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

This morning I set out with the goal of putting on 500 smiles on my 1200R, so as to have it ready for the 600 mile service appointment I have in the morning.
It was meant to be it seems, the weather was forecasted for and turned out to be absolutely perfect. Started out about 50ºF this morning and by 2PM it was a perfect 75º, with pure blue sky's.

In a hurry to get out of the city, anxious to feel how the new Roadster is on the open road, I jumped onto I-290 and headed West. After riding about an hour, in Dekalb I jumped off the super-slab, and started zigzagging my way west and south.

I stopped by this place I used to hunt with my Dad as a kid.


After about 10 miles of riding on loose gravel, this is what the oil cooler looked like, I think that we don't need to worry about road debris on the 1200R.




Even though it was a perfectly warm and sunny day, there was still reminder's of Northern Illinois', um shall we say, diverse weather.






For GyspyRR







Dixon, Illinois Home of President Ronald Reagan





Mississippi River, playing with color effect's on my new Cannon






Wow! This is a rare sight in the midwest, I was so pleased to find a good stretch of twisty road. Sweet!






Lots of this.




There's a good amount of this around these parts from the hot/cold/hot/cold weather we have.




A typical Midwest farm.





More of the Mississippi river





If you've been through Iowa, you've seen this more than likely. The worlds largest truck stop, or so they say.






University of Iowa, Iowa City. This is were I turned around and started heading back East.





Um...... Yeah.....





This is what the rear tire looked like after a high speed super-slab run.
These conti's sure are soft...





I was now in a race with the sun, the temps were dropping fast and I decided to super-slab' it back home for the last 200 miles. The temperature dropped from 75º to 49º in 2 hours.













Mission Accomplished!
I dropped the bike off at the dealer with 600 miles as promised.




What a great first little road trip this was. I'm very pleased with the 1200R. It's a wonderful bike. Did I mention that it's FAST AS HELL.
The front wheel will come up in 2nd gear....

The stock seat.......
Well in all fairness I think the best way to describe it is....
It's much better than the 1150R stock seat, but not even close to a Sargent. 500 miles, no problem. 500 miles day in and day out........... hmmm we'll see. I did get a Alaska Sheepskin pad to fit the seat, but for purely scientific purposes I went without it today. Next trip I'll use the pad and compare.




-Joe

Great pictures and nice write up Joe.
Glad you're enjoying the new bike.
It sure is PURDY

Great, Joe! I loved the old barn. And thanks for the pic for me. I like old buildings. Where I live, the oldest buildings are always the churches - so consequently, I end up with mostly churches for pics of old buildings. But they are pretty, and I like that.

In this picture, what is that sign further down the road?



I saw a weird sign the other day down here and I think I'll get a photo of it tomorrow to show you guys. It's brutal, really.

The black 1200 is a beautiful bike, and the settings you put it in make it look even more grand. I'm glad you're loving it!

[/i]

Thanks for sharing those pics and your ride story.

The more I read the rides with the new R1200R, and the more I see them......The more I'm tempted to 'test' ride one. I have a feeling it's like crack - try it once and you're hooked; I better stay away from it. For now.

Great photos Joe... thanks for posting. BTW is that a Garmin Zumo you have mounted?

cruiser - Mike

Hmmm, these pics look familier

Nice job on the pictures, the bike looks awesome, and glad you had a great day!

You should have stopped at Gina's BMW in Iowa City. Strike that, they have a crystal grey r12r like you originally wanted. I sat on it Saturday

FYI: Dixon is only a 1/2 hour away from my house! Next time you get out this way, let me know and I'll meet you somewhere. There are some nice roads along the Rock and Illinois rivers. Did you happen to take Rt. 2 from Byron to Dixon?

Great pictures...Great bike...

You must be so proud to own the second best looking bike in the whole world...

DJ

Great stuff! Thanks.

Thanks also for putting your can on the line for scientific research!

Great pictures Joe


I have to pick up my new R1150R in Montreal the begining of June and drive home to Newfoundland and was wondering what you did as far as the break-in goes during your ride. Did you stop for cool downs and if so at what interval/length, or anything else you did during the ride, eg. changing gears, loading, speed, RPM's etc. I will be breaking in my ride over 2 days and getting the first service done in Dieppe NB which is around 1000Km from Montreal just the right distance. The plan is to take the 132 along the St. Lawrence and try and stay off the main Highways and take 2 days to get to Dieppe, around 500Km per day. Any pointers would be greatly appriciated.

Your pictures are perfect and make me long to start my adventure, I hope I can take some good pics of my trip to post when I get back.


Thanks
Shane

Small interruption - excuse me just for a moment:

HEY SMCKAYNL!

I loved your Province last summer when I was there! It is one of the most beautiful places I have explored, and the people in the small fishing villages and on the western coast are were some of the most selfless people I have ever met. If many US citizens discover that western coast and the affordability of it................ I'm afraid the landscape would change drastically and soon a Walmart would be in every cove.


Okay - sorry for the hijack
Now back to Joe's beautiful bike and ride report.

cruiser wrote:Great photos Joe... thanks for posting. BTW is that a Garmin Zumo you have mounted?

cruiser - Mike

No, actually it's StreetPilot 2820.

smckaynl wrote:

I have to pick up my new R1150R in Montreal the beginning of June and drive home to Newfoundland and was wondering what you did as far as the break-in goes during your ride. Did you stop for cool downs and if so at what interval/length, or anything else you did during the ride, eg. changing gears, loading, speed, RPM's etc. I will be breaking in my ride over 2 days and getting the first service done in Dieppe NB which is around 1000Km from Montreal just the right distance. The plan is to take the 132 along the St. Lawrence and try and stay off the main Highways and take 2 days to get to Dieppe, around 500Km per day. Any pointers would be greatly appriciated.

That sounds like a great ride, take some pics please.
As for the break-in........... It's a highly debated topic, I try to follow the manuals instructions somewhat.
I rode it spirited, and had fun but didn't beat on it. No full throttle, I did go over 4000 a little, but no redline obviously. No stops just for cooling it, but my day did involve plenty of stops.
Some say you have to baby it, some say just drive it, I was right in between. Though after 550 miles I figured I was close enough and opened her up on a nice stretch of open interstate.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

boring.

show me something that i don't see all the time.

just kidding, glad you are liking your new ride.



oh yeah, i forgot, about the questionable name for our gas stations? slip the cahsier a $50 and give the secret hand shake....you will be shown to the VIP room in the back.

Great pics and write up. Thanks!
T.

ChiTown wrote:No, actually it's StreetPilot 2820.

What kind of mount is that? I'm looking at a deal on a 2720 and looking at mounting options.

It's a SW-MOTECH Bags Connection bag with a tank ring quick release and GPS mount.

This has detailed info about the tankbag:
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=9873



Check out this thread for farkle install info.

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=9881

Hey ChiTown - I missed somewhere that you had gotten a 1200! Sweet bike and nice ride report!

I am SOOOOOO jealous, lets go for a ride!