My R1200R is no more...

[deilenberger]

As everyone else expressed - great to hear the gear worked and YOU are OK. The bike is just a piece of machinery.

I've been asked a number of times what my next bike would be. My answer to date has been "If the thing blew up tomorrow.. I'd be on my way to the dealer to order another one.." I believe they are that good.

Can't say if ASC might have helped, but I suspect it possibly could have. I run into a lot of the gravel in the corners situation when riding in West Virginia (which I do anytime I possibly can..) Every driveway in WV seems to be loose gravel, as is every secondary road. The boys with their dually-trucks sort of drift the outside rear tire off the pavement and drag some gravel back on.

One thing I've learned from that - enter no corner faster then you can see.. meaning - never go faster then you can see to safely stop. That doesn't lead to corner carving fame (although on the right road - where you can see a few corners ahead, you can have lots of fun), but it does help avoid something in the corner reaching up and biting your butt. I was being razzed the other night at a club meeting for being pokey.. all in good fun (and I'm a bit less pokey now that I have two eyes that work..) And I realized the three guys who were razzing me ALL had crashed within the last year. Some of them several times. Usually going wide on a turn and going off "agro"..

I have no shame about being "pokey"..

Anyway - someone had as a sig "Experience sometimes teaches us things we'd rather not know.." and that's true - but if you come out of it uninjured.. bet this never happens to you again.

BTW - the dealer in CA - BMW of Marin had two brand new 2008 bikes for less then $10k each.. dunno if they still have'm.

[hjsbmw]

It's easy to obsess over what went wrong, but usually it doesn't lead to much. It seems you came out as safe as possibly can be, and that's a good thing to know.

[Stef.]

Glad to hear that you walked away with next to no injuries! Hope the insureance is paying out enough money for you to go and oreder a new one. I know it's off topic but if the new R1200R that comes with the new motor next year is as much louder than the new GS is compared to the older GS than I would run out and try and get the last model from the old line. I really don't like how loud they are.
Stef.

[deilenberger]

I'd tend to agree with Stef..

Interesting review of the new engined R1200GS in Motorcycle Consumer News.

Cliffs Notes Version:

• Power - almost identical between the hexhead and the "radial" head engine. The hexhead was given a plus for better driveability (smoother) and some less vibration.
• Noise - like Stef - they found the additional noise from the exhaust tiresome after a short time. Apparently the exhaust as an electronically controlled baffle in it.. sounds like one that people may start looking at diabling.

Could prolly get some good deals on leftover R12R's about now, especially if you can locate any '08 models new (there are a few out there..)

[NakedRider]

Glad you are OK. Looking at that sign and the drainage pipe you are so very lucky not to have hit either with your arms or legs.

[craigleo]

Hi,
Ditto on the glad you are OK! White is excellent taste on your part...just like mine.
I'm with Ka5ysy on this one. I have encountered gravel on a few occasions. I know this info sucks
post crash but; gravel and braking in the street never mix. Next time, roll off the throttle uber quick, turn the bike the direction you want the bike to go while being as verticle and upright as you can muster, the bike will slip sideways, work to stay verticle and counter steer against the slide. For example, if your back wheel is sliding right after you have turned left, counter steer to your right and be ready to quickly straighted your front wheel when the back wheel grabs traction again.
I hope I said that right.
Anyway that has worked for me in the past. I have watched three friends (riding in front of me) all crash when braking in
gravel (right in front of me).
Blue, white, pink or chocolate chip colored, the R is awesome. Get another one and keep going.
Leo

[websterize]

Matt, did your bike have ASC?

[TIV]

Glad to hear you're OK.

These road designs really get my blood boiling. Dirt and tarmac don't mix. A) There shouldn't be an intersection in the middle of the corner. B) They could at least pave the first few hundred feet of that dirt road to keep the gravel off the paved corner.

Blah....

That huger does look nice. Even upside down.

[Talon Six]

All,

Thanks for the support and the kind words. My bike didn't have ASC, but it did have ABS. I wanted ASC but the sales guy assured me that I wouldn't need it (ha!). No word from the insurance adjuster today, but the shop is now saying that it *might* be possible to get her back together again if the frame isn't bent. Kris (shop manager) said they hadn't had time to do more than a once-over check, but they'd know more tomorrow and have something ready for the adjuster when he shows up.

I also went to the doc today and I have some soft tissue damage to the front of my left rotator cuff, so I'm in a sling and on drugs for a few days. Still, I'm glad to have walked away in one piece. I think I owe no broken bones to the left cylinder head knocking down that sign.

