The Inevitable is Happening!!

[ChuckH]

Laura and Dwight Blake stopped by on their way home to PA from the MOA National in Billings, MT and left her '07 BMW R1200R bike for me as a future replacement for my Stelvio NTX.  Her bike has been well maintained, has 1200cc with 4 valves, 110HP, shaft drive, Russell seat, some other nice extras and is a legitimate 100# lighter than my NTX.  That's a big deal -- I can walk the Beemer onto my lift, I would never try that with the Guzzi -- it has to be ridden on.

The plan is to take some time and set the bike up for my type of riding -- long distance touring and camping trips -- plus give it a good thorough look-through to make sure it is good-and-solid.  That'll take some time and cost a bit of money.  That effort might take through this coming winter but, sooner or later, the Stelvio will need to be sold.  In the meantime, I'm telling the Stelvio that "It, is just visiting". 

The reason for the change is simple -- I'm trying to ease into this getting old as slowly as possible.

All for now.  Ride safe out there.

[Cam3512]

This is big news!  Any word from Laura on a replacement for the R1200R?

[ChuckH]

This is big news!  Any word from Laura on a replacement for the R1200R? 

Laura bought an '09 R1200R bike to replace the '07 that I bought.  She also has her '04 R1150R (two plugs per cylinder) for sale, although she said her son has his eyes on it.

[Carlo DeSantis]

Laura and Dwight Blake stopped by on their way home to PA from the MOA National in Billings, MT and left her '07 BMW R1200R bike for me as a future replacement for my Stelvio NTX.  Her bike has been well maintained, has 1200cc with 4 valves, 110HP, shaft drive, Russell seat, some other nice extras and is a legitimate 100# lighter than my NTX.  That's a big deal -- I can walk the Beemer onto my lift, I would never try that with the Guzzi -- it has to be ridden on.

The plan is to take some time and set the bike up for my type of riding -- long distance touring and camping trips -- plus give it a good thorough look-through to make sure it is good-and-solid.  That'll take some time and cost a bit of money.  That effort might take through this coming winter but, sooner or later, the Stelvio will need to be sold.  In the meantime, I'm telling the Stelvio that "It, is just visiting". 

The reason for the change is simple -- I'm trying to ease into this getting old as slowly as possible.

All for now.  Ride safe out there.

Congratulations, Chuck.  I think you will be pleased with the R, though you will miss the Stelvio when the time comes.

Best,

Carlo

[jackson]

The R1200R is a great bike.  I had a R1150R (non ABS) and really liked it.  I sold it and bought something else that I thought that I would like even better but that didn't happen; If I had it to do over again, I would have kept it. 
The Beemer will be much easier to roll around and man-handle than the much taller Stelvio.

[wrbix]

Has the rear wheel carrier flange recall been done on the 1200R?

[wrbix]

http://bmwmcmag.com/2015/03/recall-coming-for-03-11-bmw-k-and-r-series-motorcycles/comment-page-1/

[ChuckH]

Has the rear wheel carrier flange recall been done on the 1200R? 

Yes, this bike has had three recalls including the rear wheel carrier flange and the fuel tank level strip.  I will go to the closest BMW dealer (Louisville, KY) after we get the title switched and get it properly registered into that network.  My understanding is that the fuel level strip is now warranteed for 12 or 13 years.  Can you imagine?

[Nick]

Chuck,
Congratulations on the new bike! 
Regarding maintenance, I've known Laura and Dwight for many years and they like to keep their bikes as updated as possible.
Shared many miles with that beemer.
Again, good luck with it.
Nick

....and stop this "getting old" talk! 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chuck,
Congratulations on the new bike! 
Regarding maintenance, I've known Laura and Dwight for many years and they like to keep their bikes as updated as possible.
Shared many miles with that beemer.
Again, good luck with it.
Nick

....and stop this "getting old" talk! 

Hey, we all grow old, with any luck at all. The trick is to not grow up.. Chuck's doing a good job of that. 

[Spuddy]

To my surprise my Stelvio is as ungainly as my K1200LT was although the NTX is 180 pounds lighter...  I think the K had a lower center of gravity.   

Spud