Hi, sorry to read about your 'get-off'. I'm a bit, though not much older and have had my share as well, although most of them many years ago - on dirt. As I've aged I seem to have become more sensitive to the residual effects of those, sometimes rather hairy -
biffs n bails. It seems as if every joint is hell bent on retribution for what I'd put it through so many years ago. Anyhow, being an avid gearhead with cycles part of my DNA, I've always had something to toss a leg over ever since doing so on my first real motorcycle - a then way b*tchen 1965 Bultaco 250 Matador which mom and dad bought for me in appreciation for spending June and a good part of July of the same year repainting our house, many of those days in 100f + heat.
Over the years I've had quite the
sometimes esoteric bevy of motorcycles - even now, what with no less than 7 occupying (much to wifeys chagrin) a sizeable portion of our garage. Also, just like you - I have a Ducati
cruiser (one of several I've owned over the years), this one a skyhook multistrada which has heretofore proven to be a high tech POS, brilliant when it works without something setting off an error code necessitating yet another trip to the stealer - reliability being illusive resulting in a modicum of angst anytime myself or one of the kids dare take it on anything more than a 100 mile sojourn.
Always keen on BMW boxers and being they hail from the same sector of the globe as I do, I did a lot of research as I'm prone to do before finally purchasing one. I figured it was time, especially when the marque finally started making machines more in-line with what I wanted instead of those befitting an avuncular uncle, so I read and read and read. I decided on, and located an absolutely gorgeous '07 R1200S. Black with the Ohlins and wide wheel option. This one had only been in use for a few months, it was absolutely pristine with less than 3k miles - caveat being it was located in Hilliard Ohio. No sweat, I thought. I'll send the guy a deposit, book a flight and ride it some 2200 miles back home through some of the most beautiful country and roads on earth.
Everything goes as planned and the bike was about as perfect as one can be. The seller hadn't misrepresented one iota, so - I fork over the balance, mount the machine and take off on my trek back home looking forward to the normally joyous getting to know one another familiarization process,
hopefully followed by all of the distinct dynamic virtues I'd so often read about. Bear in mind now, up until this point I'd been riding my Aprilia RSV's, which were serving as triple-duty touring/very spirited street/ and sometimes track day bikes. Which, btw - they do incredibly well. I often do track days on either my F4 Tamburini MV Augusta, Ducati 999R or Yammie R-1 and usually place mid pack with the quick, old guys, so its not as if this summation is coming from an lethargic neophyte. But I digress:
I hadn't been in the saddle for more than 5 minutes before realizing this thing just did
nothing for me! Aside from looking awesome in its gleaming black, fat rear tire and hints of yellow Ohlins spring, it was a total let down. At that moment I entertained calling the guy I bought it from and telling him I'd made a terrible mistake, I'm bringing it back, I was less than 20 miles away and he can keep $500 for the hassle. Well, it was my own fault. I should have ridden it (or one like it)
before sealing the deal, let alone flying out there!. I didn't, and based on the glowing accolades by owners on this board and others I bought on impulse. I suppose I had
unrealistic expectations, after all BMW's have forged a reputation and are synonymous for reliability, performance and comfort. At that particular point, all I knew was it didn't perform anywhere close to my Aprilia's in
any objective metric. Not in acceleration, nor braking, certainly not handling prowess and particularly surprising - not in comfort. The Aprilia's could eat this thing anywhere... at anything, save one area. On ice or low friction surfaces. The Aprilia's have no ABS. I thought, well...maybe it'll grow on me, hell, I've got 2200 miles ahead of me..
Maybe, just maybe..Well, if it weren't for the epic beauty of the landscape and my chosen route home, I'd have stayed at a hotel long enough to have a transport company pick the thing up and booked a flight home instead. I bought it at a good price and everything that moves sells pretty quickly in California. I ended up wanting to fall in..at least "like" with the bike and put another couple of thousand miles on it. Never Happened. I ended up selling it within a few months - at a tidy profit, I might add.
Still, there was
something about a boxer that intrigued me - a
je ne sais quoi if you will and I failed to accept that every boxer owner
must be a poser or snooty look-at-me-on-my BMW schmuck. No, there has to be
something there,
somewhere to justify its appeal to the legions of worldwide loyalists.
Then, at a neighbours get together during an impromptu chat about motorcycles I was informed of a BMW being available at some ridiculously low price. The quadzillionaire owner bought it, and a few other vehicles as toys to occupy his time with and had now tired of them and was having a relative wholesale them off. I ended up having a look later that week.
The bike was an '03 R1100S. I took it for a spin and was immediately smitten. No, it didn't pull as strongly as the 12 did, but it was everything else that appealed to me. It checked all of the boxes in a way I had hoped the 12 would but didn't. I started a thread way back when. Actually, if you do search - I've had some ridiculous, albeit well known transmission issues with it as well. Bottom line is. Ride one, whichever model it is you're interested in, do not take everything or
anything you read from others as gospel. We all have our own likes/dislikes. Along with many others and being retired - I'm fortunate enough to be in an position to purchase (within reason) whatever tickles my fancy. Cars and motorcycles will remain a huge part of who I am for the foreseeable future. Many more will come and go, but I can guarantee you one thing for certain. My R1100S will forever have a spot in my garage.
I apologize for the novella but feel it was required in order to emphasize how important it is to try-before-you-buy.
Here's the thread I started:
Well, I bought it - ('03 r11s)
J.S.