Comments on: 1200 Miles In on my K1200GT http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/ rambling through mid-life on motorcycles Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:07:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kevin http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-599 kevin Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:35:31 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-599 I'm glad it helped. Two years on I have lost none of my enthusiasm for the bike. It's a great road warrior. I’m glad it helped. Two years on I have lost none of my enthusiasm for the bike. It’s a great road warrior.

]]> By: Cheetle Sa http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-597 Cheetle Sa Sat, 29 May 2010 01:01:14 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-597 I have ridden a K1200lt over the past 7 years. A couple of couple of days ago I was hit by a car and totaled my bike. I am considering buying a K1200gt. I just read your article and it helped me to firm up my decision to buy one after my broken bones heal. Thanks! I have ridden a K1200lt over the past 7 years. A couple of couple of days ago I was hit by a car and totaled my bike. I am considering buying a K1200gt. I just read your article and it helped me to firm up my decision to buy one after my broken bones heal. Thanks!

]]> By: kevin http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-525 kevin Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:34:01 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-525 Tony Thanks for your thoughts and comments. I couldn't agree with you more on the cheap bolts. I can't remember the last bike I owned that didn't have stainless bolts in places like that. To the bigger topic, I love the bike and I love riding the bike. It's just brilliant. I also appreciate your comments on the suspension settings. I don't load the bike up particularly so the settings seem harsh. The part that I'm not crazy about is that the step changes from comfort through to sport aren't the same front and rear. But it's not something I think about anymore and the bike is rock solid in all respects. Tony

Thanks for your thoughts and comments. I couldn’t agree with you more on the cheap bolts. I can’t remember the last bike I owned that didn’t have stainless bolts in places like that.

To the bigger topic, I love the bike and I love riding the bike. It’s just brilliant. I also appreciate your comments on the suspension settings. I don’t load the bike up particularly so the settings seem harsh. The part that I’m not crazy about is that the step changes from comfort through to sport aren’t the same front and rear. But it’s not something I think about anymore and the bike is rock solid in all respects.

]]> By: Tony http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-524 Tony Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:13 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-524 Read your comments and thought I would let you know my thoughts. My K1200 Gt is just coming up to three years old. 17000 miles on the clock of which I have done 12000. I commute on it, I have been down to Burgundy on it, two up with luggage and top box. The thing is unflappable ans the settings on the suspension do make a difference when fully loaded.I had a Blackbird before it so the advances in suspension technology really show. Finish, for an expensive bike is not so good. Paint starting to flake a bit round the bottom of the forks and why oh why does BMW use ferrous metal bolts to hold the callipers and discs on; they rust and look bloody awaful. Still, I love the bike for all that and don't intend selling soon, even for the K1300GT which I have ridden. Read your comments and thought I would let you know my thoughts. My K1200 Gt is just coming up to three years old. 17000 miles on the clock of which I have done 12000. I commute on it, I have been down to Burgundy on it, two up with luggage and top box. The thing is unflappable ans the settings on the suspension do make a difference when fully loaded.I had a Blackbird before it so the advances in suspension technology really show.
Finish, for an expensive bike is not so good. Paint starting to flake a bit round the bottom of the forks and why oh why does BMW use ferrous metal bolts to hold the callipers and discs on; they rust and look bloody awaful.
Still, I love the bike for all that and don’t intend selling soon, even for the K1300GT which I have ridden.

]]> By: kevin http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-517 kevin Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:59:08 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-517 Belonged to one of the "philosopher kings" (search for the article). He subsequently sold it and bought a blackbird. Belonged to one of the “philosopher kings” (search for the article). He subsequently sold it and bought a blackbird.

]]> By: PhotoBiker http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-514 PhotoBiker Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:12:38 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-514 Who's awesome Strom is that in the photo at the top? Oh yeah, nice GT too! ;-) Who’s awesome Strom is that in the photo at the top?

Oh yeah, nice GT too!

;-)

]]> By: kevin http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-484 kevin Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:34:34 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-484 Some of this might be different strokes for different folks. Having said that, put the bike on any setting. Get someone to support the bike while you do this: bounce the front end and then bounce the back end . . . in other words test the rebound damping front and rear on each of the three settings. What you'll find is that the settings are all over the place. The front and rear simply are not set up the same on any of the settings. What should happen is that the rebound damping should get progressively stiffer at both ends (there is no difference in compression damping that i can tell and it mostly doesn't matter). It doesn't and that's what bugs me. But like all things, you get used to it and ride around it. Some of this might be different strokes for different folks. Having said that, put the bike on any setting. Get someone to support the bike while you do this: bounce the front end and then bounce the back end . . . in other words test the rebound damping front and rear on each of the three settings. What you’ll find is that the settings are all over the place. The front and rear simply are not set up the same on any of the settings. What should happen is that the rebound damping should get progressively stiffer at both ends (there is no difference in compression damping that i can tell and it mostly doesn’t matter). It doesn’t and that’s what bugs me. But like all things, you get used to it and ride around it.

]]> By: Chris http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-482 Chris Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:51:15 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-482 I have a 2007 K1200GT. The ESA is outstanding, and I can't imagine why you don't like it. In comfort mode, the bike soaks up the freeway expansion joints with ease, and switching to normal or sport modes really firms up the bike on a twisty mountain road. That is why I didn't grab an FJR or Concours. I have a 2007 K1200GT. The ESA is outstanding, and I can’t imagine why you don’t like it. In comfort mode, the bike soaks up the freeway expansion joints with ease, and switching to normal or sport modes really firms up the bike on a twisty mountain road. That is why I didn’t grab an FJR or Concours.

]]> By: kevin http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-390 kevin Mon, 11 May 2009 13:57:25 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-390 Dave. People ask me why I swapped for the BMW. The answer was because I could. There are things I like better, but honestly you're right. The FJR is an awesome bike at any price. Hang on to it. Dave. People ask me why I swapped for the BMW. The answer was because I could. There are things I like better, but honestly you’re right. The FJR is an awesome bike at any price. Hang on to it.

]]> By: Dave http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Dave Wed, 06 May 2009 00:47:49 +0000 http://midliferider.com/blog/2009/04/12/1200-miles-in-on-my-k1200gt/#comment-382 Funnily enough, I had my FJR up for sale this Spring, then I rode it a couple times, then I took it off the market. Still stock, needs a few farkles to make it more perfect - CalSci screen, MCL riser, Madco Rider throttle lock & Rich's saddle - sound familiar ;) The FJR is awesome to look at, breathtaking to ride, and 100K mile reliable. If you only get one bike to do it all, it's a solid contender. Funnily enough, I had my FJR up for sale this Spring, then I rode it a couple times, then I took it off the market. Still stock, needs a few farkles to make it more perfect – CalSci screen, MCL riser, Madco Rider throttle lock & Rich’s saddle – sound familiar ;) The FJR is awesome to look at, breathtaking to ride, and 100K mile reliable. If you only get one bike to do it all, it’s a solid contender.

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