Joining you guys

[Ves]

Hello folks. Alsip IL here, and I just put a deposit down on this baby:



A little background:
- Had a '96 R850R for a while.
- Sold the 850 and bought an '04 CBR1000RR.
- I do track days with NESBA and SBTT.
- Last big trip was last year; a tour around Lake Michigan on the CBR. I tell you, no matter how hard I try to make the CBR a touring bike, it just plain hursts.

Looking forward to hanging out here.

[mad1150]

Welcome aboard, fellow Illinois'n, and congrats on your Rock!

This board is what convinced me on my R1150R purchase last year. It's the first place I go if I have an R question.

Bet your wishin' for warm weather too! Suppose to get up to 30 next Thurs, so I may have to leave work early, take the cover off, and go for a ride to get me new Metzeler's installed.

Man, I've got R1150R Cabin Fever! Bad!

[sjbmw]

Welcome Ves!

The Citrus Rock, congrats. A lot more rider friendly that a crotch rocket, with the handling to boot.

I had to put my bike on my wallpaper, it's so darn cold here.

[Ves]

Thanks guys. I'm just done with this weahther too. 30 will feel like a heat wave if it happens.

[toner87]

Welcome! Great lookin' ride!
T.

[dragonmojo]

Listening to you folks out there in the cold, a nice redeeming value of living here is that the next few days will be in the mid-60s to low-70s! This is Northern CA where we still get the seasons (unlike L.A.); rain may be due by late Sunday or on Monday. Also can't complain about having the Sierras down the road. Other than this, we have to put up with less than ideal stuff (such as the economy, politics and misc weirdness).

I have a small Manta magnetic tankbag which doesn't hold much, but is unobtrusive and takes care of some essentials (keys, cellphone, tire gauge, etc.). Fits well.

Hoping you get good riding weather soon... you'll enjoy your Rock.

[Ves]

You California guys make me sick. My only consolation is that someday you're all going to fall into the ocean.

Seriously though. About four years back I took a business trip out to the Santa Cruz area. First tme in California. Three days into the trip I was thinking, "Wow, we sure lucked out with the weather!". Then one of the guys pointed out it's always like that... cool mornings, temps in the mid 70's to 80's during the days, sunny... Business was over on Friday and we didn't go back until Sunday, so Saturday I found me a bike rental place, rented a Harley (not axactly my preferred choice) and rode Skyline road (up by Alice's Restaurant) in the mountains. One of the best rides of my life. I really do envy you guys.

I can't wait for some decent weather.

[Trompie]

Hi All,
I'm also a new member on this forum. I'm from South Africa the bikers paradise, here we ride most of the year. The rockster is my 4th BMW, started with the R100RS,R1200C,R1100GS(129000km's) and being replaced by a 2004 Rockster. Will post pictures when I know how to.

[Ves]

Hi All,
I'm also a new member on this forum. I'm from South Africa the bikers paradise, here we ride most of the year. The rockster is my 4th BMW, started with the R100RS,R1200C,R1100GS(129000km's) and being replaced by a 2004 Rockster. Will post pictures when I know how to.

So, why is South Africa bikers paradise, the weather, the roads, or both?

As for posting pictures, it's easy:
- Find a place to host your picture.
- put the link between image tags like this (leave out the spaces)
[ i m g] http address to the image goes here [ / i m g ]

[Trompie]

Ves, yes both. The distance between towns that we go on runs for a morning are 200-300km with good roads. The sun is shinning most of the time with rain now and then. We don't have very cold winters only 3-4 months a year with coldest temp. -3 t0 -5 otherwise mid teens, no snow on the roads.

[Ves]

-3 to -5? C? That's not very warm. You had me thinking it was like California (in the mid seventies most of the time [23 C]). Sounds like you have the same weather I do in the middle US. Course you are having your summer season now, right?

So, how are property values in South Africa? How about political unrest? We could all just get summer properties in South Africa spend half the year there, half here.

I can fantasize.

[Ves]

Well, I just picked up the bike Tuesday. Yes!

First impressions:
- The bike is easier to wheel around than my CBR1000RR. That's strange, because the BMW weighs about 75-100 lbs more.
- Seat seems really comfortable.
- Suspension is probably going to have to go in short time. Just seems a bit mushy. Maybe cause I'm use to the taut ride of the CBR. We'll see when I take it out for a decent ride.
- Someone was thinking when they designed it. One of the things that's always pissed me off is that if you want to remove the tank from a bike you have to disconnect the fuel lines and usually end up getting gas everywhere. This thing has quick disconnects! Press the little button and lines are disconnected. Cool.
- Why was I taking the tank off? Hooked up a trickle charger to the battery.
- Man I missed owning a BMW....

I'm already thinking about how I'm going to sell both my bikes and buy a new R1200R...

[R4R&R]

The bike is easier to wheel around than my CBR1000RR. That's strange, because the BMW weighs about 75-100 lbs more.

Well, bikes carry their weight in different ways. I'm sure the CBR is more stable at high speeds. Really high speeds.

- Seat seems really comfortable.

You'll get over that. My seat was comfy for a while, then the pain started setting in.... Unless your the shape they shot for in the seat design.

