Anyone here into BMW motorcycles?

I started riding in 1971 and am a huge motorcyclist. I just bought a new one, and technically I now own four bikes, including the Goldwing that is for sale replaced by this one that I picked up yesterday. I also have a 2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 and a 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000.

This is a 2013 BMW 1600 GT. For those of you who don't know bikes, this has a 160 hp in-line six....

Bring her up here for a look see!

That is one magnificient tourer. Are you planning any cross country or maybe cross continent adventures? The engine brings back memories of the Kawa 1300 and the Honda CBX1000. I'm sure your BMW is a lot less hairy to control though. We had a pretty crazy guy in our neighbouring country Finland ( Arto Nyqvist ) who used to do tricks on his Z1300, one of his favourites was to jump off the bike at speed only holding on to the saddle and "skiing" on his wooden clogs just until there was nothing left when he jumped back on. Another was to wheelie up to an angle to smash the rear light and then quickly hit the foot brake to bring her back down. When asked if he wasnt scared he said. Yes, that the police will give me a ticket riding home without a rear light... I hope you keep safe!

Really nice! I was planning to buy 800 GS, but my wife said NO!

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Bring her up here for a look see!

I seldom ride your way, but I can make an exception for you

Originally Posted by solstice

That is one magnificient tourer. Are you planning any cross country or maybe cross continent adventures? The engine brings back memories of the Kawa 1300 and the Honda CBX1000. I'm sure your BMW is a lot less hairy to control though. We had a pretty crazy guy in our neighbouring country Finland ( Arto Nyqvist ) who used to do tricks on his Z1300, one of his favourites was to jump off the bike at speed only holding on to the saddle and "skiing" on his wooden clogs just until there was nothing left when he jumped back on. Another was to wheelie up to an angle to smash the rear light and then quickly hit the foot brake to bring her back down. When asked if he wasnt scared he said. Yes, that the police will give me a ticket riding home without a rear light... I hope you keep safe!

Every year for the past seven years a friend and I take a week trip to the Rocky or Smokey Mountains. This year we did 4100 miles in nine days to Southern Colorado and Utah (from Houston).

Originally Posted by kanar200

Really nice! I was planning to buy 800 GS, but my wife said NO!

Great, she said no to the 800, pick something else to buy

I had a BMW 2004 R1150 RT. I loved the bike so much I bought a 2011 535 XI. I now have a 2012 R1200 RT. Beautiful motorcycle. I have traveled up to Canada and down to Georgia on my various motorcycle trips. My 2012 now has 7000 miles on it. My favorite jaunt is a 400 mile day ride up to Vermont to ride over the various mountain gap roads.

Your 1600 GT is a great bike! You have the power to fly on the highways. What a great machine. BMW makes the best motorcycles for people who love to travel far in all kinds of weather. There is nothing like leaning over in a turn going 60 mph. Heaven!

Originally Posted by kirbyj

I had a BMW 2004 R1150 RT. I loved the bike so much I bought a 2011 535 XI. I now have a 2012 R1200 RT. Beautiful motorcycle. I have traveled up to Canada and down to Georgia on my various motorcycle trips. My 2012 now has 7000 miles on it. My favorite jaunt is a 400 mile day ride up to Vermont to ride over the various mountain gap roads.

Your 1600 GT is a great bike! You have the power to fly on the highways. What a great machine. BMW makes the best motorcycles for people who love to travel far in all kinds of weather. There is nothing like leaning over in a turn going 60 mph. Heaven!

I just got back from a 130 mile ride on some back roads I have ridden hundreds of time. It has a lot of long straight roads through cow pastures, several 90-100 mph 90 degree sweepers, and a handful of tighter curves with some switchbacks. Without going into all the details as I don't have time right now, let me just say that the bike exceeds my expectations for it, and I hated that I had to come home (didn't take a day off work, so I have to catch up). I can't wait to go out tomorrow and put 300+ miles on it.

BTW, next year my friend and I that I take trips with are planning to rent bikes in Seattle or Vancouver to ride the Canadian Rockies. We just don't have time to ride there and back so we are going to rent bikes. Right now I'd guess I'll probably rent a RT as most rental places don't have 1600s. I'm actually looking forward to renting an RT.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

I just got back from a 130 mile ride on some back roads I have ridden hundreds of time. It has a lot of long straight roads through cow pastures, several 90-100 mph 90 degree sweepers, and a handful of tighter curves with some switchbacks. Without going into all the details as I don't have time right now, let me just say that the bike exceeds my expectations for it, and I hated that I had to come home (didn't take a day off work, so I have to catch up). I can't wait to go out tomorrow and put 300+ miles on it.

