Where to start…….
I picked the beemer up on Tuesday. Rode it 100+ miles home, mostly on the interstate.
Since then I have put another 134 miles on her. Some in town, one up with the trunk on. Some in town, One up without the trunk on. The rest today with my girl on the back on a two lane road thru the forest.
Thoughts: …….”It’s different”. When asked what I think about the bike from friends and others, this seems to be my response most of the time. The bike is sleek, sexy, full of massive amounts of torque and smooth, heatless riding. The adjustable windshield is nice. The balance of the bike is very nice. It corners like a dream. Like a dream….really.
Today we took the beemer together and rode it about 80 miles total to a lunch destination and back. My wife isn’t wild about the bike. She hates the sound and the jury is still out on the wind. She sits WAY higher on this seat/bike than on our RG Ultra so even with the adjustable shield, she still catches a lot more wind than me.
The ride over was blah. The ride back was better. I think we were riding into the wind on the way over. With it on the way back.
When we got home, we switched bikes (jumped on the RG) and headed back out to run some work errands. The one thing that was going thru my mind after heading out on the RG was “The beemer sure makes me appreciate this bike more”. It just fits us like an old shoe. Not to take anything away from the BMW. It is one magnificent piece of machinery. They are just different. My body fits better on a Harley. I like the sound better. I love the seating position better. Way better. I even like the stereo better. Way better.
The beemer made me realize how far behind in technology Harley really is. The clutch, torque, throttle response and especially the corning were all way better on the BMW. However, the seating position, even though it was changed a lot on the beemer (lower seat, pegs further forward and handlebars further back to the rider), is not for me at this time. I am getting used to it just like I had to get used to my Harley. But Harley fits me better at this time.
I say at this time because with each day and each mile I add to the beemer, I get more accustomed to it. I shift better. My butt rides farther without needing an adjustment (and it's only been three days). However, the speakers need a serious upgrade.
The beemer is true German engineering. Everything just works. I can take the trunk off in less than a minute. I can put it back on in less than a minute (and that was the very first time). The bike looks beautiful with the bags and trunk on or just the trunk off or the bags and trunk off. Well thought out (or engineered).
The adjustable ride. You can set it for one up, or one up with luggage or two up. Then throw in to each of those, "Comfort", "Normal" and "Sport". Today when I was waiting on my wife to come out and get on, I changed the setting from one up to two up. I immediately felt the bike starting to rise. It rides very smooth compared to my Harley.
Will I keep the beemer. Yes. For now. The thing I like about it is… “it’s different”.
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Topic: Test Rode the 2012 BMW K1600 GTL Yesterday........ (Read 59428 times)