Ducati Monster Forum

Just picked up my husbands new scoot....a 2000 BMW K1200LT.  Got rid of the ol' Hardley Draggin'em and got him some wheels with panache' and class IMO.

And now?  It's like you've seen a kid in the candy store - he can't believe a bike can handle!!  Heated grips?  Heated seat?  6 CD changer....the list goes on and on.  I look outside and he's just sitting there staring at it.  He's had it for 36 hours and washed it and waxed it 2x already. It's too cute.  ;D

The only bad thing???  It's too d#&*%m tall for me...I can't ride it!   [bang]  I can barely touch my toes to the ground.  I have to have him stand there and hold the bike for me to sit on it unless it's on the center stand.  Darn!!  I really wanted to drive the bike, it's so sweet.

And for speed???I tell you, I better get a he*&$#@%*ll of a head start off the line, because his bavarian buick is comin' quick.  Tonights ride was like a drag race down the highway!  Yippee!  Now I don't have to wait for his a#$&%* all the time.  [moto]

It's much happier riding for mom now!!

nice, congrats! [thumbsup] [moto]

I guess it takes a while for the Harley to wear off, eh?

He's only owned HD's - never anything else.  This is a BIG jump for him, heck, he's even got a HD tattoo.  But he got tired of the HD "poser lifestyle" and the RUB's, etc.  He truly just likes to ride, and ride very long distances.  So the BMW is the perfect bike. 

He told me that the "blessed mother of acceleration" finally blessed him.  ;D 

BTW, our nicknames are tailight and ketchup - him ketchup as i'm always waiting for him to catch-up, and me tailight as that's all he ever sees of me heading into the mountains.  I think we've got to change names now.  [laugh]

that's really cool  [thumbsup]
now get that tattoo removed asap  ;D

But does a BMW cover up tattoo really have the same appeal?   ;)

Congrats!!  It's really great when you're riding together. 

 [laugh] definitely not, but it's a step in the right direction... total laser removal would be best  ;)

well, considering the HD tattoo covers up a mushroom from the psychedellic 60's - i'll take the HD.   ;D  I'll have to work on changing the HD, though.

We did go riding on Monday, but it seems he's still wicked tenative on the back roads.  He got all mad at me because I was riding too fast.  We have this rule to stop at any major intersections or where you need to turn.  That's what I was doing, and he still got mad.  Interstate riding is fine, back roads....not so good.  I hope he gets more confident in time and cuts loose a little; the bike  can handle it, he can't yet.

I'm pretty aggressive riding in the "woods" so i'm thinking i've got to connect with other Duc owners to go riding.  All my MSF friends have cruisers and put, putt, puttt along.   [puke]  Trying to arrange a Saturday 12:30 ride leaving from Hagerstown Community College with the fellow I bought the DUC from and a few of his friends.  Anyone wanna come along if it comes together?

Here's where I was riding yesterday: http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?wip=2&v=2&rtp=~&FORM=MSNH#JndoZXJlMT1waW5lK2dyb3ZlK2Z1cm5hY2UmYmI9NDAuMTA2MTc0NDc2MjM4MSU3ZS03Ny4xODQ3OTE1NjQ5NDE0JTdlMzkuOTc4MTcyNDQ0NzA2MyU3ZS03Ny40ODM0ODIzNjA4Mzk5

follow rt. 233 all the way to McCrea, then 997 all the way to 81.  I took some other roads, too.  Central & Western Pa roads can be crappy, but very twisty!

Excellent!  [thumbsup]  [clap]



I would point out that in the twisties the K1200LT is never going to be able to keep up with a monster (assuming similar riding skills). That's 700+ pounds hauling around those corners....

I have on occasion ridden my bf's K1200RS (the sport-tourer) and I joke that I need a block and tackle to get it around on the corners. It's not that it lacks power, or handling, or anything like that, it's just ... big. No Caddy is ever going to be as nimble as a smaller car.

On the straights? Bye, bye baby!

My bf eventually got tired of me leaving him in the dust on freeway on-ramps  ;) and got a Buell.  [laugh]

Just give him some time to get used to it, and get a feel for what it can do, and the two of you'll be fine.  [moto] [moto]

Too cute!

how about a goldwing?  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

for some reason... that is hilarious  [laugh]

wow. That was like watching a 300 pound ballerina land a perfect grand jete en pointe.

I wouldn't say that his bike  can't do "it", it's his skills that can't match the bike right now.  I know instructors on goldwings that will run circles around even me on my duc, and I teach with a state motor cop (MD) that is an AMAZING rider.  I am hoping his skills will eventually get better now that he's on a bike that will allow some progression.  The HD only scraped parts when attempting anything close to cornering.

Only time will tell. :)

I've seen that video - crazy huh??  Put on the magnesium jock before he went out riding, huh??  [laugh]

I completely agree with everything said (and demonstrated). And, yes, in the hands of a pro, those big old touring bikes can really haul ass. I still maintain that given riders with similar skills, the Duc is going to get through the twisties faster, just because of its lighter and more nimble design.

But, yeah, there's a definite learning curve with those big beemers. Once you realize what it can do (anything), the sky's the limit! My feeling with the bf's beemer was that while it was certainly capable of anything, it's weight and handling made it more unforgiving that the smaller, lighter duc. I felt that I had to be absolutely perfect with my lines, which in turn made me more cautious, and slow. I bet that given time and practice your man won't be "ketchup" any more....  [thumbsup]

If you're looking for a longer day, I'm still around.   ;D

Have him take his BMW to a Lee Parks Total Control Advanced Riders Clinic. 

My finace and I just went to one in Troy, NY a couple weeks ago.  It was awesome. 60% of the bike were BMWs.  80% of the drills are all about cornering.  He will definately pick up some skills that will help him keep up with you in the twisties.

Here is the schedule (http://www.totalcontroltraining.net/HTML/Schedule.html) 

I'd like to take a Lee Parks Total Control Clinic, but...

where do I stay overnight?
don't want to attend by myself...
they'll think I'm an idiot showing up on a liter bike and can't control it...

You get the picture...  If you do decide it's for you, I'd be willing to stay at the same hotel, attend class together, just to have someone you know to talk to. 

laura  (outside Phila, so if the clinic is within a 4-5 hour ride it's a go!)

I know they offer them in MD at I think Howard Community College...but I bet that's in that link.  And come to think of it, I think I get a discount since i'm a MD MSF instructor.  I'll have to see about it; the college is about one hour from me.  My hubby took the ERC class (step below the LP TCC class) but did it on his old road king.  The BMW K is a lot different.

***Update***  Hubby and I took a 600+ mile trip this past 4th weekend.  All highway, minus about 30 miles in town stuff.  He drove up to me on the highway and yelled "now I don't have to ride behind you anymore!!"   ;D

He admitted that he's way slow in the twisties, and he's developed a strange lean in corners (leaning away, not into), but he's getting better and better with his confidence.  I'm lucky he listens to my riding tips as he's becoming a better rider each day.

I used to do the 'away lean' as well... it feels very natural...trained myself to stop doing.. then lost my license. Now I'm back at square 1, relearning my cornering.  :-[

longer trips are a great time to practice.  Glad to hear he's improving!!