Thinking of another R - barback question

[GT Guy]

I test rode a R1200R last year and loved it, but after 15 minutes my hands went numb (I suffer from carpal tunnel). This was a problem for me on my RT but I put on barbacks which also changed the angle of the grips and that solved it for me. But on the "R" it is a solid bar. I rode a GS for a week and had no problems at all. It also has a solid bar but the grips are probably set at a different angle.

So, now I find that I would prefer another boxer to the current K1200GT that I've got (or maybe just in addition to?), and I've found what may be a killer deal on a used R1200R. What options are out there to replace the handlebar that may solve my problem?

Thanks,
Michael

[crazyhorse]

the solid bar is not a problem for bar risers:

here is a thread on them.

hope this can help. it helped me.

wes

[deilenberger]

Anyone else found the barbacks help CT? (Heading to surgeon on Friday to talk about fixing mine.. prolly won't do it until Fall/Winter..) It is really getting difficult to ride some mornings.

[ShinySideUp]

+1 on barbacks helping.

I also find that if I make a conscious effort to allow my head to lead my body up off the seat, finding support of my torso from my feet pushing on the pegs and my knees gripping the tank, my upper torso is much happier and "unlocked" in the way it is being used. This provides the degree of ease necessary for me to free my arms and hands.

A racer told me one time to hold that grips like they were covered with rice paper that I didn't want to wrinkle. This of course is wonderful in the twisties as it allows the bike to go where it wants to naturally and smoothly, but it also greatly helps preventing overuse of the hands and forearms.

Whenever I'm in heavy traffic (I lane split daily) I find my arms and hands tensing and I quickly run through the above regime to free everything up. Getting the bars back to where you don't have to lean over to put the upper body's weight on them is a good starting point.

A few sessions with a teacher of the Alexander Technique can facilitate efficient carriage of one's self enormously. (Disclaimer: I spent $10K and 1200 hours of training in AT over a three year period to become a teacher. My motivation: Avoid back surgery. It worked. Cheaper than surgery too!).

[deilenberger]

Bill,

Thanks. Now where is the link to the $49 Ebay specials?

[Cosmic-Rider]

These are what I use on my '07 R1200R. They raise the comfort factor greatly, at a great price too.

http://www.moto-techniques.com/
http://www.crampbuster.com/

[GT Guy]

Thanks guys! Sounds like everyone is happy with the moto-techniques, and you surely can't beat the price! I think the VM barbacks I bought for the GT were $230.

It's 7:00 AM here on the east coast, so I'm going to wait a few hours before I call this guy on the R for sale. It's one of those deals that looks too good to be true, so I'm not sure what's up with it. Or maybe I'm just going to get lucky? Or maybe I just don't know what the market is like for used roadsters.

Don, good luck with that whole surgery thing. I've had friends and coworkers go through that, and no one had any bad reactions. Well, except for Stumpy.



Wish me luck, and thanks again!

Michael

[ka5ysy]

+1 on the Moto-Techniqies

[ShinySideUp]

Bill,

Thanks. Now where is the link to the $49 Ebay specials?

Right next to the $29.95 special your surgeon is running for this week only, but call now, as this offer is limited!

[crazyhorse]

michael, if you give us a few details on the r12r in question we can tell you if it's too good to be true or just a good deal.

price, mileage, condition?

wes

[deilenberger]

On MotoTechniques website - they show two different ones.. It appears people are using the 1.25" setback ones on the R1200R - can I assume all the hoses/wires reach with that one?

http://www.moto-techniques.com/bmw.htm ??

[peckhammer]

On MotoTechniques website - they show two different ones.. It appears people are using the 1.25" setback ones on the R1200R - can I assume all the hoses/wires reach with that one?

http://www.moto-techniques.com/bmw.htm ??

I've got the same question, even though I just installed a set after reading this thread. Let's put it this way: In my opinion, the brake lines and throttle cable are at their absolute maximum limits. I actually rotated the bars upwards slightly to relieve a little tension on the lines -- and that's after cutting all the zip ties that hold them in place.

Has anyone got ideas on where to get longer brake lines? For all you inch and a quarter guys, what has been your experience with this?

[GT Guy]

michael, if you give us a few details on the r12r in question we can tell you if it's too good to be true or just a good deal.

price, mileage, condition?

wes

2008 R
ABS
OBC
Htd grips
standard seat
teeny-tiny windshield
luggage rack
center stand

300 miles. Yes. Three zero zero. 299 would be too low, 301 would be too high (obscure Monty Python reference).

