K11 Owners Group

[quaddawg]

Well, if you remember, this is my first Beamer, got it late July, it had 102K miles on the clock.. SO, I have had it for 2 and a half months.

Almost ready to turn it over to 106K miles.. haven't been able to ride as much as i want, due to my shop taking all my time... but... after nearly 4 thousand miles, I can admit I am truly truly in love.

I have had most every sort of bike, lots of Harleys (never again) and several examples each of the big three Japanese brands.. No european bikes until now. Even an older Wing... but nothing compares to the grins this bike gives me!

Here are my observations thus far:

Not searching for 6th gear any more, well, that's not true I guess, as I do try to shift up out of 5th now and again... haha...

I have learned to ride it at 5K and above and the brick loves it.

I burn about .75 of a quart every thousand miles it seems... but she's allowed with this mileage.

Welded the exhaust at the collector soon after I bought it, and it's held so far... no biggie to weld it again WHEN it splits.. ;0)

Super slick shifting bike, I love the way it shifts, and the only time it gets cantankerous is when I get lazy and don't shift it like I mean it.. other than that, it's one of the best shifting bikes I have ever owned, contrary to what i have read, I have no troubles, but I do rev match ALL the time.

Hot on the legs in the summer, sure... but oh boy that is welcome in the cooler months (read: NOW) and this is the first time I have ever had heated grips!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE those! Like holding my hands on the valve cover of my hogs... with more control! LOL.

I find it very well balanced and can ride it very slowly, parking lots, traffic jams, etc... even a dead stop without putting feet down. My Ultra Classic was a bit easier to ride slowly, but this is second for sure.

Very easy to center stand, once again, not sure where the stories come from, possibly because I am as fat as can be... lol... just grab the little handle and stand on the CS lever.. up she goes.. and I can ride it off the center stand too... Just give a quick thrust forward and off she comes, and ride away..

I am just now finding that it has nice wind coverage in the cold. BETTER than my Ultra, not quite as nice as my Wing...

Quite quick for the miles and age, I can keep up with my buddies Connie, and my other buddies new Wing... no problem.

Handles quite good for a tourer... Went riding with a CBR1000rr in the twisties, and kept up, granted the kid wasn't TRYING to lose me, but we were both impressed with it's cornering ability.

About the only thing I would consider trading it on would be a K1600GTL (drool)


OH, and to those of you that have expressed concern. I now ALWAYS ride with a helmet. I know that doesn't sound like much, but for me, after 35 years of riding without a helmet, it's a big thing. I am very very large, and gear is super expensive in my size, but I have boots, gloves, a nice helmet with bluetooth, two jackets that I layer... and bibs that would help SOME with Road Rash... ATGATT? No... not yet, but I am doing better... :0)


Oh, and the community... almost as friendly as the Harley crowd, lol... I talk with every BMW rider I see at a rest stop/gas station, etc... and they are all pleasantly surprised to see the 100K plus on the clock... and such a big guy riding what I consider to be a rather smallish bike.. ;


THANKS TO EVERYONE HERE!!!!
_________________
I am: Andrew Stanford
My shop, my passion:
www.stanfordmotorsports.com
Cincinnati, Ohio

1993 K1100lt touring
106K miles on the clock and rising

[DaveVoorhis]

[Sonu]

[quaddawg]

[hosehoundfr86]