Dale the Builder has a 2003 BMW K1200RS that has been in storage for several years. He's been talking about getting it back on the road and riding with me for a while now.

I posted here looking for parts sources as it needed a new gas cap assembly ($225 plus shipping!) and a battery.

Got those and installed them, started it up and had a brake error light flashing at me.

Fast forward several weeks and asked him if he still wanted to pursue getting it back on the road. I suspected that the brake error was because the bike had been in storage with a dead battery and the ABS module got stupid.

Yesterday he said if I still wanted to, go get it, ride it, fix it as needed. Got it out of bike jail this morning and like to scared myself spitless riding it 3 miles home. REALLY heavy steering, major effort to change direction or maintain a straight line.

Got into the garage and my other brain cell fired a couple of times. I said to myself "Self, you dumbass, it's been in storage for who knows how long, the tires are probably down!"

Uh...yeah...like less than 15 pounds each. Freakin' miracle they stayed on the rims. Aired them up, gave it a bath and went for a short ride. Boo-yeah, MUCH better! Actually, quite nimble given it's rather portly physique. I'll keep my FJ, thanks, but still a very nice ride.

Always thought the K12S & R11S were good looking bikes.
Friend of my dad's has a K13S & he said it can scare you pretty quickly.

LOL

My shortest test ride ever on a used bike was on my Honda 919. Went to look at it the guy said I could ride it if I wanted. I did not even go a half a block it felt so bad I turned around and went back. I felt the tires and they were softer than my dirt bike. He bought it new and it only had 1800 miles on it. Asked him if he ever aired up the tires he said no with a stranged look on his face. Ended up buying it and took it home on the trailer. Checked the tires when I got home less than 9 PSI on both. Lesson learned.

The last bike I had was a K1200RS. Nice highway bike but nowhere near as nimble as my old R80ST.
They were at the opposite end of the spectrum due to both overall weight, power and especially weight distribution.
That high up weight of the 1200 demands your attention at low speeds and when you stop. A little too far over center and they get real top heavy.

Nice bike. I have a couple friends who are diehard BMW-heads. BTW, that picture just screams coastal New England.

Not really a bike story... but I went to an auction a few years back where they were selling an old geezers tools out of his work shop.


Neighbor came over and explained that the family had already made out... seems the guy was in the Army back in the 60's and stationed in Germany for a while and on weekends or when ever he was off he went to junk yards and removed the engines from BMW motorcycles and then would crate them up and ship them home... seems this was free back then for soldiers.... the family ended up selling like 35 of these to some guy for a serious wad of cash.

You dont see too many K bikes around. That one looks great for its age!

I had the 2004 version of that same bike, also in Piedmont red. Great bike that really ate up the miles. It was the first bike I ever had with cruise control. I'll never own one without it now. Did the ABS light go out after you got it rolling?

quote:

Originally posted by SHOOTIN BLANKS:
I had the 2004 version of that same bike, also in Piedmont red. Great bike that really ate up the miles. It was the first bike I ever had with cruise control. I'll never own one without it now. Did the ABS light go out after you got it rolling?

Yes, it did. Still flashes on startup, but goes out as soon as you exceed a walking pace.

I did notice it had cruise. I might have to take it for another ride and check that out.

I had an ‘85 K100RS. The brake light came on every time I started it and went off the first time I tapped the brakes.

quote:

Originally posted by clang:

I had an ‘85 K100RS. The brake light came on every time I started it and went off the first time I tapped the brakes.

My K75S did the same thing. Probably part of the start-up diagnostics.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by clang:

I had an ‘85 K100RS. The brake light came on every time I started it and went off the first time I tapped the brakes.

My K75S did the same thing. Probably part of the start-up diagnostics.

Agreed. My FJ does that as well. Goes out as soon as you hit 10mph.

Nice bike. A friend of mine has a K1100. It REALLY wants to go. And yes pretty nimble.
His has some ECM issues, wants to idle up when you stop, sometimes. Like up around 2500rpm.
And of course, the closest BMW dealer (100 miles away?) wants an arm and a leg just to look at it.