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[Midnight Rider]

Rob...do you and the wife wear FF helmets?  You may have to consider getting a couple if you don't.  Bikes like the Beemer are just not designed to ride with any other type of helmet.  I've not ridden a bike like yours, but my experience with bikes with designs like that is that it feels more like you are sitting "on" the bike, rather than "in" the bike.  The Harleys make you feel more like you're settled into the frame, engine, etc because of the position of your legs relative to your hands....like sitting in a lounge chair as opposed to a straight backed chair, if that makes any sense.  When I had the Ducati MTS at the same time I had the '06 SEUC, that was always the feeling I had about the differences.  But a good FF helmet was an absolute necessity on the Duck, even though it has an upright seating position.  Anything else felt like I had a parachute on my head.  The BMW is just light years ahead of the HD in terms of technology/performance/handling.  It's German...

[Robmay]

Terry,

I have been wearing a DOT Carbon Fiber half helmet on the beemer. Annette wore her dewrag...

My experience on my Harley with a FF was wind buffeting and a sore neck. Whats the logic behind wearing the FF on the BMW?

[Robmay]

...and totally off topic....

[Z man]

I noticed this thread and thought I'd add my two cents worth. 

I had so many problems with my '05 Ultra and was so dissapointed at how poorly MOCO builds them, that I swore I would never own another Harley.  I followed the BMW K1600 forum for months. . . .  reading about all the technology and features it offered.  I was convinced I would buy one in 2012 (after the first production year).  This spring, I rode the GTL for about 160 miles.  First alone, and then with my daughter who loves to ride with me on my Ultra.  My first impression was about the power.  The dealer said, "all you really need is two gears" with that powerful engine.  There is some truth to that!  Powerful, responsive, smooth and really quiet.  I never did get used to that hydraulic clutch though.   

Anyway, my daughter said she felt nowhere near as comfortable (as in safe) on the BMW.  Passengers sit much higher than rider on the BMW and she complained about the wind, no matter how I adjusted the windshield.  She is 5'6" tall.

I have to admit that I enjoyed the ride from a performance point of view.  The K1600 handled superbly and it felt much lighter than its' actual weight. 

In the end, I concluded that for me personally, I don't think I would have been happy owning that bike.  I did NOT like the riding position at all. I love the large floor boards on the HD and not the small pegs on the BMW.  That test ride convinced me I am a Harley rider deep down in my heart.

I traded my '05 Ultra for a 2010 Ultra CVO in July.  I know HD has a long way to go and will never be engineered like a BMW, BUT I JUST LOVE MY CVO!

Z man

[Robmay]

Thanks Z. That's a pretty spot on assessment as to what me and my wife are finding.

[Midnight Rider]

Terry,

I have been wearing a DOT Carbon Fiber half helmet on the beemer. Annette wore her dewrag...

My experience on my Harley with a FF was wind buffeting and a sore neck. Whats the logic behind wearing the FF on the BMW?

Better aerodynamics behind the windshield with a FF...basically, the top half of the helmet is in the airstream instead of the top half of your head.  For me, I just find a FF helmet more comfortable.  It's all I ever wear.  Half helmets, to me, are extremely uncomfortable because they tend to catch the wind and lift, plus the wind noise is worse.  I'd bet money that BMW did their wind tunnel testing with a rider wearing a FF helmet.   Of course, you guys in FL don't have to wear helmets, and that's a choice ya'll get to make...for me personally, there's no way I'm going to get on any bike without one.  Don't want to start some helmet debate here though...just an observation about the air flow.

[darth davidson]

Thanks Z. That's a pretty spot on assessment as to what me and my wife are finding.

 WHOA Rob. you left me cold on the spot.  You  know, I thought the ultimate riding machine was IT. At the same time I had sat on a K1300 GT and just the psition was not confortable for me . I am 6'2" and 256 . I am glad you did not trade your HD. Well, perhaps you will use the beemer for everything else but touring!!!

Ride safe

[miker]

 

[Chuck Pryor]

This one shows the GTL without the bags or trunk.

Wow, that bike looks really nice w/o the bags... very nice.

