new to me bike!

[DiverRay]

Well, as I need a commute bike, and do NOT want to put 30K a year on my XS11's, I put a $500 deposit on a "new to me" 2007 R1200RT. It's still a shaft drive, but it gets 50mpg, has a 7 gallon tank, and less than 5K on the odometer. At $12.5K, it's more than I've EVER paid for ANY bike!
Good news is with my "temp" job, I can afford payments, and I'll be able to "pay ahead" for a while. My plan is have it paid off in three years, as it has a 4 year, unlimited mileage warranty on it! As I put about 350 miles per week in commute, plus fun rides, I KNOW it will be close or over 100K when the warranty is up!

[b.walker5]

Sorry Ray, couldn't resist this one.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/e105d1067d/hitlers-got-the-wrong-bike-from-yoyoyo

Hope you like your new bike, I sure like my new one.

[DiverRay]

Yeah, I've seen that a few times! It's STILL funny, though! I can't get the same bike you are able to buy, so I'm "making do" with a BMW. I figure with my 25 to 30K a year, it'll be ready for the heap BEFORE the extended warranty runs out!
Sure do wish WE could get something nice like the Yamaha you have, though! I guess with the roads we have, the man thinks we would spend too much time WELL ABOVE the ton! (and we WOULD!!)

[GARTHXS]

You know the drill we want pics. And ignore thought you were gonna get the kawi

[Wildkat]

Congrats on the new addition Ray!
If the Midnight ever gets in the way now that you have this one... just let us know. We'll give her a good home.


Yeah Brian, keep rubbing that one in... we're still drooling over the XJR over here

[motoman]

What, you and Ralph startin' up a small Beemer click......

[planedick]

I remember

Don't forget the last XS gathering when Ralph wasn't able to keep up with his beemer, and we weren't even "pushing it".

[GARTHXS]

Well he probably has one hundred pounds on you

[DiverRay]

The 2007 WILL "keep up"! It has a LOT more than the XS, and is stable at speed. Remember, this is the bike the CHP has been using for a while! I just need to sell the bike I got from you two years ago BEFORE I can bring the BMW home. I don't have room in the one car garage for any more bikes!
Paint will be done this weekend, so I hope to have the bike on craigslist and this site buy Tuesday.
Oh, I will also have a four year, UNLIMITED MILEAGE warranty on the BMW. I just squeaked under the wire with it! As about 5 to 7% of the bikes have final drive problems, I figured it's worth the $1K for the insurance. I'll try to have close to 100K miles on the bike BEFORE the four years are up!

[Brent]

Ride, ride, ride

Hello Ray,
Congratulations on new bike. Unlimited mileage warranty & better mpg is nice. Now that you have bought in, you will need to ride many miles (the more the better) to get your $worth on warranty and fuel savings. Tough job, but I believe you can do it.

You can save some high mileage from your XS, getting it into whatever condition of show or go you wish. But, Already I see you are getting some sympathy or grief about riding a lesser bike from the XS11 faithful. (I know how it is.)

I really do have a XS1100 and am planning to ride it to the XSive riders rally. so doubters can see it there.

[planedick]

Long rides

I remember you attended one of our West coast rallies, South Lake Tahoe I believe, and I was amazed that you rode so far to get to our rally, and on a HD no less. I suppose they have come a long way since I had mine. ('42 Springer) It did look like a comfy ride though. The rally was a long ride for me then, but the XS isn't the most comfortable bike I've ridden. I do have another cross country run on my bucket list and I plan on taking the XS, but the plan is to not to HAVE to do more than 600 mi/day. Maybe take a month or more there and back.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Hey, Ray!
Congrats on the new BMW!

Pretty sure you'll love it.
They are great bikes.

I love the BMW Cody's got.
Did you get active cruise control on it?
We know how to add that if ya didn't...

Glad to hear you got you one. Have fun!
Bob

[DiverRay]

Bob,
Yes, it does have the active cruise control. It was the "high end" 2007 model, so it should make a good "daily commute" bike. Rode it this weekend, and even on an almost dirt road that was being "worked on" it was steady. I KNOW I'm going to have a part or two made for it, just to keep comfy on the longer trips. The bars need to be up and back just a little, and I have a friend who is a machine operator. I won't need to pay the $250 for the "special BMW" bar backs. I may look for a larger rear box, as I don't think my laptop will fit inside the one on the bike now.
But first, I have to wait until the 21st to pick it up. I don't have room for it yet, as the '79 is in the garage.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Hey, Ray!
That's good ya got the cruise!
Makes life so much nicer on long trips. (Can help w/ the tickets, too!)

That little 'Hummingbird' 2 cyl is an amazing engine!
Definitely got a unique sound... and for just a twin, really gets it!
Gas mileage is great, too!

But, then I figure I know who may have had some 'input' in the decision... ahem... LOL

Sounds like a good price for one that new w/ those low miles.

Kinda funny sidebar... when Cody & I go riding... if he takes the Connie, I know it's gonna be a quick trip, and tough for me to keep up. If he takes the RT.... no problems! They're pretty evenly matched powerwise... I actually think the BMW's some quicker... I think if I remember right it's got around 10-12 hp more than an 11. It just has totally different manners.

He let me ride his Connie one night. I was having a weird vibration on my XJ around 3600 rpm...(turned out to be a muffler clamp against the frame... no biggie.) I took off on the Concours 14... and thought I was riding like a grandpa through the gears... by the time I reached 5th, looked down at the speedometer... 110 mph!!!! Then I was able to see why he rides so stinkin' fast everywhere he goes! That bike just wants to cruise there... a definite missle.

I've ridden his BMW, and I really like it... very nice... kinda docile...
great cruiser though. Good looking bike, too. Especially black.
(Those unigo trailers look good behind them as well, painted to match!)
Cool trailers, but pricey.

Also love the way the hardbags remove! Very easy and fast.

Look forward to seeing a picture soon when ya get it. Then you'll have to plan to come see us! Go for a ride...
Ride safe Ray. And again... congrats.

[DiverRay]

So the '79 is painted and listed here and on craigslist! :http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/mcy/1944121166.html
I'm open to offers, as the bike is NOT running as it should at the moment. I DO need it out of the garage sooner rather than later. The "new" bike will take a little more room, and I need to clean things out to fit it!
Oh, and insurance! I've been paying $135 per year per bike for PD and PL, it's going to be $700 per year for full coverage on the BMW!