K11 Owners Group

larryb22 · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:33 am Post subject: Full Circle?

At the age of 66 and health issues, I have come full circle.
My first motorcycle back in 1969 was a 250cc Benelli Barracuda. It had left foot brake and right foot shift. It was followed by a brand new 1970 Suzuki 500T two stroke twin. Then came a series of bikes that included three different Moto Guzzi’s, R75, R50, Yamaha triple, etc.
The wife always had her own bikes, we toured and enjoyed them until about 1982. In the spring of ’82 I got the bikes ready and took one for a trial run. I felt very uncomfortable riding it and sold both bikes. There were no motorcycles in the garage for about the next twenty-five years. Then in 2008 I got the urge to ride again and bought a 1982 Honda Silver wing GL. It was a nice little bike but didn’t quite fit the bill, so I sold it and bought an old 71 Moto Guzzi 750. Got it running well and dressed it with a fairing and hard bags. It just didn’t feel right and seemed to have an issue tracking down the road, in spite of new steering head and swing arm bearings. I sold it and bought the 1996 K1100rs in the late fall of 08. I didn’t get to ride it as the weather turned bad.
By the spring of 2009, my sense of balance declined a lot more, in spite my efforts to maintain it. I did manage to ride the K a couple times for a total of maybe a hundred miles. Then when I dropped in a parking lot I knew it was too much bike for me with my health condition. I put the K up for sale this summer. (It finally sold this fall and is now in Georgia). Before the K sold, I still wanted to ride, so I bought a 2008 Yamaha 250. Nice little bike, easy to handle and ride. If I should drop it, I can pick it back up. It’ll get me down the back roads & around town just fine, but it is pretty light for much wind or highway slabs. But even so, I am happy with it and enjoyed putting a thousand miles on it this summer.
So I started and will probably finish my riding on a 250cc bike. A full circle.
Larry
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2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA

Off the grid · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:49 am Post subject:

Hey Larry thanks for posting your thoughts. My wife rides a Rebel 250, great little bike and surprisingly comfortable.

A bike is a bike. It's the wind in our face, the drone of the engine and the people we meet that makes a motorcycle special. Surprised

*Edit can you downsize the avatar a bit? Shocked

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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:12 am Post subject:

You're still ridin'. That's what counts.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

Hi,
My late friend, Tommy Milano, born in 1912, began riding HD in 1926. He bought his first BMW in 1935 and, except when it was politically incorrect to do so, rode BMW bikes until the late 1990's, when he sold his R80RT and bought a Honda 250 Rebel. He rode the Rebel until the advances of old age were such that he had trouble holding it up.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

m1ks · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

I think it's great that your riding, regardless of what you're riding.
I had a 535 Virago for a year or so and it was a cracking good reliable and comfortable bike, (it was a little dull for me hence the sale but all the same I couldn't fault it and would recommend one to anyone)
It doesn't matter what size the machine is or what type it is as long as you enjoy riding it.
FWIW, you'd likely find the 535 not much larger or heavier and with a wee bit more grunt if you did want something a bit pokier for highway use.

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

My K came from an 86 year old who transitioned to a large Suzuki scooter.

Long live the riders.
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'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

hirschhs · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:56 am Post subject:

Larry, I enjoyed your post a lot. It had 'meaning'.
I'm about to celebrate my 60th so I'm a little behind you but I hope I have your attitude when I do catch up. I can still lift the K11 if I drop it but I don't imagine that will last too much longer.
Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy your new ride for many thousands of miles.
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Cheers, Steve H _______________________________________
K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'