fly, buy, ride

[soldemall]

It's always a gamble to buy unseen, but this one is a beautiful exception.
The mono RT was more than expected, and the ride back from Boulder to Dallas was as on a new bike. Since I don't use a GPS on bikes, there was the need to stop now and then to get my bearings.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1231/1380567664_362483bbaf.jpg

[sumran]

That is first-rate picture / caption combo!

Flying in and riding home is often discouraged, but an adventure into the unknown is hard to resist. If you have a bike you have never ridden and road you have not traveled, it is even less advisable and more interesting. Most of our world comes prepackaged these days. Glad your experience was enjoyable.

[PAGoldsby]

It's always a gamble to buy unseen, but this one is a beautiful exception.
The mono RT was more than expected, and the ride back from Boulder to Dallas was as on a new bike. Since I don't use a GPS on bikes, there was the need to stop now and then to get my bearings.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1231/1380567664_362483bbaf.jpgHa! I see what you did there!

[kstoo]

HA!!...........

I had to read and look and read and look and think about it again and then all my blonde hair fell out and I got it! you are making a joke! I get it! bearings.

[boxermaf]

Haha !

Yes, it is a bit subtle, but I recognized the name on that sign as they
have a large plant in the town that I work in.

[nh7robmw]

Nice bike, Paul. I bid on a nicely rennovated GSPD on ebay this summer and met the reserve. It all worked out well and I rode the bike from LA up to where I am storing it in the Bay Area (I live in Hawaii but plan to return to the mainland someday; besides, all the acid rain and humidity over here would do "Negrito" no good:violin ).

I knew it was a potential risk but the seller's description and communication was all very detailed and good so I was never all that worried. I did my homework and had been perusing this site and others for a nice or mint Paris-Dakar for months beforehand.

The seller turned out to be a great guy who loves to restore things; bikes, cars, houses, old gas pumps---you name it. He had an antique cash register sitting on the floor of his garage, no doubt next on his list of projects. He also had a cherry K75S with 20k on the clock and a Boxer Cup Replica in another garage somehere.

He had done a beautiful restoration/rebuild on the bike and it looks and rides as new.

He helped me get reaquainted with riding (it had been 32 years since my last airhead (!) and 19 years since my K100RS) and I followed him as he rode the K75 along the hilly back streets of a nice residential part of LA for a while before setting out late the next day for me solo ride north.

Now I'm preparing to fly back over this fall for a longer ride through the southwest (solo) and then return with my wife as pillion (we are separately flying to Mexico as a side trip from the US so she can have more time to visit family and I to have more time on the bike) and I'm getting excited about the trip. Already have ordered full leathers, new helmets, Corbin dual saddle, etc. so we'll be well prepared.

Here's a photo or two of Negrito and me on Highway 25 south of Hollister (a great Central California country road) and I plan to post a ride report after the big trip later this fall.

Update: I just tried for over an hour to upload a jpeg here (my first time) to no avail--file is too big and I can't figure out how to reduce it--a total pain, sorry! Maybe another time...

Anyway, happy riding to all! ---Jeff on the Big Island:dance

[nh7robmw]

Just read the FAQ page and downloaded Irfanview. Here's my aforementioned photo from the previousd post attached.:)

[nh7robmw]

Trying to get the hang of this IrfanView image uploading program...

[nh7robmw]

The first one was too small so here it is again hopefully large enough to see.

[lbrackr756]

[QUOTE=oldpaul;240135]It's always a gamble to buy unseen, but this one is a beautiful exception.
The mono RT was more than expected, and the ride back from Boulder to Dallas was as on a new bike. Since I don't use a GPS on bikes, there was the need to stop now and then to get my bearings.



Almost the same experience for me. I went to the BMWMOA International Rally in West Bend on my faithful 1976 R75/6. 400+ miles made me wish for a little larger ride (though she performed beautifully). Providence led me to meet a nice fellow there who, after some conversation, told me about his 1980 R100RT. He said it had been a "barn find" of the previous owner having been in storage for 10-15 years. Some work was done on it's rebirth but it still was giving him some trouble. He said it only had 19k on the clock. Yeah, right, I thought. BUT, the more we talked the more intrigued I became and he said he might sell it 'cause he was looking for another type (a GS). Long story short, I bought the thing sight unseen and trailered it home from a meeting point half way between he and I.
I spent some time just giving it a little TLC, replacing fluids and fixing glitches. I began to be reassured as to the mileage when I pulled the rear wheel and found basically unworn splines with just a little rust and old dried up grease. After a new battery and carb floats/needles I got her running and, oh baby, it is SOOO sweet. It really DOES have only 19k miles and runs like a thoroughbred finally let out of the barn. WOW, a 27 year old nearly brand new Beemer; what a find! Original 'smoke red' paint job, too. All I can say is that they're out there, guys, so keep looking!:thumb

[Motor31]

Oldpaul,

Congrats on your new to you RT there. I am insanely jealous! To me that was the epitome of BMW styling and they haven't gotten any better than that since.

May you have many happy miles together.