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The
Barco-Lounger
This is my main ride, it's a 1999 graphite metallic BMW R1100RT, bought new
in October of 98. It currently has 52,000 miles on it. It's got some flaws, like all BMW's but I ride
the heck out of it. I've put a Sargent seat on it, added
an
Autocom Eurocom Intercom
so I can listen to the radio and the radar detector while riding. (don't laugh til you've tried it),
hooked up a Valentine One radar detector on the top shelf and wired it in
through the intercom. I recently added a black and white Street Pilot to
the RCU top shelf (above the instruments) which barely fits, but is very
cool. I have some PIAA lights on the front, and the best accessory of all, my Iron Butt
Association license plate frame.
 | Note the front PIAA lights, check out
a close up picture of them here.
Very clean setup and very cool lights, like having daylight at night. |
| Also, I have a big picture of the RCU
accessory shelf here from Salt Lake City BMW, very worthwhile.
This is what the Valentine 1 and the Street Pilot sit on. Also keeps
the glare down on the instruments. |
Parts
| Since I don't allow any of the dealers to do any work on my bikes, I order
lots of my parts through BMW Bob's.
There prices and service has been pretty good. |
| The really cool set of PIAA light mounts I
got from Cycle Specialties of
Modesto. Truly great, you don't even have to remove them to take
off the bodywork. However, I just found out, the mounts to the frame
break after about 40,000 miles and scratch up your fender when you don't
notice. If you have this kind of mount (which I recommend), I suggest
you change the mounts (about 75 cents each) every 25,000 miles or
so. |
| I just bought front and rear Ohlins shocks from NW
Cycles (who as of October 01 is out of business, too bad). I put up a whole page on installing
the shocks even with some pictures (Be aware, this page is very large, I
didn't have time or energy to cut the pictures down to size.) If you are thinking about changing the shocks, check it
out and definitely do it. |
Tires
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Currently I'm running Metzler Z4's again. I've always
been a Metzler guy (look around my garage, all my bikes have Metzlers.) but
I had a couple sets on this that just weren't getting any mileage. I
tried Bridgestone BT-54's (replaced this year with BT-020's) and while they
last longer, they suck in the rain and snow and I just didn't have the
confidence in them that I do with the Z4's. So, I think I'm on my 4th
set of tires, and I already have purchased another set of Z4's to replace
this one when done. (soon) Update. I just replaced the
front tire from all winter riding. 8300 miles. a new
record. I'm very happy, the back is still ok (although flat spotted) but I'll
replace it at about 9,000 miles right before I leave on my long trip. |
| Just went through a set of Bridgestone 020's. Much cheaper (about 70 bucks for the pair) than the Z4's.
The 020's aren't bad. When it's warm out, they stick damn well, but they
are average at best in the rain, haven't tried snow yet. However, they wear
great. I did a BBG, a SS, a long tour out across Nevada and still got
over 8,000 miles on them. They still have tread left, but they are
pretty flat spotted. I'm happy, for a long trip, I would definitely buy them
again. For the winter though, I'm going back to the Z4's. |
My
other BMW
| Well, for a while there, I had a really sweet 1989 R100GS
bumblebeemer. Her name was "honey". I bought her in May of
2000, and spent most of the summer fixing it up and getting her all ready to
go. New tires, new lines, new cables, all kinds of touratech goodies,
etc. I had to sell her at the beginning of 01 due to health
issues. (actually more like insurance issues, i.e. they don't pay for
anything) but I took a couple pictures that you can see here.
Check it out, fun fun bike, very wonderful, very reliable, buy one if you
get the chance. Not bad off road either (as long as you don't do crazy
single track.) |
[ R100GS ] [ BMW_shocks ]
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