Apparently recently purchased, just a few months old. Dude has a K1300S and is moving to a smaller house, needs the space.

$10,000

He's about three hours from here, and it's going to be 100000000 degrees this weekend, so I figure if I go see it, I might as well buy it (rather than make two trips). Unless it's been in an accident, what could be wrong in 300 miles? The guy has done wonderful things to his K-S, so it appears that money is not an issue. Oh, and he's got some kind of LED turn signal (HP2?) upgrade as well.

Thoughts?


Michael

[ErikM]

Great price, buy it. But it is NOT a replacement for your GT, unless you don't plan on any long road trips. IMO the GT is the best super sport touring bike out there. The R1200R is an amazing local backroads kind of bike but I found mine to be very tiresome on a long road trip. Not because of the motor or ergo's but because I could never find a windscreen that worked. I didn't want a barn door and the oem screens either didn't flow clean air or didn't block enough. But if I could afford to have two new expensive bikes I think the R1200R and a K1200/1300GT would be the perfect combination. As it is I LOVE my K12GT, I really liked my R1200R..

[crazyhorse]

either the 5/8 or 1 1/4" barbacks will fit but why bother going 5/8?

My brake lines are not taut with the 1 1/4" risers not sure why yours are. Either angle of bars or I suppose the lines could be different lengths.

As far as the price, it's a good deal but not 'too good'. I would figure that bike to be in the 10,500-11,000 range. Sounds like he priced it to move and it should move to your garage!

Wes

p.s. oh i didn't see no bags. that brings it down a bit, but not by a large amount.

[deilenberger]

Michael - sounds like a decent deal. Since he bought it just a few months ago - most of the warranty time is still there. Has decent options (too bad he didn't buy the bags..)

And as far as it not being a touring bike - I beg to differ. It's much better at the job than my K-RT was, or my K75S, or the R1150RS. I haven't found a perfect shield, but the smallest CeeBailey in the summer works adequately for me, and somehow I've managed to put 27,000 miles on it in 24 months (including a lot of winter in those months.)

[deilenberger]

Barbacks were ordered last night. Will report back on how they work with CTS.. and put off the visit to the surgeon until next week on Friday.

[mogu83]

Here we go off topic AGAIN, but please excuse me.
I was headed toward a CTS operation. I moved my computer mouse and mouse pad away from me toward the front of my desk (last few years of work I was on a computer most of the time). That caused me to reach for the mouse and my arm was extended when I used the mouse. After a few months the pain went away and now it's entirely gone.
Just a thought.

[deilenberger]

Here we go off topic AGAIN, but please excuse me.
I was headed toward a CTS operation. I moved my computer mouse and mouse pad away from me toward the front of my desk (last few years of work I was on a computer most of the time). That caused me to reach for the mouse and my arm was extended when I used the mouse. After a few months the pain went away and now it's entirely gone.
Just a thought.

Harry - thanks.

If only it was that simple. At my desk at work, I have 4 computers facing me.. and next to the desk on each side, 2 servers, then in the computer room - about 4 more. During the day I switch from one to another depending on the task at hand. Then at home.. well, same sort of situation, two laptops, one primary workstation, two servers.

I really gotta get a life.. Been doing this sort of thing for 20+ years now - I guess it's not unreasonable for there to be some long term effects.

[GT Guy]

I need to get an administrator to change this thread for me and make it into a poll.

How many people think Don should get a life?

Heh, it just occurred to me that Don probably can't tell who I am just from my clever sig. This is Michael Bird, occasional contributor to the Roundel and E39 digest and BMW MOA.

Seems that the R in question is a good deal but not a screaming good deal, so I'm going to take my time and see what happens. It's too bloody hot to go riding this weekend unless I get up at 5:30 but that's when Bambi is out and about and the reason I quit riding a few years ago was because I ran into the little rodent on my RT. I was OK, physically, but wow did it shake me up.

As for CTS, I have noticed that my suffering has decreased mightily since I started using a wrist wrest on the keyboard and a special mousey wrist rest for that particular rodent.

I also try to work as little as possible, which helps a lot too. I'm not yet in management, which I think would totally solve the CTS issue as those people never seem to do anything except come by here every-so-often and ask me if I've seen that memo about the cover sheet for the TPS report.

Michael