[kroberts]

I bought my bike back in October but it needed a fair amount of TLC. I went away on a five week biz trip soon after buying it so I've had about a month "in the saddle" so far. When I started looking for a bike I hadn't ridden a street bike in many years. I had deluded myself into thinking that "it will all come back to me". My last street bikes were RZ350's so for all intents and purposes I am truly a noob and this is a big bike.

That being said, my confidence level improves each day. I had a scare on my very first ride...brand new tires. I dont know how I didn't drop it but thankfully it stayed up. Still very cautious and I find that I approach low speed corners much more tentatively that I do highway bends.

What a blast this thing is to ride. I've been riding to work on it and have gone out for a few weekend rides. All of the sensations are new again. The wind coming over the windshield, the blast from passing trucks, having to literally tell myself to trust the bike. The suspension is smooth, the bike is grippy, the engine unbelievably torquey from a noobs perspective anyway. I dont understand that front suspension but it works!

I haven't gone out on our bigger freeways yet, not sure I am quite ready for bumper to bumper at 65mph. I work from 5:00am to 3:00pm so I miss both of our rush hours here.

My bike has a Remus exhaust system, what a sound! Especially when you roll on 4th or 5th gear, or really crack it open in 1st to get out into traffic. The bags are big enough for all my gear for work. The seat is comfortable but I do see what others have written about the fact that it tends to crunch you up against the tank. It really stands out in the bike parking area beside our hangar. People notice these BMWs. I consider it a fortunate accident that I found it. It was a Craigslist find and the PO clearly had no idea what it was.

I adjusted my valves last night. Bought a set of the proper gauges and used the slightly humorous Valve Adjustment for Dummies guide. The test ride this morning prompted me to write this. It's like a new bike. The valves needed some attention but I am blown away by what a difference it made. I am going to set my TPS next and I have a Twinmax carb syn tool coming. I am eager to see what a difference I will feel after I sync the TBs.

I ordered a signal minder for it. lighting from the rear could be better. Installed an HID headlight rendering the highbeam useless.

This has been such a hoot that I honestly regret ever quitting all those years ago.