect that he's really just trying to deflect my claimed interest in buying a 1200 Sportster.

[ZippyGirl]

wow...I love the looks of that Harley!!  But, I though you 'needed' something for two-up riding?

[avachava]

First yellow V-rod I've seen; very pretty.

When they first came out there was a
stiff market for aftermarket add-ons
to hide the fact that it was water-
cooled.  Not any more!  Now all the
shows have sparkly farkles that draw
attention to those aspects.  And now
you can actually trike it out:



Our 83 y.o. bud, Bill is having these
guys trike his Nomad.  Nice work!

[John Backlund]

wow...I love the looks of that Harley!!  But, I though you 'needed' something for two-up riding?

That's a separate issue. The Harley would be my deal. 'Our' motorcycle would be funded from the sale or trade of the 1400 Concours. In a pinch, we can always pile onto the Valkyrie for two-up 'quality time'.

I would be sacrificing my 2011 KLR650 for the Street Rod, and if I miss out on that bike because it sells before I can get the KLR sold , I will probably be filling the forum with images of various potential PTW purchases....which, as everyone probably knows, could be almost anything from an old Boss Hoss to a Vespa 300.

[Strompilot]

Well, John, if you're still hankerin' for some pain while riding, that VRod would fit your needs if you ride it 2-up.
If you have any interest in a Gold Wing, but don't want to spend a ton of money on one, my '05 yellow Wing is for sale at Canyon Honda in Nampa, Idaho.  I'm sure they are asking too much for it.  I believe the owner has it there on consignment, but he bought it from me for +/- $9000, as part of a $12,000 deal that included our Bunkhouse camper trailer, which he also sold.  I'd guess that a fair retail price for it would be around $11,000.00.  PM me if you have any specific questions about it.

Oh, and you're right, after a GL1800, there is nothing more.  Everything else measures against the Gold Wing.  Besides, it makes a great 1-up ride.  Perhaps not as fast as a sport bike or the Connie, but not bad, and it can be quite exciting.

[John Backlund]

First yellow V-rod I've seen; very pretty.

It's a very pretty pearl yellow. I'm quite fond of yellow motorcycles if the color is in a pleasing proportion to the chrome, polished aluminum, and black that usually makes up the visual balance of a bike. I probably would not have bought my Valkyire if it had been a color scheme other than 'school bus' yellow and cream, and I'm still pleasantly haunted by the memory of my two yellow 1976 GL1000's. Every time I see a picture of the Suzuki M109 that came in yellow with white racing stripes I nearly swoon with 'the vapors'. Yellow bikes are in my blood.

[avachava]

Hey, there's an idea; have a Vespa 300
mounted on the back of your Boss Hog!
Then when it runs out of gas...

OK, paint 'em both yellow if you want!
You could even have a trailer hitch on
the Vespa for towing the BH home!