BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Sadly, my R1200R (The Grey Shark) was run off the road by an oncoming pickup truck and was sent to the great wrecking yard in the sky by the insurance company. The good news is that I was completely unhurt (not even a scratch or bruise). Thanks to the CA Basic Riders Course, David Hough's books "Proficient Motorcycling" and "More Proficient Motorcycling" (recommended by fellow list member deilenberger), good gear, and a little luck I avoided becoming a hood ornament – although I now know how the Superbike guys fell when sliding across a gravel trap.

Here are some pictures and captions about the crash: http://www.kivas.com/R1200R_Run_Off_Road/index.htm?0_L

Insurance, although a little slow, offered a fair settlement and my local dealer, Tri-Valley Moto, took pity on me and made a very good offer on a new 2009 R1200R. Long live the Great White Shark. The new R1200R is, you guessed it, white and bone stock (except for ABS and the comfort package). As part of the deal I’ve ordered the tall sport windshield, GS cylinder guards, and the rear rack kit. I will also be ordering Aprilia Tuono mirrors and Touratech Offset handlebar risers. Love the R1200R and never considered changing to any other bike, not even a Multistada. Picked up the new R12000R Friday. Very interesting comparing the riding characteristics of the two bikes (But that's another story).

Here is a picture of the new R1200R:



Will post more as the parts arrive.
Mark_1

Glad to see you are ok and you got a new bike out of it.
Can't help notice that the road you wore traveling on has no centre line.
Also it looks open with plenty of notice of whats coming.
Was the guy in the pickup pig headed and didn't move over or was he not paying attention.
Did the Police book the bastard. They would have arrested me for smashing all his teeth in!

Great little presentation. I take it they didn't let you strip the gray bike of all it's extras...

Crap! So glad that you are ok. Thanks for the visual breakdown and reminder that there are many jerks out there. I can't believe the driver didn't stop. So sorry that the first beauty was totaled, but the second one isn't too bad either. :-) Good for you for keeping it together!

You know, I think the white bike is the 2nd best looking R12R out there. Right behind the black with white pin stripes. Kinda feel sorry for the guys who got stuck with the blue ones

Just looked at your crash pics... WTF kind of road is that?

Flip side: There are 2 types of motorcyclists.. Those who go down and say "im never riding again", and those that go out down and buy another bike ASAP.

Now we know what type you are.

What is a "Comfort" Package ?
Does your new white R12R in the picture above have a "Comfort" Seat on it ?

Oh and....glad you weren't hurt.
Every such experience is the best kind of experience.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

Kieran R1200R - Yes the road has no center line. It is only about a lane and a half wide at this location. The cell phone pictures flatten out the scenery, but take my word for it the corner is blind in both directions. There is also quite a bit of elevation change. At the first sight of the truck, I was well into the turn and the truck's grill was in my lane. All I could do was exit the turn as close to the side of the road as possible. By then the truck was going by. Unfortunately, there was not a shoulder and I was into the gravel. Last I saw in the mirror was the truck going around the turn as I went down. Everything happened so fast that there was no time to consciously react. The truck didn't react at all and certainly didn't stop. I didn't get a chance to see the driver. A highway patrol officer did happen by within 15 minutes of the crash, but without a good description there was no way to follow up. He didn't even make out a report. I can post a video of the section if that would help, let me know.

sunny72 - The insurance gave me full retail on all the accessories. Everything had to stay with the bike when sent to the salvage yard. The handlebar risers and possibly the hugger may have been usable, but with full retail was not going to make and issue of it.

Tarmac - the road, Patterson Pass, is one of the few routes from the San Joaquin Valley to the Bay Area. I-580 is the main freeway; this road is just to the south. I've commuted on it for almost 8 years, the last 5 months of those on a motorcycle (I avoid the freeway if at all possible - too dangerous). It is a country lane by any standard and is only about one and a half lanes wide in a few places with many blind curves. The Tour of California bicycle race and many other bicycle races use the road due to its many elevation changes and corners. The picture of the white bike is taken at the top of the "king of the mountain" section (road is at front of head light). My crash was a mile or so down the road from the farthest point in the picture. You never know what you will see on the road - snakes, skunks, turkeys, a bull. For the most part the knee draggers ignore the road - it is too dangerous.

Ric - the “comfort package” description may be made up by my dealer, but seems to be the computer, heated grips, white turn signals, and center stand. May just be marketing ploy by the dealer? I have not seen an actual data sheet on the bike, so do not know if this is a real package or not. Will check into it and let you know. As far as I know, my seat is the standard seat - otherwise the dealer would have charged me for it. My legs are on the short side and I asked the dealer if the low seat was an option. He informed it was - for an optional $299. We both agreed the money would be better spent on trip to Rick Meyer.