Again, thanks for everyone's encouraging words. I sincerely appreciate it.

[murphysr12r]

Wow, glad you are OK. And thanks for the tip..I ride the hill country as well, and it's not a picnic if you are pushing it even a little bit. Anything can happen at anytime. It's actually quite populated with numerous dirt roads. Your story will help me be extra careful. And it will help me if I ever go that way. I am curious though.... that road had rain recently....yes?

I learned while living in San Diego a couple of years back that paved back/mountain roads get covered with gravel during and after the rain. And since it doesn't rain that often it's an easy lesson to forget. The fact that I wasn't that agressive on a couple of corners [not having ridden for may years] actually saved my butt a time or two. But now that I have been riding for the past 5 years and gaining more confidence..... I can see where I could get into trouble.

I heard a story at work just the other day. A friend of a co-worker bought it out on 1431 riding to fast on his Duk....when a truck in front pealed off, there was a car stopped to make a turn that he never saw. 1431 is a road that I ride on a regular basis. If they would pave the thing decently it would be the best road in the hill country. Anyway, now I know what to look for if I already wasn't careful enough.

Everyone knows these things, but it's best to practice them also..... extra careful after the rains ...and slow down at the sight of any traffic whatever. After all...you can always turn around and make another pass. Plus it makes it that much more fun if you know the conditions of the road ahead and you know that you WILL ride safely in traffic.

Ride safe....
and All the gear,,all the time!!!

Sorry to go on, I know it's nothing new...... but it helps me to write it down.

Oh, and I do like the hugger...have to get that myself. Maybe we will meet up on some "lonely" hill country road someday [as if there was such a thing]. Don't be surprised if I make a u-turn and give chase..... that wouldn't put you off would it? I gain confidence by following....or you can follow me if you prefer.

[celticus]

I'm glad your OK Matt.

Mark

[silvermcoupe]

Man! I'm glad your ok. Sorry about your bike. That white is a good looking color. The important thing is your ok. Replace the bike and ride on!

[Talon Six]

It's official - the bike is a total loss, says Progressive. I'll have some accessories that weren't in the crash posted for sale here soon.

Everyone stay safe and go so slow you feel like you're barely moving when travelling through gravel!

It was fun while it lasted...

[Sander Abernathy]

Sorry to hear that. Will you be able to get a replacement anytime soon?

Also, how's the shoulder doing?

[Stef.]

How unfortunate to hear that it's a total loss! Will the insurance cover most of the cost of a new bike?
Stef.

[fastdogs2]

Sorry to hear your bike was totaled. Since it was relatively new, you would think they should give you a settlement close to the replacement cost.

Is your shoulder getting better? I hope it is a just bruised and not anything more serious. Even so, those hurt a lot. I have experience with bruises from mountain bicycle "getoffs." I have gone over the handlebars more than once and it is not fun.

Bill

[Talon Six]

My shoulder's fine, just a little sore. I jacked up my rotator cuff pretty good, which I think was from my trying to yank my bike off the fence rather than the crash since I can find no evidence of hitting anything with my left shoulder (my jacket's still in perfect shape).

I went to the dealership this morning to pick up a few things off my bike before Progressive hauls it off next week. I haven't gotten the settlement yet, so I'm not sure how much I'll get or what I'll be doing next. Since new R12R's are pretty hard to come by these days, I may be sitting on the sidelines waiting for the camhead version to come out in 2011 or 2012. Whatever bike I wind up with next however, I will be getting ASC.

[fastdogs2]

Matt,

Two of my neighbors (both guys are 50 years old) have gone through the rotator cuff surgery recently. Oddly enough, in both cases, their rotator cuffs just went bad spontaneously, not due to any acute injury. I thought only baseball pitchers were prone to that ailment, but I guess you can have it occur, just with age and use.

In case you are searching for a replacement bike, two North Carolina dealers have R1200R's in their current inventory:

Capitol BMW in Raleigh, NC has an Alpine White R1200R and Carolina Euro in Greensboro, NC has a Black R1200R.

Your local dealer could probably have one of these shipped to him. When I was looking for a low chasis bike, there were two 2010 models at other dealers that could have been shipped to me. I decided to buy a 2009 model standard chasis, out of current dealer inventory because of the January side case/financing promotion.

Bill

[angellr]

Also, BMW North Salt Lake has a NEW White 2009 R1200R. Tell my friend Keith Wicker I sent you.

http://www.bmwtriumphsaltlake.com/home.html

Hope this helps.

[craigleo]

As you already know, the white ones are truely awesome.