AdventurePoser Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Hi everybody, On Saturday we picked up “Bikeopotamus,” our new-to-us 2002 R1150 GS Adventure. Pretty exciting…Eddie, the former owner, graciously rode the GS over to our house to complete the paperwork. I could tell Eddie was a bit sad to sell, but he’s leaving the GS world to ride a new BMW sport bike. Knowing Eddie, I suspect the pain of selling the GS will be erased after a few laps at the California Speedway! Besides, I told him that if we really like adventure touring and eventually buy a new GS, he has first dibs to re-purchase Bikeopotamus! BTW, pix soon...! On Sunday the Flame and I decided to take Bikeopotamus out for a spin. We “blasted” west on the 210 fwy to CA 14 north and exited on Soledad Canyon. I say "blasted" because anything over about 70 mph felt like my crowns were coming loose….thank you knobby tires! From here we toured the high desert back roads, including a few stretches of dirt. We cruised through Valyermo, and took N6 up past Jackson Lake through the twisties to the Mountain High Ski Area. The GS performed well in the twisties. A huge amount of lean angle is available, and the Continentals were really sticky! Anyway, it was particularly nice up here, with almost zero traffic anywhere. Maybe everyone was staying home to watch the LA Marathon or basketball? Anyway, as we ascended the mountains we saw increasing amounts of snow. In fact, the snow depths up here in the Angeles Mountains are as deep as any I’ve seen in many years. Very picturesque! And with temps in the 50s, skiers and snowboarders had perfect spring skiing conditions. We stopped at the ski lifts and talked to the snowboarders a bit before heading down to Wrightwood and lunch at the Evergreen Café. We ate some great food at the Evergreen. J had a fish sandwich and I devoured “Twyla’s Special Pastrami.” The very helpful wait staff even brought me extra pickles and mustard. I was livin’ large! As with all good things, this ride needed to end. We headed out of the mountains, and wrestled with the southbound, back from LV traffic on I-15. By 3:00 p.m. we were home! Here are a few observations we made about the GS and our ride through the high deserts and mountains: Knobbies make for a very noisy, vibrating ride! Knobbies don’t last long on the freeways. There was noticeable wear from the time we left and the time we got back. J and I will take Bikeopotamus on a tour of southern AZ in two weeks. I suspect they will be shot by the time we come back. When we return, we’ll spring for a more street oriented tire. Knobbies pull down gas mileage. Knobbies look very cool. When you sit on a knobby-shod bike you look and feel like you just returned from Bolivia, not the local Seven-Eleven. This GS is VERY tall. I have a 35” inseam and I am tippy toe on the stock seat. Stock seat was designed by Torquemada. Alas, no loot right now to change out seat. Additional gym time may help strengthen muscles around “sit bones.” Passenger foot pegs are high. In the interest of keeping the Flame happy, I will try to find some used Suburban machinery passenger foot pegs… Remus aftermarket exhaust sounds great-not too loud, and no annoying drone at high speed.. It’s also lighter than the stock system GS is very easy to ride slowly and keep balance, even with a passenger and gear. Is this because of the 19” front wheel and “endure” transmission? Much easier than the RT to ride slowly… Love the 8 gallon gas tank! Aluminum side cases are easy to unlock and are completely waterproof, unlike the funky clips on the R1200RT, which are very difficult to unlatch at times. Brush guards and heated grips rock! GS is a well ventilated ride. I was wishing for my heated jacket about halfway through the ride…maybe an aftermarket windscreen? Ohlin rear shock is awesome. Gravel put down on highway pounds sand, no pun intended. CHP ignores GS in favor of sport bikes Custom bike riders in Wrightwood thought we looked funny. J and I thought custom bike riders in Wrightwood looked funny. Jennifer and I are going to love this GS. Eventually with a few modifications for rider comfort, it is going to make an excellent long-haul adventurer. We are not giving up on our wonderful R1200RT unless financial issues make it imperative to do so, but rather we’ll look at both styles of riding carefully. If we decide the ability to get out onto the dirt and expand our riding is really what we want, we’ll most likely sell both bikes and buy a newer (’08) GSA. If, OTOH, we really are “road warriors,” a newer RT may be on the horizon. For now, we are going to enjoy Bikeopotamus. She’s an awesome ride with some great credentials! Cheers, Steve in So Cal Link to comment
