(The bike in the photo is similar to the subject BMW of this post.)
My garage is too small. An old Corvette, a "Grasshopper" lawn mower, and four large motorcycles along the path make trying to get to the deep freezer a challenge.
A friend of a friend called about the BMW. He wants to do with it what I thought I might do...
Tweak it. It was fundamentally a solid bike. All it needed was some TLC.
So I sold it to him for a price that just covers my expenses.
But while I owned the bike I rode it a few hundred miles and learned some important stuff:
Two-cylinder motorcycles vibrate. Some vibrate a LOT, some not so badly.
The BMW surprised me. It vibrated a little, (not badly), between 2,000 and 2,700 rpm, then smoothed out to a barely noticeable hum. At 60 mph it ran like a sewing machine. I bought the bike to compare it with the Moto Guzzi, and the BMW comes out on top in the vibration category. (But it has less "personality" and isn't as visually appealing to me as "Pizza Bike").
So I'll keep the Guzzi. I now have the newer Goldwing tweaked to my satisfaction so it also will stay in the stable. The older 'Wing is next on the block.
And when it sells, I'll once again be checking eBay...
This time for a 650cc BMW airhead twin...
Perfect, I think, for my 32-mile ride to work!
6 comments:
Damn, mister, you go through bikes like I go through underwear and I'm STILL agonizing over purchasing ONE measly motorcycle -- although it does have the largest factory production engine in the world. But at $15K it still ain't cheap -- at least not for me it isn't.
I loved my 1984 BMW R100RT. It was new and yet -- at the time -- the engine was a throwback. It vibrated a bit but I kinda enjoyed it. When I started it, I would cast my eyes around, yell "CONTACT" and then hit the starter, like it was a WWI Fokker triplane. As the two pistons bounded back-and-forth, yes, the bike would gallop a bit laterally and then catch through its Bing carbs.
Thinking about it now, I kinda miss that thing. Good times all around.
BZ
my 2001 1100cc Honda Shadow still sits in the garage wearing it's winter cover, I am on motorcycle time out until my 3 vertebrae in my neck becomes one. when im sitting on my patio out back and I hear the throaty sound of a bike streaking by, I curse them, how dare they ride by while I am stuck on a lawn chair. Not Fair!
LOL- BSA 650 Lightning :-) Go with style :-)
Put the battery in weekend ago and haven't been riding yet.
SJ knows you're a lot less trouble if you've a project afoot...
I can see a road trip in the future...
GB rides and joins up with CnC. Together they ride to Dayton, OH. to meet up with The Old Man and spend the day touring the Air Force Museum.
CnC...
HEAL!
@BZ-
My total outlay for ALL FOUR motorcycles was $12,000.
15K would also make me swallow hard right now.
As does it me, sir, as does it me. . .
But boy, am I drooling for that thing, I have to admit!
BZ
Post a Comment