BTW, next year my friend and I that I take trips with are planning to rent bikes in Seattle or Vancouver to ride the Canadian Rockies. We just don't have time to ride there and back so we are going to rent bikes. Right now I'd guess I'll probably rent a RT as most rental places don't have 1600s. I'm actually looking forward to renting an RT.

I can recommend August or September weather wise. It's been the best months by far the last years. We've used this place for rentals to one of my buddies a couple of times http://www.mtsma.com/index.htm It seems like they cycle their relatively small inventory often but they are super nice and easy to deal with. First time he rented a Triumph Trophy 1200 and the next time a Harley Road King. On our tours he said it made him feel like a Jumbo Jet with fighter plane escort ( I ride a Ducati 748S ). I rode both of those and they were in very good condition with no issues. I've never seen a BMW there though. My friend bought a Triumph Rocket this year, that bike is pretty sick. Not my type of ride but it handles surprisingly well for it's bulk.

For some reason, I always wanted that weird BMW C1 they sold in Europe

Originally Posted by solstice

I can recommend August or September weather wise. It's been the best months by far the last years. We've used this place for rentals to one of my buddies a couple of times http://www.mtsma.com/index.htm It seems like they cycle their relatively small inventory often but they are super nice and easy to deal with. First time he rented a Triumph Trophy 1200 and the next time a Harley Road King. On our tours he said it made him feel like a Jumbo Jet with fighter plane escort ( I ride a Ducati 748S ). I rode both of those and they were in very good condition with no issues. I've never seen a BMW there though. My friend bought a Triumph Rocket this year, that bike is pretty sick. Not my type of ride but it handles surprisingly well for it's bulk.

Thank you! The guy I ride with has an 1198S that I have ridden several times. I am probably going to sell my Concours and in the back of my mind am thinking of a CBR1000R or a Panigali. An old friend of mine owns a Honda/Ducati dealership and his personal bike is a Panigali S. He has told me to come get it and ride it for a day, which I probably will in the next few weeks.

Thanks again for the info.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

Thank you! The guy I ride with has an 1198S that I have ridden several times. I am probably going to sell my Concours and in the back of my mind am thinking of a CBR1000R or a Panigali. An old friend of mine owns a Honda/Ducati dealership and his personal bike is a Panigali S. He has told me to come get it and ride it for a day, which I probably will in the next few weeks.

Thanks again for the info.

How do you like the concours?

Love my F800ST as well as my 2011 535ix F10!

Congrats on your new bike. I have not ridden one yet, but a couple of friends who are sport bike riders have and say they were impressed.

I have several bikes of which three are BMW's.

1975 R90s(daytona orange), 05 K1200s, and 2010 S1000rr (acid green)

Enjoy your new bike!

T.

Originally Posted by jason60050

How do you like the concours?

Sorry I missed your question earlier. I like it a lot. I'm not quite as passionate about it as I was my FJR1300, but time marches on and the Concours is a better bike. The new BMW is a better bike in many ways than the Concours, but the Concours does feel like the sportier of the two bikes. I would compare the BMW GT to my 550 M-Sport....very capable but with a little more of a "detached" feeling of the road compared to the Concours. But the Concours is a lot less money.

Originally Posted by azbiker

Congrats on your new bike. I have not ridden one yet, but a couple of friends who are sport bike riders have and say they were impressed.

I have several bikes of which three are BMW's.

1975 R90s(daytona orange), 05 K1200s, and 2010 S1000rr (acid green)

Enjoy your new bike!

T.

I have told my BMW dealer I want to ride a S1000rr. They told me the next time they get in a demo I can have it for a day.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

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I have told my BMW dealer I want to ride a S1000rr. They told me the next time they get in a demo I can have it for a day.

You should be able to ride from Texas to Maine and back in a day if you try out that S1000! I am afraid that if I rode one I would go faster than I have ever gone before.

Originally Posted by kirbyj

You should be able to ride from Texas to Maine and back in a day if you try out that S1000! I am afraid that if I rode one I would go faster than I have ever gone before.

Yeah, I think I probably will. I've been riding a long time and did a little road racing back in the day. I have already seen 144 on the new bike that I've now had for six days!

Just bought an s1000rr a few days ago and have a 550 as well.