roadscholar Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Nice report Steve, you summed it up nicely after just the first ride. I've had mine eight years and wouldn't have said it that well. You're right about the TKC's, on the freeway the rear's good for 2-3k. and the front 4 or 5. The Metzeler Tourances seem to be a good mix between hwy. travel and off-road traction. I'm currently runnning a Tourance on the front and TKC on the back but I'm mainly spending time on dirt roads and jeep trails with it. The custom riders usually do a double take when it goes by, I can't tell if they're just befuddled or afraid of it. One last thing; occaisionally bikeopotomus will decide it's time for a nap, this is when you need to be on the lookout for a soft spot to land on or in (water's always good ). And after having it awhile I discovered I didn't want to subject a new bike to the torture test it was enduring (and has held up extremely well) so it's become sort of ride specific. Sounds like you're going to have fun. Link to comment
Jeepster Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Steve, Glad your enjoying “Bikeopotamus”. But you know what they say about pictures,or the lack thereof. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted March 22, 2010 Author Share Posted March 22, 2010 I hear what you are saying about "ride specific." Bikeopotamus has its nicks, dings, and scratches. Every mark tells a story! I always wear all my gear. Hopefully I'll be ready when and if Bikeopotamus decides to 'nap.' Cheers, Steve Link to comment
leikam Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Congrats on the new ride Steve. Sounds like a lot of fun. Hi to J as well. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Hey Michael, And you do the same for K! Hope all is well. BTW, saw your neighborhood in a TV shoot the other day.... Cheers, Steve in So Cal Link to comment
roydog007 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Cool, I'm back on two wheels. Let do lunch Link to comment
RichEdwards Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Welcome to the GS world. I'm on my second one and I love it. p.s. Love your avatar...Saw the Blue Angels last Saturday in Tampa (Macdill AFB). Link to comment
Paul_Burkett Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Congrats on the new bike Steve, it sounds like a lot of fun is about to be had. I checked in on your blog and read about your trip to Gilbert, AZ. I am going to stop and get ribs next time I'm in Mesa visiting my Mom and Dad. Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Paul, Give me some advance notice next time you plan on Mesa. If you are there over a weekend, I'll scoot on down...a trip to "Joe's Real BBQ" in Gilbert is in order. Mmmmm...pecan smoked ribs-I can taste them now. Roy Dog, Back on two wheels...I knew you couldn't stay away.... Cheers, Steve Link to comment
JonathanE Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 "Bikeopotomus" is a good name. I've always felt that the "GS" designation must be short for "gran cerdo", but I'm not certain that the Germans speak Spanish. After picking up my narcoleptic GS from her frequent naps, gran cerdo is just too appropriate to be a coincidence. You had an 1100GS a few years (like 10 or 12) back, didn't you?. If my memory is correct, then this is a return to your boxer roots. Another trip to AK in your future? Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Jonathon, You have a great memory...8 years ago I road to Alaska and spent 40 days riding around the far north. What a wonderful ride. In fact, it was a life-changing experience! And, in fact, I did that ride on a new-to-me R1100GS. Great bike for the ride. Bombproof, and zero mechanical difficulties. Yes, J and I are heading to AK together in the summer of 2011. We hope to spend 4 weeks touring before taking the ferry to Bellingham WA. Hope to see you at the Unrally! Steve Link to comment
kuyaed33 Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 great write up Steve. Glad you're enjoying the bike. See ya in a few days for tires Link to comment
leikam Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 saw your neighborhood in a TV shoot the other day.... Nothing good I hope. Wouldn't want the world to get the wrong impression. All is well. I haven't been riding as much as I'd like, but that's old news. Link to comment
Kathy R Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Really happy for you two and the new ride. Didn't you have a hippo avatar at one time? Link to comment
AdventurePoser Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Yep, I did have an avatar of a dancing hippo-an image that was vaguely disturbing on several levels.... Pix soon of Bikeopotamus in action.... Cheers, Steve Link to comment
MikeB Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 Hi Steve, welcome to the Adventure Bike world. I can't afford a GS on retirement wages so I ride a Tiger. I have three or four bikes, but the adventure bike is my favorite. They are such a "do it all" bike. I'm on my second Tiger (the first I bought when I sold the ST to you). After selling the first one, I realized it was a mistake and picked up another one, same color and fitment. I like the Michelin Anakees the best. I have tried the tourrances, and bridgestones, but I like the feel and mileage of the anakees. Link to comment
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