[MJZ]

Rob, I hate to mention this now but it is the first time I've been on this site in a longggggggggggg time. I ordered the blue GTL last December during the first week of the pre-sale program. It arrived late spring, all excited I ran to the dealership and couldn't wait to jump on it but after a short ride I pulled back into the dealership and told them I didn't want it. Luckily the waiting list was long and I sold it that day, at a nice profit, to the first guy on the waiting list. What I didn't like was the seating position and while discussing my dislikes with the owner of the dealership he asked why in the heck I ordered the GTL. I told him the color of course, I thought the GTL and the GT were basically the same bike except for the tour pack and a few other extras. Then he told me the real differences between the two bikes and I realized I ordered the wrong bike. I then ordered the GT which came in yesterday. Hopefully the weather will be good enough to try it out this weekend but the biggest difference is the GT is made for the more aggressive solo rider. Seat, foot and grip positions are completely different, since my wife doesn't ride and I've gotten hooked on sport and sport touring bikes for the last 4 years so the more aggressive position is what I'm more comfortable with. I hate the color, battleship gray primer, in fact I just sold a K1300S in the same color but with BMW there are almost never good colors to pick from. From sitting on it in my garage last night I found everything about it more to what I was expecting but have not done the real test yet. Anyway if you get a chance try out a GT just to have a chance to compare, although it is not going to be comfortable for the passenger at all.

[Robmay]

Thanks MJZ. Not too late at all. I was aware that the GT was more of a sport "crotch rocket" bike as compared to the GTL. I have to say I was a little bummed after a few rides on the GTL. However, I have been riding it to work and around town almost daily and a couple of 50 mile jonts. I am really getting hooked on this bike. Not as a stand alone yet mind you, but who knows.

I will probably get into ticket trouble if not careful. The more I ride it, the better I get at riding it. I finally realized that everything is about 1000 RPM's higher than my CVO. Shifting now at 4000 RPMS instead of 3k is as smooth as butta. Each time I ride the seating postion becomes less of an issue.

The other day I too the trunk off before heading out to work. Took literally one minute to do. When I got back home I put it back on so Annette and I could go for a ride. Again, about a minute. The bike is purty, purty without the trunk. It is also purty without the bags and the trunk. So far everything works as it is supposed to. I just need to get an adapter to plug my iPhone in if I want to. In the meantime I bought a USB flash drive to hold over 4k songs. Plug it in and within less than a minute it loads the songs. Sweet.

I'll try and get some pics for you guys soon.

Happy Birthday Miker!!

[MJZ]

I'm glad to hear that, I have 3 BMW's in the garage now and have had 4 others since dumping MOCO because of their attitude. The one thing I can tell you is I've had nothing but great service from the 2 dealers in the area. Also I've only had one warranty issue (which was fixed in a day) out of the 7 BMW bikes. Not to mention they all come out of the factory lacking nothing to be the best bikes they can be.
I have nothing but the best feelings about HD, I loved all of mine, my problem with HD was MOCO and the crap dealerships here. I really miss my nana to this day, there is nothing like the sound and feel of a Harley but I think a kiss or some form of appreciation should be tendered for a good screwing.

[porthole]

Hey Mark - good to see you back!

[tazmun]

Rob,
 My take is the same as cars! I get in a 302 Mustang, a new Camaro, listen to the that thunder of the V8
and my heart starts to pound!!!! Good old days... Then I get into a 338 BMW coupe, or an Audi A5 and
boy GREAT new days "if" you know what I mean. The more you drive the BMW or Audi, the more your in-tune
with the road. Honestly, they just do everything better! Everthing fits, it's all in the right place, it's just
a complete different experience. Same goes with the bikes, more you ride the better everything seems to work!!
 I can ride 600/800 miles a day on a Goldwing, or RT1200, and just feel in-tuned. I ride my HD, and it's fun for
the day with friends. It brings me back to rude & crude! I love them all!! I guess thats why I have them all!
 When I get up on a Saturday morning, I feel the need to run the twisties, the RT or Wing  are calling!
When I get up to run the highway on Sunday with friends............. Hello Harley!

Just my 2 cents.

[Robmay]

Glad to see ya back Taz! I agree with you and MJZ.

Miker...

Here are a couple of quick pics. I'll try and get some other better ones soon.