1300 Mile Ride/K1200RS, 2001 Vintage

[weschmann]

RIP, thanks for the nice remarks. I'm over the 60 age group entrance level, but ride with a 65 year old who doesn't like to stop much, so once we get going, it's on the road until time to pitch the tent....:-) I'm sure I will get used to the bike sometime next month (or have it up for sale) for something more relaxed..... I did pop for the peg lowering kit which should be in on Monday next..... according to UPS tracking, so I'll let you know if they make any difference.... That's all I intend to spend on this adventure other than normal maintenance until I make absolutely sure this is the bike that I want to spend the next couple of winters on.........

[weschmann]

Kontoboy, I've looked at the aeroflow screens and tried to order one with the wings, but found that the screens are available but the mounts are not.... Called them as they said that they have lost their supplier for the mounting brackets, so the only thing available is the screens for replacement.... If you know of anyone who is selling used mounting brackets, I'd appreciate a heads-up as I would be like to pick them up......

[bmwrider88]

BMWRider, I had a similar issue with the exhaust side hard bag. Seems the PO installed it wrong and it burned a hole in the bottom... I used some fiberglass repair from the local Wally-mart, and it is now in good shape. Went through some rain just recently and didn't have any problems from leaks in the area....

Yeah, I basically just used the inner strap/bungee things to secure a DOP kit into the bike side of the pannier, above the cut for the muffler (it fit perfectly) and then stowed my handy BMW pannier liner into the outer "lid" of the pannier, securing it also, with the bungee retainer system. Fortunately, I packed rather lightly, so everything fit well. Much more in the pannier liner and it wouldn't have fit.

I have an after market (taller) windscreen on my K1200 and also a Laminar Lip. Just washed all the bugs and road grime off the the bike, and boy I'd have loved to take off the LL for cleaning- but no way, apparently. Their HD Velcro is mighty tough stuff. I tugged on it pretty hard, to the point where I feared I might break either the windscreen or the lip. It didn't even begin to budge.

Let us know how you like the peg lowering kit- I might go that route myself. I DID drag a toe on one of the tighter curves on the Cabot Trail the other day tho!
Cynthia is used to my leaning the bike over- she hangs in there really well- and never even knew I'd touched down.

When I got the bike, the PO had the seat in the lower position, being about the same height as me but with shorter legs. I moved the seat into the higher position and it transformed the ride both for me, AND my girlfriend, who is is about 5'-10 & 1/2". I couldn't figure out how to get the seat into the higher position, so I went to a local BMW dealership. One of their guys came out and showed me the trick. It's going to take some practice to get that one down pat. Moving it up made a HUGE difference for me!

[weschmann]

I put the lumier lip on my comfort screen and have no problems getting it off. Use a pocket knife or small pick to get it to separate at first on one edge of each circle. It'll come off real quick once it starts to separate.....

[Bobmws]

Yeah, I basically just used the inner strap/bungee things to secure a DOP kit into the bike side of the pannier, above the cut for the muffler (it fit perfectly) and then stowed my handy BMW pannier liner into the outer "lid" of the pannier, securing it also, with the bungee retainer system. Fortunately, I packed rather lightly, so everything fit well. Much more in the pannier liner and it wouldn't have fit.

I have an after market (taller) windscreen on my K1200 and also a Laminar Lip. Just washed all the bugs and road grime off the the bike, and boy I'd have loved to take off the LL for cleaning- but no way, apparently. Their HD Velcro is mighty tough stuff. I tugged on it pretty hard, to the point where I feared I might break either the windscreen or the lip. It didn't even begin to budge.

Let us know how you like the peg lowering kit- I might go that route myself. I DID drag a toe on one of the tighter curves on the Cabot Trail the other day tho!
Cynthia is used to my leaning the bike over- she hangs in there really well- and never even knew I'd touched down.

When I got the bike, the PO had the seat in the lower position, being about the same height as me but with shorter legs. I moved the seat into the higher position and it transformed the ride both for me, AND my girlfriend, who is is about 5'-10 & 1/2". I couldn't figure out how to get the seat into the higher position, so I went to a local BMW dealership. One of their guys came out and showed me the trick. It's going to take some practice to get that one down pat. Moving it up made a HUGE difference for me!

Get a set of the wide lids for your bags, gives you about 2" more space. Doesn't sound like much, but it makes a big difference.

Keep the balls of your feet on the pegs in the twisties. There is so much power available that you don't need to shift frequently. Have you touched the feelers bolted to the end of the pegs?

[bmwrider88]

Get a set of the wide lids for your bags, gives you about 2" more space. Doesn't sound like much, but it makes a big difference.

Keep the balls of your feet on the pegs in the twisties. There is so much power available that you don't need to shift frequently. Have you touched the feelers bolted to the end of the pegs?

I'll look into a set of the wide bag lids, thanks for the suggestion, as I didn't know there was such a thing! I haven't touched those feelers yet but the summers is young! I began keeping my toes up after the touch-down. I've been hesitant to "lug" the bike/motor- I typically keep all my bikes up above 3K on the tach, seems like a good sort of baseline? I did notice that the K12 pulls up easily out of the low revs, tho. I just figured gobs of power will do that for you?

I blew a low beam bulb out along the way somewhere, (didn't realize it as we were only running in daylight!) and got pulled over for it in NY state! Went to the local dealership when I got home and ordered a pair of high wattage PIAA bulbs for high and low beam lamps. Somewhere along the line I'll spring for some bright running lights, PIAA or maybe Hella?

BUT not until I get some Stebel horns for the bike. My older beemers both have Fiamms on- and come to think of it so did my 88 R100RT. The stock horns on the K1200 are weak at best.

[weschmann]

I had a Stebel on my 900 Kawa. but kind of like the Beep-Beep of the BMW horn.... Reminds me of my younger days in a VW Super Beatle....I put a lot of miles on the old buggy riding down to Corpus Christi for the beach on vacation.... I'm going to have to do that trip sometime in the future on the bike for old-time sake.....
I do agree though , that the Stebel packs a punch when blown at just the right moment....

[bmwrider88]

I had a Stebel on my 900 Kawa. but kind of like the Beep-Beep of the BMW horn.... Reminds me of my younger days in a VW Super Beatle....I put a lot of miles on the old buggy riding down to Corpus Christi for the beach on vacation.... I'm going to have to do that trip sometime in the future on the bike for old-time sake.....
I do agree though , that the Stebel packs a punch when blown at just the right moment....

Right? You really only need a horn when you NEED it. It's nice when your horn's tones pack an authoritative punch! The reaction I get with the Fiamms is like the car that's drifting over thinks they're pulling in front of a car or truck- and the drivers usually look both spooked by the horns and surprised to see it's a motorcycle.

I don't mind the actual sound of the horn, but feel it'd be far more effective if it was a few thousand decibels louder.

[weschmann]

Well, the results are in and I can't wait to go for an all day ride.... Installed the lowering pegs on Monday, and went for a 4 hour ride around town yesterday. Another 3 hours this morning and find a significant increase in riding comfort. The drop is about an inch and a half, and coupled with the air hawk seat, seems to relax my riding stance to where I am smiling as much at the end of the ride as at the beginning..... At least for me, at this moment in my effort to learn the bike, it is well worth the $200 to allow my body some time to readjust from the cruiser stance to the more forward jockey style position...... I had almost given up on my dream trip at the end of July to the Pacific coast, but now it's on again..... I've been wanting to make this trip since graduating from high school on a bike, and God willing, it looks like it's finally going to come about......I'll keep you posted on my progress......
I'm sooooo! excited I don't even think the 100 plus temp. will dampen my enthusiasm........