Wild Will
04-07-2006, 08:56 PM
Nope, I'm in fact in the middle of the 78,000 mile service on my trusty '96 1100 GS. I'm trying like hell to wear it out. I do my own service because I live far away from the well lit roundel sign, and I always have done my own work. I'm a semi retired tool whore, matter of fact. "Open your wallet, ma'am, and I'll do whatever you want in any room in your house." OK, you might not like my analogy, but it fits. The sign on the side of my '50 Chevy hot rod work truck says "Tool Ho", because I'm a decent guy at heart, but those who know me tell me they always get a chuckle. So do I. I live in a beautiful coastal area with a very expensive, elitist community right next door, where most blue collar people make their living. Great! Symbiosis works for me, and I raised both my boys working by the hour, by the job, and still have 1 in college. I use money like a tool, as well. I need it, I get it and I spend it.
Maybe you think from the vintage of my truck I'm an across the board anachronism; I'm not. I also have a new Subaru Outback and a new Toyota Tacoma 4 wheel drive truck, both 5 speeds. If you drive an automatic where I live, your rotors are warped within 5,000 miles, because on these coastal roads you need to use the engine braking of a manual tranny. Ask me how I found this out!
I was all excited when the Great Bavarian Gurus saw fit to bring us a new, improved, lighter and more powerful GS. I thought, 'that's my next machine.'
Soon my pals began getting them, the greatest all rounder ever built! I found myself in a position on a recent ride to try my buddy's bike, at his offer. I'd never have asked him, but he offered.
Now, my GS has Ohlins shocks fore and aft, some trick stuff that Dangerous Dave CNC milled for me long ago, Pro Taper bars, hidden radar, and it runs like a well oiled machine. The dyno said it put out 80 bhp when I put the Staintune system on. That's frankly about all I can use on these twisted, unforgiving back roads I so love. It's midrange is heavenly. Any more power and I'd be afraid of losing the miniscule rear contact patch exiting a blind corner in anger following one of the bastages I hoon with regularly. I've seen it happen a few times with some of the hyper powered sport bikes in the clumsy hands of a neophyte rider.
So my buddy's new 1200, 1 wire, lighter mojo GS didn't feel substantially better than my bike. I was especially disappointed by the shocks; an expensive German machine should come with expensive, high zoot shocks. I wrung that bike out, as I was allowed to do, on a 12 mile stretch that locals call The Racetrack.
I was happy to get back on my old school 1100, to tell the truth. I'm also unsure why BMW chose to dis allow the changing of the rear drive oil. I've dropped that drain plug un countable times on every sort of machine and have always found metal particles on the magnet. Always. Doesn't seem to be such a good idea to me, nor to others with whom I've discussed this. And I choose to use the rear brake only to settle the rear in a corner, so the linked part doesn't appeal to me. The ABS has saved my arse as few times, notably in the presence of tall mice and other fleshy, heavy vermin. This has been the greatest bike I've owned out of over 50.
So, I'm not getting a new GS, but I celebrate your new GS's, and GT's and ST's (is there an aftermarket headlamp bra available?), etc.
I'm just still very much happy with that old red pig that sits on my work table right now, while the rain pours hard on the metal roof.
I'm awaiting the machine that speaks to me, yells at me, "here I am, what're you waiting for?" I wonder what's become of all the 1100 oilheads that used to ply the roads hereabouts? Seems like all I see any more are new bikes!
Anachronism?
Maybe you think from the vintage of my truck I'm an across the board anachronism; I'm not. I also have a new Subaru Outback and a new Toyota Tacoma 4 wheel drive truck, both 5 speeds. If you drive an automatic where I live, your rotors are warped within 5,000 miles, because on these coastal roads you need to use the engine braking of a manual tranny. Ask me how I found this out!
I was all excited when the Great Bavarian Gurus saw fit to bring us a new, improved, lighter and more powerful GS. I thought, 'that's my next machine.'
Soon my pals began getting them, the greatest all rounder ever built! I found myself in a position on a recent ride to try my buddy's bike, at his offer. I'd never have asked him, but he offered.
Now, my GS has Ohlins shocks fore and aft, some trick stuff that Dangerous Dave CNC milled for me long ago, Pro Taper bars, hidden radar, and it runs like a well oiled machine. The dyno said it put out 80 bhp when I put the Staintune system on. That's frankly about all I can use on these twisted, unforgiving back roads I so love. It's midrange is heavenly. Any more power and I'd be afraid of losing the miniscule rear contact patch exiting a blind corner in anger following one of the bastages I hoon with regularly. I've seen it happen a few times with some of the hyper powered sport bikes in the clumsy hands of a neophyte rider.
So my buddy's new 1200, 1 wire, lighter mojo GS didn't feel substantially better than my bike. I was especially disappointed by the shocks; an expensive German machine should come with expensive, high zoot shocks. I wrung that bike out, as I was allowed to do, on a 12 mile stretch that locals call The Racetrack.
I was happy to get back on my old school 1100, to tell the truth. I'm also unsure why BMW chose to dis allow the changing of the rear drive oil. I've dropped that drain plug un countable times on every sort of machine and have always found metal particles on the magnet. Always. Doesn't seem to be such a good idea to me, nor to others with whom I've discussed this. And I choose to use the rear brake only to settle the rear in a corner, so the linked part doesn't appeal to me. The ABS has saved my arse as few times, notably in the presence of tall mice and other fleshy, heavy vermin. This has been the greatest bike I've owned out of over 50.
So, I'm not getting a new GS, but I celebrate your new GS's, and GT's and ST's (is there an aftermarket headlamp bra available?), etc.
I'm just still very much happy with that old red pig that sits on my work table right now, while the rain pours hard on the metal roof.
I'm awaiting the machine that speaks to me, yells at me, "here I am, what're you waiting for?" I wonder what's become of all the 1100 oilheads that used to ply the roads hereabouts? Seems like all I see any more are new bikes!
Anachronism?