New contributor...Long time listener, first time caller...

[BrotherBear]

Hi folks,

 

I've been lurking here on and off (ok, mostly off) for about a year now and decided I finally have something to add to the discussion.

 

First, me...

My name is Ron and I ride an RT, it's a 2010 Low that I picked up last July...so far so good, well, except for the fuel gauge. The RT is my second Beemer, my first was a 2004 K1200LT.

 

I've been riding for over 35 years now on at least 16 different bikes with only an occasional season "off" for one reason or another. Riding is the only consistent thing in my life (other than my wife, of course), I have taken up and dropped more hobbies and habits over the years than I care to count. The only keeper has been motorcycling. BTW, even with all those years under my belt I still consider myself in need of yet more experience and have lots of room left to learn more.

 

BTW, I do most of my own work and change my oil more often than necessary. Any ideas on what type of oil I should use?

 

My owned bike history (in order of appearance):

 

1967 Honda 305 scrambler

197? Honda 450 twin

1978 Suzuki GS750

1980 Yamaha XS1100

1982 Yamaha XVZ1200 Venture 1st gen (greatest touring bike of it's era, IMHO, I still believe BMW ripped off the concept for the LT)

198? Honda Goldwing 1100 (rattletrap)

198? Honda V65 Magna

1989 XVZ1300 Venture Royale

2000 Kawasaki 1500 Classic

2003 Kawasaki 1500 Nomad

2004 BMW K1200LT

2007 Honda Goldwing 1800

2005 Kawasaki 1500 Classic (second bike beside the wing...got a good deal)

2004 Vulcan 800 (prooject bike - stripped, cleaned, jetted, painted, and fitted with all custom lights and more.

2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Classic LT

2010 BMW R1200 RT

 

I currently have the RT, the 800 Project Bike, and the Goldwing. I sold the 1700 last week.

 

Not listed are a BSA hardtail chopper and a couple of other project bikes that never really made it out of the basket.

 

Well that's it for now. I am going to post a couple of things that came up recently in seperate threads...eventually

[Francois_Dumas]

Welcome :-)

 

Impressive list of bikes. I've had two these past 40 years. My list of hobbies that I had and kept during that same time is as long as your list of bikes though ....

[Sweendog]

That's quite the list!

 

[Lmar]

Welcome to the Board!! Nice list of bikes!

[George Brown]

Welcome to the fold. Are you planing to make the UN? IMHO, type of oil is not important but, seeing it in the sight glass is.

[rocks]

Welcome Brother... from another NH'ite!

What part of the state are you in? We have tech days about once a year and always welcome new wrencher's...

 

 

[hopz]

Welcome on board..

We sensed your presence.

 

How do you like the Low?

[ltljohn]

Welcome to the board, I recommend slippery oil to all my friends or EVOO if you are cooking with it.

[Francois_Dumas]

Olive Oil if you ask me..... then again, I ride in the Dolomites.

[jjg3]

BTW, I do most of my own work and change my oil more often than necessary. Any ideas on what type of oil I should use?

 

I have it on Good Authority that it depends on which helmet you wear what kind of tires you use.

 

And it's good to finally see someone who sticks to only riding the best brand!

[BrotherBear]

BTW, I do most of my own work and change my oil more often than necessary. Any ideas on what type of oil I should use?

 

And it's good to finally see someone who sticks to only riding the best brand!

 

Absolutely correct...the best brand of motorcycle is the one I'm riding today!

[BrotherBear]

Welcome Brother... from another NH'ite!

What part of the state are you in? We have tech days about once a year and always welcome new wrencher's...

 

 

I'm in the Derry/Londonderry area.

[BrotherBear]

How do you like the Low?

 

Well, when I bought the Low it was the only RT left in New England at the time so that made up my mind. I knew I wouldn't be keeping the seat (too low) so that didn't bother me too much while the 1" lower suspension worked well for me when fitted with standard seats. I'm 5'11" and wear a 30" inseam, I can make the standard RT height work for me but it's a tad bit of a stretch so that 1" down is about right. I'm currently in the process of building seats myself and have purchased a couple of fronts from the classifieds here.

 

Overall I love the bike, I've never really been a sport bike rider, as should be obvious from my list, but I've wanted a sport tourer for a while. Once I discovered the roads in the south-eastern mountains I knew I needed something a bit more nimble

 

So, in answer to your question...I like the Low just fine, thank you for asking!

[BrotherBear]

Welcome to the Board!! Nice list of bikes!

 

Thanks!

 

My MO on bikes in my younger and more spritely years was to buy a rat-bike, fix it up with duct tape, JB weld, and sheetrock screws to keep it running for a couple of years. I've been elbows deep in the guts of most of those bikes on the list! This approach will lead to a long list if practiced over 30+ years.

 

The scariest bike was by far the early wing I bought for $1000. I don't recall the year but it was prior to the integrated bags and fairing. The fairing had obviously been removed and reinstalled a few times and a couple of fasteners were apparently lost or broken each time. Riding that puppy on the highway was an adventure in spontaneous high speed disassembly. It's amazing how fast your reflexes develop when the debris you are dodging is coming from 18" in front of you! That bike went to the local cycle salvage guy because at the time I couldn't afford to put it up and rebuild the tupperware and buy another to ride at the same time.

 

[EddyQ]

Welcome Brother... from another NH'ite!

What part of the state are you in? We have tech days about once a year and always welcome new wrencher's...

 

 

I'm in the Derry/Londonderry area.

 

Nice. I lived in Londonderry a few years (well that might be 20 years now) back when you could ride the sand pits south of the Manchester Airport.

 

Welcome !