Well after 4 months of begging SWMBO, jumping through hoops and much research I have pulled the trigger on my first BMW- Here she is in the birthing process
Needless to say I am fired up, the dealer is supposed to send assembly photos as he gets them. My hope is to pick her up next Friday
Great photos. What's interesting to me - is how the factory ties it down for transport. Everyone I've seen talk about tying down a telelever bike talks about tying it down to the wishbone, which only leaves the tires to compress and provide some upward tension. It also makes for a small triangle.
The factory apparently ties it down at the headstock? Or on the bars (it's not too clear from the photos) - and then compresses the suspension (I can tell by the amount of fork tube exposed - it has about 2" of compression on it.) This is how I would think the bikes should be tied down - but the "common wisdom" says otherwise. Since I've seen this - I think I'll go with the factory technique if it's ever needed.
Interesting..
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
Thanks for the good wishes guys. I guess I'm what the market/demographic folks would call a re-entry rider, I rode back in the 70's and 80's when I was you youngster, I haven't owned a bike for about 20 years. I have gotten to ride on occasion but recently I reevaluated my decision not to own a bike and this is the result.
Don, since this is my first BMW, and I have only trailered a bike a couple of times, I didn't think about tie down technique. Those 2 photos give the best shot of how the tie downs were attached of the photo's the dealer sent. I would think your assessment is correct; tieing off to the arm and utilizing only the tire would not give the best up force tension to keep the bike in place over uneven roads.
I will likely have to trailer this girl home because the dealer is 3 hours away, we do not even have a dealer in Indianapolis. I am curently working on a project that puts the dealer between me and home so at least I may not have to make a special trip to get her. I'll take some more photos and post them up once I pick her up.
Nice ride ! Congratulations on the beauty. You will love this machine.
Only suggestion: Ride her home... it is a major felony to trailer a BMW, and especially an R1200R. Besides, you would be half way to the 600 mle service point after that ride!
Doug
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
I fully agree about the trailer ride, I really don't care for trailer queens at all, I have only trailered a bike once and that was at my mothers request-long story. This trailer ride however is a function of time, convience and eagerness. Due to my work schedule if I don't pick her up on my way home next week it'll likely be October before I could make the trip and I can't stand that