- Suspension is probably going to have to go in short time. Just seems a bit mushy. Maybe cause I'm use to the taut ride of the CBR. We'll see when I take it out for a decent ride.

Start saving now for some Ohlins. They'll make a world of difference.

- Someone was thinking when they designed it. One of the things that's always pissed me off is that if you want to remove the tank from a bike you have to disconnect the fuel lines and usually end up getting gas everywhere. This thing has quick disconnects! Press the little button and lines are disconnected. Cool.

One person was thinking about service convenience, and another was thinking about cost. So we got plastic disconnects that break. Buy a spare now and be ready for when it happens.

- Why was I taking the tank off? Hooked up a trickle charger to the battery.

Ride it often, then you won't have to trickle charge it!

- Man I missed owning a BMW....

Welcome back!

I'm already thinking about how I'm going to sell both my bikes and buy a new R1200R...

You're doomed! Stop thinking that way or it will happen!

Enjoy the bike for what it has to offer - a versatile bike that can comfortably tour all day, and keep close to the CBR in real world twisty roads. Now think "Warm Weather"....

[fnfalman]

Ves,

Since that you're a hard core track rider, switch the stock suspension out as soon as you can with Ohlins. The stock ones are OK but nothing to rave about. Also crank the dampening on the shocks all the way to "H" and crank up the preload as much as possible too. It will take out the mushiness but really, you need Ohlins.

As far as the trickle charge goes, are you using the Deltran Battery Tender? If you do then you could have used the BMW adapter and hook it straight to your bike's power socket (it looks like a small lighter socket in a car). Your bike should have the power socket installed as standard issue. If not then you can buy the power socket and put it in yourself for pretty darn cheap. That way you don't have to mess around with lifting up the tank to get to the battery any more.

Manhandling the bike seems easier than the CBR is due to the wide handlebar's leverage. Do you still have your CBR? Switching between the two will take a bit of readjustments until you have enough seat time and then it'll feel natural.

[iowabeakster]

congrats on the bike,



Bummer about the weather, huh? Only about a month or so to go.

[Ves]

You'll get over that. My seat was comfy for a while, then the pain started setting in.... Unless your the shape they shot for in the seat design.

Hmmmm... interesting. Well, if that's true, I'll have to break out the "Airhawk " that I use on the CBR.

One person was thinking about service convenience, and another was thinking about cost. So we got plastic disconnects that break. Buy a spare now and be ready for when it happens.

Good to know that. Thanks.

You're doomed! Stop thinking that way or it will happen!

You're probably so right.

... Your bike should have the power socket installed as standard issue...

Yes it does, I forgot all about that. I'll have to get the right adapter for it. Thanks.

And yes I do still have the CBR. It will definitely be interesting switching back and fourth between them.

Bummer about the weather, huh? Only about a month or so to go.

I caaaan't wait.

[riceburner]

Your bike should have the power socket installed as standard issue.

This is utterly pot luck - some bikes have them from the factory, some don't - no ryhme or reason as to why.

If not then you can buy the power socket and put it in yourself for pretty darn cheap.

Have had to do that myself - make sure you get the RIGHT kit for the bike ordered - DON'T get the so-called "Retro-fit" kit, it's the wrong one and needs to be attached directly to the battery terminals. The correct one will connect to a connector that's hidden behind the starter motor.

[fnfalman]

Ves,

Also since that you're a track junky who are probably very experienced with trail braking, you should use that technique to the fullest on your Rock. The telelever front suspension may give up some feedbacks and feels but the positive side is that it won't stand the bike up when you brake hard while leaning over. If you jam on the brakes then the tires will give up traction and you know what happens then, but you can brake pretty hard in a lean and still keep your lean angle.

Just be warn that if you down shift while leaning over, you gotta match the rev perfectly or the shaft drive will cause the rear tire to skip a bit. A bit more than a chain drive would.

Another nice thing is that the telelever and paralever suspension will keep the bike rock (no pun intended) steady on rough roads.

[Ves]

Ves,

Also since that you're a track junky who are probably very experienced with trail braking, you should use that technique to the fullest on your Rock. The telelever front suspension may give up some feedbacks and feels but the positive side is that it won't stand the bike up when you brake hard while leaning over. If you jam on the brakes then the tires will give up traction and you know what happens then, but you can brake pretty hard in a lean and still keep your lean angle.

Just be warn that if you down shift while leaning over, you gotta match the rev perfectly or the shaft drive will cause the rear tire to skip a bit. A bit more than a chain drive would.

Another nice thing is that the telelever and paralever suspension will keep the bike rock (no pun intended) steady on rough roads.

Thanks I'll keep that in mind. I actually started my riding career on Jap bikes (front end dive), then I had an R850R for a while (no front end dive). That pic in my signature is me riding that R850R at Blackhawk Farms racetrack. That's how I started doing track days. When I bought the CBR1000RR, the front end dive was a hard thing to get use to again. I really like the anti-dive effect of the BMW. But, the CBR had that 850 beat hands down in every other way (at least when it comes to the track). In either case, trailbraking has been a natural thing on both bikes. But as you point out, they do respond differently. I'm sure it will take some getting use to getting back on a BMW.